A Dog for you and your family

A Dog for You and

Your Family

ogs ar fantastic companions. you'll be able to share secrets along with your dog, and she or he can

never tell a soul. you'll be able to be happy, sad, tired, or maybe cranky along with your dog, and she

will still love you simply the maximum amount. Dogs don’t care what we glance like, what quantity cash

we make, or what reasonably automotive we tend to drive. They love U.S.A. simply the manner we tend to ar. A dog will be the most effective friend

you’ve ever had, however that solely happens once you select the proper dog for you—the right breed (or

mixture of breeds), yet because the right sex, age, and temperament. Owning a dog needs a commitment to support and look after the dog throughout her life, typically fourteen to sixteen years.

Caring for a dog needs it slow and, certainly, a number of your cash. additionally, adding a

dog to your family could need you to create some changes to your way. So, before you go get

a dog, let’s take a glance at each dog possession and dogs generally therefore you'll be able to build the most effective alternative

possible, each for you and your future dog.

The Realities of Dog possession

Before you have a look for a dog, certify you perceive the realities of dog possession. It can

require a significant modification to your family, your schedule, your family routine, and, maybe most

importantly, your budget. On the positive aspect of dog possession, a dog can cause you to laugh and can

provide friendship. A dog can assist you get a lot of exercise and can increase your social opportunities. After all, it’s not possible to travel for a walk with a dog while not a minimum of one person commenting

on what an exquisite dog you have! but, a dog is additionally a responsibility that you just can ought to take

seriously as a result of this dog relies on you for everything.

Do you live alone? If therefore, then the choice whether or not to feature a dog to your family is entirely up

to you. nobody will argue with you concerning your alternative, however at constant time, you may be entirely

responsible for caring for the dog. are you able to pair by yourself? It’s an enormous commitment.

If you reside with alternative people—roommates or your family—you all ought to point out obtaining a

dog. everybody must be proud of the concept of adding a dog to the family. If somebody is

unhappy concerning this call, he might get rid of that dissatisfaction on the dog. even though he isn’t blatantly mean to the dog, the dog can understand that this person dislikes her, that might lead to behavior issues from the dog.

If you have got kids, you may ought to select the proper breed of dog (and the right individual

dog), as not all dogs ar patient and tolerant enough for teenagers. you furthermore may can have to be compelled to be ready to pay

time with each the youngsters and also the dog so the

dog learns correct, respectful behavior around

children. while not steering, the dog (especially

a young puppy) can consider the youngsters as fellow

playmates (littermates) and can get on them,

bite, nip, and steal their food and toys, and could

easily become a tyrant instead of an honest friend.

If the dog are going to be living with senior voters,

it is necessary to settle on a breed and a private dog that's calmer, less apt to paw and

scratch fragile skin, and fewer probably to leap up

and doubtless knock somebody down. Young

puppies will be plenty of labor, therefore for several seniors, adopting Associate in Nursing older puppy or Associate in Nursing adult dog

is often the higher alternative.

If you have got alternative pets, bear in mind that not all

dogs ar friendly with alternative dogs, and a few ar

Adding a dog to your family could be a massive commitment.

not trustworthy with alternative animals, including

Make sure you're thinking that through your call and

horses, cats, rabbits, and ferrets. You’ll ought to

have agreement from everybody within the family. Bella,

take this into thought once you select

a retriever, pictured with house owners Kyle

your new dog.

and Amy Gallagher.

Photo by Sheri Wachtstetter

WHO are going to be LIVING WITH THE DOG?

DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR A DOG?

If you have got ne'er closely-held a dog, a minimum of as Associate in Nursing adult, you'll not perceive what quantity time a dog

requires. Dogs ar companion animals; meaning they're happiest whereas disbursement time with their

A Dog for You and Your Family

people. once isolated for hours at a time, day when day, several dogs develop unhealthy behaviors (barking, digging, damaging chewing) out of loneliness and tedium. If you reside alone and work long

hours daily, don’t get a dog, unless you have got a neighbor WHO can assist you. If he or she is going to

take your dog out a handful of times every day for a potty break, a walk, and a play session, then dog possession may work. If a neighbor isn't offered, you would possibly wish to envision into hiring knowledgeable dog

walker or taking the dog to pooch childcare. however cross-check these services before you get a dog, as they'll

be costly. Otherwise, you would possibly be more contented with a pet WHO doesn’t need your friendship.

