Devoted To Dogs

Anthropomorphism A Dirty Word?

2011-01-21T23:01:00.004-05:00

Anthropomorphism means to attribute human qualities to animals. Is this such a bad thing?
We do this, simply as a means of reference to reference expressions and behaviors. As Alexandria Horrowitz states " Anthropomorphism's are not inherently odious. They are born of attempts ot understand the world,not to subvert it. Our human ancestors would have regularly anthroponmorphized in an attempt to ex plan an predict the behavior of other animals, including those they might want to eat or that might want to eat them." Inside a Dog, What Dogs, See Smell and Know Alexandra Horowitz, Scribner, copy write 2009.
In our relationship with dogs humans tend to ascribe human labels to the dog's behaviour. This is only normal as we have no other point of reference. It is important to remember this, as many feel that ascribing human traits or emotions to dogs is negative. Further to this, many will scorn animal communication for just this reason. They will say that dogs do not think or feel, they are animals and as such are governed purely by biology: they eat, sleep and procreate. Basically many think of dogs and other animals as biological robots.
However, dogs and many other animals are sentient beings in that they do think, and feel. This is not to say that they think in the same terms as humans. Dogs think in a linear fashion. That is to say that if A happens then B must follow.
Thus when communicating with animals one is not using psychic ability, but rather telepathic ability This means a fair amount of concentration is needed to be able to hear the animal's thoughts. The communicator will interpret these thoughts into human language so that we humans can understand the thoughts more clearly.
This is not anthrpomorphism but merely interpreting and using human feelings, and language as a point of reference.
Animal communication is a wonderful tool as it can help the pet guardian to understand their companion animal, it can also help in diagnosing illness as under normal circumstances the pet guardian will have to make guesses about illness as for the most part both dogs and cats are very stoic about not feeling well.The animal communicator will instead ask the animal such questions as how are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?I personally have used the services of an animal communicator to find out why my Davina exhibits different behaviors with me than she does with my husband. The answers were very interesting. In addition I have taken some courses in animal communication from Claudia Hehr. She is an amazing person and extremely telepathic

As an aside I have noticed that I have two followers of this blog. I would love to have your comments about this entry and any other issues I have discussed on the blog. I love comments it means I am not talking to myself.

cbc radio one broadcast Dogs themselves

2011-01-04T13:33:00.002-05:00

In December there was a three part radio broadcast on CBC radio one called "Dogs themselves" with among others Suzanne Clouthier and Gillian Ridgeway. The discussion was about do dogs have cognitive ability and if so how do dogs view the world. It was very interesting in that the general consensus was that dogs do have cognitive ability but view the world differently. It was suggested that dogs see the world more in pictures than in a verbal sense. Dr. Coren has suggested that dogs see the world and have memory much like a two year old child does.
Although I have no scientific observations to back it up am of the opinion that dogs actually understand more than they are actually given credit for.
For those reading my blog and or following it, I would be interested in comments and stories about the cognitive ability of dogs and how much others feel their dogs actually understand.

Obdience training

2010-09-04T13:23:00.002-05:00

Norma Jeanne Laurette from IPDTA has an article about dominance theory and obedience training. She is basically stating in the article that obedience training is making someone do something, to subordinate.
I tend to agree.
While it is necessary to teach the dog to sit, stay, come, leave it and several other commands that are important for the dog's own safety, this can be done without making the dog subordinate.
Teaching the dog can be done through operant conditioning. In operant conditioning the individual can manipulate his environment either in a positive or negative way.
Teaching can also be made fun. It can be a sort of Montessori for dogs.

Domination theory again

2010-07-01T09:27:00.002-05:00

I have been doing much reading and research about Domination Theory. What does it mean to dominate someone? It means to make that person subordinate, inferior. Those who use domination theory as part of training advocate for making the dog subordinate to humans. Why is this necessary? Do humans fear that their dog is plotting to over throw the humans in the household?
The other part of dominance theory is that dogs actually view humans as part of the canine pack. The humans must become the "alpha" or dominant one in the pack.
Dogs are smart and do know that humans are a different species and do not want to gain control, if for no other reason than the fact that the humans can open the fridge, use the can opener and have better food.
In nature dominance is fluid. This means that who is the dominant or alpha in the pack today, can change due to a variety of factors.
In dog training, employing the dominance theory invariably means using aversive (physical punishment) and forcing the dog to be subordinate. The dog performs out of fear of punishment, not for the pleasure or anticipation of a reward.
In positive dog training humans employ an understanding of canine behavior and the dog performs as he knows that by doing what is asked he is rewarded. Not performing the requested task does not get him a reward. It is a simple equation and makes perfect sense in doggie arithmetic.
What it all boils down to is this: Would you rather have a dog that is afraid of you or a dog that enjoys doing what is requested of him.

