Several months ago I wrote about the different social networks out there on the internet. Like many of you, I belong to a few of them myself. Some I like better than others but I suppose they all serve their purpose. As I’ve said earlier, I don’t get the big thrill with “Twitter.” I barely use it. Anyway, I wanted to re-visit this subject again only this time paying more attention to the social network giant, “Facebook.”
When I first signed up for this group, I didn’t think too much of it and barely used it. In fact, I didn’t even really like it that much. There were weeks that I seldom went onto the website. I sat back and wondered how long I would continue with my account. Well time went by and I started to check it out some more and now, it’s one of my guilty pleasures.
There are many reasons one would chose to go on “Facebook” but not always for the obvious reasons. It is a great social network to almost instantly connect with your friends or acquaintances. There’s not too much waiting for information with this site. As far as the dogs are concerned, the reason why I like “Facebook” so much is that I’m seeing pictures of dogs that I’ve never seen before. New litters, stud dogs, show win pictures. It’s become a German Shepherd Dog super highway. It is a great marketing and promotional tool. Some of the pictures I’m seeing are incredible. In my opinion, if you don’t use this site to promote your dogs, you’re missing out on a lot of free publicity.
I admit I use “Facebook” for more things than looking at all the pretty pictures of people’s dogs. There are all sorts of groups that you can join up with on many varied subjects that you might be interested in. Being a writer, I just joined a writing group. I love saving money with coupons and I have saved a fortune with being on “Facebook.” I’m signed up with some companies that I like and I get all their latest information or promotions sent to me. I’m connected with my favorite subjects and some of my favorite people. There are many rescue groups on here as well as breeders and exhibitors. I get to view lots of fun videos that people post. Some funny, some informative and some I chose not to watch (abuse of animals to make us aware of what’s going on). Reading about it is hard enough most of the time. Watching it is too much for me because I carry these types of things.
There are down sides to being on “Facebook” as well, but then again, there are downsides to belonging to many different social networks. Reports of scams and hackers coming on “Facebook” are always a concern to its members. That being said, just visiting websites on the internet, can also introduce you to some unsavory situations as well. I’ve encountered a couple of scams on “Facebook” already. In fact, just a couple of nights ago, I ran into this problem. I got an e-mail from my cousin telling me to look at a video that she thought was very funny. When I clicked on it, it said before I could view the video, they wanted me to answer a few questions first (none of it was personal questions), but it made me suspicious and I clicked back out of it. Come to find out my cousin never sent this to me, but whoever did wanted me to believe that she did. So yes, you need to be careful when using these social networks because there are millions of people on these sites. Proceeding with caution is always advisable.
“Facebook” is a great place to hook up with people that you haven’t seen or heard from for years. There are many German Shepherd people on here. I didn’t realize just what a large number of German Shepherd enthusiasts there are out there. I do think it’s a great place to promote our breed for those that are interested in learning more about them. Again, use caution when dealing with people that you don’t know that may be inquiring about your puppies or breeding dogs. It’s a nice way to bring people to you, but like in any other way of advertising, make sure you get references from people.
Is “Facebook” for everyone? No, it isn’t. There are those that resist change and like things just the way they are. There are those that are shy or are very private. Then this is not the place to be. For them “Facebook” makes them too uncomfortable. I admit I normally don’t like change in too many things if I’m enjoying things as they are. Sometimes it takes me a little longer to be convinced about something new. Then once I try it, I wonder what took me so long.
With the economic climate that we live in, people are looking for a way to reach out and connect with other people. Having friends can be a good thing. People are looking for less expensive ways to advertise their dogs and when something is free and it reaches so many people, well resisting the temptation to join up becomes a little harder. “Facebook” won’t appeal to everyone, but for those that it does, they’re having fun, they're networking, they’re reaching out…………..until the “next big thing” comes along on the information highway!
