I’ve recently discussed here about some of those breeders that knowingly breed to animals that have genetic health problems or those that breed to dogs that have undesirable temperaments. But what about those breeders that don’t x-ray their dogs that they use for their breeding program or breed to dogs that is not x-rayed? The majority of stud dog owners do x-ray their dogs and many of them are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified. Then there are those others that are not concerned about x-raying their dogs because they say that the animals in his dog’s pedigree come from good hips.
Would you breed your x-rayed bitch to a stud dog that wasn’t x-rayed or had an OFA number showing that he’s certified? Do you think it’s an important part of having a good breeding program or do you think it’s just one more nuisance that you don’t want to be bothered with? And speaking of x-raying, how important are those elbow x-rays? And what do you think of some of those dogs that only have an OFA number for hips attached to the back of their name? Does this mean the dog’s elbows were x-rayed and he doesn’t have good elbows? Would you breed to a dog that only has one set of OFA numbers for his hips and not his elbows?
I believe that more and more breeders are conscientious about x-raying their breeding stock. I personally haven’t heard about too many animals that are crippled from dysplastic hips or elbows, although I’m sure other people have.
So here’s a question for you. If you x-rayed your animal and he or she didn’t have perfect hips or elbows and wouldn’t OFA certify would you still use him/her for your breeding program? In order to answer a question like that, one would also want to know about the litter mates to the animal that you are considering breeding? Were they x-rayed? Were there others in the litter that didn’t have good hips and elbows? What about the parents and the grandparents? Were they all OFA certified?
Some breeders feel that if they x-ray their bitch and she won’t certify because one of her hips is not as good at the other one, they will breed her anyway. They feel that if she is of superior quality that they will take a chance on breeding her and only to stud dogs that are OFA certified and come from a long line of OFA certified dogs and bitches in their pedigree. Are they taking a chance? Well of course they are. We all know that even dogs that are OFA certified can produce bad hips. There are no guarantees when you elect to breed dogs.
Do you feel as a breeder that you owe it to your puppy buyers to have the parents of the puppies that you’re selling be OFA certified or at least having been x-rayed? What responsibilities do you owe your puppy buyers? It is after all about more then producing the prettiest puppies. It’s about producing the healthiest puppies as well.
I think if one goes on the Parent Club website (The GSDCA) and you were to look at the stud dogs that have produced winning progeny, more times than not, you will see that those dogs have OFA numbers. Speaking of stud dogs, there are some stud dog owners that will not even allow a bitch to be bred to their dog unless she too has a certified number.
Now there are different degrees of dysplastic hips and elbows. As I said, some breeders will breed a bitch that doesn’t have perfect hips. But where do you draw the line as to what you will breed and ones that you will not breed? Would you breed one that is slightly dysplastic or would you breed one that has one good hip and the other is more severely dysplastic? Is there a line that you draw as far as considering using these animals in your breeding program? And would you tell your puppy buyers about the mother’s hips?
Will you only breed to a stud that has both OFA hips and elbows? If you see a stud with only an OFA number for his hips and not for his elbows, do you automatically eliminate using that dog in your breeding program?
There will be those breeders that will say there are too many things to take into consideration when choosing breeding partners. They will further argue that the whole dog’s package both physically and mentally must be taken into consideration. What do you think…..only breed good hips/elbows or is it ever alright to breed those that don’t qualify for an OFA number?
From the book: THE GENETIC CONNECTION: A GUIDE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PUREBRED DOGS....The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs offers the most complete collection ever assembled of breed-specific information for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions with a genetic basis. For the veterinary practitioner and the serious breeder, The Genetic Connection covers more than 240 genetic disorders, including how they are genetically transmitted in different breeds, how they are best identified, and strategies to help prevent them from occurring in future generations. The book is cross-referenced by both condition within bodily systems and by breed. It includes an in-depth index and table of breeds, along with a detailed bibliography of supporting articles and texts. An appendix of the major players in canine genetics completes this substantial publication.
My rating: X-raying dogs BEFORE they're bred: (4)
Showing posts with label german shepherd genetic diseases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd genetic diseases. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
OH THEY SLEEP VERY WELL!
Well here it is Friday and the start of another week-end already. I’ve never seen time go by so quickly. My mother always told me after my twenties, time will fly by quickly. Well I haven’t seen my twenties in quite sometime, but I can attest to the fact that time indeed flies by too quickly. For instance, where the heck is the summer going? In a couple of days, August will be here. And fall, I just love the fall, but it goes by way too quickly and then we’re looking at “Old Man Winter” who always hangs around a lot longer than we want him to. Oh well onto today’s subject.
I got a little more mail than usual this week about some of the subjects that I wrote about pertaining to breeding problems with the German Shepherd Dog. Quite a few were very concerned about the practices that they are witnessing in our breed by those breeders that never take into consideration the health of our breed. Someone wrote to me to tell me of a breeder that continues to breed one of his animals that has produced mega in two litters and is now repeating it for the third time. Must make that almighty dollar no matter how you have to do it! And now he can use the bad economy as an excuse!
Someone also wrote to tell me of a so called “big shot” breeder that just dumped his dog in a shelter because the dog that he had been using for his breeding program was no longer of use to him so he dumped him in a shelter complaining about the dogs bad temperament. As this writer continued, just imagine how stressful the kill shelter environment was for that already fearful animal!
Then there’s another letter someone else wrote talking about those breeders that knowingly breed dogs with terrible temperament and then send it off to a handler for training so he can be shown. The dog may be so well trained in the ring and behaves flawlessly, but step out of the ring with a crowd of people gathering around him and his shaking legs can barely hold him up. This man questioned how these people sleep at night. My response to him was, “Oh they sleep very well.” These are the type of people in the breed strictly for what the breed can do for them. Winning at any cost is their motto.
Oh and here was the best one. Someone wrote to say that a dog that someone bought for showing turned up having seizures and the owner decided he wasn’t going to use the dog for his breeding program. The breeder has the nerve to ask him, “You’re still going to show him, aren’t you?” Where’s my gun???
I have a couple of problems with some of this. First of all, why are dogs that have bad temperaments being sent to handlers to “fix” so they can be shown in the first place? Answer: So they can produce another champion and give some more ROM (register of merit) points to their undeserving breeding animals. And why are handlers even taking these dogs to train them to stand for examination? Let’s take it one step further, WHY ARE SOME BREEDERS BREEDING TO DOGS WITH BAD TEMPERAMENTS TO BEGIN WITH? What is that about? What are they doing to the breed? And even more amazing, they're paying a big stud service for the "privilege" of breeding to the bad tempered male! In this writer’s opinion, breeders are responsible for nearly ever genetic problem that we have in this breed.
