Would You Kiss My Dog?

Author: Chuck Lunsford
You might think twice before allowing a dog to give you a big wet kiss if you know what I know. I also want to apologize in advance to all dog lovers. I remain an admirer of dogs, just from a distance where my face is out of reach of their over-exuberant tongues.

As a child growing up in the boonies of Alabama we had a succession of dogs, some memorable and some I'd rather forget. One thing they all had in common is a trait all dogs everywhere participate in with gusto, one in which prevents me to this day from allowing a dog anywhere near my mouth.

Early on in life, while still blissfully unaware, I had no qualms in allowing the current family's dog the liberty of indulging itself in a round of good-natured face-licking. After all this is for most people one of the most endearing aspect of canine ownership, letting the mutt shower them with doggie kisses for as long as the dogs owner could stand it. The pooch thinks it is showing its owner the proper display of submissive behavior and affection and believe me when I tell you that a dog will slobber all over you as long as you allow it.

As I said before, my early years were spent in blissful unawareness of Fido's hygienic tendencies. Thinking about that very aspect of doggie behavior today brings back the gag reflex I experienced when I finally discovered, far too late unfortunately, how the mutt went about its daily ablutions.

The dog we had at the time, if I recall, was a stray that sort of drifted in one day and decided to stay and see which way the wind blew. I saw him as companion for my many explorations back into the hills and ridges of the Appalachians. To give credit where credit is due I will say that dog was a champion walker. He would accompany me as long and as far as I asked him too.

Now to the gist of this story. I remember it was a scorching hot August day. One of those kind of days where the air was thick and hard to breath. Anyway I was lounging on the front porch, enjoying a cold drink, and not paying attention to anything in particular. A movement caught my eye and I saw our dog coming down the road towards the house, returning from who knows what type of foray. About a block from the property I saw him stop suddenly and peer intently at something at his feet. Then he eased himself down onto the ground and started rolling around on his back, legs flailing the air, tongue lolling out, and appearing to be in a state of puppy bliss. Needless to say this aroused my attention. I stood up and wandered over to see what had gotten the dog all excited. Was there such a thing as dognip?

Arriving on the scene my eyes were met with the disgusting spectacle of the dog rolling in the partially decomposed remains of some poor creature that wasn't able to dodge fast enough. The way the dog was carrying on you would have thought he had discovered the next greatest scent guaranteed to sweep the lady dogs off their feet. He spent a good ten minutes covering every square inch of his body with the essence of the carcass. He even belly-crawled over it a few times just to make sure no spot was missed.

Once he completed this gruesome task he stood up, shook himself off, gave me a sideways glance, and headed for the porch. I stood there in shock for a second, barely able to believe what I had just witnessed. Finally gathering my wits about me I decided it would be prudent to put as much distance between me and the dog as possible. My plan was to casually walk by him (holding my breath of course), enter the front door, and escape quietly out the back door and make for the hills as fast as my legs would carry me for the remainder of the day. My reasoning was if I was several miles away I wouldn't have to put up with the smell and best of all one of the other kids would have to give the dog a bath once the rest of the family caught wind of it.

Just about when I put my hand on the door handle to let myself in I noticed the dog engaged in yet another of the favorite pastimes of dogs everywhere. He had commenced licking himself over every inch of his body that he could reach. My stomach started doing flip-flops because I knew where he had been less than a minute prior, but for some unknown reason I was transfixed. I could not walk away. Some morbid part of me wanted to see just how far and how long this dog would go with this spectacle.

For a good half hour I bore witness as this dog slurped himself from stem to stern, spending an inordinate amount of time in the stern area if you get my meaning. With disgust and fascination I watched the whole gruesome process, sitting down at some point to see if it would help the nausea I felt coming on.

Once his ablutions were over he licked his chops as if he had just finished a choice sirloin, set his sights on me, and before I could react, pounced towards me with a twinkle in his eye and a bounce in his step. Upon later reflection I finally reasoned he wanted to thank me for "sharing" the experience by offering me some of that love and affection dogs are famous for.

