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Ten Dog Mysteries Solved
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Sometimes
a dogs behavior and actions can leave us completely baffled. This is
especially true for new dog owners. So, here is a little guide to help you
figure out why your dog might be doing the weird things that he does.
1.
Why does my dog keep eating the cats poop out of the litter box?
While
this particular dog behavior seems to be among the most bizarre, there really
is a simple explanation for it. Your cats diet consists mostly of protein, so
his stool has a high protein content as well. Many dogs simply crave the
protein located there. Try using a litter box with a cover or one that
automatically scoops litter after each use.
2.
Why does my dog try to eat pantyhose and socks?
Most
likely, your dog starts chewing these items from boredom, frustration or
anxiety. Then, once the chewing starts, his natural instinct is to continue
the process by swallowing the object. In other words, it might just be a
mistake. Once you know which clothing items of yours are your dogs favorites,
keep those and similar items tucked away in a drawer.
3.
Why does my dog love to chew up my shoes?
Your
dog chews your shoes up for one of two reasons: your dog is a puppy who is
teething or he just loves the attention that such an act brings. If you have a
teething puppy on your hands, provide him with some appropriate alternatives
in the form of store-bought chew toys. If your dog is an adult, try not to
react by chasing him around or making a big scene. This is exactly what your
dog wants (your attention) and doing so will simply reinforce the behavior.
Keep your shoes in a safe place and give your dog more of the good attention
that he obviously craves.
4.
Why does my dog like to dig holes in my yard?
Digging
is an instinctual act for dogs, especially among certain breeds. The dog could
also be trying to bury something or could simply be trying to reach the cooler
soil beneath. If you determine that your dog is simply digging for no apparent
reason, you can train him to dig in a designated spot in your yard instead of
all over. Do this by spraying protected areas with a non-toxic dog repellant.
5.
Why does my dog jump up on anyone who walks through the front door?
Your
dog is simply attempting to affectionately greet you and your visitors.
Puppies do it all the time, but they are hardly ever corrected because the
animal is so small and the behavior, especially for a tiny puppy, can be
pretty cute and endearing. Once the animal grows up, however, the behavior can
be uncomfortable and threatening to both children and adults. The best thing
to do is to train your dog not to jump up on people from the time he is a
puppy.
6.
Why does my dog like to ride with his head sticking out of the car window?
Your
dog likes to stick his head out of the car window for the fresh air and the
inundation of new smells and sights. While this behavior seems harmless
enough, the potential for road debris to cost your dog an eye or head injury
is fairly great. For your dogs safety, keep the windows rolled up and the air
conditioner on.
7.
Why is my dog afraid of thunder?
Many
dogs that are normally brave and outgoing creatures will cower and whimper at
the first crack of thunder. The most likely reason for this behavior is the
dogs feeling that he cannot escape the looming danger that thunder (or any
loud noise) represents. Their first instinct is to run from the danger (which
would explain why so many dogs run away in reaction to July 4th fireworks);
however, if they are confined, distress at their inability to escape can take
the form of pacing, whimpering, howling and crying.
8.
Why does my dog like to roll in the smelly dirt?
Your
dog likes to roll in the dirt, especially after a bath, in order to mask his
scent. This is an instinctual behavior that no amount of training is likely to
change.
9.
Why does my dog chase his tail?
A
little tail chasing every once in a while is a perfectly normal dog behavior.
If the tail chasing becomes excessive, however, it could be that your dog is
craving your attention. If you laugh out loud, clap, or show other positive
reactions whenever your dog chases his tail, then you may be encouraging him
to repeat the action over and over again. Give your dog attention in other
ways and make sure that if he does start chasing his tail, he is in no danger
of injuring himself.
10.
Why does my dog eat grass?
Eating
grass is normal for a dog. Some dogs just develop a taste for it no matter
what the effect is on their digestive system (i.e. vomiting, diarrhea). If you
cant dissuade your dog from eating grass by offering him treats, make sure
that the grass and plant matter to which he has access are not toxic to
animals.
