Shout About Pets

When you first get your puppy you may be initially swamped by the sheer weight of responsibility this little creature suddenly puts upon you or you may simply be bewitched by the cuteness of your new little bundle of fun.  However don’t forget to start setting boundaries straight away.  Training at the early stages of puppy hood is the best time to start and you are much more likely to have success.  If you leave it later on habits will have formed and you have a bigger challenge on your hands.  Here are some top tips for training:

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Dalmatians were made globally famous by Dodie Smith’s famous children’s novel ‘101 Dalmatians’.  They are easily recognised by their distinctive while coat spattered with black spots and it is believed they originated from Dalmatia in Croatia.

From a character point of view Dalmatians are courageous, loyal and intelligent.  They have bundles of energy and have long been a popular choice with US fire departments for their fire station mascots.  In the past they worked running ahead of fire trucks clearing the way ahead.  These days they are primarily companion dogs and although they have always been a popular breed they are most definitely making a big come back.

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The registered charity Pet Blood Bank UK (PBBuk) was launched in March 2007 and since then has received over three hundred blood donations.  Unsurprisingly the charity is looking out for more.  You may not realise this but from just one donation from your pet up to four animals can be helped. 

The law was changed in October 2005 which now allows for pet blood to be stored for the first time.   Pet Blood Bank UK was therefore established to collect, separate and store pet blood that can then be supplied to vets as and when required across the UK.

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The benefits that a pet can bring to its owner are well documented with animal therapy being a treatment in its own right for helping people recover from traumatic experiences, physical injury and behavioural issues.  Dogs in particular play a massive role in our society supporting vulnerable people and giving them greater access to live their lives.  The most archetypal image is the golden Labrador with its blind owner.  These expertly trained animals give those people suffering from loss of sight the ability to leave the confines of their homes and get out and about.

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No matter whether your dog is long haired or short haired there will be times when you need to bath your dog. When choosing a breed research how much time you need to groom and care for your dog’s coat as some of the longer haired breeds will need considerable attention and you’ll also need to pay for their coats to be trimmed.

My dog Tashi is a Shih Tzu. One of the benefits to his breed is that they don’t shed hair but consequently I need to get him cut every six to eight weeks which on average costs around £25.00 per cut. As Tashi likes to ramble and is magnetically drawn to any puddle or patch of mud in the vacinity he often needs bathing in between cuts.

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Exercising Your Dog

If you are something of a couch potato then think again before choosing a dog as your pet.  Dogs need exercise not just to maintain their physical health but to also maintain their psychological health too. 

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I saw a wonderful programme last night with Martin Clunes, a big dog lover, tracing back the dog ancestry to its roots in the wild.  He made a lovely statement that no matter how much you dressed it up if you had a dog you were sharing your home with a wolf!  As I sat curled up on the sofa with Tashi, a cuddly teddy bear of a shih tzu and Harvey, a much more imposing figure of a large basset hound, I was intrigued by the show immediately.  Where did these cute and funny characters originate from?

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Toxoplasmosis is a condition that is known to infect many people across the UK.  It is caused by a parasite and humans are often unaware that they are infected as the symptoms are very similar to that of flu and our immune systems are often robust enough to deal with the infection efficiently.  However if you are pregnant or have small children toxoplasmosis must be avoided as it can be deadly when it infects lesser developed immune systems such as that of a foetus and is known to cause miscarriage.

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My friend was telling me last week about her mum’s dog, Deefer, which had taken to chewing on its own hair and pulling out. This was due to her mum being suddenly rushed into hospital leaving not only an anxious and lost dog at home but an equally lost and confused husband!

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When talking to dog owners I often hear them lamenting how restrictive having a dog is.  You can’t go on holiday, nip to the pub or take off on a day trip out without worrying about leaving the dog behind.

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