Information on Loughborough

Dogs, Teach Your Children How to Treat Them to Avoid Problems

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Dogs, Teach Your Children How to Treat Them to Avoid ProblemsBy Marilyn Swan

Our attractive Great Dane gets lots of attention when we are out and about. He is well trained and I trust him totally, however it really surprises me how some people allow their children to approach a strange dog. Often times the children run right up to him and grab him in a big hug while the parents just laugh. While my dog may be ok with it that type of behavior could get someone hurt.

So, let's start early and teach children, as well as adults, how to behave around dogs, especially ones they don't know and that don't know them. It's for their own safety as well as that of the animal.

By following a few guidelines you lessen the odds of being bitten, you can ease any fear there may be of dogs by some people as well. With children especially you don't want them to be overconfident. I don't want you to instill fear of dogs in children however a healthy respect for them as well as all animals.

First, always approach a new dog calmly and always ask permission of the owner before petting the animal. This not only shows politeness and respect however can save you suffering the wrath of an owner that doesn't want his animal messed with or possibly a bite from an unfriendly or frightened animal.

Hold out your hand palm down, a non-threatening gesture, and let the dog smell you.

Speak softly and when the owner gives you permission stroke the dog in the direction the hair grows. Some dogs don't like to be ruffled! Most dogs like theirnecks stroked, under their chin scratched and, for my dog, the ear scratch just can't be beat!

Don't grab the dog in a restricting hug unless you are very familiar with it and know the dog is ok with that action.

It's not a good idea to stare a dog right in the eyes, to canines this can present a challenge.

Never tease a dog, especially one chained or behind a fence. This can make a dog aggressive and when it is loose it will remember! To this day my dog doesn't like the neighbor boy because he used to poke at him through the fence with a stick! Most people my dog readily accepts however he won't have anything to do with this boy.

Don't bother a dog while it is eating, chewing a toy or napping. They need their space too. We worked hard with our dog to make him not protective of his food or toys, you can take his food practically out of his mouth with out a response however some dogs can be very protective.

Teach your children well. Their manners and respect will be greatly appreciated by dog owners and dogs alike. And the pet will be a great present to your life.

M. Swan owner http://www.spoilyourpetsshop.com

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Dog Bite Prevention Tips

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Dog Bite Prevention TipsBy Annie Clark

Did you know that over four million people are bitten by dogs every year? While canines are supposed to be man's greatest friend, they can cause injuries ranging from a tooth mark on the skin to severe injuries. The following methods of dog bite prevention can help you and your family avoid becoming one of these statistics.

If you see a strange dog that you would like to pet, ask the owner for permission first. Approach the animal gently and let him or her sniff your hand first. Any canine that is tied, inside a fence or car, or alone with children should not be petted as the animal may protect its property or family and attack you.

A canine that is sleeping, eating or drinking should never be bothered. This is a common scenario for bites to occur due to the animal being startled or protecting their food or bed.

If you see a dog or canine fight, do not rush in and try to pull one of the dogs away. Animals can become so enraged that they blindly turn around and attack you instead. Try distracting them by spraying them with water, making a loud noise, etc.

Never run from a canine as this triggers their instinct to chase, and you probably will not win the race. Instead, freeze and avoid eye contact. This will often cause the animal to become bored with you and eventually leave you alone.

Various forms of aggressive play can lead to biting. Games of tugging or chase can encourage aggression. Teasing is also not advisable. Playing keep away with a treat may appear cute until the animal becomes frustrated and bites in retaliation.

Children should be supervised when aroundpets. Their quick movements and loudness can cause your canine to become upset and bite. Be sure to teach how to prevent bites to your kids, too, as they often want to quickly run up to strange animals and pet them.

Spaying and neutering pets is important as unaltered animals are often less predictable and more prone to biting. Intact animals are also more likely to fight with other animals.

Proper socialization during puppyhood is also key to preventing bites. Expose your dog to a variety or diversity of situations and people of all ages while your pet is young so that the animal is less likely to be startled or fearful.

Train your canine to obey you no matter what the circumstances. Your pet should respond to your commands even if something more enticing is present such as food or another animal. This training can be critical if your pet gets into a situation where a person is threatened since you may be able to prevent a bite by giving a stay or stop command.

Following these dog bite prevention tips will assist and help to avoid injuries from both unknown animals and your family pet.

Does your dog bite or have other behavior problems? Learn more Dog Training secrets at http://www.puppydogspot.com/dog-training.shtml

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Finding a Purebred Dog Breeder

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Finding a Purebred Dog BreederBy Marilyn Swan

So, you have made the choice that on a purebred dog, now what? The most important decision you l make will what breeder to use. How do you go about finding a reputable breeder, one you can trust, that does the proper screening for hereditary problems such as hip dysphasia and other joint problems and for hereditary eye diseases. The list can go on and on. And let's not even get into the puppy mill situation!

When we were looking for a dog we found one of the greatest ways to make contact with breeders was at dog shows. Those participating are usually very serious about their breeding. They want their animals to be of good show quality. They want very good physical and mental qualities to stand out in their animals, after all, their names are on the line when they sell their animals.

Once we decided on the breed we wanted we went to a large show and was delighted with the contacts we made. One person led us to another who led us to another until we finally ended up going to Kansas City, MO. for our baby Great Dane.

Good breeders will have their dogs screened for all of those hereditary problems we talked about. And poor temperament can be a big issue. Breeders that don't care and only want to make a buck can spread these problems rather than working to bring healthy, well-balanced pets into the world. Temperament can be quite a problem with German Shepherds or Cocker Spaniels for example. While then can be delightful if well-bred, if not, they can be overly aggressive, overly shy, hypersensitive or difficult to train.

A good breeder will readily have screening information available rather than just saying their dogs are in great shape.

One thing in particular I noticed with our breeder was her requirements of me! If only people had to go through the screening I did to have my dog to have children we as a society would be much better off! Having always had just mutts I had no idea what I was getting into. We were thoroughly questioned on how our animal would be housed, how large was our yard and was it fenced, did we havea vet with knowledge of large breed dogs that would be willing to take our pet as a patient etc, etc. And finally, she wouldn't sell us a dog until she actually met us to be sure we were suitable parents and she felt good about letting us have one of her animals. She was so thorough and precise. We spent a whole afternoon with her and learned how to care for our new baby especially how to care for and re-wrap his cropped ears. And one clause in particular was that if for any reason we choose to not keep or had to replace our pet it would go back to her, not just to anyone! She is not in it just to make money however to be sure her animals are the greatest representation of the breed possible and that they have the greatest homes possible. I respect that very much.

Word of mouth is another way to select a breeder. If someone you know or meet has a good dog ask where they got it. Get references, visit the home and breeding site. Having a dog just shipped to you without checking thoroughly can lead to problems. It is better if you can meet the parents of your puppy, see how they look, how they are around people and other animals. Question the owners well and be willing to answer their questions of you. And most importantly, be a good pet owner. Keep your animal that quality representation of the breed. If not showing or breeding yourself have your animals spayed or neutered. If you get a pet from a breeder and not a show dog this will probably be a requirement. I don't know how many times people have seen our dog and are so disappointed that he is neutered because they want to breed their animal with him, no, no! It's that back yard breeding thing, I don't support it or agree with it. I feel when it comes to purebreds quality counts. Our baby is a wonderful example!

M. Swan owner http://www.spoilyourpetsshop.com