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Peanut Delights
2 1/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 C All Purpose Flour
1 1/4 C Smooth Peanut Butter
1 C Milk
1 1/4 Tbsp Baking Powder
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Combine both flours along with
the baking powder into a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine the
Milk and Peanut Butter and blend until smooth.
Gradually stir in the peanut
butter mixture to the flour mixture in the larger bowl.
Knead the dough by hand for
several minutes.
Flour a space for the dough such
as a counter top or cutting board and roll out the dough to the desired
thickness of ½ inch
Cut the treats out into your
dogs favourite shapes
Place aluminum foil on a cookie
sheet and lay the treats approximately 1/4 inch apart.
Bake for 15-20 minutes
Remove treats from oven and
allow to cool for several hours before removing to a cooling wire where you
should leave them overnight to go completely cold before storing.
Cheese
Waggers
4 C Whole Wheat Flour
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 C vegetable oil
1 1/4 C shredded cheese
6 cloves fresh garlic crushed
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 1/4 C Milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a large bowl, combine flour,
garlic, parsley and cheese.
Gradually stir in vegetable oil,
beaten egg, milk and blend well.
On a hard surface, roll out the
dough to the desired thickness of ½ inch.
Cut the treats out into your
dogs favourite shapes
Place treats on lightly greased
cookie sheet spaced evenly.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove treats from oven and
allow to cool fully before removing or storing.
Canine Spice Cookies
1 large Apple
1 C Oatmeal
1/4 C Blossom Honey
1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C. Water
1/8 C Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Allspice Powder
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Core, slice and mince the apple.
In a large bowl, combine the
minced apple bits, honey, water, cinnamon and oatmeal.
Slowly add in the 1 1/2 cups
wheat flour, adding enough to make a stiff dough.
Using a non-stick cookie sheet,
(It is recommended that if you do not have a non-stick cookie sheet you should
lightly grease and flour your cookie sheet to prevent sticking.) spoon the
dough by rounded teaspoon onto the cookie sheet, spacing each one
approximately 2 inches apart.
In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup
wheat flour.
Take a flat bottomed glass and
dip it into the bowl of wheat flour, use the flour covered bottom and flatten
each spoonful of dough into a circle.
Adjust the size of each one
based on how large of a treat you would like to feed your dog.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove
treats from oven and flip to allow cookies to brown evenly. Reduce temperature
of oven to 325 degrees and return cookies to oven for an additional 30
minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool overnight.
You companion will love these
crunchy cookie treats!
Find lots of Scrumptious and
Healthy recipes for your Canine Companion or to order a Canine cookbook (all
procedes to charity) go to
http://www.yummyfordogs.org
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Did You Know:
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The vitals of a canine are
different from those of his human counterpart. A dogs normal temperature is
between 100.2 and 102.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The dog takes between 10 and 30
breaths each minute, depending on his level of activity.
One taste many dogs do enjoy is
that of sugar, and many dogs have a sweet tooth. This may be because
sweetness signals that a plant is ripe and at its highest in nutritional
value. However, this taste can get them into trouble if they eat chocolate or
lap up antifreeze, which has a sweet taste. Both are poisonous antifreeze is
especially dangerous.
Your dogs heart is similar to
your own. It is divided into four chambers: the right atrium and ventricle
channel blood to the lungs to get oxygen while the left atrium and ventricle
pump the blood to the body. But unlike you, your dog has very little chance of
suffering a heart attack, stroke or atherosclerosis.
Unfortunately, dogs do suffer
from other common ailments found in people, such as diabetes and cancer. One
common disorder is congestive heart failure which means the heart muscle
cannot pump blood efficiently. (Heart failure is not the same thing as a heart
attack, in which the heart muscle begins to die because of obstruction of
circulation to the area) Congestive heart failure is in the top five illnesses
for which veterinary treatment is required.
Dogs often get conjunctivitis
otherwise known as pink eye and their owners worry that the infection can
be passed on to the human family members. Relax. The bacteria that causes
conjunctivitis in dogs is not the same as the one that affects humans.
