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Ten facts about dogs

The average dog is as smart as a 2-year-old toddler.
There’s a reason your tot and your pup get along so well: they speak the same language. Or at least, they likely understand roughly the same number of words and gestures — 250!

Dogs and cats both slurp water the same way.
This may be hard to believe since dogs are such messy drinkers, but just like cats, our canine friends bend the tip of their tongue and raise liquid in a column up to their mouths.

Your dog does have a sense of time — and misses you when you’re gone.
If you think your dog knows when it’s time for dinner or a walk, you’re right! Dogs pick up on our routines and habits, and they also sense how much time has passed. One study showed how dogs responded differently to their owners being gone for different lengths of time.

Your dog’s whiskers help him “see” in the dark.
Okay, it’s not quite night-vision or a super power, but those whiskers pick up on even subtle changes in air currents, providing your pup with information about the size, shape, and speed of things nearby. This allows your dog to better sense approaching dangers or prey — even at night.

Dogs only have sweat glands in their paws.
More specifically, they are found between their paw pads. That’s why it can help to wet the bottom of their feet on a hot day, and it’s also why dogs rely on panting as a means of cooling down.

On average, a dog’s mouth exerts 320 pounds of pressure.
The tests were done on a German shepherd, American pit bull terrier, and Rottweiler. In comparison, human beings exert 120 pounds, white sharks exert 600 pounds, and crocodiles exert a whopping 2,500 pounds! Dogs also have ten more adult teeth than humans — 42 versus 32.

Your one year-old pup is as physically mature as a 15-year-old human.
Of course, different breeds age a little differently. Large dogs age faster than small ones.

Your dog’s sense of smell is 1,000 to 10 million times better than yours.
Depending on the breed, your dog has between 125 million to 300 million scent glands — compared to only 5 million for humans. And the part of your dog’s brain that controls smell is 40 times larger than yours — that’s true, even though the canine brain is much smaller than the human, relative to size. A human’s brain is about 1/40th of their body weight while a dog’s brain is only 1/125th. Don’t feel too smug, though — an ant’s brain is 1/7th its body weight.

Dogs can hear 4 times as far as humans.
Puppies may be born deaf, but they quickly surpass our heating abilities. Dogs can also hear higher pitched sounds, detecting a frequency range of 67 to 45,000 hertz (cycles per second). The human range is from 64 to 23,000 hertz. In both dogs and humans, the upper end of hearing range decreases with age.

Your dog can smell your feelings.
Your pup can pick up on subtle changes in your scent, which can help him figure out how you are feeling — such as by smelling your perspiration when you become nervous or fearful. It’s also likely how dogs can detect certain diseases or know that a household member is pregnant.

Dog's Body language

Dogs can’t tell us in words what they’re thinking and feeling because they don’t have to. They’re expressing themselves constantly through motion and body language — intention times emotion equals energy. Once we learn how to understand these, a whole world of communication with our dogs opens up.

The messages dogs communicate with their body language can be subtle, but with careful attention, most people can learn to recognize and interpret the most important meanings. It’s crucial to know when your dog’s happy, when he’s playful, when he’s worried or scared, when he’s feeling uncertain or insecure about something or someone, and when he’s feeling upset and potentially angry. As long as you can recognize these messages, you can interact with him confidently and safely, and you can protect him when he needs protection.

Happy, Contented
When your dog is happy, he has relaxed body language. His muscles are relaxed, his tail and ears are held in their natural positions, and he looks neither large nor small for his physique. He might wag his tail from side to side or in a circular motion. His facial expression is neutral or he appears happy—the muscles in his face are relaxed, his mouth is closed or slightly opened, and he might be panting with a regular tempo. The corners of his mouth (called the commissure) might be turned upwards slightly, as though he’s smiling.

Alert
When your dog is alert, he looks intense and focused. He stands upright with his weight centered on all fours, his ears are up and forward, and his head and neck are erect. He holds his tail either in its natural position or vertically, possibly even over his back. His tail is rigid and immobile. His gaze is directed toward whatever he‘s detected. His mouth is typically closed. He might growl or bark. The hair on his shoulders or back may or may not be raised.

Excited
When your dog is excited, he looks as intense as he does when he’s alert, but he might also adopt a playful demeanor. His body is ready for action. He looks natural in size, but his weight might be centered over his rear legs as he prepares to move. His ears are up and his tail is held high, and it may or may not wag. He looks at the individual or object that’s the source of his excitement. Excited dogs often hold their mouths open, and they might bark.

Aroused

When your dog is aroused, you might have a hard time distinguishing it from when he’s alert or excited. The only time it’s useful to know the difference is when the arousal pushes him closer to feeling frightened or aggressive. An aroused dog almost always has his hackles up. However, just about everything else about his body language depends on whether he’s feeling scared, uncertain or angry. His body may look normal-sized or larger, his ears might be flattened to the side or held forward, and his tail might be held low, in a normal position or high. He may or may not be looking directly at an individual or object. Sometimes there’s nothing in the environment that’s obvious to us, but a dog can be aroused by a sound that we can’t hear or an odor that we can’t smell.

Playful
It’s fairly easy to detect when your dog’s feeling playful. His body movements are jerky and bouncy. He might bounce around in exaggerated twists, turns and leaps. He might dodge around you, paw at you and then take off running to invite a chase. Or he might just jump on you and start mouthing. Dogs enjoy a variety of play styles, including chase games (in which the dog is either the chaser or the chasee), rough-and-tumble (wrestling or tackle) games, and games of “keep-away” with an object, like a toy or stick. Almost all play is interspersed with the characteristic “play bow” that’s common across all dogs. When your dog play bows, he bounces into position with his forelegs on the ground and his hind legs extended so that his rear sticks up. This signal is extremely important because so much of dog play consists of aggressive behaviors and dominant postures. The play bow tells a dog’s playmate, “Anything that comes after this is play, so please don’t take it seriously.” Some dogs also show a “play face,” a happy facial expression characterized by a partially open mouth that almost looks as though the dog is smiling. A playful dog might also growl or make high-pitched barks.