The proof is in about vaccinatiions

2010-07-01T09:05:00.002-05:00

When I first started going to the Holistic veterinary East York Animal Clinic four years ago the Veterinary told me that dogs did not need anything other than rabies. I was willing to try this in order to get Davina's seasonal allergies under control. I was skeptical at the time. I was also worried thinking maybe she will get Parvo or distemper or something.
Well since then, there have been many articles written about over vaccination and how it breaks down the dog's immune system. There have been articles in Dogs in Canada, and various veterinary websites about this.
Many dogs today have developed food allergies, as well as environmental allergies. This is mainly due to a breakdown of the immune system due to over vaccination.
It should be noted that after the puppy shots that the dog received within the first three to four months of life he only needs the rabies vaccination. Instead of vaccinating, ask your veterinary to do what are called titre tests. This is a blood test to find out if your dog has the antibodies for Parvo. If he does then he does not need the vaccination. Other vaccinations your dog does not really need are kennel cough, and Lepto vaccine. It should be noted that certain breeds of dogs cannot tolerate the Lepto vaccine well, and this should be researched as well as consulting with your veterinary about how well your dog can tolerate certain vaccinations. The new rabies vaccinations are good for three years.
In addition to this, some heart worm medications such as sentinel have insecticides to kill fleas and tics. This is harmful to your dog.
When choosing a heart worm medication check which ones do not have insecticides.
Heart Guard which is for heart worm only is a safe bet.
It is important that your dog be as natural a dog as possible.

Weebly - Website Creation Made Easy

2009-11-24T12:29:00.000-05:00

Weebly - Website Creation Made Easy

Natural dog training

2009-10-03T10:52:00.002-05:00

While watching a program called Animal House Calls a new training technique was introduced. This is called natural dog training. You can learn more about this from looking at their blog which is naturaldogblog.com From reading this blog, it is basically going with the dog's natural instincts and being relaxed. There is one particular article on the blog that is interesting which is called "Be the Moose" This article talks about the dog's prey instinct and how the dog will run with the moose and hopefully have a meal. The main thing is that the moose is the most important thing, that the moose as prey. That hunting the moose expends a great deal of energy. Much more energy than say a jack rabbit.
The article is also saying that what is important is the energy and going with the natural flow of the dog. This technique is very interesting and seems to fit in with positive training techniques. I personally am very excited about this type of training and hope to learn more in the near future.

Different types of Aggression and dog language

2009-09-06T11:40:00.004-05:00

What is aggression? Basically it is a warning to stay away or else things will get nasty. There are different types of aggression.
There is fear aggression where the dog becomes aggressive out of fear
There is maternal aggression where the mother is protecting her young
There is dog on dog aggression which usually happens when a dog has not been socialized properly.
Maternal aggression is understood so no explanation is necessary.
Fear aggression occurs when the dog is afraid of person or another dog and the fight or flight instinct comes into play.
Dog on dog aggression when the under socialized dog becomes aggressive to other dogs as he is not sure how to react or how the other dog will react.
Fear aggression and dog on dog aggression can be fixed with the help of a behaviorist.
Other types of aggression include toy guarding and food bowl guarding as well as territorial aggression. Food bowl and toy guarding can be changed with changes in training. By using such techniques as nothing is for free. For food bowl guarding if the handler starts by putting treats in the food bowl while the dog is eating he will begin to thing that having someone touch his food bowl is a good thing.
The warning signs that a dog has had enough should be carefully observed and respected.
These signs include: the dog becomes more alert, ears stand up straight, the tail wags slowly from side to side. The dog becomes angrier, the tail goes straight up and the fur starts to stand up. The dog is making himself look bigger. If these warning signs are not heeded the dog starts barking, if this is not heeded he shows teeth mouth drawn back and teeth show this is the final warning sign, the next step is biting to protect himself.
Note: please see Dr. Stanley Coren's book "Learning to Speak Dog" for all warning signs.
It should be noted that some people say that pit bulls attack and bite without warning. This is due to the ears being pricked and the tail being docked. With dogs with pricked ears and a docked tail it is difficult to observe the warning signs that aggression is escalating. Hence the person only sees the drawn back mouth and the final warning before attack.
If one encounters a dog that is showing some signs of aggression one should stand still like a tree until the dog leaves.