Puppies and new adopted adult dogs want time to bond with their new house owners. Bonding is

the deep commitment felt between a dog and her owner. It’s a way of responsibility toward every

other, and it doesn’t happen automatically; a bond takes time to create. throughout the primary few weeks

and even months that your dog lives with you, it’s necessary to pay many hours every day with

her so this bond will develop.

Your new dog conjointly can want some coaching, and that, too, takes time. Your new dog can ought to

learn all concerning housetraining and family rules, yet as correct social behavior. you furthermore may can

need to schedule time to exercise and play along with your dog and to groom her. As your dog grows up,

you may wish to participate in dog activities and sports. Those, too, take time.

WILL YOU fancy LIFE WITH A DOG?

Adding a dog to your life can modification your life. for a few folks, it changes drastically. You will

need to dog-proof your home as a result of a dog’s tail will clear a cocktail table of knickknacks in one

wag. Puppies and young dogs prefer to chew and don't discriminate between animal skin chew toys and

leather shoes. you may have to be compelled to learn to place things away, shut closet doors, and place up baby gates

to head off bother. Teaching a dog what's allowed to be touched and what isn’t takes time, and

during that point you’ll ought to forestall issues.

You’ll have to be compelled to dog-proof the yard, too, by putt away tools and ensuring that the youngsters

keep their toys cleansed up, as a result of those might simply become engaging chew toys. Also, keep in

mind that dogs dig, therefore if you have got a favourite garden, you’ll wish to place a fence around it.

A dog, and particularly a puppy, could attempt your patience time and once more. You can’t lose your temper; that's ne'er effective, and it won’t facilitate your dog learn. Instead, you’ll have to be compelled to learn to regulate

your emotions once issues happen and learn the way to coach your dog effectively.

Life with a dog isn’t all issues, though. Dogs ar nice social icebreakers. It’s virtually not possible to travel for a walk no end to speak concerning your dog with a minimum of one person. If you have got

a puppy, you’ll be stopped even a lot of as a result of puppies ar cute. Floppy ears, big eyes, and a wagging tail ar irresistible.

It has been medically established time and once more that laughter is sweet for U.S.A.. It helps U.S.A. mentally and

physically, cathartic endorphins that build U.S.A. feel higher and elevate our spirits. Dogs ar nice for creating U.S.A. laugh. Clumsy puppies ar perpetually doing one thing funny, from tripping over their own paws

to discovering the fun of recent toys. Dogs will build U.S.A. laugh {and often|and thereforemetimes|and infrequently} can do so by design.

Researchers have found that owning a dog is sweet for U.S.A.. snuggling a dog elevates our mental outlook (brightens our mood) and lowers our pressure. many studies have shown that heartattack victims WHO closely-held dogs had a way longer survival rate than those that didn’t own dogs.

Dog house owners is also a lot of active, going for walks with their dogs; or maybe these positive results

are merely thanks to dog house owners riant a lot of typically. Dog house owners could have a lot of social interaction

with people, that is healthier than social isolation. Personally, i believe dogs facilitate U.S.A. feel

needed, wanted, and loved, and that’s enough motivation for many folks to fight ill health or injury.

WHERE does one LIVE?

You can share your life with a dog near to anywhere; dogs ar terribly convertible. they'll sleep in mansions or bungalows, in condos or high-rises. Dogs love massive yards with space to run however will learn to

live with many daily walks and no yard. If you would like to share your life with a dog, you'll be able to build it

work. Some things simply need a touch a lot of commitment from you to create them work well.

