Funny walking cats

Training a cat to walk is not too difficult, depending on the cat, but you need to understand your cat! What places do they like too much, so won’t follow you? What places scare them into hiding? What placed excite them just enough, with just enough fear factor so they follow you. Think like your cat!

To get you cat to walk with you, you need a place where it is not distressed, but not inclined to dive too far into the bushes to explore either. Somewhere where there are well defined paths and no people or dogs (depending on how you and your cat react to them!) or other distractions to scare the cat.

Photo credits:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldsheaviestharness/pool/

Children and Dogs

                      Children and Dogs

The most frequently bitten people are children. By the age of 14, about half of all children have been bitten by a dog. The overwhelming majority of bites occur in children under nine years of age, sometimes resulting in both physical and emotional damage. Through an understanding of canine behavior and preparation for what to do in the event of a canine confrontation, many such bites can be avoided. Most dogs are fun and safe to be with, but certain dogs, and it’s hard to tell which ones, have their own set of “rules” regarding children. Whether or not we humans feel the rules of this minority appropriate, we must help our children become aware of situations to avoid.

This article is not meant to blame children if they are bitten. There is rarely a good excuse for a dog biting a person, but knowing the reasons a dog might bite, from the dog’s point of view, may be helpful in avoiding bites. Here are some statistics from Chicago and Dallas University which were based over a three year period of reported dog bites. Many are not reported. Of all dog bites of children under four years of age, most were bitten in early May. Sixty percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 90 percent were bitten in their own home, 40 percent were bitten by their own dog and 60 percent of the dogs had no previous history of biting.

Of all dog bites of children age four to 16, most were bitten in early July. Eighteen percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 38 percent were bitten in their own home, 18 percent were bitten by their own dog and 50 percent of the dogs had no previous history of biting. Further studies showed that 51 percent of the infants bitten were bitten in their cots and most were bitten by their own pets. None of the reported bites were by strays, and most were not witnessed by the parents. This posed questions:

Why were the dogs allowed in children’s sleeping area’s? Where were the parents?
Many of these potential bite situations can be avoided by providing the proper training and environment for our pet dogs. It is not, however, the intent of this article to give information on how to bite-proof dogs, but rather how to bite-proof children.

You can tell if a dog is upset.
Any dog can bite, but most won’t if you act the way you should around them. The signs are: tail up, hairs on its back raised, baring teeth and growling. If a child keeps on doing what makes the dog angry, it might get angrier and perhaps bite. If the dog’s ears are laid back with the tail between the legs, it is scared. It might run, but it might also bite if it cannot get away. Do not go closer if it looks like that. If a child is bitten, he/she should try to remember what the dog looked like and in which direction it went.

The child should tell an adult who can wash the wound with soap and water. If a doctor has to be seen, ask for a report to take to the police.

Dogs that have assumed either a defensive or offensive threat posture frequently have a “critical zone”. A child is safe around this zone until entering the imaginary circle the dog has projected. The problem is that this zone varies between dogs and can even be different for the same dog if the situation changes. So it’s impossible for humans to accurately determine the critical zone. A defensive threat posture is adopted by the shy or fearful dog. It is hesitant, easily frightened, timid, tends to avoid certain persons or things. Frequently, these traits are not noticed until the dog encounters a new situation. The dog might assume elements of the defensive threat posture when frightened.

Shy dogs can be gentle, loving, obedient pets, but may try to bite when frightened. The dog’s motive is to chase that person away. The problem is, we cannot always tell which people or actions frighten the dog. The fearful dog may fool you by appearing brave. The dog growls and raises the fur along the neck and back like a brave/aggressive dog, but ears may be pinned back, body lowered, tail between the legs. The tail may even be wagging, but a wagging tail doesn’t always mean a friendly dog. The dog might bark and stare, but then turn away, only to turn toward you again and start all over. This dog would really rather not deal with you and hopes to frighten you away but, if pushed, it might bite.

An offensive threat posture is when a dog is hostile, assertive, ready for combat, dominant and self-confident. It does so when provoked. The dog can be a loving and loyal pet to his immediate family if given proper training, but this type of dog can bite if challenged. The motive is to hurt the challenging person. The problem is, we do not always know what the dog may regard as a challenge. The brave/aggressive dog’s offensive threat posture, may include growling deeply, raised hackles, staring, a show of fangs, standing tall with ears and tail erect and leaning toward the opponent. If the situation is not handled carefully, this dog might bite.

So how does a child avoid getting bitten?

