The idea of dogs doing work is not a new one.  Most of the dog breeds we are familiar with today were originally bred for certain characteristics that allowed them to do specific tasks or jobs.  Herding dogs cut down on the manpower needed to manage livestock, hunting dogs could flush out animals, tracking dogs could find trails where many humans might fail, to mention only a few.

Most people these days have heard of seeing eye dogs, but these service dogs are only one type out of many.  Dogs can now be trained to help their owners with a great deal of conditions.

Seeing Eye Dogs

These service animals are trained extensively to help a blind or vision impaired person navigate safely.  A seeing eye dog goes through rigorous training before being allowed to assist a blind person.  These dogs are selected for their ability to learn, calm temperament, loyalty, and obedience.  Such a service dog must be able to gauge when it is safe to cross a road, where dangerous dips or bumps may be, and should also be able to ignore any outside stimuli to focus entirely on the task of helping their human.

Hearing Dogs

These dogs assist those who are deaf or hearing impaired.  While sign language has made communication much easier for a deaf person to manage life in modern society, there are still a number of things that they may have trouble with.  A hearing dog is trained to alert its owner of smoke alarms, doorbells, intruders, alarm clocks, sirens, and even such things as the sound of a baby crying or when someone says the name of the owner.

Seizure Dogs

An illness that brings about seizures can make life miserable and difficult for the sufferer.  Many seizure dogs are trained to sense and oncoming seizure and alert the owner so that he or she can lie down safely before it sets in.  Some are trained to alert other family members or even emergency services in the event of such a need.

There are many different types of service dogs in the world and others might include autism dogs, mobility dogs, and even simply companion dogs for those who need a little extra support.

All of these dogs are selected because they are loyal, obedient, and loving.  They must also be very intelligent and observant.

It will be difficult to train your dog to be a service dog, but you can work with an organization who makes it their job to do so in the hopes that one day your dog can be someone’s much needed companion and helper.

Most dog owners do not spend a lot of time thinking about their pet’s nutrition.  The fact that food is manufactured specifically for dogs seems to be enough for most to passively buy whichever bag of kibble is reasonably cheap.  But this lack of understanding when it comes to canine nutrition could have a big impact on your pet’s life and learning a bit more could save a pet owner quite a bit of money in veterinary bills down the line.

The ancestors of the domestic dog were all wolves, so it is important that we start there by considering these hunters.  Wolves eat meat, simply put.  They hunt large animals and they eat them.  The domestic dog admittedly does not have an identical digestive system to the wolf but it is quite similar. In short, these animals have bodies that can accommodate meat and quite a bit of it.

Wolves do not eat grains and dogs did not really eat grains either until we began manufacturing dry dog food in the last century.  Grains were not added for their nutritional benefits so much because they were cheap and acted as a filler.  Look at nearly any brand of dog food and you will doubtless find quite a bit of corn in the ingredients.

Now, just because wolves and dogs don’t benefit from grains does not mean that all plants are not good for these canines.  Wolves in the wild eat not only the meat but also the stomach contents of their prey.  Deer and elk eat grass and so wolves also eat grass.  Some wolves, lacking enough of this plant matter in their diet may actually do a bit of grazing themselves.  Not all the nutrients in grass are bioavailable to wolves, but the fiber is also quite beneficial.

You will occasionally see dogs exhibit the same behavior – casually plucking up a mouthful of grass to munch on and this may be a sign to a pet owner that the dog is missing some nutrient in his diet.  If you insist on feeding kibble, try to look for a brand that advertises both good meat and also some vegetable content and preferably very little in the grain department.  Dogs need all the same nutrients as a wolf does but have far fewer chances to get them.  These nutrients will help your dog to live a long and very healthy life.

There are a great deal of different ways in which a pet owner may attempt to keep a dog in the yard.  While some dogs are very well behaved and would never venture outside of the yard without permission, others will do anything in their power to escape.

Some pet owners have used tie outs, basically leashes attached to a stake in the ground, but these can either come out or cause serious harm if the pet lunges while still tied up.  Some have even chained their animals to trees or posts.  More commonly, pet owners will elect to build a fence out of wood, wire, or chain link.  Unfortunately, some pets are also master escape artists and can climb, jump, and dig their way out of anything an owner my construct.

Fortunately for these people, technology in the last decades has led to the development of fenceless boundaries.  Many companies such as Invisible Fence and Hidden Fence make variations on this model.

The basic idea of a fenceless boundary system is that a dog learn not to pass beyond a certain point without the large, expensive, and unsightly addition that is a fence.  In some of these systems, a wire runs underground at the point where a dog must not pass.  The wire emits a radio signal which sets off a collar that the dog wears resulting in a very mild but uncomfortable electric shock.  Others rely on a wireless signal that permeates from a central point beyond the radius of which the dog cannot pass.

