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Dog Training is the key to having a happy and healthy dog. It is also the key to keeping your sanity and a happy home.

The first ingredient for effective dog obedience training to be effective is to build a solid and trusting relationship between dog and owner. And, before this can occur, a common language needs to be created. This can only be achieved when the dog obedience training that you are employing opens the way to learning, and provides you with the ability understand your pet and its needs.

I can’t say enough good things about the wonders of microchipping pets.

Recently, there was a stray dog in our neighborhood for several days. Rather than have him brought to the shelter and euthanized, or the poor thing hit by a car or abused by children, I brought him home. I called our local newspaper and placed an ad, then called my veterinarian and the shelter to see if anyone had reported her missing. Although no one had, the staff at my veterinarian’s office recommended that I bring her in so they could scan her to see if she had a microchip. Fortunately, she did have one, and in a matter of minutes I found out her owner’s name and phone number. It turns out that she lived in the next county, approximately 20 miles from my house.

We devoted a prior article to DOG MARKING CODES – TERRITORY MARKING AND SCENT MIXING. There we explained how such behavior is used in wolf packs, and how domestic dogs imitate such behavior when they feel threatened. Excessive dog marking and rolling in dung are frequently signs of a dog’s insecurity.

Territory marking builds the dog’s confidence. Ugh! But don’t despair. There are methods for correcting dog marking behaviors and other fearful dog behaviors. There are more socially acceptable means of building confidence!

The Basenji: A curious, warm climate dog originally bred in Africa

The Basenji is an African dog breed that was originally developed in Zaire. It is sometimes also referred to as the Congo Dog or even the Congo Terrier. These unique dogs are not typically barkers, however, they do have a range of strange vocalizations that they make including crows and keening wails. They were developed for hunting to help flush game birds from the bush.

Characteristics, behavior and health concerns of the Basenji breed

Ever since I was a little girl, I hoped and prayed for a horse to call my own. It became a ritual every birthday and Christmas that I would first check the property for a horse tied up to the plum tree, or stabled in the garage with the family sedan. Of course, I was totally naïve as to the expense of owning a horse and so I was always disappointed. Somewhere in my teens I gave up on the dream. So it was at the more mature age of 31 that my dream was finally realised and I became the owner of a precious baby girl (well, 14-year-old ex-Pacer, Standardbred mare). But to me she was my new baby and she came with the most perfect name, Angel.

It took me several years to realize I was just talking to my dogs. Yes, talking. Not communicating. In humans, it is well known advice that communication is the key to all relationships. Of course, communication is a two way street. You can try to make yourself clear to another human in one hundred different ways, but if they aren’t open to listening, you will get nowhere.

Surprisingly, your dog is actually listening to you. Desperately listening. He is trying to make sense of your crazy arm movements, your strange eye contact, your weird posturing, and of course your loud voice.

When a dog is shown before a judge, not only must he show how he moves but he must learn to stand both naturally and when placed in position without moving. This activity is called “stacking” the dog and it is an art that is learned by the handler and taught to the dog. The purpose of this stance is to allow the judge to see all parts of the dog’s structure to determine if he follows the standard of his breed and also for the judge to lay “hands on” and examine the dog to feel his bone structure and muscular condition.

In the last decade or so, the popularity of sugar gliders as pets has grown considerably. The small size of these furry acrobats, their personalities, their plush fur, their large eyes, their agility and their ability to bond closely with humans have attracted legions of new sugar glider devotees.

What is a sugar glider and where did they originally come from? Sugar gliders are small marsupials and members of the possum family. They are found in Australia, Tasmania, Indonesia, and New Guinea. Their scientific name is Petaurus breviceps. Most sugar gliders these days are captive-bred and not wild-caught.

History

Throughout the US and in many parts of the world, greyhounds are used as racing dogs to support gambling. In the United States alone, there are roughly 40 dog tracks and hundreds of puppy farms and training facilities around the country. Years ago, the greyhound industry was in much worse shape than it is today. Many tracks have established very good policies as well as “no kill” rules that help ensure the health and fate of the greyhounds. However, there are still thousands of greyhounds that after their racing days are in need of forever homes.

The American Cocker Spaniel was bred from the English Cocker Spaniel and is smaller than its English cousin. A Cocker Spaniel will average about 14 ½ to 15 ½ inches in height and 15 to 40 pounds in weight and will live 12 to 15 years. Cocker Spaniels have long silky coats that need to be brushed almost daily, but are considered average shedders. Cocker Spaniels like to run through the grass and woods and their coats will become tangled and matted. If this is not taken care of immediately by brushing the dirt and debris out, it could lead to some uncomfortable skin infections. Trimming the coat regularly is necessary and some owners prefer to keep the coat at a medium length.