People sometimes consider their
dogs to be almost human. Thats fine when it comes to showering affection and
attention on your pet, but dangerous if you try to give him human medication.
Dogs should never be given over-the-counter medication, unless specifically
prescribed by a veterinarian. For instance, if aspirin is given incorrectly it
can cause stomach bleeding in dogs.
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Fun Dog Activities by: Mike
Mathews
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All
dog breeds were developed for a purpose. Some breeds were developed to herd
sheep, some to hunt game, and some to pull sleds. Dogs, like humans, enjoy
having a purpose in life. Dogs like to lead a structured life and be able to
associate with their owners in activities and be given the opportunity to
please their owner. The following is a short list of fun activities that you
may want to consider for your dog.
Dog Agility
is a sport in which a handler must control and direct his dog around an
obstacle course within a set period of time. Dogs must be controlled off-leash
using only voice and body language commands. The handler runs beside the dog
and directs the dog through the obstacle course with precision and speed
trying to accumulate the minimum number of faults (both missed obstacles and
time faults). Obstacles include: A-frames, elevated dog walks, teeter-totters,
tunnels, jumps (such as hurdles and tires), weave poles (like a slalom), pause
tables (where the dog must lie down for a fixed time), and other obstacles. In
order to be fair, there are usually classes of competition to group dogs of
similar size and experience. Therefore there will be several winners at a
competition. Dogs and handlers need to be very well trained and seem to enjoy
this sport immensely. There are a number of organizations involved in agility
performance around the world who sanction clubs to allow them to host agility
competitions. In the US,
some of these organizations include: the American Kennel Club (AKC), the
United Kennel Club (UKC), the United States Dog Agility Association, and the
North American Dog Agility Council. Elsewhere in the world: the Kennel Club
(in the UK),
the Agility Association of Canada and the FCI (World Canine Organization) are
all involved.
Obedience
is a skill that ranges from mastering everyday commands that all dogs should
know to competitive exercises that require significant training and aptitude
to excel. You may start out teaching your puppy and young dog the basic
obedience commands and find that you and your dog have an aptitude for
obedience skills that you would like to take to a higher level. In competitive
obedience the dog and handler team must perform prescribed activities off
leash and in a carefully defined way. If the dog has the aptitude and training
it will gain skills to allow it to advance through the ranks from Novice to
Open (intermediate) to Utility (advanced) competitions. At each level the
requirements become more difficult and the number of exercises to be performed
get longer. Exercises are all done off leash using voice and body language
commands and include such activities as: having the dog stay while you walk
away; follow the handler in the heel position through complex patterns; come
on command; sit and lie down for fixed periods of time while the handler is
out of the dogs sight; retrieve items over a high jump; and find a scented
object amongst a group of identical non-scented objects. Dogs can earn
obedience titles in obedience championships. Purebred dogs can compete in
obedience trials sanctioned by the AKC, while the UKC recognizes other
purebred dog competitions. As well, there are mixed breed competitions
sanctioned by the Mixed Breed Dog Club of America and other organizations. In Canada,
the Canadian Kennel Club sanctions obedience trials and awards titles.
Lure coursing
is a sport for sighthounds that involves chasing a manually or mechanically
operated artificial lure across a field in a coursing pattern. The
competition is usually restricted to pure-bred sighthounds including: Afghan
Hounds, Basenjis, Borzois, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds,
Italian Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish
Deerhounds, and Whippets. The operator keeps the lure or prey just in front
of the chasing sighthounds until they have completed the course. The course
must have a minimum number of turns and is usually 600 to 1000 yards long. The
hounds love to play this sport and puppies can be introduced to the sport
through lure coursing practice sessions. Competitions usually consist of two
runs for each dog breed for dogs that have been pre-certified or qualified. In
the US,
the American Sighthound Field Association or the AKC can certify that dogs
have been trained and are eligible to enter their sanctioned competitions. In Canada,
the Canadian Kennel Club sanctions lure coursing but excludes the Italian
Greyhound because they consider it a toy dog.