As in one correspondence that I had with someone last night, we discussed that if the “forces to be” tells the fancy that this is the dog that they should be breeding to then those that are easily influenced will do just that. Then I don’t call that person that is easily influenced a breeder. They’re just a follower.
Someone wrote to ask how come some judges are putting up bad temperament? Now they’re not talking about dogs that have a reputation for this type of temperament. They’re talking about those dogs that spook from the judge in the ring and they still put them up because of who’s on the end of the lead or who owns the dog. In these types of scenarios, I’m always amused (sort of) when I see the “big shot” owner on the outside of the ring bringing attention to herself to make sure the judge knows who owns that dog. It’s is so obvious what they are doing.
Our dogs deserve better reputations than this. Bad temperament is a reflection on bad breeding and lack of proper socialization in my opinion. If a breeder knowingly breeds a dog that has a bad temperament or breeds to one that does, the offspring shouldn’t have to suffer because of their greed and lack of concern for their dogs. Giving them the needle or dumping them at a shelter isn’t the answer. Why should the dog have to give up his life when they are the one that made him this way in the first place? The answer is don’t intentionally breed to bad temperament. Everyone now and again may produce a puppy or two that doesn’t have the ideal temperament. But to knowingly breed to it is a crime against this noble breed.
I’m smart enough to know that just because I write about this it won’t amount to a hill of beans to those that are guilty of these practices. But for those that do care and love the German Shepherd Dog, hopefully they will stay away from those who continue to poison the genetic pool with their unhealthy breeding practices.
From the book: FRIENDS TO THE END: THE TRUE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP..... Friends and life. Life and friends. The two are so tightly interwoven it's impossible to imagine one being remotely worthwhile without the other. As Bradley Trevor Greive points out, "there are very few truly solitary creatures on this planet. And most of them have serious personal hygiene issues." What makes friends so special? What does our choice of friends say about us? What sparks the best friendships and keeps them burning? In Friends To The End: The True Value of Friendship, BTG uses hit trademark witty narrative illustrated with irresistible animal photos to explore the daily magic we experience through our friends. Best described as a cross between his famously successful Dear Mom and The Blue Day Book, Friends to the End examines themes such as why we can't live without friends, how great friendships grow from humble beginnings, how to identify different types of friendship, what to do when good friends turn bad, and why it's all so worthwhile. "When I think back to all the really great or the horrendously bad times in my life," says BTG, "I can't help but think about how my friends made the former all the more enjoyable and the latter at least survivable. I want this book to help people appreciate friendship for all it is and all it can be." Friends to the End promises to have the same cultural impact achieved by his previous books. His modern classics The Blue Day Book and Dear Mom have been New York Times best-sellers and made the author a household name in more than 35 countries. BTG's seven previous volumes have sold more than eight million copies worldwide.
My rating: Temperament problems: (1)
I got a little more mail than usual this week about some of the subjects that I wrote about pertaining to breeding problems with the German Shepherd Dog. Quite a few were very concerned about the practices that they are witnessing in our breed by those breeders that never take into consideration the health of our breed. Someone wrote to me to tell me of a breeder that continues to breed one of his animals that has produced mega in two litters and is now repeating it for the third time. Must make that almighty dollar no matter how you have to do it! And now he can use the bad economy as an excuse!
Someone also wrote to tell me of a so called “big shot” breeder that just dumped his dog in a shelter because the dog that he had been using for his breeding program was no longer of use to him so he dumped him in a shelter complaining about the dogs bad temperament. As this writer continued, just imagine how stressful the kill shelter environment was for that already fearful animal!
Then there’s another letter someone else wrote talking about those breeders that knowingly breed dogs with terrible temperament and then send it off to a handler for training so he can be shown. The dog may be so well trained in the ring and behaves flawlessly, but step out of the ring with a crowd of people gathering around him and his shaking legs can barely hold him up. This man questioned how these people sleep at night. My response to him was, “Oh they sleep very well.” These are the type of people in the breed strictly for what the breed can do for them. Winning at any cost is their motto.
Oh and here was the best one. Someone wrote to say that a dog that someone bought for showing turned up having seizures and the owner decided he wasn’t going to use the dog for his breeding program. The breeder has the nerve to ask him, “You’re still going to show him, aren’t you?” Where’s my gun???
I have a couple of problems with some of this. First of all, why are dogs that have bad temperaments being sent to handlers to “fix” so they can be shown in the first place? Answer: So they can produce another champion and give some more ROM (register of merit) points to their undeserving breeding animals. And why are handlers even taking these dogs to train them to stand for examination? Let’s take it one step further, WHY ARE SOME BREEDERS BREEDING TO DOGS WITH BAD TEMPERAMENTS TO BEGIN WITH? What is that about? What are they doing to the breed? And even more amazing, they're paying a big stud service for the "privilege" of breeding to the bad tempered male! In this writer’s opinion, breeders are responsible for nearly ever genetic problem that we have in this breed.
As in one correspondence that I had with someone last night, we discussed that if the “forces to be” tells the fancy that this is the dog that they should be breeding to then those that are easily influenced will do just that. Then I don’t call that person that is easily influenced a breeder. They’re just a follower.
Someone wrote to ask how come some judges are putting up bad temperament? Now they’re not talking about dogs that have a reputation for this type of temperament. They’re talking about those dogs that spook from the judge in the ring and they still put them up because of who’s on the end of the lead or who owns the dog. In these types of scenarios, I’m always amused (sort of) when I see the “big shot” owner on the outside of the ring bringing attention to herself to make sure the judge knows who owns that dog. It’s is so obvious what they are doing.
Our dogs deserve better reputations than this. Bad temperament is a reflection on bad breeding and lack of proper socialization in my opinion. If a breeder knowingly breeds a dog that has a bad temperament or breeds to one that does, the offspring shouldn’t have to suffer because of their greed and lack of concern for their dogs. Giving them the needle or dumping them at a shelter isn’t the answer. Why should the dog have to give up his life when they are the one that made him this way in the first place? The answer is don’t intentionally breed to bad temperament. Everyone now and again may produce a puppy or two that doesn’t have the ideal temperament. But to knowingly breed to it is a crime against this noble breed.
I’m smart enough to know that just because I write about this it won’t amount to a hill of beans to those that are guilty of these practices. But for those that do care and love the German Shepherd Dog, hopefully they will stay away from those who continue to poison the genetic pool with their unhealthy breeding practices.
