After reading this article, I thought it would be interesting
to share it with you. I, myself have four dogs in my household,
(2-males and 2-females). It is truly a challenge and if you do not
have the time, don't do it.
Before you bring
a second dog into
your home
So you’re thinking about adding another dog to your
family.
Congratulations and our sympathy at the same
time. A second dog can add an extra special family
member and yet at the same time provide many
headaches.
Our goal here at the Humane Society of Santa
Clara Valley is to place each dog in a PERMANENT
and loving home.
In order for us to reach this objective,
we need your help. You can support us in this aim by
being fully prepared for a second dog and what it may
do to your family. Please truthfully ask yourself the
following questions:
Ask yourself before you get
that second dog:
1. Do you have additional funds (money) to pay
for a second set of yearly vaccinations, food, toys,
crates, licenses, and training classes? The average
yearly cost of adding a second dog into your household
is about $350.
2. Do you have spare time right now that you can
willingly fill with cleaning the yard, grooming a
second animal, training a second dog, feeding and
exercising a second dog? You can count on spending
about an additional five hours per week with your dogs
when you add that second dog to your household.
3. Do you have additional funds to pay for damage
your second dog may cause to your house or yard?
(Or that your first dog, or heaven forbid, both dogs may
do to your household?) Adding a new dog can cause
your old dog to misbehave. Then you may have two
destructive dogs.
4. Are you ready to deal with some canine rivalry?
Dogs have a natural pecking order, one dog must be
dominant, and the other submissive. Dominant dogs
eat first, get petted first, go through doorways first, are
able to hog all the toys and bones, get the leash put on
first, and get the choice sleeping spot. To avoid any
aggression you need to treat the dominant dog as the
“TOP DOG” even if you think it is not fair. Your old
dog may be the submissive member in the pack. Are
you ready to treat him as such? (Dogs do not view the
world in terms of fairness or equality. If you try to treat
your dog “pack” fairly you may undermine the dominant
dog’s position and cause him to become even more
aggressive toward the submissive dog because he feels
his position is threatened.)
5. Is your current dog friendly to most other dogs
and people? The chances of finding a second dog to
get along with your dog who may be a bully is quite
slim. However, training your current dog can make him
more accepting of other dogs. So if you really want a
second dog, attend a training class with your current dog
first. If your current dog is not friendly toward people,
your new dog may learn to be shy as well. Do you really
want two fearful dogs in your house then?
6. Does your old dog have any behavior problems
such as excessive barking, destruction, aggression
or fearfulness? Dogs mimic and learn from each
other. So if you are getting a new dog in the hopes your
old dog will not bark as much, you may end up with
TWO barking dogs instead of none like you planned.
Or vice versa! The new dog may teach your old dog
that barking, digging, getting into the garbage, stealing
your underwear, or chewing is awfully fun! A dog who
already has behavior problems is not cured by getting
him a playmate. In fact, in many cases they become
worse. You need to work with your current dog to
resolve his behavior problems first, before you can
successfully add a second dog to your family.
7. Have you recently had a change in your family
such as marriage, divorce, job change, death, a new
baby, new room-mate, or moved to a new residence?
These are all very high stresses that can cause you and
your dog to react negatively to the addition of a new
friend. It is better to wait until all major changes in your
life are settled and your household is once again serene.
8. Do you really like your dog the way he/she is
now? Adding a second dog to your household WILL
change your dog in many ways. Are you ready to accept
that? If you really like a dog that is people-friendly, then
do not get another dog. Dogs, given the opportunity
will bond to each other, rather than you. Think of it this
way, if your dog is spending more time with his new
buddy (let’s say at least 12 hours a day), who do you
think he is going to be more attached to? The one he
spends the most time with of course! Certainly not you,
if you only spend eight hours at home and your dog
spends six of those hours outside with his new buddy.
scoring your answers
If you have answered truthfully to all the questions above
and have come up with even one “NO” on questions 1
through 5, then this is a bad time for you to add a second
family member to your household. Wait until you can
answer questions 1 through 5 with a resounding “YES”
before looking for that special addition. If you answered
“YES” to questions 6 or 7, then you need to think very
long and hard about adding a second dog to your
household as it may have disastrous effects on your entire
family “pack”.
Question 8 was added just to help you understand that
your dog will change with the addition of another dog in
your household. Some people report their old dogs are
happier and more playful with another dog around, but
more often, people report that their old dog seems
unhappy and unsure about things.
Did you answer all questions 1-5 with a “YES” and
questions 6-7 with a “NO”? Then you are in a good
position to adopt a second dog into your household! It
will take some extra work, patience and understanding
on your part to learn to live with two dogs, but your new
dog and hopefully your current dog, will thank you for
it!
If you have any questions about adding a second dog to
your family, please call the Humane Society of Santa
Clara Valley’s free Animal Behavior Helpline at (408)
727-3383, extension 753
Monday, February 25, 2008
An interesting article by the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley.
