How Exactly Our Dogs Have Helped Us Maintain a Good Mental Health during Covid 19 Pandemic?

2020 was a dark year for almost everybody globally; that's beyond doubt! Covid 19 pandemic brought in much uncertainty and stress in our lives, which adversely affected the our mental health. 

There has been many surveys and research programs conducted by several renowned institutions/ organizations to understand how dogs (or a cat or a horse...) impacted the mental health positively. The research outcome confirmed that presence of pets have had significant role in maintaining a psychological health during the most stressful times brought in by Covid 19 Pandemic. 

So exactly how the presence of a pet is helping humans to maintain mental health during Covid?

 

There are a few factors that need to be considered while figuring out how dogs and cats have improved the mental state during the stressful time. The social isolation had been one of the biggest reasons for depressions in humans, apart from joblessness, health uncertainty and economic instability. The want of social interactions was so rampant for some people that it bred depression, adversely contributing to their mental health. A pet provide immense support to fight depression by the way of being a companion - rather a dependent companion that have their needs, which keep their owners distracted from their loneliness.

During the covid phase doctors repeatedly advised to maintain physical activities keeping a social distance. It had been noticed that many humans that have restricted activities due to lockdown developed psychological depression, which in turn impacted their physical health too. In the surveys it was found that the pet owners (mostly the dog owners than the cat owners) had had some kind of constant physical activities despite being isolated during the lockdown. This kept them away from mental stress.  

It was thus found that having a pet helped the owners to maintain mental health by mitigating depression due to restrictions during covid lockdown. 

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Top 10 Dog Myths You Must Read

This post talks about the commonest dog myths that people around us believe in. The deadliest myth is dogs are born biters. Don't believe in such cynophobic and baseless ideas. Apart from this there are other dog myths that most dog owners believe in. Here are the top 10 dog facts that are just myth. Believing these myth may put your dogs to problems.

Suggestion: Understand and Implement.

1. Garlic is good as flea prevention : This is the biggest myth I have ever come across! Researchers have proved that too much of Garlic in your dog food may be dangerous for your dog. Garlic contains natural chemical that affect the Red blood cells that can get ruptured and become incapable of carrying oxygen effectively. However, some dog owners have been giving garlic to their dogs without no issues, but some dogs are more sensitive to garlic toxicity than others. How much is too much for dog is not known yet. Toxicity level varies from dogs to dogs.Garlic has immense benefit to us humans, but is a NO for dogs.
Both garlic and onions contain natural Thiosulfate, which is toxic to canines.

2. Dogs that wag tails are considered happy : This is true, but not always. Even non-friendly dogs wag their tail too. It is important to study other body languages and facial expressions that are cumulatively considered as the indication of a dogs state of mind.

3. Mixed breeds are always sturdy than pure breeds : Not necessarily true.Both pure and mixed breeds can be equally healthy and unhealthy depending on breeding strategies, care and nutrition. Mutts are usually not prone to specific disorders that are typical to certain pure breeds. However, conditions like bloat, dermal problems, heart problems etc. can be seen in both mutts and pure breed dogs.

4. Dogs with warm nose are ill : This is an old school of thought that dogs with warm nose have health issues like fever. This is a myth. The only best way to know if your dog has fever is to check it by thermometer. Normally a healthy dog should have a body temperature of around 102.5 degrees F.

5. Eating grass is an indication of sickness : This is not true. Dogs have descended from the wolves that used to eat all parts of their prey. They also ate the stomach and its content which included grass that the animals ate. This ways grass was the part of the diets of any animals of canidae family. Dogs eating grass is quite normal, if they do not eat it in big volume.

6. Household pet dogs do not require to be vaccinated against rabies : Myth it is always important to vaccinate your dog. This is an indication of responsible ownership. Vaccinating your pet dog against rabies is a precautionary measure for both you and your pet.

7. Female dogs do not cock their legs while urinating : Not always true! Females can lift their legs while urinating and in certain cases they can even exhibit the half sitting-half cocking position while urinating. Check out why do female dogs cock their leg.

8. Dogs are carnivorous animals and should always be kept only on meat : Myth Dogs are actually omnivorous animals like us humans.They need veggies too. Fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat are some of the important ingredients of a perfect holistic dog food. Related Read (though not related to food): Does your dog need vitamins?


9. Dogs love tasty food : Not true. Remember your dogs taste buds are not as strong as yours. Dogs primarily loves food based on smell.

10. Dogs always need high protein diet : Big No! Your dogs diet management should be made on the basis of the amount of calorie it is exhausting each day. Obviously a working dog should be kept on higher protein and carbohydrate as compared to a domestic dog. However, low protein diet also makes low quality food. Right kind of ingredients is essential.

