Much
of what I have listed you may have observed
for yourself, gleaned from other owners
or read in books but if there is anything
you feel unsure about and would like
some further verification or explanation
then I recommend you consult a Vet,
a dog Trainer or perhaps a Dog Therapist.
If any visitors have any suggestions
to offer we are prepared to publish
them, providing we find them relevant
and useful. You can use our Contribute
page.
Some
General Doggy Hints & Advice.
Try to start teaching your dog good
behaviour when you bring him home for
the first time, training your dog from
day one will establish you as the leader
of the pack and dogs instinctively want
to earn the pack leader's approval (dogs
are submissive to those they feel have
higher pack status).
From a very early age, dogs engage in
play with one another and this play
is usually in the form of mock fights.
This "play fighting" which
is most common in puppies, is fairly
harmless and natural behaviour training
them for later life.
A
dog needs to work off excess energy
through exercise every day.
If your dog has bad breath, it may be
nothing more than he may need his teeth
cleaned. .
Take temptation away from your pet by
putting your kitchen waste bin in a
cupboard, ensuring your dog will stay
out of it.
A dog who causes damage to your home
when you're away is usually frustrated
and his frustration has been transferred
onto household objects.
If
your dog reacts anti-socially toward
visitors, put him in another room until
he calms down. When you let hin out,
ignore him. This forces your dog to
go to the visitors for social interaction
(assuming your visitors don't mind).
The
burying of bones is part of a dog's
instinctive feeding ritual behaviour
and shaking things viciously is related
and part of the hunting ritual.
Dogs
become loyal not because you are their
main food supplier, but because of the
companionship you give them.
Though
neutering has no effect on the overall
personality, male dogs tend to display
less aggression, and territorial behaviour
when they are neutered.
Dogs
are able to see much better in dim light
than humans are. This is due to a light-reflecting
layer behind the retina. Because it
functions like a mirror, it also accounts
for the strange shine or glow in a dog's
eyes at night.
Dogs
can very easily regurgitate and if this
happens occasionally you should not
be worried.
Most
dogs don't like to be left alone so
they howl. Leave the radio or television
on to keep your dog company when you
are away.
Dogs
and cats turn in circles before lying
down because in the wild this instinctive
action turns long grass into a bed.
Pet
dogs who growl when family members are
playing boisterous games are not upset,
they're just asking to join in and become
part of the game.
Some Puppy Hints & Facts
Puppies
are born "blind" with little
sense of hearing and smell, their eyes
start to open when they are 10 to 15
days old and full vision can take another
two weeks.
Puppies should remain with their mother
until they are at least eight weeks
old.
Puppies generally are unable to control
their bladders overnight until they
are at least four months old. Try covering
the floor around the puppy's bed with
newspapers at night.
Puppies
need to chew to stimulate the loss of
their baby teeth and replace them with
permanent teeth, providing toys or edible
chews are good substitutes.
To
a puppy or young dog, exercise and play
are the most important events in the
day but as dogs gets older, they live
for dinner time.
Giving
your new puppy its own sleeping area/bed,
will make him/her feel more secure.
Ignore
your new puppy's whining when you first
isolate it for sleeping. If you don't
you will only encourage it to whine
more.
From
a young age, dogs engage in play with
one another. Dog play is made up primarily
of mock fights. It is believed that
this behavior, which is most common
in puppies, is training for important
behaviour they will need in later in
life.
Ritual
behaiour and your dog
Rituals
are important for dogs; they provide
them w.ith stability and security.
Rituals
are a basic part of dog behaviour so
greeting, feeding, hunting and sleeping
will all include social performances.
Good
examples of ritual soon start to show
in a dogs behaviour, a tilt of the head,
a certain wag of the tail, a nudge with
the nose, standing by doors are all
signs that your dog is telling you,
something should be happening. He has
his daily rituals that must be completed
-- some will be ones you've instituted
and others your dog has developed