Love It Doggles

So, this is probably a pretty obvious post.  If you couldnt tell already from Athenas post about the beach as well as mine, we love us some Doggles!  Our obsession with these ridiculously cute/nerdy dog glasses came from Miss M and Mr. B who rock them over at Two Pitties in the City.

Of course when we saw a display of Doggles at Paws On the Sand in Lincoln City, we knew that we needed some to add to Athenas wardrobe.  After a quick fitting session in the store, we picked out a pair and Athena started sporting them as soon as we hit the beach.  As a side note, I was rooting for a hot pink pair like Miss M, but B won the battle and we went with the always matching black.

We love Doggles because they are great for protecting sensitive doggy eyes from the bright sun, keeping sand out of eyes, as well as acting as goggles while swimming in the ocean.  Doggles actually contain 100% UV protection, because just like humans, dogs need eye protection from the sun too.  I even tried on Athenas Doggles to see how dark they are.  They are very comparable to human sunglasses and in no way hindered my vision.

Although the Doggles are equipped with a flexible padded rubber frame that fit snuggly to Athenas face, she still managed to get a bit of sand inside of them.  We made sure to continuously check her Doggles to ensure that she still had full vision.

While out on the beach I was amazed at how many people approached us just because Athena was wearing Doggles and no longer looked "scary."  Because really, who couldnt resist a dog wearing Doggles?  They are HILARIOUS!  Multiple people wanted to take Athenas picture and some even wanted her to pose for pictures with their children.  Im telling you...Doggles make a pit bull FAMOUS!

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Paper Training Puppy Training Pads

                I am against paper training just because it teaches the dog that it’s okay to go inside the house when the main idea in the equation is getting the dog to go in a designated area.  I mean, there are difficulties with any method of dog training, especially for small dogs (some people say that small dogs never are completely trained and I disagree.  I think they’re trained but they don’t know what to do if they have to go bad and they’re not vocal dogs – mine know to go outside, but they have mistakes at night sometimes since I’m not awake to see them give a signal).
                Anyway, the method for paper training is very much like crate training.  You take the puppy to the pad and try to get it to pee and when it does, you give it a treat.  The harder part about this is do you give them a treat when they pee around it or only on it  And also, some dogs think those puppy pads are things to lie on (like mine) and will often take naps on them and what not.  I would, if I were going to crate train a dog, do the same method as crate training.  Have it mostly in its crate and when it has to go, take it to the paper and give a potty command and then give a treat.  It’ll catch on eventually, I’m sure.
                Also, some people want to paper train the dog and then move from the paper to taking it outside.  The method for this would be: 1. Train it to go on the paper 2. Gradually move the paper towards the door that you want your dog to usually go out of and then outside the door.
                I honestly have never met anyone that paper trains their dogs.  I’ve seen people try, but I have never seen anyone be actually successful with it.  I remember that I had a roommate that had a Maltese and she tried to paper train her puppy.  I don’t know if it was unsuccessful because she was a lazy dog owner or because the method is just ridiculous

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Cat and Dog Skin Itch Scratch Bite Lick!

Does your dog (or cat) have skin problems? Is it continually scratching, biting and licking at itself….and you don’t know why? Well, take comfort, you are not alone.

There are really six main reasons why dogs and cats will itch and scratch. The bottom line is... dont let them suffer! There IS a diagnosis to be made and then you and your veterinarian will be better able to select the proper treatment plan.

Itching and scratching in dogs: One of the most common calls made to any animal hospital in America goes something like this: "Doctor, I’ve got to get this dog in right away. He’s driving us nuts. All he does is itch and scratch, bite and lick and he’s keeping us up all night!"

My thought is that if the pet’s caretakers are being driven “nuts” by the dog’s scratching and licking, how awful must the poor dog feel?

This kind of call to the veterinarian refers to a fairly serious case of pruritus. In reality there is a wide spectrum of causes and severity of itching and scratching in dogs with skin and coat trouble. Some dogs can spend hours romping through fields, digging holes, and rolling in the grass and still have no after-effects at all. Others, kept indoors and fed an excellent diet, may have severe skin disorders.

Let’s see if we can make some sense of this complicated and aggravating situation and try to answer the question "Why does my dog itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick?"

There are six main categories of dermatitis we veterinarians have to consider whenever a cat or dog skin problem -- or "skin case" -- is presented. Most skin and coat abnormalities can be defined by or placed in one of these categories:

• Environmental
• Nutritional
• Parasitic
• Allergic
• Neurogenic
• Infectious

Keeping in mind that there are entire textbooks written about these categories, you might understand why veterinarians often take a deep breath before entering the exam room wherein awaits a patient with a "skin problem." Let’s look at each category, starting with the simplest (Environmental Dermatitis) and finishing with the most challenging (Neurogenic Dermatitis).

1. Environmental Dermatitis

Patients in this category are physically and nutritionally normal, but present with signs of itching and scratching, hair loss and skin irritation. By careful discourse with the owner regarding diet, activity, medical history and environment, and by performing a thorough physical exam, the veterinarian can rule out the other categories of dermatitis. Through the analysis of the patient’s history, the veterinarian will discover that the patient spends time swimming or excavating gopher holes or romping through fields where thistles seem prevalent.

Many dogs are very sensitive to simple lawn grasses. And by matching what is visible on the patient’s skin with a probable environmental irritant -- the cause of the cat or dogs skin problem can be determined and corrective measures taken.

An example is Moist Eczema, often called a "Hot Spot". These skin lesions often occur as a result of moisture on the skin surface from rain, pond or lake water. Minute scratches on the skin from, for example, a clipper blade, may trigger other cases. Especially in dense coated dogs or dogs where there is an accumulation of mats or shedding hair, moisture on the skin may remain long enough to allow superficial bacteria to reproduce (sort of like an organic soup!) and create an infection.

Some cases of Moist Eczema will spread very rapidly and require rather aggressive therapy to correct. Contact with plastics can also cause environmental dermatitis.

2. Nutritional Dermatitis

When food is the issue, correction of these cases of dog and cat itching and scratching should be a "no brainer," but even today, many veterinarians and pet owners really believe the "Complete and Balanced" statement on pet food labels.

Unfortunately, many dogs and cats live their entire lives in less than optimum health because their caretaker feeds the least expensive food they can find … and feels secure in doing so because of that "Complete and Balanced" statement.

In my thirty-five years of practice, I have seen hundreds of dogs and cats whose lives changed dramatically, and where the pet’s caretakers were shocked and surprised at the remarkable difference in their pets, by the simple act of providing the pet with a high quality, meat-based diet.