11. Dog understand human language : Not true. You say sit and Rex will sit. This doesn't mean your Rex understands the mean of the word in English. He only knows what to do he hears the particular sound. He acts on the sound.

Here are just a few of thousands of doggy myths. Responsible ownership also demands that you know the correct things related to dogs and not believing the hypes. Stay tuned Up next more talks about dogs.

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An Insight Into Pet Immunization

Vaccination is the safest route to ensure that your pets remain in the pink of health. Vaccines are safeguard against diseases. From grave organ damages to turning fatal the risk is immense. Even others in the pet community are prone to risking contagious diseases. A responsible pet owner always prioritize on scheduling vets appointment for routine immunization, because it bolsters future immunity for a lifetime.

Diseases Which Require A Shot of Vaccine

Diseases if not checked and prevented can turn fatal for pets. For health safety immunization is the ideal way out. In the age of advanced medical science, killer diseases like distemper, parvovirus and feline enteritis are things of the past (with the exception of unprotected dogs who keep alive the incidence of infectious diseases).

Dogs need to be immunized for:
Parvovirus
Distemper
Leptospirosis
Bordatella
Hepatitis
Para-influenza virus
Rabies


Cats require immunization for the following diseases:

Flu
Feline Enteritis
Feline Leukaemia Virus
Chlamydia


Is Vaccination A Safe Option?

Skin tumors, allergies, and other adverse effects have been linked to the process, hence there is doubt about safety of vaccination. Moreover, whether annual vaccination is a must is also a major concern. Usually older dogs who have a suppressed immune system and who mingle less with peers do not require annual shot. But, in some cases repeat or booster vaccinations are important to boost up the immunity in a better way. Routine boosters are integral to preventive veterinary medicine because the pets can undergo an annual checkup. It is all up to the age and health condition, on which the immunization schedule is decided. It is also dependent on breed, medical history, lifestyle, immediate environment and traveling habit of the animals. Small puppies get their quota of immunity from mothers milk. But with age, this immunity wears down and vaccination becomes a necessity. Vaccine schedule begins when the puppy is six to eight weeks old.

There are some side effects which bother pets, post-vaccination. All these symptoms occur within six hours of vaccination. Here\s a list of the adverse reactions that might occur, and which need medical attention:

Low fever
Allergic Outbreak
Muscle Pain
Low Energy
Sluggishness
Appetite Loss
Facial Swelling
Lameness
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Breathing Difficulty
Seizures
Swelling, redness and hair loss (at the site of injection)
Miscarriage in Pregnant Dog
Suppressed Immune System


The Way A Vaccine Works

Vaccines are classified as core and non-core vaccines. The former one is vital, while the latter depends on the exposure risk of diseases. Vaccine shots create antibodies by injecting weakened or dead bacteria into the immune system of the pet. These antibodies become warriors fighting and blocking the diseases. Modified live vaccines or MLV stimulate immune response by injecting weakened strain of disease. MLVs require less number of shots, though the effect is stronger compared to killed vaccines which require frequent administration.

The Need Of Titer Test

Antibody titer test is required for measuring the level of antibodies in the bloodstream and a pets ability for natural protection against diseases. These blood tests are helpful, but cannot replace vaccination program completely. Higher titer level does not necessarily mean that the pet has 100% natural immunity; but, when the level is low it is surely a sign that the pet lacks in inherent protection capacity.

In a nutshell, vaccines are altered microorganisms which lessens or prevents risk of diseases. Thus, it is always safe to protect your beloved pet from life-threatening diseases with vaccines.

Related Read: Read out posts from Responsible Dog Ownership and Dog Care Tips
 

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Humans to Respond to the Howls of Their Pet Dogs

Am I crazy to say this???

Yes... Humans should respond to the howls of their dogs. And when I say this, most people think that I say this out of my eccentricity. However, fortunately a few are still there who have understood the simple logic that supports this seemingly insanely crazy idea of responding to the pet dog’s howls.

For last few weeks now I have been going through some priceless documents of canine behavioral researchers. The major section of the documents was about canine vocal sounds – Howls, Growls, Barks, Whines, Squeaks, Baying, Whimpers and so on… An understanding of canine Howls has been presented in this post, followed by some kind of logic supporting this eccentric idea – “Humans to respond to the howls of their dogs”.

Canine Instinct & Purpose of Howl
   
Although the purpose of this post is not to explain "why do dogs howl". But it is important to understand the purpose of dog howls before proceeding further.

