Happy Pets

Having answered all these questions, you will know whether you still want a dog or not, and can now turn your attention to the type of dog which would fit in best with you and your way of life. Don’t just look at the different breeds of dogs. Do a little research into their background and what they were originally bred for. This will give you a far better idea of the temperament your dog will grow up with. Every breeder will be tempted to tell you of the virtues of his favourite dog. Not many of them will tell you of their faults. Obviously, I can’t go through every breed for you here, but I will try to take a cross-section, to show you what you’re looking for.

The Labrador, the dog I am most familiar with, was bred to retrieve game birds. Therefore, he’s been bred to sit steady to the sound of gunfire, go out quietly and retrieve and to return to his owner. Nevertheless, he’s a very active dog and can work an eight hour day in the field and still look as fresh as a daisy: so he will want plenty of exercise. Here I can tell you how to read between the lines and find the faults of the breed. (more…)

It is far easier to train a young puppy, for the simple reason that bad habits have not developed. The older dog who has been undisciplined is just like an unruly child and will need far more time and firmness than a young puppy. The sad fact is that most owners do not train their dogs until they are older and have become complete lunatics. Where this has happened, the main aim is to gain complete control. In every case, there is the same basic problem, the dog has no respect for his owner. The easiest method of finding out whether your dog respects you or not is to praise him. If he comes to you with tail wagging and he’s interested in what you have to say, he respects you. If he turns the other way when you stroke him and ignores you completely when you give enthusiastic endearments, he looks upon you as a doormat. All you have to do is to prove to him that you are not. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow if you own a disrespectful dog. (more…)

In a case of serious accident, when professional attention is urgently required, do not stop to clean up a wound, unless a piece of glass or other object is easily removed, but concentrate instead on stemming bleeding. Scratches and minor lacerations should be cleaned with a salt solution or dilute hydrogen peroxide, never with strong antiseptics made for humans; they could irritate the tissues and actually delay healing and may interfere with any antibiotics. If you can get a wound treated by the vet within a day it is probably better not to cover it.

Bleeding

Pressure directly on a wound, either with the hand or using a pad of cloth, will help stem bleeding. On a limb the wound could be covered with a layer of lint or gauze, then a pad of cotton wool, and tightly bandaged from the foot upwards. (more…)