Fearful, Scared
When your dog is scared, he does his best to look small. Often, his body looks hunched, with his tail held low or tucked between his rear legs and his ears flattened back on his skull. He might cower close to the ground. If escape is possible, he might lean so that his center of gravity is over his rear legs to permit a hasty retreat, or lean to the side so that he can recoil. He might look directly at the source of his fear or he might look away. The muscles of his body and face are tense and rigid. He might yawn in an exaggerated way.

Dominant
During interaction with a person or another dog, dogs sometimes convey a confident, assertive attitude that’s often called “dominant.” If your dog is feeling dominant, he stands tall, sometimes on his tiptoes, and tries to look large. He arches his neck. He appears tense, like a coiled spring. His weight is squarely on all four feet or he’s leaning forward slightly. His ears are up and oriented forward. His tail is high and rigid, sometimes flagging or quivering at the end. His hair may or may not be standing up on his shoulders or along his back. He usually makes direct eye contact with the other individual. He might growl, but his mouth will typically be closed.

Submissive
If your dog is feeling submissive while he interacts with a person or another dog, he tries to convey the message that he’s the underling, that he’s not a threat and that aggression is unnecessary. During active submission, he makes his body look small by hunching over and getting low to the ground. He holds his tail low or tucked, sometimes rapidly wagging it back and forth. He flattens his ears or holds them off to the sides of his head. He keeps his neck low to the ground, but he turns his muzzle up toward the other individual. He might nuzzle, lick or flick his tongue. He averts his gaze so as not to look directly at the other individual. Some dogs, particularly puppies, urinate.

Your dog might switch from active submission to a more passive position, in which he lies down and rolls over on his back to display his inguinal area (his genitalia). During passive submission, your dog might lie still, or he might paw at the other individual. He looks away. He might whine. Some dogs, particularly puppies, urinate in this position.

Fearfully Aggressive
If your dog is fearfully aggressive he won’t look any different than when he’s fearful, except that he might show his teeth and growl. Some fearful dogs never escalate to aggression, but others will if they feel there’s no escape. A fearful dog isn’t likely to bite a person or other animal unless all avenues for escape are blocked and he feels trapped. When this happens, he continues to cower but, at the same time, shows his teeth and might growl or snarl. If he snaps or bites, it’s usually lightening quick, and then he retreats as far away from the threat as possible. Some dogs wait until the person or animal who frightens them begins to retreat, and then they dart out to nip them from behind.

Offensively Aggressive
If your dog feels anger and confidence at the same time, you might see offensively aggressive body language. He’s on the attack, and he may or may not stop if the person or animal he’s focused on stays away or retreats. He does his best to look large and intimidating by holding his head high, his ears up and forward, and his tail raised and rigid. He might flag his tail. His hackles might be up. He positions himself over his forelegs so that he’s ready to lunge or charge forward. He stares directly at the person or animal. He shows his teeth by wrinkling his muzzle and retracting his lips vertically to display his front teeth. He growls, snarls or barks in a low, threatening tone.

Defensively Aggressive

Most dogs give plenty of warning before reacting aggressively, but you need to know what to look for to recognize the signs. If your dog is feeling defensively aggressive, he’d rather not get into an altercation if he doesn’t have to. He’d rather the person or animal he’s afraid of just back off and leave him alone. But at the same time, he’s ready to stand up for himself. Because he’s feeling both fear and anger, he often adopts a combination of fearful and offensive postures. Typically, he looks large, his ears are up and forward, and his tail is held high and rigid. He centers his weight squarely on all fours, over his forelegs or over his rear legs, depending on the situation. Usually it depends on how close he is to the threat and whether his intention is to stand his ground, charge forward or retreat. Typically, he draws his lips back to display his teeth, and he may or may not wrinkle his muzzle. Usually he growls, snarls or barks, although his bark might be high-pitched. Often, his hackles are up. People sometimes refer to a defensively aggressive dog as adopting “a good offense as the best defense.” Dogs like this are sometimes bluffing in that they really would not fight if push came to shove—they would likely retreat. But other dogs will make the first strike, depending on the balance of confidence and fear they’re feeling.

How much exercise does your dog need?

A tired dog is a good dog. No matter the size of the dog, every pup needs a physical outlet to expend extra energy and maintain health and fitness. Regular exercise can improve your dog’s mental health and reduce some behaviors done out of anxiety or boredom. It is important to note that each animal is an individual and you need to modify your program. We must make adjustments for age, injury and be mindful of environmental conditions too, such as extreme weather. 

For a general guideline to exercise, dogs can be divided up by their breeds, or breed mixes, and what they were originally bred to do. However, remember to tailor your program to your dog’s needs.

Herding and Sporting Dogs

Both groups have very high exercise needs and should get at least 60-90 minutes of higher intensity exercise daily, twice daily is even better. These are working dogs so are easily bored, so make them work their brains! Intersperse training sessions with physical workouts to keep the routine fresh and interesting for both you and your dog.

Terriers

From the little Cairn to the larger Airedale, these dogs are generally bouncy and charismatic pooches. Although they have significant exercise requirements, these dogs are smaller than the herding and sporting members, and can get a fair amount of daily exercise around the yard. But they should get a minimum of 60-minutes exercise daily.

Hounds

This is a very diverse group that encompasses the sight hounds and scent hounds. Sight hounds like Greyhounds may have lower exercise needs, they are sprinters that release energy in quick bursts. Allow them a couple of harder sprint workouts per week. Scent hounds have higher exercise needs, similar to the herding and sporting dogs.