Without proper nourishment skin problems in dogs and cats is just one of the possible reactions; the animals entire body, not just its skin and coat, will be continuously in a state of stress. High quality meat-based dog foods seldom, if ever, create the kind of skin and coat irritation in most animals.

If you feed dry commercial dog food, be certain that the first ingredient listed is meat such as beef, poultry, lamb or fish. Specialized diets are widely available that are generally better than others in several key categories:

Quality Dog Food

* All Natural Dog Food

* Grain Free Dog Food

* Organic Dog Food

* Veterinary Prescription Diet Dog Food

Quality Cat Food

* All Natural Cat Food

* Grain Free Cat Food

* Organic Cat Food

* Veterinary Prescription Diet Cat Food

Will supplements help? Absolutely! But if the diet is a high quality, meat-based brand, the need for supplements is much less critical. It has been my experience that supplements such as Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamins and table scraps will always help a dog that is eating a generic, commercial dry dog food; and on occasion, supplements may even show positive benefits in a dog eating a high quality diet.

Many types of cat or dog skin problems are avoided if the animal consumes an optimum diet. In some cases, adding a supplement, such as an omega fatty acid supplement, is the key factor in avoiding repeated episodes of hot spots and other skin problems.

If your dog or cat seems to lack good coat and skin health, consider upgrading the diet to a meat-based ingredient formula and adding a supplement.

3. Parasitic Dermatitis – Ticks and Fleas

The most common response a pet caretaker makes when they see their dog scratching and biting at itself is “I think he’s got fleas”. And sometimes this guess is correct. Dark, copper colored and wingless, and about the size of the head of a pin, fleas are big enough that they can be seen scurrying along the skin surface trying to hide within the sheltering forest of fur. 

There are a number of highly effective and safe flea preventatives. Fleas are ubiquitous, but an understanding of their life cycle, where they hide in the dog’s environment, and utilizing modern pharmacology breakthroughs, no dog needs to be "driven crazy" with itching and scratching, hair loss, infections, scabs and other skin problems as a result of flea infestation.

Repeated exposure to fleas can trigger a hypersensitivity (an abnormal, excessive reaction) to the bite of even a single flea. Every veterinarian has been fooled into making a diagnosis of “allergy”, not even suspecting fleas, simply because no fleas were discovered at the time of the physical exam. This is a classic example of a Parasitic Dermatitis (flea bites) triggering a complicated Allergic Dermatitis(due to the flea saliva).

Interestingly, the all-too-common parasite called the tick rarely triggers itching and scratching or allergic reactions, but on occasion will leave an ulcerative lesion that is notoriously slow to heal.

Chiggers, deer flies, and gnats (sometimes called No-See-Ums) can be considered nuisances and generally do not create remarkable systemic skin problems. Local treatment with first aid ointments generally is successful.

Cheyletiella mites look like tiny spiders under a magnifying glass and are often called "Walking Dandruff" because upon close inspection it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually moving about. Partly because they live on the surface of the skin, these tiny critters can be eliminated easily by using any common flea shampoo. And here’s a creepy thought … Cheyletiella mites can be transmitted to humans where they create, just like on the dog, alopecia (hair loss) with a dry, flaky, slightly pruritic skin surface.

Sarcoptic mites are nasty critters! Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense itching and scratching, alopecia, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs often present. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other entity, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Dermatitis by even very competent and experienced veterinarians. 

Many veterinary dermatology specialists will not accept an uncontrolled "Allergic Dermatitis" referral case unless the referring veterinarian has first ruled out Sarcoptic mites by actually treating the dog for scabies. Do as many skin scrapings as you like, you’re not going to find these little rascals because, unlike most skin parasites, these burrow right down into the skin. (Even ticks simply hold on to the surface of the skin while they feed; ticks do not burrow into the skin.)

Unfortunately, many dogs are treated with cortisone for a supposed allergic dermatitis when in fact these Sarcoptic mites are the cause of the pruritic, inflamed skin... the unnecessary cortisone eventually worsens the situation.

Sarcoptic mites happen to have preferences … certain types reproduce and thrive on dogs, but they do not thrive on other species such as humans. Nevertheless, Sarcoptic mites from dogs can infest humans so if your dog has signs of scabies and you are itching and have little scabs, make sure you see your dermatologist (MD, not DVM)!

Mention your concern about scabies mites. If your physician makes a diagnosis of scabies, your next call should be to the veterinarian to make an appointment to discuss the possibility of Sarcoptic mites in your dog (the one that’s been getting all those cortisone shots for "allergy").

Unlike Sarcoptic mites, Demodex mites can be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. They look like tiny cigars with stubby legs stuck to the front half of their body.

Demodex is most commonly seen in young dogs. In adult dogs, Demodex cases seem to be associated with individuals that are stressed from disease, poor nutrition, immune disorders or a harsh environment.

There is evidence that many cases of Demodex have a genetically transmitted immune protein deficit underlying its manifestation; the dog’s breeder should be informed of any cases of Demodex mites.

If the dog is otherwise healthy, there are effective treatment protocols for Demodex. On the “itch scale”, Demodex causes very little itching and scratching. On the “baldness scale” Demodex creates mottled and patchy alopecia.

4. Infectious Dermatitis

Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms are notoriously obnoxious pathogens causing coat and skin problems in dogs (and cats). Fungal organisms are called dermatophytes. One type, called Microsporum canis, causes non-pruritic, circular patches of hair loss, often called ringworm. Transmissible to other dogs (and occasionally some strains of fungi can be transmitted to humans) your veterinarian can diagnose and treat skin fungal infections in the office.

Yeasts, most notably a common contaminant of inflamed and environmentally stressed skin called Malassezia pachydermatitis, can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Especially notorious for creating long term, low-grade external otitis, Malassezia does cause itching and scratching and inflammation.

Yeast infections typically create greasy, odorous and pruritic signs in affected dogs. The skin is stressed by the waste products of the organisms and responds by releasing histamine -- which triggers further inflammation, itching and scratching and cell damage.

If a yeast infection is diagnosed, there’s generally something else going on such as hypothyroidism, chronic administration of cortisone medication or dietary fatty acid deficiency.

Bacterial dermatitis rarely occurs spontaneously. Normal healthy skin has tremendous numbers of a variety of bacteria present all the time. If something upsets that balance, such as antibiotics eliminating one or two types, the remaining types have a free-for-all! Anything that damages the normal, healthy, intact skin will hamper the skin’s defense mechanisms. Any Environmental Dermatitis, such as contact with grass, plastic, an abrasion or moisture, can adversely affect the skin’s defensive barriers and opportunistic bacteria then have their way. Parasitic damage to the skin will allow invasion by bacteria and trigger the body’s healing defense mechanisms.

