Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘dog socialisation’

The Irish Water Spaniel is a scarce breed, native to the Emerald Isle that is strongly built and taller and squarer than most spaniels. Actually the fact the tallest of spaniels. Their coat consists of dense locks with a unique puce / liver colour with a dominant purple tint. Irish water spaniels are about 60 cms ( twenty four inches) high and weigh twenty five – thirty kgs (around 60 lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s throat and face are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a peak between the eyes. Irish Water Spaniel’s have an unusual  average sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly fur.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are active and very intelligent. It important to socialise Irish Water Spaniel’s if they are to blend into family life. Irish Water Spaniel’s must have plenty of regular exercise and effort spent on dog training to make the most of them. Irish Water@ Spaniel’s are defensive of their family and have a deep, fierce sounding bark if aggravated. They on average live for eight to twelve years
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The Irish Water Spaniel coat is non-shedding so many people who suffer allergic responses might not be affected by the Irish Water Spaniel. They do not require regular daily grooming unless showing. An occasional spruce up to remove straggle ends with a comb and scissors to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so find them opportunities for a swim, their coat always looks better afterwards.

The Irish Water Spaniel was breed in the the early nineteenth century in Ireland. The origins of the breed are unclear, experts generally thinking they may have come from the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle and Barbet. They hunted as a gundog in the marshes, rivers and bogs in Ireland.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, routine walks and exercise are crucial for a healthy, contented Irish Water Spaniel. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel may mean a mischievous, naughty dog. A great home for them is an active one, with plenty of activities going on and space, where their minds in addition to their bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Many Irish Water Spaniel owners exercise their dogs in the hunting field, in obedience tests, in conformation show ring or agility competitions.

The Irish Water Spaniel’s intelligence results in them enjoying agility and obedience activities and combined with their great nose often leads to them being trained for drug and explosive detection.

The major health issue with the breed is caused by their size and may be afflicted by hip dysplasia, if planning to breed from them, the potential mother and father should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you need to control their food intake.

A great dog for an active family or couple who have the time and either experience of other dogs, or are willing to train them, maybe with the aid of a professional dog trainer.

The German Shepherd Dog also known as an Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund.  They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog originating in the late 19th century. They are part of the Herding group that was originally developed as a working dog for herding sheep.

The Alsatians strength, intelligence and obedience they are often employed in police and military roles. The Alsatian is also one of the most popular breeds around the world.
The original dog was called Hektor Linksrhein. Hecktor so stunned Von Stephanitz that he purchased it and changed the dogs name to Horand von Grafrath and founded Alsatian Dog Society.
Horand von Grafrath became the focus of the German Shepherd breeding programs and was bred with many other society member dogs.
The Alsatians popularity has grown quickly throughout the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to genetic health issues from poor inbreeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. To such an extent that the UK Kennel Club renamed it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, eventually the wolf dog addition was removed and in the late seventies, the breed officially became the Alsatian Dog. The Alsatian popularity was helped by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is globally the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of around 60 centimetres (around 24 inches) at the withers and weigh around 30 kilograms (60 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.
 
German Shepherds come in a variety of colours, the normal versions are the red/black and tan/black varieties with black masks and saddles. Less common types include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue types, which may not fit country breed standards. Alsatians have a double coat. A dense close thick outer coat, which sheds continually and a thick undercoat. The long-hair variety is rarer.
The Alsatian, like many working dogs is very intelligent,  and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by Stanley Coren in his reference study and book “The Intelligence of Dogs”. This attribute combined with the Alsatians power makes the Alsatian desirable as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
German Shepherds are known for aggression and have been restricted in areas as a result. Statistically, in the United States, they are responsible for more random bites than any other breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller dog breeds.

Additionally research has shown that Alsatians are the third most likely dog breed to attack a person and in another report found that German Shepherds accounted for around fifty percent of the dog bites that mandated medical attention, versus a more typical twenty of bites needing medical treatment, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.
 
The problem is not with the dog, but the owners. As with any clever active dog (or child), if they are not regularly active and kept occupied, they can become difficult. The Alsatian must have puppy socialisation and good training from an early stage. The German Shepherd is different from the collie, where a lot of its aggressiveness has been removed by breeding for shows, the Alsatian has not lost this streak.

The German Shepherd are great with the family they know, but can be over protective of their home and family – why they are a great guard dog. Due to this they may appear a bit aloof.

German Shepherds are rapid learners and are very obedient and not easily diverted, but due to their strong character,  you need to be very firm with them.
The Alsatian must have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family who cannot give them the time and attention.  For this reason, busy couples often ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for a couple of hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health problems, hip and elbow joint problems (dysplasia) which often causes the dog pain and often causes arthritis. The German Shepherd also suffers from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. The Alsatian is often has ear infections due to his large and open ears.

Alsatians, like many large chested dogs are sensitive to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the vet. Bloat is a build up of gas in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (around 40 percent), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The Alsatian also suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are predisposed to Von Willebrand Disease, a common generic bleeding disorder, which shows in differing degrees of bleeding tendency, commonly in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the German Shepherd is sturdy with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a Alsatian is 7 – 10 years, which is typical for a dog of this size.