From the book: FRIENDS TO THE END: THE TRUE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP..... Friends and life. Life and friends. The two are so tightly interwoven it's impossible to imagine one being remotely worthwhile without the other. As Bradley Trevor Greive points out, "there are very few truly solitary creatures on this planet. And most of them have serious personal hygiene issues." What makes friends so special? What does our choice of friends say about us? What sparks the best friendships and keeps them burning? In Friends To The End: The True Value of Friendship, BTG uses hit trademark witty narrative illustrated with irresistible animal photos to explore the daily magic we experience through our friends. Best described as a cross between his famously successful Dear Mom and The Blue Day Book, Friends to the End examines themes such as why we can't live without friends, how great friendships grow from humble beginnings, how to identify different types of friendship, what to do when good friends turn bad, and why it's all so worthwhile. "When I think back to all the really great or the horrendously bad times in my life," says BTG, "I can't help but think about how my friends made the former all the more enjoyable and the latter at least survivable. I want this book to help people appreciate friendship for all it is and all it can be." Friends to the End promises to have the same cultural impact achieved by his previous books. His modern classics The Blue Day Book and Dear Mom have been New York Times best-sellers and made the author a household name in more than 35 countries. BTG's seven previous volumes have sold more than eight million copies worldwide.
My rating: Temperament problems: (1)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
THE RED BOOK (A publication of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America)
THE RED BOOK - Year in Review
The Red Book has something for everyone. The latest in health, veterinary news, genetics, breeding and nutrition. The Thirteen Club. Our Juniors Program. Complete list of Award of Excellence winners, including pictures of the AOE recipients. Certificate of Health Merit Excellent recipients. Complete tabulations for the Futurity/Maturity shows, including pictures with write-ups for the top twenty producing sires and dams. Complete tabulations of sires and dams of progeny winning AKC major point shows during the competitive year, including pictures and write-ups of the top twenty producing sires and dams. Complete Register of Merit tabulations, including pictures and write-ups of the top twenty living ROM sires and dams. Complete tabulations of the top producing performance sires and dams. Dual award winners for the year. Information and pictures for GSDs in obedience, herding, agility and the GSDCA-WDA.
I wonder where they got the name Red Book from for this publication. Yes, it’s red, (see the picture) but I wonder why they chose that name. I’m sure someone will write to me to tell me why. The cover isn’t very eye appealing and you won’t buy it because it grabs your attention. It looks more like an encyclopedia or medical journal. But wait, open this magazine and be awed by pages after pages of pictures of some of the top producing and winning German Shepherds in the country. If the book at first doesn’t grab you with its cover, it’ll keep you entertained and informed for hours and hours of enjoyable reading. Be prepared to get an education.
The wonderful thing about this book is that you will find yourself referring back to it time and time again. It is truly a great reference book about genetics, health problems, bloodlines, etc. Many a time in the past, I turned to this book looking for bloodlines to breed a bitch of mine to. It’s great because not only do you get to see a picture of the sire of a potential future breeding, but pictures of what he’s produced as well.
There is not just one author of this book, but many authors. The health and genetics articles are written by different people that have some expertise in these fields. The sections with the pictures of the stud dogs and bitches are written by their owners. Here is where you can get a picture of what the dog is truly like and what he produces. They may suggest the type of bitch that goes well with their stud dog and they may tell us some of the faults of their lines.
Being invited to write about your dog because he/she has made their ROM (register of merit) is a dream come true in my opinion. I say this because this book is a history of our breed and many people collect these books for their dog library. I have had my dogs in these books in the past and writing about my ROM bitch…….well lets just say I was extremely proud and honored that she and her progeny would be included in these educational volumes.
The articles about health and genetics are very well written and they may not apply to any of the dogs that you have now, but in the future you may find yourself picking up one of these books to look something up.
My deepest gratitude goes to the people that give selfishly of themselves year after year to the excellence of the quality of this “must read” treasury of the history of our breed. These are volunteers that devote their time to the development and production of one of the best publications of our breed so that we and future generations will know the German Shepherd’s story.
So come meet the breeders, meet the stud dogs and bitches. Look at the winning show pictures. Read about the genetics and health of the breed. Get educated. Get informed. Get in the know. If you buy nothing else this year to read about our breed, buy this! You’ll be glad that you did! You can order “The Red Book” on the parent club website at: www.gsdca.org/
My rating: The Red Book: (4)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
SO IF NOT THE GERMAN SHEPHERD, WHAT THEN?
Sometimes people ask me why I own the German Shepherd Dog. Why not another breed? Couldn’t you love another breed as much as you do your German Shepherds? Why did you choose this breed of dog instead of another? And yes, I could love another breed of dog because I love animals although there are probably a few breeds I might not enjoy owning for one reason or another.
I have always favored the larger breed of dogs. I always thought that a dog isn’t a dog unless he was this big macho looking animal. I always felt a dog should look like a dog and not be this teeny tiny little thing no bigger than a cat. Well that was then and this is now. Some of those little dogs, what they lack in size make up for in personality. Some of them have a heart close to a German Shepherds. If I didn’t own German Shepherds, what would I own instead?
Well as I get older, I can certainly appreciate the smaller breeds of dog. A large dog can be a challenge especially if he’s an energetic one. The size and strength of a large dog would dictate that he better be well behaved and trained or one can find them difficult to handle.
If I were to own another breed of dog and a German Shepherd wasn’t available to me, what then would I consider to have this breeds boldness, power, loyalty and trainability? Well I really don’t know too much about other breeds although I’ve been around many of them. I confess, although they are the breed of dog that gets the worst press, I love the Pit Bulls. Of the couple that I’ve been around, I find them one of the most affectionate breeds of dogs. I adopted a little mixed breed female when I lived in Georgia. I loved that little precious baby. And my nephew owns a six month old mixed Pitt Bull. He is the most loving and mischievous little fella I’ve ever seen. So yes, this is a breed that I wouldn’t mind owning although I’d be worried that some authority figure would come and take him away because he was labeled as “dangerous!”
There are other large breeds of dogs that I love the looks of, but I don’t know what their personalities would be living with them. I was always curious about the Doberman Pinscher because of their loyalty and protectiveness to their owners. I like the feel of their smooth short coat. One thing I always felt looking at these dogs is that they had this cold, dark look to their eyes. Whereas, a German Shepherd can and should have a dark eye as well, but their eyes I always thought was warm and intelligent looking. That said, I used to be a manager in an office in Connecticut. One day a client came in and he brought his female Doberman with him. I didn’t know what to expect from her. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she was a real sweetheart and she enjoyed me petting her. So I found out, you can’t always judge a “book by its cover.”
I love the looks of the Newfoundland, but don’t like dogs that “slobber” and if I go crazy with all the hair that the German Shepherd sheds, I can’t imagine what it would be like living with this “wooly bully” of a dog. But they are sure handsome! They look like a bear! One of the hallmarks of this dog’s personality is that he is a sweet dog. He’s also supposed to be intelligent which is important for me. I can’t live with a dumb dog. I love a smart dog and one that learns quickly.