Aggression

2009-09-06T11:40:00.001-05:00

Nutrition

2009-06-02T12:20:00.004-05:00

Just last week there was a repeat of a documentary on CBC television called "A dog's breakfast"
This documentary verified that the majority of veterinaries do not get courses in nutrition but rather lectures from pet food companies.
It should be noted that what they did not mention was that there are to bodies of knowledge, research that one can follow re nutritional requirements for both cats and dogs.
There is the National Research Council which is individually funded and does not answer to any companies The NRC lists the nutritional requirements for dogs, and cats through various life cycles.
Then there is the American Association of Feed and Agriculture which is funded by feed and pet food companies.
This lists the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs and cats.
In devising a diet for both cats and dogs, one must keep in mind what they would eat if feral.
Dogs are scavengers thus will eat anything this means that they are omnivores. Cats are obligatory carnivores. A feral cat eats small mammals, and birds not rice, or grain.
It is felt that it is more important to go with the nutritional requirements laid out by the National research council rather than to feed for the minimum requirements.

Once again Dominance theory and the "Alpha" dog

2009-04-11T10:49:00.003-05:00

What is dominance theory? It is the concept that humans must dominant not just dogs but all animals, that humans have to be higher than other mammals. Where does this come from?
Basically it comes from the concept that only humans have a "soul". As Dr. Coren in one of his books stated that at one time it was felt that as animals did not have a soul they could not feel pain. Hence it was okay to kick, whip and generally mistreat all animals.
Out of this belief came the dominance theory and the concept that we as humans must dominate all animals. Hence the words and ideas such as "breaking in" a horse came into play.
To dominate an animal is then to break the animal, to have the animal do things out of fear.
In line with the dominance theory comes the concept of the "alpha" dog. This come from observing wolves in captivity where one adult wolf dominates or becomes top wolf over other adult wolves.
In the wild, every adult wolf becomes an "alpha" at one time. This occurs when the wolf reaches sexual maturity and leaves the parents and mates. The adult male and female wolves become the alpha of their pack and nurture the wolf cubs who are "beta".
The observation of wolves is responsible for many of corrective methods used in training dogs.
In order to fully understand dog behaviour, one would be better off observing wild dogs in countries where dogs are feral. In these countries the wild dogs are pretty much solitary, joining a pack or other dogs on a temporary basis in order to forage for food
We as humans have come a long way since the time when it was believed that only we had souls. So why does the dominance theory have so much popularity? Many people still believe that to train a dog is to gain dominance over the dog. In doing so the dog will only do what it is told out of fear and not in a joyful happy way because he wants to. The concept of an alpha dog is also becoming obsolete.
It is granted that some dogs are more assertive than others. This is basically their personality just as some dogs are more fearful of strangers.
So then, one might ask, what about the dog who is food bowl possessive or toy possessive? Are they alpha dogs or is something else going on. Guarding the food bowl or toys is usually about not being taught to give something up. The dog will naturally guard its food bowl unless the human guardian shows the dog that when they put their hands in the food bowl good things go in there.
What then is the alternative to dominance theory and corrective training? It is as I have said before, positive reinforcement, positive training.

Once again dominance theory and T.V. shows

2009-01-06T17:04:00.003-05:00

Brad Pattison's show Off the leash is extremely detrimental and shows only how to train a dog using dominance theory. The concept that the dog wants to dominate humans is false. Basically the untrained dog will do what comes naturally. What is that you ask? When walking the dog will pull at the leash because he is trying to get to a smell, to some piece of appetizing garbage etc, will bark at things that he feels is threatening. This is natural behaviour. Training is to curb these behaviors.
Brad Pattison's show makes for good television as it is action packed, tells people what they want to hear and buys into the dominance theory. The point is that the dog will submit out of fear. It should be noted however that a dog that submits out of fear to his owners will eventually exhibit aggressive behaviour (fear aggression) when the owner wants him to do a new behavior.
What is the alternative? Positive training or operant conditioning where the owner rewards only behavior that is desired and ignores unwanted behavior. The dog eventually learns that if he does A than he will get B. Thus the dog does the behavior because he wants to and knows there is a reward at the end of the behavior.
This unfortunately does not make for good television viewing as it is slow, tedious and repetitive.
However, positive training stays with the dog.
It should also be noted here that a critique of the movie "Marley and me" is on the IPDTA web site. This critique states largely what I have already stated that dogs do not wish to dominate humans and that if one decides on getting a puppy, they should be aware of the dog that pup will eventually become and do the training.

Have gone from blog to website

2008-10-10T10:43:00.002-05:00

For those visiting my blog and I hope it is many people. I now have a website that should hopefully be available on search engines withing a couple of weeks. The website is of course www.devotedtodogs.ca
Please try searching for it and if you cannot find it let me know by emailing me at devotedtodogs@msn.com
Thanks.