A common skin problem in dogs, Infectious Dermatitis often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at the lesion and undo any healing that has taken place. A moist, sticky, inflamed skin lesion along with hair loss is characteristic of bacterial dermatitis. These can spread rapidly and even be transposed to other areas of the skin through biting, licking, and scratching of previously uninfected areas.

The treatment for Infectious Dermatitis often includes clipping the hair from the area to allow the air to assist drying. The application of gentle topical medication is helpful as is the administration of oral antibiotics to fight the organisms that are deeply invading the skin.

Yes, cortisone may assist in alleviating the stinging or itchy sensation, but may also suppress normal healing processes. Whenever an infection is present, the decision to use cortisone needs to be very carefully evaluated. A better choice may be antihistamines orally.

5. Allergic Dermatitis

I’ll be honest. There’s no way to cover this topic in one article. Veterinarians spend entire weekends and lots of money attending seminars on this topic alone! It is common, it can be lifelong, it is a challenge to diagnose, and once identified it can be resistant to attempts at treatment. All the other categories of dermatitis must be ruled out (especially those elusive Sarcoptic mites) before a diagnosis of Allergic Dermatitis can be made. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Dermatitis.

Even common bacteria on the dog’s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! These cases of sensitivity to normal resident bacteria are very challenging to correct. No matter what kind of allergic dermatitis afflicts the dog, the ultimate cellular cause of the inflammation and resulting "itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick" activity has a common cause … the release of histamine from skin Mast cells, the deposition of antigen/antibody protein complexes within tissues, the dilation of some blood vessels and constriction of others, the release of toxic chemicals from broken intracellular structures, and chemical and physical irritation of sensory nerve endings.

To what are dogs allergic? Take a look around you right now. Odds are that your dog could be allergic to half-a-dozen different substances in the very room you sit; that doesn’t even include microscopic substances in the air you and your dog breath! Food, carpeting, blankets, dust mites, mold spores in the air, pollen, plastic food dishes, furniture stuffing and ornamental plants all have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research, development, promotion and delivery of “antigen specific” diets to help in the therapy of dogs with food allergies.

How do allergies develop? Each individual’s biochemistry is determined by millions of genetic variables. On occasion, an individual’s various immune responses may over-react to a certain material and "learn" to recognize this substance in case of future contact with it.

The offending agent is called an antigen. Flea saliva is a good example of an antigen that triggers "flea bite" hypersensitivity. When an antigen makes contact with the dog, the dog’s immune defenses - all primed and ready for a fight since it has previously identified the antigen as an enemy - set to work to disarm the antigen.

Unfortunately, during the course of the battle (called an antigen/antibody reaction) side effects of the battle can cause tissue irritation, inflammation, swelling and cell destruction. That’s when we notice skin problems in dogs and when they go into the "itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick" mode! There’s a biochemical war going on within the dog!

Immunologists have classified a number of different types of allergic reactions. Skin and blood tests are common methods of attempting to identify what the patient is allergic to. Probably the most common type of Allergic Dermatitis seen in dogs is Atopic Dermatitis. This situation is triggered by a number of antigens including inhaled substances such as molds, dust, pollens and other static and airborne microscopic organic substances.

Dogs with Atopy lick and chew at their paws (see photo on right) and scratch their face, eyelids and ears. This skin problem can be very troubling for dogs and frustrating for the owner. One minute the dog may look and feel normal, the next it will chew its paw or face raw from the intense itching and scratching. There is a new product available to treat Atopic Dermatitis in dogs called Atopica. For many patients, this medication has truly been a "life saver."

Treatment of Allergic Dermatitis includes topical medicated soothing baths, ointments and sprays. The use of oral antihistamines can neutralize some of the destructive effects of internally released histamine.

More effective in alleviating the discomfort of allergies is cortisone. This potent hormone, normally secreted by the adrenal glands, can be manufactured commercially. Numerous derivatives of cortisone are used in pill, injectable, spray, liquid and ointment form. Caution: If you are sent home with a prescription for cortisone, or your dog has simply been given "a cortisone shot to stop the itching," your dog may ultimately be worse off than before if the true diagnosis happens to be an unrecognized case of Sarcoptic mites!

Be patient, yes, but be persistent, too. If your dog is itching, scratching, and licking, or if the skin and coat are not healthy appearing, you and your dog need to diagnose what type of skin problem it is before treatment is started.

A key point to remember is this: There is no cure for allergies! All we can do is avoid the food, material or parasite that is triggering the immune response, desensitize the patient through immune modulation techniques, and assure that the patient is eating a high quality diet. There are a number of products that address allergies in dogs and allergies in cats that may help: Hypo-Allergenic Food, Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo, Hypo-Allergenic Dog Treats, Hypo-Allergenic Cat Treats, etc.

6. Neurogenic Dermatitis

This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. As a veterinarian I know I have classified a number of cases as "Neurogenic" simply because I have ruled out all the other categories! There’s nothing left but to blame the poor dog for all that incessant licking and chewing at itself! The most commonly seen form of Neurogenic Dermatitis is called Acral Lick Dermatitis, Lick Granuloma or canine neurodermatitis. 

Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a specific area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at the target area, lick granulomas may have an unknown origin.

Commonly, though, most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, separation anxiety, frustration, confinement, or even a minor physical origin such as a tiny abrasion that captivates the dog’s interest. The dog persists in traumatizing the area, which is usually confined to an easily accessible forelimb, carpus (wrist) or ankle area, and never allows the skin to heal.

Repeated episodes of self-mutilation, partial healing, then repeated trauma and healing, result in severe and disfiguring scarring. Deep bacterial infections are common and permanent skin damage results. A specialist in dermatology and a behaviorist may be the dog’s best friends in these cases of Neurogenic Dermatitis.

Summary

In summary, keep in mind that any dog with skin problems or whose skin and coat are not in optimal health needs attention because that dog surely does not feel well. Be patient with your veterinarian because each category of "Dermatitis" must be evaluated, categories need to be ruled out, and a final diagnosis needs to be established BEFORE proper, effective treatment begins. Expect laboratory work, skin scrapings and blood tests to be required to reach that diagnosis.

If your dog is suffering from Chronic Dermatitis, all is not hopeless. Be persistent in trying to identify the cause and then pursuing a treatment. And do not be bashful about requesting referral to a specialist in veterinary dermatology. These experts work with severely affected patients on a daily basis and can be an excellent resource for assistance to those poor dogs that seem incessantly to itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick. Resolving these cases invariably puts a smile on the veterinarian’s face, the pet owners face, AND the dog’s!