I guess one of the reasons that I’ve always liked the larger dogs is that they command respect. They make heads turn. I’m proud walking down the street with one of my German Shepherds by my side. The German Shepherd male that is pictured at the top of my blog…..the dark headed boy, “Rajah”, he would stop traffic when I walked down the street with him. No, I’m not kidding. I literally had people that were driving down the street, stop their cars and talk to me about him. Someone once said they had a female that they’d love to breed to him. When I took him on the show grounds, people would always inquire about his bloodlines. So I must feel proud with the dog that is attached to the end of the leash.
Now if I were to have a small breed of dog, which ones would I find appealing? I’ve always liked the terriers because of their spunk and attitude, although some of them can be very stubborn. I’ve always admired the “Westie” because of their obvious beauty. They say that the Corgi has the heart of a German Shepherd only in a smaller package. They’re supposed to be very intelligent. I love the looks of the “Havanese” dog. I also like that they are non-shedding and good for allergy suffers like me. I always enjoy looking at the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, or PBGV’s when I see them on television at the Westminster Show. He’s supposed to be outgoing, but independent.
I think I would like to own a smaller breed so I could just pick him up and take him in the car with me. I’m afraid he would become very spoiled because I’d probably end up making a big baby out of him. I guess some of us have a tendency to do that with smaller dogs. We want to “mother” them to death.
And then there are the mutts. Could I own one of those "mixed" breeds staring back at me from behind a shelter door? You betcha I could. And yes, I could own a mutt because some of them are the most beautiful and affectionate dogs. So I guess you could say I love most dogs. Call me a snob though, but I don’t think I could own a downright homely dog unless he had a personality that made him beautiful. I really like a noble looking dog and one that is pleasing to the eye. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some dogs that I might not find appealing, others think they are “God’s gift to the world!”
So getting back to our beautiful German Shepherds……I think one of the reasons that they are so popular is that they really possess the total package. They are all dogs rolled into one. If you are looking for a handsome dog, could you not have a more handsome looking dog than the German Shepherd? If you are looking for intelligence, there are very few dogs that does all this breed of dog does. They lead the blind, help defend our country, protect our streets from criminals, visit the sick and elderly in the hospitals, baby sit our kids, guard our homes and probably has made more Hollywood movies than any other breed of dog. Truly beautiful, truly versatile, truly noble………really why look anyplace else when the German Shepherd has it all?!
So yes, I could love another breed of dog but like the dog that I love (the German Shepherd), my heart would always remain loyal to this breed. So what about you? Do you own other breeds as well as your German Shepherds? And if not a German Shepherd, what breed of dog would you enjoy owning?
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog: (4), other breeds of dogs: (4), mutts: (4)
I have always favored the larger breed of dogs. I always thought that a dog isn’t a dog unless he was this big macho looking animal. I always felt a dog should look like a dog and not be this teeny tiny little thing no bigger than a cat. Well that was then and this is now. Some of those little dogs, what they lack in size make up for in personality. Some of them have a heart close to a German Shepherds. If I didn’t own German Shepherds, what would I own instead?
Well as I get older, I can certainly appreciate the smaller breeds of dog. A large dog can be a challenge especially if he’s an energetic one. The size and strength of a large dog would dictate that he better be well behaved and trained or one can find them difficult to handle.
If I were to own another breed of dog and a German Shepherd wasn’t available to me, what then would I consider to have this breeds boldness, power, loyalty and trainability? Well I really don’t know too much about other breeds although I’ve been around many of them. I confess, although they are the breed of dog that gets the worst press, I love the Pit Bulls. Of the couple that I’ve been around, I find them one of the most affectionate breeds of dogs. I adopted a little mixed breed female when I lived in Georgia. I loved that little precious baby. And my nephew owns a six month old mixed Pitt Bull. He is the most loving and mischievous little fella I’ve ever seen. So yes, this is a breed that I wouldn’t mind owning although I’d be worried that some authority figure would come and take him away because he was labeled as “dangerous!”
There are other large breeds of dogs that I love the looks of, but I don’t know what their personalities would be living with them. I was always curious about the Doberman Pinscher because of their loyalty and protectiveness to their owners. I like the feel of their smooth short coat. One thing I always felt looking at these dogs is that they had this cold, dark look to their eyes. Whereas, a German Shepherd can and should have a dark eye as well, but their eyes I always thought was warm and intelligent looking. That said, I used to be a manager in an office in Connecticut. One day a client came in and he brought his female Doberman with him. I didn’t know what to expect from her. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she was a real sweetheart and she enjoyed me petting her. So I found out, you can’t always judge a “book by its cover.”
I love the looks of the Newfoundland, but don’t like dogs that “slobber” and if I go crazy with all the hair that the German Shepherd sheds, I can’t imagine what it would be like living with this “wooly bully” of a dog. But they are sure handsome! They look like a bear! One of the hallmarks of this dog’s personality is that he is a sweet dog. He’s also supposed to be intelligent which is important for me. I can’t live with a dumb dog. I love a smart dog and one that learns quickly.
I guess one of the reasons that I’ve always liked the larger dogs is that they command respect. They make heads turn. I’m proud walking down the street with one of my German Shepherds by my side. The German Shepherd male that is pictured at the top of my blog…..the dark headed boy, “Rajah”, he would stop traffic when I walked down the street with him. No, I’m not kidding. I literally had people that were driving down the street, stop their cars and talk to me about him. Someone once said they had a female that they’d love to breed to him. When I took him on the show grounds, people would always inquire about his bloodlines. So I must feel proud with the dog that is attached to the end of the leash.
Now if I were to have a small breed of dog, which ones would I find appealing? I’ve always liked the terriers because of their spunk and attitude, although some of them can be very stubborn. I’ve always admired the “Westie” because of their obvious beauty. They say that the Corgi has the heart of a German Shepherd only in a smaller package. They’re supposed to be very intelligent. I love the looks of the “Havanese” dog. I also like that they are non-shedding and good for allergy suffers like me. I always enjoy looking at the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, or PBGV’s when I see them on television at the Westminster Show. He’s supposed to be outgoing, but independent.
I think I would like to own a smaller breed so I could just pick him up and take him in the car with me. I’m afraid he would become very spoiled because I’d probably end up making a big baby out of him. I guess some of us have a tendency to do that with smaller dogs. We want to “mother” them to death.
And then there are the mutts. Could I own one of those "mixed" breeds staring back at me from behind a shelter door? You betcha I could. And yes, I could own a mutt because some of them are the most beautiful and affectionate dogs. So I guess you could say I love most dogs. Call me a snob though, but I don’t think I could own a downright homely dog unless he had a personality that made him beautiful. I really like a noble looking dog and one that is pleasing to the eye. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some dogs that I might not find appealing, others think they are “God’s gift to the world!”