How to Create a Monster

2008-07-16T21:05:00.002-05:00

The Pit Bull is associated with aggression both against other dogs and humans. What makes this dog a monster? Breeding and handling for the large part are responsible.
In breeding there are generations of aggression bred into this breed and the American Bull Terrier, and the Staffinshire Terrier. What has happened is that these dogs have been specifically bred for aggression for dog fighting and bull baiting. The breeding for aggression also breeds out the normal social responsiveness that would normally make dogs cooperative pack animals. These dogs do not react normally to the signals of the social order of the pack. They do not respond to the submissiveness of another dog, or that matter of a human in a weakened condition.
The breeding makes these dogs easily stimulated to the point where they will launch an attack. On occasion the stimulation that triggers their aggressiveness is inadvertent or accidental.
Some would say that these statement made of the Pit Bull, Staffinshire Terrier and American Bull Terrier are reason enough to ban the breed. It should also be noted that the Akita is also classified as a fighting dog. Yes this dog is a good pet.
Instead of banning these breeds and committing a canine genocide let us look at alternatives.
What can be bred in can also be bred out. This will however, take many generations of breeding to get Pit Bulls that are not easily provoked and have the natural pack animal instincts.
Case in point of breeding for gentleness and easy trainability a man by the name of James Hinks of Birmingham England. "He believed that that the breed then called the Pit and Bull Terrier could be shaped to provide the gentlemen of the day with an elegant looking companion, one that was calmer and more reliable than the dogs bred for fighting"
(Stanely Coren " Why Does My Dog Act That Way" 2006)
Hence after mixing several dogs into the genetic pool the result was the English Bull Terrier with the barrel chest and slopped snout. The dog from "Our Gang" This took several generations of breeding in order to get the right mix of appearance, and temperament.
Another case in point is the Bull Dog. Initially this dog was designed for Bull Baiting. This dog was bred to be easily provoked to violence and aggressive action and a tenacious fighter that would ignore injuries. Physically it had wide shoulders, the head and forequarters very well developed and the rib cage made of heavy bones.
These qualities particularly the aggression over many generations was bred out.
In conclusion then, it should be said that rather than banning a breed, lets get good responsible breeders involved in making the necessary genetic changes to the above mentioned breeds so that in several generations they are good, reliable calm dogs that are not easily provoked.
In breeding out aggression the first step is to spay and neuter any potential breeding dogs that show any sign of aggression and breed only those that prove to be gentle and not easily provoked. As well as this it is important to possibly through another breed into their gene pool to guarantee the outcome.
Yes this is a long process and would probably take twenty or thirty years to get they type of dog we want as part of our household. Isn't it worth it, rather than having breed specific bans. ?

Two dog household, Dog on Dog aggression

2008-01-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

Usually when there are two dogs in a household they find a way to co exist with as little conflict as possible. This peaceful co existance usually takes a lot of work on the part of the human guardians.
Sometimes there is dog on dog aggression between the canine members of the household. In most cases this is not continious as the humans intervene by showing the dogs that this is undesirable behaviour.
The reason for this dog on dog aggression is simple, the dogs are competing for desired resources. These resources could be food, affection, a specific resting place etc. In a two dog household one dog is usually more dominant than the other dog. The human guardian needs to recognize this. The usual prescribed procedure is to feed the more dominant dog first, pet the more dominant dog first.
However when this aggression or competition for desired resources continues there are ways to show the dogs that this is unacceptable and will not get them the desired resources.
First, the dogs need to be separated so that they do not harm each other. Once separated time out in individual crates for about thirty minutes to an hour without any attention is the best way of handling the situation. Once released from the crates the humans should not fuss over the dogs, but simply open the crate doors and go on about their business. If the behaviour persists then repeat the time out until the dogs learn that only good behaviour gets the desired results.
As well as separating and giving time out, having the dogs on a schedule is very helpful. Dogs like it when everything in their life is predictable. As a rule dogs do not like change.
Feeding on schedule and walking on a schedule gives the dogs a sense of security. This sense of security is interpreted in that things will happen at certain times and there is no reason to compete as the food will appear at a specific time every day and walks occur at a certain time. Dogs do seem to have a built in clock and know when things should be occurring.
For dogs that feel they need to compete with each other for desired resources, free feeding is not a good idea.
As well as the above, it is important that dogs living in the same household who show aggression towards each other are never left alone unsupervised.

Why animals should not be given as gifts

2007-12-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

Christmas is coming and many parents will decide that wouldn't it be nice to give a kitten or puppy to their child as a present. People do this for birthdays as well. This is not a good idea, as not a lot of thought, consideration or foresight has been given to the breed of dog, the proper care and feeding of the animal or who will care for and train the animal. As well as this, holidays are hectic times and the animal will get hyper. Christmas, in particular can be a dangerous time for pups and kittens. They can get into poisonous plants, Christmas decorations, get stepped on etc.
Then what happens after the holidays? The animal is still there, growing from an infant into a mature animal. Who is training it? Then lo and behold, by April the cute little puppy has become a sixty pound adolescent dog. The parents say they weren't prepared for such a big dog, the child has lost interest and no longer wants to walk or feed the animal. So what happens, its off to the pound with the animal because they family realized they did not want a dog, they wanted a cute little puppy.
Surprise, puppies do not stay puppies forever.

