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The last will and testament of an extemely distiguished dog

stella — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:15:42 +0000

by Eugene O’Neil

I, SILVERDENE EMBLEM O’NEILL (familiarly known to my family, friends, and acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most, to Freeman who has been so good to me, to Cyn and Roy and Willie and Naomi and — But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book.

I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life.

What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe with those my fellow Dalmatians who are devote Mohammedans, that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; where all the day one dillies and dallies with an amorous multitude of houris [lovely nymphs], beautifully spotted; where jack rabbits that run fast but not too fast (like the houris) are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one’s Master and Mistress.

I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best. One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: “Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved”. No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

Photos Venelin Iliev

Why Neutering Cats is Important

stella — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:42:28 +0000

We often talk about how important it is to spay/neuter both stray dogs and your own. So now we will give you some good reasons to spay/neuter your cat.

Just as in the case whit dogs spay/neutering is the most effective way to control the population of homeless cats. Here are some facts provided by Cats Protection, a leading UK NGO that helps about 193 000 cats annually.

Also spaying and neutering has a number of benefits for your domestic cat’s health. Some more info from VetInfo.com:

Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Spaying a female cat provides the following health benefits:

Decreased risk of mammary gland tumors
Decreased risk of ovarian cancer
Decreased risk of uterine cancer
Decreased risk of pyometria (uterine infection following birth of kittens)
Three to five years longer life span

Neutering a male cat provides the following health benefits:

Decreased risk of prostate disease
Decreased risk of prostate cancer
Risk of testicular cancer eliminated
Three to five years longer life spa

Doctors Stankova and Stoyanova on the move!

stella — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:23:07 +0000

A healthy and strong dog may be neutered after the age of 5-6 months. That is especially important for the females – if a female dog is neutered before her first season risks to the dogs’ health rapidly decline – the dog will never suffer from mammory tumours, pyometra or sexually transmitted deseases.

It’s spay/neuter time at Bogrov! Every day, actually. See our wonderful neutering surgeons doctor Marietta Stankova and doctor Rossi Styanova fetch shelter dogs for neutering:

Everything begins with anaesthetics. Pre-medications are given to each dog to make sure the sedation will go well. After a 20-minute prep, which includes pre-meds, anaethetics, catheters and hygiene shaving the surgery begins. Here you see d-r Stoyanova calming a dog while it falls asleep before the operation:

We neuter both dogs and cats for free at the Bogrov clinic – ones with an owner or without. The sergery takes longer on female animals, but it is still a routine operation and the vets handle it quickly and safely, being experienced in hundreds and hundreds of neuterings. Our methods are humane and animal-friendly, we work with great care and compassion.

When spayed or neutered the dog/cat has all its reproductive organs removed – testcles for the males and ovaries and uterus for the females. This is done in order to ensure there will be no follow-up complications for the animal and is the safest way to proceed.

Every dog gets a permanent tattoo and a small clip on the top of the left ear, cats only get their ear tipped. This is to make sure that people know the dog is neutered, also where it was neutered and by whom. A dog with a X and a number following would be a dog neutered at the Bogrov clinic. So if ever necessary to identify who made the sergery, or wether the dog was vaccinated for Rabbies – we can easily check our own documents on the dog through it’s ID.

Identification is the last phase of a sergery, the dog is slowly coming out of anaesthetic, but still feels no pain from the procedure. We administer a 48 hour pain relief to the neutered animals.

When the dogs have rested and recovered from the anaesthetics they have a day to refresh after the whole procedure. When the dog has recovered for a while in a peaceful environment – life can go on as usual. A neutered dog usualy plays and jumps 3-4 days after the operation. In a week – there are no signs that the dog was ever neutered. It can live a more peaceful, healthier life in happiness.

We have had over 1500 dogs neutered at our clinic already and haven’t had any accidents or surprises, with the exclusions of dogs with tumors and other problems of the reproductive organs that only showed up during surgery. So it can be said – neutering is very safe.

We would like to remind you that Spay/Neuter is free for owned and street cats and dogs at our clinic.

We currently offer a special program for pet owners – you can get a free microchip in Bogrov if your dog is neutered at the clinic.

Neutering is important

Sabina — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:23:51 +0000

Recently in a private conversation:

“Animal Rescue Sofia, I am so disappointed with you! I did believe in your cause and I did support you, but now I find out that you neuter all dogs that go through you! Shame on you!”

