Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever Dog image courtsey: wikipedia.org

Steven Spielberg’s ‘Extra Terrestrial’ was a run-away hit millions watched the strange look and expressions of the ‘Extra Terrestrial’ with awe and they loved the little boy as well as the dog which followed the boy as a shadow, perhaps most of the readers would not be aware that this dog was a Labrador. Former US President Mr. Bill Clinton had two pets the ‘Buddy’ and ‘Seamus’ both Labrador Retrievers! This article is about one of the most fascinating dog breeds in the world; in intelligence, tolerance and adaptability Labrador retriever is numero uno; it is no wonder that they constitute 70% percent of guide-dogs in America.

Labrador retrievers (called ‘Labs’ as a mark of endearment) are relatively large breeds of dogs which are classified under ‘working classes’. Their origin has been traced to the Islands of New Found land in Canada. It is believed that the Labs are a cross breed between the St. John’s Dog and the local ‘water dogs’ (water dogs are so called as they help fishermen in retrieving their nets from water) This breed was earlier known in the common name St. John’s Dog (St. John’s Dog is actually extinct at present)and it was the Earl of Malbesbery who christened them as Labrador. The American Kennel Club began to register the Labs from 1917 onwards.

Appearance.

Labradors are relatively large dogs. The male dogs weigh about 25 to 35 kgs and females weighing about 20 to 30 kgs. It has short and smooth coat and straight powerful tail like that of an Otter. The otter like tail and webbed toes make them excellent swimmers. Usual colors are chocolate, black, or yellow.

Head.

Head is broad with distinct stop and slightly pronounced brow. Eyes are usually brown in color exudes a sympathetic look. The lining around the eyes should be black as per breed specifications. The ears hang close to the head and are set slightly above the eyes. Jaws are strong and powerful. Except in black Labs the nose is yellowish. Body should be strong and muscular with a level top line.

Temperament

Golden Labrador Retriever image courtsey: wikipedia.org

Labrador is a ‘gentleman’ among dogs and it has almost all good manners like Good temperament, agility, a sharp nose, soft mouth, and above all a love of water which makes it a friend of fishermen. It is a devoted companion and very intelligent.

They are not excessively prone territorialism, pining, insecurity, aggression, destructiveness or hyper sensitivity. The Labs are excellent retrievers and like to play with children.

Adaptability.

English Labrador Retriever image courtsey: wikipedia.org

Labradors are adaptable to a wide range of functions. It is an excellent working dog and can be used for hunting, tracking and as assistants to disabled. They are good cart-pullers and guide dogs. Their extraordinary power for smell make them fit to be ‘police dogs’.

HOW TO CARE YOUR LABRADOR

It is a pride to be a ‘Labrador owner’, but this status carries a lot of tasks that cannot be ignored. The main responsibilities are giving food at regular intervals, allowing it regular exercise, frequent brushing and grooming, and even teaching them how to behave to the visitors. For those who love pets these are not tasks but pleasures, as dogs are innocent and playful like children spending time with them is refreshing.

Feeding the Puppy.

Puppies are very delicate beings and special care may be given to them by feeding with apt food in regular intervals. Enquire to the breeder about the type of food he is giving to the puppy and always give the same food after it is taken home. It is probable that the pup will be somewhere around ten to twelve weeks old and already weaned from its mother’s milk on to solid and semi solid foods. Care should be taken since at this stage its stomach is very delicate and never overfeed it. As it is in the case of human beings overfeeding can cause excess fat which will be ugly and unglamorous! Foods based on grains and fatty ones should be restricted.

What you can give.

Feed the puppies at about four-hour intervals. Breakfasts can of cereal based foods, biscuits, warm milk, or beaten egg.

At lunchtime you can give lightly cooked minced liver, fish or tripe, moistened with gravy.

In the afternoon a drink of warm milk with some biscuits or bread would be enough.

In the early evening you can repeat the lunch and at the bed time you can repeat the break fast. At about fifteen weeks of age milk can be withdrawn and after six months of age changeover to adult diet can be effected.