So getting back to our beautiful German Shepherds……I think one of the reasons that they are so popular is that they really possess the total package. They are all dogs rolled into one. If you are looking for a handsome dog, could you not have a more handsome looking dog than the German Shepherd? If you are looking for intelligence, there are very few dogs that does all this breed of dog does. They lead the blind, help defend our country, protect our streets from criminals, visit the sick and elderly in the hospitals, baby sit our kids, guard our homes and probably has made more Hollywood movies than any other breed of dog. Truly beautiful, truly versatile, truly noble………really why look anyplace else when the German Shepherd has it all?!
So yes, I could love another breed of dog but like the dog that I love (the German Shepherd), my heart would always remain loyal to this breed. So what about you? Do you own other breeds as well as your German Shepherds? And if not a German Shepherd, what breed of dog would you enjoy owning?
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog: (4), other breeds of dogs: (4), mutts: (4)
Friday, April 2, 2010
I'M HUNGRY....FEED ME!
My dogs are great eaters, and unfortunately that can mean that they put anything and everything in their mouths that vaguely even resembles food. If it’s on the floor, the next thing I know it, it’s in their mouth, especially my “chow hound!” I don’t know how many times I ask her “What do you have in your mouth?” (like I expect her to answer me) while what ever it is is finding it’s way down her throat or a piece of it is still hanging out the side of her mouth. I get up to go open her mouth and she chews it even faster and swallows it! She always has something that she’s not supposed to have in her mouth. Outside she chews on sticks and I hear her choking and run out to pull the invading sharp object from her jaws. She is a constant joy! But what about those things that can poison our dogs?
More than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances, many of which include household items were reported to the ASPCA and their Animal Poison Control Center (APCC).
The ASPCA has published the TOP 10 Pet Toxins of
2009- Here they are:
1. Human Medications
For several years, human medications have been number one on the
ASPCA's list of common hazards, and 2009 was no exception. Last
year, the ASPCA managed 45,816 calls involving prescription and
over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold medications,
Antidepressants and dietary supplements. Pets often snatch pill
vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications
accidentally dropped on the floor, so it's essential to keep meds
tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.
2. Insecticides
In our effort to battle home invasions by unwelcome pests, we often
unwittingly put our furry friends at risk. In 2009, our
Toxicologists fielded 29,020 calls related to insecticides. One
of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick
products--such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong
species. Thus, it's always important to talk to your pets
Veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.
3. People Food
People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing
xylitol, like gum, can seriously disable our furry friends, and
accounted for more than 17,453 cases in 2009. One of the worst
offenders--chocolate--contains large amounts of methylxanthines,
which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting,
diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity,
and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.
4. Plants
Common houseplants were the subject of 7,858 calls to APCC in 2009.
Varieties such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe
and schefflera is often found in homes and can be harmful to pets.
Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening
kidney failure even in small amounts.
5. Veterinary Medications
Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they're
often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents.
In 2009, the ASPCA managed 7,680 cases involving animal-related
preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and
nutritional supplements.
6. Rodenticides
Last year, the ASPCA received 6,639 calls about pets that had
accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many types of bait used to
attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive
to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions
can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including
bleeding, seizures or kidney damage.
7. Household Cleaners
Everybody knows that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to
adults and children, but few take precautions to protect their pets
from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants.
Last year, the ASPCA received 4,143 calls related to household
cleaners. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can
cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the
respiratory tract.
8. Heavy Metals
It's not too much loud music that constitutes our next pet poison
offender. Instead, it's heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury,
which accounted for 3,304 cases of pet poisonings in 2009. Lead is
especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many
sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and
lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.
9. Garden Products
It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer and
garden products can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last
year, the ASPCA fielded 2,329 calls related to fertilizer exposure,
which can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal
obstruction.
10. Chemical Hazards
In 2009, the ASPCA handled approximately 2,175 cases of pet exposure
to chemical hazards. A category on the rise, chemical hazards--found
in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and
pool/spa chemicals--form a substantial danger to pets. Substances
in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression,
respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.
Prevention is key in avoiding accidental exposure, but if
you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, contact
your veterinarian immediately or the Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
My rating: Prevention: (4)
From the book: "FIRST AID FOR DOGS: WHAT TO DO WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN"....From cleansing a wound to making a splint, from Elizabethan collars and frostbite to premature birthing and broken bones, all the information dog owners need to take care of canine emergencies is included in this clearly written guide.
A customer says: "First Aid for Dogs" was one of three similar books I bought and is clearly the best, by a head and shoulders margin. It has almost 200 pages of information about a variety of conditions that can occur at home, in the neighborhood, or in the field.
More than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances, many of which include household items were reported to the ASPCA and their Animal Poison Control Center (APCC).
The ASPCA has published the TOP 10 Pet Toxins of
2009- Here they are:
1. Human Medications
For several years, human medications have been number one on the
ASPCA's list of common hazards, and 2009 was no exception. Last
year, the ASPCA managed 45,816 calls involving prescription and
over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold medications,
Antidepressants and dietary supplements. Pets often snatch pill
vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications
accidentally dropped on the floor, so it's essential to keep meds
tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.
2. Insecticides
In our effort to battle home invasions by unwelcome pests, we often
unwittingly put our furry friends at risk. In 2009, our
Toxicologists fielded 29,020 calls related to insecticides. One
of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick
products--such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong
species. Thus, it's always important to talk to your pets
Veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.
3. People Food
People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing
xylitol, like gum, can seriously disable our furry friends, and
accounted for more than 17,453 cases in 2009. One of the worst
offenders--chocolate--contains large amounts of methylxanthines,
which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting,
diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity,
and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.
4. Plants
Common houseplants were the subject of 7,858 calls to APCC in 2009.
Varieties such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe
and schefflera is often found in homes and can be harmful to pets.
Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening
kidney failure even in small amounts.
5. Veterinary Medications
Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they're
often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents.
In 2009, the ASPCA managed 7,680 cases involving animal-related
preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and
nutritional supplements.
6. Rodenticides
Last year, the ASPCA received 6,639 calls about pets that had
accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many types of bait used to
attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive
to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions
can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including
bleeding, seizures or kidney damage.
7. Household Cleaners
Everybody knows that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to
adults and children, but few take precautions to protect their pets
from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants.
Last year, the ASPCA received 4,143 calls related to household
cleaners. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can
cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the
respiratory tract.
8. Heavy Metals
It's not too much loud music that constitutes our next pet poison
offender. Instead, it's heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury,
which accounted for 3,304 cases of pet poisonings in 2009. Lead is
especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many
sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and
lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.