No, we are not ashamed. Actually we are proud! We are so proud we put a counter with the dogs we’ve helped get adopted and we’ve sprayed and neutered at our clinic. We are proud because one of our main missions is to reduce the stray dog population in Sofia and neutering is the only effective, humane and legal way to do this.

And this is not our opinion alone. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises spaying/neutering as the only effective method for reducing the number of homeless dogs. Increasing the number of sprayed and neutered cats and dogs is a main goal for every respectable animal rights and rescue organisation.

Cesar Millan is by far the most famous dog specialist in the world at the moment. He is among the most influential and convinced ambassadors of neutering. In 2007 he and his wife start the Millan Foundation that has promoting spraying/neutering and its importance among its main goals.

Take a look at a video by the foundation.

We will never get tired of repeating

It is important because:

Female dogs start giving birth after six months of age, cats – after the fourth month. One female dog could give birth to 4 to 8 puppies twice a year and when they reach six months they are ready to become sexually active too. So when a couple of unnutered dogs meet on the street this could lead to:

12 stray dogs in an year;
67 – in two years;
367 – in three
66,088 in six years.

As for you own pet:

Your female dog will live a longer, healthier life. Dog spaying before her first heat reduces your female dog’s chances of uterine infections and breast cancer. Breast cancer is fatal in about 50% of unspayed female dogs.
Your female will never go into heat, avoiding having to clean up blood stains on your furniture and carpeting.
Your male dog will also benefit from neutering. If neutering is completed before 6 months of age, you greatly reduce your dog’s risk of testicular cancer and a variety of prostate problems.
Neutering will lessen a male dog’s urge to roam. While some breeds are known for their wandering nature, neutering will lessen that urge and prevent injury from car accidents or fights with other dogs.
Neutering promotes better behaviour in male dogs. An intact male dog still has the urge to mount and mark his territory. Once neutered, these desires are greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Dog spaying/neutering is cost effective. While spaying or neutering can be costly, it is not nearly as expensive as caring for an expectant female and the puppies that later arrive. Many cities and counties also have reduced licensing fees for dogs that are neutered.
Neutering does not make your dog fat. Many people use the excuse that spaying or neutering their dog will make them fat. Too much food and not enough exercise is what makes your dog fat. So long as you monitor your dog’s food intake and ensure proper exercise, they should maintain a healthy body weight.
By spaying your female dog you avoid having the neighbourhood stray male dogs hanging out around your home while your female is in heat. (from vetinfo.com)

To sum up spraying and neutering help curb the number of homeless animals, prevents suffering and it is good for the health of your own dog. It is the part of being a responsible pet owner and we will never get tired of repeating this.

You are welcome to spray or neuter dogs and cats for free at the shelter in Bogrov. You can also donate for our clinic and the spray/neutering programme.

Why spay/neuter

stassi — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:28:33 +0000

Why neutering is important

Most of the people in Bulgaria hesitate to neuter their pet, fearing that it’s painful or even degrading to the animal.

What is neutering

Spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles. Both operations are performed while the dog is under anesthesia. Your veterinarian may want to keep your dog under observation for anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Certain procedures will require that you bring the dog back in a week to ten days for suture removal.

Why spaying or neutering is good for your dog

Spaying and neutering helps your dog live a longer, healthier life.
Spaying and neutering reduces, or can eliminate, a number of health problems that are difficult and/or expensive to treat.
Spaying greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer, especially if your dog is spayed before her first estrous cycle, and also eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
Neutering will decrease the possibility of prostate disease and eliminates testicular cancer.

Why spaying or neutering is good for you

Spaying and neutering makes your dog a better, more affectionate companion.
Spaying a dog eliminates her heat cycle, which lasts an average of six to 12 days, twice a year.
Dogs that are not sterilized often have more behavior and temperament problems than dogs that have been spayed or neutered.
Neutering makes dogs less likely to wander looking for females or get into fights.

Fighting the myths against neutering

Altering doesn’t adversely affect the personality of your pet. Any changes brought about by spaying/neuterinf are generally positive. Neutered male cats usually stop territorial spraying. Neutered dogs and cats fight less and are less likely to become lost due to straying from home in search of a mate. Spayed animals do not go into heat or need to be confined indoors to avoid pregnancy. All altered animals remain protective and loyal to their guardians.
There’s absolutely no truth to the myth that it’s best to let a female pet give birth to a litter before getting her spayed.