Feeding adult dogs.

Adult dogs require only one good meal a day, plus a bed time snack. Usually Labradors are ferocious eaters and they eat whatever given to them. Hence a regular quantity of food at regular intervals alone is given. For the breakfast you can include milk, biscuits, bread and eggs etc. At lunch you can give carbohydrate rich diet such as rice, wheat, or potatoes. Along with the above; meat, fish, curd, also may be added. Always avoid feeding your adult dog at late evenings or at bed time, because dogs are having a tendency to sleep after eating a heavy meal (this is same for human beings also!).

Grooming.

Few things are worse in the home than the presence of a bad smelling dog in your home. The good news about a foul smelling dog is that by regular brushings and grooming can turn him in to an eye-candy for which onlookers may flock with a ‘wow’!

At younger stage itself; let the puppy get used to the daily inspection and grooming. Let him think ‘it is also part of the play’ at first so that he takes an interest in it. Gradually train him to stand still while grooming. Labradors are shorthaired dogs even then regular grooming is advisable to avoid pests.

Brushing.

Brushing not only makes the dog look pleasant but removes dust dirt and scurf from the coat and stimulates the skin and muscles. Regular brushing keep the skin supple and encourage healthy hair-growth. A short bristled brush, a hound-glove and a soft cloth are enough for grooming Labradors. Move the brush briskly to free the coat from dandruff and dust.

Bathing.

Well groomed dogs seldom needs bathing. Labradors are water-loving dogs and don’t resent to bathing. Don’t use any detergents or household soaps for bathing the dogs which may cause skin disorders. Always take care to see water entering in to the ear. Wipe out all the moisture or keep the dog in the direct sunlight for a while after bath. One bath is enough for a week. A normal dog’s inclination after being bathed is directly to roll in some more dirt, never let him do that!

Exercising your dog

Chocolate Labrador Retriever image courtsey: wikipedia.org

Regular exercise is required to keep your dog healthy and this should be started at the younger stage itself.

Biting and barking.

You can be a proud and contended dog-owner if your pet is a Labrador because it seldom bites or barks. But never think that it is unable to protect your belongings because he is also a good watch dog.

Common disorders.

1. Elbow dysplasia is a common disorder in Labrador.

2. Knee problems are common in some dogs.

3. Eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy, cataract, retinal dysplasia are rarely seen.

4. Since Labs have drooping ears ear problems such as otitis (inflammation of the ear) is not uncommon.

5. Labradors are voracious eaters. They will eat whatever is given; hence keep a restriction in the diet to keep it slim; an obese Labrador is not good to look at

TIPS.

1. Labradors are beautiful dogs that any dog lover would like to rear, but keep him clean and teach him to behave from early stage.

2. Golden retrievers are also belong to the category of Labradors and are most amiable dogs and good family pets. Let children play with them without any hindrance, as a joint game will be helpful to children also.

3. Dogs are very sociable animals and always care them; a dog un-attended by the owners will be subjected to stress and are liable to behave abnormally.

Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard Dog - The Rescue Dog

Saint bernard dog image courtsey: petsplace.co.za

A saint who rescued monks!

The incident occurred during the 17th century; while a group of monks were passing through the Saint Bernard pass (boundary between Switzerland and Italy) one of them slipped in to a deep gorge beside the path. When others could only scream and cry for help; a huge dog sprang as if from nowhere jumped in the gorge and dragged the inured old monk to the path. It was ‘Barry’ a Saint Bernard dog who saved the life of the monk. For Barry this was just one of the hundreds of lives he had saved from the hands of death, and for the St. Bernard breed Barry is just one of the thousands of its members engaged in the great job of rescuing lives. It is nothing strange the breed is known as ‘the rescue dog’.

Barry the great!

