A Good Dog Fence Makes For Better Neighbors

by
Abbie Frank

Believe it or not, not everyone likes your family pet. By keeping your pet in an identified space with a good quality dog fence, Fido can remain as a good neighbor. I know, I know, it's almost impossible to imagine that anyone who knows Fido doesn't immediately fall in love with her. She might just be ok with the neighbors but the things she does in their yard make for some unhappy relationships. This is just one of the main reasons why every pet owner has an obligation to control their pets traveling range with pet fencing.

The problem of course is the about relieving themselves in someone else's yard, Yes, your pet may be friendly and would like to visit the neighbors but the fact is, many people do not share your love affair with your pet. They don't want the bother of picking up after an animal that's not theirs nor having their yards soiled with urine "hot spots" and doggie piles. Dogs, although usually very friendly also can be destructive of plants and landscaping, making many breeds poor neighbors.

That's not to say that your dog isn't a nice animal. Dogs are typically social and enjoys the interaction with a variety of people. This play interaction however is not without consequences. Things get broken, chewed on and otherwise "enjoyed" by your pet no matter if they belong to you or the neighbor. Having to face an angry neighbor because your dog destroyed his prize winning rose bush garden isn't something to be desired.

There's also the issue of community security. This is especially true if your dog is a larger breed. Having a large dog escape the security of their yard could be seen as negligence on your part. Communities are becoming increasingly upset at pet owners who allow their animals free run of a neighborhood. Heaven forbid if your dog, while free, attacks someone or another animal. This is especially serious if the other dog or pet was on a leash.

The saying is that a good fence makes for good neighbors. A good dog fence also makes for a happy and healthy environment for your pet. By securing your dog using secure fencing, your best friend also has the security of knowing where his yard boundaries are located. There is no need to "guard" anything beyond the fence lines so you pet is more inclined to stay in his yard to better "watch" his property. Overall, electronic dog fencing is a good investment no matter what type of dog you may have as a pet.

Abigail Franks writes on many subjects dealing with home, pets, and family. For more information on dog fences visit http://www.dogfence.outsidemagic.com

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Dogs In The 'Hood - Yo! What It Is, What It Was and What It Should Be

by
Jack Wilson

When I was a kid, lo these many years ago, there were no leash laws. Dogs roamed freely and frequently got hit by cars, got into fights, created, through some mysterious process, new dogs to enhance, scare and delight the world.

We had a dog in our household. We didn’t own a leash; never even considered it. My uncle who lived with us claimed that he owned the dog. Maybe legally, but he worked nights and slept all day, so we took care of the dog. Dash was its name. My uncle had brought home two dogs, male and female; named them dot and dash after his interest in ham radio and Morse Code. Dot was not kept. My younger sister claimed that Dash belonged to her because he was a boy dog and Dot would have been mine because she was a girl dog. My sister, younger and smarter than me, applied some rare sort of logic with such biblical authority that I reckoned she must be right.

Dash was free to roam the neighborhood, but didn’t stray very far from the source of his livelihood which he perceived not as people but a dish which somehow magically kept being re-filled.

Neighbor dogs, on the other hand, intruded dangerously into other people’s business, especially if those people had dogs. One such pet was more interested in the amorous sensuality produced by the availability of human legs. This was distressing to all the neighbors. We never knew who owned that Don Juan Perro.

We had to keep water hoses and sticks ready to break up fights between a German Shepherd and his nemesis; a mongrel misnamed Duke. This was such a regular occurrence that it became something like tuning in The Lone Ranger on the radio at the designated time each day. (Are you beginning to see how old I am?)

Things are different today, what with Dobermans, Rotweilers and Pit Bulls creating havoc. (letters of protest from dog lovers welcome)

Most states or counties or cities have strict laws about dog freedom now. Here is a sample: "Any person owning, harboring, or controlling a male or female dog whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, licensed or unlicensed, sterilized or unsterilized, shall always keep such animal from running at large by either: (A) Securely confining such animal within an adequate fence or enclosure, or within a house, garage, or other building or (B) Accompanying the animal on a leash."

