Often I hear from people that “dog’s are born with a coat”, but as my luxuriating friend here demonstrates, this is not always the case, he has a short, thin coat and would be cold with out his party pants.  Wild dogs in their natural habitat are just fine naked, they keep each other warm and have a substantial pelt.  But what about breeds with little (or no) hair at all?  Most are smaller than a human being is and consume way fewer calories in a day than us humans, making less of their own body heat.  A Pug or a Great Dane doesn’t have much in the way of fur to keep him warm and many do not appreciate the same house hold temperatures we do.  And, for the same reasons we don’t feel like wondering around everywhere in the nude, save the modesty of course, they appreciate a good sweat shirt like the next guy, or maybe just a T shirt that says ‘I’m awesome’.   

Even long haired breeds, such as these show poodles, appreciate the protection these items provide their coat.  It keeps the animal clean and keeps the show coat from suffering damage and breakage while the animal is just hanging out being a dog. 

Then, there are dogs who do things they would never naturally do in the wild, (like fork over a freshly grabbed duck), and they aren’t exactly careful with their bodies if you have seen a lab play in the water lately.  These vests protect the dog from sticks and other unseen debris in the field and in the water that might otherwise cut the dog’s skin or cause it injury.  It is also an excellent emergency grab point should the dog go under the water and not come up, or suffer fatigue and not be able to get into the boat or onto the shore on it’s own.

Sometimes, like when out on the water boating, they may not appreciate it, but safety says it’s  a must if they want to go.  That’s just life, like it or not, and I have never seen a wolf or hyena of any kind in the wild out for a day of fun in the sun and margaritas on a Bay-liner.  Not to mention old ma nature doesn’t really care how many of her canines drown in the water every year, and most of us get pretty touchy about simply the thought of such a loss. 

Seeing Eye dogs wear clothing to identify them as required by law, police dogs wear protective gear to do their jobs as safely as possible.  And some dogs just love to feel fabulous, and will dance if you hold their dog collar above their heads, barking and throwing a fit until they can have their special necklace back.  There are many reasons to sit back and give in to the fact that these animals are no longer wild at all and are officially a permanent part of our human world.  We are just going to have to get used to it, and once we do it can be a whole lot of fun for everyone involved.

That Thing They Do…

What to do when you can’t

afford to ship them to Mars.

Top 10 habits that just make them just killable, and you would, except for that face!

· Barking– This can be especially aggravating if you have a small dog in an apartment and your neighbors are climbing down your neck.  Often times your only resort is to remove the dog from the situation during the times it is alone at home, such as to a dog day care, or a retired parent’s house, because mostly these dogs bark because they are alone, and dogs are not good typically about being alone.  If you are desperate and have no such recourse in your area, devocalizing the dog is kinder than having it end up homeless, and I have had success in the past with some of the corrective collars.  If you are one of those people that locks your dog up outside all night though, forget it.  That is going to be one unhappy dog until you welcome it into your home for real.

          · Chewing– Is often a puppy problem that some dogs just never grow out of, but I have never had a serious problem with an adult dog as long as it had enough chewing items of it’s own.  But one of my big keys to success is all of the dogs know that number one: I am the boss end of story, and number two: they can stay out of the boss’s things, believe me they DO know the difference.  This doesn’t keep them out of the garbage if left un-checked but they will learn that they have their own items and they need to play with their toys not yours.  I give serious dog jail time and the occasional spanking for cord chewing, even in puppies and they do pout for a time.  Young dogs and puppies should not be set up to fail at the situation by being left out unsupervised for long periods, but should be kenneled when you are away, in with their toys of course, and seriously scolded for chewing in front of you.

· Aggression– It is insanely tragic to find your cuddly little pup has turned into the flying fangs of doom.  All dogs have the potential to be aggressive and/or bite, this is not a breed specific issue, though aggression can be hereditary.  Toy poodles can be just as evil as pit bulls, and you have a lot to loose by not being the boss of the situation.  Anything from strangers to pet groooming.  The best prevention is making sure you never back away from the pup when he is young.  If you suspect your dog may be dangerous, I can’t stress enough to get professional help and do it as soon as you can, and I recommend Caesar Milan’s program for training your dog.  He has great success with these sorts of dogs.

