If you are planning to get a Norfolk terrier pet dog, here are some things you should know:
The Norfolk terrier originated from England. It is actually very affectionate and does not exhibit a disagreeable nature. Because of this, many people like to keep them as pets. However, there can be quite some difficulty housetraining a Norfolk terrier pet dog. This is because of the fact that a Norfolk terrier pet dog can be quite stubborn. The best method recommended for this breed is crate training.
What is crate training? Well, it involves training your Norfolk terrier pet dog to stay in a crate when it is left unsupervised. Used humanely, a crate can be a great den for your Norfolk terrier pet dog. This will help your Norfolk terrier pet dog when it needs some sort of privacy or alone time. This will also train your Norfolk terrier pet dog not to soil around the house. One advantage of crate training is the fact that you can be reassured that your pet will be safe even if it is left unsupervised. Traveling will also be much more comfortable, since your Norfolk terrier pet dog will have adjusted to his den.
A Norfolk terrier pet dog does not naturally shed its fur. This fact has a good side and a bad side. On the good side, no shedding means no mess. This means that they can be kept indoors without risk of leaving fur on your floor. However, you do need to take your Norfolk terrier pet dog to a groomer twice a year in order to strip the coat. This is done in order to promote the growth of a new weather-resistant coat. In a sense, this allows your Norfolk terrier pet dog to freshen up.
In order to properly care for the coat of your Norfolk terrier pet dog, you need to brush it at least twice a day. This will help get rid of tangles and prevent matting.
Ideally, a Norfolk terrier pet dog should be kept in a place with a fenced yard so that it can have a large space to romp around. This is because of the fact that Norfolk terrier pet dogs thrive on activity. Boredom for this breed usually leads to destruction so you should try to keep it occupied.
The best quality that a Norfolk terrier pet dog exhibits is the ability to get along with other pets. They also love children. This means that kids will have a lot of fun with a Norfolk terrier pet dog. You should be careful however, as Norfolk terrier pet dogs may perceive smaller animals as prey.
One thing that may be admired in a Norfolk terrier pet dog is the fact that though it is not aggressive, it is generally a courageous breed. Because of this, a Norfolk terrier pet dog can make an excellent watchdog. Another factor that contributes to this is the fact that a Norfolk terrier pet dog is usually very alert and will bark immediately to alert the family.
Before you get a Norfolk terrier pet dog, you need to make sure that you gather as much information as possible. By understanding the different aspects of the Norfolk terrier pet dog, you will make sure that you have the ability to care for one.
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The Border terrier got its name from the area called Cheviot Hills, which is actually near the border of England and Scotland. This is where these dogs were made to attack and terminate predatory foxes.
They have wiry coat that is why they normally appear as scruffy. However, this scruffiness is an attention-grabber that is why owners do not forget to hug their little ball of energy.
The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Borders:
Category: Terrier
Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)
Coat: wiry and short; double coated
Colors: tan, red, grizzle and tan, and/or blue and tan
Height: between 11 and 16 inches
Weight: between 11 and 16 pounds
Temperament:
Naturally,
• they are scruffy, hard and bold hunters
• they are active as puppies but mellow down as they mature
• they are not friendly with rabbits, rats, hamsters, and even birds
• they are economical to feed
• their activity die down when left alone all day as they really love to please people especially their owners
When properly trained,
• they can get along with the household cats but not with cats in the neighborhood
• they may even catch a burglar
• they may lose timidity when accustomed to active environments
Breeders should note of the following health issues:
• Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome or CES, also called as “Spike’s disease”, which is a hereditary, neurological, metabolic and muscle disorder that is sometimes confused with canine epilepsy
• Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes
• Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum
• Deafness
• Skin problems and a few skin allergies
Care and Exercise:
• Their coat needs weekly brushing.
• They should be professionally groomed at least twice a year.
• They should bathe only when necessary since they shed little to no hair. Their physique requires a regular exercise routine which includes a daily play time while on leash.
