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Tune In, Saturday! Animal Planet's Dogs 101

PetSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:50:06 -0700

I'm super excited for the latest episode of Animal Planet's new series, Dogs 101. Airing every Saturday at 8 p.m., each week it focuses on five new dog breeds. Featured in the first show were the Airedale, French Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, Chihuahua, and Poodle. What five will we meet this week? Find out in this slideshow.

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Great Golly! Greatly Growing Great Dane

PetSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:00:35 -0800

Growing puppies not only eat you out of house and home, often times their growth spurts make them appear doubled in size practically overnight! That's definitely the case with this cute Great Dane, Azul. He started off pretty small (for a dane) next to his new sis, Sydney, but after a short while, he made that Rottweiler look downright teensy. Special thanks to MotoLinz for sharing these pictures of her friend's pups. Track Azul's growth from his first puppy pic to the final one when you read more.

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World's Meanest Dog May Not Be the Breed You Think It Is!

PetSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:00:03 -0700

When we think about stereotypically "mean dogs," I'm pretty sure we can all name those most maligned. But statistically, the world's meanest breed isn't a Pit Bull, Bulldog, or even a Doberman - it's an English Cocker Spaniel!

A recent study by the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Barcelona shows more reported cases of aggression by the English Cocker Spaniel than any other breed, followed by Rottweilers, Boxers, Yorkshire Terriers, and German Shepherds. Yes, the Yorkie is tiny, but can apparently pack quite a punch! With over 1,040 acts of aggression studied, the report shows that the Cocker Spaniel is more likely than other breeds to show aggression towards their owners and unfamiliar people.

But not all is lost for the breed. With proper training and discipline, the Cocker Spaniel (and any other breed for that matter) can be well behaved and friendly to other dogs and people. I'm a firm believer that there are no "bad breeds," so here's to hoping that owners can take the time to train their pups to be civil four-legged members of society! Check out some of my favorite training tips and tricks when you read more.

Training classes aren't just for puppies - you can always enroll your pup in an obedience class, no matter how old they are!
Have your pup's next playtime include strangers to get used to unfamiliar faces, er, scents!
Pick up a training book for 24/7 advice. Here are some of your favorites!
Know the difference between training methods, then pick the one that is right for you and your pet.
Help your pooch learn proper dog park etiquette as early as possible.
Take an online class led by Cesar Milan, and learn at your (and your dog's) own pace.
Use the hand touch to get your pup under control.

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Do You Believe Pets Can Sense Your Sickness?

PetSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:15:53 -0800

We all agree that pets cheer us up when we're feeling sad, but can they also tell when we're ill?!

Beamish, this Rottweiler, did just that when his increased attention to a mole convinced Chris Tuffrey to get it checked out. The pooch kept nuzzling, licking, and trying to lift his owner's arm and it turns out the mole was a melanoma . . . and needed to be removed.

There have been other cases and claims in which animals have reacted differently around illness and evidence that they can detect cancer, predict epileptic seizures, and more. What do you think – would unusual behavior from your dog cause you to visit a doc?

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Top 10 Reasons Pets Go to Vets Revealed

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:00:01 -0700

Whether your pet has insurance or not, no one hopes for a vet visit. On North's last trip, we met a poor Rottweiler that was so upset to see his owner go that he actually jumped off the second floor balcony, breaking both front legs and needing to be carried in because the cast covered most of his front half. I'd imagine that treatment would be pricey and fairly common with those fearless pets.

I was shocked to learn, in a recent report released by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the country's largest provider of pet health insurance, that falling short of the top 10 most commonly claimed conditions for dogs and cats are broken bones, poisonings, trauma from car accidents, or animal attacks. Turns out nearly a third of the most common conditions were related to diet – quality food is as important as we knew after all – and vet-approved changes can make all the difference in those gastrointestinal problems.

Most of the top 10 can occur at any age, to purebred or mixed breed pets, and those living inside or outside. See the top 10 lists for dogs and cats when you read more.

Canine	Feline
1. Ear Infections	1. Urinary Tract Infections
2. Skin Allergies	2. Gastritis/Vomiting
3. Pyoderma/Hot Spots	3. Chronic Renal Failure
4. Gastritis/Vomiting	4. Enteritis/Diarrhea
5. Enteritis/Diarrhea	5. Diabetes Mellitus
6. Urinary Tract Infections	6. Skin Allergies
7. Benign Skin Tumors	7. Colitis/Constipation
8. Eye Inflammation	8. Ear Infections
9. Osteoarthritis	9. Respiratory Infections
10. Hypothyroidism	10. Hyperthyroidism

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The Scoop: City Dogs Get Back to Their Roots

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:00:42 -0700

I think I watched City Slickers – a movie about a bunch of city folk out in the country herding cattle – about a hundred times, not only for the animals that were a big part of the film (Norman!) but also because I thought it would be awesome to head out on the trail, herd some cattle, and get away from the city for a few weeks. It's still something I need to check off of my "to do" list!

If you were a fan of the film too, then you'll totally see why specialized herding camps for dogs are becoming more popular, and are just as cool. On a ranch just outside of Los Angeles, owner Janna Duncan has started a trend, taking city dogs and working them into great herding dogs:

“It really, really seems to center the dog and give the dog a sense of confidence and fulfillment, a good assertiveness, a good energy.”

Thankfully, I did some pretty heavy research regarding dog breeds so, even before I picked him out, I knew that North would make a sweet city slicker himself. Boston Terriers can do well in apartments and cities, and make great companions. But some pet owners don't know that different breeds come with different temperaments, and aren't always made for city life. To find out more about the breeds and camps, just read more.

Unfortunately, some dogs like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and even Rottweilers were bred to herd, and when stuffed into small city apartments, they can get restless. But thankfully, Janna recognized a need for an outlet and opened her ranch for daily training sessions to turn your city pup into a full blown herder. And she's open to all breeds, not just the naturals – one of her past clients included a four-pound Yorkie! Now that's impressive. Since camps are popping up across the states, would you send your pooch to a herding program if it opened near you?

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