What Is Your Dog Trying To Tell You?

As you train and bond with your dog, one of the most important things you should understand is when she’s uncomfortable with the situation she’s in. Many people -- even experienced dog owners -- are not good at reading subtle signs of discomfort. They think their dog is fine with what’s happening when, in fact, the dog is sometimes enduring the interaction under duress and protest. But you can learn what various body signals mean, and reading your dog’s body language can help you guard him from the things that cause him distress.

Read the Signs

If your dog is happy, content and comfortable, you’ll usually notice these signs:

He looks soft, with a loose and wiggly body, warm eyes, and a gently wagging tail or even a “wagging body”His eyes are squinty and almond-shaped, with no whites showingUsually she opens her mouth loosely, but the corners aren’t pulled backHer ears are neutral or up. A dog showing mild or comfortable curiosity perks his ears forward and might slow down other movements

Understand What Is Normal for Your Dog

It’s important to keep each dog’s normal expression into account, as dogs have different neutral positions for tails, ears, brow wrinkles, etc. A Border Collie or Greyhound in a calm, neutral mood will hold her tail a lot lower than a Husky or Akita, and as these dogs raise or lower their tails they might not even come close to the other breed’s neutral.

When a dog holds his tail higher than normal and his ears are forward or up, it indicates confidence and interest. Tails and ears held lower than normal indicates uncertainty, fear, or nervousness.

Recognize Distress

If your dog is nervous, uncomfortable, stressed or distressed, you’ll often see these signs:

As a first step, he’ll often look away from something that bothers him, as if he’s trying to ignore itHis body is stiffer and stillerHis eyes look rounded, with the whites showing. The eyes may appear hard or cold (some people report, “He gets that look in his eyes”)She closes her mouthShe pins back or lowers her earsShe might wag her tail, but it’s stiffer (and sometimes held higher or lower than the comfortable neutral position). A wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog. If your dog is wagging her tail but the rest of her body is stiff, this is probably not a happy wag

If you see your dog go still and close his mouth, turn to focus on whatever might be disturbing her. If she goes from soft almond-shaped eyes to harder rounded eyes (sometimes with whites showing), it’s a sign she’s not comfortable with the situation. It’s not a cause to panic, it’s just information: Your dog is saying “I don’t like this” or “This makes me uncomfortable” or “When you do that, I feel uncomfortable.” Make note of what’s going on and change it; redirect the dog to move farther away or stop any unwanted interactions (with you, other people or other dogs).

Reading your dog’s body language can greatly help you understand how she’s feeling, so you can keep her as comfortable and safe as possible.

Stacy Braslau-Schneck is a longtime dog trainer and a professional member of the Association of Dog Pet Trainers. She works closely with the Human Society Silicon Valley and is the owner of Stacy’s Wag’N’Train, which offers small group classes and private lessons in San Jose, Calif. Stacy writes frequently for Exceptional Canine.

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What Is The Oldest Dog?

It's long been believed that dog breeds like the Akita, Afghan Hound and Chinese Shar-Pei are among the most ancient canines, but apparently -- we'll never know the truth. A new study found that dogs have been cross-bred so many times over the years, it's impossible to accurately trace their origins.
Researchers from Durham University said that our dogs might resemble those pictured in old texts and drawings, but so many changes have occurred in the thousands of years that have passed, that we can't accurately label any modern dog breeds as "ancient."

WebVet: Find a Dog Breed
Lead author Dr. Greger Larson explained,  "Ironically, the ubiquity of dogs combined with their deep history has obscured their origins and made it difficult for us to know how dogs became man's best friend. All dogs have undergone significant amounts of cross-breeding to the point that we have not yet been able to trace all the way back to their very first ancestors."
Want more proof?
Larson also noted that although dogs have been domesticated for 15,000 years -- we've only keeping them as pets for about 2,000 years. And it's only very recently that they've become "real" pets -- rather than being used for specific jobs.
"Both the appearance and behavior of modern breeds would be deeply strange to our ancestors who lived just a few hundred years ago," Larson explained. "And so far, anyway, studying modern breeds hasn't yet allowed us to understand how, where and when dogs and humans first started this wonderful relationship."

All medical-related content on WebVet has been veterinarian approved to ensure its timeliness and accuracy.

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4 Tips For Biking With Your Dog

Your biggest consideration when it comes to biking with your dog is safety -- yours, your dog’s, and that of people around you.