Solving pet overpopulation starts with you

Pet Overpopulation is a great issue in Bulgaria and we witness the problems it creates on the daily basis – personally on the street or through the media. What it really comes down is that pet overpopulation means diseases, dog attacks, hunger, dog imprisoned in isolators, and mostly: euthanasia. As a community we are used to respond to euthanasia with denial, much like any other fatal ending. To protest its existence doesn’t dissolve it. Laws were being changed, but this doesn’t solve the problem with pet overpopulation. To look the other way doesn’t halt its progression.

Our spaying/neutering is a solid, effective defense against overpopulation as it places fewer and fewer offspring in dog isolators and kill-centers. Another contributing factor to pet overpopulation is the “throw-away” society we’ve become. We seem to give much more thought on the breed rather than on the care that needs to be provided afterwards. In any case street dogs have no other origin but the pets surround to shelters or those who have been outright abandoned. Here are the general statistics:

On average, it costs approximately $100 to capture, house, feed and eventually kill a homeless animal. This comes out of the taxes we pay.
‘Purebreds’ account for 10% of all the animals in Bulgarian shelters. Yes, at least one of your pet’s offsprings has a high chance ending in a shelter.
Pets that spend most of their time separated from the family, either in crates or in the yard, are at greater risk of being surrendered to shelters. Consider this: While our world consists of interests outside our pets, we are their ENTIRE world and depend on us.
An unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing 2 litters per years, with 2.8 surviving kittens per year can total 11,606,077 cats in 9 years.
In 6 years one unspayed female dog and her offspring, can reproduce 67,000 dogs.

Preparing pets for a new baby

test — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:21:05 +0000

Congratulations, you’re expecting a baby! If your family already includes a pet, you’ll need to help that first “baby” adjust to the new one you’ll soon bring home. You can help your pet cope with this big change in much the same way parents help children understand that a new brother or sister will be joining the family.

By following the tips below, you can ease your pet’s stress, help her welcome your new baby, and ensure that your pet stays where she belongs—with you and your growing family. Can I Keep My Cat?

If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably heard of toxoplasmosis because it can cause serious birth defects. However, toxoplasmosis is a rare disease indeed and one that can easily be avoided. While the disease causing parasite can be found in the feces of cats who ingest raw meat, birds, mice, or contaminated soil, toxoplasmosis is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat. If you’re concerned about possible exposure, ask your obstetrician to perform a simple blood test. If the result shows you were exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you may be given medication, and your baby may be tested and treated soon after birth. Keep in mind that the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are extremely low, and even lower for your baby. Being pregnant does not mean you have to give up living with and caring for your beloved cat. Toxoplasmosis is easily avoided by practicing good hygiene and responsible pet care. Just follow these simple steps to reduce the risk:

Avoid handling or eating uncooked meat.
Keep your cat safely indoors and away from wildlife.
Have someone else clean the litter box daily.
If you must clean the litter box, wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.
Feed cats only commercially prepared cat food.

How Will My Pet React?

No matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member may be difficult for your pet. Remember, your dog or cat was your first “baby” and is used to being the center of your attention. So it’s understandable that she may experience something akin to sibling rivalry when you introduce a new human baby into your household. You can minimize this feeling by working with her before you bring home your baby. For example, because your new baby will demand a lot of your time and energy, gradually accustom your pet to spending less time with you. Drastically decreasing attention and frequently scolding, ignoring, or isolating your pet after the baby comes home will likely make your pet feel stressed. If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, another family member should develop a closer relationship with the animal. That way, your pet can still feel loved and provided for while mom is busy with the baby.

How Can I Prepare My Pet?

Below are several suggestions to make introducing your pet and baby safer and smoother for all. Be sure to carry out these changes months before the baby’s arrival to best prepare your pet.