This is a mistake many people make they give puppies and kittens and Christmas and rabbits at Easter. Animals are sentient beings and as such should not be treated as a toy to be cast aside.

So before getting a puppy or kitten for your child think about it.
Think about what breed you want, do you want an active dog or a couch potato, a large breed or small breed. How much time, energy and yes money are you willing to invest in the dog. if the dog is supposedly for your child, please realize that ultimately the dog or cat will be the parents responsibility. finally, after finding a reputable breeder or if you decide on a rescue dog, take your child or children with and let them choose one that is compatible with them.

Breeding dogs.

2007-11-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

Don't know if anyone is actually viewing this blog, however let me speak of something near and dear to my heart, responsible dog breeding.
Recently two individuals in my neighborhood decided to breed and make "designer dogs" The male,the sire is a Labrador retriever, the female, the Dame a standard poodle.
Neither of these dogs have come from reputable breeders in the first place as there was no spay/neuter contract(if there had been they are both in violation)
The owners of both the dogs did not have the dogs genetically tested for all the possible problems with both breeds.
There were seven pups in the litter, they are selling the pups for $1000 each!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, they have bred for fun and profit and will reap the rewards, but what of the pups?
Will they be healthy? Will they go to good homes? Will the owner of the Bitch do adoption interviews, screen the potential buyers or will they just give the pups to anyone who is willing to spend $1000?
To me, and to many other people reputable breeding means breeding for the betterment of the breed, to get dogs that meet the standard for the breed, and have a good temperament. Reputable breeding also means genetic screening for all the possible genetic ailment that that particular breed is prone to. Finally, reputable breeding means screening potential buyers of the pups to make sure that they will care properly for the dog and not abuse it.

International Positive Dog Training Conference and much more.

2007-11-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

On October 26 and 27 I was at the International Positive Dog Training Conference. There were many knowledgeable speakers at this conference including Dr. Stanley Coren.
One of the many things that was emphasized at this conference was that changing a dog's behaviour, particularly aggressive behaviour is a slow process when done properly. It was further emphasized that having a dog "submit" or using forceful measures will provide a temporary solution but will in the end give you a more aggressive dog. Dr. Coren also stated that Caesar Milan has been censored by the American Kennel Club.
At this conference I was given an award for Strength of Convictions.

Just wanted to add that in California, PETA is continuing to petition to ban breeding and lumps reputable breeders in with puppy mills. I have spoken here in the past about the difference between reputable breeders and puppy mills.

Breed Specific legislation

2007-10-07T16:04:00.000-05:00

I am yet again going to speak about breed specific legislation. What does it really mean? It means that at any time, any breed can be included into this legislation. What are the prerequisites for inclusion? Well number of times a specific breed has bitten to harm a person, whether that specific breed appears dangerous by barking a lot etc.

Many people will argue that having breed specific legislation for the dreaded pit bull and other breeds that resemble the pit bull is important as this breed (which is a non breed, but in reality a mixed breed) is important. Included in this legislation are American bull terriers, Staffinshire terriers. The latter are actually pedigrees and are not dangerous.
If you are for breed specific legislation, be careful because soon the breed you prefer could be on that list. Italy has over thirty-six breed including border collies on their breed specific legislation.

What to do instead of Breed Specific Legislation?
Simply place heavy fines and possibly prison terms on irresponsible dog owners or owners who by specific dogs and make them aggressive towards both people and other dogs. As I have said in this blog many times before responsible dog ownership is very important.
Responsible dog ownership involves socializing the dog, good training and having control over the dog. These are very important factors.
Those that passed the breed specific legislation in 2005 did not consult with experts in the dog behaviour field or with the Canadian Kennel Club or with veterinaries they just passed something that was felt would appease the general public.
Please reconsider your stand on breed specific legislation in view of the above.

Short post about Michael Vick

2007-09-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

Michael Vick, a football player has been much in the news lately for raising dogs for dog fights and has been sited for killing dogs that are not aggressive enough. He has pled guilty and stated he is a product of his environment.
What environment is that? Is it the environment of growing up in a family that was of the lower Socio - Economic group or was it the environment of growing up thinking that animals are property, and are not sentient beings. ? I tend to think it is the latter rather than the former.

Raising a dog to be aggressive is actually an easy thing. All one has to do is be abusive, not bother to teach bite inhibition and treat the animal cruelly.
Should this individual receive a period of incarceration? I would say yes. Some people have suggested that he do community service work at a shelter. Personally, with the attitude he has shown I would keep him far away from dogs. In fact I would put a condition that he is not to own, or be near dogs for several years on any parole or probation he might receive.
Further, should the football team reinstate him? I would say no, however, the owner of the team he plays for seems to feel otherwise as this individual does bring in a crowd and therefore money.
It was assumed that there was a morality clause involve in professional team players contracts. It seems obvious that people do not consider dog fighting or killing dogs to be against a morality clause.