Saint Bernard Dogs

Even after four centuries passed by after his death; Barry’s name is still quoted with great affection in that part of the land. Due to the great service these Saint Bernard dogs do to human beings they are considered by their owners as invaluable possessions. ‘Barry’ was honored by the people of the locality by erecting a monument in the ‘Cemetiere des Chiens’ and his body is being preserved in the Natural History Museum in Berne; Switzerland. These dogs got their name as they were discovered by the monks from Saint Bernard area. These monks impressed by the courage and loyalty; the monks adopted them first and named them ‘Saint Bernard Dog’, later the breed became popular through out the world.

The big ones among dogs.

st bernard image courtsey: allposters.com

Saint Bernard is the largest breed of dog originally bred for rescue and for working purpose. A full grown male can weigh about 75 to 125kg .The heaviest and largest Saint Bernard known in history was ‘Benedictine’ which weighed about 162 kg. The standard height of Saint Bernard dog is about 28 to 34”.Two varieties are commonly seen; those which sport short hairs and those with long hairs.

Temperament (Very cool!)

As its name indicates it is gentle like a saint and very fond of children. It rarely attacks or barks against the strangers, but the sight of this giant animal is enough to sent shivers in the nerves of the intruders. Like any other breed Saint Bernard is very social and keeping it lonely for long time is cruel, such deeds can drive the poor animals crazy and they may turn violent. A Saint Bernard may not always follow the footprints of the owner but will always be watchful of the activities of the owner. It is a highly intelligent dog and easy to be trained. They have highly developed sense of smell and at times act like as they have a sixth sense to foresee impending disasters like cyclones and avalanches.

Coat.

st bernard dogs image courtsey: msnbcmedia2.msn.com

There are two types of coats found in Saint Bernard varieties when some are of smooth finish the others are rough. Both are very dense and come in white with markings in tan, mahogany, brindle, and black all found in various combinations. The feet are large with strong and well arched toes making them sure footed in the snow and ice.

Common ailments

• The Saint Bernard is a massive dog variety with a very fast body growth rate. Hence deficiency in calcium and other minerals can cripple a dog with rickets, hypo-dysplasia (developmental disorder), osteosarcoma (bone tumor) etc.

• Prone to eye disorders such as ectropion and entropion (deformity of eyelids, generally as age advances)

• Susceptible to epilepsy, heart disorders like dilated cardiomyopathy (chronic disease of heart muscles) and eczema.

• Saint Bernard Dogs are more prone to gastritis, so it is better to feed them with two or three small meals instead of a single heavy meal.

• It sheds its hairs twice a year especially during winter and cold seasons.

• Regular grooming is required to make the coat clean.

Diseases of the digestive system

1. Halitosis or foul breath

This condition is frequently occurred in dogs due to lack of oral hygiene as well as due to infection of teeth or gum. Halitosis may occur as a result of chronic indigestion, hepatic disorder and rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane). A mouth-wash with hydrogen peroxide or any non toxic disinfectant is enough to ward it off.

2.Gastritis.

Inflammation of the gastric mucosa may make the animal anorexic (without appetite) and gloomy. The reasons can be over feeding, indiscriminate feeding –foods which are not suited to dogs, intake of foreign bodies etc. Common symptoms are severe discomfort, abdominal pain, poor appetite, vomiting etc.

3.Enteritis.

It is the inflammation of the intestinal mucous membrane. It is characterized by diarrhea, dehydration etc.

4. Hepatitis.

Inflammation of the liver is known as hepatitis. Can be caused by bacteria, virus, foreign bodies, some toxins etc.

Worm infestation.

Dogs have the habit of eating ground laden materials thereby swallowing worm-eggs which develop in its stomach causing problems. Regular de-worming is a must in dogs. It is recommended that de-worming once in a month is ideal

Diseases of the respiratory system

Common cold, cough, bronchitis, etc are the common respiratory diseases found in dogs as well as other pet animals.

Skin diseases

Scabies, mange (skin disease due to parasitic mites causing severe itching) infections, dermatitis etc are common in dogs

Note before you take the Saint Bernard

saint bernard puppies image courtsey: saintbernardclub.org

Saint Bernard is a large breed of dog with fast rate of body growth so it needs large quantities of food adequately supplemented by minerals and calcium. Regular cleaning and exercise are very important. It is very sociable type, give it company and let children get acquainted with the dog. Never let your pet remain lonely for long periods, it can cause it nervous break-downs.