The similar element of such systems is the collar.  A dog must wear a collar that communicates with the “fence.”  Some of these collars will give a dog a warning when he is getting too close to the fence before sending the electric shock.  Others have varying degrees of intensity such that, as a dog gets closer to the boundary, the shock grows stronger.

Typically this type of boundary system is preferable to a physical fence which will  be far more expensive and generally less secure than the invisible variety.  Some dog owners maintain that the shock given will not deter a dog if he is excited enough, but most dog owners who install such a fence remain convinced of its efficacy.

Another complaint against the fence is that children may mistake a dog’s restraint for good behavior when the dog may actually be aggressive.

You and your dog live alone together and on cold nights what could be better than a fluffy warm ball curled up next to you?  Many dog owners allow their pets to sleep on the bed with them but others won’t allow this.  Is it a good idea to let pets on the bed or could there be some unwanted consequences?

If you take a look on the Internet or speak to several different veterinarians or animal behaviorists, you will get several different answers to the question of whether or not dogs should sleep on the bed.  Let’s take a look at the two main arguments below:

Dogs off the bed

If you look, you will find probably a small majority of animal professionals believe that dogs should not be allowed on the bed.  The main point these people make is that a dog on the bed is a dog in charge.  The problem seems to be that once an owner allows the pet to sleep on the bed, that bed automatically gains the “alpha” title in the family.  Dogs that are allowed on the bed at night will begin to exhibit more difficult behavioral issues such as stealing or destroying things.

For this reason, dogs should be relegated to some lower position. Some argue that a dog should be able to sleep on the floor near the bed without it going to his head and others believe that a dog should be given a place to sleep in a different room.

Dogs on the bed

The other roughly half of animal professionals chiming in on the bed believe that whether or not a dog is allowed on the bed, the dog’s behavior or understanding of pack hierarchy will not change.  A dog owner, they argue, must be seen as in charge at all times.  If you are the boss in all other aspects of the dog’s life, the dog will not suddenly be the boss as soon as he is allowed to curl up next to you.

Dogs are looking to be warm, comfortable, and cozy, just like their humans are, seems to be the last point.

It is of course up to the individual dog owner whether or not to let the pup on the bed, and no is arguing that an owner should definitely have the dog sleep on the bed.  Most behaviorists will tell you that if your dog is allowed on the bed, it should at the minimum know a command for getting off the bed.

Different breeds are known to be predisposed towards various diseases, but perhaps none is so worrisome as gastric torsion.  This disease, also known as bloat, occurs when the stomach of an animal, typically filled with gas, flips over.  While there is no way to know just when this condition might strike, it is life threatening and your dog must receive immediate veterinary care.  Gastric torsion has been known to kill in twenty minutes.

Larger breed dogs, most notably the Great Dane and the Bloodhound, are most susceptible to this condition and many veterinarians will offer to staple the stomachs of these dogs in place when they are having surgery to be spayed.

The danger in gastric torsion lies in the fact that a bloated stomach and certainly a twisted stomach, can cut off blood circulation to other vital organs which will rapidly lead to death.  Even when the stomach is bloated and has not flipped the intense pressure on the stomach walls can cause very limited blood circulation.

There are a number of signs that any dog owner should be able to recognize that suggest bloat or gastric torsion.  A bloating animal will have an abdomen that will feel very hard and solid to the touch instead of somewhat soft as is normal.  The animal will also often seem to be in pain and will not want to move much.  You may also smell a foul odor emanating from your pet.

If these signs are present, do not wait to see what happens, rush your dog to the vet as quickly as possible.   If practical, call the clinic on the way to tell them that you will be arriving with a case of what you suspect to be bloat.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent bloat.  Having an at risk dog’s stomach stapled in place is a good preventative measure but you should also keep some Gas-X or activated charcoal on hand.  If your dog is bloating, these pills could help slow the process, possibly saving your dog’s live.

If you are comfortable with it, you may be able to acquire a bloat needle from a veterinarian.  Not all veterinarians will give you one of these because it can be dangerous if used incorrectly, but knowing how to use one properly can alleviate the massive pressure building in your dog’s stomach.

Consider also raising your dog’s food up off the ground to a easier to reach height.  This may prevent your dog from gulping air with his food.

We all love our pets and we try very hard to make their lives as happy and comfortable as possible.  Sometimes this means purchasing a very expensive dog bed or putting him up at a luxurious pet resort while you are on vacation, and sometimes this simply means making sure your dog is fed well and gets taken on regular walks.  But something may still be missing from your pet’s life.

Many pet owners fail to realize that pets need not only physical but also mental stimulation.  Some pet owners think that a walk can be no more than walking a dog briskly up and down the street a few times.  What many of these pets lack is that essential mental stimulation where they are allowed to use not only their muscles but also their brain.