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Louisiana Blood Tracking Dogs on Pecan Island 9 pt

This story starts on Friday night when a blood trail dog customer calls me wanting to buy a blood trail dog, and advised me that he had three does down that day that were not found in Merryville. So I advised him that the best approach was for him to see what my dogs can do and we look for the does early the next morning.

 

Well this 100 mile one way trip turned into the greatest track I have ever participated in because it led to Pecan Island a couple of days later for a track in the marsh, but I am getting ahead of myself. So, one of the does went on to a neighbors property, so we pulled the plug on that one, and within less than 1/2 hour on each track after that, we found the other two does as seen above.

 

These guys were impressed so much that they told me they would have never found those deer without the dogs, and agreed that they needed a dog for the lease for everyones benefit.

 

 

 

Their choice was Jessi Girl(above) who would go on to be very valuable in the marsh 2 days later.

 

Needles to say, all my dogs were happy trackers that day

with several other rib cages being dropped off at my front gate all in the same weekend.

 

Then I get a call from the same people regarding their nephew that had shot a 9 point buck in Pecan Island late in the day on Sunday, with lots of blood on the ground and losing day light he backed out until morning and to get on with this adventure, I agreed to go to Pecan Island and help find this trophy buck.

The longest blood trail track I have ever run(about 2 miles), and in the roughest terrain Louisiana has to offer, the saltwater marsh in Pecan Island. And for that reason: the terrain, I brought a pack of dogs just in case the terrain kicks our ass as is not uncommon in the marsh of coastal Louisiana.
                                  
I turned out a few experienced dogs to see where we were going and it wasnt long before we were really getting down on it, as there was lots of blood everywhere we went.



As seen below the vegetation was so thick AND tall at times we had to get on hand and knees

         and crawl through a tunnel of vegetation for about 40-50 yards to keep on the blood...

Here is Cocodrie meeting me in the tunnel, and...

then we were back in the open and I got to stand up and walk like a man again...

 

From there we walked about 50 yards east, and then the blood trail turned north(into the wind) and went about 1/4 mile, and then the trail turned west and went about 40 yards into a super thick area, and the blood, and all evidence of a deer completely disappeared!

 

 

As we made circles looking close for a track, a trail through the vegetation, or any sign of blood, and remember there was plenty of blood leading in here, then nothing!

 

 

 

Sooooo.............

 

 

I sat down and took a break in the shade of a bush to cool off and allow the dogs to leave out.

 

I began to suspect that the deer had turned in here and jumped as far as he could from this cull de sac of the marsh, because he knew that if he could jump over and into some of the thickest vegetative area, he knew we could never follow, and so he had bought time AND space to loose us.

 

 

You see, if you cant see any blood on the trail to confirm the dogs track is accurate and to lead the dogs along, you sit down, take a break and let the long range dogs you pass by several times as they hunt and they know that you arent going anywhere, and they then will leave out.

 

 

As I sat there, I contemplated our options and I wondered which way the wind was blowing yesterday when the deer was shot. My presumption was he went north and into the wind.

 

 

After about a 15 minute break, I climbed up on a dry hole oil well or Christmas tree as we say here in La. and that put my eyeball view up to about 12 feet off the ground, so I could get a look around.

 

 

 

The marsh is so thick and about 6 feet tall, that I have a breeze up there that I did not have on the ground, so I stayed up there about another 10 minutes and continued to cool off, and let my t-shirt dry.

 

Good move...

 

 

Because then I heard a baying about 1/2 mile to the north, and it was Jessie, he had found the deer and was baying and fighting with it, so from where I was, I could mark his location near a pipeline marker and we headed for the ATV trail and then headed north.

 

Jessie in true Catahoula form, took several stabs on the head,

                                          and he has some sore spots on his ribs too.

                                          Although Jessie has cataracts and limited vision,

 

he alone had left out from the pack when I sat down to cool off using that very much experienced blood tracking nose that the other dogs could not keep up with. He set out alone and found the blood trail, then he alone engaged the very healthy, wounded buck...
(the buck went to the water as seen in the area below where Jessie found him and bayed, and must have fought the deer for some time because he has a lot of new scars on his head, and there was fresh deer blood everywhere in this area,

  and that was where we got our first look at him since he was shot, but I am getting ahead of myself)

 

I continued north, crossed a canal about 2 foot deep and climbed up on a ridge which was probably the spoils of the canal so I could get a better view of the surrounding area and the dogs found lots of bedding areas up on the levee.

My presumption was: from here(the levee) the deer had continued north into no mans land; a flooded Pecan Island marsh! Wrong again!

OK, back to Jessie!

 

and he alone was 100% intent upon finding this 9 point AND then fighting and  keeping the buck bayed(barking to alert us of his location northward) and did it all alone until help arrived...

                                                                      and then when it arrived,  here is where the team work really kicks in!

the younger, faster, less experienced, yet long range dogs were just getting warmed up getting there, and when the buck turned and headed south and nearly ran into the hunter who was still on the ATV trail, it passed about 10 foot away from him on his way south and then we talked firearms all the way  back down ATV trail! But I am getting ahead of myself again!

 ... and the race was on...


                                      Valyrie,
                                 

                                     Jessi Girl,
                                 



                                          and Maurice smoked this deers ass,

                                            ran it south again, and back toward the truck.
                             (thank God, because we would have had to drag the dead deer a mile! )



As it was coming up the ATV trail.

 

the hunters mother was videoing the track and the deer ran right up to about 10 feet from the truck and she could have shot it with the 12 gauge and buck shot, but she didnt know where we were and did not want to risk shooting us accidentally.  Thank you...!-)

 Although some people might want to accuse me of mercilessly running a wounded deer with a pack of blood trail dogs, (like that is somehow unlawful or cruel when the animal was suffering from a critical wound?) The truth is, I didnt have any control over the wounded animal until after the fact, and at that point, I was sufficiently able to control the situation(with the great help of dogs!) to minimize the suffering and bring it to a swift end.

 

We ended the suffering of this wonderful buck that would have never been recovered and put out of his misery without the combined team work of de la Houssayes Catahoula cur dogs, two men, and one very proud mother!

But wait this story is not over...

 

As the hunter and I came out of the marsh, his moma advised us of the direction the deer and dogs had took to the east. As I looked for a hole in the vegetation and we were discussing our options...

 

 

 

 

 

 About 1/4 mile away we heard the baying start up again and we jumped into the trucks and headed over there and hopefully try to end the chase with the shotgun. The dogs were fighting with the buck that was shot in the foreleg and was otherwise very healthy(see photo below).