Tunnel diggers!

Dogs are generally very active types of animals they require ample space to run and play, hence before you consider bring them in (esp. a Saint Bernard) in to your house, make sure you have lots of room to spare for them; to run and play. A sturdy fence with adequate height is a must so that they won’t jump over it and scare the neighbors. As Saint Bernards are intelligent they may dig under the fence and go out, so make the fence considering this factor also!

German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog

The German invader!


Came from Alsace of Germany, brought by the returning American soldiers,invaded the hearts of dog-lovers all over the world, popularly known as the Alsatian (if you have guessed it is the German shepherd dog (GSD), you are right). Only few know Alsatian and the German shepherd are one and the same (a case of split personality? no, it so happened people called it by name Alsatian for years, then came awareness about dogs and its breeds, the elite dog keepers fashionably called their dogs “German shepherd”, whereas “ordinary” people still call their German shepherds as Alsatians ). There are


Too many cooks!


Classification: like in most of the cases there is no universally accepted norm. Different countries have different kennel associations like the kennel club of India (KCI), American Kennel Club (AKC), Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC) , New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), American Pet Registry Inc.(APRI), and so on. Only consensus among them regarding universal standards is lacking. The AKC has grouped these beauties in ‘Herding’ class; where as the FCI put them under ‘Group 1 Section 1 #166’, the CKC as ‘Group 7- Herding dogs’, The ANKC as ‘Group 5 (Working Dogs)’ and so on and on….


Listen to the father.


Breed Characters: German shepherd that compete in dog shows, must have an appearance that conforms with the guidelines of the individual kennel club as no universally accepted standards exists.

As per Max von Stephanitz, the ‘Father of the German Shepherd Dog’ - "The most striking features of a correctly bred German Shepherd are firmness of nerves, attentiveness, “shock-resistance”, tractability, watchfulness, reliability and incorruptibility together with courage, fighting tenacity and hardness."


Height: Male dogs 24 to 25 inches (60-65cm.), Bitches 22-24 inches (55-60cm.)Weight: 77-85 pounds (35-40kg.)


Color conscious!


The GSD is handsome, well proportioned and very strong. The hair is a double-coat and can be either short or long haired. Although the black and tan saddle (Fig 1) may be most recognizable, German Shepherds come in a variety of colors and patterns (not all are accepted by the various breed clubs is another thing!). Two toned German Shepherds can be black and tan, black and red, black and brown, black and silver, black and cream, blue and tan, or liver and tan. Solid colors may be black and solid white or any of the dilutes (liver, blue, or cream). Dogs with coats that have tricolored hair (black and white with either brown or red) are called sable( Fig 2). Sables can come in a variety of mixtures as well including black and silver, black and red, black and cream, and black and tan.

There are few more markings helpful for recognising them.

1. 'striping' - black stripe markings on the legs found in some sables,

2. 'pencilling' - found on the sable as black lines on the top of the dog's toes,

3. 'tar heels' - black that runs down the back of the dog's legs, and

4. ‘bitch stripe’ - grey hairs along the back of a female or a neutered male.

Certain qualities desirable to ideal GSDs


Color

White is generally not an acceptable color for the German shepherd; however they are now being recognized as a separate breed, called the American White Shepherd.


Head.


The head should be noble and in proportion to its body, and the forehead a little convex.


Eyes.


Eyes of medium size, almond shaped, set a little obliquely (not protruding), with a lively, intelligent expression. Color darker the better.

Ears.


Ears should be moderately pointed, wised at the base, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and held erect when at attention. The ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears (as viewed from the front) should look parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Ears that are not completely erect are consisderesd as a disqualification (the ears of puppies less than six months may droop slightly).


Nose.


The nose is most often black, blue or liver rarely occur, but is considered taboo for shows.

