Training a Working Dog
By Weston Lewis
In today's world, working dogs are a fact of life. These dogs selflessly provide a service to their masters and their communities and are rewarded with adoration and praise. Police dogs provide such an important service that, in some areas, the killing of a police animal is just as serious an offense as murdering an officer of the law.... (Read more...)
Teach Your Dog Not To Bark
By Weston Lewis
Unwanted barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is normal for dogs to vocalize and bark from time to time but many times this behavior escalates much to the frustration of many dog owners. There are many causes of unwanted barking. First you must determine why your dog is barking before you can begin a program of retraining... (Read more...)
Osteochondrodysplasias Leg Deformities and Dwarfism - in the Canine
By Fred Lanting
There has been renewed interest in the subject of "abnormal" bone lengths, joints, angles between limbs, and related phenotypic variations from what I have called "the ancestral type". We need to establish some definitions of terms before entering into a discussion of the subject. The "ancestral" phenotype in my arbitrary definition (which, however, is in line with the views of many... (Read more...)
Pituitary Dwarfism in the German Shepherd Dog
By Fred Lanting
Dwarfism is a condition of abnormally small stature, and usually is characterized by altered body proportions. Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and Corgis are examples of achondroplastic dwarfs; they have more or less normal-sized torsos and heads but shortened limbs, and are accepted as typical of their breed. Alaskan Malamutes, on the other hand, are not considered acceptable if... (Read more...)
PARASITE CONTROL IN THE DOG, NORTH AMERICA
By Fred Lanting
Most worms (nematodes) settle and grow in the small intestine, though some species are found in the cecum, heart, lung, and other tissues in various stages of development. The intestinal nematodes produce eggs, which are carried with the digestive products to exit in the feces. But since the egg-laying does not always coincide with the dog's bowel movements, stool samples may not show the presence of worms. A 5 day sampling will probably reveal some eggs if hookworms or roundworms are present... (Read more...)
Vigor and Longevity as a Matter of Choices
By Fred Lanting
There is no one “secret to a long and healthy life”, although many make money by selling books, products, and programs based on such a title and concept. But there certainly is a combination of ignorance and lack of will that inhibits most of us from reaching toward that goal... (Read more...)
Report on Broward (Florida) SchH Club Trial and Conformation Show Dec 2007
By Fred Lanting
It was again a privilege and pleasure to associate with fun-loving fanciers of the German Shepherd Dog and to enjoy the beauty of the breed, when I went to South Florida to handle dogs in a WDA show sponsored by the Broward SchH Club. The show ran well under the firm hand of Miriam Barkus, although not always “on time”. I did not take part in the trial portion, except to watch and offer encouragement, but I was kept very busy handling one nice dog after another... (Read more...)
Tail Wagging Secrets You Need To Know (Part 1)
By Mary Stevens
Dogs are amazingly social animals that have evolved a pattern of behaviors that are meant to communicate their feelings and emotions to the living things around them. While humans rely mostly on vocalizations and the tone, cadence and volume of their speech to communicate their mood ... (Read more...)
Tail Wagging Secrets You Need To Know (Part 2)
By Mary Stevens
By noticing your dog's tail in different types of settings, activities and environments you can quickly learn to distinguish what your dog is signaling just by the position and movement of the tail. Keep in mind that dogs with docked tails or very short tails, or breeds that carry their tails curled up tightly on their backs such as the Pomeranian, Spitz and Malamutes will have a slightly different method... (Read more...)
Just How Smart Is Your Dog?
By Mary Stevens
As humans we all know that everyone learns differently and there are many different types of intelligence. While most people would agree that dogs are not the same type of "smart" as humans, they are intelligent in their own way. A standardized test for dog intelligence really doesn't make much sense, since different breeds and types of dogs have been bred and trained to enhance specific characteristics, making them naturally better and ... (Read more...)