After passing the truck the deer turned and went through some thick brush for about 50 yards and was stopped by the dogs and bayed up in front of one of many houses that were abandoned after hurricane Rita in September 2005.
                                    

Judging by the scars on Jessi Girls head in the photo above, you can see that the dogs were literally fighting with the buck putting themselves into harms way and taking serious injury to keep him there until we arrived, and at that point, the buck was so engaged that 2 pickups pulled up 50 foot away from the fight and we got out and shot the deer without the deer even looking at us.

 

As I was behind them approaching the bay in my truck, I heard the shotgun go off as the deer was dispatched in front of the dogs. As the deer stood up on his hind legs to attack the dogs again and try to stab them with his antler tines, the hunter nailed him broadside with a 12 gauge 3 inch 00 Buck from about 20 yards away. (Shooting a deer over dogs is very dangerous for the dogs, unless it is skillfully handled as the young hunter here did by waiting for the deer to stand before pulling the trigger.)

 

 

You can see Jessie in the center of the photo above guarding "his" kill , a common Catahoula trait.



The taxidermist was called about a mount opportunity and assured the Pecan Island, La. hunter that his first trophy 9 pt. was salvageable and the broken tines on the one side can be repaired.

If you need me to track a deer or would like for me show you what my dogs for sale can do, you can call me at 337 298 2630, I am Marcus de la Houssaye, and I live in south central Louisiana near Lafayette. I am a breeder and a trainer, have many dogs for sale, am self employed and have a lot of time during the fall and winter to help you find a dog to track your hard to locate deer or hogs.

www.bloodtraildogs.com
www.catahoula.ws
www.delahoussayes.com

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Secret Of Dog Training

how to train your dog not to jump on visitors how to train my dog to speak on command how to train a dog maltese how long does it take to train a dog to come

Dogtrainingsecret.com Review The Secret To Dog Training Download Dog Training Secrets Schutzhund Dog Training Secrets Hundekommandos – Dog Commands in German – German Language – A information to coaching your canine to obey German canine instructions. Coaching methods of prime Schutzhund coaching professionals. Actual steps to maximise your canine’s braveness and potential in Schutzhund coaching. The Dog

Oct 21, 2005 ... Hidden items, dog training tips, doggy tricks, techniques for training your dog, and many other Nintendog strategies for Nintendogs Dachshund, ...

A guide to training your dog to obey German dog commands.

how to train a dog to stay in the car dog training secrets charlie lafave the dog training secret video review how to train a bird dog

Its important to make the time and effort to train your small breed dog. Learn some training tips to help ensure your small dog is always well-behaved.

Dog Training Secret Reviews In one other article, an professional coach reveals the secrets and techniques he makes use of to unravel issues with pointers. The identical concern offers a assessment of six totally different e-collars for canine coaching, discusses the gear that each coach ought to have … Adam reveals which canine coaching methods, strategies and canine coaching

Secrets, FAQs, and hints, hidden items, dog training tips, doggy tricks, techniques for training your dog, for Nintendogs Labrador and Friends on the Nintendo ...

Nintendogs Dachshund and Friends on the Nintendo DS: Hidden items, dog training tips, doggy tricks, techniques for training your dog, and many other ...

My "Hands Off" Dog Training Program can help you with… 1. Peeing and pooping in the house 2. Out-of-control barking and whining 3. Nipping, biting, and growling

how to train the dog at home how to train a retarded dog dog training elite reviews

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Dogs Eating Feces Part 3

When out walking it is best to have dog that is fond of eating feces on a leash, then you can get the dog away from the offending article and some authorities suggest that a muzzle is a good idea, to prevent the dog from eating it.

Diverting a dog with a toy laced with enticing food is another alternative, and if you think that the dog may be eating feces as a result of stress then try and remove the element of stress away from the dog and medication can help this, consult your vet.

One researcher has suggested that a vitamin deficiency is a cause and to check his diet and increase the number of meals you give him (that is frequency not amount).

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Train Your Dog To Play Peek A Boo

PEEK A BOO

This is a fun trick to get your dog to hide its eyes on command.

The Steps: Get your dog to sit or lie down.
This is not so easy so a lot of practice may be necessary.
Hold a treat in your hand and blow gently on the dogs nose, this may get the dog to rub its nose or swipe at its face. Say the words “peek a boo” or “cover your eyes”. Immediately give a reward.

You can also lift his paw over his muzzle with your hand and reward.

Repeat the command and movement until the dog realizes what is needed to get the treat.

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Americas Dogs Tige

In my never ending quest for the truth about famous pit bull owners and famous pit bulls, I found these 1904 Thomas Edison film shorts about Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Buster Browns Tige is usually found on the feel good honorary list of famous pit bulls, somewhere after Petey the Great Nanny Dog and Stubby the War Hero and before RCA Nipper and Rachel Rays Isaboo. But what does anyone really know about Tige?

Buster Brown was originally a cartoon strip created by Richard Outcault in 1902. It is hard to say what kind of dog Tige was in the cartoon but he appears to be a pit bulldog in Thomas Edisons five film shorts. One of the sources that I found identified Edisons Tige, whose real name was Mannie, as a Boxer. I believe that is most likely incorrect but even if Mannie was a Boxer, at that time they were used in the pit and closely resembled "pit bulls". While viewing the films, compare Mannie to the Boxer of 1900. It is not clear how many of these short films Edison created about Buster Brown and Tige but what is clear is that the pit bull apologia hasnt seen them. Buster Browns dog is a pit bull, a nasty pit bull, just like his fictional owner.

Multiple dogs have portrayed Tige. Mannie is the pit bulldog featured in the Edison films but at least one of the approximately dozen Peteys also played Tige in the 1920s. This blog will focus on Mannie only. Petey will be featured in an upcoming blog.

In this first film short entitled Buster and Tige Puts a Baloon Vender Out of Business, Busters mother tries to purchase a balloon for her son but then waves the man on. Buster has a tantrum, pushes the man and then runs off screen and gets Tige. Tige enters the scene and immediately attacks the man, biting him on the seat of his pants. The balloon vender shakes Tige off and then Tige begins to jump up and try to attack his balloons. Immediately three more pit bulldogs enter the scene and all four dogs are now attacking the balloons in a frenzy.

1904 - Buster and Tige

1904 - Buster and Tige
Uploaded by popefucker. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

In this second film short entitled Buster Makes Room for His Mama at the Bargain Counter Buster, his mother and Tige go into a store. There are about a dozen women occupying the area, fighting over articles of clothing and preventing his mother from tending to her business. But Buster has a plan. Buster directs Tige to jump up and try to grab the stockings that are hanging from the ceiling. In his loyal people pleasing pit bull manner, Tige begins jumping up and down, barking and doing flips. This scares the women who all flee the store in horror, freeing up space for Busters mother. A small chair is tossed in by someone off camera and Tige attacks it.

