When to Show Affection to Your Dog

The other day, I forced myself to stop being a wimp and I watched one of those Humane Society commercials. You know, the ones that usually bring a tear to anyone’s eye. You change the channel too, don’t lie. You don't have to be learning how to be a social worker to have compassion for others. But it got me to thinking about how these dogs don’t get any love at all. That’s the saddest part, I think – especially when you have a great dog in your life already because you know how sad it would be if he or she ended up locked in a cage forever.

But the mistake most people make (myself included) is to shower a dog with affection at all times. Those commercials are so sad because affection is so crucial to a dog’s life. Once it’s taken away, we know they’re hurting. But we have to remember that affection is one of the only ways we can really let our dogs know they’re doing the right thing. Some of us crazies talk to our dogs, but even the craziest of us must know that the dogs don’t really understand. They understand some commands and they can sense your overall mood, but they don’t understand your language. That’s why affection is more powerful than words for a dog.

If your dog does something wrong, yelling at him and then giving him a big old hug is sending mixed signals. You see, if he didn’t do that wrong thing, he wouldn’t have gotten yelled at, but he wouldn’t have gotten the hug either. So, the next time he wants a hug, he knows a surefire way to get one.

It’s easy to shower your dog with your love and it’s hard to be cold when they’re sitting there looking so cute and needy, but if you want a well-behaved dog, you have to learn to withhold your affection for those times when the dog deserves it. And yes, just sitting there looking cute is deserving, as long as she didn’t just chew up your shoes. Make sense?

Breeder vs. Shelter: Weighing Your Options

I’ve been thinking a lot about the dogs that sit in shelters lately. That may be because I started volunteering at store that funds an animal rescue or it may be because I watched a commercial about adoption that really brought tears to my eyes. So, today I wanted to talk a little bit about the pros and cons of adopting (or rescuing) a dog from a shelter vs. getting your dog from a breeder.

I know a lot of animal rights activists would condemn you for getting your dog from a breeder, but I think that’s unfair. It’s not like you went to a pet store, right? Gosh, those places make me so sad.

So, if you’re trying to decide whether to get a dog from a breeder or from a shelter, here’s a quick look at the benefits of both.

Benefits of getting your dog from a (reputable breeder):

· You know its lineage. You’ve probably even met the parents.

· You’ve probably researched the breed and have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Is the dog going to chew everything, need to run all the time or be a good lap dog. And if you don’t know the answers to these questions, the breeder can tell you.

· Most breeders will take the dog back if it’s not a good fit for your home. They will then either keep it or find another loving home, so you don’t have to worry about the dog ending up in a shelter.

Benefits of getting your dog from a shelter:

· The feeling you get knowing that you changed this dog’s life forever. No longer does it have to sit by itself behind the bars of its cage waiting for a home or to be euthanized. – And that’s enough for most people.

- You can save a lot of money. Most shelters accept just a donation in exchange for your new four-legged friend. Any accountant will tell you that's better than paying top dollar to a breeder (money-wise, anyway).

Choosing a Natural Dog Food

Recently, I’ve been taking more of an interest in my own health than ever before. That means exercising more, but more than that, it means eating right. I say “more than that” because I focus more of my time on planning my diet than I do on exercise. Sad, but true. Anyway, I’ve learned a lot about nutrition in the past year or so, but the takeaway is very simple: avoid processed foods at all costs. In order to really be healthy, you should be eating real fruits and vegetables (you know; the ones that come out of the ground). So, that’s that. But, in the past month or so, I started wondering about Wanda. I’m doing all of these great things for my own health, but what about my four-legged best friend? I’m feeding her crap, aren’t I?

After looking at the label, I can tell you that yes, I kind of was feeding her crap (sorry, Wanda). The dog food she likes is a little better than some of the other packaged foods out there, but it’s not the best thing she could be eating. After learning what I’ve learned about food, I know that the best thing I could give her is pretty much the same thing I’m eating – but that’s not always an option. Although, in sharing a little of my food with her, I learned that she’s crazy about broccoli rabe – how bizarre is that?

So, yes, I will continue to give her the healthy stuff and avoid giving her things like avocados and onions that are okay for humans, but harmful for dogs. But, what should I look for in a dog food? I did a little research, and here’s what I found:

Fat: An adult dog should have about 21 grams of fat each day.

Carbs: Should account for about 50 percent of a dog’s diet.

Protein: Dogs need to eat about 10 percent by weight, and it can be mixed between animal and plant proteins.

Dogs also need a variety of vitamins and minerals in order to stay healthy; very similar to us humans.

My main concern with this whole thing was it being too expensive. You know; going to a gourmet dog food can be extremely pricey, and it seems even more so when you're looking at it on the salary of a paralegal. But, I felt better after I learned that a dog's nutritional needs are very similar to our own. I don't mind giving her some of my veggies to supplement a diet of natural dog food. After all, she is my bestest friend.

Should I Bring a Dog into a Home with Cats?

I volunteer at a local animal shelter once a week, and I get this question a lot. It’s either from people with cats who want to bring a dog into the mix or people with dogs who want a cat. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Your answer is going to depend on the breed of the dog, the age of all of the animals, and where they are coming from.

To start, certain breeds are better with other animals (and children) than others. Research your breed or talk to the breeder where you got the dog. If you’re dealing with very young animals, the answer is almost always a positive. For example, if you have cats that are both under two years old and you want to bring a puppy into the house, that’s usually fine. They will grow together and form their own pack. But, if any of your animals are older, it might be a little more difficult. They aren’t as likely to take on that new puppy as one of their own. Whether or not you have problems in that situation will all depend on the personality of the cat.