• They should be on leash while walking in public places because of their hunting instincts.
Origin/History:
The exact origins of Border terriers are obscure but many breeders accepted the story that the variety was developed in the Cheviot Hills area, which is near the border of Scotland and England. The Borders have been used as hunters of rabbits and hares. They can even keep up with running horses with their short yet sturdy legs. They were also used by farmers to lure predatory foxes into their dens before killing them.
They were also trained to hunt otters, marten, and even fierce badgers. Like most terriers that were once molded as hunters, they also evolved as pets and became lovely, friendly, and loyal companion dogs. They also take part in dog shows and they can easily grab their audience attention with their agility, appearance, and bright disposition.
The breed was registered by the British Kennel Club in 1920 and by the American Club ten years after.
At present, Borders are highly favored as companion dogs and pets due to their adaptability, friendliness, and winning personality. Nonetheless, they can be reliable when it comes to tracking down vermin. In fact, some of their esteemed talents include hunting, guarding the family, and performing tricks and sports that require competitive obedience.
Like most terriers, you can be rest assured to have a loyal and bright companion dogs if you give your attention and affection to a Border. You can be sure that they can definitely drive away your bore!
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Everyone loves to have a dog at home. But has your dog been through obedience training? Do you cringe when your dog jumps all over your house guests or when you neighbor knocks on your door to complain about something your dog just did? Don’t worry, dog training can be fast, easy and efficient.
No longer do you have to endure weeks and weeks of classes to train your dog. Who wants to sit with a big group of dogs, spending your time keeping the peace between your dog and your classmates’ pets? Forget about embarrassing and expensive sessions with a private trainer, where afterwards you feel like you have gotten nowhere with your dog. Now it is simple and easy to train your dog in your home.
How To Train A Dog, Simply
To train a dog does not have to be difficult. There are a couple of basic things that can help you train your dog at home.
Start with the basics when a dog is a puppy. Good behavior is something dogs can learn at a young age, making obedience training when they get older much easier.
Rewards and praise are the best way to have a more obedient dog. Offer treats when your dog does something he or she is supposed to do.
Don’t always reach for food as a reward. This can lead to an unhealthy diet in your dog. You can also reward a good dog with attention, praise, and toys.
Repeat what you want the dog to do until he or she does it. This is a basic dog training technique that again reinforces behavior.
Do something every day to obedience train the dog. It does not have to take a long amount of time, in fact shorter sessions are better.
Don’t expect too much, too fast. It takes work and consistency to train a dog properly.
You are the best person to train your dog. Obedience training is about building a relationship between a dog and its’ owner.
Obedience training does not have to be all work, it can also be fun for you and your pet! It is an opportunity to build a relationship with your dog that will last throughout the dog’s life. And you will reap the benefits of having a well behaved pet.
Why Obedience Training Is Important
Obedience training is an important part of being a responsible dog owner. Without training, your dog will find it hard to enjoy other animals, enjoy your family or enjoy other people. Other people will be constantly complaining to you about your dog’s behavior, leaving you embarrassed and spending even less time with your dog. And even worse, you will be constantly yelling at your dog, making the dog further confused about how to behave. Your dog needs guidance and you, as an owner, can train a dog, easily. Take charge of your situation with your dog. Your dog must respect you as the dominant personality. Asserting yourself will lead to a healthy relationship between you and your pet.
There are good resources online to help you train your dog. Websites can offer tips and tricks to help with obedience training that is easy, effective and helpful to both you and your dog. You can find whole dog training courses dedicated to helping you and your dog build a better relationship between one another.
The key to obedience training is consistency. By giving your dog a consistent environment, where she or he understands the rules of behavior, you can have an obedient dog in no time at all.
Learn How to Train A Dog in Your Home.