Behavioral researchers have delineated a set of purposes of howls of dogs/wolves in the nature. As a matter of fact, you will not hear a dog howling too frequently; it is quite infrequent… though not rare.  Dogs, as for wolves, instinctively deliver howls under several situations:

1. When they feel the need to gather the pack at a point
2. When they need to reinforce the identity of a pack

 In both the situations the pack members, on hearing the first dog’s howl, get together and join him/her with group howling. But the dogs staying in the house with humans usually get their food ready; therefore the need for howls for hunting for food is almost zero. But howls are still delivered by them as an attempt to gather their pack members (humans and other dogs in the house) for several reasons other than hunting. As an example situation, when a dog senses the presence of trespassers/ strangers within his/her territory, then he/she may want to gather the pack members (humans and other dogs in the house) to join him for prevent the pack from probable impending danger. Here the dog’s “pack instinct” comes to play its role along with “territorial instinct” and “guard instinct”.

In the wild the other dogs (by the dint of their natural instinct) positively respond to the howl of the fist dog and get assembled to reinforce their “pack instinct” and “territorial instinct”.

For a dog that lives with humans, his pack is composed of himself and his human members. Each deliver of howl, according to the nature of purposes, therefore needs to be responded through two distinctive actions:

1. Making yourself available with your dog - By gathering there with your dog serves his first purpose and stimulates his confidence that reinforces his “pack instinct” and “territorial instinct”
2. Vocalized response – By joining him with vocal responses (NOT against the howl, but for supporting his action - howl) you will stimulate his “guard instinct”.

To conclude, dog owners who do not bother to respond to their dogs’ howling or who fails to effectively do that are actually spoiling their dog’s very significant instincts. They are not doing their duties as a pack members. Responsible dog ownership doesn't end with providing your dog with good food, fresh water, providing proper training, and meeting all vet bills. At the first place, it includes understanding dog's behaviors that are genetically ingrained.

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The Health Benefits of Dog Ownership

The Health Benefits of Dog Ownership Coming home to the unconditional love of their beloved pet can be the highlight of many dog owners’ days: Owning a pet can boost your mood, make you feel loved and love in return, and ensure that you are as well-exercised as your four legged friend, thanks to a regular regime of twice daily walks. Whilst the physical health benefits of dog ownership are well documented, there are a myriad of additional emotional and mental benefits to owning your own four legged companion. Here are just some of the surprising health benefits of dog ownership:

Dog Ownership Can Reduce Allergies
 
Many families, particularly families with young children, choose not to own dogs because they have an unfair reputation for either causing or exacerbating allergies, particularly asthma and other allergies related to air quality. However, this is actually a case of misinformation, and serves a disservice to dogs: according to research conducted by pediatrician James E. Gern from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, owning a pet during childhood can actually lower a child’s likelihood to related allergies by as much as 33 percent. Children who are exposed to dogs regularly in their infant hood are also less likely to suffer from eczema. In fact, for families with otherwise healthy children, there are many benefits related with introducing a dog to your family unit. Children exposed early on to animals, such as dogs, within their homes tend to develop stronger lifelong immune systems overall. What better reason to get your kids that dog they keep asking for?

Dog Ownership Can Improve Mental Health
 
Dogs are well known for giving their owners a level of unconditional love that can be incredibly heart-warming. Dog ownership can also provide individuals with a sense of purpose, and companionship when you are feeling alone in the world. All of these individual aspects combine to ensure that dog ownership can be particularly good for improving mental health, especially amongst individuals suffering from depression or anxiety disorders, or those recovering from issues such as long term physical or mental illness, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Several studies have conclude that just being with a healthy and jovial companion pet relieves depression and anxiety and boost immunity. The power of dog ownership, and the company of dogs, is so important in treating many mental health conditions (including loneliness and depression) that Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) or Pet-facilitated Therapy (PFT) are becoming increasingly popular treatment options, focusing on paring individuals in need of support with a highly trained animal that can help to improve their mood and aid their rehabilitation.

Dog Ownership Will Keep You Active
 
One of the most widely researched and reported aspects of dog ownership is the benefits that it can have on your physical health. Dog owners tend to be slimmer, fitter, and exercise more. It’s no wonder, when you consider that research has found that dog owners walked for an average of 300 minutes per week, compared with non-dog owners, who only walked for an average of 168 minutes per week. Children who own dogs are also more likely to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity than their peers who do not own dogs. Whilst dog ownership doesn’t force you outside come rain or shine, dog ownership promotes walking and getting outside for some fresh air unlike any other activity. The fact is, when you love your dog their needs come first: that means long walks whatever the weather and playing fetch for hours, even when it’s raining outside, and this can only benefit your long term physical health.

Dog Ownership Could Improve Your Social Life
 
Dog owners are a social bunch, and this is largely because their beloved pets encourage them to be. Owning a dog is a wonderful way to help individuals to overcome their social shyness, and dogs also tend to make you more approachable. According to one study conducted by Warwick University, in the UK, 40% of dog owners reported that they had made new friends as a direct result of owning their four legged friend. Therefore, if you are lonely and looking for the company of a companion who will never let you down, whilst also encouraging you to get out and meet no people, then there is no better time to get yourself a beloved new dog.