• Never touch a dog when it is feeding
• Do not tease a dog, its ears are not hankies.
• If chased by a dog while cycling, get off. Place the bike between you and the dog. LOOK AWAY.
• Avoid packs of dogs, if confronted, do not run away or scream.
• Do not disturb a sleeping dog.
• If meeting a new dog, pat him on the side of the face, under the chin or on the chest. Never place your head above a dog’s head. Crouch down, and approach on his level.
• Ask an owner if it is permissible to pat their dog. If it is, let the dog sniff your knuckles to show you are a friend.
• Do not pat dogs in cars, it is a space they consider worth defending.
• Do not try to separate dogs fighting, go for help if necessary.
• Never approach a dog when it is chained up.
• If a strange dog comes up to you, stand still, like a lamppost

Children and dogs can live happily together as long as they follow the rules we have just been through. The presence of an adult is a deterrent. Never leave dogs and children alone

Text by David the Dogman

Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds

         Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds

First of all, i really love dogs, and i have them as a pets. But, some dog breeds are really dangerous. With all pets, people should be carfull, because, they are not kind and sweet all the time. To make easy your life with your pets, here is list of top 10 most dangerous dog breeds. So, i hope that you are going to take care when you chosse dog for a pet. Well, take a look, and enjoy. Also, we hope that if you already have some of these dogs as a pet, going to take care in a future. Chech it out, and let me know if you like it.

10. Dalmatian

The FCI recognized as its country of origin the region of Dalmatia in the Republic of Croatia, citing Bewick’s 1792 work.
Previously, Yugoslavia was recognized by the F.C.I. as the country of origin of the Dalmatian; the breed had been developed and cultivated chiefly in England. When the dog with the distinctive markings was first shown in England in 1862 it was said to have been used by the frontier guards of Dalmatia as a guard dog. But nothing is definitely known about its origin. The breed has become widely distributed over the continent of Europe since 1920. Its unusual markings were often mentioned by the old writers on cynology

9. Boxer

Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic (they have broad, short skulls), and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism (an underbite), very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey. The Boxer was bred from the English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser and is part of the Molosser group.Boxers were first exhibited in a dog show for St. Bernards at Munich in 1895, the first Boxer club being founded the next year. Based on 2008 American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States for the second year in a row—moving up in 2007 from the seventh spot, which they’d held since 2002—with 33,548 new dog registrations during the year

8. Presa Canario

First introduced to the world outside of Spain’s Canary Islands by the American Anthropologist, Dr. Carl Semencic in an article for Dogworld Magazine and in his books on the subject of rare breeds of dogs, the Presa Canario, or “Canary Dog” is a large sized dog with a thick and muscular body. The head is broad, massive, square, and powerful. Proper head and good expression are part of the breed standard, and are manifest in the best breed specimens. The ears are normally cropped both to create a more formidable expression, and to prevent damage while working with cattle

7. Chow Chow

 

The Chow is a sturdily built dog that is square in profile with broad skull and small, triangular,  ears that are rounded at the tip. The breed has a very dense double coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be one of five colors including red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, and cream.Their eyes should be deep set and almond in shape. Chows are distinguished by their unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The bluish color extends to the Chow’s lips, which is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish appearance in its lips and  cavity (other dogs have black or a piebald pattern skin in their mouths). One other distinctive feature is their curly tail. It has thick hair and lays curled on its back. Their nose should be black (except the blue which can have a solid blue or slate colored nose). Any other tone is disqualification for showing in the United States under AKC breed standard. However, FCI countries do allow for a self-colored nose in the cream

6. Doberman Pinschers

The Doberman Pinscher (alternatively spelled Dobermann in many countries) or Doberman is a breed of domestic dog. Dobermann Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used as guard dogs or police dogs, this is less common today. In many countries, Dobermann Pinschers are one of the most recognizable breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of media attention.  Careful breeding has improved the disposition of this breed, and the modern Dobermann Pinscher is an energetic and lively breed suitable for companionship and family life.

5. Alaskan Malamutes

While a few Malamutes are still in use as sled dogs for personal travel, hauling freight, or helping move heavy objects, some are used for the recreational pursuit of sledding also known as mushing, also skijoring, bikejoring, and canicross. However, most Malamutes today are kept as family pets or show dogs or performance dogs in Weight pulling or Dog agility or packing. The Malamute is generally slower in long-distance dogsled racing against smaller and faster breeds and their working usefulness is limited to freighting or traveling over long distances at a far slower rate than that required for racing. They can also help move heavy objects over shorter distances

4. Huskies

The Siberian Husky has been described as a behavioral representative of the domestic dog’s forebearer, the wolf, exhibiting a wide range of its ancestors’ behavior. They are known to howl rather than bark. Hyperactivity displaying as an overactive hunting drive, a characteristic of kenneled dogs, is often noticeable in dogs released from their captive environment for exercise – a behavior welcome in hunting dogs but not in the family pet. The frequency of kenneled Siberian Huskies, especially for racing purposes, is rather high, as attributed through the history of the breed in North America. They are affectionate with people, but independent. A fifteen-minute daily obedience training class will serve well for Siberian Huskies. Siberian Huskies are a very stubborn and dominant breed of dog. Siberians need consistent training and do well with a “Nothing In Life Is Free” training program.