From the book: HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE: 92 LITTLE TRICKS FOR BIG SUCCESS IN RELATIONSHIPS - Leil Lowndes' How to Talk to Anyone offers101 time-tested hints, tips, and techniques for confidently communicating with others. A bestselling author and renowned communications consultant, Lowndes focuses on ice-breaking skills and communication techniques that are proven successful when making a positive first impression, establishing instant rapport and credibility, and more.
Packed with basic, no-nonsense advice and solid research evidence about which techniques work best in which areas, How to Talk to Anyone show readers how to:
* Make small talk not so small
* Use body language to captivate an audience
* Look like you know what you're talking about--even when you don't
My rating: "Facebook" - (1 - 4)
Showing posts with label german shepherd health problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd health problems. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
HOW GOOD ARE GERMAN SHEPHERDS WITH CHILDREN?
As all of us German Shepherd Dog lovers believe, there is no better companion and guardian to ones family than this breed of dog. But really how good are they with children? Is this a breed of dog that you feel safe with leaving your kids alone with? Are you comfortable leaving the room knowing that they won’t bite your child? Would you trust your child’s life with this dog?
I suppose the best answer to my questions would be……it depends. It all comes down to some fundamental principals and understanding about this dog and all dogs in general. What’s this dog’s predisposition or genetics in his pedigree? Does this dog come from a long line of good tempered dogs? (And even this is no guarantee what your dog will be like). Equally important is the socialization of the dog. Right from the time the dog is a young puppy and throughout the remainder of his life, socialization is a must especially with a breed that is known to be suspicious of strangers. Has your dog been raised with children?
So alright then, your dog is excellent with your child……but what about your child’s friends? How friendly is he with other children? Does he tolerate rough housing? How is he with children crawling all over his back and pulling his hair or ears? If one of your children’s friends is punching and fighting with your child, what would your dog do? Would he feel that he would have to defend your child?
Several months ago, I was watching friends two young boys (6 & 8) years old. I’ve known these two boys since they were born and they are very rambunctious, high energy type of kids. Well my friend owns one of those “designer” dogs….poodle/golden retriever. They’ve had him since he was an older puppy. He’s almost four years old now. He has a marvelous disposition and puts up with an awful lot from these two wild boys. Most of the time he plays right along with them, but on this day I noticed after he had enough of them, he went behind the chair that I was sitting in and tried to hide from those two little “terrors!” He was letting them know that he had had enough and he was looking for a place to get away from them.
I believe when you raise animals with children that the children need to be taught respect and kindness towards animals. They should never be allowed to tease or hit the dog. I also believe that you shouldn’t leave your children unattended with your dogs especially when your child is in one of their rambunctious moods. Sometimes the dog snaps out at the child in self defense. Other times like my friends dog, they will look for a place to hide to get away from their tormentors!
We can never be 100% sure of what our dogs are going to do, now matter how long we’ve lived with them or think that we know them. How many times have you heard the stories where the owner will tell someone, “Oh it’s alright, you can come in the house. My dog is friendly. He doesn’t bite?” The person comes in and now he has a scar to remind him of the “friendly” dog that doesn’t bite.
It’s not unheard of to see a German Shepherd turned into a shelter because of a new baby that was born or small children conflict with the dog. The dog is protective, he’s territorial, and his emotional needs for his master are enormous. They want and need to be included in the everyday activities of his family. If he is locked away when a new baby comes in the home, then he may become jealous of the new addition to the family.
We must remember that very young children don’t understand the proper behavior around a dog. They are quick and do things without thinking of the consequences of their actions so constant supervision is a must! The German Shepherd that is raised with children loves them because they are a part of his family. But here again, the children and dog shouldn’t be left unsupervised. The German Shepherd Dog is a herding breed and they have a natural prey drive. Children love to run around and the dog may enjoy the game, but can become overly excited and start pulling the child by his clothes around the floor with no intention of hurting him, but this is when accidents can happen.