Author Bio: This is an article by Helen Bell

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Do you need a dog fence?

Often times my friends and acquaintances who know me as a dog man ask me whether they need a dog fence! And guess what? Most of them think that they don't because their dog stays mostly indoor.

First off, dogs are not indoor animals. It is important to make provisions for them to go out whenever they need. The role of a fence comes to play here.

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Is your dog aggressive? If he is then it is more than important to plan for a dog fence. You may be brought to severe penal action if your dog rushes out and bit somebody.
Is your female dog pregnant? She should be kept confined... but not indoor. Moving outside and enjoying the sun is very important for your pregnant female.

However for none of these an electric dog fence is preferred unless your dog is well trained. Honestly speaking not training your dog may save you a few dollars today, but may prove to be insanely problematic in the coming days. Your dog should be trained not to go past the territory as soon as he/she hears the warning beep of the outdoor electric dog fence. It is not expected that you dog will always learn fast. Patience is the keyword! You should complete all the steps of dog fence training without any break. It is advisable to hire a professional dog training professional.

The few steps of effective dog fence training are:

First Session : Teach the retreat or hold back pattern on warning beep.

Second Session: Correction

Thirds Session: Dealing with distractions

Fourth Session: Off-leash training

Fifth Session: Practice for off-leash unsupervised.

Looking for more information? Check out http://www.dogfencediy.com

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Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make

This swirled up in my mind suddenly while I was reading out a magazine that mentioned how even the most responsible dog owners some times are held responsible for their dogs’ sad demise. Although being hugely responsible, many dog owners make some of the biggest mistakes that may claim their dogs’ life. I discussed with one of my German Shepherd lover pals, my idea of making an analysis of the most commonly committed mistakes by the dog lovers. It took us around half a year to gather a good deal of information about Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make that I think can make a meaningful blog post.

Yearly Health Check for your Dogs

We came across many dog lovers who do not care to see the vet for their dog’s health check up until they find an apparent health issue. There can be many dormant health problems in dogs that may remain undetected until they become serious and uncontrollable. Moreover, it is wise to call your vets occasionally at your place instead of dropping by the vet’s clinic every time. During the old age you may need to see the vet more frequently than now. It may be a hard task for both - you and your old dog to visit the vet every time. Calling the vet at your place is a wise attempt to get your pet used to with situations of vets coming in to the dog’s place for a health check. During the old age your dog will get little aggressive towards certain situations and strangers coming home may be quite irritating for him then.

Is there any Non-Allergenic Dogs?

NO!

Here I will take a chance to talk about Mr. Barrack Obama (the present American president, who is a well known figure through out the world), who considered his mixed breed dog labradoodle as hypoallergenic. He’s wrong if he considered dogs as non-allergenic. This also reminds me of the offering of Peruvian Government to Mr. Obama and his family. I am sure you remember that the Government of Peru offered Mr. Obama a Peruvian Hairless Dogs, considering that these dogs are non-allergenic. Wrong idea!

Even the hairless dogs may be allergenic, because of their dander – the dead skin cells that form flakes and may cause allergies to some people. There’s nothing like non-allergenic dog breed on this planet.

Not All Human Medicines Are Safe For Your Dogs

Human pain killer drugs act as high poison for your dog. On administering, your dog may start blood vomiting. In worst cases the consequence is death. While large breed dogs may give you some time to take him to the veterinary clinic for necessary treatment or surgery, the small and toy breeds can hardly be saved.

Work out Prior to Meal

Kathy’s dog (Cairn Terrier) doesn’t want to eat. She’s worried because she knows that RISE should eat more than what he eats. Kathy and her husband have planned out a seemingly great solution! They made their pooch walk a good distance in order to increase his hunger. Their concern about their pooch shows that they are really responsible dog owners, but the idea of making a dog work out heavily immediately prior to meals is a big mistake. Especially for deep-chested breeds like Saluki, Great Danes, Mastiffs, German Shepherds etc. heavy exercise immediately prior to and after heavy meals may turn out to be really fatal. Bloat (gastric torsion) due to exercise before and after meals may claim life of your beautiful companion. I suggested Kathy to visit the vet immediately… RISE may need a temporary liver treatment. Chances are also there that her digestive system needs to be treated. Vet is the best person to decide on that.

There are lots of other observations we have made regarding most common mistakes the dog lovers make. You can find more on this analysis and our observations at About German Shepherd Dog, where we contributed an article with more detailed information. Read out Biggest Mistakes the Dog Lovers Make there!

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AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program

AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program was started in 1989, and currently having a tremendous positive impact in the American communities. The CGC Program of American Kennel Club has been formulated to reward dogs for exhibiting good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program of AKC is a two-fold program to spread the awareness of responsible pet ownership.