Instinct took over at that point and I engaged in a hasty retreat, crab-walking backwards with the dog getting ever closer, intent on showering me with attention. I stumbled slightly and he saw this as his chance. He lunged at my face with his mouth open and his tongue ready to give me the love and affection he felt I deserved as his master.

Things moved pretty much in a blur at this point which is understandable considering the speed in which I moved. I vaguely remember attempting to pull my head down between my shoulders like a turtle to prevent direct contact while at the same time levitating myself to the porch railing, just barely escaping the dog and his cesspool of a mouth.

Realizing he had missed his chance he looked a little contrite and hurt that I should deny him what he felt was his righteous duty. Between a fit of hyper-gagging and impaired vision brought on by the fumes emanating wafting about the porch I managed to warn him off and escaped into the house.

After awhile I calmed myself down and started thinking about my previous escape plan and the possibility of putting it into action while I still could when I was overcome with a sudden sense of dread. I suddenly remembered that the previous day I had allowed this same dog, the very one who had just spent almost an hour in the most revolting display I had ever witnessed, kiss me square on the mouth.

I wont go into what happened next other than to say it took me about a week, three giant tubes of toothpaste, and a couple of king-sized bottles of Listerine before I got the taste out of my mouth.

Think about it folks. You might want to reconsider if PoochyPoo and his dog bad breath want to share with you where his tongue has been just before he came over to give you a smack on the lips.



About The Author

Chuck Lunsford is the owner and developer of EliminateYourBadBreath.com, a well-known source for dog bad breath cures and remedies. If you have more questions about other bad breath topics visit us at for bad breath products that work.

Persistent Housetraining Accidents—Doesn’t My Dog Know Better?

Author: Veronica Sanchez M.Ed. CABC
“My dog is doing this on purpose!” is a complaint dog trainers often hear. House soiling is a common, frustrating dog behavior problem. However, it is important to understand that dogs do not eliminate indoors out of “spite,” “anger,” or otherwise “on purpose.”

Consider that dogs will urinate to mark territory and investigate animal waste. They clearly do not find the odor offensive the way we do! Owners often misinterpret the dog to be showing “guilty” body language when in actuality the dog is simply reacting with fearful body language towards the owner’s anger.

There are many reasons dog owners may have difficulty house training their dogs and puppies. Many of them are listed below.

Medical Conditions:

Various medical conditions may make house training difficult, if not impossible. It is important to work with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy before assuming that the dog’s accidents are due to a behavior problem.

Insufficient Supervision:

Insufficient or inadequate supervision can result in behavior problems. Dogs that are not completely house trained need to be in the owner’s line of sight at all times when not crated or confined to a dog-proofed location.

Inadequate Clean Up:

Inadequate clean up is another culprit. Dogs will continue to soil areas that have been previously soiled. You need to clean the soiled area thoroughly with a product specifically made for pet urine. Since pet urine glows under a black light, it can be helpful to purchase one. A black light can be purchased at many pet stores in order to ensure that no accidents are missed during clean up.

Unrealistic Expectations:

Don’t harbor unrealistic expectations. Young puppies need to be let out frequently. Some toy breed dogs may take longer to house train than other breeds. Adult or adolescent dogs adopted from shelters may have never been house trained and need to be treated as though they were young puppies in terms of supervision and crating.

Previous Bad Experiences:

A “bad start” can create long-lasting challenges. Dogs and puppies that were caged in situations where there was inadequate clean up may lose their tendency not to soil in a crate. These dogs can be particularly challenging to house train.

Anxiety or Fear:

Anxiety or fear related behavior problems also contribute to house-training accidents. Dogs that are extremely stressed may lose control of their bowels or bladder. Some dogs will urinate when they are extremely excited. A qualified dog behavior consultant can be helpful in addressing these more serious issues.