When you add a dog to your life, your way becomes your dog’s way, too. It doesn’t

matter whether or not you reside in a very four,000-square-foot house or a 550-square-foot apartment; your dog

will be with you, underfoot, just because that’s wherever she needs to be. though most giantbreed dogs don't seem to be as active as smaller breeds, they still take up area. If you have got an oversized house, a

Great Dane sprawly across the front room floor isn't planning to appear nearly as massive together sharing a small flat.

Your dog goes to trace dirt and dead leaves into your home, and she or he can in all probability usher in

muddy toys and half-chewed sticks. If you’re lucky, she could even usher in the gopher she caught

in the yard. Most dogs shed, particularly within the spring and fall, and can be quite willing to

share their beautiful coats with you, everywhere the house. Your dog could leave puddles of drool on the

floor and will splash her beverage from wall to wall.

A yard will undoubtedly build keeping a dog easier. while not a yard, you may ought to walk your dog

several times every day so she will be able to relieve herself, as well as very first thing within the morning and last

thing in the dead of night. weather is not any excuse; dogs ought to go outside, rain, snow, sleet, or shine! A yard

also makes fiddling with your dog easier, particularly if you don’t wish her roughhousing. Daily play

sessions ar nice for bonding along with your dog and might be nice exercise. If you don’t have a yard, you

will ought to walk your dog, jog together with her, or fin

Puppies need vaccinations; the key is to work out

a reasonable schedule that you and your vet will

both be happy with. Chloe, a Labrador Retriever,

owned by Danny and Carol Norman.

Your veterinarian will set up a vaccination

schedule for your puppy. The first shots are

generally given during your puppy’s first visit to

the vet, usually at 8 to 10 weeks of age. If the

breeder gave the puppy a vaccination before

you brought him home, make sure you bring

the record with you to the vet’s office. He will

need to take that into account when setting up

the schedule.

If you have adopted an older puppy or an

adult dog, bring his shot record with you on

the first visit. After your vet sees what has been

given (or not given), she can discuss a vaccination schedule with you. Although many vaccines have been given annually for many years,

now many vets prefer to space them out, sometimes to every three years. The timing can

depend on your dog’s immune system and

whether a particular disease is an active threat

in your area.

Internal Parasites

Most dog owners would prefer to ignore the idea that their dogs might have internal parasites, but

parasites are, unfortunately, a fact of life. In fact, they can’t be ignored because they can harm your

dog, and many can be transmitted to people, especially children who play out in the yard, putting

toys or their fingers in their mouth. Gardeners, too, are at risk.

Do not give over-the-counter wormers just because you suspect that your dog may have worms;

these can be very damaging to a dog’s system. In addition, determining which parasites your dog

may have usually requires a fecal analysis. Most over-the-counter (and even prescription) medications are for one or two specific parasites, not all of them.

Coccidiosis: This protozoa parasite is often carried by birds. If you keep a birdfeeder outside for wild birds, make sure your dog can’t get to the leftover seeds underneath. He could

eat the seeds as well as bird droppings and could become infected. The first symptoms

include coughing, runny nose, eye discharge, and diarrhea.

Giardia: The protozoa Giardia is common in wild animals and is most often picked up in

water frequented by wild animals. If you and your dog went camping or hiking and your dog

drank out of a pool, pond, or stream, watch for diarrhea, the first symptom of this parasite.

Heartworm: Heartworms live, as their name implies, in a dog’s heart. They damage the

heart walls, and poor circulation and poor heart function follow. In severe cases, the heart

fails and the dog dies. Mosquitoes are the intermediate hosts and can pass young heartworms

(microfilaria) from an infected dog to an

uninfected dog. Treatment can be very

hard on a dog, especially one with a heavy

infestation. Preventives are available.

Hookworms: Hookworms live in the

small intestine, where they attach themselves to the intestinal wall and suck

blood. The wounds often leak blood for

a while, so bloody diarrhea is one symptom of hookworms. Hookworm eggs

are passed in the feces. The eggs can

hatch in the soil, where they may attach

themselves to the feet of their new host.

A fecal analysis will verify a hookworm

infestation.

