Dogs and Children

One very dangerous myth that exists is the assumption that, in some mysterious way, all dogs will automatically be gentle and loving with any infant or a child. The reason why this is dangerous to predict is because unless a dog has grown up with small children surrounding it then the animal may not be accustomed to children's sudden moves or frantic noisy behavior.

Kids unwittingly scare dogs, especially when they are very loud and boisterous. Ultimately, it is the parents whom are responsible for teaching their children to respect and approach all animals with caution, even a family dog. The two basic rules that children need to know are:

1. You never approach any dog or pet without having the owner's permission.
2. When you do have permission, always treat the dog very gently and with kindness.

If your dog is not as comfortable with children as you would like, you can make the effort to ease this uneasiness by making it a point of taking it for walks near playgrounds and parks where children are playing so it becomes used to the sounds and noises that children's voices make. Also, allow your nervous dog to be pet by children but making sure to totally protect the dog with your arms so it knows that it is safe in the meanwhile.

If your dog has always been raised around other adult people then this may create a problem if you have friends and family with children that come to visit your house. Regardless of how well trained and well mannered your dog is, it can prove to be quite opposite when exposed to noisy and flamboyant kids.

Your dog could be come confused and frightened which may cause him to strike out in self defense, even though the children are just playing. But to your dog's point of view, these noisy little strangers whom are playing with it's toys, chasing his tail around, and messing with it's food bowl, are actually invading his territory.

Should the above situation occur, simply remove the dog from the area. Take him into another room while the children are visiting and make frequent stops into the room to pet him and offer treats. If you make the effort to practice a few simple steps in getting your dog acquainted with little children, then eventually you will not have any issues with mixing your dog into the company of kids.

Dog training –training for proper dog behavior

Dog training –training for proper dog behavior

There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behavior, and teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners. Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, controlling dog on dog aggression problems and teaching dogs to interact properly with both their handlers and with other members of the family.

Understanding how dogs evolved, and how dogs interact with each other, is very important to understanding how to properly train your dog to be a devoted, loyal companion.

The original dogs were probably orphaned wolf pups adopted by early humans. These wild dogs probably learned to perform behaviors that their human protectors valued, such as guarding the cave or scaring off predators. In exchange for these valued behaviors, the humans probably provided their new companions with foods, protection and shelter.

That kind of relationship still exists today, of course, and dogs still can, and do, perform valuable jobs for their human benefactors. Those jobs include herding and guarding livestock, guarding property, guarding people, and finding game.

When planning a dog training program, it is important to know that dogs are pack animals. In wild dog societies, packs are formed, and each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the pecking order. Except in the event of death or injury to the alpha dog, the hierarchy never changes once it has been established. The lower dogs know not to challenge the alpha dog, and the alpha dog understand his place as leader of the pack.

All the other dogs in the pack look to the alpha dog for leadership, in important survival issues like finding food and avoiding larger predators. In order to properly train your dog and gain its respect, it is important for you to become the alpha dog.

That is because a dog that sees its owner as a superior leader will follow the commands the owner gives without question. Getting the respect of the dog is the most important step to proper dog training, and it will form the basis of all subsequent training.

The reasons for training a dog properly are many, especially in today’s world. A well mannered, obedient dog is a joy to be around, both for the owner and his or her family, and for people in the community at large. In addition, seeing a well mannered dog sets people’s mind at ease, especially with breeds of dog thought to be dangerous, such as Dobermans, rottweilers and pit bulls.

When training dogs and dealing with unwanted dog behaviors, it is important to understand the motivating factors behind those behaviors. For example, many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors such as chewing and destroying furniture due to separation anxiety. Dealing with the sources of problem behaviors is an important first step toward eliminating those problem behaviors.

Many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors as a result of stress in the animal’s life, and its inability to cope with that stress. The goal of a good dog training program is to allow the dog to tolerate greater levels of stress without becoming a problem animal.

When dealing with dog behavior, it is important not to confuse human behavior with dog behavior. While there is a great temptation on the part of dog owners to see their dogs as almost human, in reality dogs and humans have very different motivations, and very different reactions to similar situations.

One trait that humans and dogs do share, however, is the need to form close social groups and strong bonds within those social groups. This bonding is important to both humans and dogs, but it has served vastly different ends as both species have evolved and changed over time.

Clean your dog of SKUNK spray

How to clean your dog of SKUNK spray

Dogs will be dogs and that includes smelling bad after having wondered outside to play in nature. However, there are those rare occasions when he ventured into something a little more on the yucky side – a Skunk!

Dog's get “skunked” on more than one occasion, especially when they have the luxury to wonder free on a large outside property. Do not worry if you have never smelled a skunk smell before, you will be able to tell immediately. The scent is horribly penetrating to the nose and if you think it is bad for us, imagine how your dog feels after having been the target of the skunk spray!

If your dog ever gets “skunked” then be sure to follow these tips below to help clear both your dog and the air:

1. Be sure to look first at your dog's eyes to check for saturation of the skunk spray. “It won't make him blind, but it's very painful,” says Veronika Kiklevich, D.V.M., who is an instructor and head of community practice division at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman. Veronika advises to wash out the dog's eyes with the same solution people would use to provide relief.

2. Wash your dog thoroughly, but do so only outside! If you wash your dog inside of the house then the nasty smell of skunk will be around for weeks. Be sure to wear rubber gloves or latex gloves. Also, pet shampoo of any kind will do the job, but be sure to repeat the wash about 2-3 times.

3. It's time for tomato juice! Experts are not sure just how it works, but pouring tomato juice on your dog and rubbing it in does wonders for chasing away that skunk smell. After your dog is washed and totally dry, you literally pour the tomato juice on and rub it in thoroughly within the coat. Let is soak for about 30 minutes or as long as you can keep your dog still. WARNING: If your pet has white fur, then be prepared for a “pinkish” looking animal roaming the house for a little while. But do not worry, this will fade.