To ensure your safety, it pays to invest in some sort of attachment that allows you to place the force of your dog’s pulling low on your bike’s center of gravity. If you bike along while holding the dog’s leash in your hands, you are at risk of several problems:

Your dog can pull the leash out of your hands.Your dog can pull you over sideways.Your dog can pull on the handlebars and cause you to turn the bike precipitously.

If the dog’s leash is attached to the seat post or the back wheel axle, these problems can be avoided. Some products to look for include the WalkyDog, Springer, Biker Dog, K9 Cruiser, Bike-a-Buddy, and Sunlite bike leashes.

Use a breakaway leash.
Additionally, if your dog is on a normal leash, it can go on the opposite side of an obstacle. If the obstacle is something solid, like a pole or tree, then you might crash; if the obstacle is something living, like a human, it can be disastrous for everyone involved. (A 62-year-old woman in San Jose, Calif., was killed in 2009 when she was knocked over by dogs running on-leash alongside a bicycle.) For that reason, a breakaway leash is recommended. And because the risk of an accident or even just sudden stops and turns is increased, it’s especially important the human bike-rider wears a helmet.

Use a body harness instead of a collar.
For your dog’s safety, the dog should never run with a bike (or even worse, pull) while wearing any sort of neck collar -- especially a tightening collar, like a choke chain or martingale. It is extremely dangerous to ride a bike with a dog on a head halter of any sort. Your dog should always wear a body harness. Check frequently to see if the harness is fitting well and not chaffing.

Check your dog's paws.
If your dog is not very used to running on pavement (or even dirt trails) for long periods, your pal might need some conditioning time to toughen up paw pads. Check frequently.

Know your dog.
Dogs don’t sweat like humans do; they lose heat through panting and through their paws. Long-haired dogs, short-muzzled dogs (like Boxers or Pugs), and short-legged dogs (like Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, or Corgis) are in greater danger of overheating. Be sure to bring lots of water along for both you and your dog. (You can bring a lightweight bowl.)

Dogs that are easily distracted, have little impulse control, or are quickly stimulated by encounters with other fast-moving things (other bikes, other trail-users, birds, squirrels, etc.) are not very good candidates for bike-along trips. Likewise, a dog that responds well to an attention cue (“Watch me” or his own name) and has a good response to “Leave it” is probably your best biking partner.

Stacy Braslau-Schneck is a longtime dog trainer and a professional member of the Association of Dog Pet Trainers. She works closely with the Human Society Silicon Valley and is the owner of Stacy’s Wag’N’Train, which offers small group classes and private lessons in San Jose, Calif. Stacy writes frequently for Exceptional Canine.

All medical-related content on WebVet has been veterinarian approved to ensure its timeliness and accuracy.

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Studies Confirm: Dogs Are Amazing

Pretty much any dog owner will sing their pup's praises, boasting that he or she is an invaluable member of the family who improves everyone's quality of life. Surely it must be an exaggeration, according to the nay-sayers, aka, the dog-less. Just as each owner claims to have the "cutest" pooch, the virtues of ownership must be subject to bias.

But not so, according to study after study after study! The benefits of dog ownership and their positive impact on quality of life has been proven time after time again, as detailed in a new article from The Atlantic:

"Dog owners worldwide enjoy longer lifespans on average, and the company a canine provides makes those extra years of life more gratifying. Positive health attributes dogs afford remain a constant for young and elderly alike, including weight maintenance, reduced blood pressure, and improved cardiovascular fitness. The benefits of owning a dog are not limited to the physical. People with pets enjoy superior self-esteem, while suffering less depression due to an optimistic mindset that companionship with animals engenders."

Also . . .

"Studies in Germany, Australia, and China point to dog ownership as sound public policy. An examination of Chinese women (men were excluded) reported increased exercise, fewer doctor visits, and diminished use of sick days at work when a dog is present in the home. Australian and German dog owners were found to use free governmental health services less than the general populace. Pet owners in those countries made approximately 12 to 15 percent fewer annual doctor visits than their pet-less peers. German pet owners spent 32 percent fewer nights in a hospital. The benefits appeared particularly strong for elderly people, the population group with the worst constitutions and heaviest use of health services. The economic benefit was substantial, approximating savings in health expenditures of $5.59 billion for Germany and $3.86 billion for Australia annually."

