It’s poetic to think that dogs live to please their masters, but the reality is that dogs live to please themselves. When we ask our dogs to do something, the first thought racing through their heads is, “What’s in it for me right now?” Behaviours that are rewarded are statistically more likely to be repeated, so when we regularly reward our dogs for a job well done, they’ll want to keep showing up for work! Not all rewards are created equal, and understanding what your dog finds rewarding is an important step in the training process.
If you have a dog then certainly their health and well-being will be a major concern of yours. Keeping your dog healthy is likely to be very difficult if you do not know what to do. You will need some dog health care advice to make sure you do the right things. It will require that you do more than just taking them for a walk or feeding them from the table. It will certainly require some patience on your part. Here is some dog health care advice, to help you provide your dog with the right care.
For some dogs, car rides produce a great deal of anxiety. A combination of fear and not understanding what is happening will cause drooling, shaking, or even vomiting in some dogs and cats. In humans, we refer to this as car sickness or motion sickness; however, true motion sickness is a result of an inner ear problem. Some dogs truly do have motion sickness, and for these animals products such as Dramamine can be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. For most dogs, however, the sickness is strictly an over-reaction to the fear and apprehension of the car noise, motion, etc. If your dog would rather be anywhere besides in the car, here is how you can help her overcome the fear of car rides.
Today's Siberian is a beautiful, captivating, eager, outgoing, animated canine companion. They have the ability to charm and hold captive the hearts of many. Their abilities in addition to companion animals are: Sledding, carting, running companion, agility, obedience. This breed has many charms, however they also have strong and difficult behaviours that require a special effort for successful ownership.
Aggressive play often results in bites! Avoid games like wrestling, and chasing games. Such games excite the dog and may result in a person getting bitten.
Some dogs, when bothered, may discipline children in the same way they would discipline pestering puppies. To avoid this, teach children responsible pack leadership skills and how to recognize the dog’s desire to be left alone at certain times e.g. When the dog is sleeping.
Do not mess with a dog while he is eating. Although the dog should have been taught that you, as the pack leader, are the provider of the food, it is extremely unfair to take food away once it was given to the dog. Some dogs are very food possessive and care should be taken that children don’t even come close to such a dog while he is eating until this problem has been addressed through correct training.
Do not make first contact with a strange dog by approaching it from behind orwith your hand above the dog turned down to stroke it’s head. The dog might mistake this posture as being threatening—your hand is in a position as if to hit the dog. Rather approach with an open hand turned upwards from below, avoid any quick movements and allow the dog to sniff your hand first.
Make sure that the dog doesn’t see himself as the pack leader in the family oryou might get a nasty (bitten) reprimand for trying to chase him off the couch!
This wonderful breed is often incorrectly called the "Alsatian". The correct name is in fact the "German Shepherd Dog". The name Alsatian was used during the two world wars in order not to offend anyone unconnected to Germany. At the end of the war it was thought that the breed would not flourish were the word German to appear in it's name, and, it was decided to call the breed the Alsatian Wolf Dog after the German-French border area of Alsace-Lorraine. The "Wolf Dog" tag was later dropped, again, as it was felt that this would prejudice the breed. In 1977, following numerous campaigns by breeders the name was changed back to the German Shepherd Dog by which it is known now.
Dear God: Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?
Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another? Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?
THINK DOG Understand how dogs learn and what makes them tick as a species. Dogs are not humans and do not react as such!
TALK DOG Learn how to communicate effectively in dog language. Dogs can’t speak English or any other human language. You, however, can learn to talk dog.
TOP DOG Who’s in charge? YOU are. You have to be your dog’s pack leader. He’ll be much happier and better behaved when he doesn't think he’s responsible for you.
Canine bad behaviour can be caused by us, our personality, and how that personality affects the relationship we have with our dogs.
Overprotective owners take away the dog’s ability to cope with the world around him. By being protected from everything, the dog often becomes fearful—sometimes aggressively fearful.