9. Garden Products
It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer and
garden products can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last
year, the ASPCA fielded 2,329 calls related to fertilizer exposure,
which can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal
obstruction.
10. Chemical Hazards
In 2009, the ASPCA handled approximately 2,175 cases of pet exposure
to chemical hazards. A category on the rise, chemical hazards--found
in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and
pool/spa chemicals--form a substantial danger to pets. Substances
in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression,
respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.
Prevention is key in avoiding accidental exposure, but if
you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, contact
your veterinarian immediately or the Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
My rating: Prevention: (4)
From the book: "FIRST AID FOR DOGS: WHAT TO DO WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN"....From cleansing a wound to making a splint, from Elizabethan collars and frostbite to premature birthing and broken bones, all the information dog owners need to take care of canine emergencies is included in this clearly written guide.
A customer says: "First Aid for Dogs" was one of three similar books I bought and is clearly the best, by a head and shoulders margin. It has almost 200 pages of information about a variety of conditions that can occur at home, in the neighborhood, or in the field.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
DOGS - EMOTIONAL OR INSTINCTUAL CREATURES?
It’s not unheard of to hear a person who owns a dog say that he and his dog have formed a bond or an attachment to one another. Even more common to hear is someone saying that their dog is their best friend. Have we attached human emotions that we feel to our dogs? Do dogs really feel emotions or do they respond to their human owners by instinct?
The dictionary defines emotions as a heightened feeling – a strong feeling about somebody or something. Instinct is described as a biological drive – an inborn pattern of behavior characteristic of a species and shaped by biological necessities such as survival and reproduction.
The limbic system of the brain is the location of emotionally charged memories. An animal that is traumatized shows many of the same physiological signals in the brain as a human who has been traumatized with the same symptoms. An animal can show the same behavioral and physiological signs of depression as a human does. So similar are these signs that vets have prescribed human drugs for animal’s emotional and behavioral problems, such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. The animal’s chemical neurotransmitters are the same as humans. Their hormones are similar. The same hormones perform the same functions – oxytocin, for example initiates maternal bonding of tenderness, affection and protectiveness that all mammal species feel, including humans. We can interpret this to mean that the tenderness or grief over the loss of a loved one is real whether it’s felt by a human or an animal. The distress or pain of a baby of any species, the need to nurture and protect this young one evokes a motherly response across all the animal kingdom.
Dogs are considered social animal’s comfortable living in a pack. Therefore, it is necessary for them to use their intelligence and instincts to survive and maintain order. They learn to interact in their pack, and respect their pack leader who is considered the alpha dog.
Living among humans, the dog has adapted to their owner as being the alpha or leader. Some might say that the dog acts out of instinct towards his human leader. This is where he gets his food and shelter. But if given the same equal amount of food and shelter from someone else, they would still want to stay with the original owner because of the emotional bond with this person. So could one conclude then that the dog acted out of emotions rather than instinct?
The dog stands out among other domesticated animals for he is perhaps the only one that is fully domesticated of the different species. H.Hediger, the director of the Zoological Gardens of Zurich, writes that the dog, basically a domesticated wolf, was the first creature with which humans formed intimate bonds that were intense on both sides. He continues that no other animal stands in such intimate psychological union with us; only the dog seems capable of reading our thoughts and “reacting to our faintest changes of expression or mood.” So one must never forget that a dog is really a wolf and his instincts are that of a wild animal, but one that has allowed man to become part of his world. This is something that no other wild animal would ever do, even when they seem in some ways to trust and respect man.
Another fascinating fact about the dog is that no other species of animals has shown that it prefers the company of man to that of his own species. If given a choice, the dog would choose man.
Samuel Coleridge was one of the first to note that “the best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter….may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to him….may become traitors to their faith….The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”
One emotion that all animals have in common is the emotion of fear. It is after all the emotion that’s most important to survival. And what about the emotions that some say that dogs display? Dogs have been known to whine and carry on hysterically when left alone. When their owner returns, they show joy by circling around and around, tail wagging happily and jumping up to plant a sloppy kiss on his cheek. One dog will show jealousy when you are petting another dog by pushing his body between the two of you so he’ll get all your attention. What about the dog that has been abused and beat up? Is it fear that we see in his big sorrowful brown eyes when someone raises a hand or voice around him? Is it fear when his body involuntarily begins to quiver and shake? Then there’s the issue of forgiveness. If the dog is shown the least bit of kindness from a new person, his great big heart will shower the new person with an abundance of affection forgetting it was a person who caused him so much pain to begin with. And what about grief? Do you think a dog can feel this emotion? Is it grief he feels when his owner has died and he no longer feels the comfort of his hand stroking his neck? Is it grief a mother dog feels when her litter of puppies dies at two weeks old from a virus? She searches unsuccessfully to find them and she physically becomes sick? Emotions or instinct?
Scientists like to avoid this subject pertaining to dogs and emotions. After all, emotions are contributed to the human being and isn’t this what sets the human apart from the dog? To say that the dog could experience emotions that were only considered a human feeling would change everything we were taught to believe. Aren’t we “way up here” and they’re way down there?” Aren’t we at the top of the hierarchy of the animal kingdom?
One thing is for certain, anyone who owns a dog knows that man could never love completely, totally and unselfishly as a dog does. The dog is incapable of holding grudges. There’s purity to his love. He loves blindly. It is rare for a human to love with so much abandonment and forgiveness as a dog. The author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson wrote in his book “Dogs Never Lie about Love” that “dogs are love.” So the question shouldn’t be whether dogs love, but rather how they can love with such a complete and enormous surrender of self.
The love humans feel for one another can turn to hate and distrust when the first blush of affection subsides. Sometimes loving someone doesn’t survive through a growing friendship when one is truly known. When the true person is revealed, is when the emotions felt for another is tested. For a person to love someone who has done them wrong is very difficult. The dog loves a person no matter if his true colors show deceit, weaknesses or unkindness. This is probably the biggest reason we call our dogs our best friends, because we know when it comes to love, our canine friends are the teachers and we become the students.
This is why man loves his dog so much. The dog loves him no matter what the scale shows his weight to be, no matter how old he is, no matter what mood or disposition he’s in – tired, weak, strong, indifferent or foul of temperament. Many a person carries on a conversation with their dog. The dog seems to sense when he is sad, or glad. They respond to his every mood. They listen to him when no one else cares to. Man never fears being judged the fool. His dog thinks he’s wonderful just the way he is. The dog then has an amazing capacity for an unlimited amount of love towards his master which comes naturally to him. This is perhaps why the man and his dogs love and affection lasts a lifetime. This is the kind of love that humans hope to have with each other, but sadly most only experience in the movies.
