Different dog breeds are often discussed amongst dog enthusiasts.  Certain breeds such as Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherds seem to be taking a bad rap in the media today. While having these conversations with fellow dog owners, they often lead to the conclusion that a submissive dog is the safest dog to have. The truth is, a dominant dog shows confidence and self esteem. Dominant dogs can be both funny and the life of a party.

But is a dog’s behavior shaped by environment or genetics? This is a question dog experts discuss frequently. When a dog becomes aggressive is it because of the way we train him or is it genetically embedded?

Domination Meaning

The way a canine establishes dominance is very clever and methodical. In an attempt to undermine your authority your dog will make many clever tries to manipulate your behavior. Maybe he gives you a kiss, disobeying orders, puts his paw on your lap, or gently bites your hand –he is doing his own version of people training.

What Is a Dominant Dog?

If we look into the world of canine psychology and natural dog behavior we will find the answer. Your dog may attempt to bite or snap at you, and you may interpret that as aggression. He is not doing this because he dislikes you, it is his attempt to try and train you. Maybe he does not want you touching his toy! In the dog world strong messages are delivered by physical intimidation (touch).

Watch the Con Artist!

Sometimes your dog is training you and you do not even know it. Your dog is constantly testing to see how far he can push you. Lots of kisses and hugs from your dog on his terms is him training you. You will perceive this as sharing friendship and love; he perceives it as another notch up. This behavior may seem innocent enough to you but if continued it can escalate to a point where you cannot control your dog. It is best to establish clearly defined boundaries with your dog and let him know you are always in control.

Correct Dominant Behavior

Working with your dog is a lot of fun and can provide great family entertainment. Allowing your dog to become the dominant on his terms should be corrected in the early stages. The reason you want to correct this in the early stages is to avoid dangerous and unpredictable circumstances in the future. The most important thing with a dog is making sure he understands who is in control.

Off Limits

It’s pretty cute when Fido sits up on the couch when you have visitors, or sleeps on your bed, but this is also a signal of domination. As a rule of thumb do not allow your dog on furniture or beds, this is where the leaders go. The psychology of teaching your dog where he stands in the pecking order is done in slow methodical steps. For example, if your dog growls at your children when eating—allow your children to begin feeding the dog. If your dog eats one time every day allow your daughter to place the bowl in the place where he eats each day. Supervise this activity and make sure that your dog does not challenge your daughter. If he does, immediately correct him. In the canine kingdom, alpha leaders eat first and control when others eat.

Patience is a Virtue

There is no problem that you and your dog cannot resolve. You may find that some dogs are much more stubborn than others but they’re all intelligent in their own way and make great companions. Remain steady with your communication and give your dog a chance to fit into the groove. You will need plenty of patience in the first two years of your dog’s life, but consider that an investment in the future.

Ask an Expert

With the Internet today there is plenty of help available. If you are having difficulty training your dog and communicating your message consult in an expert. Whether you choose to find help locally or educate yourself by learning on the internet the key is gaining the necessary knowledge you require. It is you that must become the expert.

An Introduction

When people meet a dog one of the first questions they asked the owner is “does he bite?” If each dog owner answers the question truthfully the answer would be yes. All dogs by bite, it is part of their nature. Dogs use their teeth to eat food and defend themselves. If the dog feels threatened he may bite. You often hear stories about dogs that are nine or ten years old, have been gentle all of their lives and all of a sudden attack a person. Your best friend George may not be your dog’s best friend. It is always a good idea to do a proper introduction with your dog with any new friends.

We have all known certain dogs that just will not give up their toy. The same dogs will not allow you near their food bowl when they are eating. Food or toy aggressive dogs is an easy behavior to understand, even you have been possessive of the same things. Parents will often warn children to never pet the dog when he’s eating or don’t take the ball away from him. Although these words are for the safety of the children, dogs must be educated to allow this. Other dogs will allow you to take the bone from their mouth or pet them while they’re eating, why shouldn’t yours?

Random Behavior

So you play with your dog all day and have fun throwing infection the ball. Everything is great and all of a sudden your dog snaps. He is no longer predictable and you are actually afraid. What causes this type of behavioral shift? There is no blanket answer; it is up to you to discover what triggers this behavior. It may be as obvious as you taking the ball from him or it may not be that obvious. Pay close attention to the next time this behavior happens and tried to understand what causes this.

In your happy family, communication is the name of the game. Often domestic problems can occur between married people and children simply because we do not communicate. If you cannot tell your better half what it is you want to do how you expect the relationship to work. The number one rule you need to rely on his communication with all family members to keep a happy family. You always want to express yourself concisely and clearly. Finally, slowdown you’ll go faster –solve one problem at a time.

