Dogs

I’m trying to buy a good dog training book so I can train my dog at home. There are so many I don’t know which ones would be the best to get. So if you’ve ever used a dog training book, let me know what you thought about it.

Two MUST read books for you are Dog Problem: Gentle and modern solutions by David Weston and The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell. I once asked this question on a forum and got some good answers here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.dogforums.com/2-general-dog-forum/35912-need-your-guy-s.html

ETA: I would stay away from the Koehler Training book, I just read it and its appauling. In general stay away from books that focus on negative training.

Currently the UK insists that pet dogs entering our country have had a blood test to prove that their rabies inoculation has worked. The EU will soon be deciding if we will be allowed to maintain that extra level of protection. Anyone have an opinion on that?

Yes, I think it’s a good idea – and not for pet dogs and cats, but for your wildlife that is susceptible to rabies, abut is not vaccinated against it.

This is where I don’t like economic treaties – it’s fine to legislate economic issues, such as tariffs and taxes, but as far as I’m concerned, they should stay out of health matters.

I’m looking for a dog just for myself. I know some breeds are good family dogs or really just love being around people. Which breeds would be content hanging out with just me? Of course I still want a friendly dog who will be sociable with friends and family I have over or people we meet on the street, but maybe one who’s a little more independent and doesn’t need to be around people all the time, you know? Thanks!

Size? Coat type? Grooming needs? Energy level? Exercise needs? Trainability?

More to a dog than it’s friendliness with people. If you don’t have any preferences and you’re willing to work with anything (even high energy shedders or total unknowns) then try going to a shelter and adopting. Otherwise pin down what you want in a dog and do some research – open a few books and check out:

www.akc.org

FIRST he has been to the vet he was diagnosed with a disease called degenerative meylopthy and he also has hip displasia. (sorry about spelling the diseases wrong) He is not in pain because the first disease makes him loose feeling in his legs. He just walked funny for a while now he is draging his foot a lot and he trips over his own rear legs. Not all the time but when he tries to play or he might fall if he is caught off gaurd. He doesn’t seem to be unhappy at all but I feel so bad for him. I think I am dealing with it worse than the dog he just gets a little frustrated when he has a hard time getting up otherwise he just ignores it and keeps going. My husband is in denial maybe that is how I should be???
yes he is a german shepherd we don’t plan to let him get to the point where he needs a cart we have a lot of stairs and that would be really hard and for that matter he has always been afraid of staris.

its difficult i had a dog that had emphysema and the vet said medication would help and it did for a time then he got heart problems ,even though the vet said he was not suffering as animal owners you watch there health deteriorate and you feel sorry for them its a natural thing to do,
i watched my dog for years deteriorate i suppose at some points in his treatment i went into denial and pretended every thing was OK but there was constant reminders he got out of breath he could not walk properly and then it just proved my dog was sick.
you will handle it in your own way no two people are the same good luck

Recently my sister got a dog from the pound. Now she got diagnosed with kennel cough or something like that. And like most of my are getting sick/colds. So my mom is now trying to blame my sister new dog. So my question is can dogs get people sick.

Dogs can spread diseases to humans. But most likely you guys had the common cold which is a virus, while kennel cough is a bacterial disease, Bordetella. Humans can get bordetella but it’s going to be an immunocompromised person (AIDS, elderly, babies). So unless your whole family is immunocompromised..

Things dogs can spread to humans are:
rabies
toxoplasmosis (single celled parasite)
Roundworm/hooks
ringworm
mange
leptospirosis
Campylobacter/Salmonella
Cryptosporidium

Its possible my dog either ingested or smelled the spray paint fumes and I wanted to know if anyone knew the symptoms that dogs could possible have? Example vomiting, diarreha etc.

The symptoms you’re looking for are quite similar to those in humans:
*Difficulty breathing
*Faintness/dizziness (she may walk like she’s "drunk")
*Vomiting
*Lethargy

If you think she may have been exposed, get her to fresh air (I’m sure you already have) and monitor her. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call your vet or a 24/7 emergency hospital in your area.

Good luck!

What’s a good website to find dogs for sale, but nothing like craigslist please. Thanks

These sites: http://www.petfinder.com/
http://www.adoptapet.com/

Adopt a dog and SAVE A LIFE

I hear that boxers tend to carry puppies under their ribs and it is hard to notice weight gain until late in the pregnancy. Any pics of pregnant dogs at certain stages may be helpful for me to compare if anyone knows of any sites. Thanks in advance.

http://www.americanboxerclub.org/healthtbc.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/view_boxer-dog-faq.htm

I have a dog that looks white and tan, but she looks like a Maltese.

Maltese are pure white. Sometimes they have brown markings around the eye areas caused by tear stains.

They may also have some tan or yellowish markings around the ears but this is usually very rare (breeders will not breed dogs with these markings) and undesirable in the standard breed.

What you are describing sounds more like a Shih Tzu crossed with a Maltese.

Note to the person below: A Silky Terrier is a separate breed alone and not a cross between a Yorkie and a Malt.

We have young children, and quite a few cats (We’re a bengal cat breeder). We want a dog that can thrive with the chaos that can often be associated with life with a family. The dog would be fixed. We don’t particularly have a ton of spare time, so we don’t want a long haired dog, besides the fact I’m somewhat allergic. We don’t mind a small dog, but we DON’T want a yipper. Both my husband and I will be working, but it won’t ever be alone, it’ll always have the cats here, and two of them absolutely adore dogs, if anything, they’ll sleep with it and follow it around, play with it. Large, or small, it doesn’t really matter; but it needs to be somewhat easily trained, especially if a larger dog; we don’t have problem putting the time into it that it need to train, but it’s going to grow up with young kids, and we need it to pick up new commands with some work. It’ll be taken for walks, up to 45 mins a day, but would most likely not have a yard to run in. What dog would suit our needs?
I’ll repeat, we don’t want a yipper. Or a long haired dog. Otherwise, we’ll all for any ideas.

hope u manage to read this from all those long answers, but I would have to say my bread of dogs. Their beagle/chow mixes and they are so friendly, they love to be petted and dont harm my cats. Truthfully, my cats whack my dogs if they try and sniff them, although my dogs still dont fight them.

Id suggest you look for beagles or beagle/chow mixes because they are nice, like attention, and (as far as im concerned) dont attack cats