1904 - Buster Makes Room for His Mama

1904 - Buster Makes Room for His Mama
Uploaded by popefucker. - Classic TV and last nights shows, online.

In the third film short, and possibly my favorite, titled Buster and the Dude, Buster, Tige, and his mother are on a city sidewalk outside of a store. Busters mother meets a man with a dog, possibly a boston bulldog. Buster demands his mothers attention and when she ignores him, Buster gets even by siccing Tige on the mans the dog.

1904 - Buster And The Dude

1904 - Buster And The Dude
Uploaded by popefucker. - Classic TV and last nights shows, online.

In this fourth film short titled Busters Dog to the Rescue, Buster Brown is once again portrayed as a nasty brat. Buster is told to leave the box of cookies alone. When he persists, they are placed high out of his reach. When Buster is caught trying to climb a ladder to get them, he is spanked and then tied to a chair. But what Buster wants, Buster gets. Buster calls Tige and directs Tige to climb the ladder and retrieve the cookies.

1904 - Busters Dog to the Rescue

Busters Dog to the Rescue
Uploaded by popefucker. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.

In this final Edison film short, we see many dogs of many breeds. Mannie makes an appearance in the final seconds to attack a man.

Dogsbite.org just pointed out that the final customer requested a FIGHTING BULL. Apparently the little Boston Bull wasnt game enough. good catch!

1904 - Dog Factory

1904 - Dog Factory
Uploaded by popefucker. - Classic TV and last nights shows, online.

Mannie starred in other film shorts. He is considered the first dog star and went on to become famous in Vaudville. In the 1901 film titled Pie, Tramp and the Bulldog, Mannie scuffles with a Tramp over a pie. The film ends with the Tramp running off and Mannie hanging onto the seat of his pants. There is no film of this one, I relied on the description in the Internet Movie Data Base.

Mannie also appeared in a 1901 boxing film. Mannie wildly jumps up and down trying to get a hold of a punching bag suspended from the ceiling. Mannie finally knocks it down and provides the audience with a fine performance of bite, hold and shake.

Laura Comstocks Bag-Punching Dog

It seems that pit bulldogs were the dog of choice in Edisons films. If you needed a dog to bite, hold and shake, jump up tirelessly or attack other dogs and people, the pit bulldog was the only logical choice. The reoccurring pit bulldog in Edisons film shorts may have helped contribute to the myth that Thomas Edison owned a pit bull.

More information on Buster Brown, Tige and Mannie

famous pit bull owners: the thomas alva edison edition

dog breed history lesson: the boxer

http://michelesworld.net/dmm/frog/gremlin/buster.htm

http://www.weirdwildrealm.com/f-busterbrownseries.html

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/busterbrown/index.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231959/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_F._Outcault

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Brown

Pie, Tramp and the the Bulldog

order a Tige t-shirt from zazzle

That is one creepy looking dog!

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Dog Traveling Etiquette and Safety

      I’ve made a post about traveling and carsickness but I haven’t made a post about general dog traveling etiquette. The main thing about dog traveling etiquette is that you can’t just let your dog have his big head completely out of the car and trying to get it taken off by a truck.  I very much hate it when I see dogs that have their head so far out the window that it looks like they’re about to fall out of the car.
               
     I also hate when I see people with their dogs in their lap, not only that but the dog is trying to look out of the driver’s side window as the person is trying to drive.  Now, Titus does have a bad habit of wanting to sit in my lap, but if he wiggles too much, he’s out because that’s dangerous for both of us, for him to just be wiggling all over my lap as I’m trying to get from point A to point B.
               
     Frequent barkers are also very  bad to travel with.  It’s disrupting to you as a driver to have a dog barking in your ear the entire way, and it’s distracting depending on what the dog is barking at.  If it is inner city and the dog is just barking at walkers, then that most definitely needs to be handled as quick as possible.
              
     I basically give my dogs the entire back seat.  I know that you’re supposed to have little dog car seats and dog seatbelts and whatever else, but that’s one of those things that I just don’t do.  I should, I give you that, but for one dog, it’s just easier to put him in a crate and in the front seat on the floor as he doesn’t care either way and the girl would wiggle her way out of the dog seatbelt or shiver the entire time.  However, I’m considering investing in these things depending on how much more they will be traveling.

              
      Another necessary thing for traveling dogs is a grill.  Not the kind that goes in your mouth or the kind you cook with, it’s a wire rack that looks like something they’d have in a cop car and its purpose is to prevent dogs from getting in the front seat.  This doesn’t actually work for me as mine go under the seat and wiggle to the front that way if necessary, but for big dogs, these things are amazing.

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Training your dog to walk on a loose leash dog video

Walking your dog should be fun and easy, not a challenge. Sometimes your dog can take the fun out of walking him by not behaving properly on the leash. Train your dog that pulling on the leash, wandering, and not paying attention to you is not acceptable. Not only will this make walking your dog easier, but it will also keep your dog safe.

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Bacterial Infections in Dogs

In dogs, bacterial infection can be treated by antibiotics; but to determine which antibiotics to administer, the vet will have to carry out a proper diagnosis. On your end, having a rough idea about the condition can help you carry out a preliminary diagnosis and take your pet to a vet well in time.

Dogs are susceptible to a variety of bacterial and viral infections, some of which can even prove fatal for them. Skin, eye, ear, urinary tract, kidneys, nervous system and even the respiratory system of the dog is vulnerable to such bacterial infections. Even minor infections can lead to severe dog health problems when left untreated, and therefore it is necessary to identify the problem and initiate treatment at the earliest.

Bacterial Skin Infections: Staphylococcal pyoderma is a skin condition in dogs caused by a Staphylococcus sp. infection. This bacteria is in fact a part of the dogs normal skin flora. However, in case of wounded skin, or skin that has aberrations and cuts, the bacterium may enter under the skin and cause skin infections. A staph infection in dogs is characterized by itchiness, crusted skin, pustules and small, raised lesions. As the severity of the infection increases, there is loss of hair, and dried discharge is given out in the affected area. Most of the time, it affects the superficial layer of the dogs skin. However, if there is deep laceration then the inner folds of the skin are also affected. To treat skin infections in dogs, topical medication along with antibiotic doses is prescribed, especially to eliminate recurrence of the disease.

