Pet Care

Introduction

The dog has been our best friend at work and at play for thousands of years. No animal lover can fail to admire this versatile and endearing creature, combining as it does strength, personality, intelligence and a willing nature.

The dog is humanity's oldest companion. Human and dog came together thousands of years ago for mutual comfort and slowly developed the interdependence seen today human's caring for the dog in return for continuing companionship and a great variety of working functions. The gradual recognition of the many different ways in which the dog could contribute to the association has led to the development of an enormous variety of dog types. All varieties of dog are members of a single species; it is the most varied of any species known, ranging from the tiny Chihuahua to the massive Irish Wolfhound. Although every breed of dog, is expected to be domesticated, certain type characteristics tend to persist through many generations, and these are not just characteristics of conformation. Everyone realizes that if you buy a Great Dane puppy, for instance, small though it may be at eight weeks old, it will grow into a very large dog. If you buy a terrier of whatever breed, it will have terrier behaviour characteristics, inherited from its working ancestors. If you have decided to buy a dog, look into all the breed characteristics, and consider them carefully before you decide which type of dog you want to live with. A dog may live for between ten and twenty years-it is yours to care for over a good part of your life.

What Type Of Dog?

Dogs are companions. If you want one just as a guard, buy a burglar alarm. Dogs are usually effective burglar deterrents, whatever their breed, but their first function in a home must be as a friend and there is no better friend. They don't criticize you (or not too unkindly), they don't sulk (or not for too long), and they are always there to comfort you and love you. Choosing the right breed is an intensely personal matter, but there are broad guidelines.
The size of the fully grown dog is important, but perhaps not quite so critical as it may seem. Very large dogs need a lot of exercise, and once you have decided that there is room in your house for a large dog, exercise is the most important consideration. Most people, however, want a dog that fits reasonably into the home environment.

Choosing a Suitable Dog

Many households are just not suitable for a dog. If you work long periods away from home, or even just very long hours, and if there is no-one else at home while you are away, you need to consider very carefully whether the comforts of coming home to a dog are not outweighed by the lack of company that the dog will have to endure, with all the potential behaviour problems that this may cause. Consider not just how the dog would fit into your own way of life, but how your lifestyle would affect the dog.

Choosing A Puppy

Never be fobbed off with excuses about the condition a puppy is in or its behaviour; and never buy a puppy because it's the last one left and you feel sorry for it. It is often said that puppies choose their new owners, rather than the other way around, and there is much truth to this claim. An overly shy puppy may have socialization problems later, and the puppy that comes forward from the nest, asking to be chosen, is probably the right one. The puppy must be alert and have bright, clean eyes. Its nose must be clean (but forgive a little crust of food), its ears must be free of wax, and its coat must be clean and pleasant to handle and smell. There must be no sign of sores or grittiness on the skin and coat. Black al dust" is usually flea dirt -fleas themselves are more difficult to spot. Examine all the puppies briefly to ensure that they have been well cared for.

Behaviour Tips

Dogs will often accept your rage if it means you are paying attention to them rather than ignoring them To ignore your dog is the most severe punishment you can inflict on him. So for peaceful nights for you and your dog, make him sleep elsewhere.
Any response to unacceptable behaviour may be taken by the dog as encouragement. The only sensible response is not to take any obvious notice.

Grooming

Grooming your dog performs two functions. The obvious one is to keep him looking, and smelling, acceptable to you and to other people. The second one is just as important. Grooming, of a very different sort, between dogs establishes and maintains the relative status of each dog. By daily grooming you are telling the dog, in the most gentle terms, that you are in charge. The whole ritual of insisting that your dog stands while you brush and comb him emphasizes that when push comes to shove, what you say goes. There is no more important lesson in dog training.
Nail clipping is a regular necessity for many dogs. If you are not confident of your skill, ask a professional to do it - if you clip into the quick of the nail you will never be able to persuade the dog to submit to the task again.

Training

Every dog is capable of learning a great deal more than is generally recognized. Although it may take a special type of dog and a special type of owner to create a canine film star, home helper or agility champion, there is no reason why every dog should not achieve the essential basics of obedience and well-socialized behaviour. A well-trained dog is less likely to develop unwanted behaviour patterns, partly because dogs often adopt bad habits when they are bored. Dogs enjoy the stimulation of training and most love to please their owners too.

Safety Guidelines On Toys For Dogs

The jaws and teeth of nearly all dogs are much stronger than you think, so toys should be very tough. Fluffy dolls will be torn to pieces without fail, so if you must provide them, make sure that they do not have parts that can be detached and swallowed. Balls are popular toys for dogs because the owners can throw them and join in the game. Fine, but make sure the ball is large enough not even to be half- swallowed by the dog. A dog being rushed to the veterinary surgeon choking on a tennis ball that is stuck in its throat is a common emergency. The use of a bone as a to is controversial. Most veterinary surgeons advise against it, unless the bone is so big that the dog cannot break pieces off and swallow them. There is no doubt that a good chew at bone is a dog's delight.
Toys should be solid enough not to risk pieces being chewed off and swallowed.
The diets of yesteryear, of home-mixed meat and biscuits, have long gone. Nowadays, professional nutritionists produce feeds of a variety and quality that should satisfy any dog in forms convenient enough to suit any owner. Nutrition is a complex subject and there is a simple question: do you know more about the nutrition of the dog than the experts? Teams of nutritionists form part of a multi-million pound industry involving science, marketing and, most importantly, competition between feed companies For modern dogs, palatability is considered to be of great importance, and the professional feed laboratories spend a great deal of time getting the flavour just right.
The major nutrients, required in substantial quantities by every animal, include:

Health Care and First Aid

In order to recognize when a dog is ill, you must know the signs of good health. A healthy dog is alert and lively, and takes a great interest in its environment, although young puppies will be, quite normally, rushing about one minute and sound asleep the next. There should be no discharges from the eyes or nose. The nose is usually moist and shiny, but this will depend on what the dog has been doing people are often concerned that their dog's nose is dry, when all that has happened is that he has been digging for his favourite bone! e ears should be clean and free of visible wax. The coat should be free of dandruff and, depending on the coat type, more or less shiny. The skin should be free from sores or spots.The dog should move soundly, that is to say without favouring one leg over another, and he should move freely. A healthy dog should have a healthy appetite. He should be ready for his food, and eat it with relish

Signs Of Acute Illness