As science looks more in to the study of dogs and emotions, there are uncomfortable issues that we face about our domesticated friends. We are forced to face as a society what part we play in the treatment of these animals that are born with the capability to soften even the most hardened heart. For if indeed, our dogs have emotional feelings similar to mans, what does this say about how man treats these creatures? After all, not all dogs are domesticated and pampered. Some live their lives in cages, while others are used for experimentation. Some are bred every season; some from their first season to their last and then when they are all used up, they’re destroyed.
So then what can be concluded about this most unselfish of animals known as the domesticated dog? If he can feel emotions like man who experiences love, grief, loss, jealousy, fear, and joy, should he be any less recognized and respected? Because man has superior intellect it should stand to reason that we would treat the dog who shares a similar emotional make-up to us with dignity and care. For the loving heart of a dog is ours for the taking to do with as little as we want or as much as we like. Treat it with care. Man should wish that he could only live up to be what his dog thinks of him.
For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend - From her book, the author says....."Don't fool yourself: if you yell at your dog for something he did twenty seconds ago, you're not training him; you're merely expressing your own anger."
My rating: For the Love of a Dog: (4)
The dictionary defines emotions as a heightened feeling – a strong feeling about somebody or something. Instinct is described as a biological drive – an inborn pattern of behavior characteristic of a species and shaped by biological necessities such as survival and reproduction.
The limbic system of the brain is the location of emotionally charged memories. An animal that is traumatized shows many of the same physiological signals in the brain as a human who has been traumatized with the same symptoms. An animal can show the same behavioral and physiological signs of depression as a human does. So similar are these signs that vets have prescribed human drugs for animal’s emotional and behavioral problems, such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. The animal’s chemical neurotransmitters are the same as humans. Their hormones are similar. The same hormones perform the same functions – oxytocin, for example initiates maternal bonding of tenderness, affection and protectiveness that all mammal species feel, including humans. We can interpret this to mean that the tenderness or grief over the loss of a loved one is real whether it’s felt by a human or an animal. The distress or pain of a baby of any species, the need to nurture and protect this young one evokes a motherly response across all the animal kingdom.
Dogs are considered social animal’s comfortable living in a pack. Therefore, it is necessary for them to use their intelligence and instincts to survive and maintain order. They learn to interact in their pack, and respect their pack leader who is considered the alpha dog.
Living among humans, the dog has adapted to their owner as being the alpha or leader. Some might say that the dog acts out of instinct towards his human leader. This is where he gets his food and shelter. But if given the same equal amount of food and shelter from someone else, they would still want to stay with the original owner because of the emotional bond with this person. So could one conclude then that the dog acted out of emotions rather than instinct?
The dog stands out among other domesticated animals for he is perhaps the only one that is fully domesticated of the different species. H.Hediger, the director of the Zoological Gardens of Zurich, writes that the dog, basically a domesticated wolf, was the first creature with which humans formed intimate bonds that were intense on both sides. He continues that no other animal stands in such intimate psychological union with us; only the dog seems capable of reading our thoughts and “reacting to our faintest changes of expression or mood.” So one must never forget that a dog is really a wolf and his instincts are that of a wild animal, but one that has allowed man to become part of his world. This is something that no other wild animal would ever do, even when they seem in some ways to trust and respect man.
Another fascinating fact about the dog is that no other species of animals has shown that it prefers the company of man to that of his own species. If given a choice, the dog would choose man.
Samuel Coleridge was one of the first to note that “the best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter….may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to him….may become traitors to their faith….The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”
One emotion that all animals have in common is the emotion of fear. It is after all the emotion that’s most important to survival. And what about the emotions that some say that dogs display? Dogs have been known to whine and carry on hysterically when left alone. When their owner returns, they show joy by circling around and around, tail wagging happily and jumping up to plant a sloppy kiss on his cheek. One dog will show jealousy when you are petting another dog by pushing his body between the two of you so he’ll get all your attention. What about the dog that has been abused and beat up? Is it fear that we see in his big sorrowful brown eyes when someone raises a hand or voice around him? Is it fear when his body involuntarily begins to quiver and shake? Then there’s the issue of forgiveness. If the dog is shown the least bit of kindness from a new person, his great big heart will shower the new person with an abundance of affection forgetting it was a person who caused him so much pain to begin with. And what about grief? Do you think a dog can feel this emotion? Is it grief he feels when his owner has died and he no longer feels the comfort of his hand stroking his neck? Is it grief a mother dog feels when her litter of puppies dies at two weeks old from a virus? She searches unsuccessfully to find them and she physically becomes sick? Emotions or instinct?
Scientists like to avoid this subject pertaining to dogs and emotions. After all, emotions are contributed to the human being and isn’t this what sets the human apart from the dog? To say that the dog could experience emotions that were only considered a human feeling would change everything we were taught to believe. Aren’t we “way up here” and they’re way down there?” Aren’t we at the top of the hierarchy of the animal kingdom?
One thing is for certain, anyone who owns a dog knows that man could never love completely, totally and unselfishly as a dog does. The dog is incapable of holding grudges. There’s purity to his love. He loves blindly. It is rare for a human to love with so much abandonment and forgiveness as a dog. The author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson wrote in his book “Dogs Never Lie about Love” that “dogs are love.” So the question shouldn’t be whether dogs love, but rather how they can love with such a complete and enormous surrender of self.
The love humans feel for one another can turn to hate and distrust when the first blush of affection subsides. Sometimes loving someone doesn’t survive through a growing friendship when one is truly known. When the true person is revealed, is when the emotions felt for another is tested. For a person to love someone who has done them wrong is very difficult. The dog loves a person no matter if his true colors show deceit, weaknesses or unkindness. This is probably the biggest reason we call our dogs our best friends, because we know when it comes to love, our canine friends are the teachers and we become the students.
This is why man loves his dog so much. The dog loves him no matter what the scale shows his weight to be, no matter how old he is, no matter what mood or disposition he’s in – tired, weak, strong, indifferent or foul of temperament. Many a person carries on a conversation with their dog. The dog seems to sense when he is sad, or glad. They respond to his every mood. They listen to him when no one else cares to. Man never fears being judged the fool. His dog thinks he’s wonderful just the way he is. The dog then has an amazing capacity for an unlimited amount of love towards his master which comes naturally to him. This is perhaps why the man and his dogs love and affection lasts a lifetime. This is the kind of love that humans hope to have with each other, but sadly most only experience in the movies.
As science looks more in to the study of dogs and emotions, there are uncomfortable issues that we face about our domesticated friends. We are forced to face as a society what part we play in the treatment of these animals that are born with the capability to soften even the most hardened heart. For if indeed, our dogs have emotional feelings similar to mans, what does this say about how man treats these creatures? After all, not all dogs are domesticated and pampered. Some live their lives in cages, while others are used for experimentation. Some are bred every season; some from their first season to their last and then when they are all used up, they’re destroyed.