Leptospirosis Infections: Leptospirosis affects both humans and animals throughout the world. Leptospirosis is caused by a group of bacteria called Spirochaetes. This highly contagious disease affects dogs when they come in contact with urine of infected animals or contaminated stagnant water. Transmission is also seen via mating, being bitten by another infected dog, or through the consumption of infected carcasses (seen in case of wild dogs rather than pet dogs). The initial signs of Leptospirosis are fever, redness of the mucous membranes and depression. This is often accompanied by vomiting. The dog seems to ache all over and becomes extremely lethargic. In extreme cases, dogs may develop kidney inflammation, causing permanent damage to the kidney.

Brucellosis Infection: Brucellosis in dogs, is caused by Brucella canis bacteria. The transmission of the bacteria is through the mucous membranes. The bacteria may hence enter the body through nose, mouth, conjunctiva of the eye and the vagina. It is commonly transmitted via mating, and hence usually occurs in the breeding season. While the male dogs may develop prostatitis, the infected pregnant females abort their fetuses; if born, puppies die shortly afterwards. It should be noted, that Brucella canis can also cause disease in humans. 

Actinomycosis and Nocardiosis Infection: While Actinomycosis is caused by the Actinomyces sp., the causative agent of Nocardiosis is Nocardia sp., mainly those living in the soil. Both these infections are usually caused by the bacteria entering the skin wounds and other abscesses. Both of these diseases are uncommon and usually result in the swelling of the lymph nodes around the wounded site. If the infection is carried deeper into the body, it may break into the chest or the abdomen, causing pus to accumulate there.

Streptococcal Infections: Streptococcal infections caused by various species of the genus Streptococcus are prevalent among puppies and older dogs due to a weakened immune system.

Staphylococcal Infection: Caused by the Staphylococcus sp., these bacterial infections affect the upper respiratory tract of animals or the skin of the host. It is usually transmitted between animals. The disease also has a zoonotic risk attached to it (i.e. it can be transmitted from an infected dog to a human being).

Plague in Dogs: A bacterial infection caused by the Yersinia pestis, plague is usually transmitted in dogs by rodent fleas. Dogs can become infected through the bite of infected fleas or by eating a rodent, rabbit or other animal carrying infected fleas. However, in contrast to other domestic animals, dogs are pretty resistant to this bacterial infection and may develop only swollen lymph nodes.

Bacterial Ear Infections: Numerous types of bacteria, and a yeast species called Malassezia pachydermatis, cause ear infections in dogs. While a normal, healthy dog has good defense against these organisms, environmental changes, dog allergies, hormone abnormalities or moisture, can make the ear susceptible to a bacterial or yeast infection.

If you find signs of bacterial infection in your dog, it is important that you take them to the veterinarian, to ascertain the cause of the disease. Based on the type of infection, the vet may recommend various treatment options, such as antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications, allergy shots or certain shampoos. Remember, that by making dietary changes and regular exercising, the dogs immune system can be strengthened in order to help it ward off the infection.

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Four simple tips to improve your dogs behavior — 1 Sit

Almost everyone teaches their dog to sit. Thats great. It is the ultimate building block.
Many people almost intuitively know how to teach a sit.
But just as many people dont, and even those who do know may not understand why it is that what theyre doing works.

How sit improves a dog behavior
As I said earlier, sit is the ultimate building block command.
Sit lays the groundwork for a sit-stay, and a sit-stay (tomorrows tip) will come in handy in a variety of situations. Sit-stay also helps the dog learn patience, which is a valuable skill that transcends into almost all aspects of behavior.

How to teach a sit
This is an age-old method. People use it even when they dont know why it works. Teach it while your dog is a puppy and it is almost always a breeze for the puppy to pick up on.
I have met one adult shelter dog in my life who this doesnt work for. My guess is that somebody unknowingly used this method to teach a different behavior and now the dog doesnt associate it with sit.

OK, here it is:
1) Cup treat in hand. Put hand close to dogs nose. Wait until you are sure dog knows a treat is in your hand. You might want to make the treat partially visible.
2) Move your hand backward over the dogs nose and backwards so you wind up over the dogs eyes. What youre going for here is having the dog follow your hand with its eyes. You should find that, when your hand moves back-and-over the head to the point that the dog is having a hard time seeing it, he will automatically sit his butt down so that he can remain in view of the treat. This is the why of why this old training method works like a charm — its all about positioning the treat so the dog feels he has to sit to remain in view of it.
3) Give reward as soon as butt touches ground.

Keep doing this, saying Sit while putting your treat hand over the dogs head.

Most dogs pick up on this one really quickly. Remember to keep using the hand signal until it seems like second nature, then, you can begin taking the hand signal out of the equation. If the dog does not respond to the verbal command, bring back out the hand command.

It is important that the hand and verbal commands are simultaneous — so, your hand moves back at the exact moment you say Sit.

The dog will learn, over time, to associate the hand command with the verbal command. This will make it easier to start dropping the hand command all together.

Personally, though, I like the hand commands. Dogs almost always learn physical cues before verbal cues. My dog is eight and a half years old now. I can give him almost all his commands silently — with physical cues only — as well as entirely verbally (not giving any physical cues).

If youre looking for something to impress guests with, thatll do it. People think the dog and I share brainwaves or something, but thats not it at all. Just physical cues vs. verbal cues ...

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Man Sentenced for Dog Abuse

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/09/19/15403041.html

This story is flat out creepy. Apparently the man tied a condom around the dog’s genitalia and in the end, his penis was so mutilated that he had to be euthanized. I can’t even imagine how bad that had to have been to have to be euthanized over that. The funny part is the man was on parole for manslaughter at the time that it happened. Someone shouldn’t have gotten out of jail.
They always talk about how people that harm animals would likely do it to a human, too, I guess it’s something about the amount of the thrill you get from it, who knows.

Also, legally, he’s got his four months of jail time (not enough) for unnecessary pain and suffering and then he’s banned from owning pets for five years after he gets out. My question is how are they going to know if he has pets or not? It’s not like the local pet stores are going to know about his situation and it’s also not like back yard breeders are even going to care. It’s just one of those things that really no one cares about once he gets out. It’s horrible while he’s in, but unless someone is knocking on his door daily, it’s easy for him to purchase and house new animals, especially if he’s going to torture them anyway. I do hope he never has animals again, though, really. I’m not usually a person that insists that a person who has a great dane and doesn’t have a backyard doesn’t deserve the dog, but he’s a crazy. Crazies don’t deserve dogs.

Last, I’m kind of curious as to what “necessary” pain and suffering would be when it comes to animals. I can see necessary pain, like if an alligator starts chomping on your arm, it’s pretty necessary to cause him pain to get him to stop, likely, but what about things like choke collars and shock collars? Aren’t those unnecessary pain? And yet we used them all the time.. for things like… pulling and barking, things that would take maybe a month to correct.