PETA revisiting the spay/neuter bill

2007-09-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

Just to let everyone who is interested know, PETA is revisiting the spay/neuter bill in California later this year. They are hoping to gain support.
Passing this bill would be rather short sighted as in ten years that state will be without dogs.
The important part of this bill is, if passed, other states might follow and soon Canada might think it is a good idea and adopt similar legislation.
Please pay attention to what PETA is attempting in California as this could mean that not only will California be a state without dogs but North America could become a Continent without dogs.
Can anyone imagine living without a dog.?

Caesar Milan the "Dog Whisperer

2007-08-04T13:17:00.000-05:00

When watching Caesar Milan on television with dogs it appears that he does not think of dogs as sentient beings. It appears, rather that he thinks of dogs as property or objects.
Much has been made of his "Alpha roll overs" What this basically is, is forcing the dog on his back as this is supposedly the submissive position for a dog.
By forcing the dog on its back, especially an aggressive dog, one is greeting aggression with aggression as the dog will view this as an aggressive act. In forcing the dog on his back, and keeping him there by whatever means until he becomes submissive to the will of the human is Caesar Milan's basic premise.
It should be noted that in forcing a dog to remain in this position a certain amount of physical force is required.
This concept goes against humane training where the dog does what is asked of him because he wants to please his person.
Dogs naturally want to please humans and treating the dog as a sentient being that can decide to an extent to behave well is what humane dog training is about.
Further, humane dog training does not believe in physical force of any kind.
This is so different than "Caesar's way" as night is from day.
If more information is wanted about humane dog training please leave your comments.

Difference between puppy mill, backyard breeder and reputable breeder

2007-07-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

I have talked a lot about puppy mills, backyard breeders and reputable breeders in the past, but have not discussed the definition of them and why when purchasing a pup one should only go to a reputable breeder.
A puppy mill will have several different breeds of dog, the operator's sole motive is profit. The dogs are like livestock to the operator. They are kept in cages, practically from the time they are born, do not exercise, do not play. The breeders (the females especially, ) are bred from the first heat at six months of age. The dogs will stay in the cages, they are cleaned sporadically and most live in their own waste and are filthy, The operators do not give vaccines. Most of the dogs are in ill health.
There is a lot of interbreeding, meaning litter mates are bred to each other.
The pups are usually sold to pet stores.

Backyard breeders: This is an interesting type of breeder. They usually purchase a male and female and let nature take its course. The dogs are treated more humanly than they are in a puppy mill. The motive is still profit. Although the pups are pure bred in that the breeder has purchased two dogs of the same breed. The dogs cannot be registered as they were not purchased from a reputable (show ) breeder.
The Bitch is usually bred several times during her life and probably past the age when she should be breeding. The backyard breeder will usually keep a male and female from a litter. There is a great deal of inter breeding and there could be many health problems. These pups are usually advertised and sold either on line or through newspaper ads. The breeder never asks questions of the person coming to purchase a pup, and is only interested in the money.

Reputable Breeders, (show breeders)
These breeders are interested in one thing only when breeding. That is getting a pup that is the best specimen of that particular breed that will grow into a show dog. The rest of the litter are sold as pet quality dogs. The show breeder will not inter breed and will usually have the Sire and Dam genetically tested for all the generic pre dispositions of the breed such as a thyroid conditions etc. If either the Sire or Dam show a genetic pre disposition for these things they are not bred, they are spayed or neutered and sold as pet quality dogs.
The show breeder cares where the pups will go, so when buying from a show breeder be prepared for an intensive interview.
Show breeders will often sell a pup after six months. This is because the pup they thought would be a good show dog grows to be larger than the standard for the breed or is to small for the standard.
Show breeders are interested in producing a good dog that meets the breed standard. When purchasing a pup from a show breeder there will be a spay/neuter contract as they do not wish the person to breed a dog they consider to have "flaws" for show.
Show breeders rarely make a profit as there are entrance fees for dog shows, no dog show offers a purse prize, there is genetic testing veterinary fees etc.
The pups purchased from a show breeder are healthy and have a two year guarantee on the contract. That is if the pup becomes ill due to a genetic factor the breeder will take the pup back in the contract they specify that they will replace it with a healthy pup.

In purchasing a pedigree dog one should go to the specific breed clubs to check for a breeder or look in the "Dogs in Canada" magazine where they list breeders for specific breed.
Show breeders do not breed until the Bitch has had her third heat and then the dog only has three litters before being "retired".