This does not necessarily mean that you should present your pet with complicated puzzles all the time.  While puzzle toys (often with food rewards) are an excellent form of stimulation, not all pets will be interested in them.  There are a great deal of other, simple ways to give your pet the stimulation he deserves.

Things to do on walks

Walking is a great way to give your pup exercise, but it can also be a great way to stimulate him mentally as well.  Do you keep your pet from sniffing around or exploring?  Taking a pet on the same walking route gets just as boring for your pet as it does for you.  Try a new route and let your pet sniff around.  Sniffing is the number one way that a dog is able to learn what’s going on in your neighborhood.  While you may want to discourage marking behavior, let your dog discover what dogs have gone before and what sorts of excitement have happened recently.

Things to give your dog

As stated before, puzzle toys are a great way to stimulate a dog.  You must also realize that dogs are a direct line ancestor to the grey wolf and many needs are holdovers from these.  Giving your dog a bone, even one that is not real, provides essential chewing and tearing actions that dogs crave.  Left only with kibble, a dog may grow listless and you may see behavioral problems.

Treats are also a good method, but be sure to include some training.  Obedience and even agility training are fantastic ways to give your pet great mental exercise as well as some physical exercise.

Just as humans might develop diabetes, so too can dogs.  Diabetes is a difficult disease and owning a dog that suffers from this condition will require a little extra work and care.  The disease is a serious and life threatening one and, left untreated, usually ends in the death of your pet.

The disease is characterized by an insulin deficiency which means that the dog has trouble producing or regulating insulin levels.  A diabetic dog will have difficulty metabolizing sugars if the disease is left untreated.

Diabetes is often broken into two different types.  The first, known as Type I, is the type of diabetes which is developed in a dog’s early years.  The second, or Type II, occurs when a dog becomes insulin dependent, or can’t live without regular insulin.  This type is more common in older dogs.

While no one knows just when Type I diabetes will strike, there are certain factors that can lead a dog to develop Type II diabetes.  Older dogs are certainly more susceptible, but factors such as obesity and diet certainly play a large role.  Further, diabetes is often a hereditary disease.  If you are aware that your dog has one or more parents or grandparents known to have had the disease, have your veterinarian perform a simple blood test.  Diagnosing diabetes early is the best way to avoid serious health problems.

Your veterinarian will likely tell you that your dog’s diet must be the first thing to change during treatment.  A well regulated diet is very useful in managing diabetes and there are a number of foods which will make your dog’s diabetes far worse, even in small quantities.  As much as we love to give the occasional table scraps to our dogs, with a diabetic dog we must learn restraint.

There are a number of medications to help with canine diabetes and your veterinarian will probably discuss those options as well as different insulins you may want to use with your pet.  Insulin injections, given when needed, are a big part of helping your dog live a long and healthy life.  With insulin injections comes the need for testing your dog’s blood glucose level.  Many pet owners are not comfortable, initially, with testing their pet’s blood on their own, but this is a very necessary test to help you treat your dog effectively.

Diabetes is a common enough disease that your veterinarian should be able to offer you plenty of advice.  Remember that without treatment, your pet will not live a long and certainly not a comfortable life.

Sometimes one pet is just not enough.  Perhaps you’ve moved in with a significant other who also owns a pet or have found an apartment with pet owning roommates.  There are a number of reasons why your dog may need to meet small pets.

If your dog has met cats before or has been around other dogs.  Introducing the animals should not be a particularly difficult task.  Introducing two dogs, providing neither is particularly aggressive or dominant, can be quite easy.  Introducing a dog to a cat is a much different ordeal.

The nature of cats and their like of solitude and space means that the cat should be allowed some time to get itself accustomed to its surroundings before it meets the dog.  If the dog is moving into the cat’s territory that has already been established, then this should not be a big issue.

Your first step should be to confine the cat in one room.  Bring the dog into the apartment or house and let it sniff around, all on a leash, without actually meeting the cat or entering the cat’s room.  This can take a few minutes or half an hour.  Take the dog away.  It is easiest if you have somewhere else to stay with the dog for a few days.

Let the cat out after the dog has left.  This will give the cat a chance to get used to the scent of the dog she will soon meet.  The next day if you like, confine the cat to the room again, but this time bring the dog into the room.  Again, it is very important that the dog be on a leash.  Even dogs known to be good with cats will want to sniff the cat on first meeting and this can frighten and intimidate a cat.

Once in the room, close the door.  Have your dog sit or lay down and stay this way for a while.  This gives the cat a chance to get a feel for the dog without actually having to meet it face to face.  The most important element here is that the dog be completely calm.  If you have little control of your dog, the cat will be frightened.  If your dog understands you to be in charge, the dog will calmly wait for your next instructions.  Do not even let the dog show an interest in the cat.

Go through these steps several times until you feel that the cat is becoming comfortable with the idea of the cat.  When ready, you can let the cat wander the house while you keep your dog on a leash.  Eventually the two can be allowed off leash in the house at the same time.