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Dog Food Vitamins

Our dogs health is closely related to the balance achieved in the diet. We must be aware that dog food rich in vitamins, but not to excess in this respect. Absence or presence of excess of the main vitamins can harm your dog and you come to visit the veterinarians office. Here is what risks exist in food-vitamins equation and how it affected our dog:

VITAMIN A: has the following events: young dogs develop defective and deformed bones may compress surrounding tissues, causing nervous disorders, epithelium is hipercheratinizeaza, flaking and ulcerates. Another effect is to reduce vizulae acuity in twilight. It can occur in severe stages, intestinal bleeding / lung and liver and kidney tissue degeneration.

Hypovitaminosis

Hypervitaminosis can cause jaundice carotene.

VITAMIN B:

Hypovitaminosis B1 generates polyneuritis, polymyositis, neuralgia, muscle pain, digestive disorders, heart, accompanied by hypothermia. One of the forms of this imbalance, so called Chastek disease, occurs after feeding raw fish.


Hypovitaminosis B2 slows the development is slow, there are diseases of the skin, cornea and lens opacification.

Hypovitaminosis B6 lead to retarded growth, anemia, nerve disorders, muscle fatigue, vomiting.

VITAMIN C:

Hypovitaminosis cause scurvy, characterized by abnormalities in the development of youth teeth, bones, prone to spontaneous bleeding, and in adults manifested by fatigue, small hemorrhages in the skin, gums, lining of digestive hemorrhage followed by necrosis, decreases body resistance.

Vitamin D:

Hypervitaminosis cause hypercalcaemia, hiperfosforemie, anorexia, constipation, pruritus, agitation, migration of salts of phosphorous in the kidneys, myocardium, stiffening of joints.

Hypovitaminosis determine the occurrence of rickets with hypocalcemia youth, abnormal development of limb bones, ribs, sternum, both delayed teething, milk teeth and change. In adult dogs, vitamin D deficiency causes bone deformity, pain on movement, secondary bone deformities can occur, paresis, paralysis, loss of muscle tone.

Vitamin E:

Hypovitaminosis favors muscular dystrophies and liver.

Hypervitaminosis is studied.

Vitamin K: blood clotting is necessary and participate in processes of cellular respiration.

Hypovitaminosis cause bleeding due to delay or inability to produce clotting process itself.

Hypervitaminosis not an element of study, because excess vitamin K is very easy to remove urine, feces or milk.

The most important aspect that should be taken into account is that the doses and times where / when administered certain vitamins are required to be decided by your dogs veterinarian.

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Human babies versus Dogs

A lot of people consider their dogs second children or however you want to say that and some people think of dogs as “just dogs”. I am in between that medium, I guess. I do really think that if you own a dog from puppyhood to adulthood and it has no behavioral problems, you have basically raised a child and are far more prepared to care for a human child than you would be if you hadn’t raised a dog before.

It is hard to raise a baby animal, cat, dog, exotic, or human. They’re cute and sweet and they need nearly 24/hr watching. The only reason human babies are a little harder is because they cost more, in the sense that while you can leave your puppy or kitten crated for 2-3 hours while you leave the house, you can’t do that with your baby. Your baby would have to have a babysitter or go to daycare, or you can take it with you. Aside from that difference, you’re facing about the same thing. You’ve got to feed your puppy or kitten around the clock, and you spend more time outside than you do in your house if it’s a puppy. If it’s a kitten, you’re constantly jumping up to see what he’s getting into since he’s so much smaller.

The good part about human babies is that for that first year, they’re not getting into too much, but then they hit their toddler stage which is basically the first 2-3 years of a dog or cat’s life since they start walking faster. The good part about puppies or kittens is that after 2-3 years of their toddler stage, they’re down and out for the rest of their life. At some point, your child will also become self-sufficient, however, dogs and cats never become that way. You’ll always have to feed them, water them, make sure everything’s okay, check their butts, make sure they pooped, that it looked okay, all that kind of stuff.

Taken from somewhere:
"Today I got my second lot of friends who are now practising their parental skills by adopting a dog... Are they still sane or what? I like them but I think a dog really is NOT the same as a baby so I wonder where the practice is.
A pup (in age to be adopted) will sleep through the night in their new home within a week.
A pup will need 3 feeds a day (not 6) and they can eat by themselves.
A pup will/should stop messing on the carpet in the first 2 months
A pup only need a walk and fresh air twice a day (baby needs attending around 10 hours a day)
A dog will never throw a tantrum in public.
A dog will not talk back to you.
You cant take your dog to Disneyland
Your dog will never say I love you and
Youll never have the satisfaction to go to your dogs graduation as they always seem to stall at the Sit Turn and Roll commands.
Can someone please enlighten me as to why some people think raising a dog is the same as raising a child?
Thank you in advance."

I can’t reply on the site because questioning is closed, but that’s fine, I’ll reply to it here because I’m awesome like that. Yes, these people are very sane, but this poster doesn’t know what dog owning consists of, clearly, because their dog would be screwed over. First, puppies do not sleep through the night within a week. They can’t hold their bladder for that long and if they’re crate training, you will be getting up through the night to take him out, probably 2-3 times. If you don’t take the time out for this, they will not be properly potty trained. Also, if you’re not prompt with it, they will go on themselves and you don’t want that because that messes with them psychologically, it goes against everything is natural to dogs. Next. Sure, a puppy only needs three feedings a day, I’ll go with that one. However, I’m a raw feeder and thusly I have to watch my dog eat for the entire hour that he eats (then it’s back outside for a potty break and then you have to make sure they don’t play too much so they don’t end up with diarrhea or have their stomach turn). A puppy will mess the carpet for a YEAR. I don’t care how great your training is, your puppy will have mistakes for potentially up to a year and you should expect nothing less. Just because puppies only need one or two walks a day, doesn’t mean they don’t need a ton of attention. After you feed, take it out 10 times a day, take it for a walk, and supervise it, that time is pretty equal to the time spent with a waking baby. Dogs throw tantrums in public. It’s when they bark and growl at random people or when they sit down and won’t follow you, or when they run in the opposite direction when you’re calling them. Those are called tantrums and they have them. Dogs don’t talk back, one of the benefits. I take my dog to dog parks, which is like Disneyland to them. Dog parks are cheaper. My dog can’t say I love you. I’m fine with that, because when in the middle of the night he noses my cheek to cuddle with me, it’s about equal. As far as training, kids hesitate too, it’s why the graduation rate in America is less than 50% of people that start school. At least the dog is always willing to learn, kids aren’t that.

There. That’s why people think raising a dog is very akin to raising a child. Any other questions?

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