How to Communicate With Your Dog

The same rules apply to your dog. Dogs also become frustrated when the owner cannot communicate his clear wishes. Dogs perceived energy and they live in the now. So if you say something one way and they can feel energy that contradicts what you have said your dog will become confused.

Fido is Not a Person

The first rule of thumb is to remember your dog is not human. It is estimated that most dogs never mentally grow beyond the equivalent of a three year old human. In order to communicate with your dog, he needs to see you as the pack leader and you need to present your ideas on a dog level. Always remain cool-headed and try to bring your dog into calm submissive of state. When you are training your dog if he does not respond the way you want him to do not get frustrated, try to present your idea in a different way. Always use positive reinforcement. Generally, dogs do not understand negative reinforcement.

Communicate Clearly

Use clear and concise commands presenting your ideas exactly as you want them carried out. Dogs learn by simple commands, they do not understand complicated thoughts and ideas. In the beginning, practice one word commands. If you decide to raise your voice in signs of frustration you’ll quickly notice that your dog does not respond as well. Frustration and dog training do not mix very well and almost for sure, your dog will not be very well trained. If your dog senses any bit of weakness in your character, by nature he will assume the leadership role –that how things work in the dog world.

Timing

You also want to practice timing. The timing of your commands is instrumental in successful dog training. For example, getting angry and rubbing your dog’s nose in dog poop after he goes on the carpet does not teach the dog anything. What you want to do is catch your dog in the act, and then your disciplinary action is associated with the correct wrongdoing. Remember, dogs live in the now!

Reward Good Things

When your dog responds in a favorable way it is important you also communicate that he has responded the correctly. It’s time to change your voice tone and offer praise immediately. This is the best way to quickly teach your dog exactly what you want him to do as the pack leader. Dogs enjoy having work to do.

One Step at a Time

Work on one task at a time. Try not to teach your dog to many things at one time, you can more effectively teach one trick at a time. The way to make your point hit home with your dog is by repetition and consistency. It may take him a few times to understand but with your persistence and good communication skills you will be able to show your dog exactly what you expect from him.

Getting a new, small puppy means that a pet owner is about to encounter a whole list of new, and sometimes unexpected experiences. New puppies can be amazingly fun but they can be sometimes difficult to handle, particularly in terms of dog training and grooming. If a pet owner is aware of what to expect when getting a new puppy, he or she will be readying him or herself for all the challenges one faces with new puppy ownership.

What You’ll Need to Begin With

First, it makes no difference in terms of dog breeds, new puppies have specific immediate and long term needs that will need to be addressed. At the outset, a puppy owner will need to have the right dog food, grooming tools, a collar, a dog leash for walking the dog, and bowls which are used for feeding the dog and providing the dog with water. The new pet owner will also require new dog toys as well as special dog treats for the animal. The new puppy is like a new child and it will have to be tended to every single day; many people don’t consider this fact when they are looking into the face of a new adorable puppy and don’t therefore realize how cumbersome it can be to care for the animal once it is brought home.

Breed Education

It will be necessary for the new puppy owner to educate him or herself about the dog breed selected, if not before the new puppy is acquired, than immediately after. Different dog breeds have unique personalities, dog training requirements, and dog grooming requirements. The pet owner will need to be fully informed about the specific dog breed selected so that he or she can provide adequate dog care at all times.

A Doggie Cash Stash

It will also be necessary for the new pet owner to stash away some funds for future care of a puppy or puppies. Regular vet visits, emergency dog care, special dieting needs, and the potential for having to board the dog if one goes away for an extended period of time will ultimately cost the pet owner some funds. A new puppy owner or new small dog owner will also want to consider investing some funds into pet insurance as well. One also must consider the costs of licensing the new dog as well as getting identification that is suitable for dogs: if the dog gets lost the identification can help the pet owner in retrieving the animal in some instances.

New owners of small puppies and adult dogs may, at first, worry that they will not be able to recognize the symptoms of illness in their dogs. The symptoms of illness in dogs do not really vary depending upon dog breed. The symptoms of illness in dogs are fairly common, and there are certainly some signs to watch out for. By keeping a watchful eye on a new puppy or adult dog the pet owner can ensure that the dog receives adequate dog care with immediacy. Immediate dog care ensures the longevity of a dog’s health. Below are some of the most common signs that a dog has become ill.