Check out the rest of the item by clicking here!

All medical-related content on WebVet has been veterinarian approved to ensure its timeliness and accuracy.

View the original article here

What Is Your Dog Trying To Tell You?

As you train and bond with your dog, one of the most important things you should understand is when she’s uncomfortable with the situation she’s in. Many people -- even experienced dog owners -- are not good at reading subtle signs of discomfort. They think their dog is fine with what’s happening when, in fact, the dog is sometimes enduring the interaction under duress and protest. But you can learn what various body signals mean, and reading your dog’s body language can help you guard him from the things that cause him distress.

Read the Signs

If your dog is happy, content and comfortable, you’ll usually notice these signs:

He looks soft, with a loose and wiggly body, warm eyes, and a gently wagging tail or even a “wagging body”His eyes are squinty and almond-shaped, with no whites showingUsually she opens her mouth loosely, but the corners aren’t pulled backHer ears are neutral or up. A dog showing mild or comfortable curiosity perks his ears forward and might slow down other movements

Understand What Is Normal for Your Dog

It’s important to keep each dog’s normal expression into account, as dogs have different neutral positions for tails, ears, brow wrinkles, etc. A Border Collie or Greyhound in a calm, neutral mood will hold her tail a lot lower than a Husky or Akita, and as these dogs raise or lower their tails they might not even come close to the other breed’s neutral.

When a dog holds his tail higher than normal and his ears are forward or up, it indicates confidence and interest. Tails and ears held lower than normal indicates uncertainty, fear, or nervousness.

Recognize Distress

If your dog is nervous, uncomfortable, stressed or distressed, you’ll often see these signs:

As a first step, he’ll often look away from something that bothers him, as if he’s trying to ignore itHis body is stiffer and stillerHis eyes look rounded, with the whites showing. The eyes may appear hard or cold (some people report, “He gets that look in his eyes”)She closes her mouthShe pins back or lowers her earsShe might wag her tail, but it’s stiffer (and sometimes held higher or lower than the comfortable neutral position). A wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog. If your dog is wagging her tail but the rest of her body is stiff, this is probably not a happy wag

If you see your dog go still and close his mouth, turn to focus on whatever might be disturbing her. If she goes from soft almond-shaped eyes to harder rounded eyes (sometimes with whites showing), it’s a sign she’s not comfortable with the situation. It’s not a cause to panic, it’s just information: Your dog is saying “I don’t like this” or “This makes me uncomfortable” or “When you do that, I feel uncomfortable.” Make note of what’s going on and change it; redirect the dog to move farther away or stop any unwanted interactions (with you, other people or other dogs).

Reading your dog’s body language can greatly help you understand how she’s feeling, so you can keep her as comfortable and safe as possible.

Stacy Braslau-Schneck is a longtime dog trainer and a professional member of the Association of Dog Pet Trainers. She works closely with the Human Society Silicon Valley and is the owner of Stacy’s Wag’N’Train, which offers small group classes and private lessons in San Jose, Calif. Stacy writes frequently for Exceptional Canine.

View the original article here

Are Dogs Or Cats More Expensive?

It's a good thing that owning a pet comes with little perks like, ya know, longer lifespans, improved health and superior self-esteem -- cause they're certainly not cheap.

However cats are generally cheaper than most dogs, which is probably a likely reason why there are more pet cats in the U.S. than pet dogs. The first year of any ownership comes with a bigger balance line as one must cover spay/neuter costs and basic supllies. But once the the splurge subsides, it's actually small dogs who are the easiest to maintain.

The ASPCA studied the average costs of pet ownership and here's how the numbers shook out:

Small dog: $1,314 the first year, $580 per year after

Medium dog: $1,580 the first year, $695 per year after

Large dog: $1,843 the first year, $875 per year after

Cat: $1,035 the first year, $670 per year after

The annual costs include food, regular medical expenses, toys, treats, litter, poop bags and miscellaneous spending. If the numbers seem high, you're going to cringe when you hear that they're only the minimum. The ASPCA noted, “You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected veterinary care, as well as boarding facilities, pet sitters and dog walkers, if you plan to use them.” Eeeeek!

This study reads like a MasterCard commercial, because while you can put a price on all of these expenses -- the love between a pet and its human is, (you guessed it) PRICELESS!