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Dog Crate Training
You know what it is like. You have collected your new dog and very excited to have a new friend. All you want to do is love and cuddle him, but you know deep down the training starts as soon as you get him home. Do you crate train or not? Dogs’ instincts will help with this sort of training as they are by nature den animals and he will therefore feel happy and secure in his crate. Because of this he will not want to soil where he sleeps. This will make house training a lot easier for you. Your part in crate training your dog is to persuade him that the crate is his bed now.
Dog crate training involves rewarding a dog for entering the crate and staying in there.The idea is to use the crate as part of a play session, letting the dog feed in the crate, and having your dog explore and use until it is part of his daily life. Always pick a crate that is the right size for your dog. The crate needs to be just big enough for the dog to stand in and turn around. If the crate is too big it defeats the purpose of crate training.
When your new dog or puppy first gets home and he is first in his crate he might howl and cry wanting to get out. Expect this and restrain yourself. It is very natural for your dog to be out with you. Remember you need to let him know where his place is in the family unit. Crate training is the best way to house train your dog or puppy and if you let him out and allow him to free reign in your house be prepared for the mess that will surely happen.
Getting started with dog crate training.
Make the crate a comfortable, pleasant place for your dog. It is a good idea to let him have his favourite toy in the crate with him. It can be a toy or a piece of clothing he is fond of but if your dog destroys these things then minimise what goes into the crate.
Associate the crate with pleasant things so feed him in his crate and give him reward treats.
If he has had an accident scold him then put him outside and not in the crate. If you scold him then put him in his crate he will associate bad feelings with the crate and will make training him very difficult.
When it is time to put your dog in the crate at night, leave him and do not keep checking him. He will settle down in his own time.
It is worth remembering that your dog will mess his crate at some point. Try not to put anything in his den that cannot be easily cleaned. Crate training works though because your dog does not really want to mess his den so will encourage him to hold it for as long as possible. Take him outside in the garden or open area at night before you put him in his crate for the night. In the morning put your dog out as early as possible.
Remember young puppies cannot hold their bladder for too long. When they are younger than 12 weeks they really need to go outside every couple of hours or so. You will have to use your own judgement on the duration you keep your dog in his crate.
Make the crate training positive
Always do your best to make the crate a positive experience. Never use the crate as a punishment. You want your dog to see his crate as somewhere safe. When you first use the crate be prepared for your puppy or dog to make a fuss. Your dog will get used to his crate even though to begin with he will cry and howl but have patience because crate training your dog is the right decision. Give your dog lot of treats when he goes into his crate and he will eventually go in on his own accord. As with any kind of dog training take it slowly as you do not want your dog or puppy to feel uncomfortable.
Is dog crate training cruel?
Some people look upon crate training as cruel to dogs. Obviously if you leave your dog in his crate for hours at a time, it is. When you are at home let your dog out of the crate. Sometimes it will be impossible to be at home during the day, when you are at work for instance, try to get someone to take him out for a walk or consider taking your dog to a doggie daycare if possible. This will also help your dog mix with other dogs as well.
When you need to travel in your car and you take your dog with you, a crate is the safest way for your dog to travel. It will keep him from getting in your way and causing havoc if he sees a cat or other animal on the side of the road or in a field. If your dog is already used to a crate it will help him to go into the crate without feeling stressed. All in all less stressful for you as well.
It is really up to you whether you decide to crate train. Use it properly and it will help with your house training which it turn means a happier dog and a happier you.
Enjoy training your dog.
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Is Your Dog Driving You Crazy? – Secrets that Turn Your Dog into an Obedient Puppy, No Kidding.
Effective Dog Obedience Training
Please don’t give up on your dog yet – There is nothing worse than having a dog that does not obey you and that is not well trained. You will soon be feeling helpless and overwhelmed with all the chaos, if you aren’t already. Of course, sometimes this can make the joy of owning a dog a bit challenging.
Unfortunately, every year many dog owners give up their dogs after many frustrating attempts to introduce discipline and correct the problems. Please don’t despair, and don’t think about giving up on your canine buddy just yet. I know… easier said than done, after the dog just chewed through the antique chair, “re-designed” your couch, and decided to snack on your favorite new pair of shoes.