It has a strong scissors bite

It has a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body with a light but solid bone structure.,

Its bushy tail reaches almost to its hocks and hangs down when the dog is at rest.

Its front legs and shoulders are muscular; its thighs thick and sturdy. It has round feet with very hard soles.


Nature: Noble in appearance, character and purpose, a German shepherd is courageous, brave and has keen senses. These dogs are capable of warm companionship and are active and dignified. They befriend children once they get acquainted and are unconditionally loyal, obedient and protective and hardly ever run away. They do not allow intruders in their homes and can get along with other family pets and animals,. Sensitive to voice and intelligent enough to understand things quickly, German Shepherds are eager pupils.


The American line of a German hero.


First it was the American soldiers who brought German shepherd dogs (GSD) to thier country as they were so impressed by the role they played for the German army in World war 1. From the army camps the German shepherds travelled a long way to reach the top notch among the best dog breeds.


German and Eastern European lines tend to be stockier, with shorter snouts and more muscular chests, and typify the working lines. The North American lines have a tendency towards a longer croup, longer back, higher wither and temperament making them ideal for companionship.


American GSD lines tend to have sharp angulations in the hind quarters, more so than any other breed. These angulations allow them to hop seamlessly with lesser touch on the ground. American lines tend to be bred for elegance and nobility. They are often less active and less dominant than their German counterparts, which make them better pets.


German line GSDs are generally stockier than their American counterparts and more moderate in both structure and movement without severe angulations as in American lines. They may not appear as graceful and dignified but instead have an air of muscular agility. When the German lines are high-energy, high-intensity dogs, the American is Graceful and elegant companions.


Longevity: The life expectancy is about 13 years. A GSD becomes "middle-aged" between 5-7 years old, and is generally considered aged at about 10.

Exercise: GSDs require a lot of exercise; they can be reared in apartments provided there is provision for giving them the much needed exercise. Two hours a day will do.

Roles: The GSDs are excellent in Herding, they are ideal for the jobs like trekking, tracking, Searching, Rescue-duty etc. GSDs are extensively used as Guard Dogs and Guide Dogs. Their loyalty and affection make them good pets.


Some of the common ailments found in GSDs.


Hip dysplasia. This is caused by Genetic disorders can be diagnosed by early x-ray verification.

Hair-loss (Alopocia) due to several factors including deficiency of vitamins and minerals, Fungal and parasitic infestation or even the use of bad soaps. Carbolic acid based soaps are never to be used.

Ear-infections. The most common ailment, reason improper or no cleaning, better management of the ears can keep the ailment at bay.

Maggot- attack. Especially in hairy varieties small wounds and scars on the skin may go un-noticed which will turn out to be breeding ground for maggots (pest flies which lay eggs in animal wounds causing the wound to worsen)

A good dog is worth ten friends, keep it in ship shape and be a proud owner of a proud dog.

Don’t envy your neighbor’s dog, own a better one..

Pug

PUG DOG – The Toy Dog.

Pug dog image courtsey: puppyparadise.com

It will follow wherever you go.

"You haven’t lived until you’ve been owned by a PUG”. Don’t get scared, that is only the punch-word of the ‘PUG DOG CLUB OF AMERICA’ an organization of American PUG owners since 1931. It only means that a PUG can fulfill and enrich your life more than anything. Pug is a toy breed of dog with a wrinkly face and comparatively small body. The word pug might have been originated from the Latin word "Pugnus" which means fist because the face of the dog looks a clinched fist.

Origin

Pugs are of Chinese origin, believed to be bred by Emperor of Chang Dynasty in the eastern part of China. These small beautiful creatures were first imported by the Dutch and English between the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Something official about it!

The story of PUG in China goes like this, Princess ‘Orange’ the teen-aged daughter of the emperor of Chang Dynasty, China. As her name suggested she was so sweet and as beautiful as an angel. One fine evening in her royal garden; below an orange tree; the princess was sitting immersed in some lovely day-dreams. Suddenly from some dark corners of the garden there arises one assassin with an unsheathed dagger. The ever vigilant pet-dog of her (A PUG) barked at charged at him foiling his attempt. Thus the life of the beautiful princess was saved by a little ‘toy-dog’ of her. Thereafter this little dog (the pug) was raised to the status of ‘the official dog of the House’ of Orange.