Take your pet to the veterinarian for a routine health exam and necessary vaccinations.
Spay or neuter your pet. Not only do sterilized pets typically have fewer health problems associated with their reproductive systems, but they are also calmer and less likely to bite.
Consult with a veterinarian and pediatrician if the thought of your newborn interacting with the family pet makes you uncomfortable. By working with these experts before your baby is born, you can resolve problems early and put your mind at ease.
Address any pet training and behavior problems. If your pet exhibits fear and anxiety, now is the time to get help from an animal behavior specialist.
If your pet’s behavior includes gentle nibbling, pouncing, or swatting at you and others, redirect that behavior to appropriate objects.
Get your pet used to nail trims.
Train your pet to remain calmly on the floor beside you until you invite him on your lap, which will soon cradle a newborn.
Consider enrolling in a training class with your dog, and practice training techniques. Training allows you to safely and humanely control your dog’s behavior and enhances the bond between you and your pet.
Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all pet and infant interactions.
Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying, turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.
To discourage your pet from jumping on the baby’s crib and changing table, apply double-sided carpet tape to the furniture.

If the baby’s room will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still allow your pet to see and hear what’s happening in the room, he’ll feel less isolated from the family and more comfortable with the new baby noises.

What Do We Do after Our Baby Is Born?

Welcoming a new baby is exciting for your family. Remember when you first brought home your dog or cat? But before you bring your baby home from the hospital, have your partner or friend take home something with the baby’s scent (such as a blanket) for your pet to investigate. When you return from the hospital, your pet may be eager to greet you and receive your attention. Have someone else take the baby into another room while you give your pet a warm, but calm, welcome. Keep some treats handy so you can distract your pet. After the initial greeting, you can bring your pet with you to sit next to the baby; reward your pet with treats for appropriate behavior. Remember, you want your pet to view associating with the baby as a positive experience. To prevent anxiety or injury, never force your pet to get near the baby, and always supervise any interaction. Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your new baby, but try to maintain regular routines as much as possible to help your pet adjust. And be sure to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet each day—it may help relax you, too. With proper training, supervision, and adjustments, you, your new baby, and your pet should be able to live together safely and happily as one (now larger) family.

Introducing your new cat to your other pets

test — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:20:21 +0000

Wouldn’t if all it took to introduce a new cat to your resident pet were a brief handshake and a couple of “HELLO, My Name Is…” name-tags? Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple, which means you’ll need to have some realistic expectations from the outset. What are realistic expectations? First, it’s recognizing and accepting that your pets may never be best buddies but will usually come to at least tolerate each other. Second, it’s understanding the need to move slowly during the introduction process to increase your chances for success. Some cats are more social than other cats. For example, an eight-year-old cat who has never been around other animals may never learn to share her territory (and her people) with other pets in the household. But an eight-week-old kitten separated from her mom and littermates for the first time might be glad to have a cat or dog companion. Cats are territorial, and they need to be introduced to other animals very slowly so they can get used to each other before a face-to-face confrontation. Slow introductions help prevent fearful and aggressive problems from developing. Here are guidelines to help make the introductions go smoothly.

Confinement

Confine your new cat to one medium-sized room with her litter box, food, water, and a bed. Feed your resident pets and the newcomer on each side of the door to this room, so that they associate something enjoyable (eating!) with each other’s smells. Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until your pets can eat calmly while standing directly on either side of the door.

The Old Switcheroo

Swap the sleeping blankets or beds used by all the cats so they each have a chance to become accustomed to the other cats’ scents. You can even rub a towel on one animal and put it underneath the food dish of another animal. Once your new cat is using her litter box and eating regularly while confined, let her have free time in the house while confining your other animals to the new cat’s room. This switch provides another way for the animals to experience each other’s scents without a face-to-face meeting. It also allows the newcomer to become familiar with her new surroundings without being frightened by the other animals. Next, after the animals have been returned to their original designated parts of the house, use two doorstops to prop open the dividing door just enough to allow the animals to see each other, and repeat the whole process over a period of days—supervised, of course.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

It’s better to introduce your pets to each other gradually so that neither animal becomes afraid or aggressive. You can expect a mild protest from either cat from time to time, but don’t allow these behaviors to intensify. If either animal becomes fearful or aggressive, separate them, and start the introduction process once again with a series of very small, gradual steps, as outlined above. Note: When you introduce pets to each other, one of them may send “play” signals which can be misinterpreted by the other pet as signs of aggression. If that’s the case, always handle the situation as “aggression” and seek professional help from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist right away.