I have a dog and two cats, and they met in an almost ideal situation. The cats were about a year and a half old and I brought Wanda in as a puppy. Sure, the cats objected a little at first, but they quickly got used to each other. Now, they’re really close. They even seem to miss each other when they’re apart. It’s very sweet.

The best advice I can give on this topic is this: If you get cats and plan to eventually get a dog, bring a dog (any dog) around the house as often as possible. If the cats get used to having another animal around, it’ll be much less traumatic for everyone later on when you decide to get your own pup.

Also, you should have time to spend at home with the animals while they're first getting acquainted. If you're a busy lawyer and you're away from home for more than eight hours each day, you may want to reconsider this arrangement. On the other hand, if you're an administrative assistant who can come home at lunch time, it's not so bad.

The bottom line is that cats and dogs can get along splendidly or they can fight like, well, cats and dogs. Check out the video below for a cute example of a cat and dog who obviously do get along, but are now arguing over their sleeping arrangements.... (tee-hee!)

Things You Should Know Before Adopting a Pit Bull

About two years ago, I was visiting a friend’s new apartment, and I also met her dog for the first time. It was a very exciting time! He was an adorable young pit bull named Ollie. Marissa’s boyfriend had adopted him from one of his clients who couldn’t care for him any longer. It’s a really nice thing that the dog didn’t have to see the inside of a shelter – especially since that is the fate that most pit bulls have to face at one point or another.

Marissa doesn’t have Ollie any longer because she broke up with his owner. It was a sad situation. Breakups are hard, but I think saying goodbye to a four-legged friend can be even harder. Usually, there’s part of you that’s glad to see the ex walk out of your life by the time you call it quits, but you never want to give up your dog.

She fought for him, but he wasn’t her dog to start, so she lost. Anyway, I bring up Ollie because his future worried me at the time. He was almost a year old when they got him, and he was completely out of control. If you know anything about pit bulls, you should know that this is really not a good thing. Pit bulls are closer to wild animals than most domesticated dogs; That’s why you so often hear about attacks.

They certainly can be trained, but you need to take more precautions with a pit bull than you do with a golden retriever. That’s not discrimination; it’s a fact. Before you get a pit bull, you either have to be willing to educate yourself on the proper way to train this breed, so you don’t have to deal with aggression issues, or you have to budget for a trainer who can help you out. A bite from a pit bull can be lethal, especially to young children. You don’t want the run in with a police officer any more than you want such a tragedy on your hands.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get a pit bull. I’m definitely not saying that. They can be great companions and very loving animals. They also can be gentle and kind. But, you need to be prepared to train them properly.

Is a Greyhound the Dog for You?

If you’ve ever encountered someone who works with Greyhounds, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how fiercely protective these people are of their former-racing friends. That’s because Greyhounds are very gentle animals, so they need to find a home with “parents” who are going to look out for their best interests. If you’re thinking about adopting a Greyhound, you should do a little research and talk to a representative at a rescue foundation. Here are some instances where adopting a Greyhound might not be the best fit for you.

1. You have young children. Greyhounds have very thin skin and they can get hurt easily. As you probably know, when a dog gets hurt, it is likely to nip or even bite. You don’t want to be in a situation where you have to give up your dog because there was an incident. That’s not a good situation for anyone. Having said that, though, Greyhounds are generally very gentle and not prone to biting when they’re unprovoked.

2. You’re looking for a dog that can be kept of the leash. This is one thing that is non-negotiable. These dogs are part of a class called sight hounds, which basically means that it’s in their blood to chase animals. If your Greyhound is off the leash and something catches its eye, it’ll bolt. And when I say bolt, I mean it. These dogs can run up to 40 miles per hour.

3. You don’t have a lot of free time. Although Greyhounds are generally low maintenance, they are dogs. Dogs are social animals and they need affection. If you don’t have enough time to dedicate to a dog, don’t get a Greyhound (or any other breed, for that matter).

And there’s one more thing that I thought was important to note. Although they are bred for racing, Greyhounds don’t necessarily enjoy running all the time. Some do; some don’t. Ask your rescue organization about the activity level of each dog before you bring it home. It’s always a good idea to find the right match upfront.

What Does That Bark Mean?

If you love your dog like I love mine, you probably are wishing you could speak the same language. I know that sounds a little nutty, but I wish I could communicate with her on another level. At the same time, I sometimes wonder if the lack of communication is what strengthens the bond between man and his four-legged friend. Why? Words hurt. Isn’t it so true, though? Think about the most important person in your life and you can probably think of a time when he said something that cut you to the core. And, that was very likely his goal. Words get in the way. As it is right now, there’s just feeling between man and dog. It’s probably best to keep it that way.

Having said all that, I still think it might be helpful to know what my Wanda is trying to tell me when she barks. She barks so infrequently that I really wish I could know what her barks mean. So, I did a little research and found a few translations:

Continual barking in a mid-pitch – Danger is lurking! Or, at least that’s what I think. Call the reinforcements and let’s investigate.

Three or four barks with pauses in-between – I think there might be danger, but I’m not sure. The pack leader (aka you) should investigate.

Incessant barking – I’m lonely; won’t someone come pay me some attention? Pretty please?

One sharp bark (or two) – Hello! I’m so happy to see you!

Yelping – I’m either scared or I’m hurt, please help me.

Those are just a few “translations” that might help you understand exactly what your dog is trying to tell you. If you think about it, we’re supposedly the smarter species, but dogs definitely understand us better than we understand them. They know how to respond to many words and sounds that come from our world – yet, we rarely take the time to understand what they’re trying to say to us. You don’t need a forensic psychology degree to understand Fido a little better, just pay close attention and try to respond to his needs.