Oh there are wonderful stories of the German Shepherd and HIS children! The kid can go into the dog’s bowl while he’s eating. He can take his toys away from him. He may even fall asleep on top of him. The dog may be devoted to the child sitting and whining by the door when the child leaves for school. There’s hundred’s of pictures to attest to the love of this breed with his small master, but it’s not true for every dog. Every dog is an individual and must be dealt with as such. It doesn’t mean that we demand anything less from him. It means we know the personality of this particular dog and we know how tolerate he is and what we may expect from him.
It is important to teach BOTH child and dog what you will and will not tolerate. You must always remain the pack leader. Training the dog to do what you want him to do is of the utmost importance and so is it as important for the child. In order for the child and dog to co-exist, they must both be taught how to properly get along with one another. You want your dog to be gentle and kind to your child but it’s equally important that the child is as gentle and kind to the dog.
If a child is taught from a very early age how to properly interact with a dog, that child and dog can be the best of buddies. The dog might go everywhere with the child. He may even sleep in his bed. There is nothing more beautiful than a child with his dog, especially ones that love and respect one another. These relationships your child has with his dog can be some of the most important and loving relationships your child may ever know. It may help contribute to the kind of loving adult that he may become all because he loved and was loved by his dog!
My rating: children & dogs: (4), untrained, uncontrolled children & dogs: (1)
From the book: "Living with kids and dogs without losing your mind: Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. ~ Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to • Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation • Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort • Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity • Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt • Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids’ lives from infancy through the teen years • Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic—children who have been bitten by a dog.
I suppose the best answer to my questions would be……it depends. It all comes down to some fundamental principals and understanding about this dog and all dogs in general. What’s this dog’s predisposition or genetics in his pedigree? Does this dog come from a long line of good tempered dogs? (And even this is no guarantee what your dog will be like). Equally important is the socialization of the dog. Right from the time the dog is a young puppy and throughout the remainder of his life, socialization is a must especially with a breed that is known to be suspicious of strangers. Has your dog been raised with children?
So alright then, your dog is excellent with your child……but what about your child’s friends? How friendly is he with other children? Does he tolerate rough housing? How is he with children crawling all over his back and pulling his hair or ears? If one of your children’s friends is punching and fighting with your child, what would your dog do? Would he feel that he would have to defend your child?
Several months ago, I was watching friends two young boys (6 & 8) years old. I’ve known these two boys since they were born and they are very rambunctious, high energy type of kids. Well my friend owns one of those “designer” dogs….poodle/golden retriever. They’ve had him since he was an older puppy. He’s almost four years old now. He has a marvelous disposition and puts up with an awful lot from these two wild boys. Most of the time he plays right along with them, but on this day I noticed after he had enough of them, he went behind the chair that I was sitting in and tried to hide from those two little “terrors!” He was letting them know that he had had enough and he was looking for a place to get away from them.
I believe when you raise animals with children that the children need to be taught respect and kindness towards animals. They should never be allowed to tease or hit the dog. I also believe that you shouldn’t leave your children unattended with your dogs especially when your child is in one of their rambunctious moods. Sometimes the dog snaps out at the child in self defense. Other times like my friends dog, they will look for a place to hide to get away from their tormentors!
We can never be 100% sure of what our dogs are going to do, now matter how long we’ve lived with them or think that we know them. How many times have you heard the stories where the owner will tell someone, “Oh it’s alright, you can come in the house. My dog is friendly. He doesn’t bite?” The person comes in and now he has a scar to remind him of the “friendly” dog that doesn’t bite.
It’s not unheard of to see a German Shepherd turned into a shelter because of a new baby that was born or small children conflict with the dog. The dog is protective, he’s territorial, and his emotional needs for his master are enormous. They want and need to be included in the everyday activities of his family. If he is locked away when a new baby comes in the home, then he may become jealous of the new addition to the family.