Precautionary Measures

Try to keep your resident pets’ schedules close to what they were before the newcomer’s arrival. Before bringing a new pet home, check with your veterinarian to be sure all your current pets are healthy. You’ll also want to have at least one litter box per cat in separate locations. Make sure that none of the cats are being “ambushed” by another while trying to use the litter box, and be sure each cat has a safe hiding place. If small spats (hissing, growling, or posturing) do occur between your cats, you shouldn’t attempt to intervene directly to separate the cats. Instead, make a loud noise, throw a pillow, or use a squirt bottle with water and vinegar to separate the cats. Give them a chance to calm down before reintroducing them to each other.

Cat-to-Dog Introductions

You’ll need to be even more careful when introducing a dog and a cat to one another. A dog can seriously injure and even kill a cat very easily, even if they’re only playing—all it takes is one quick shake to break the cat’s neck. Some dogs have such a high prey drive that they should never be left alone with a cat. Dogs usually want to chase and play with cats, and cats usually become afraid and defensive.

In addition to using the techniques described above to begin introducing your new cat to your resident dog, take these steps:

Practice Obedience

If your dog doesn’t already know the commands “sit”, “down”, “come”, and “stay”, begin working on them right away. Small pieces of food will increase your dog’s motivation to perform, which will be necessary in the presence of a strong distraction such as a new cat. Even if your dog already knows these commands, work to reinforce these commands in return for a tidbit.

Set Up Controlled Meetings

After your new cat and resident dog have become comfortable eating on opposite sides of the door and have been exposed to each other’s scents as described above, you can attempt a face-to-face introduction in a controlled manner. Put your dog’s leash on and have him either sit or lie down and stay for treats. Have a second person offer your cat some special pieces of food. At first, the cat and the dog should be on opposite sides of the room. Lots of short visits are better than a few long visits. Don’t drag out the visit so long that the dog becomes uncontrollable. Repeat this step several times until both the cat and dog are tolerating each other’s presence without fear, aggression, or other undesirable behavior.

Let Your Cat Go

Next, allow your cat some freedom to explore your dog at her own pace, with the dog still on-leash and in a “down-stay.” Meanwhile, keep giving your dog treats and praise for his calm behavior. If your dog gets up from his “stay” position, he should be repositioned with a treat lure and praised and rewarded for obeying the “stay” command. If your cat runs away or becomes aggressive, you’re progressing too fast. Go back to the previous introduction steps.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Although your dog must be taught that chasing or being rough with your cat is unacceptable behavior, he must also be taught what is appropriate and be rewarded for those behaviors, such as sitting, coming when called, or lying down in return for a treat. If your dog is always punished when your cat is around and never has “good things” happen in the cat’s presence, your dog may redirect aggression toward the cat.

Directly Supervise All Interactions Between Your Dog and Cat

You may want to keep your dog at your side and on leash whenever your cat is free in the house during the introduction process. Be sure that your cat has an escape route and a place to hide. And until you’re certain your cat will be safe, be sure to keep the two separated when you aren’t home.

Kittens and Puppies

Because they’re so much smaller, kittens are in more danger of being injured or killed by a young energetic dog or by a predatory dog. A kitten will need to be kept separate from an especially energetic dog until she is fully grown, except for periods of supervised interaction to enable the animals to get to know each other. Even after the cat is fully grown, she may not be able to be safely left alone with the dog. Usually, a well-socialized cat will be able to keep a puppy in his place, but some cats don’t have enough confidence to do this. If you have an especially shy cat, you might need to keep her separated from your puppy until he matures enough to have more self-control.

When to Get Help

If introductions don’t go smoothly, seek professional advice immediately from a veterinarian or animal-behavior specialist. Animals can be severely injured in fights, and the longer the problem continues, the harder it can be to resolve. Punishment won’t work and could make things worse. Luckily, most conflicts between pets in the same family can often be resolved with professional guidance.

Introducing your new dog to your resident dog

test — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:19:45 +0000

Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. Dogs also establish territories, which they may defend against intruders or rivals. This social and territorial nature affects their behavior when a new dog is introduced to their household.

Introduction Techniques

Choose A Neutral Location: Introduce the dogs in a neutral location so that your resident dog is less likely to view the newcomer as a territorial intruder. Each dog should be handled by a separate person. With both dogs on a leash, take them to an area with which neither is familiar, such as a park or a neighbor’s yard. If you frequently walk your resident dog in a park near your house, she may view that park as her territory, so choose another site that’s unfamiliar to her. We recommend bringing your resident dog with you to the shelter and introducing the dogs before adopting the new dog.