This is serious business. Stray dogs are picked up by animal control centers and put in cages for awhile. Either they are adopted or destroyed. Destroyed means killed. The typical method for this is a chamber in which the dogs are shoved and the door is sealed and the air sucked out. This is more humane than it sounds since the dogs quickly go to sleep and don’t know what hit them.

Even so, not a pretty picture.

Dog owners who do not obey the law can be severely fined. If their dog kills a baby, the consequences are devastating to all concerned. The dog is usually killed, the owners may be jailed and fined and most certainly are ostracized by the neighborhood.

Bleak!

It is easy to find dog training schools. It is easy to secure your dog. It is easy to have your life ruined by being careless about your dog.

I wish you a merry neighborhood free of dog trouble.

Love thy neighbor as thy dog.

Jack Wilson is a writer and artist from Los Angeles and Phoenix.

http://www.geocities.com/galimatio/jackwilson.html

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Which is the Right Leash for Your Puppy or Dog?

by
Aidan Bindoff

Which is the right leash for your puppy or dog? With so many to choose from, picking a leash for your new puppy or dog can be confusing. There are really only a few things you need to know, and when you know them, selecting a leash for your puppy or dog is really quite simple!

The best general purpose leash is about 4' (120cm) long, and well made. Look for quality stitching, and a material that will not burn or chafe your hands. Leather is excellent quality and very long lasting if cared for properly. I prefer a cotton/synthetic webbing, the softer the better.

A 4' leash will not encourage bad habits. If you follow a pulling dog, that dog will learn to pull. There is no need for a 'training' collar or reprimands. Any flat collar or harness is fine so long as you are consistent and do not follow a pulling dog. Your dog should ideally walk by your side and not stray too far from that position, a longer leash allows your dog too much freedom.

That is not to say that we cannot give our dogs free time to explore on leash, and when we do give the signal, a longer leash is appropriate. A 'flexi' style retractable leash is great in this situation, although a very strong dog may damage a retractable leash. An aggressive dog is probably not safe on a retractable leash unless the leash is very good quality.

If you plan to do any tracking with your dog, then a good quality 30' (10m) leash is a good investment. Again, I prefer a soft cotton webbing although there are lightweight climbing ropes which do not get heavy when wet and will not chafe or burn. Two knots should be tied, one at the end to stop the line from running out and one about 6' from the end let you know when you are about to run out of line.

I also use my 30' tracking line when I am just ambling through the forest and have signalled to my dog that it is ok to explore within that length of line. Just putting that leash on is signal enough.

A 30' tracking line is also excellent for teaching recalls and stays when you are not in a safe off-leash training area.

The fittings on the end of the leash need to be very good quality. A strong snap-style fitting is best, as it is easy to use and generally trouble free. If you and your dog spend a lot of time at the beach, they will rust out and get jammed with sand unfortunately. I had a leash made with a brass diver's snap. Sand does not get caught in the spring and it does not rust, however it does not have a very strong spring and has come undone by accident. I think it's probably better to just wash out a good quality snap with fresh water and apply a little water dispersant (CRC or WD40) after a visit to the beach.

Cotton or synthetic leashes will need to be washed occassionally, which will greatly enhance their life. By the same token, don't store them in direct sunlight. The same is true of leather leashes. An occassional rub down with leather preservative is all that a leather leash requires.

If you have a dog who enjoys biting at the leash then training can be employed to bring this behavior under control. I favour deliberately teaching a dog to play tug with the leash and putting the behavior on cue, that way I develop control over the behavior and can use it as a reward for other behavior.

A quicker solution to biting the leash is to get a 4' metal chain leash, which is not nearly so enjoyable to bite on. Get one with a snap which attaches to a normal flat collar, some come as choker chains. If you are competent with a choker chain (check chain), then go right ahead and use it as such, but most people are not nearly so competent as they might imagine and would be better served learning positive reinforcement training methods. Positive reinforcement traning methods are far less likely to damage your relationship with your dog, your dog's spine and trachea, and your dog's enjoyment of working and walking.