We must remember that very young children don’t understand the proper behavior around a dog. They are quick and do things without thinking of the consequences of their actions so constant supervision is a must! The German Shepherd that is raised with children loves them because they are a part of his family. But here again, the children and dog shouldn’t be left unsupervised. The German Shepherd Dog is a herding breed and they have a natural prey drive. Children love to run around and the dog may enjoy the game, but can become overly excited and start pulling the child by his clothes around the floor with no intention of hurting him, but this is when accidents can happen.
Oh there are wonderful stories of the German Shepherd and HIS children! The kid can go into the dog’s bowl while he’s eating. He can take his toys away from him. He may even fall asleep on top of him. The dog may be devoted to the child sitting and whining by the door when the child leaves for school. There’s hundred’s of pictures to attest to the love of this breed with his small master, but it’s not true for every dog. Every dog is an individual and must be dealt with as such. It doesn’t mean that we demand anything less from him. It means we know the personality of this particular dog and we know how tolerate he is and what we may expect from him.
It is important to teach BOTH child and dog what you will and will not tolerate. You must always remain the pack leader. Training the dog to do what you want him to do is of the utmost importance and so is it as important for the child. In order for the child and dog to co-exist, they must both be taught how to properly get along with one another. You want your dog to be gentle and kind to your child but it’s equally important that the child is as gentle and kind to the dog.
If a child is taught from a very early age how to properly interact with a dog, that child and dog can be the best of buddies. The dog might go everywhere with the child. He may even sleep in his bed. There is nothing more beautiful than a child with his dog, especially ones that love and respect one another. These relationships your child has with his dog can be some of the most important and loving relationships your child may ever know. It may help contribute to the kind of loving adult that he may become all because he loved and was loved by his dog!
My rating: children & dogs: (4), untrained, uncontrolled children & dogs: (1)
From the book: "Living with kids and dogs without losing your mind: Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. ~ Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to • Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation • Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort • Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity • Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt • Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids’ lives from infancy through the teen years • Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic—children who have been bitten by a dog.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL BREEDING?
I received an e-mail last night from someone asking me questions about inbreeding, linebreeding and out crossing. I confess I’m far from an expert on this subject. There are many more experienced breeders than I that are better equipped to answer this question. I answered his question pertaining to what had been successful for me. So once again, I’ve done some research on the subject, but all of you “seasoned” breeders feel free to jump in anytime you feel you’d like to add your own experiences with your breeding practices.
Most of my own breeding has always been line breeding. A few breedings I that I did were outcrosses. I have never done inbreeding. I did not feel that I had enough experience to try inbreeding and I was happy with my line breeding anyway. So let’s discuss the different breeding a breeder can choose to do with his litters.
Linebreeding: This is when a breeder looks for dogs going back for generations in the pedigree on one or more good dogs and bitches. This is when you will have a pedigree that has the name of these dogs more than one time. The breeder is looking to incorporate the good qualities of this dog by having him be more dominating in the pedigree therefore looking for these good qualities to come out in the litter of puppies. In order for a breeding to be considered a linebreeding, both the sire and dam have to carry some of the same dogs in their own pedigrees that the breeder is doubling up on. The breeder is looking to produce the outstanding genetic contribution of these animals in their puppies. Some geneticists consider linebreeding and inbreeding to only be different by a small degree. Both of these styles of breeding are using animals that are relatives to one another. Most breeders consider this a safer breeding than inbreeding might be. They don’t expect as many health problems as some may fear with an inbred litter. They feel that they can pretty much expect a certain type with a line bred litter. Most kennels have used this type of breeding very successfully.