Toy Breeds and Brachycephalic Dogs

Many breeds fit into this category, including Poodles, Chihuahuas and Maltese. Even though these cuties are smaller than the rest, they still need exercise! They have a propensity toward obesity and often do not get the level of daily activity that they require. They can, however, get a significant amount of exercise in a much smaller area.

These squash-faced dogs, like the Pug and Bulldogs, were not created for marathon running. A shortened muzzle and wrinkly face might be irresistible, but they impede airflow and put these dogs at risk for overheating and oxygen deprivation.

Weather Considerations

Weather conditions are an important consideration for all dogs, not just the Brachycephalics. Dogs too can be victims of frostbite or heat stroke. If you live in the snowy areas make sure you clean your dogs’ paws after an outing to remove snow and salt buildup. Dogs with thin hair coats may benefit from a nice dog coat or hoodie in the colder months. In the summertime, paws can also be damaged on hot asphalt or abrasive surfaces like the sandy shore. During any weather, it’s important to keep your dog hydrated. Bring along a compact dog travel bowl and fill it from your own water bottle.

Suggested Activities

Physical activities: There are a variety of different ways to wear out the over-energized dog. Fetch is a fabulous way to exhaust a dog with minimal output of your own energy and using a tennis racket gets even greater canine wear down. Swimming is a fantastic way to reap the benefits of exercise without the dangers of repetitive impact. You may also want to start out with a dog life vest, especially if you are far from shore, it is important to always use a vest when boating with your dog.

Mental exercises: A good brain game can be almost as tiring as a long hike. Some dogs enjoy a food toy. These toys require the dog to knock the toy around to make food fall out of small holes. They can be filled with small, low calorie treats or even pieces of kibble. If your dog is scent driven, she may enjoy searching for bits of food or treats hidden throughout the house.

Exercising with your pooch helps control her weight and maintain a healthy body and mind. Remember to tailor your program to your pet, to meet her needs and maintain safety. Keep her engaged, body and mind, and you will find that you share your home with a fulfilled best friend.

DOG FACTS That you probably didn't know!

A poodle's coat was originally shaved to increase swimming skills.

“Him” and “Her” were the names of President Lyndon Johnson's two beagles.

In French, Bichon Frise means "small, curly-haired dog."
A typical dog has a mouthful of 42 permanent teeth, while the average human has 32.

The Prairie Dog is actually part of the squirrel family. Early settlers named them after canines because their calls sounded like barking dogs.

A dog's third eyelid (yes, it has THREE) is a protective lid called a "haw" which keeps moisture in its eyes.

Fifty-eight percent of dog owners include their dogs in their annual holiday photos.

More dogs are called Max, Jake, Maggie or Molly than any other pet names.

In Moscow, some stray dogs learned to use the underground transit system to navigate throughout the city in search of food.

Dalmatians are often deaf doggies. Thirty percent of them cannot hear in either one or two ears.

The seeds of apples and pears should be kept away from dogs. Their composition includes arsenic, which could kill your dog.

It is illegal to keep a dog as a pet in Iceland.

According to legend, the dog rescued on Noah's Ark was the Afghan Hound

The phrase "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" was born in Germany in the 17th century. When storms flooded the streets, dogs and cats were often pulled into the currents.

Dogs could participate in doggie blood drives: dogs are able to donate blood to fellow pooches.

In 1969, Lassie the famous Collie dog was the very first animal inducted into the Animal Hall of Fame.

Greyhounds can run as fast as 45 mph and are the fastest canines on the planet.

The American Eskimo breed has been trained to walk across a tightrope in circuses throughout the early 20th century.

For running purposes, the shoulder blades on dogs are not attached to the rest of the skeleton.

Call them the biters! Female dogs bite double the amount of males.

Contrary to popular belief, Poodles are not French by origin. They're German dogs, but French nobility quickly became fascinated by these pooches.

Grapes and raisins even in small amounts can cause kidney failure in dogs.

A typical dog has the same brain aptitude level as a toddler. Dogs can comprehend about 250 words and count up to 5.

Dogs can be beneficial additions to the lives of children with Autism. Trained dogs can lessen the child's tendency of aggressiveness and give them a sense of independence

As per the Guinness Book of World Records, the world's smallest dog, a Yorkshire Terrier from Great Britain, weighed a teeny-tiny 4 ounces at age two.

Eighty percent of dog owners shower their pets with gifts on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. On holidays, over half of these pets are included in the signature of family cards.

Beagles and Collies create the most racket than any other dog; the Akbash and Basenji dogs are the most silent.

Feeling a big anxious? Studies indicate that petting your dog can lower your blood pressure.

Most dogs have pink tongues, a sign of good health for its supply of blood vessels, nerves and tastebuds. The Chow Chow and the Shar Pei inherently have black tongues, but this has nothing to do with poor health.

Studies have shown that obedient dogs live longer lives than pugnacious pugs.

The oldest in-tact fossilized remains of a pet canine dates back 33,000 years. It was discovered in Siberia in the 1970s.

The Australian Shepherd isn't even from Australia. Its origins are tied to the Basque region of Europe

Dog body odor is often called "Frito Feet," referring to bacteria collected on dogs' paws that often smell like the popular salty snack.

Dogs who live in cities tend to live, on average, 3 years longer than dogs from the country.

When drinking water, dogs cup the back of their tongues to transfer water from the bowl into their mouths.

The priciest dog in the world, a Tibetan Mastiff, was recently bought in China for $1.5 million.

Puppies are born without teeth and eyesight. They're also born deaf.

Dogs have two times the amount of muscles in their ears than humans.

In ancient China, people used to keep warm by putting dogs up their sleeves.

33 percent of dog owners admit to talking to their dog over the telephone, often leaving them messages on the answering machine.

In 1937, America's first Akita came over from Japan. Its travel companion was Helen Keller

Ever heard of the Cesky Terrier? Probably not. Only 350 of them exist, making them what may be the world's rarest dog breed.