         · Digging-Geez this can be frustrating, and dangerous if the dog is digging to escape a fence.  If that is the case, and electric or invisible fence should do the trick.  If not, the dog can either be kenneledwhen you are unable to supervise them, moved inside, or even  in the absence of that, tenacious diggers can be given a sand box and taught they can dig and play in their sand box without being in trouble.   Extra exercise and dog training can also help curb this issue.

        · Separation Anxiety– Causes a subset of behavior problems that range this entire list. 

These are some signs that your dog has true separation anxiety

· Dog becomes anxious when owner or other pets prepares to leave

· Misbehavior occurs in the first 15-45 minutes after owner leaves

· Dog wants to follow owner around constantly

· Dog tries to be touching owner whenever possible

Usually the dog starts as a puppy who cries for attention. Easy to feel sorry for, and we want to comfort, this becomes a dominance game and an ownership issue later in the dog’s life.  I would correct any of these attention getting behaviors immediately, crying with a light cheek pinch to distract the dog and redirect the energy in a more positive direction.  Medication should be a last resort, tons of exercise and not giving in to the dog’s tantrums is a must and you are in for a long haul.  Here are a few of the dog training techniques.

· House Breaking Issues– This is a big time no go in my house, but that doesn’t make my younger kids perfect.  Dogs urinate on various things for various reasons, and understanding why the dog is doing it’s thing is a big factor in how you should react.  If the dog is shy, or nervous, it is displaying a submissive response and I have learned the hard way that scolding and punishing does no good at all in this situation.  But if that little brat looks you straight in the face as he lets it fly, watch out I’m coming to get him!  There is a big difference in behavior and you should know it when you see it.  Also, don’t make the mistake of having only one dog and thinking you have to catch them in the act.  Dogs older than 6 months will have a good idea of why you are rubbing their nose in that carpet, and they do know why they are spending time in dog jail.  Neutering males young is a must.

· Begging– Lets face it, you are the reason this works.  So, if you made the monster it stands to reason you can unmake it.  I know it is hard, but begging is not really a natural behavior, and it can cause some other issues with your dog believing you are in fact the boss.    And it can lead to obesity besides.  All and all not the worst of the behavior issues, but it is important to remember that food is not love and we have to show them affection with the time we spend with them, not what we give them.  It helps too if you don’t allow the dog to stare at you at the table, which is rude in anyone’s book.

· Chasing-You can’t train a dog to be something it’s not and it’s a fact that even my 16 year old blind Shih Tzu would chase anything she could smell was moving.  Prevention is the best medicine in this deal, leashes, fencing, and making sure the dog will come when called no matter what can ensure you aren’t a star in your own canine Greek tragedy.  It is my rule of thumb that even though I have a fenced property away from the road in the woods, my dogs are not allowed outside unsupervised, that goes for the Flatcoat as well as the Shih Tzus.

· Jumping up on People-This is both irritating and dangerous, older people and small children can get hurt my a big dog that just wants to say hi.  This is really why they do it, dogs just to show a person how happy they are to see them.  Some dogs will just need a knee at them, but I am a big believer in that you should scold them big time for it, so they will get the idea it isn’t getting them a positive form of attention, or a game.

· Getting into Forbidden Places-Like the trash!  Big no no in my house because goodness only knows what my trash might contain at any given time.  This goes for the table and counter and anything else a dog might get into.  This will sound rough, but I use a mouse trap to scare a dog pilfering my rubbish.  Don’t get any crazy “sledge hammer to a fly” ideas, no sewer rat traps on Yorkies, but a mouse trap will scare and maybe even grab a big dog by the nose.  Sure, it can hurt if it pinches the nose wrong, but I have known way more dogs that have gone into surgery because they ate a piece of trash and developed an obstruction, then the zero dogs I have ever even herd of getting permanent damage from my mouse trap.  The deal maker for me is that obstructions are killers, mouse traps aren’t, and it won’t take long for the dog to figure out there is nothing worth finding in that trash, or on the table, or in your bed…

It can be a rough deal, working through these issues, and you both at some point are going to want to take each other’s faces off, but if you stick with it, and be the boss your dog needs you to be, you guys will both be winners in the end.