Roundworms: These long, white worms

are very common, and most puppies

If you go hiking or camping, bring your own

should be treated for them. Roundworms

water. Drinking from wild water sources could

also are found in adult dogs, people,

lead to Giardia. Hatcreek’s Logan (owned by Petra

and many other animals. A young puppy

Burke) and Hatcreek’s Doctor Bashir (owned by

with roundworms will have an unkempt

Liz Palika), Australian Shepherds, pictured with

(vets will call it “unthrifty”), potbellied

Petra Burke, both bred by Karen Russell.

look. His coat may be dull instead of

shiny. A fecal analysis will determine whether worms are present. Good backyard sanitation

(picking up feces daily and disposing of them) can help control infestations.

Tapeworms: These parasites live in the intestinal tract, where they attach to the wall to

absorb nutrients. They grow by creating new segments. The first sign of an infestation is

often a small, ricelike segment found on or around the dog’s rectum. Tapeworms are

acquired when the dog eats an infected flea, the intermediate host, or a small animal (such

as a mouse) that is also carrying fleas and/or tapeworms. The general rule is that if you control the fleas, you can prevent future tapeworm infestations. A fecal analysis will verify a

tapeworm infestation, although if the vet sees tape segments, a fecal analysis is not needed.

Whipworms: These worms live in the large intestine, where they feed on blood. The eggs

are passed in the feces. The eggs can live in the soil for a long time. A dog who buries his

bone or eats grass can pick up the eggs. People can pick up eggs under their fingernails, too.

A fecal analysis will determine whether whipworms are present.

Photo by Liz Palika

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Spaying, Neutering, and Breeding

The majority of dogs should be spayed (if female) or neutered (if male). The reasons are many. First

of all, the number of dogs being destroyed each year in shelters (and on the streets) all over the

Keeping Your Dog Healthy

Is More Always Better?

There has been a movement recently questioning the vaccination schedules that have

been used for the past couple of decades. The movement asks, “Are more vaccinations

better?” Traditionally, dogs have been given the vaccines available, even when a

disease may not be a problem in the region in which the dog lives. Dogs were also

given booster vaccines annually. Now experts feel that annual vaccinations may be

too much of a good thing and that a booster every three years may be better for

the dog.

This questioning has come about because dogs do not seem to be living longer,

even with increased veterinary care. More dogs seem to be suffering from allergies

(including allergic reactions to the vaccinations themselves) and immune system disorders, and many more are dying of cancers at younger ages. Although these disorders have not been linked directly to over-vaccination, dog owners, breeders, and

veterinarians are concerned.

Talk to your veterinarian about the vaccination schedule she follows. Ask about

potential problems and discuss your concerns. Find a balance you both will be happy

with.

world is in the millions. There are so many dogs needing homes that it simply makes no sense for

indiscriminate breeding to take place.

Spaying and neutering also have a direct relationship with your dog’s ongoing good health and

longevity. A female dog (also called a bitch) who has been spayed has a lowered risk of breast cancers and is protected against cancers of the reproductive system. In most females, spaying also

decreases the incidence of female aggression. A male dog (also called a dog) who has been neutered

is protected against testicular cancer and will have fewer hormone-related bad behaviors, including

leg lifting and marking, humping or mounting, roaming, and fighting. Neutering decreases a

male’s desire to escape from the yard and decreases the incidences of fighting.

Spaying or neutering your dog does not change her or his personality and temperament. It simply reduces the sexual hormones. Nor do these surgeries cause your dog to get fat; too much food

and too little exercise cause a dog to get fat. Nor will your dog pine away, missing sex. Dogs do not

copulate as part of a complex relationship; dogs copulate because their hormones tell them to do

so. When the hormones are reduced, the behavior stops.

As mentioned in chapter 1, breeding should be left to the experts. Knowing a breed well enough

to produce sound, healthy dogs takes a lot of knowledge. However, if you decide that this is something you would like to do, find someone involved in the breed who has an excellent reputation

and ask for help. Ask if he or she will mentor you. With help, someday you, too, could be considered a reputable breeder.