Inbreeding: This is when a breeder mates a dog to one of its immediate ancestors. No new bloodline is introduced with inbreeding. This is when a mother/son, father/daughter, or a brother/sister breeding has taken place. The breeder that does these types of breeding is looking to lock in the virtues of this bloodline. He may also find out the faults of the line as well. It is felt that (and I quote here) “inbreeding reduces fertility, vigor and overall health and mental stability. Inbred animals are more prone to diseases such as infections and cancer, and more likely to be "highly strung". Also I have heard of dogs not being of the standard size. Never having done this type of breeding before, I don’t know how true that is. I do know that some very well known and successful breeding have been through inbreeding. I know the serious show person/breeder is usually familiar with knowing who these dogs/bitches are. However, I do wonder about the littermates of these famous dogs. What became of them? Years ago many breeders that did inbreeding would also cull their litters. If they saw an undesirable fault in a puppy, they would put the puppy to sleep. Who the heck wants to do this? Not me. That’s why I wouldn’t attempt this type of breeding because I wouldn’t want to make that kind of decision. Most of the time with this kind of breeding, you can pretty much lock in the type of your animal. In my opinion, this is the type of animal that would do best by breeding him/her to an out cross type of dog. The Fran-Jo kennels were very successful doing inbreeding with their lines.
Outcross: Normally when you do an out cross breeding, the pedigree will not have any similar dogs going back 4 – 5 generations. Many dogs will have some similar dogs in their pedigrees going beyond this. An example of a true outcross breeding would be an American bred dog to a German bred dog. Some breeders have been very successful doing this type of breeding whereas; other breeders rarely if ever use it. Some think that this type of breeding is the “luck of the draw!” You would not expect a consistency in breed type with this type of mating because there is nothing similar in their bloodlines so anything goes. You may be pleasantly surprised or very disappointed. I feel this is a good breeding to do when you already have a heavily line bred or inbred animal and need to take it out for some fresh bloodlines. In this writer’s opinion, in order for this type of breeding to be successful, you should use a dog that is prepotent for producing the qualities that you are looking for in your puppies. Darby-Dan kennels have been extremely successful with breeding their American bred bitches to their German dog “Jim!”
Because genetics is never an exact science, meaning that when you breed, all the “correct” planning in the world doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to get what you had hoped for. It might look great on paper. It might look great when you look at the stud and bitch standing together. It might have been a successful combination when the kennel down the street did it. It doesn’t guarantee that it will be great when you do it. One never knows what to expect when you breed a litter. The best you can do is to study, study and study some more about the bloodlines that you want to breed to. Know your own dogs’ bloodlines very well. Investigate…..find out the genetic health problems both in your own lines and the stud that you plan on using BEFORE you breed that litter. Even the best laid plans can go amiss! Rather be pleasantly surprised than shockingly disappointed!
My rating: linebreeding: (4), inbreeding….only for those who know what they’re doing: (3) outcross: (3)
Most of my own breeding has always been line breeding. A few breedings I that I did were outcrosses. I have never done inbreeding. I did not feel that I had enough experience to try inbreeding and I was happy with my line breeding anyway. So let’s discuss the different breeding a breeder can choose to do with his litters.
Linebreeding: This is when a breeder looks for dogs going back for generations in the pedigree on one or more good dogs and bitches. This is when you will have a pedigree that has the name of these dogs more than one time. The breeder is looking to incorporate the good qualities of this dog by having him be more dominating in the pedigree therefore looking for these good qualities to come out in the litter of puppies. In order for a breeding to be considered a linebreeding, both the sire and dam have to carry some of the same dogs in their own pedigrees that the breeder is doubling up on. The breeder is looking to produce the outstanding genetic contribution of these animals in their puppies. Some geneticists consider linebreeding and inbreeding to only be different by a small degree. Both of these styles of breeding are using animals that are relatives to one another. Most breeders consider this a safer breeding than inbreeding might be. They don’t expect as many health problems as some may fear with an inbred litter. They feel that they can pretty much expect a certain type with a line bred litter. Most kennels have used this type of breeding very successfully.