There are effective dog obedience training methods that really work and are easy to implement, but first let’s quickly understand why we should even train a dog, aside from the obvious. It is very healthy for a dog to be trained and the only reason they get chaotic and disobedient is because they are frustrated just like a human would be frustrated if you did not teach him or her what the ground rules are. If you don’t properly set the boundaries, then your dog will decide what those boundaries will be and usually this creates problems at home.
Most dogs, no matter their training or intended purpose, live with people who want them to behave in a way that makes them enjoyable to be around, keeps them secure, and provides for the well being of other people and pets. Dogs tend not to figure out basic obedience on their own; they must be guided and the most difficult part of training is communicating with the dog in a compassionate way that he understands. Regardless of whether you have just gotten your first puppy or are already an experienced dog owner – learning a few training secrets could change your life as a dog owner, and you’ll have a much happier dog. However, the underlying principle of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior, and for this to work, you need to know how to change your dog’s behavior.
So, what makes a dog obedience training system a good and effective dog obedience training system? Well, the method should be easy, fun, but also allow you to build a strong owner-dog relationship, based on trust and mutual respect. It should also provide you confidence in, and control of your dog in any situation, working with your dog’s natural energy and instincts. Last but not least, absolutely no cruel or harsh “old fashioned” training techniques should ever be used – there is no need to “break a dog’s spirit” in the training process. Oh and, did I mention it should be fun.
One of the easiest and coolest dog training methods around is clicker training. The name “clicker training” is used because the main tool is a very small mechanical noisemaker called a clicker. Clicker training is a very effective (positive) training technique when it is used correctly. In clicker training we don’t lure or bribe the dog. The treats are well hidden in our pockets until the dog offers the right behavior on his own. THEN, and only then, we click and treat. This is a huge difference from many other approaches.
Clicker training can give you excellent, reliable behaviors. But it can also give you something no other training method can: A happy and competent learner ready to learn new behaviors in record time! This accelerated learning capacity is what makes clicker training so fascinating. Most owners cannot believe their dog is the same dog, after learning just a few techniques.
Clicker training is easy to learn and, by the way, it’s required training for all instructors at Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. in California. They have incorporated clicker training into their program for several years. It delivers great results while being gentle and humane. Aside from really being the answer to your dog troubles, you’ll start to enjoy and look forward to spending time with your dog once you know the basic secrets of the clicker training.
Brad WA
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Training your dog is important. A dog that has been properly trained can even save his master’s life, should the need ever arise. In dog training, there are many basic things that you should be aware of for your training to be effective. Without these basic guides, you won’t really be successful in training your dog.
One of the basic concepts in dog training is consistency. Unlike us humans, dogs have simple brains. They can adapt to a situation once they figure out by means of our consistent application of what we want them to do. For example, you have a dog that, every time you take off your shoes, will tend to take and run away with it. Now every time your dog tries to take your shoes and you consistently do not allow it, your dog will sooner or later figure out you don’t want him taking away your shoes so he’ll eventually stop trying to take them away from you.
Your dog can easily get confused if the consistency that you apply in your training is made inconsistent by others, like family members. It is then important to have a uniform application of what you and your family members would want your family dog to do. Inform your family members of how do you want to train your dog, so that they will act accordingly.
If you are training your dog and applying consistency, do not let your young children mingle with your dog during the time it is being trained. This is to avoid unnecessarily confusing the dog because young children know nothing about the consistency application that needs to be followed.
It’s not just the dog’s behavior where consistency is required; consistency is also required for obedience commands — including yourself. If you want your dog to learn to obey commands, you need to be ready for this area of dog training from the very beginning, and keep at it for the duration of the training. The reality is that many dog owners are not willing to train their dogs to obey commands. So if you want to incorporate obedience commands into your dog’s training, make sure that you are ready for it by having the right mindset.