The Alaskan Malamute can withstand temperatures as low as 70 degrees below zero.

Some dogs can identify the smell of lung cancer from sniffing a person's breath.

In Palding, Ohio, it is legal for a police officer to bite a barking dog to keep it quiet.

To differentiate between their different types of food, dogs depend more on their sense of smell than their sense of taste. Humans have five times the amount of taste buds than dogs.

Dogs' sense of hearing can reach four times the distance of humans.

A dogs' first sense to develop is touch.

At age one, dogs have the same level of physical development that humans have at age 15.

Dogs are not colorblind. They are able to detect colour in their vision, just not as vividly as humans

Walt Disney's family dog was a Poodle named Lady.

Dogs have feelings, too! Canines show agitated behavior when they see other dogs getting treats while they are left in the dust.

WHY DO DOGS KICK THEIR BACK LEGS OVER THEIR POOP?

Many people think that when their dogs tear at the ground with their back feet after they have urinated or defecated that they're trying to cover up the mess, just as a cat might. This is not true. What the dog is doing when it scrapes frantically at the ground is symbolically marking the territory; “Ollie was here,”

The deposition of urine and faeces can represent a territorial mark not only for dogs but also for just about all domestic species. So when a dog finds just the right place and he performs his duty, he finishes by scratching the ground in the immediate vicinity with his hind feet to leave his calling card.

HOW HEALTHY IS YOUR DOG?

Skin
Healthy skin is flexible and smooth, without scabs, growths, white flakes, or red areas. It ranges in color from pale pink to brown or black depending on the breed. Spotted skin is normal, whether the dog has a spotted or solid coat. Check your dog for fleas, ticks, lice, or other external parasites. To do this, blow gently on your dog's stomach or brush hair backward in a few places to see if any small specks scurry away or if ticks are clinging to the skin. Black "dirt" on your dog's skin or bedding may be a sign of flea droppings.

Coat
A healthy coat, whether short or long, is glossy and pliable, without dandruff, bald spots, or excessive oiliness.

Eyes
Healthy eyes are bright and shiny. Mucus and watery tears are normal but should be minimal and clear. The pink lining of the eyelids should not be inflamed, swollen, or have a yellow discharge. Sometimes you can see your dog's third eyelid, a light membrane, at the inside corner of an eye. It may slowly come up to cover his eye as he goes to sleep. The whites of your dog's eyes should not be yellowish. Eyelashes should not rub the eyeball.

Ears
The skin inside your dog's ears should be light pink and clean. There should be some yellow or brownish wax, but a large amount of wax or crust is abnormal. There should be no redness or swelling inside the ear, and your dog shouldn't scratch his ears or shake his head frequently. Dogs with long ears that hang down may need extra attention to keep the ears dry and clean inside and out.

Nose
A dog's nose is usually cool and moist. It can be black, pink, or self-colored (the same color as the coat), depending on the breed. Nasal discharge should be clear, never yellowish, thick, bubbly, or foul smelling. A cool, wet nose does not necessarily mean the dog is healthy, and a dry, warm nose doesn't necessarily mean he's sick. Taking his temperature is a better indication of illness.

Mouth, Teeth and Gums
Healthy gums are firm and pink, black, or spotted, just like the dog's skin. Young dogs have smooth white teeth that tend to darken with age. Puppies have 23 baby teeth and adults have around 42 permanent teeth, depending on the breed. As adult teeth come in, they push baby teeth out of the mouth.

To check your dog's mouth, talk to him gently, then put your hand over the muzzle and lift up the sides of his mouth. Check that adult teeth are coming in as they should, and not being crowded by baby teeth. Make sure the gums are healthy and the breath is not foul-smelling. Look for soft white matter or hard white, yellow, or brown matter. This is plaque or tartar and should be brushed away.

Mouth infections can lead to serious problems in the gums and other parts of the body, including the heart, so it's important to give your dog's teeth and mouth special attention.

Temperature
A dog's normal temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celcius). To take your dog's temperature, you'll need a rectal thermometer. Put some petroleum jelly on the bulb of the thermometer. Ask someone to hold your dog's head while you lift his tail and insert the thermometer about an inch or so into the rectum. Do not let go of the thermometer. Hold it in until the temperature is read (about 3 minutes for a mercury thermometer), and then remove gently.

Heartbeat and Pulse
Because dogs come in a wide range of sizes, their heartbeats vary. A normal heart beats from 50 to 130 times a minute in a resting dog. Puppies and small dogs have faster speeds, and large dogs in top condition have slower heartbeats. To check your dog's heartbeat, place your fingers over the left side of the chest, where you can feel the strongest beat. To check the pulse, which is the same speed as the heartbeat, press gently on the inside of the top of the hind leg. There is an artery there and the skin is thin, so it's easy to feel the pulse.

Elimination
Urine is a good indicator of a dog's health, and should be clear yellow. Most adult dogs have one or two bowel movements a day. Stools should be brown and firm. Runny, watery, or bloody stools, straining, or too much or too little urination warrant a call to the veterinarian.

Weight
A healthy dog's weight is the result of the balance between diet and exercise. If he is getting enough nutritious food and exercise but still seems over- or underweight, he may have a health problem. Don't let your dog get fat by giving him too many between-meal snacks; obese dogs often develop serious health problems. The best way to tell if your dog is overweight is to feel his rib-cage area. You should be able to feel the ribs below the surface of the skin without much padding.

VACCINATIONS
Regular vaccinations from your veterinarian can keep your dog from getting serious and sometimes fatal illnesses such as distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis, coronavirus, and rabies. A vaccination is also available for kennel cough, a respiratory problem that affects young dogs or dogs exposed to many other dogs.