Inbreeding: This is when a breeder mates a dog to one of its immediate ancestors. No new bloodline is introduced with inbreeding. This is when a mother/son, father/daughter, or a brother/sister breeding has taken place. The breeder that does these types of breeding is looking to lock in the virtues of this bloodline. He may also find out the faults of the line as well. It is felt that (and I quote here) “inbreeding reduces fertility, vigor and overall health and mental stability. Inbred animals are more prone to diseases such as infections and cancer, and more likely to be "highly strung". Also I have heard of dogs not being of the standard size. Never having done this type of breeding before, I don’t know how true that is. I do know that some very well known and successful breeding have been through inbreeding. I know the serious show person/breeder is usually familiar with knowing who these dogs/bitches are. However, I do wonder about the littermates of these famous dogs. What became of them? Years ago many breeders that did inbreeding would also cull their litters. If they saw an undesirable fault in a puppy, they would put the puppy to sleep. Who the heck wants to do this? Not me. That’s why I wouldn’t attempt this type of breeding because I wouldn’t want to make that kind of decision. Most of the time with this kind of breeding, you can pretty much lock in the type of your animal. In my opinion, this is the type of animal that would do best by breeding him/her to an out cross type of dog. The Fran-Jo kennels were very successful doing inbreeding with their lines.
Outcross: Normally when you do an out cross breeding, the pedigree will not have any similar dogs going back 4 – 5 generations. Many dogs will have some similar dogs in their pedigrees going beyond this. An example of a true outcross breeding would be an American bred dog to a German bred dog. Some breeders have been very successful doing this type of breeding whereas; other breeders rarely if ever use it. Some think that this type of breeding is the “luck of the draw!” You would not expect a consistency in breed type with this type of mating because there is nothing similar in their bloodlines so anything goes. You may be pleasantly surprised or very disappointed. I feel this is a good breeding to do when you already have a heavily line bred or inbred animal and need to take it out for some fresh bloodlines. In this writer’s opinion, in order for this type of breeding to be successful, you should use a dog that is prepotent for producing the qualities that you are looking for in your puppies. Darby-Dan kennels have been extremely successful with breeding their American bred bitches to their German dog “Jim!”
Because genetics is never an exact science, meaning that when you breed, all the “correct” planning in the world doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to get what you had hoped for. It might look great on paper. It might look great when you look at the stud and bitch standing together. It might have been a successful combination when the kennel down the street did it. It doesn’t guarantee that it will be great when you do it. One never knows what to expect when you breed a litter. The best you can do is to study, study and study some more about the bloodlines that you want to breed to. Know your own dogs’ bloodlines very well. Investigate…..find out the genetic health problems both in your own lines and the stud that you plan on using BEFORE you breed that litter. Even the best laid plans can go amiss! Rather be pleasantly surprised than shockingly disappointed!
My rating: linebreeding: (4), inbreeding….only for those who know what they’re doing: (3) outcross: (3)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
PICA - NOW JUST WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN?
I don’t care how long I’ve owned dogs, there is always something new to learn. Doing some research this morning, I came across this word “Pica.” I never heard of it before but once I started reading about the description, I knew that I could identify with this word concerning some dogs that I’ve owned or own. If your dog likes to eat everything that he can get his little greedy mouth on that’s a non-food object, than your dog has a condition called pica! He may think that rocks, stones, sand, dirt, objects found on the floor, tissues, socks, clothing, etc. is a gourmet meal. Oh yeah, and lets not forget the “poop” eater. Well you just may be sharing your home with a “pica” loving dog. Pica is a compulsive disorder. It becomes a habit for the dog who engages in this behavior.
Pica is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves the craving, eating and digestion of non-food items because some things should just not be eaten. If they swallow a pin or sharp object, you can just imagine what trouble that could cause in the dogs stomach or digestive system. This condition can cause choking, digestive blockage, or breaking teeth. Various digestive disorders may be related to pica, such as difficulty swallowing, or problems related to intestinal absorption. Other problems such as diabetes or a nutrient deficiency may be related as well. Have your veterinarian check your dog. He may want to run blood tests and urinalysis to check for an underlying disease and organ function.