3. German Shepherds

German Shepherds are highly active dogs, and described in breed standards as self-assured. The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. Shepherds have a loyal nature and bond well with people they know. However, they can become over-protective of their family and territory, especially if not socialized correctly. An aloof personality makes them approachable, but not inclined to become immediate friends with strangers. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and obedient and some people think they require a “firm hand”, but more recent research into training methods has shown they respond as well, if not better, to reward based training methods

2. Rottweilers

According to the FCI Standard, the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, fond of children, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, their behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness. The American Kennel Club says it is basically a calm, confident and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in its environment. It has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making them especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all-purpose dog.

1. Pit Bulls

Pit bull is a term commonly used to describe several breeds of dog in the Molosser family. Many breed-specific laws use the term “pit bull” to refer to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and dogs with significant mixes of these breeds; however, a few jurisdictions also classify the modern American Bulldog and Bull Terrier as a “pit bull-type dog”. The term can also refer to dogs that were known as “bull terriers” prior to the development of the modern Bull Terrier in the early 20th century.

Dog training

Dog training

Dog training is the process of teaching a dog to perform certain actions in response to certain commands which the dog is trained to understand. It is a general term which does not, by itself, describe what or how the dog is taught.There are many methods of dog training and many objectives, from basic obedience training to specialized areas including law enforcement, military, search and rescue, hunting, working with livestock, assistance to people with disabilities, entertainment, dog sports and protecting people or property.As pack animals, wild dogs have natural instincts that favor cooperation with their fellow dogs. Many domestic dogs, either through instinct or breeding, can correctly interpret and respond to signals given by a human handler.

Basic training

Most dogs, no matter their eventual advanced training or intended purpose, live with people who want them to behave in ways that make them pleasant to be around, keep them safe, and provides for the safety of other people and pets. Dogs do not figure out basic obedience on their own; they must be trained.

The hardest part of training is communicating with the dog in a humane way that the dog understands. However, the underlying principle of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while correcting undesired behavior.

Basic pet obedience training usually consists of six behaviors:

• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Recall (”come”, “here” or “in”)
• Close (or loose-leash walking)
• Heel

“Corrections” should never include harmful physical force or violence. Using force while training is controversial and should not be taken lightly, because even if it ends the behavior, when applied inappropriately with some dogs it may lead to a loss of drive (enthusiasm for the given task), stress, and in some cases even aggression. A handler may decide to use force, however the standard used by most trainers is the minimum amount necessary to inhibit the unwanted behavior.

Communication

Fundamentally, dog training is about communication. From the human perspective, the handler is communicating to the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in what circumstances and what behaviors are undesirable.

A handler must understand communication from the dog. The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional state of the dog is an important consideration in directing the training, as a dog that is stressed or distracted will not learn efficiently.

According to Learning Theory there are four important messages that the handler can send the dog:

Reward or release marker

Correct behavior. You have earned a reward.

Keep going signal

Correct behavior. Continue and you will earn a reward.

No reward marker

Incorrect behavior. Try something else.

Punishment marker

Incorrect behavior. You have earned punishment.

Using consistent signals or words for these messages enables the dog to understand them more quickly.

It is important to note that the dog’s reward is not the same as the reward marker. The reward marker is a signal that tells the dog that he has earned the reward. Rewards can be praise, treats, play, or anything that the dog finds rewarding. Failure to reward after the reward marker diminishes the value of the reward marker and makes training more difficult.

These messages may be communicated verbally or with nonverbal signals. Mechanical clickers are frequently used as a reward marker. Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs. The meanings of the four signals are taught to the dog through repetition, so that he may form an association by classical conditioning so that the dog associates the punishment marker with the punishment itself. Some sources contend that the most effective marker is the human voice. (Canine Dimensions, 2008, 32)

Dogs do not generalize commands easily. A command which may work indoors might be confusing out-of-doors or in a different situation. The command will need to be re-taught in each new situation. This is sometimes called “cross-contextualization,” meaning the dog has to apply what’s been learned to many different contexts.