Dog training is a combination of compassion and a little bit of manipulation. For instance, don’t punish your dog the first time you give him a command and he doesn’t obey. Instead, find a way for your dog to learn the command. You can give your dog a reward (a treat) for obeying a command. Basic dog training is basically teaching your dog to follow instructions based on reward and encouragement. Encouraging your dog to learn a trick and rewarding him when he does it is the most appropriate way of training him. Remember, however, that consistency should always be applied in any aspect of the dog training to make it successful.
Keep in mind that basic dog training doesn’t just involve training the dog; it is in a way also training you, the dog owner. If your dog does not get properly trained, it was not your dog who failed, it was you. It’s important that you understand basic dog training concepts (e.g., maintenance, reward, redirection, prevention and correction) and have a good strategy in place. If you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the remarkable achievement of your dog in learning the things you want him to learn and do.
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How do you keep the Dog Doctor happy when it’s time to evaluate the veterinary health of your best friend (your dog that is!)? Dogs, of course, just like humans, should have regular check-ups at the veterinary’s office. And in addition to check-ups there will, for most dog owners, be the occasional accident or illness that also requires a visit to the local Dog Doctor. In this article we’ll discuss how you can keep your Dog Doctor happy when assessing Fido’s veterinary health.
There are three parties that share responsibility for keeping your Dog Doctor happy during your dog’s visit to the vet: you, the owner; the Dog Doctor and his/her staff; and, of course, your dog. In this article we’ll focus primarily on what you, as the owner, can do to ensure a positive experience for everyone during your dog’s veterinary health visit.
The owner, in fact, does have the lion’s share of the responsibility. You (should) know your dog better than anyone, including the Dog Doctor. After the first or second veterinary health visit you will know how your dog tends to behave in the vet’s office. Once you know how your dog is likely to behave, you can take whatever precautions that may be necessary to keep everyone in the best possible frame of mind.
I know that some dogs are very well-behaved, even during a visit to the Dog Doctor. I’ve never owned one, but I hear they exist! For the lucky owner of such a sweetheart there is very little to do in the way of preparation. By all means, give your dog copious amounts of praise and affection during the visit to reinforce its stellar behavior! However, continue to be present with your dog when it is with the Dog Doctor, always watching for an unexpected reaction. Even well-mannered dogs can react to unexpected pain or prodding in ways that are – how shall we say it – unpleasant.
So, what can we do with dogs that are more nervous, less compliant, and more apt to rebel and misbehave during their veterinary health episodes? Fortunately for you, your dog, and the Dog Doctor, there are some common-sense measures you can take.
Rule One, of course, is to always restrain your dog on a (short) leash during veterinary health visits. Most vets require this, but whether or not it is a requirement of the veterinarian you should do it. For one thing, you never know what other little beasties might be visiting the Dog Doctor at the same time. Even the most well-behaved dog could react in unexpected ways to some of the other animals you may encounter!
Secondly, you should stay with your dog during its examination. Most vets will allow this, and even encourage it. They know that you, the owner, are likely to have the most calming effect on your dog just by your presence in the room. Keep contact with your pet as much as possible. Gentle petting, scratching behind the ears, speaking to your dog in a calming voice – all of these behaviors on your part can help your dog remain calm during this potentially stressful experience.
You can also help by talking with the veterinarian, especially when switching vets or during your pet’s first veterinary health visit. Let him or her know your dog’s likely reactions and any other information that may help for a happy visit. After all, during that first Dog Doctor visit especially, you need to be responsible for alerting the vet to possible problems that could occur.
Depending on your dog’s size and personality, a muzzle may be appropriate. Muzzles may be called for if there is any chance your canine may be spooked by other pets, or other people (including curious toddlers!). If there is any chance at all your dog may over-react and bite another’s pet or another person, muzzle your dog. An ounce of cure may save a pound of ugly lawsuit!