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The 8 Dog Breeds That Bark The Most

Figure out What Your Dog Needs

Your dog barks because it wants your attention. Instead of ignoring the barks or hushing your dog, step back and try to figure out what your pal is trying to tell you. Ask yourself: Is your dog bored? Sad? Anxious? Afraid? Lonely? Most of these conditions can be fixed by spending more productive time together. Here’s what you can do to help:

Engage your dog. Instead of sitting on your patio and reading a book with your dog nearby, play a game of fetch or teach a new command         

Burn energy. Your dog might need more stimulation in the way of longer walks or jogs to feel part of the greater world. Moreover, exercise will zap excess energy that your dog will otherwise burn by barking.

Hire help. If you find you’re short on time, hire a dog walker or neighborhood kid who can entertain your pooch.

Be good company. Keep your dog inside with you, if possible, so that your best friend can at least feel your presence.

Behavior Modification

If you know your dog is perfectly self-actualized, perhaps you’ve unknowingly taught your dog to bark. For example, the owner who opens the door when the dog “speaks” reinforces the dog’s notion that you will respond to vocal commands. If this is the case, you’ll have to try behavior modification.

Teach your dog the command “Be quiet”: First, ask your dog to bark. Then, hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose. Your dog will immediately stop barking to sniff, at which point you say, “Be quiet.” When your dog complies, reward it with verbal encouragement and strokes. After three seconds of quiet, give your dog a treat. If your dog makes a mistake (and your pal will), clap your hands to provide a distraction and repeat the exercise.

Dogs With Barking in the DNA

Several breeds are known for barking, and unless you aim to purchase a watchdog, you may want to take this into consideration when you select a dog. These breeds include:

ChihuahuaCairn TerrierGerman ShepherdMiniature SchnauzerScottish TerrierRottweilerWest Highland White TerrierYorkshire Terrier

Dogs that bark too much can be completely irritating. Make sure your pet minds its manners and barks only when necessary -- such as when your football team scores a touchdown.

View the original article here

'Wow Wow Dog Circus'; In Japan Aims To Promote Pet Adoption (VIDEO) - Huffington Post

Japan’s pet industry is booming, but adoption rates for shelter dogs are devastatingly low, a heartbreaking trend one circus with a purpose is hoping to change.

Figures show that Japan lags behind a number of other countries in pet adoption, but its euthanizing numbers are soaring. One advocacy group, the Wow Wow Dog Circus, is aiming to make adoption more popular by bringing talented dogs to schools and educating students about responsible animal ownership, Reuters reports.

“We need a system (for adopting abandoned dogs),” Kayo Takeda, a dog trainer, told Reuters. “The sales at pet shops are very high, but overseas the choice to adopt a dog is much more prevalent. I'd like to hope that Japan will move forward in that direction."

But Takeda and her cohorts have to fight some pretty grim figures.

According to the Japan Times, more than 204,000 pets in Japan were euthanized three years ago. About 52,000 of these animals were dogs and the majority were cats. To put those figures into context, consider England’s euthanizing rate. Just over 7,000 dogs were put down in 2011, even though more than 126,000 were abandoned.

To encourage the Japanese to get more excited about the prospect of taking home a shelter dog, the Wow Wow Dog Circus shares critical information about the number of pets that are abandoned and also shows off its pups’ incredible talents. (One little guy jumps rope!).

But part of the problem, advocates say, is that shelters, for the most part, are filled with older dogs, which owners are not interested in raising.

"Japanese people are in the habit of going to a pet shop and buying a puppy,” Hiroyuki Satake, deputy director of the Tokyo metropolitan government's Animal Protection and Consultation Center, told The Japan Times. "In Tokyo there are no puppies brought to the pound and so we only have adult dogs to rehome.”

Also on HuffPost:

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Owner cited after dog attacks, injures 2 other dogs - 77Square.com

A dog owner was cited after her unleashed dog attacked and injured two other dogs Monday morning on the North Side, Madison police reported.

Lucille Brown, 55, Madison, was cited for permitting a dog to run at large, permitting an animal to injure another animal and having no dog license, police said in a news release.

Police said a 32-year-old Madison woman was walking her dogs, Max and Duchess, on leashes in the 1900 block of Heath Avenue when they were attacked by Brown's dog, Goldie.

"The responding officer said Goldie attacked both dogs quite viciously, alternating the attack back and forth between the two," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain in the release.

Max was still on leash with the owner but Duchess took off and was found later.