Many times you will have problems with puppies that like to investigate everything and put things in his mouth. Most of the time the puppy will have outgrown this by the time that they are two years old. Some of them however, never outgrow this bad habit. Watch out for the older dog that suddenly starts to engage in this behavior. This could be an indication of a serious health problem such as diabetes, or intestinal cancer.
From my research, it says that about 90% of dogs who exhibit this condition do not have a health problem. Many times it can be due to behavioral issues. Sometime pica may result from a pet's need for attention, frustration or anxiety. Some experts suspect it can also be a way animals attempt to make up for nutrients lacking in their diet.
Coprophagia is the ingestion of poop that is neither accidental nor incidental. It is deliberate and habitual. If you’ve been in dogs for any length of time, sooner or later you will probably deal with a poop loving dog. It’s yucky, ugly and disgusting especially when they want to come back in the house and plant a big wet one on your face! We’re not just talking about bad breathe here. We’re talking about one gross, foul smelling filthy mouth. I have had a few of my dogs in the past take an occasional “taste” here and there in their life times. Right now I own one who partakes of the “nasties” on a daily basis.
The reasons for a “poop loving” dog are many. It can range from anything from boredom, needing more nutrients in their food, digestive disorders (SIBO, deficiency anemia, chronic pancreatitis, esophageal dysphagia – swallowing problems, enterocolitis, esophageal dysplasia (pre-cancerous condition), lack of attention, habit, etc. Once they start doing this, it can be an ongoing struggle to get them out of this gross habit. Believe me, I’ve read everyone’s suggestions about how to stop a dog from doing this (Fig Newton’s, pineapple, Bitter Apple, meat tenderizer, poop stopping supplements, etc.). Nothing changes the mind of my dog from eating her favorite treat. This is my dog that has SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) so I feel that this is part of her problem along with her hyper active personality. I’d love to hear what has worked for any of you that are reading this.
But what about the dog that loves to put everything in his mouth that he shouldn’t? I also have one of those types of dogs (aren’t I lucky though)? I own a bitch who is the biggest “chow hound” on the planet. No I really mean it. She was born this way. When I removed the sac from her huge head, she let out a big cry and twisted in my hands until I put her to her mother’s body so she could taste her first “drink” of milk. She didn’t need any encouragement. She was a hog then and she’s a hog now!
When I give my dog’s snacks at night, usually they are sharing something with me. The “chow hound would make a great football player. She totally throws her big body on top of the treat if it lands on the floor so no one else can get it. She gets most of the treats before the other two can get theirs unless I intervene. She is truly a glutton! I kid you not! If I put a large towel or blanket in her crate, she will shred it to pieces eating little chunks here and there. She’s constantly up on my counters looking for a crumb or two that I didn’t wipe up. She “vacuums” my floor with her mouth, by picking up anything that vaguely resembles a piece of food.
If your dog is fed a good quality food and is not lacking in nutrients and he does not have a medical condition and he starts to eat everything in sight it can be caused by a number of factors. He may be crated for too long of a time, bored, not exercised enough, or not given enough attention or activities to do. It is repetitive, non-functional and non-beneficial. This would indicate that it is psychological in nature (stressed, bored) and not medical. Then the owner needs to make sure that his dog is getting the proper amount of exercise and that the dog’s brain is stimulated and challenged (training through obedience, a job to do), etc.
So next time you wonder where you put that sponge that you use to clean the counters with, turn around and look at “Harvey.” He might have the answer for you!