Posted by
patskc
at
10:12 AM
0
comments
Monday, February 18, 2008
A good sharing
This is what bad spelling looks like.
This is what sorry looks like.

and this is what intimacy looks like.


Posted by
patskc
at
11:29 AM
0
comments
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Nutrition or Not.
I know that, there are many views, varying from different canine experts on this area. I won't attempt to prove who has got the best approach, but I will give my own opinion in this.
As you have already know that millions and millions of dollars are being spent by top pet food companies to create nutritionally balance and complete products. So adding supplements to a basic food diet is not necessary, as some will suggest.
Raising your dog on home prepared meals is alright, if it is supervised by a nutritionist.
I believed, that giving your dog an occasional treat or nutritious snack will do no harm. Commercially prepared diets may be lacking in certain vitamins and roughage. To improve, you can give your dog daily some raw apples, carrots and some crunchy dog biscuits.
However, I will not suggest any table scraps because they are usually high in fats, causing loose stools. Proper snaking on fruits, vegetables, and roughage, will promote proper digestion. At times, I give my dogs pro-biotics, to assist good digestion. Try to start your dog young, to form good eating habits.
Crunchy food, carrots, apples, and veal bones, will help in cleaning up his teeth, scraping off tartar, along the surface of the tooth.
Caution: Be very careul when selecting a bone, as this may cause constipation, and death because if a splinter from the bone is ingested, it can penertrate internal organs and do much damage.
Nylon bones and rawhide is a safe bet.
Posted by
patskc
at
10:28 AM
0
comments
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ear "INSPECTION!"
I cannot emphasize enough on this topic because, I am guilty of laziness and negligence leading to my companion having to visit the Vet. It is alright, if it happens once in a while, but if otherwise then please readjust.
The ears should be routinely inspected. Look out for bugs, burrs, dirt and scratching.
Symptoms of ear problem:
# Constant shaking of the head
# Rubbing the ears with the paws.
# Rubbing the ears with paws while lying sideways on the ground.
# Excessive earwax.
# Redness or swelling.
# Foul ordor coming from the ears.
If you encounter these problem, then please take Fido to the Vet. You do not have the skills to treat him.
However, there are some things you could to avoid these problems, and the success rate will be dependent on your patience and action.
Use a torch, a small one wll do and look into his ear to lookout for dirt and abnormal ear wax. You can routinely swap the outer area of the ear, the layer that is easily reach with a cotton ball which you can purchase from the pet shop, which are already dampened with an ear cleaning liquid, or water. If not then use any cotton ball and moist it with warm water.
Never probe deep inside the ear canal as this can bring great pain, and you can easily damage this sensitive organ.
If cleanliness is a continual problem, then I suggest you ask your Vet for some ointments for cleaning the outer ears. If you are buying one from the pet shop, avoid any oily compound, which may be sticky and pick up more dirt and that will compound the problem.
Most Vet, will give you instructions to do the cleaning at home if your dog have a chronc ear problem.
One of the most common ear problems are simple abrasions, and your Vet, will tell you what to apply. Otitis, (cause by bacteria or mites) the inflammation of the ear, can be treated by your Vet. If your dog shows signs of sensitivity, when you touches its ears, then he could be harboring a ear infection, and would require the attention of the Veterinarian.
Deafness can be the tragic results of untreated or incorrect treatment of ear infection.
Posted by
patskc
at
9:40 AM
0
comments
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Some Dog Recipes for training time.
Hello, my friends! I apologize for not being consistent in updating for the past months. I will not let that happen again, unless it is an emergency.
I will tell you why, even though you are not interested. I am involve with a dog shelter now, just helping out, because there are just too many poor strays, and there is just not enough food to go around.
I may set up a website to ask for donation or dog food for the helpless animals. Hope for your kindness.
That is that and tonight, I would like to give you a few recipes on treats, to save some pennies, just kidding.
!st recipe
How to stuff your Kong(TM)
Place suitable size dog biscuit, to cover bottom hole.
Put peanut butter next.
Next add some dog food mixing it with cut pieces of apples, carrots, rock melons, and cheese.
Finally plug the top hole with dog biscuit, and you will be delighted to see some of the adorable, and sweetest action your canine friend take while trying to get at the food.
2nd recipe
How to prepare a delicious liver treat?
1. Take a generous amount of liver and slice it to about 1 1/2 to 2 cm, as you wish.
2. Use cold water in a pot, and place the cut livers inside.
3. Cook the liver till boiling temperature, while stirring it occasionally.
4. Once boiling, you can turn down the heat and simmer until it is cooked thoroughly.
5. Next drain the water from the liver and place them on a greased baking sheet.
6. You can now sprinkle as much as you please, with garlic powder and give it more flavor
with a little bit of powdered cheese. Remember only a little.
7. Finally, place the baking sheet and baked at 300 degrees Farenheit for about 30 minutes.
Hope you enjoy yourself, Cheers
Posted by
patskc
at
12:34 PM
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