Use Positive Reinforcement: From the first meeting, you want both dogs to expect “good things” to happen when they’re in each other’s presence. Let them sniff each other, which is normal canine greeting behavior. As they do, talk to them in a happy, friendly tone of voice – never use a threatening tone of voice. Don’t allow them to investigate and sniff each other for a prolonged time, as this may escalate to an aggressive response. After a short time, get both dogs’ attention, and give each dog a treat in return for obeying a simple command, such as “sit” or “stay.” Take the dogs for a walk and let them sniff and investigate each other at intervals. Continue with the “happy talk,” food rewards and simple commands.

Be Aware Of Body Postures: One body posture that indicates things are going well is a play-bow. One dog will crouch with her front legs on the ground and her hind end in the air. This is an invitation to play that usually elicits friendly behavior from the other dog. Watch carefully for body postures that indicate an aggressive response, including hair standing up on the other dog’s back, teeth-baring, deep growls, a stiff legged gait or a prolonged stare. If you see such postures, interrupt the interaction immediately by calmly and positively getting each dog interested in something else. For example, both handlers can call their dogs to them, have them sit or lie down and reward each with a treat. The dogs will become interested in the treats, which will prevent the situation from escalating into aggression. Try letting the dogs interact again, but this time for a shorter time period and/or at a greater distance from each other.

Taking The Dogs Home: When the dogs seem to be tolerating each other’s presence without fearful or aggressive responses, and the investigative greeting behaviors have tapered off, you can take them home. Whether you choose to take them in the same, or different vehicles, will depend on their size, how well they ride in the car, how trouble-free the initial introduction has been and how many dogs are involved.

If you have more than one resident dog in your household, it may be best to introduce the resident dogs to the new dog one at a time. Two or more resident dogs may have a tendency to “gang up” on the newcomer.

Be sure to keep the dogs separate in your home when you are not there to supervise, for at least the first few weeks. Wait until you feel confident and comfortable in the dogs’ interactions, before leaving them together unsupervised.

Introducing Puppies To Adult Dogs

Puppies usually pester adult dogs unmercifully. Before the age of four months, puppies may not recognize subtle body postures from adult dogs signaling that they’ve had enough. Well-socialized adult dogs with good temperaments may set limits with puppies with a growl or snarl. These behaviors are normal and should be allowed. Adult dogs that aren’t well-socialized, or that have a history of fighting with other dogs, may attempt to set limits with more aggressive behaviors, such as biting, which could harm the puppy. For this reason, a puppy shouldn’t be left alone with an adult dog until you’re confident the puppy isn’t in any danger. Be sure to give the adult dog some quiet time away from the puppy, and perhaps, some individual attention as described above.

When To Get Help

If the introduction of a new dog to a household doesn’t go smoothly, contact a professional animal behaviorist immediately. Dogs can be severely injured in fights, and the longer the problem continues, the harder it can be to resolve. Conflicts between dogs in the same family can often be resolved with professional help. Punishment won’t work and could make things worse.

Selecting the right pet for your kids

test — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:18:23 +0000

For many kids, the family pet is their best friend—a companion who not only provides unconditional love, but also teaches them about friendship, responsibility, loyalty, and empathy. While most family pets are cats and dogs, other animals may also be appropriate for children. Rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, small birds, and fish can make great family pets, for instance, as long as they receive the specialized care they need.

The key to creating a true “family pet”—one who is gentle, loyal, and loving to both animals and people—is to treat the animal as a beloved family member and to provide the training and care he deserves. It’s not enough to get a pet “for the kids.” A pet is not a temporary playmate for children, but a lifelong family member who depends on the entire family, especially adults.

How Old Should My Child Be before We Get a Pet?

Although many experts recommend a child be at least six years old before a pet is brought into the family, you are the best judge of your child’s maturity. At the very least, your child should exhibit self-control and understand (and obey) the word “no.” If you think your child is ready for a pet, first introduce her to friends’ well-behaved pets so you can observe your child’s behavior around them.

Should We Get a Young Animal or an Older One?