A puppy's first vaccines ideally should be given at five or six weeks of age and continue over a period of several weeks, up to sixteen weeks. Afterward, regular booster shots provide the protection your dog will need. Be sure to stick to the schedule your veterinarian gives you to ensure immunity.

WHEN TO CALL THE VET
You should alert your veterinarian if your dog exhibits any unusual behavior, including the following symptoms:
Vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive urination for more than twelve hours.
Fainting.
Loss of balance, staggering, falling.
Constipation or straining to urinate.
Runny eyes or nose.
Persistent scratching at eyes or ears.
Thick discharge from eyes, ears, nose, or sores.
Coughing or sneezing.
Difficulty breathing, prolonged panting.
Shivering.
Whining for no apparent reason.
Loss of appetite for 24 hours or more.
Weight loss.
Dramatic increase in appetite for 24 hours or more.
Increased restlessness.
Excessive sleeping or unusual lack of activity.
Limping, holding, or protecting part of the body.
Excessive drinking of water.
When the dogs gums are white.

What's in a nose?

Through their nose, dogs knows a lot more than just how something or someone smells. A dog’s sense of smell is at the very least 1000 times (and up to 10 000 000 times) more sensitive than a human’s.

With their incredible noses dogs know where you have been, what you ate and even what you have recently touched. They can smell hormones on other dogs (and on humans) and immediately know if they are male or female, if they are in season or if they have recently given birth!

Nowadays their sniffing powers are frequently used to our advantage. Scent-trained dogs can find missing people, detect explosives, find drugs, firearms and most recently we have seen dogs detect cancer on people and predict the onset of seizures, alerting their diabetic owners whenever their blood sugar rises to dangerous levels. How incredible are those noses?

Scoop that poop! Health risks.

Contrary to popular belief, dog waste does not make a good fertilizer . It is actually toxic to your lawn, causing burns and unsightly discolouring.

It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million faecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans.

Dog faeces may contain...

Whipworms (a round worm that causes trichuriasis when it infects a human large intestine. It is commonly known as the whipworm which refers to the shape of the worm; it looks like a whip with wider "handles" at the posterior end.

Hookworms (a parasitic worm that lives in the small intestine of its host, which may be a mammal such as a dog, cat, or human)
In children hookworms cause intellectual, cognitive and growth retardation, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, and low birth weight among newborns born to infected mothers.

Roundworms (Roundworms can infest the human gut, where they live, feed and reproduce. Children are most likely to be infected)
If a large number of eggs have been ingested, or if the worms move from the small intestine to other parts of the body, they can cause serious complications, such as a bowel obstruction.

Tapeworms (Tapeworms are parasites that can live in a person's intestine(bowel). Tapeworms are known medically as cestodes. They are usually flat and ribbon-like and made up of segments.
They don't always cause symptoms and when they do they are often mistaken for another illness.) But tapeworms can lead to serious complications and those that develop as larvae in your body are more difficult to treat.

Parvovirus (a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness).

Giardiasis (popularly known as beaver fever is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia)
Diarrhoea is the most common symptom of giardiasis.
Other symptoms can include:
abdominal cramps
foul-smelling flatulence and belching
nausea (feeling sick)
bloating
indigestion
fatigue (extreme tiredness)
dehydration
loss of appetite
weight loss caused by malnutrition

Salmonellosis (an infection found in dogs caused by the Salmonella bacteria. It often leads to disorders, including gastroenteritis, spontaneous abortions, and septicemia. This bacterial disease is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.)

Cryptosporidiosis (an intestinal disease caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite)
Cryptosporidium is a parasite (a tiny organism) that causes an infection called cryptosporidiosis affecting people and farm animals. Cryptosporidium is found in lakes, streams and rivers, untreated drinking water and sometimes in swimming pools.
For most people, the illness is unpleasant but self-limiting. However, it can be a serious illness in people who have immune systems that are not working properly

Campylobacteriosis ( bacterial intestinal infection. Up to 49 percent of dogs carry campylobacteriosis)
Campylobacter infection is a type of gastroenteritis (gastro) caused by a bacteria known as Campylobacter. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Infection is more common in children under five years of age and young adults. Children's sandpits can become contaminated with Campylobacter through animal faeces.

If left unattended, these parasites will contaminate the water, soil, and can even cause infection in both pets and humans (especially children). The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to another pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental ingestion as can other bacteria.

Hookworms, tapeworms, threadworms and campylobacteriosis can be passed on from dogs to humans. This is the most significant reason to avoid allowing dogs to lick your face and mouth.

If a dog has recently eaten faeces or groomed their hind quarters and come into contact with any of the above parasites, there is a chance these parasites will be passed directly into your mouth.
Children are especially vulnerable to infection because they tend to enjoy playing in the dirt, where parasites such as hookworm larvae lay dormant waiting for a new host. Young children may also put dirty hands or toys in their mouth.

Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is an infestation of humans, usually children, with the larvae of Toxocara canis, a small threadlike worm that resides in a dog's intestine.

A dog harbouring the small round worm causes large numbers of worm eggs in its faeces, which can then contaminate the soil.

Children who then play with an infested dog or with soil contaminated with its faeces can then inadvertently put their fingers in their mouths and can swallow some of the worm eggs.

The swallowed eggs hatch in the intestine of the child to liberate larvae, which then travel towards the liver, lungs, brain and eyes.

Here they can trigger off allergic reactions such as asthma, and they also have more serious affects such as loss of vision at least partially.

Children generally run a much greater risk of coming into contact with Toxocara in public parks where there is no guarantee that the dogs which are allowed to roam free there are all wormed.

Out of interest, the diagnosis of toxocariasis is made from sputum analysis and from liver biopsy, and severe cases are treated in hospital with anthelmintic drugs (anti-worm drugs) to control the infestation.

Why do dogs tilt their head?