So then what can be concluded about this most unselfish of animals known as the domesticated dog? If he can feel emotions like man who experiences love, grief, loss, jealousy, fear, and joy, should he be any less recognized and respected? Because man has superior intellect it should stand to reason that we would treat the dog who shares a similar emotional make-up to us with dignity and care. For the loving heart of a dog is ours for the taking to do with as little as we want or as much as we like. Treat it with care. Man should wish that he could only live up to be what his dog thinks of him.
For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend - From her book, the author says....."Don't fool yourself: if you yell at your dog for something he did twenty seconds ago, you're not training him; you're merely expressing your own anger."
My rating: For the Love of a Dog: (4)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT, YOU'RE ADDICTED TO DOGS!
SIGNS THAT YOU’RE ADDICTED TO DOGS:
Prefer the company of dogs to people.
Dogs share your bed so there’s no room for your “significant other.”
Vacations are planned around the German Shepherd Dog National Specialty show.
Dog crates are used as end tables in your house.
You take out a second mortgage just so you can hire a professional dog handler.
Your dog has more grooming supplies to make his coat look shiny than you have hair care products for yourself.
Your dog eats holistic food while you eat preservative loaded frozen dinners.
Instead of driving around in that shiny new red sports car like your neighbor drives, you drive a van with your kennel name plastered on the doors.
Your friend’s kids are no longer allowed in your house because they told their parents that every other word out of your mouth is “bitch.”
You can’t use the bathroom without a few 85 lb. dogs squeezing their bodies through the door.
You feed the dogs BEFORE you feed your family.
Your walls are covered with your dog’s pictures instead of some fine art painting for people to admire.
Your garage is filled with grooming tables, crates, and bags of dog food while your car stays outside in the snow.
Your freezer is filled to the brim with chicken legs, livers, hearts and backs for the dog’s to be fed their “raw diet” instead of roasts you could be serving your family.
Your coffee table is cluttered with dog magazines instead of “Better Homes and Gardens.”
You own more sweat pants than dress pants.
Your “in box” on your computer is overflowing with e-mails from your doggie lists so you missed the e-mail from your Aunt Gertrude inviting you to Sunday dinner.
You remember the name of the President of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, but you forgot the name of the President of the United States.
12 Step Program to help with your addiction to dogs:
1) We admitted we were powerless over our dog addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable because of our need to live and breathe dogs 24 hours a day.
2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity so we could learn to be with our non-doggie friends again without bringing up the subject of dogs.
3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God and not question why he made the dog a companion to man and why we desired their company more than the human species.
4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves and made a conscious decision to give our spouse’s at least half as much attention as our dogs.
5) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs and made a vow to “suck it up” and TRY to treat some people HALF as well as our dogs if this is really what we had to do.
6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character but then gave it a second thought and changed out minds.
7) Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings and we would TRY to spend as much money on the kids as we do on the dogs.
8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed because we were bored to tears about them talking about their kids and their families, and became willing to make amends to them by promising NOT TO INVITE them over to our house anymore.
9) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would mean I would have to hang out with them or go to their stuffy parties.
10) Continued to take personal inventory and when THEY voiced their opinions that a “dog is just a dog” vowed to curse under my breathe instead of out loud.
11) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying for the patience to deal with non-doggie people who made comments that our house smelled funny and to hold back the impulse to knock them out!
12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other “dog addicted people” but decided to leave them along because we liked them just the way that they are because they were just like us.
We’ve come to realize that no matter how often we TRY to practice this 12 step program that we are hopelessly and delightfully addicted to dogs. We acknowledge and accept that it is out of our power to change our addiction to dogs. So therefore, we learned to embrace and love ourselves just the way we are!
My rating: it’s good to laugh at ourselves once in awhile: (4)
Prefer the company of dogs to people.
Dogs share your bed so there’s no room for your “significant other.”
Vacations are planned around the German Shepherd Dog National Specialty show.
Dog crates are used as end tables in your house.
You take out a second mortgage just so you can hire a professional dog handler.
Your dog has more grooming supplies to make his coat look shiny than you have hair care products for yourself.
Your dog eats holistic food while you eat preservative loaded frozen dinners.
Instead of driving around in that shiny new red sports car like your neighbor drives, you drive a van with your kennel name plastered on the doors.
Your friend’s kids are no longer allowed in your house because they told their parents that every other word out of your mouth is “bitch.”
You can’t use the bathroom without a few 85 lb. dogs squeezing their bodies through the door.
You feed the dogs BEFORE you feed your family.
Your walls are covered with your dog’s pictures instead of some fine art painting for people to admire.
Your garage is filled with grooming tables, crates, and bags of dog food while your car stays outside in the snow.
Your freezer is filled to the brim with chicken legs, livers, hearts and backs for the dog’s to be fed their “raw diet” instead of roasts you could be serving your family.
Your coffee table is cluttered with dog magazines instead of “Better Homes and Gardens.”
You own more sweat pants than dress pants.
Your “in box” on your computer is overflowing with e-mails from your doggie lists so you missed the e-mail from your Aunt Gertrude inviting you to Sunday dinner.
You remember the name of the President of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, but you forgot the name of the President of the United States.
12 Step Program to help with your addiction to dogs:
1) We admitted we were powerless over our dog addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable because of our need to live and breathe dogs 24 hours a day.
2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity so we could learn to be with our non-doggie friends again without bringing up the subject of dogs.
3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God and not question why he made the dog a companion to man and why we desired their company more than the human species.
4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves and made a conscious decision to give our spouse’s at least half as much attention as our dogs.
5) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs and made a vow to “suck it up” and TRY to treat some people HALF as well as our dogs if this is really what we had to do.
6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character but then gave it a second thought and changed out minds.
7) Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings and we would TRY to spend as much money on the kids as we do on the dogs.
8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed because we were bored to tears about them talking about their kids and their families, and became willing to make amends to them by promising NOT TO INVITE them over to our house anymore.
9) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would mean I would have to hang out with them or go to their stuffy parties.
10) Continued to take personal inventory and when THEY voiced their opinions that a “dog is just a dog” vowed to curse under my breathe instead of out loud.
11) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying for the patience to deal with non-doggie people who made comments that our house smelled funny and to hold back the impulse to knock them out!
12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other “dog addicted people” but decided to leave them along because we liked them just the way that they are because they were just like us.
We’ve come to realize that no matter how often we TRY to practice this 12 step program that we are hopelessly and delightfully addicted to dogs. We acknowledge and accept that it is out of our power to change our addiction to dogs. So therefore, we learned to embrace and love ourselves just the way we are!
My rating: it’s good to laugh at ourselves once in awhile: (4)
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