Essential features.

Pug dog features image coutsey: enchantedlearning.com

Pug is a toy breed with10 to 11" height and 7 to 8 kg weight. It is having a square cut body, deep chest compact form, and well built head with broad muzzle. Eyes are usually dark and dilated with a worried appearance. Wrinkles on the fore-head should be distinct and deep .Ears must be smooth, soft and velvety.

Body color

Usual body colors are silver, fawn , apricot, or black. Coat is always short, fine and glossy.

Temperament

Pug is a charming, clever, sociable, and obedient breed of dog. Avery peculiar behavior of the dog is that it always be at their owner’s foot, it follows wherever the owner goes. This behavior has given it the reputation of being chosen as the brand Ambassador of the Hutch network in India

Selection of Good Pups

Pug Pups image courtsey: pupcity.com

Selection of a good pup requires a little bit patience on the part of the would-be owner. The place of rearing, surroundings, interest of the other family members, etc should be kept in mind before selecting a particular breed .A pup should be purchased based on the following points.

1. Body condition should not be too thin or too fatty.

2. Skin should be glossy and hair should be uniformly distributed.

3. Eyes should be bright and clear.

4. Abdomen should not be potbellied.

5. There should not be any Ecto-parasites on the skin.

6. Always purchase pups of known parents.

7. The pups should not be purchased before 4-5 weeks.

8. The head, tail and ears pattern should be in conformity with those of breed.

Health Aspects

Pugs image coutsey: seemypug.com

Pug is a small dog with wrinkled face. The wrinkles on the face are susceptible to irritation due to infection. Frequent brushing, and cleaning of the face is a must for avoiding infection on the face. Another disadvantage of the wrinkles is at the time of whelping. The mother will be unable to break the fetal bags .So the owner himself has to break the fetal bags, clean the fetal fluids on the face and help them to suckle.

Pugs are usually susceptible to eye injuries.

Pug pup image courtsey: parkerthepug.com

Obesity is another important health hazard. Since it is small breed obesity can take away all its charm and render the dog lazy and useless.

Attention all pug owners! The American Pug Breeders Association director Ms. Betty Mc Andrews has stated that Pugs are more susceptible to convulsive respiratory failure, soft palate suppuration, corneal ulcers, diabetics, patellar luxation, neck dysphasia, and cranial arthritis.

CARE AND MANAGEMENT DURING PREGNANCY

1. Minimize the movement of the pregnant bitch.

2. Minimize the stress and excitement

3. Do not make abrupt changes in the feeding schedule.

4. Do not use any powder containing acaricides.

5. Do not give any vaccine.

6. Feed small quantities of foods at regular intervals.

7. Keep a watch on the mammary development. Any abnormal growth on the mammary gland should be viewed seriously.

8. Place the bitch on the whelping area which is having adequate bedding.

9. Pug is having wrinkles on the face so it may not be able to clear the fetal bag, clear it and wipe the face of the pups with soft cloth, and see that the pups have started suckling.

PUG owners please note!

Pug image courtsey: dog-breeds-explained.info

1. Pug is a toy breed and it loves the company of the owner. It wishes to be inside the house always. So if any of the member of the family does not like the dog running inside the house, avoid choosing a Pug as your pet.

2. Pug usually shed a large quantity of hairs particularly at certain times of the year. So be prepared of dealing with shed hairs.

3. Pugs suffer in high temperature. So you may have to keep them always cool.

4. If you have enough patience, a warm heart to love and wish to be loved by your pet, go and select a PUG.

In case you need any further information or have any queries feel free to write to us or ask your questions via comments.

Something About Man's Best Friend A Foreword

Man's Best Friend

Image courtsey: tombraider4u.com

Dogs of all hues. Something About Man's Best Friend - A Foreword.