It’s one of the dog’s cutest behaviors....When a dog appears to be listening or concentrating intently, it will sometimes cock its head to one side, seeming to imitate a human “confused” behavior. Humans don’t reliably do this, nor do cats -- so what’s going on?

There are a few different possible explanations. The most common explanation is that adjusting the position of the head can actually help the dog hear better, and thus analyze the situation better. A dog can hear things we can’t, but our blunt senses are much easier to use. We largely don’t have to adjust our physical positioning in order to hear, regardless of whether the sound is coming from our left or right. Dogs, though, whether because they get so much more information than we do or because their ears are more finicky, often have to adjust and many dogs with floppier ears--think basset hound--have a pesky (but cute) flap of skin in the way of their middle ear.

The part of the dog’s brain that controls the dog’s middle ear (not the external flap that we think of as the ear) is also the part of the dog’s brain that controls nonverbal communication. Those nonverbal communication tools include facial expressions and, yes, head tilt. So perhaps the act of listening also triggers some unintentional side effects.

One of the more interesting explanations is that the head cock doesn’t have anything to do with hearing. “It all has to do with vision. Try taking your balled fist and putting it right at the end of your nose. That does a decent job of simulating the effect of a dog’s extended muzzle--and it severely cuts down your field of vision. It has been found that dogs with longer muzzles cock their heads much more often than flat-faced dogs like pugs. And a dog would be more likely to perform this move when interacting with a person because it’s important for the dog to be able to see both our eyes and our mouths. Dogs want to see our eyes, because our eyes indicate what we’re interested in at the moment, and our mouths, because they indicate our overall emotional state. And it can be tough to see the entire face with a big nose in the way.

A more recent explanation is that the head tilt doesn’t so much help the dog concentrate on sight or sound as convey to whomever’s watching that the dog is concentrating. The tilt, according to this theory, is less a physiological tool and more the dog equivalent of our own nod: it means “I hear you, keep going.” That’s why less social dogs don’t display this behavior as often. Writes Steven Lindsay in his book “Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Procedures and Protocols,” “Socially apprehensive and reactive dogs do not appear to exhibit the head-tilt response to human vocalization.” If the head tilt is a social act of communication, then why would a non-social dog perform it?

A study from the University of California at San Diego, playing off the social-animal theory, further suggests that the head tilt is an “indication to play,” making the head-tilt a sign not just that the dog is listening, but also engaged--and perhaps that it’s engaged because it wants something.

A final, less-studied explanation: Owners love the head tilt, and shower attention on their pup when it performs it (whether its through treats or head rubs or just laughter and attention). The dog, in turn, therefore will be much more likely to make that movement again. Which is fine with us, because it is adorable.

WHY DO DOGS HAVE WHISKERS (AND DO THEY REALLY NEED THEM)?

Dogs have a set of stiff hairs protruding from the sides of their muzzles that are popularly called “whiskers.” These are not at all like the nonfunctional whiskers that men sometimes grow on their faces.

Technically these special hairs are called vibrissae. But a better name for them is “feelers” because vibrissae really are sophisticated devices that help the dog feel its way through the world.

They are quite different from most other hairs on the dog’s body. To begin with, they are considerably more rigid and embedded more deeply into the skin. Much more important, however, is the fact that at the base of each vibrissa is a high concentration of touch-sensitive neurons so that the slightest pressure on that stiff hair will produce a neural response.

The vibrissae serve as an early warning device that something is near the face and thus helps the dog prevent colliding with walls or objects and alerts the dog that something is approaching which might damage its face or eyes. You can demonstrate this for yourself by tapping gently on the vibrissae of a dog. With each tap, the eye on the same side of the face will blink protectively, and the dog will tend to turn his head away from the side tapped.

Dogs whose vibrissae have been removed seem more uncertain in dim light. Under these conditions they actually move more slowly because they are not getting the information that they depend upon to tell them where things are that they might bump into.

With intact vibrissae, the dog actually does not have to make physical contact with a surface to know it is there. These special hairs are so sensitive that they also register slight changes in air currents. As a dog approaches an object like a wall, some of the air that he stirs up by moving bounces back from surfaces, bending the vibrissae slightly. The resulting neural response is enough to inform him that something is near well before he touches it.

So next time you're at the groomer, let them know to leave those whiskers alone.

Border Collie Quotes

You can MAKE a Border Collie right...or you can show them HOW to be right...two different things.

Early morning wake up call

Early morning wake up call

"Where's my stick?" 

"Please throw my ball!"

Muddy paw prints on the floor...,

Endless mopping, but still there's more!

Windows covered in slobber and snot.

I cleaned them yesterday! I kid you not!

Rainy weather...Let's stay in!

Not a chance! They always win!

Head to toe I'm covered in fluff!

Trying to look smart, but always a scruff! 

Pleading eyes and dribbling chops...

When I'm eating a meal...It never stops!

But the endless love and bond we share

The fact that they are always there

To share my sad and happy days 

Makes up for this, in many ways!

They never judge or make me blue...

They brighten my days....

DO YOUR DOGS TOO?

Ollie's story

Well what can I say about Ollie? He really is quite a character!
Let's start at the beginning....

After losing Moss, our first Border Collie, we were devastated.

We had decided that we didn't want another dog. Having Jake, our other dog (a Utonagan) was enough. Besides we could never replace Moss.

But Jake grieved as much as we did...he lost his usual smiling face and would just sit around looking sad, so after some debate, we decided to get another brother for him...and yes, it HAD to be a Border Collie!

After phoning round several animal rescue centres only to be told that there were no Border Collies available for re-homing, we started to trawl the internet. Once we had made our mind up it was like..."WE need a Border Collie and we need one NOW!"

We saw a photograph of a gorgeous, tiny, fluffy, tri-coloured, most adorable looking Border Collie puppy up for sale! Like a little ball of fur with eyes and ears!

And we immediately thought...

 "He's the one! We must have him!"