A Hair Affair…

A quick look at great breeds for those allergic to dog hair and dander.

Try this innovative look at some unusual breeds that really fill the bill as best friend, (if not always a furry one!)  Their abilities and talent might  just surprise you.

SMALL BREEDS

· Shih Tzu– Playful, loveable little lions convinced they alone own the universe.  Might seem an odd pick, but as their hair is continually growing they don’t shed.  As such they also have a strict grooming requirement, and this contributes to their being very clean dogs with little or no dander.  A Tea Tree shampoo weekly bath will keep these guys at the top of you’re A list.  Great dogs for tough biker guys,   ( these dogs LOVE a ride!) these dogs are very go everywhere do everything anytime kind of dogs, and think for sure they are pit bulls.  Mine ran a neighbors Rottweiler out of our yard on several occasions as it attacked my father’s 90 lb Golden Retriever.  The Shih Tzu was 16 at the time, and blind in both eyes.

         · Chinese Crested– For those enjoying a toy dog with a nose, these fun little dogs are cuddly, capable pets who adore their owners with a special zeal. The Hairless variety doesn’t carry the labor intensive coat of the Shih Tzu, and can be substantially easier to keep flea free.  A sweater, a movie, and a lap is all it takes to keep these guys happy all winter long.  A unique little dog attracting lots of attention, they go everywhere in style.  Active and light weight, they are welcome throughout as comical little entertainers, and are at home in palaces or apartments alike.

LARGE BREEDS

· Poodles– Don’t mistake these guys for Grandma’s lap pet, weighing in at over 65+ lbs Standard Poodles are nobody’s cupcake.  Broken hearted guys who miss being out in the bird hunting world will be delighted to find that a poodle hits the water just as fast and hard as any black lab ever has, they are a very old breed of hunting water retriever originating in Germany.  They are also the hypoallergenic dog of choice, which is the reason they breed “labradoodles” at all.  They will also take a burglar’s face off if they feel their family is being threatened, and they are a great family dog.  Poodles put simply love an active, outdoor lifestyle with their humans, no goofy haircut required.

       · Kerry Blue Terrier– Gentle, loveable, and intelligent, this breed is really a jack of all trades.  They look somewhat like a Giant Schnauzer.  Used originally as ratters, earth dogs, fighting dogs, retrievers, herding dogs, trackers, and cart pullers, these guys really can do it all.  A curly terrier coat makes this breed a great pick for those wishing a low impact dander and shed factor.  Obedience classes early in life make for happier Kerry Blues later in life, these dogs can be a great family pet in addition to everything else they have been asked to do through the ages. They also enjoy an active out door lifestyle and make great jogging partners for their lucky owners.

Dos and Don’ts of Success

I Don’t– Recommend a “labradoodle” or any other kind of mixed breed dog.  The guarantee of a purebred dog is that you know exactly what kind of a pet you are going to get and there is no guarantee that a mixed breed dog will have the right genetic makeup in the fur department.  For the socially conscious among us, purebred rescue is a great way to go to find a new friend.

I Do– say spend hours in a breeders home in an area the dogs spend most of their time.  Trust me on this, the breeder will want to know the dog and you can live happily ever after together too.

I Do– Bathe my dogs weekly.  A huge factor in your success will be how clean the dog and your home is kept.  Vacuum daily and bathe the dog weekly.

I Don’t– Want you to think dander is your only issue, because some people are allergic to saliva and or urine.  If that is the case, none of the dog breeds mentioned here will help you avoid that.

I Do– Hope you and your whole family make sure the breeds you have interest in fits your lifestyle, and I hope you have fun learning as much about them as your can.  Having allergies in your life is only one of many factors you need to consider.