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of Positive Petzine, a free resource for people training their own dogs.

Join now, and for a limited time you can download all available back issues for free!

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Your Dogs Medicine Chest - Things Every Dog Owner Should Have on Hand

by
Randy Jones

It is always wise to be prepared for an emergency, so when you acquire a dog, you should also prepare a special medicine kit for him. You can make one up yourself or buy one already put together. The following list of items is usually good enough for most minor injuries, at least until you can get to the vet.

-absorbent cotton
-cotton swabs
-adhesive tape
-gauze bandage (2 or 3 inches wide)
-elastic self-adhesive bandage
-disposable gloves
-Vaseline
-alcohol
-antiseptic cream
-hydrogen peroxide
-flea powder
-rectal thermometer
-blunt – nosed scissors
-tweezers
-small flashlight
-foil blanket (bubble wrap can be used)
-spare collar and lead
-name, address, and phone number for your veterinarian

When dealing with an injured pet, they are usually scared, disoriented and untrusting of anyone, even their owners. Never chase or corner a scared animal. Talk to him in a calm gentle voice; call him by name, and get down to his level, only moving closer to him as he calms down. After you are close to him, you should attach a leash to prevent him from running and possibly making his injury worse.

Carry out any essential first-aid procedures needed to save your dogs life or reduce his pain and stress. Keep him warm by wrapping him in a foil blanket or bubble wrap. Contact your veterinarian for advice, or to arrange for his assistance. Move the animal carefully and slowly and always remember to remain calm.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest dog clothes, dog collars, dog carriers and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://www.joncopets.com.

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The Kooikerhundje: Dutch Decoy Dog

by
Michael Russell

The Kooikerhundje has existed in the Netherlands since before the 1500s. The Kooikerhundje is a unique dog which is directly related to the dog which is known in the United States as the Nova Scotian Duck Toller. It is believed that the Toller is descended from the Kooiker. The body build of the Kooikerhundje is quite similar to the Duck toller but the coloring of the Kooiker is red and white. Like the duck toller, it is the heavily fringed white "feather" of his constantly moving tail which lures the ducks to the hunter, thus the term "decoy dog" is used to describe the function of the two breeds. In the case of the Kooikerhundje, the dog historically could be classified as a working dog rather than a hunting dog, for the Dutch people used the dog to lure the ducks into various blinds which a farmer would set up alongside the canals. A "decoy dog" would disappear into a blind only to reappear on the other side and the ducks would follow out of curiosity. Eventually the farmer and the dog would have captured a number of ducks which could then be taken to market. Gradually the industrial revolution took over and marketplaces which sold live animals became less plentiful. By 1939 the breed was nearly extinct in Holland but through the passionate work of Baroness van Hardenbroek the breed began to regain its former status and by 1966 the Dutch Kennel Club officially recognized the breed. Also it is interesting to note that the Kooiker of today is again performing its original function, being used by conservation organizations in Holland to lure the ducks into holding pens for the purposes of classification.

The Kooikerhundje history includes an interesting note that a Kooikerhundje belonging to Prince William of Orange saved his life by alerting him of an attack by the Spanish. He is a loyal and faithful dog as a pet in a household and is a useful and intelligent hunting dog for the duck hunter of today. In the F.C.I. this dog is registered within the gundog group. The Kooikerhundje breed is also recorded with the Foundation Stock Service of the A.K.C. The first litter of a Kooikerhundje was registered as recently as 1999 in the United States.

This medium sized dog is red and white in color and of a size similar to that of a Brittany Spaniel. He has proven himself to be a loyal and affectionate companion dog and is considered to perform well as a Therapy Dog and as an Assistance Dog. Search and rescue groups are also beginning to utilize this breed as a Search Dog and value him for his focus and easy trainability. The dog possesses a strong willingness to work. Historically it is the working breeds which seem to produce the type of dog which will function well in these areas.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

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