This article is only foreword for a series of postings to appear in this site; describing the various types (breeds) of dogs and their specialties, as dog is the undisputed best-friend of human being it would of immense use to be familiar with the characteristic features of each breed and the ways of rearing, and even dealing with them. The author is a research fellow in the veterinary research institute in Kerala, he will only be happy to share information regarding dog rearing with those who love his best-friend and wish to know more of these four-legged wonders.

Dogs are classified in the "canine" community (family canidae, species Canis familiaris) by the scientists. The word "canine" reminds the fangs of the legendary Dracula and the readers may develop an aversion to this group, but remember these canines are essential for them to lead an omnivorous (those which eat vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian foods) life style and there is nothing to be afraid of their dental pattern! Ancient remains of human beings have almost always found accompanied by skeletons of dogs, this is a standing testimony to prove that the canines they have are just teeth of devotion and nothing less than that!

The present species of dogs is supposed to be evolved about 30,000 years back, there are different schools of thought regarding their origin, the most popular one is that they evolved from wolves (there are instances reported of wolves mating with domestic dogs). Some people of the scientific community are of opinion that dogs evolved from the jackals and yet others claim dogs are the progenies of coyotes ugly! As the case belongs to 30,000 years back let us leave it to the "school teachers"! Altogether there are more than one hundred breeds available in the domestic dog species.

Man's ambition and greed have tempted him to domesticate anything and everything that came in to his way, almost all attempts to domesticate animals like hyenas, Gazelles, wild-cats, foxes etc have failed miserably. Even the domestication of the so called "domestic cats" is said to have progressed only half-way! The cat never lets anybody mess with its life, master or no master! So called domestication means only that much to this small animal.

But what about the dogs, in this case also there is nothing for the man to be proud of, it is believed that dogs just came to the man and asked with his jesters, asylum from predators and left-over food from man in a trade-off for the watch-man duty he offered voluntarily. If the dog is domesticated now, it is not by the merit of the man but by the grace of the dog! In a sense, it is the dog which domesticated the man! By offering security at night from snakes and predators dog made man stop wandering and lead a settled "domestic" life. All by the grace of the dog!

How to Train Your Pet

All it takes is a little Time and Love !!!

One may envy watching the neighbor’s dog stopping its barking, lying down, or retrieving the object which was thrown away etc as ordered by him, while yours may be a perpetual nuisance both for you and your neighbors. As the TV ad goes “don’t envy your neighbor’s pet” own one like that! There is no miracle in making the dog obey your orders. It can be made possible to anybody including yourself. Training of dog is not a hard job it is easier if your pet belongs to an intelligent breed and you have a some time and effort to spare.

Very simple.

The following is a simplified description of the training methods those can be practiced by ordinary people who have just some time to spare for their pets. A dog well-

Trained is treasure where as an untrained or ill trained one can be a menace for the whole locality. Doberman, Labrador, or Alsatian, are a dog trainer’s delight, as they pick up lessons faster hence they are considered as intelligent breeds.

Personality development.

Nowadays people spend a fortune to purchase new varieties of dogs such as Rottweiler, Doberman, Alsatian, pug etc and keep them simply as their status symbol. As in the case of man, real beauty of a dog lies in its personality, dog training is in a sense a personality development program for the pets. Beauty is not much for a pet but proper training is the real thing.

It follows wherever you go.

See how an little pug stole the heart of millions and became a celebrity overnight through “Hutch” ad. By trained behavior your dog also can be like that one which follows the kid “where ever it goes.

Catch them Young.

Best time to give training for your pet is at the age group of 2 to 3 months, after six months it becomes unfit for training.

Why is your pet Aggressive.

1. congenital aggression

Some dogs by their breed are aggressive. Example: Rajapalayam, Rottweiler etc.

2. environmental aggression

Sudden change of environment can make a dog aggressive

3. Aggression due to illness

A dog suffering from some illness or pain may show aggressiveness.

4. fear induced aggression

It may be the fear factor which makes the dog aggressive in certain times.