How you prepare your dog for it’s veterinary health visit, and how vigilant and responsible you personally behave, will go a long way toward keeping the Dog Doctor happy! Do everything you can to ensure safety and preserve the peace, and you and your dog will have the best possible experience at the veterinarian’s office.
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Any responsible dog owner wants to feed their pet to provide the best possible nutrition and health. Feeding dogs according to the needs of their bodies – that is, the needs for certain nutrients and the needs of canine digestive processes – is the best way to ensure the health, well-being, and long life of your pet. This article will discuss one common sense way we can feed dogs so that we know without a doubt their diets are full of the best ingredients and nutritional quality possible.
First, it’s important to understand what attracts dogs to certain food. I don’t know about you, but I am not a dog. While you and I are impressed by visual stimuli – the colors of the foods we eat and how they are arranged on the plate – dogs are not. The dog’s nose knows! Dogs are attracted to food by how good it smells to them.
While it’s true that not all dogs are exactly the same in their food preferences, we can generalize somewhat when it comes to what dogs like to eat. Most dogs are attracted to the aromas eminating from most meats – things like liver, beef, lamb, horsemeat, chicken, etc. Most are also attracted by the smell of cheese, fat, garlic and onions.
That brings up the subject of vegetables, and when it comes to feeding dogs vegetables there are not as many universally appreciated smells. You can learn what vegetables your dog likes by offering it leftovers. Notice what gets gobbled and what gets ignored. It may surprise you what vegetables, and even fruits, your dog enjoys.
Our neighbor Bonnie has a Shih Tzu that loves fresh tomatoes. For many years in the summers she would plant a tomato plant or two in large planters on her back porch. This is the same back porch where her dog Snickers would spend much of his day. Bonnie began to notice that her tomatoes would sometimes disappear when they began to ripen, especially the ones closest to the ground. This was a puzzle, and Bonnie began to suspect that perhaps some of the neighborhood kids were making raids on her tomatoes. Not MY kids of course!
One day Bonnie noticed red around Snickers’ mouth. She thought it was blood at first, and looked closer. It was the remains of one of her ripe tomatoes! When I tell this story to other dog owners, I hear all kinds of stories about how their dogs like everything from lettuce, to rutabega to grapes and oranges! Go figure.
While cats should not be fed starchy vegetables like peas and corn, dogs can have pretty much any vegetable they like. We should not, however, be feeding dogs extra salt. The salt nature provides is plenty for our canine friends.
So why not feed dogs the foods they love, and why not make it yourself? When you feed dogs homemade food you know exactly what’s in it and that it is fresh and healthy. A good rule of thumb is to use about three quarters carbohydrates (grains and vegetables) and about one quarter meat products. It’s also a good practice to add grains – whole wheat bread crumbs, cooked oatmeal and wheat germ are probably the healthiest. There’s one very good recipe you can try below, although you may need to tweak it according to what you know about your own pet’s preferences.
Combine a chicken liver, chicken giblets, a chicken heart, a chicken neck, and 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley. Cover in a pot and simmer until the giblet is tender. Be sure to chop up all the meat, and remove all the bones. Add whatever chopped cooked or raw vegetables your dog likes. Substitute any leftover meats and fish you may have in place of the chicken parts.
Experiment with this recipe, and find combinations that your pet appreciates most. Taking a little time and expending the effort to make your pet’s food will save you money while feeding your dog a healthy and nutritious diet that will have plenty of variety and be customized to your dog’s particular tastes. What better expression of your love could your dog receive?
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By (author) M. Christine Zink DVM PhD DACVP
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Let’s face reality – the person who enjoys brushing their dog’s teeth is about as rare as a one-armed trapeze artist! I mean – uggghhhh. But then, most New Yorkers don’t enjoy bagging their puppy’s poop either. They do it anyway!
Dental disease is no fun no matter what your species. This purpose of this article is to give you some helpful information, and a few practical tips, about what you can do at home to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
It’s clear that daily brushing and flossing is extremely important for human oral hygiene. In fact, it’s been shown that keeping the teeth, gums and tongue clean actually helps prevent heart disease in humans. It makes sense, then, that keeping your pet’s teeth, gums and tongue clean on a regular basis will also be very beneficial to its health and well-being.