Solving a house training problem may involve revisiting basic puppy house training techniques or it may require in depth behavior changes and sometimes even medical intervention. Neutering may reduce marking behavior in some intact male dogs.

Under no circumstance should you yell at or punish your dog for house soiling. The only thing your dog will learn is to be afraid of you. Make sure you reward your dog with praise and a treat when your dog eliminates in a location that is acceptable to you. And most of all, be patient and do not hesitate to hire a professional dog trainer quickly. Dog training and behavior problems take longer to change if they are allowed to continue for a long period of time.



About The Author

Veronica Sanchez, M.Ed., CABC specializes in Dog Behavior Training. For more information on how to stop persistent house-training accidents, please visit http://www.cooperativepaws.com

Inherited Diseases of Labrador Dogs

Author: Richard Cussons
Some Labrador dogs are unfortunate enough to have been born with a disease. Surely you do not want to acquire disease even before you were born, am I right? But then, things happen whether we want it or not. We inherit things we sometimes don’t want to have, things such as horrid characteristics and diseases.

Dogs, same with human will less likely choose to inherit diseases if only they have the opportunity and power to do it. But sad to say, these diseases are passed on from generations to generations and there’s no way we can escape it when it’s already running through the veins of our ancestors.

As dog owners, it is your responsibility to know what these diseases are so that you could prevent it from coming before actually affecting your dog.

A dog may suffer from what it seems to be a mild deafness to eye problem and may get as worst as dysplasia, luxating patella and hereditary myopathy.

Dysplasia is a condition that involves abnormal development of the joint commonly affecting dogs. It is either an elbow or a joint dysplasia. This disease is possible caused by genetics, trauma, nutrition and other environmental factors, and is commonly found in large breed of dogs such as German Shepherds, Labrador dogs and Rottweilers. A dog with hip dysplasia may suffer from stiffness or soreness, reluctance to exercise and to stand on rear legs, lameness, pain and other abnormal gait. Elbow and hip dysplasia is diagnosed through x-rays, arthroscopy and hip scoring test. It is important that you control the body weight of your dog and to exercise him regularly to lessen the lameness and to help him improve his gait.

On the other hand, luxating patella is a condition wherein the patella or the kneecap moves out of its proper location. This too can be diagnosed through x-rays aside from palpitation of the knee. Dogs with luxating patella may exhibit limping in the rear leg. This disease may be treated surgically depending on the severity of the condition.

Another disease that could affect dogs is myopathy. A neuromuscular disease in which the muscle fibers do not function thus results to muscular weakness. This is primarily a muscle disease meaning the disease is within the muscle not the nerves. Condition such as muscle cramps, stiffness and spasm can also be associated with myopathy. Myopathy can be treated in various ways. It can be treated with the use of drugs, physical therapy, surgery and acupuncture.



About The Author

Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog lover. He is expert in Labrador as well as other breeds of dogs. Discover more about a Labrador dog here at http://www.labradorsavvy.com.

Toy American Eskimo Dog

Author: Sandy Oberrueter
The Toy American Eskimo or "Eskies" dog breed is a companion dog. They are a charming and affectionate little dog with an intelligent expression.

There are two other types of American Eskimo dogs - standard and miniature. The only main difference between them is their size and weight.

Eskies have a snowy white double coat that can have biscuit or cream markings. Both the outer coat and undercoat are thick and soft. They have a very distinctive ruff, compact body; wedge shaped fairly small head with erect triangular shipped ears. Their eyes are oval shaped, dark brown with dark brown or black rims. Their tail is plumed and curled over their back.

The Toy American Eskimo is strong, swift and agile with a flowing gait. These dogs are also very loveable and high-spirited.


The American Eskimo is loving, playful, willing to please, alert, loyal, strong willed but easy to train with a quick wit and obedient.

Weight and Height

TOY
9 - 11 inches
6 - 10 pounds

MINIATURE
12 - 15 inches
10 - 20 pounds

STANDARD
15 - 19 inches
18 - 35 pounds

LIFE SPAN
15 years

These dogs are a good choice for a family. They get along well with children if given sufficient exposure and interaction early. They are also good with other pets. Eskies are considered a good breed for the first time owner if purchased from a good breeder.