1. Changes in the Frequency of Urination and Drinking

If a pet dog or puppy illustrates changes in the frequency of urination or in drinking than the dog may be ill. Adult dogs that display this particular issue may have developed issues with its kidneys or liver. These symptoms can appear in puppies or small dogs that have also developed some kind of infection or that have been exposed to poisons. If these symptoms are noted, it is time to contact a vet for an assessment of the dog in question.

Dog Urination Chart

Reference [1]

2) Changes in the Dog’s Temperament

If you have a new puppy it is necessary to really learn about the personality of the dog through dog training. Puppies and adult dogs that become sick might display sudden changes in temperament: once vivacious and playful pet dogs, a sick dog may become lethargic or limp. Dogs that were once alert and happy may seem overly melancholic and sleepy. It is important for the pet owner to watch a dog closely and to monitor the dog’s behavior for abrupt changes as such changes can be indicative of dog illness.

3) Changes in the Pet Dog’s Eating Habits

A pet owner must monitor the dog food that a dog or puppy consumes. If changes in what the dog eats occurs, the pet owner should keep a watchful eye on the dog. While changes in diet are not always indicative of illness as a dog may simply come to dislike a particular food, changes in what a dog consumes can be suggestive of digestive ailments. If a dog begins to refrain from eating, it is time to contact a vet for an evaluation of the dog and for potential treatment.

If you are thinking about getting a local veterinarian, quality and price is something that has probably crossed your mind. This report will provide you with some things to think about before selecting a pet care physician for your needs.

If you are the owner of a small new puppy or an adult dog there will come a time when a visit to the vet is required. So, how do you go about selecting a vet for your dog so that your dog or small new puppy gets adequate dog care and treatment? There are many vets available, but you can benefit from reviewing a few vet selection tips.

First, when selecting a vet for your pet dog, you will want to know what the vet’s qualifications are. Not all vets study the same things in veterinarian school: some vets become experts in specific fields and treat specific animals. You will want to ask a vet what kind of services they can provide and what kind of specialty services they offer if any. You will also want to question a vet to see if they offer grooming services for your pet dog: if not, you will need to look for a grooming specialist or you will need to care for all of your dog’s grooming needs yourself.

Question whether or not the vet you choose for your dog specializes in or is familiar with your dog breed and also question to see if the vet is affiliated with any specific medical associations. The latter information will give you a good idea of what type of experience a particular vet has. After assessing the experience level of a vet, you will want to do some price quotes pertaining to dog care. Find out how much annual checkups are for your pet dog and what they will cost, the cost of vaccinations, the cost of x-rays, and the cost of emergency care if offered. If emergency dog care is not offered by a particular vet, find out if the vet is affiliated with another organization that offers such care.

Check out a vet’s appointment flexibility and see if the vet offers weekend hours. For working pet owners, sometimes the weekends are the only free time that the pet owner has in order to take care of a dog’s health needs. Flexible appointment setting options are therefore a must. In addition to flexible appointment setting options the dog owner will want to assess the personality of the vet: a dog owner will want to work with a vet that is friendly, has a great manner with animals, and one that is kind and openly communicative.

Why not Become a Veterinarian?

It usually requires 4 years of education and shouldn’t be out of the picture for anyone that is truly passionate about animal care. Even though Veterinary schools are very hard to get into because of their low yearly acceptance rate, passion never goes unnoticed. It is a truly rewarding experience when you accomplish your goal of becoming an animal care giver.

Veterinarians had just over 60,000 jobs in 2004. 25% of them were in groups or independent clinics.[1]

Different dog breeds require specific dog foods and diets for optimal health. There are specific measures that dog and puppy owners need to take to ensure that a pet dog is getting adequate vitamins and nutrients through his or her diet. There are also specific measures that pet dog owners need to take to maximize dog training and to make dog feeding time an easy time. In addition, the right kind of dog food can enhance your dog’s grooming: some foods offer tartar control and help in keeping the dog’s coat looking shiny and healthy.

First, table scraps are not, at any point, recommended for puppies or adult dogs. Puppies have delicate digestive systems and they may find that table scraps are far too difficult to digest. Adult dogs, when given table scraps on a regular basis are not encouraged to beg for food: this can make dog training far more difficult on the pet owner. It is better that the pet owner avoids giving puppies and adult dogs table scraps altogether to ensure ease of dog training and the dog’s health. Dog food must match the dog’s weight, age, and, in some cases, the dog breed in order to truly benefit a dog. Different dogs of different sizes, both big and small, require various vitamins and nutrients. Puppies have specific diets that differ greatly from those of adult dogs: these issues must be catered to when selecting dog foods. A vet can prove helpful when it comes time to selecting dog food for a dog as he or she can lend advice about what dog food products are most suitable.