On arriving at the house we were greeted by a mother Border Collie followed by 2 puppies...a pretty female called Dorca, who the owner had decided to keep, and an odd looking scrawny thing, with a very long face, long gangly legs, short fur and an extremely long thin black tail, which was that far under his legs that it almost touched his chin!

THIS WAS NOT THE CUTE LITTLE FUR BALL WE HAD SEEN IN THE PICTURE!!

We were told by his owner that he had never been socialised, had lived outside and that he had never even stroked him, in fear of bonding with him! (Stupid man!) So at almost 5 months old this poor little pup hadn't had any human contact....huge, huge, HUGE mistake! (Which we were to find out to our cost in the coming months) Fido, as he was then called, was the last of a litter of 5 that were up for re-homing.

The guy told us he had always known that he would keep one of the female pups, so of course Dorca was friendly as she had been stroked and loved.

He said a couple of people had already been to see this funny looking male pup, but had decided that he wasn't the dog for them.....I'm guessing that this was because, not only was he NOT the puppy advertised online, but he also ticked every box on the list of "Reasons why NOT to choose this puppy"

Whilst chatting with the guy, who was rather odd to say the least, this scrawny looking creature hid from us trembling. He peed every time we looked at him...

What a pitiful animal he was....

So yes! We brought him home with us and changed his name to Ollie.

(There was no possible way we could leave him there!)

And even though, unlike all our other dogs, he wasn't a typical 'Rescue' dog....we really did feel like we were rescuing him!

Ollie's first day with us.

And so began a life of chaos!!

Looking back I have no idea how we managed!

I lost count of the number of times we held our head in our hands saying.....

 "What on earth have we gotten ourselves into?"

He completely destroyed our home! He chewed great big holes in the walls, right through to the brick! He chewed the banister rail from top to bottom, went through countless cushions, a very expensive rug, 7 pairs of shoes, a remote control, several battery chargers for both my laptop and my phone and smashed and totally destroyed my brand new lap top!

He would steal food from the kitchen worktops, eat the contents of the cat's litter tray like it was the tastiest treat ever and...well! You get the picture! (You will find out later why it was impossible to keep him shut in a room out of harms way or to keep things out of his reach!)

House training him was a nightmare!...The first 'break through' with this little problem was when he poo-ed in a large plant pot I had in the house! Now you might not see this as a break through, but it was! because following this I put the plant pot in the garden and he would then go out and use it as an outside loo! lol. 
You have to give him some credit! His aim was amazing! 
Eventually we moved the pot and he would then do his business in the place it had been in the garden :)

And so the list of problems with him goes on...and on....

He was petrified of visitors...in fact he was petrified of everything!

He suffered Separation anxiety and had phobias of just about everything!

He would completely go to pieces every time I left the house and go into 'destruction mode'

We started off not leaving him for any longer than half an hour and then slowly built it up to 4 hours, even now we won't leave either of our dogs home alone for longer than 4 hours. We used to leave the radio on for him when we weren't there, until he chewed through the electric cable and then peed on it! We then decided it was wise to make sure all electrical appliances were left un-plugged when we weren't around! 
I would dread coming home and seeing what he had destroyed next!!

OLLIE THE ESCAPE ARTIST
We did try crate training him, for our home's safety, as well as his! But he broke free time after time! He was perfectly happy in there whilst we were home with him and would go in there himself to play and sleep...But it seemed he just didn't like being left alone in an empty house in there. We even tried padlocks but he still broke free and cut his poor little nose quite badly in the process, so we gave up on that.

To this day he is still a bit of an escape artist. You can't shut him in or out of a room because he jumps up, pulls the handle down and opens the door.(He even does this in the caravan when he wants to go out for a wee!) We have to make sure that we always lock our front door, because he went through a phase of letting himself and our other dog, Jake, out whenever he pleased! Plus if anybody rang our doorbell they would get the fright of their life when the door came flying open and they were greeted by 2 over enthusiastic dogs!

So basically we had no other choice but to leave him with full access to every room in the house. It was impossible to keep him in or out of a room. I very much doubt that even locks on our interior doors would have stopped him....He had proved to us that he could quite easily chew through wood!
(I was told that I could have got a stronger crate to keep him in and prevent him from escaping, but to be honest, as he clearly wasn't happy in there, I'm pretty sure he would have injured himself trying to get out no matter how strong the crate was....So I have no regrets in my final decision not to crate him) 

I'm a great believer in positive reinforcement training...ie ignore the bad behaviour and praise the good....Trust me! This wasn't always easy! Many of his antics were very difficult to ignore!! But I'm pretty sure he picked up on our disappointment through our body language alone....It was very difficult not to sigh and mutter "Oh Ollie!" underneath our breath, after walking in the house and finding bits of furniture or pieces of plaster and wallpaper chewed up and spread all around the house lol.

It wasn't just the bad behaviour we ignored, if we returned home or got up in the morning to find he had chewed something then we ignored HIM too, we ignored those big brown eyes, little wet nose and waggy tail. And oh! how he hated being ignored!!

Good behaviour, obviously, resulted in lots of praise, cuddles and treats!! Which, of course, he loved! Even through the most difficult times, the one thing that Ollie always wanted to do was to please us and make us happy.
Eventually it seemed to 'click' with him that when he was ignored it was always following behaviour that we found unacceptable and when he was good, we were happy and he got treats and extra attention.

Initially, whilst he bonded with us immediately, he would cower in the corner hiding, shaking and peeing every time we had a visitor. Slowly his behaviour started to change, but not for the better! he would growl at anyone that went anywhere near him and hide behind me or my husband for protection.

By the age of 10 months old we had managed to build his confidence up, but unfortunately we hadn't eliminated the fear....He would charge, growling and snapping, at any strangers that we came across, either in our home or out on walks. It was only a matter of time before he bit someone.

'Fear aggression' was now added to his list of emotional problems!