This program is composed of 10-steps test. Owners of all dogs in America should opt for the Canine Good Citizen training session as the first and prime step in training their canine companions. The Canine Good Citizen Program formulated by American Kennel Club is quite scientific and chiefly stress on a few other most vital AKC activities for instance obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events. The main focus of AKC's CGC program is to strengthen the dog-owner bondage. Dogs with sound obedience training are sure to become to the most lovable partner of your life! A good mannered dog will always be appreciated amidst the social mob and other dogs, thereby they can enjoy a high quality life.

On the successful qualification of all the ten steps of CGC test, the American Kennel Club issue a certificate to a dog. AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program has multiple applications that goes even beyond just passing out the CGC test and winning an AKC certificate.

The ten steps of the CGC test of American Kennel Club are as follows:

• Step 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
• Step 2: Sitting politely for petting
• Step 3: Appearance and grooming
• Step 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
• Step 5: Walking through a crowd
• Step 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
• Step 7: Coming when called
• Step 8: Reaction to another dog
• Step 9: Reaction to distraction
• Step 10: Supervised separation

Stay Tuned... up next more on the ten steps of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program.

Until then check out traits of German Shepherd. Get to know more about German Shepherd. If you are a GSD enthusiast, I am sure you will like the above links

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AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days

Hey this is September 2010 and as usual AKC is going to host its flagship event with te noble motive to support the Responsible Dog Ownership.

Well its never too late too late or too early to kick start your planning session for an exciting "AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days", 2010.This years - i.e. in 2010the event marks its 8th year of celebration. AKC moves a step ahead to encouraging all the AKC affiliated clubs and canine organizations to hold a community event publicly with a view to promote "responsible dog ownership" anytime during September.

American Kennel Club has announced that it is going to host its flagship event in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, September 25, 2010. This will aim at highlighting the organizations programs and servives to support the responsible dog ownership. The club has flashed out the news of the 8th year celebration of Responsible Dog ownership, thereby publicizing to news channels and the dog lover communities across the country. AKC wants all the dog lovers and dog lover organizations to participate in the event.

Over 550 dog clubs and organizations gad participated in the event in the year 2009, reaching out to millions of canine enthusiasts by the way of extensive publicity through the media channels - both online and offline.

AKC has come up with some suggestions to help commemorate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days. The set of suggestions includes:

• ID clinic- Hold an AKC/CAR microchip clinic
• Rescue information booth
• Health clinic/health screen testing/First Aid for dogs
• Meet the breeds/Find the right dog for you
• Obedience/Agility/Rally/Performance demonstrations
• Hold free training class for dog owners and give a presentation about AKC Purebred Alternative Listing Program or AKC Canine Partners
• Therapy/SAR Dog or Police K9 Unit demonstrations
• "AKC Safety Around Dogs" for kids presentations (in-school or for children's groups)
• A kids contest with awards for best drawings, photos or essays about dogs
• AKC Canine Good Citizen test (requires additional kit purchase)
• Seek sponsorships or donated items from local businesses to be raffled or for contest prizes
• Raise money to donate/dedicate needed items to local dog park/runs (pooper scoopers, bulletin boards, water fountains, etc.)
• Fundraising events for AKC Canine Health Foundation
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspapers
• Obtain a proclamation from your Governor, Mayor etc.

Get to know more about the dog world and news on dogs at About German Shepherd Dog - the largest online resource for information on German Shepherd Dogs. Also get an insight of AKC Federal PUPS Legislation Amendment. Also visit About German Shepherd Dog's official website to get detailed and highly researched information on GSD such as GSD FAQ , German Shepherd history, German Shepherd Dog standard

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Dog Rescue - How to Deal With a Rescued Dog

Helping a timid rescued dog regain confidence

This post is all about what a poor German Shepherd Dog taught me how to deal with a timid rescued dog. A timid dog is a real difficult dog!

I have an experience with a rescued dog Rani, a beautiful German Shepherd princess. She was probably one and a half to two years old when I rescued her from her owner who used to torture her. Candidly speaking, I didn’t go to that owner’s place to bring her. My friend brought her to me and asked me to save her as she had been tortured since almost the very dawn of her life! This way Rani became a part of my pack one fine evening. She was timid, fearful and had lost almost all GSD behavioral instincts. It was really heartbreaking to see a two years old GSD showing submissive behavior when somebody was approaching her with no threat. I wrote about her and how I changed her gradually in my German Shepherd Dog blog. My Experiment with Rani taught me a great lot of things that I want to share with you guys and fellow dog lovers. Rani lost total confidence and this planet was a hell for her.