They are wary of strangers until they get to know them then they are instant friends. They make excellent watchdogs - they will bark to announce a stranger.

Eskies do need to be socialized and are very trainable but need kindness and consistency. They seem to take longer to mature than other breeds. They can behave like a puppy until two years of age.

They need exercise so they do not gain weight. Toy Eskimo's just need a few laps around the house or outside but the rest need more and they love long walks.

They are a fairly healthy breed but are prone to :

hip dysplasia
progressive retional atrophy
eye and eye duct problems

They like cold weather better than warm.

Brush these dog daily when shedding, otherwise twice a week will do. They
are an average shedder. Only bath every 2 or 3 months because of dry skin problems. This is a very clean breed and grooms themselves.

The American Eskimo is part of the Spitz family of dogs. The German Spitz was brought to the U.S. and the American Eskimo was created. This breed was recognized by the AKC in 1995.



About The Author

Sandy Oberrueter has a web site on small dog breeds with information on different breeds including pages on dogs good with children and the elderly, choosing a dog and breeder, vet, dog clothes, dog houses and much more. http://www.small-dogbreeds.com

Herding Dog Breed. Alert, Busy And Determined. Clear The Way! Here Comes The Herding Dog"

Author: John E Adams
Herding dog breed. A Short History of Herding Dogs

The herding dog has a long history, tracing as far back as Neolithic times in Europe when early farmers and domesticators in lands that are now Britain needed a more efficient, quicker way to move livestock from one place to another.

These early herding dogs were very large and powerful dogs. They were generally rough with the livestock and could be quite hard to control for their owners, but had an uncanny ability to gather and herd livestock.

By the nineteenth century, it became apparent that a dog that was both more versatile and more gentle with the animals was needed. Farmers could not afford to feed multiple large dogs for their needs.

They required a single dog who could not only nimbly gather and keep an eye on sheep and other livestock, but also hunt game and sniff out sheep that might have been buried in snow.

With a bond so close that required the farmer to trust his dog explicitly, he also needed an animal that was more cooperative and affectionate. It needed to be sensitive to the human voice, a whistle and hand gestures as it would be working alone, far away from the farmer in the field.

For that reason, there were multiple breeds introduced into the early strain of herding dogs.

The Whippet was selected because it was both quiet and quick. Pointers and setters were used to provide a good nose and a keen eye. Eventually, the perfect breed of dog developed –one that had a superior athletic inclination, light and fast movement, unmistakable livestock sense, and a good temperament that easily matched its handler.

The first modern herding dog, the Border Collie was introduced in 1894 in Northumbria, along the English and Scottish Border.

In other countries, the same early ancestors of that first Border Collie began to spread out, taking on work in the growing expanse of the United States West. Cattle herding dogs soon became common and immigrants arrived with other livestock that could live comfortably off of the land, along with their herding dogs.

Today, there are many breeds of herding dogs, all developed in the same manner or from the same breeding as the Border Collie, with the goal of creating a breed that was both quick and quiet, but able to bond well with its owner and seek out livestock easily.

Various types of herding dogs included the German Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, Australian Cattle Dog, Bearded Collie, and many more.

Each breed has become well known in the years since those early breeds were developed as a loyal, intelligent and highly trainable breed of dog. Today, most herding dogs are kept as pets by families rather than used in the field to herd sheep.

Because they were bred to connect with their owners so well and be so sociable, herding dogs make ideal pets, both gentle and familiar with children and playful with adults.

Herding dogs have a vast supply of energy and a seemingly human-like intelligence at times, all hallmarks of their careful breeding.



About The Author

Copyright John Adams. Dog Breeds Explained The Herding breed of dog is hard working and devoted. But only for the right owner. Get the facts before you get the dog! http://www.dog-breeds-explained.com http://www.dog-breeds-explained.com