Reward and punishment

Most training revolves around establishing consequences for the dog’s behavior. Operant conditioning defines these following four types of consequences.

1. Positive reinforcement adds something to the situation to increase the chance of the behavior being exhibited again.
2. Negative reinforcement removes something from the situation to increase the chance of the behavior being exhibited again.
3. Positive punishment adds something to the situation to decrease the chance of the behavior being exhibited again.
4. Negative punishment removes something from the situation to decrease the chance of the behavior being exhibited again.

Most trainers claim that they use “positive training methods “. Generally, this means using reward-based training to increase good behavior rather than physical punishment to decrease bad behavior.Positive reinforcers can be anything that the dog finds rewarding – special food treats, the chance to play with a tug toy, social interaction with other dogs, or the owner’s attention. The more rewarding a dog finds a particular reinforcer, the more work he will be prepared to do in order to obtain the reinforcer. Just being happy about a dog’s accomplishment is a reward to them.Some trainers go through a process of teaching a puppy to strongly desire a particular toy, in order to make the toy a more powerful positive reinforcer for good behaviour. This process is called “building prey drive”, and is commonly used in the training of Narcotics Detection and Police Service dogs.

The goal is to produce a dog who will work independently for long periods of time, in the hopes of earning access to its special toy reward.Traditional forms of punishment is least used by modern dog trainers. A dog is generally only given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner and owner needs to guard the dog’s safety in a serious situation. Punishment is effectively paired with teaching the dog desired behaviors, but is not a single solution, as it will make the dog fearful or unwilling to cooperate if it is not taught desired behaviors.Punishments should only be administered as appropriate for the dog’s personality, age, experience and physical and emotional condition. Some dogs may show signs of fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. Other dogs may ignore a verbal reprimand. Some dogs develop an aversion or fear of water, when water is sprayed at them as an aversive

5 Most Beautiful Dog Breeds

            5 Most Beautiful Dog Breeds

While all dogs are beautiful, some seem to really stand out from the crowd for their pleasing looks. Here are five of the most beautiful dog breeds around.

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian (often known as a Pom, or more humorously, Pom Pom) is a breed  of dog of the Spitz  type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe (today part of eastern Germany and northern Poland). Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the pomerianian is descended from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz. It has been determined by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale to be part of the German Spitz breed, and in many countries, they are known as the Zwergspitz  (Dwarf Spitz), or Toy German Spitz. The breed was made popular by a number of royal owners during the 17th and 18th centuries. Queen Victoria owned a particularly small Pomeranian at the time, and consequently the smaller variety became universally popular. During Queen Victoria’s lifetime alone, the size of the breed decreased by 50%. Pomeranians respond well to firm, consistent obedience training, but otherwise will do what they please. They are known to bark defensively in response to any outside noise. Overall the pomeranian is a sturdy, healthy dog. Luxating patellas is the most common health issue, although there is also another condition unique to the breed sometimes called black skin disease. The breed is currently among the top 15 most popular in the USA, and the current fashion for small dogs has increased their popularity worldwide.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd Dog (GSD, also known as an Alsatian),  is a breed of medium-sized dog that originated in Germany.  German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, whose origins date to 1899. As part of the Herding group, the German Shepherd is a working dog developed originally for herding sheep. Because of their strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training they are often employed in police and military roles, in forces around the world.  Due to their loyal and protective nature, the German Shepherd is one of the most registered of breeds

Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a breed  of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve  shot waterfowl  such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties.  As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love of water. The breed’s intelligence and versatility suit the dogs well for a variety of roles including guide dog, hunting dog, illegal drug detector, helping blind people, fire dogs, and search and rescue participant.Golden Retrievers possess a friendly, eager-to-please demeanor, and are the 4th most popular family dog breeds (by registration) in the world

Great-Pyrenees

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees in the United States, is a large breed  of dog, used as a livestock guardian dog. The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed, and has been used for millennia by shepherds, including those of the Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in and around the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain.  More recently, the breed served as the official dog of the royal French court (whose prominence began circa the Middle Ages, and lasted until the middle of the nineteenth century). During World War II the dogs were used to haul artillery over the Pyrenean Mountain range to and from Spain and France. They are related to several other large white European livestock guardian dogs (LGD), including the Italian Maremma Sheepdog, Kuvasz (Hungary), Akbash Dog (Turkey) and Polish Tatra or Polski Owczarek Podhala?ski.

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky  is a medium-size, dense-coat working  dog breed that originated in eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markingsHuskies are an active, energetic, and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia. The dogs were imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and later spread into the United States and Canada. They were initially sent to Alaska and Canada as sled dogs but rapidly acquired the status of family pets and show dogs.