Here’s what Rani taught me…

“Patience is poultice for all wounds.” It didn’t happen overnight. The first night I remember I slept in the kennel with her. She didn’t eat, nor did she have water. Biscuits… yes, two or three biscuits she had, but that too not form my hand. She had them from the guy who brought her to me. I called her by her name calmly, but she was so confused that she was waging very slightly, looking at me blankly. A timid rescued dog may not come to you at once the first day. Everything must be in a slow process. Don’t stare… just look at him/her lovingly. Talk to him/her softly. Better don’t touch him… let him come to you first. This may take time. So be patient and let him feel that you are for him.

“Stress can only worsen the condition.” I wasn’t tensed, as I had prepared myself from the beginning. I knew that things won’t be as easy as in case of Rex and Reva, my other German Shepherds. Remember, if you are tensed as an owner, you are in stress. And a rescued dog is already in stress and anxiety is already a problem for him… so don’t make him feel that you are tensed. Dogs can hear the voice of our mind. They have highly attuned sense of our body language and attitude. Remember, YOUR Stress Affects Your Dog Adversely!

“True prosperity is the result of well-placed confidence …” If the dog is approaching you, don’t approach towards him. Let him come and sniff you thoroughly. If he is too timid, and still tend to approach you, you should crouch down to his level as he will not be confident enough to come near you if you are standing before him. It’s just a way you can boost up his confidence level a bit. Allow him to smell you and you can touch him softly and slowly. While dealing with Rani, my motive was just to regain her confidence in humans.

“Fearful and stressed dog would not accept food.” All you need is to regain his confidence at the first place. Before you offer him something to eat, you need to establish a comfortable situation for the dog. On the contrary, offering some treats is the best way to build up a healthy bondage with the newly rescued dog. So what should you do? Chicken or beef flavored dog biscuits is the best option! Toss off a couple of biscuits at his feet. If he is refusing to accept the treats just leave him alone with the biscuits and walk away. Don’t peep through the corners. Leave him alone for ten minutes or so and come back with a few more treats for him. Throw one again but not as near as you did the last time. If he is looking at you, he is still confused. Talk to him softly and ask him to eat it… don’t insist him to run and grab the food. This time things will be much easier for him. If he is still refusing to eat… leave him alone and repeat the same cycle. After repeating the cycle thrice, you can offer him the biscuits in your hand. Look at him softly and don’t keep strong eye to eye contact. This will be considered as challenge. On accepting the biscuits from your hand praise him with loving voice.

Controlling your emotion is of utmost significance! Don’t just try to embrace the rescued dog until he has developed confidence in you. Patience is again the most important factor to play its role here. I know how frustrating it feels when the new dog denies accepting your hug. But remember you have rescued a dog that has lost his confidence. You need to regain it first and it requires a good deal of patience.

It’s your responsibility to build the relationship. Once the bondage is built, you will find him the most admirable companion!

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Responsible Dog Ownership And Canine Health Talk

When we talk about responsible dog ownership we think of canine health. Love is blind! And most novice owners tend to bring harm to their dogs by giving them things that are really dangerous. Don't let your love for your pooches become a threat for them. I have come across some really great articles in k9 Health Solutions. Many owners give their dogs Easter Candies and Chocolates without knowing the potential dangers of Easter Candies. Make yourself aware of common household things that are poison to your dogs. k9 Health Solution have also come up with great info regarding dog maintenance.

Most dog owners, do not care about their dogs' dental health. Doggie Dental Health is what every dog owner must consider quite seriously. Dogs starts of their lives with 28 teeth, and at around 4 - 6 months of age the milk teeth are replaced by 42 permanent teeth. Bad breath, inflated gum, cracks in teeth etc are the indications of fragile dental health. Administering of sufficient Calcium strengthen the teeth, but regular brushing is essentially necessary for maintaining good dental health.

Regular walk and play off leash is again another important way to maintain the overall canine health. Good food, fresh water, sufficient play, and pure love will keep Rover happy, healthy and most active member of your pack! Swimming is great pleasure for dogs and the most effective way to put them on exercise. Although certain breeds like Shar Pei dislike water, yet still little bit of swimming is great for the health too.

Summer time is most dangerous time of the year for pets... especially large and giant dog breed. Responsible dog ownership also requires effective steps to Protect Your Dog From Summer Heat.

Last, but not the least, give them enough water to drink. Remember most dogs do not drink enough water. It's your responsibility to make them drink more water by the way of mixing with food, soup etc. The more they drink, better will it be for their health. It will help them flush off the body toxins and will keep them well hydrated and maintain good health.

Responsible Dog Owners must be aware of the fact that dogs can be well maintained with proper plans. With right kind of planning, and regular medication programs like de-worming, vaccinations, and other routine check up ensure good health and long life.