Calfifornia Bill Defeated

2007-07-20T15:01:00.000-05:00

Just a quick entry right now to let everyone, anyone who views the blog that the California Bill to spay neuter all dogs by 6 months old has been defeated and not even a modified version is to be considered. This is good news.

California a world without dogs

2007-06-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

In California, PETA is successfully having a Bill put through that all dogs must be spayed/neutered at the age of six months. In this Bill, breeders must have their dogs spayed/neutered by six months as well unless they breed/show them at that age.
For those who are not aware of this, a dog cannot be shown until they are at least two years old. Many breeders will pick one pup from a litter that they think has possible show potential. At six months of age the breeder can tell whether the pup still has the show potential or whether they are bigger or smaller than the standard, if they have such "faults" as an under bite, or over bite. At this time they start training for the show ring. In addition no responsible breeder will breed before two years of age.
The only "breeders" that breed when a female has her first season are Puppy Mills.

PETA's reasoning is that there are plenty of dogs in pounds to choose from and that breeding is a form of abuse.
What this potentially means is that in about five to ten years time is that there will be no dogs in California.
The pound dogs will have been adopted, they will have been spayed/neutered, there will be no new puppies for potential dog owners to adopt as the breeding stock will have been diminished. Thus, California will become a d0gless state.

The only puppies that will potentially be available will be Puppy Mill puppies. What this will mean is puppies with a multitude of health problems, high veterinary bills and dogs dying at very young ages due to illness.

If PETA can get this legislation passed in California it will attempt to do so in other states and eventually in Canada.

Thus, supporting PETA in anyway is eventually supporting a dogless society.

Dog Behaviour and Aggression

2007-06-18T16:39:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I attended a workshop on dog behaviour and aggression from Canine Communications The lecturer was Norma Jean Laurette, I will not even attempt to reproduce the whole lecture here, aside from the fact that it would be plagiarism.
In this workshop it was learned that there are several different types of aggression such as frustration aggression, pain aggression, fear aggression. It was stated that 97% of bites are fear bites. It was also stated that many bites can be prevented and predicted as a dog never bites without giving a very clear warning. In his book Learning How to Speak Dog, by Stanley Coren canine body language is outlined. If one reads this book and watches the dog certain body language becomes evident.
It should also be noted that dogs never bite without a reason Thee are different types of aggression such as fear aggression, frustration aggression, pain aggression. In analyzing the type of aggression once must first take the dog to the vet for a thorough checkup including blood work to make sure the dog is not in physical pain.
After it has been established that there is no physical reason for the aggression one can with the help of a qualified trainer/behaviourist work on changing the dogs behaviour. In doing so an interrupter must be used. It doesn't matter what as long as it does not cause pain and fear. The main interrupters that are out are choke collars, shock collars, alpha roll overs and flooding.
One of the main ways to change aggressive behaviour according to Norma Jean is the Nothing is for free approach. In this approach the dog must learn that food, affection, treats and freedom must be earned.
In using this approach and others the whole family must be involved, as the family where the dog lives were probably part of the problem and hence must be part of the solution.
If more information is required please leave a comment expressing this.

A dog is for life

2007-06-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

Having been to two Sheltie Rescue events in a row, it saddens my heart to think how many dogs, pedigrees are brought into breed rescues. This is mainly due to people not doing research before deciding on buying a dog.

That cute little Labrador retriever puppy will quickly grow into a 60 pound adult dog that needs lots of exercise and sheds. That tiny little sheltie puppy will grow into an adult dog that barks, sheds and needs plenty of exercise.
So before buying that puppy check out all the characteristics and possible health problems of that breed and ask yourself if you are ready for the commitment .
People need to ask themselves several questions before purchasing a dog. These include:
1. how much time will I be spending with the dog
2. how much exercise and stimulation am I prepared to provide
3. Can I afford a dog.
This is very important as the first year of a dog's life will probably cost anywhere from $2000 to $5000 including the purchase price. These costs include purchase price of a pedigree dog, puppy shots, spaying or neutering, puppy classes, crate, bed, toys, bowls etc.

Once a person has decided on a specific breed, after doing research the next step is finding a reputable breeder. For that you can look on the Internet under the breed clubs for a breeder. Never buy a dog without seeing him.
When visiting the breeder things you need to check for:
1. are both the sire and dame there
2. what is the temperament of the parents
3. does the breeder interview you
4. are the dogs in an outdoor kennel or kept in the house
5. how many litters does the breeder allow from one bitch
6. Are there more than one breed on the premises or is the breeder breed specific
(puppy mill)

You should also ask the breeder:
1. have the parents been genetically tested for all breed specific problems
2. is the breeder breeding out for these problems and aggression
3. It is important to know if the breeder is a show breeder or just breeding for profit (backyard breeder)

Once an individual has done their homework, settled on the breed that best meets their life style and chosen a reputable breeder, dog and owner will enjoy many happy healthy years together and hopefully there will be no need for rescue groups.