"Goldie's owner felt terrible about what happened," DeSpain said. "She told the officer her dog is sometimes too strong and powerful for her to control."

Information on the dogs' breeds were not provided by police.

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And now even the dogs - Washington Times

Enlarge Photo

Dachshund Molly, right, cuts in front of last year’s winner Longfellow to ... more >

The president’s health care reform was supposed to make medical treatment more affordable, especially for the uninsured. The closer we come to implementation, we can count the ways it won’t. Visits to the doctor will be very expensive, not just for humans, but for dogs, cats and even goldfish.

This is so because Obamacare includes a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices, a levy that took effect at the first of the year. The Internal Revenue Service rules do exempt instruments only used on animals from the tax, but there are many “dual use” devices that can also be used with human patients, such as IV pumps, catheters, scalpels, anesthesia equipment, even latex examination gloves whether used for man or beast. These common items are swept into the tax’s broad definitions. The cost of treating heartworm will go up with the cost of treating heartburn.

As their expenses increase, veterinarians will have to pass along the added costs to pet owners. It will be more expensive to properly treat man’s best friend, and vets are understandably concerned that low- and moderate-income families may put off treatment for furry and feathered friends.

“Congress never intended for this tax to [have an impact on] veterinary medicine, and unfortunately, it has,” Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association, told Miami’s WFOR-TV. “And I think that’s very unfortunate that veterinary medicine now is subsidizing human health care.” Chalk up another one for the law of unintended consequences.

Charitable groups that help struggling pet owners pay for veterinary care raise alarms, too. Carol Smock, the founder of the Brown Dog Foundation, fears her group “is going to be overwhelmed with requests.”

The American Pet Products Association estimates that Americans will spend $14.2 billion on veterinary care in 2013, up from $11 billion in 2010. Instead of seeing the alleviation of the suffering of four-legged members of many families as a noble goal, Obamacare sees veterinary care as a revenue-raiser.

There’s not much that can be done about it; congressional Republican leaders have run out of options. At the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, Sen. Mitch McConnell conceded, “We gave it everything we had, everything we had, and we just barely lost the legislative fight.” But he says he isn’t giving up the fight.

Driving up the cost of pet care is one of many surprises tucked away in what has become an out-of-control expansion of government. Mr. McConnell tweeted a photograph last week illustrating the magnitude of Obamacare regulations. “This is over 20,000 pages,” the minority leader wrote of the 7-foot-tall stack of bureaucracy. Every week, the stack, like a Doberman puppy, grows taller.”

The Washington Times

Correction: An earlier version of this article misquoted Sen. Mitch McConnell on the legislative fight over Obamacare. The text has been updated to accurately reflect his comments.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

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Someone is running over dogs in polygamous towns - Salt Lake Tribune (blog)

For the past few days I’ve been hearing reports of animals being run over by cars in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

After following a few leads, I heard from Issac Wyler that the most grisly event happened Feb. 20. Wyler — who did not see the incident himself — said some kids from a formerly FLDS family were playing with their dog near the dairy in Colorado City when a white pickup truck tried to run over the pet. Wyler said the kids were pleading with the driver to stop but he just laughed and "squished" the dog beneath the wheels of his truck.

"It didn’t even come close to surviving," Wyler said.

I wanted to talk to the kids’ parents and Wyler said he passed along my phone number, but no one ever called. Wyler speculated that the family might be too scared to attract any publicity.

Wyler also said that about three weeks before the Feb. 20 incident his own daughter was riding horses with a friend when someone tried to run them off the road. That driver eventually gave up, Wyler said, but a block later a different vehicle ran over their dog. In that case, Wyler added, the dog survived.

Wyler said the incidents have been reported to local law enforcement.

Representatives from the Mojave County Sheriff’s Office said they couldn’t provide information about ongoing investigations. However, Arizona Attorney General spokeswoman Kathleen Winn said Thursday that an investigator had been assigned to the case.

The incidents are also the latest in a string of unusual and sometimes violent treatment of animals in the twin polygamous towns. In the past, there have been allegations that police acted on orders from FLDS leader Warren Jeffs to help euthanize dogs.

And then there was the incident in 2012 when someone buried a kitten in wet cement on Wyler’s property. After that incident Wyler said that he has been finding dead cats on his property for years.

— Jim Dalrymple

jdalrymple@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jimmycdii

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