Tracking can
be learned by all dog breeds because all dogs use their noses to identify
things and explore the world. Training can be started as early as 10 to 12
weeks of age as all puppies love to use their noses to sniff out a trail. As
with all training, positive rewards (treats, praise etc,) and re-enforcement
work best. The AKC sanctions tracking tests and events in the US.
This vigorous non-competitive outdoor sport allows dogs to demonstrate their
ability to recognize and follow human scents. In Canada,
the CKC sponsors tracking events and you can check their website for a list of
nearby events.
Field Trials
are regularly held for Basset Hounds, Beagles and Dachshunds to demonstrate
their ability to find and track game. Similarily Field Trials and Hunting
Trials are held almost every weekend across the country for: the Pointing
Breeds, the Retrievers, and Spaniels to allow them to compete and demonstrate
their hunting abilities under a strict set of conditions. If you are an owner
of a hunting dog puppy, you will want to look into many of the organized
activities designed for your dog. Check out the AKC or CKC websites for a list
of contacts and field trials in your area.
Other Fun Activites that you
might wish to explore include flyball, frisbee, herding and drafting
competitions.
About The Author
Mike Mathews is a contributing
writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/.
He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health,
dog grooming and more.
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Anecdotes, Links and Free Stuff
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Fastest Dog Weaving Between Poles
The fastest time for a dog to weave between 60
poles is held by a Border Collie named Jazz, owned by Lita Jansen (South
Africa) of Cape Province Dog
Club, who achieved a time of 12.98 secs on 4 Dec 1999 in George,
South
Africa.
Highest Jump by a Dog
The world record for the highest jump cleared by
a dog is 167.6 cm (66 in), achieved by Cinderella May A Holly Grey, a
greyhound trained by Lourdes Edlin and Sally Roth and owned by Kathleen Conroy
and Kate Long (all USA) of Miami, Florida, USA, at the Purina Dog Chow
Incredible Dog Challenge show, Gray Summit, Missouri, USA on 3 October 2003.
Largest litter of puppies
The largest litter of puppies is 24, all of whom
were born on November 29, 2004 to Tia, a Neopolitan mastiff, owned by Damian
Ward (UK) and Anne Kellegher (Ireland)
of Manea, Cambridgeshire,
UK.
Dog With The Largest Repertoire Of
Tricks
Chanda-Leah, a champagne-colored Toy Poodle,
enjoys bow-wowing audiences with a record-breaking repertoire of 469 tricks!
The pooch can perform on the piano, fetch a Kleenex if you sneeze, and even
untie the knot in your shoelace. She's the perfect house pet, too, even
clearing away her toys when she's finished playing
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A nineteenth century anecdote
tells of a convent in France
where twenty paupers were served with dinner at a certain hour every day. A
dog belonging to the convent always made sure that he was present when this
took place to receive the scraps which were now and then thrown to him. He did
not do very well out of it, as the guests were very poor and very hungry and
therefore not wasteful.
The portions were served by a
person at the ringing a bell and delivered by a tout, a machine like the
section of a cask, that by turning on a pivot exhibits whatever is placed on
the concave side without revealing the person who moves it.
One day the dog waited until all
the paupers had been served and gone, then took the rope in his mouth and rang
the bell. His stratagem succeeded and he repeated it the next day, and the
next with the same good fortune. At length the cook finding that twenty one
instead of twenty portions had been served decided to find out the reason. He
lay in wait and saw all the paupers come and go and there was no other
intruder other than the dog - he then saw the animal take hold of the rope and
ring the bell. He reported his discovery to the community, and after that he
was always permitted to ring the bell for his own dinner, which was duly
served up to him.
http://www.dogloversscrapbooking.momsbreak.com/
This is a great site for creative people and provides lots of links to sites
offering freebies
http://www.123greetings.com/pets/dogs/
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_rescuesticker
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John Turner
BonzoDogBeds
info@bonzodogbeds.com
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