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Tips on Raising a New Puppy

Raising a new puppy has always been an issue of worries for many around me. Interestingly I know many dog lovers, who haven’t adopted a dog yet, because they think that raising a puppy isn’t a simple task. If you are among those few people, who have such a wrong notion, then you are quite unfortunate to miss something really precious. Yes, a pet’s love is priceless… don’t miss it! All you need is to choose the right thing and make the right decision while raising a puppy; and things will become pretty simple. A responsible dog owner tries to make things simple, instead of thinking things in a complicated way. Here's how to raise a puppy in simple ways.

While raising a dog, the first thing that’s to be decided is what your dog’s life is going to be like. Remember, dogs are happy when they are kept as dog; and responsible owners demands to make your dog’s life happy. Three things are needed for a dog to thrive well and obviously essential to raise a puppy…1) Good Food, 2) Fresh Water and 3) Pure Love.

Good food doesn’t only mean right quantity, but quality too. Dogs should be provided with large qualities of protein and high carbohydrate diet. Your dog can convert the protein and carbohydrate into energy. A puppy’s diet can be as complex as yours, although apparently it seems to be quite simple. It is absolutely essential that you should hit all of the vital nutritional bases while planning your puppy’s diet. A deficiency or over administration of certain vitamins and nutrients may lead to certain problems like tummy upset, brittle bones, overly oily or dry skin, over weight or under weight, and unsatisfactory growth. Plan your puppy’s diet to include all the major sources of the most essential minerals such as Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium and Iron, Copper, Zinc, chloride, Iodine, Manganese and Selenium.

Raise your puppy in love. And if you really love him, you will surely try to make his life happy and healthy. Socialization is one very important part of raising a puppy. Proper socialization will make both your and the puppy’s life happy. Confidence building can only be done through properly socializing your puppy.

Puppies may find teasing to be either unpleasant or enjoyable. Right way to raise a puppy is to train him up to enjoy good-natured teasing. Make him feel that it’s just a game to be enjoyed. Malicious teasing hereby refers to cruelty to animals; so avoid it straight way.
Puppies love to chase. Chase and be chased; make him feel that the game is non-threatening, secured and enjoyable so as to let him know that he’s loved. Try to communicate with him; know him better and let him know what you think. Read out HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH DOGS.

Don't feel guilty since you are confining him occasionally. We put infants in cribs, because we think about their safety and security. Remember, you are intelligently using his “den instinct” by confining him at times, and he feels good to be enclosed. This is another way of building confidence too. Keeping him alone and confined and staying away from him periodically will teach him that loneliness is non-threatening.

Toy addiction is common in puppies. Apart from high quality food, lot of sleep, routine exercise or play, you need to be quite serious about his toys. He tends to chew up whatever comes in his way. Take care that his toys are safe.

Keep your puppy away from poisonous materials. Read out what are POISONS FOR YOUR DOG and their symptoms when ingested.

At the bottom line, remember raising a puppy is all about a responsible ownership. If you are responsible enough, you can guarantee a super quality life of your dog by simply following these tips on raising a new puppy. Irresponsibility is going to make simple things really complex.

Read out DOG CARE TIPS.

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YOUR Stress Affects Your Dogs

"Stress is like an iceberg..." that affects not only your health, but all other who are in close relation to you! Dogs are of no exception... shows researches. It's no more a wonder that your dog affects your stress level. The million dollar companionship and unconditional love diminishes your stress level to a great extent! It reminds me of Bob Vetere, COO and managing director of APPMA, who once said, "We've known for a long time that we feel good when we are around our pets. "We now have studies confirming what many of us suspected all along -- pets are good for our health. To name a few findings, having a pet lowers the risk of a second heart attack by 80 percent. Petting your dog or cat or just watching fish swim lowers blood pressure. And, interacting with a dog can help improve the owner's physical fitness".

But Until discovered very recently, it has really been a hidden fact... probably the world's most treasured truth that your stress can affect your dogs too adversely too. Wondering? But its true!

While studying cases related to Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) in dogs, some vets noticed that HGE in dogs has a hidden relation with the owner's psychological stress due to unfavorable economic effect. As recently as February, 2009 dog behaviorists have studied HGE in dogs and concluded that this might be due to the long hidden truth that dogs might be picking up on their beloved master's increased level of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, there is hardly any permanent solution to such illnesses in dogs. Owner's are recommended to steer clear of mental anxiety and financial worries, since this is the only perfect solution for such stress oriented bloody diarrhea of dogs. Overnight stay at the veterinary hospital, administering antibiotics along side re-hydration by intravenous drips and 24-hour medical supervision may bring such HGE in dogs within control by restoring the electrolytic balance, but do not cure permanently. Veterinarians have warranted a caution that stress oriented HGE in dogs, if untreated, may result severe dehydration, and turn out to be fatal as well. Sometimes dogs do not stop drinking water even though they are suffering from HGE resulting from YOUR stress and anxiety.Even if they drink water, re-hydration may be required.