My rating: over the counter remedies: (1), behavioral training: (4)
Pica is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves the craving, eating and digestion of non-food items because some things should just not be eaten. If they swallow a pin or sharp object, you can just imagine what trouble that could cause in the dogs stomach or digestive system. This condition can cause choking, digestive blockage, or breaking teeth. Various digestive disorders may be related to pica, such as difficulty swallowing, or problems related to intestinal absorption. Other problems such as diabetes or a nutrient deficiency may be related as well. Have your veterinarian check your dog. He may want to run blood tests and urinalysis to check for an underlying disease and organ function.
Many times you will have problems with puppies that like to investigate everything and put things in his mouth. Most of the time the puppy will have outgrown this by the time that they are two years old. Some of them however, never outgrow this bad habit. Watch out for the older dog that suddenly starts to engage in this behavior. This could be an indication of a serious health problem such as diabetes, or intestinal cancer.
From my research, it says that about 90% of dogs who exhibit this condition do not have a health problem. Many times it can be due to behavioral issues. Sometime pica may result from a pet's need for attention, frustration or anxiety. Some experts suspect it can also be a way animals attempt to make up for nutrients lacking in their diet.
Coprophagia is the ingestion of poop that is neither accidental nor incidental. It is deliberate and habitual. If you’ve been in dogs for any length of time, sooner or later you will probably deal with a poop loving dog. It’s yucky, ugly and disgusting especially when they want to come back in the house and plant a big wet one on your face! We’re not just talking about bad breathe here. We’re talking about one gross, foul smelling filthy mouth. I have had a few of my dogs in the past take an occasional “taste” here and there in their life times. Right now I own one who partakes of the “nasties” on a daily basis.
The reasons for a “poop loving” dog are many. It can range from anything from boredom, needing more nutrients in their food, digestive disorders (SIBO, deficiency anemia, chronic pancreatitis, esophageal dysphagia – swallowing problems, enterocolitis, esophageal dysplasia (pre-cancerous condition), lack of attention, habit, etc. Once they start doing this, it can be an ongoing struggle to get them out of this gross habit. Believe me, I’ve read everyone’s suggestions about how to stop a dog from doing this (Fig Newton’s, pineapple, Bitter Apple, meat tenderizer, poop stopping supplements, etc.). Nothing changes the mind of my dog from eating her favorite treat. This is my dog that has SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) so I feel that this is part of her problem along with her hyper active personality. I’d love to hear what has worked for any of you that are reading this.
But what about the dog that loves to put everything in his mouth that he shouldn’t? I also have one of those types of dogs (aren’t I lucky though)? I own a bitch who is the biggest “chow hound” on the planet. No I really mean it. She was born this way. When I removed the sac from her huge head, she let out a big cry and twisted in my hands until I put her to her mother’s body so she could taste her first “drink” of milk. She didn’t need any encouragement. She was a hog then and she’s a hog now!
When I give my dog’s snacks at night, usually they are sharing something with me. The “chow hound would make a great football player. She totally throws her big body on top of the treat if it lands on the floor so no one else can get it. She gets most of the treats before the other two can get theirs unless I intervene. She is truly a glutton! I kid you not! If I put a large towel or blanket in her crate, she will shred it to pieces eating little chunks here and there. She’s constantly up on my counters looking for a crumb or two that I didn’t wipe up. She “vacuums” my floor with her mouth, by picking up anything that vaguely resembles a piece of food.
If your dog is fed a good quality food and is not lacking in nutrients and he does not have a medical condition and he starts to eat everything in sight it can be caused by a number of factors. He may be crated for too long of a time, bored, not exercised enough, or not given enough attention or activities to do. It is repetitive, non-functional and non-beneficial. This would indicate that it is psychological in nature (stressed, bored) and not medical. Then the owner needs to make sure that his dog is getting the proper amount of exercise and that the dog’s brain is stimulated and challenged (training through obedience, a job to do), etc.
So next time you wonder where you put that sponge that you use to clean the counters with, turn around and look at “Harvey.” He might have the answer for you!
My rating: over the counter remedies: (1), behavioral training: (4)
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