And so 4 months of Intensive Confidence building, Socialising and muzzle training began....

We told strangers to just ignore him, this included visitors to the house or people we met out on walks....Everybody's instinct when they see a dog or walk into a home where a dog lives seems to be to want to stroke and fuss the dog, this just made Ollie worse. 

When somebody came to the house I would tell Ollie to sit down and reward him once he did and then get the visitor to sit down too (although they didn't get a treat!) I would make sure they continued to ignore him, until he felt ready to approach them.  

It was during this time that we decided to get a caravan. 

Whilst our girls were at home, we never had any problem getting someone to mind our dogs when we went away, but once they grew up and flew the nest, with houses and pets of their own to look after, it was impossible for us to find someone suitable to mind our dogs. We couldn't possibly kennel them! All our dogs have been rescue dogs and we didn't want to put them through feeling as though they had been abandoned. So we had no other option but to take them with us!!

It was one of the best decisions we ever made!! I love our little caravan! And so does Ollie!

It proved to be a valuable part of his training.

On our first few visits he was very jumpy and his muzzle was essential. All these strangers!! Kids running round, appearing from nowhere! It was his worst nightmare!

He would charge at them growling and snapping! (of course his muzzle meant that he couldn't actually bite them) 

Because we knew that his muzzle made it impossible for him to bite anyone, we were calmer and that calmness was past on to Ollie.

I was aware that many people thought I was crazy, because if he started to show any signs of aggression I would first tell him to 'Sit', then stroke him, make a fuss of him and even give him a treat. People thought that I was rewarding him for his bad behaviour. In fact, rather than treating aggression with aggression by shouting at him and confirming to him that aggressive behaviour was acceptable, I was teaching him that seeing strangers was a positive thing, before long whenever he saw a stranger approaching, his initial reaction would be to sit down and look up at me for a treat....

Eventually he become more relaxed when out and about. He learned that strangers weren't a threat to him, in fact he got a treat when he saw them, so how could they be a bad thing? 

Of course the added bonus of camping was lots of fields to run around and beaches to visit!! 

Strangers were no longer an issue.

And this is where we discovered his love of water! 

He is an amazing swimmer!

From the very first moment that I held this skinny trembling creature in my arms, during the car journey from his previous home to ours, I loved him. That love just grew and grew every day and still does.

There was no possible way that I was ever going to give up on him.

When he was good, he was amazing and even at his worst, I only had to look into his eyes and my heart melted.

And now, several nervous breakdowns later (on our part!), HEAPS of love and even more patience!  He has grown into a marvelous family member. His fur has grown, he now has a splendid tail! And is now quite handsome.

He is intelligent, incredibly well behaved (well! Most of the time!!) extremely loving and loyal and every day he does something that makes me smile. He is my baby.

We are getting there!! And are very proud (and grateful!) for what we have achieved with him so far. He still gets a few things wrong....like peeing on the cat for instance, because she hisses at him every time he looks at her!

He still has a few anxiety issues, is still a nervous dog, but is much happier around strangers now and no longer needs to be muzzled....he will go up to them wagging his tail and sniff them, but won't allow them to stroke him.....No growling or cowering though, he just moves his head out of the way.

And he now LOVES kids!! They are the BEST fetch players ever!!

Amongst his most endearing characteristics is his politeness...Like most dogs he has a habit of lying in the most ridiculous places, like blocking a doorway, in the middle of the room or on the stairs, but unlike any other dog I have known, as soon as he sees that you want to get past him, he sits up immediately ensuring that there is enough room for you to pass easily. If he is lying on the furniture and sees that you want to sit down too, he will move right up so that there is room for you to sit. This isn't something we have trained him to do...he just does it automatically, without us having to utter a word.
Another one is the way he smiles at me when I have been out or have just got up...and I mean a proper smile, showing all his teeth lol.

Update

Just back from the Vets, took Ollie for his booster jab. I was really proud of him...he greeted everyone that came in and wagged his tail, no growling or snapping at everyone! He saw a Vet, that was also an animal behaviourist, that he had never seen before and the first thing she said to him was "What a lovely sociable dog you are" Which really made me smile. When she read his records she said that we should be really proud of what we have achieved, because most people would have just given up on him and had him put to sleep or sent to a rescue centre. It saddened me to learn that many healthy Border Collies are put to sleep because of their destructive behaviour alone.

The previous animal behaviourist I had spoken to several months earlier had said that he needed either 6 months of regular intensive training at £90 a session (which we just couldn't afford!) or should be put to sleep, she said there was no way we would be able to get the aggression out of him on our own and that his behaviour would only get worse.
Don't you just love proving people wrong!

UPDATE 
This dog has great potential! 
I keep watching all these Border Collie videos of them doing amazing tricks! Sometimes I wish I had time to train Ollie up like that...I know he is clever enough....He already does a few self taught 'tricks'...Like nudging things along the coffee table with his nose until they fall on the floor, rearranging ornaments on the fireplace, taking the lid off the bin in the bathroom and then tipping it up, just for the hell of it, opening doors, nudging the door stop away from the door and then watching in amazement as the door closes (This one never gets old!) he's an expert herder and he herds me down stairs every morning (I swear one day I will trip up over him and break my neck!) and he herds Kaya, his new sister, (Sadly we lost Jake a couple of years ago) on a regular basis, biting her feet in the process! He once lept over a wall with a 30 foot drop and survived!......(Click here to read the story behind that)
Oh yeah! And how many dogs can pee on a cat and poo inside a shoe?!
I might add that we are working on him channelling these 'talents' elsewhere! He loves puzzles, so as soon as the furniture re-arranging starts we get out puzzle games for him to do! (And he has now learned that tipping bins up isn't acceptable behaviour! lol)

OLLIE NOW HAS HIS VERY OWN FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK HERE TO JOIN!