Now the mystery has been unfolded as to why many dogs started suffering from Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), with the sudden onset of the present economic crisis! Advisable to audit Your level of Stress this tax season if you don't want to see your dog in stress. Responsible pet ownership now paves a way for being responsible yourself too! So let not this economic crisis get over your head and disturb you and your dog's health. This might sound to be the most amazing fact about dogs, but don't miss out reading some other FACTS ABOUT DOGS. Steps should immediately be taken to avoid increasing stress in dogs at your home!

Also check out ECONOMIC DOG CARE TIPS.

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Economic Dog Care Tips - Be One of The Responsible Dog Owners

Days are becoming ,more and more harsh, with the fall economy and most of the people, I hang out with, are worried about how to cut short their expenses. "Offload you headache on me", I told them. I asked too many questions to them and found that most of them spend more than they should. Loving dogs and being responsible dog owners doesn't mean you need to go beyond your capacity, breaking your piggy bank savings. Even in the tough economy, when freaking out for a weekend drive sometimes proves to be a hard nut to crack, there are loads of way outs you can still keep dogs and be one of those responsible dog owners who make things easier before they find themselves like a fish out of water.

If you are thinking of adopting a puppy, but at the same time worried about the financial situation... stop worrying any longer! Tension only breeds diseases... nothing else. Just follow these simple steps to cut down the costs without compromising your quality of care.

Save Money on Buying a dog: Wait. Don't make mess in haste. Sit back on your couch with your lappy and look for the breeders in your locality. Make sure you don't get into the traps of brokers. Talk to your pals, asking for the name of the breeders if they know someone. Contact the breeder directly. Look for some more breeders and compare the prices.

Save Money on Dog Care and Puppy Care: Pet parents are tightening up their belts as an effect of the down trodden global economy. Good news is that pet parents can continue providing their puppies with highest quality care. Low cost preventive measures are for all and everyone. Visit low-cost vaccination clinics of PETCO. Right kind of preventive care at the right time is the way to cut cost in the future. A responsible dog owner knows well that his dog can be protected from many life threatning diseases and the huge expenses thereby, simply by vaccinating, deworming and heartworm preventative. Look for the clinics that offer low-cost vaccinations. Dog owners can greatly reduce the chance of their pets contracting diseases like distemper, heartworm disease, parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus and the expenses involved in treating the diseases by taking some simple steps for prevention. Vaccinate your puppy at least against Rabies and diseases like distemper, heartworm disease, parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus. PETCO is really doing a fabulous job... I must say. "As the economy slows, we've seen an increase in the number of customers visiting our clinics nationwide. This program offers a budget-friendly solution to pet parents looking to provide a great quality preventative care to their dogs and cats," said Taylor Phillips, PETCO's vice president of pet services new growth.

Save Money on Dog Grooming: No point taking your dog to one of those dog grooming salons that charge high for their services. If you can't bathe him at home, you can take him to a do-it-yourself dog washing facility suit. Advisable is to wash him and groom him at home... that saves a lot of money.

Save Money on Pet Food: If your commercial dog food brand proves to be too expensive, you can look for a discount pet supply stores that offer varieties of specialty dog food brands - both holistic and natural, at much budgeted price. Buying larger quantities at a time will be even more cheaper, which saves a lot of average total expenses. You can make home made food for your dogs and puppies. Your vet is the best person to advice you on the ingredients you should consider, while making high quality home made foods.

Save Money on Veterinary Medicines: If you are on a tight budget constraint, certain veterinary medicines may prove to be expensive for you. Ask your vet for substitute medicines of lower cost. There are lots of brands that sell medicines of same composition at different price. Homeopathy can be more effective at minimum cost!

Online Shopping for dog stuff: Save money on purchasing dog products. This may sound weired to many dog owners, but it works! Online shopping for pet products is the best way to get the right thing at much affordable price range. You can order some of the prescription medicines and all non-prescription medicines online. Dog products like flea preventives and heartworm preventatives, dog shampoo, dog soaps and even dog foods and treats, which might prove to be expensive in pet supply stores can be found in much cheaper cost in online shopping sites.Companies like 1-800-PetMeds usually comes up with the quality range of products at almost an unbeatably low price range.

Save Money on Dog Training: Specially dogs like German Shepherd Dogs, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Great Danes etc. are required to be obedience trained. If you are looking forward to cutting down your budget, better be a trainer yourself. Yes... it's no magic! True that training is not everyone's cup of tea, but clicker dog training kit consist of the whole manual book that can educate you to be a trainer of your dog. Some of the clicker dog training kit provides you with the video CD or DVD to help beginners to learn the foundation skills that one must possess as a trainer or handler. The guide manual and the CD will teach you the basics of clicker training. Training session should be started of as early as 8 - 12 weeks of age.

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