Overemotional owners who are quick to get excited or quick to react often end up with dogs just like them!
Demanding owners would prefer that the dog be a furry robot that follows each and every command exactly as given. Dogs belonging to such owners never measure up.
Over permissive owners don’t set enough ground rules, and when they do set rules, they do not enforce them. These owners are not the dog’s leader, and many behavioural problems can develop as a result.
Mean owners overpower their dogs, or make their dogs fearful or fearful—aggressive.
WE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DOGS PROBLEM BEHAVIOUR BY TRAINING HIM INCONSISTENTLY OR INCORRECTLY. OUR DOGS WANT TO BE GOOD, AND IF WE CLEARLY SHOW THEM WHAT WE WANT, THEY WILL COMPLY.
A dog that cowers on seeing you is not expressing guilt. Either he has got used to getting a scolding from you, or he is more scared of you than is good for your relationship!
Wear old clothes, you are going to get dirty anyway, so don't wear your best. Wear something comfortable, you cannot control a dog with one hand while the other hand struggles to keep thin shoulder straps or a mini skirt in place. Leave handbags in your vehicles, or better yet leave them at home and use a pouch around your waist to keep your car keys safe. Just don't lose the keys! That provides a lot of amusement if everybody (dogs included) have to search for them.The most important thing is to always have both hands free to control your dog. As for shoes, takkies are the best. Any other comfortable, flat heeled, non slip shoe is also fine. High heels, slip-ons and beach flip flops might land you face down on the ground if your dog decides to start pulling on the leash!
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish
Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their
little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping
for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying. I told the family we couldn't
do anything for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure
for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be
good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as
though Shane might learn something from the experience
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family
surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last
time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few
minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any
difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's
death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter
than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I
know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned
me.
I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life
-- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The
six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they
don't have to stay as long."
A TRIBUTE TO OUR DOGSby Glynne Anderson
Did you know that dogs are the world’s most wonderful and versatile animals? I mean did you ever see a horse snuggle into bed with it’s owner to keep warm on a freezing night? Or what about eight cats pulling a sled in the snow? Pigs are pretty smart, but under your dinner table…I don’t think they’re kosher! Pythons don’t even shape because they are just plain useless in winter! Oh, I hear you say, but what about birds? Yep, they’re intelligent, but not toilet trained. To the rodent lovers...how many gerbils do you know that bark at burglars? Fish? Good one.
IMPORTANT DOG TRAINING TRICKA rolled up newspaper can be an effective tool when used properly. For instance, use the rolled up newspaper if your dog chews something or has a housebreaking accident. Take the rolled up newspaper and hit yourself over and over again on the head and repeat to yourself the phrase- “I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG” …“I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG”….If your dog laughs at you when you do this, praise him. - Author Unknown
"We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet, and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog has made an alliance with us."
- Maurice Maeterlinck
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself"
- Josh Billings
"A Dogs' life span is short - it's their only fault, really!"
- Anonymous
When God had made the earth and sky,
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals,
and all the birds and bees,
And when His work was finished,
not one was quite the same,
He said, "I'll walk this earth of mine,
and give each one a name."
And so He travelled land and sea,
and everywhere He went,
A little creature followed him until
his strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth,
and in the sky and sea,
The little creature said, "Dear Lord,
there's not one left for me."
The Father smiled and softly said,
"I left you to the end.
I turned my name back to front
and called you DOG, my friend."
What do Rewards Have to do with it?
For some dogs, car rides produce a great deal of anxiety. A combination of fear and not understanding what is happening will cause drooling, shaking, or even vomiting in some dogs and cats. In humans, we refer to this as car sickness or motion sickness; however, true motion sickness is a result of an inner ear problem. Some dogs truly do have motion sickness, and for these animals products such as Dramamine can be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. For most dogs, however, the sickness is strictly an over-reaction to the fear and apprehension of the car noise, motion, etc. If your dog would rather be anywhere besides in the car, here is how you can help her overcome the fear of car rides.
