All About Dogs

Fat Dogs Have Shorter Life Span Than Other Dogs With Normal Weight

March 29th, 2007

Various scientific research has been done on the topic of obesity and they all point to one thing: it’s bad for you. Not surprisingly, it isn’t good for your dog either. But note, however, that when it comes to dogs, every excess pound gained is a great percentage of his overall weight.

To illustrate, take the example of a 170 pound man. Let’s say that he gains 5 pounds. No matter how large a weight gain 5 pounds might be for you, the fact of the matter is it is still a very small percentage of his overall weight.

With fat dogs, on the other, hand, weighing 35 pounds, 5 pounds is a great percentage of his overall weight. Hence, it doesn’t take much for your dog to become overweight and start having health problems.

Like humans, fat dogs have shorter life span than other dogs with normal weight. Statistics also show that fat dogs experience more medical problems than others.

Other people might think that fat dogs are cute, but you should not be fooled by their “adorable” appearance. Because the truth is if you really love your dog, you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him or her. You would do everything in your power to prolong his or her life and keep him or her always healthy and happy. The fact is that fat dogs aren’t healthy. And there is serious doubt if they are happy with the state of their body.

So how do you know when your dog has become too fat?

There are many obvious signs. First, take a look at your dog. Fat dogs are usually rotund in the shape of their bodies. Even if the breed of your dog makes a rotund body a genetic characteristic, it is still a reason to be alarmed if you find that your dog is more rotund than usual. In other words, pay attention to your dog and keep an eye out for anything unusual happening to his body.

If you do suspect that your dog is gaining more weight than normal, then see your veterinarian. He would usually have a weight chart, showing the weight ranges for the various dog breeds. He can make comparisons and determine if your dog has joined the club for the fat dogs.

If there is a problem with weight gain, you can usually trace it back to you. Yes, you. But of course, your dog hasn’t yet to figure out how to open the fridge. Therefore, if your dog is gaining more weight than what is considered healthy, then it is most likely because you are feeding him too much. And if it’s not you, then it could be other family members who can’t resist that teary-eyed look your dog likes to make when he wants something. Whichever the case, it is important to cut back on your dog’s food consumption.

Jeremiah O’Connell has put together 10 Gourmet Dog Recipes, 7 Dog Health Tips, A Dog Training Video and 7 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Absolutely Nothing! So head on over to http://ChummyDog.com and pick-up your Free Treat Recipes for Your Dog today - before he comes to his senses

Posted in Dogs | No Comments »

Dogs That Are Good With Children

March 22nd, 2007

Its true, dogs do play pivotal role in child development. Health care specialists have noticed after a nurse, Elaine Smith, introduced dog therapy as an alternative therapeutic treatment how dogs can play a major role not only in therapeutic treatment but also in child development.

Companionship can be critical to children and it was found out that dogs can readily and efficiently fill that spot. That’s why it is often recommended that smaller growing children should have a pet of their own, if only to break barriers that inhibit growth like speech impediment. Or just instilling a sense of responsibility at an early age. And naturally, dogs that are good with children are best candidates for this purpose.

Being sought more as family pet, selective breeding practices over the years were aimed to iron out aggressive traits of some breeds of dogs. Now there are those breed of dogs are highly tolerant; they tolerate well the clumsy handling of older individuals and the rough handling and playing of small children. Those that have undergone training are able to resist any instinctive retaliation when pranks are played upon them –typical to small children at play. One example of a highly tolerant breed is mastiffs. A trained English mastiff can be very tolerant and gentle that it can suffer most rough playing before showing signs of aggression, and won’t bite even then. Pointers are also famed for their low aggression level, though their playful nature can be harmful for very young toddlers. Another trite example is the St. Bernard.

Depending on the level of play of youngsters, there are suitable dogs and there that isn’t. For growing children that loves playing outdoors, dogs that are good with children should be also adaptable for such activity. That’s why Labradors, retrievers, Dalmatians and American Eskimos are better dogs. But for those especially young children, who are more cooped up indoors, a St. Bernard or a mastiff would do nicely.

In a nutshell, there are dozens of breed of dogs that are good with children. Examples include but not limited to mastiffs, pointers, and some mossolers like the St. Bernard, and conventional toy dogs like poodles. However, breed is not a de facto standard for naming dogs that are good with children, as training is highly essential for dogs of this purpose.

If you are considering dogs that are good with children, you should choose a breed that’s normally with gentle temperament like those mentioned above. And they should have the right training.

Jeremiah O’Connell has put together 10 Gourmet Dog Recipes, 7 Dog Health Tips, A Dog Training Video and 7 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Absolutely Nothing! So head on over to http://ChummyDog.com and pick-up your Free Dog Treat Recipes today - before he comes to his senses

Posted in Dogs | 2 Comments »