Whatever dog food is selected the dog should only receive the recommended amount of dog food every day. By controlling dog food portions, the puppy or adult dog owner ensures that the dog does not later face issues with obesity. If a dog becomes obese then the dog not only faces problems with mobility, but the dog may be more prone to getting certain diseases which can affect obese dogs. Since the dog owner is responsible for the management of a dog’s diet there really is no reason why a dog should become obese and have to deal with weight gain issues. If obesity develops, it will be necessary to change the dog’s diet, to use obesity controlling dog foods, and to help the dog return to a state of optimal health.

It makes no difference what dog breed you have or if your dog is big or small; every dog breed and dogs of all sizes will sometimes develop allergies. Owning a dog with allergies means that the dog owner will need to take special care of the puppy or adult dog and cater to his or her health needs. Careful management of a dog’s allergies will ensure the longevity and health of one’s pets. If dog allergies are left untreated and uncared for the pet owner may discover that the dog develops severe skin issues and terrible infections. The first step in assisting puppies or adult dogs with allergies is in identifying what the allergies are and in becoming aware of pet dog allergy symptoms. The most common allergy symptoms that a pet dog will present include continual scratching, the development of skin sores, and constant or continual sneezing. These symptoms may appear in a pet dog just after consuming a particular type of dog food or they may be brought on by other factors.

If a dog owner notices that his or her puppy or adult dog begins to display allergy symptoms after consuming a specific type of dog food the pet owner may have to change the dog’s diet. Instead of sampling different foods it might be wise to consult a vet to determine what types of dog food are recommended for dogs with allergies. There are special dog food products which are made specifically for dogs that develop issues with allergies and a vet will be able to recommend a quality choice for the dog owner. Finally, if the allergies are not produced by foods, a vet can help the dog owner in identifying the specific issues that are causing problems for the dog or puppy.

It may be necessary to use a medication to treat allergies in puppies and dogs. Again, this is where the advice of a vet proves helpful. Regularly bathing the dog or puppy can also help in minimizing the irritating skin effects that many dog allergies produce, and it is recommended that dog owners provide the dog with vitamin supplements and a completely healthy dog diet suitable for the specific dog breed. The latter acts are part of regular dog grooming but also serve in ensuring the continued health of the puppy or dog at all times.

Different breeds of dogs age at different rates. A large breed such as a Rottweiler or Great Dane will reach old age sooner than smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Toy Poodles. Life spans range from 7 to 15 years, with each year equivalent to 6 or 7 human years. Despite whatever breed your dog may be, you will have to watch them closely when they get older. Take your dog on regular visits to the vet to determine where your dog is in his life cycle and what special needs are required at each stage.

Signs of Sickness or Old Age

No matter what the age, there are certain changes that most owners of elderly dogs will experience. Common behavior problems in aging pets include empathy regarding food and interaction with other pets and people. Watch for aggression, house soiling, increased barking, and wandering. These may be signals your dog needs extra care.

What to do When Dog is Sick

The first thing you should do upon noticing any of these behavioral changes is determine the cause. That means a physical workup and a talk with your dog’s doctor. Aging pets will begin to have many more health issues than they did when they were younger and many times those issues will be the cause of problems such as aggression. You are grumpier when you don’t feel well and your pet is no different than you. Unfortunately, a grumpy pet may be more likely than a human to lash out physically, and that means biting or snapping. If a previously non-aggressive dog begins to exhibit aggressive behavior, determine whether it is a physical problem that can be handled with medication. If not, simply make sure that family members and visitors realize that Shadow no longer likes to be touched in that particular spot if, for instance, the problem is an arthritic hip.

Sometimes, however, decreased functioning of eyesight or hearing may cause fear aggression in a pet. In that case, make sure people know that they should warn the pet of their approach. Do not approach the pet suddenly. Simply calling out, “Hey Shadow, it’s me,” if the pet has eyesight issues, or making sure he can see you coming if he has hearing issues, will usually do the trick.

Is Shadow Withdrawn and Depressed?

Even if your pet is not exhibiting aggression, you will want to be alert for other changes in behavior associated with pain or failing senses. Pets with these problems may also become withdrawn and depressed. If he starts lying around all day and refuses food or playtime, then that may be a sign of depression in your pet. You will want to make the effort to deal with the physical problems, and also to make sure that the pet is still included in interactions with the family.

Always make sure your aging pet is getting the right nutrition, as incomplete nutrition can lead to decreased mental and physical functioning in older pets. But above all, have patience with your pet. His life is changing and he will need your continued emotional support to make his golden years truly golden.