How to Minimize aggressive behaviour in your pet.

1. Anti aggressive pet- training
2. psychological treatment
3. Increase in the quantity of protein in its diet.
4. Anti adrenergic drugs (testosterone antagonistic will prevent the unusual over- aggression.)
5. Castration of male dogs may reduce aggression.

Best time for Training

Better to chose early morning hours for training (a fresh brain is better for learning for pets also.

Feeding while Training

Never give any hard meal before or at the time of training (keep it a bit hungry to make snacks tastier) snacks such as biscuits, cake-crumbs etc during training are good tit-bits (token of appreciation).

Commonly used commands for Training.

1. “Sit down” or “down” to make it sit down.
2. “Come on” calling the pet to walk to you
3. “Catch” (Fetch) for fetching any object which is thrown against your pet
4. “No” – preventing him from doing any mistake.
5. “Retrieve”- the dog to take back any object
6. “Don’t touch” To prevent it from eating any food offered by strangers.

Method of training.

1. SIT DOWN

In order to make a pup “sit down” it should be called with low voice to sit down and simultaneously pressing down by holding in the neck with the hand. If it is showing reluctance, repeat the same by saying the word sit down, do it until it will do it by itself. Then stand apart from the dog and say “sit down” it will do it without pressure. “Tit-bits” (Token of appreciation) is a must in dog (or any pet) training. You can give one or two biscuits when it obeys each order itself.

2. SIT UP

Make the dog in the sit down position and then slowly raise his neck by saying the words sit up. Repeat this until it does it with out any reluctance. Stand apart from it and say “sit up” if it is not doing direct by hand, try again and again till it learns.

3. COME ON.

For this a dog should be called by its name several times a day for about a week to make it accustomed to its own name. A dog may be pulled by holding the cord attached to collar using the word “come on” the meal dish may be placed at a distance and drag it slowly towards it by saying the words “come on”. This should be repeated until it learns that lesson, and the dog should be patted and treated with some tit-bits each time saying some sweet words also works.

4. NO.

Always utter the word “NO” when it is doing any mischief, so that it will get accustomed to the word. Put the meal dish at a distant place when the dog is going to eat it, prevent it by uttering the word ‘NO’. Repeat this for some time and then allow it to eat. When the pup is constantly barking, put your fingers around its mouth and say “NO”. Repeat this for some time until it recognizes and stops barking when you say ‘NO’

5. DON’T TOUCH.

A dog should be trained not to eat any food offered by a stranger. For this, put the meal dish at a distance. When the dog approaches the food to eat it, say “don’t touch”. And take away the dish. Repeat this until it recognizes the word.

6. CATCH / FETCH.

For this throw an object (a small ball or a piece of bone is enough) away from it and utter the word CATCH. If it does not mind your command, take it to the object, put the object inside its mouth and say the word catch. Repeat the same until it runs towards the object and catch it. It should be patted affectionately as a token of appreciation. Every time and each time it runs and catches the object, you should remove the object form the mouth, and then throwing it to some distance. Repeat this until he catches the object and takes it back to you with out the application of any force.

Tips

1. training is a process which requires patience both for the trainer and trainee. Remember your trainee is a raw and innocent one, so always keep cool while engaged in the training process.
2. Always choose early hours of the day for training so that both you and your trainee get some exercise
3. Do not feed your dog before training (then only tit-bits will appeal).
4. Always pat your and some sweet words to your dog when he obeys your commands
5. A dog should be trained at the age group of 3-6 months

A well trained dog is worth ten friends and ill trained one equals ten foes. Let children play with the pets, this acquaintance give them the power to resist allergies towards animal odor and particles (hair excreta etc) when they are grown ups. Pets play great parts in rekindling the tender feelings in children and make them good persons in future.

The instructions for proper dog training may sound like tall orders for adults who are either busy or lazy. If entrusted to kids, they will do it with pleasure and bring dramatic results in the rearing of your pets, because children are pet- trainers par excellent, the reason is simple they love their pets, that is all and nothing else!