Dilemma of what to feed your dog

2007-05-23T10:52:00.000-05:00

With all the controversy and recalls of manufactured dog food there is a real dilemma as to what to feed your dog.
The majority of traditional veterinaries will say "no human food" The reasons for this are twofold.
1. a lot of people will feed their dog table scraps such a Grissel, and any left overs from dinner
2. The majority of veterinaries do not take animal nutrition courses but rather get lectures from dog food companies and a percentage of merchandise sold if they sell the food in their practice.

When thinking about pet food here is an interesting thought: Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and dog food has only been with us for 70 years.

One of the main books that started me thinking about the negative effects of dog food was "Food your dog dies for" by Ann Martin. In this book she discusses the filler in dog food, what exactly the meat bi products are in the majority of dog food and the chemical additives that can be carcenogenic
In buying dog food the old saying of "you get what you pay for " counts The cheaper brands of dog food that you buy at Cosco, Wall Mart, and other pet supply stores may contain as meat bi products euthanized dogs and cats, complete with collars. In the more expensive specialized dog foods such as Mother Hubbards Wellness the products are human consumable and there are no bi products.

However, to be on the safe side either home feeding or BARF diet are the best. When preparing food for your dog one should be aware that dogs are not true carnivores they are omnivores and need vegetables and carbohydrates in their diet.

The BARF diet is all raw meat and vegetables. One would think this is expensive but quite the contrary. On the BARF diet the dog can eat chicken or turkey necks, and raw vegetables. (It is only cooked chicken or turkey bones that splinter in the dogs stomach)
If raw feeding doesn't appeal to you then home cooking is the ideal. It is not time consuming or expensive.
Home cooking is actually the best way to go if your dog has food allergies, or any type of skin conditions.

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate

2007-05-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

I have learned a lot in the last year about allergies and dogs from the Holistic Vet I have been going to. The main thing I have learned is that over vaccinating can compromise the immune system causing allergies.
At once time I used to follow everything my regular, traditional vet told me without question.
I had started questioning his advise when the vets at the clinic had stated they were against home feeding.
Davina had developed seasonal allergies when she was two. The first two years we treated her traditionally with steriods
Last year we started going to a Holistic vet. He stated one of the reasons that dogs develop allergies is over vaccinating.
So this year instead of the Parvo booster we did a Titter test to see if she had the Parvo antibodies in her blood. She does so no Parvo booster. She had her rabies last year. In Ontario only need it every three years legally.

When taking your dog to the vet for their annual check up and heart worm test please question the vet about certain vaccinations.
The Lepto vaccination can be especially hard on delicate sheltie systems. It really is not necessary unless you plan on being in the wild with your dog.
This year there is a Lyme disease vaccination. The holistic vet told me that there is less than 1% Lyme disease in Ontario at present. So this vaccination is unnecessary.
You do not follow what your doctor says without question so why follow what your vet says without question.

Hi I'm Nancy

2007-04-28T13:42:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new blog, Devoted To Dogs. I will be discussing topics such as BARF, IPTDTA, Pet Food recalls, and customized home feeding in the near future. Come and visit often and we will learn together.

Welcome To Nancy's 'Devoted To Dogs' Blog

2007-04-12T18:00:00.000-05:00

Before becoming Davina's guardian I had believed in following very traditional methods of feeding, veterinary care, and dog training which included establishing an alpha relationship and punishment.

I started my discovery of alternatives to traditional thought about feeding dogs when Krystal, my blue merle sheltie, was diagnosed with aquired Portosystemic Shunt disorder (PSS).

I became convinced that my dogs would be healthier and happier if I followed a more holistic and natural approach to their care and feeding.

I began by making their food at home which allowed me much greater control of the ingredients and their quality. Initially I used recipes provided by several established sources, but since then I have been devising my own tasty and healthy 'Davina Approved' recipes.

Devoted To Dogs

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Domination theory again

The proof is in about vaccinatiions

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Natural dog training

ShareThis

Different types of Aggression and dog language

Aggression

Nutrition

Once again Dominance theory and the "Alpha" dog

Once again dominance theory and T.V. shows

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How to Create a Monster

Two dog household, Dog on Dog aggression

Why animals should not be given as gifts

Breeding dogs.

International Positive Dog Training Conference and much more.

Breed Specific legislation

Short post about Michael Vick

PETA revisiting the spay/neuter bill

Caesar Milan the "Dog Whisperer

Difference between puppy mill, backyard breeder and reputable breeder

Calfifornia Bill Defeated

California a world without dogs

Dog Behaviour and Aggression

A dog is for life

Dilemma of what to feed your dog

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate

Hi I'm Nancy

Welcome To Nancy's 'Devoted To Dogs' Blog