Perhaps the first best thing you can do for your dog’s dental health is to feed it a nutritious, healthy and well-balanced diet. At least part of your dog’s diet should be dry and crunchy. As your pet crunches away its teeth are getting the benefit of the food’s hard surfaces removing plaque. This benefit will be absent if your dog is not given some sort of dry hard food every day.
The same effect can be achieved with dog bones – the real dead animal variety or the human-made variety. The treats you provide your dog are an important part of its diet. Its a good idea to be watchful about everything your pet eats, including snacky treats. Raw beef bones are great to help with dental hygiene by keeping the teeth clean and plaque-free. Chewing a crunchy treat once or twice a day will also help remove plaque and keep your dog’s mouth healthy. Healthy treats can also give your dog better breath. Yahoo.
But a healthy diet will only go so far – you should also brush your pet’s teeth periodically to minimize plaque and tartar buildup. Toothbrushes for pets of all sizes can be purchased at your local pet store or online. Tooth pastes made especially for dogs can and should also be purchased. And used! Another good practice, along with brushing your pet’s teeth, is to wipe its gums with a dental wipe from the pet store, or even a clean moistened cloth.
Do your dog a big favor and look after its dental health. Use common sense, the vet’s advice, and even the advice of your friendly pet store clerk. Diet, brushing, wiping the gums, healthy snacks – develop a routine for your pet’s teeth and stick to it.
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Protecting your dog’s health is important not only to your dog, but to you as well. The purpose of this article is to remind you of some of the signs your dog may be signalling that it is not feeling well and may need your help.
A disclaimer is in order. I am not a veterinarian, and the advice in this article cannot replace taking your dog to a qualified veterinarian for periodic checkups and especially when the severity of its symptoms calls for professional help. However, that being said, there are times when your dog is mildly ill or out of sorts, and during those times it doesn’t hurt to understand how to recognize the symptoms that can tip you off.
It may surprise you to know that you are by far the best person to recognize symptoms of illness in your dog. You see the dog every day and know him or her better than anyone else. You know when your dog’s behavior is off – maybe its tail is drooping, or its response to your call is slow, or – well, the list goes on and on. There are many signs, blatant and subtle, that will tip off a dog’s owner that it is not feeling well.
Once you’ve noticed one sign of potential ill health, you can be on the alert to be especially watchful for other clues. The earlier your dog’s symptoms are identified and the appropriate treatment given, the better the likelihood of a full and speedy recovery.
There are some early warning signs of which you should be aware. For example, your dog’s eyes should be bright and clear. Its nose should be dry and clear of any discharge. Its skin should be free of sores and irritations. And the dog’s coat should appear full and healthy – healthy according to the norms of the breed and your particular dog.
Furthermore, your dog will probably not eat its food, or eat less than usual, when it is becoming sick. It may drink more water than usual, or less than usual. It will probably have reduced energy, and may be favoring certain parts of its body. There can also be a sudden change in the dog’s personality. For example, the dog may become overly lethargic, or overly hyper with sudden bursts of energy expressed in odd ways.
The bottom line – you know how your dog behaves when it is feeling well. You know best your dog’s personality, how and when it moves, the tilt of its head and tail, and of course its various facial and body-posture expressions. So you will be the first to recognize when it begins to exhibit different behavior, behavior that is communicating ill health.
So listen carefully to what your dog is telling you by its demeanor and behavior. Recognizing early symptoms of ill health can save you and your pet from the consequences of an illness that is not diagnosed early. Those consequences can be serious, and could include lots of unnecessary pain, financial loss, and heartache.
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By (author) Debra M. Eldredge DVM, Liisa D. Carlson DVM, Delbert G. Carlson DVM, James M. Giffin MD
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Tags: Health, Problems, Recognize
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