The Alsatian has great olfactory sensitivity so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a many roles requiring this ability, including cadaver searching, search and rescue, explosives detection, narcotics detection and mine detection.

So the Alsatian is a wonderful clever breed that will bond well with you, if you have the time and energy for him. Not advised for busy working families.

As mans best friend, we want our beloved pooch to be well behaved in the varied social situations he finds itself. This education needs to start while the puppy is young. We want the dog  not to be anxious or aggressive towards persons or other animals. Puppy socialisation is a key part of dog care.
Research at Veterinary Medicine College at Cornell showed that the first 12 weeks are critical, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this time is dealt with by the breeder. After that initial three months it is still significant, but takes more time and effort and planning. This is also the experience of professional dog sitters who are frequently asked for tips.
Puppies are so similar to us humans, if the first experience is hurtful, we will keep away from or be nervous at similar occasions, soone step at a time. Encourage force the puppy. If in doubt, stop and do it again later. Yound pups rapidly tire and need to rest often, so do new things for short periods and give plenty of rest in between.
So what approach should I take?
• Invite friends and family, petit, grand, varied looking, different sexes. Be prudent and vigilant with introductions to kids.
•  Introduce him to a collar and then a leash. Just put the collar on, later attach the leash and let him wander around the house, then you can take him for a walk around the house. Only use a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your acquaintances and families in their flats.
• Try and meet other hounds, especially other friendly, vigorous and vaccinated pooches. Be careful until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting  fidos of unknown history.
• If you know family with dog friendly cats, organise a visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a friendly farm near you? Difficult in towns, but look for opportunities.
• Driving is key. So take hound out for as many practical short rides in the automobile. Stop and let pooch observe the world pass by, in the safety of the car. This will introduce him to loud noises. Introduce him to other piercing noises such as drills.
•  Lug or walk him to places where there is local commotion such as the mall and open spaces. Find a café or seat where you can sit outside with your fido and watch the world go by. Tons of people will come and say hi to him.
• Introduce your pooch to activities in the home, paying attention to safety, vacuuming, preparing food and TV.
• Puppy grooming, quality time for the two of you, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
• Careful with training the pup on stairs, if you are a typical town flat owner, this may be more difficult.

Dog socialisation, start today and have a wonderful sociable pooch.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is characterised for its distinctive terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, West Highland White Terriers, Dandie Dinmont and Skye, Cairn.
The behaviour and qualities and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other top dog breeds, of which there are many.
The Scottie is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, apparently so valiant that they were given the nickname “Diehards” and were the idea for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
It is impossible to be sure of the real origins of the Scottish Terrier, but it was bred for clearing small rodents in Scotland for centuries. It may be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some references back to the 16th Century.
The source of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Highland Terrier was a hunter where these short legged, powerful dogs were designed and built for the purpose of rooting out small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.
Scottish Terriers appearance is  characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The wiry coat exists in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats may occur, but should not be confused with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Scotties are robust, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Highland Terrier has a long head relative to its body which averages about 10 or 11 inches high. The Aberdeen Terrier has  erect ears and tail. Aberdeen Terrierwere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of burrows when they were wedged after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Scottiehave small, bright almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Scottish Terrier personality is one of freedom and spirit. Often people say a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the extent that he is totally fearless that often appears idiotic in the face of a much larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is less than a foot in height. Dog walkers love to walk them, they are never feel frightened by the larger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Scottie should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from withers to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottish Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very alert, jovial and confident. They typically live roughly twelve years.
Aberdeen Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be irritatingly stubborn. Because of this stubbornness, a Scottie needs strong, but kind handling from a puppy or it will rule the family. Every new Scottish Terrier addition should have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottish Terrier makes a great guard dog because it normally only barks when necessary and generally only for strangers. Dog socialisation is crucial as it is a fearless breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless presented and educated to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Highland Terrier were  used to hunt and fight badgers and other vermin they like to dig and chase small vermin, such as mice, rats and squirrels. Yet another reason to recommend that they are kept on a leash.
Whilst Scotties are generally a healthy breed they have a propensity of developing some cancers than other purebreds. Research has identified six cancers that Highland Terriers are more likely to be at risk of (versus other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in older dogs and more common in females so watch for blood in the urine, straining to urinate and frequent urination – and get veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
To help prevent cancer in any dog,  ensure that your dog has little or no exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; provide a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and plenty of exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and gums that bleed.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often  known as lion’s jaw, that created extensive bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions normally stop progressing after twelve months or so, and may regress. The firm swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and difficulty in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Due to these inherited diseases it is advisable to buy directly from a breeder, who can show he has no problems with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include former President George W. Bushs’ Barney and Roosevelts – Fala. Infact the  Scottie is the only breed of dog that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Scottie  include: Humphrey Bogart; Liza Minnelli; Queen Victoria; Ronald Reagan; Eva Braun; Tatum O’Neal owned a Scottish Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to old age and cancer that she fell back into drugs.
The Aberdeen Terrier is also a player token in the board game, Monopoly.
 A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in personality per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Highland Terrier.