Many families with young children choose a kitten or puppy, believing these pets are safer, easier to train, and more adaptable than older, larger pets. But this isn’t always true. Because puppies and kittens are fragile, require extra time and care, and are prone to play-related scratching and biting, they may not be appropriate for a household with young children. Adopting a friendly, calm, adult animal who has a known history of getting along with young children may be the best choice for your family. Before making a decision, talk with animal experts such as veterinarians, animal trainers, and animal shelter adoption counselors who can help you select the right animal for your family.

What Kind of Dog Is Best with Kids?

As a parent, you want your child to be safe around your dog. You want to know which breeds are good with children and which aren’t. The truth is, all dogs have the potential to bite, and a dog’s breed is only one of many factors that affect temperament and behavior. The best dogs for kids are those who receive proper socialization, humane training, exercise, and attention; who are given adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care; who are sterilized; and who are safely confined.

How Should My Child Interact with Pets?

To protect both your child and your pet, it’s critical that an adult supervise all pet-child interactions. It’s also important to help your child see the world through your pet’s eyes. Ask your child how she would feel if someone poked at her eyes or pulled her ears. Explain that even the most docile pet has limits, and that all animals must be treated with caution and respect. Help your child understand that:

Pets need space and may not always welcome human attention, especially when eating, playing with their toys, or resting.
Pets may become upset by too much petting or stimulation. Teach your child to heed warning signs (such as hissing, lip curling, retreating, and growling) that indicate her animal friend wants to be left alone.
Other people’s pets may feel and display discomfort if your child touches or even approaches them. Tell your child to get permission from an adult before touching another pet. Explain how some pets may feel threatened when stared at, cornered, or hugged.
Animals in pain may lash out or bite anyone who tries to touch them. Teach your child to leave an injured pet alone and to notify an adult immediately.
Some dogs get excited and may even become dangerous when children scream and run. Teach your child appropriate behaviors around dogs.
Dogs contained in yards or cars may try to protect their territory if approached. Teach your child not to tease or get close to them.
Dogs may become overly excited and dominant during games such as tug-of-war or wrestling, possibly injuring a child in the process. Teach your child not to play such games with dogs and to instead play fetch with a ball or Frisbee.

How Can I Help My Pet Feel Safe?

Pets, like children, need time to adjust to new surroundings and circumstances, and need opportunities for downtime. Provide pets with a place of their own where they can retreat from children. Don’t put your pets in situations where they feel threatened. For example, dogs left alone in yards can be accidentally or intentionally teased by neighborhood children. What’s more, pets live longer, healthier, and safer lives when kept indoors with the family.

How Can My Kid Help Care for a Pet?

Allowing children to help care for a pet teaches responsibility and instills a feeling of competency and accomplishment. Choose tasks appropriate for the age of your child. Even young children can be involved in some aspect of caring for an animal friend—selecting a new toy or collar, assisting with grooming, or carrying a food can.

How Can I Teach My Kids to Take Good Care of Pets?

The best way to teach your children how to be responsible pet caregivers is to be one yourself. This should start before you even get a pet—make sure you have realistic expectations about pet ownership. And take steps to select the right animal for your family at the right time.

As soon as you bring a pet into your family, set up and enforce rules regarding proper pet care. For example, tell your children not to pull the animal’s tail, ears, or other body parts, and insist that they never tease, hit, or chase the pet. Teach children how to properly pick up, hold, and pet the animal. These simple lessons are essential to helping kids become responsible caretakers.

Although certain pet-care activities must be handled by adults, you can still include your children by explaining what you’re doing and why. For example, when you take your pet to the veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, explain to your child how the operation not only reduces pet overpopulation but can also make your pet healthier, calmer, and more affectionate.

Involve your children in pet-training activities, which not only make your pet a more well-mannered family member, but also teach your child humane treatment and effective communication.

Ultimately, your children will learn how to treat animals— and people—by watching how you treat the family pet. They’ll study how you feed, pet, and exercise your companion animal. And they’ll pay close attention to how you react when a pet scratches the furniture, barks excessively, or soils in the house. Frustrating as these problems are, “getting rid of ” the pet isn’t just unfair to the pet and your children, it also sends the wrong message about commitment, trust, and responsibility. When faced with pet problems, get to the root of the problem. Often a veterinarian, animal shelter professional, or dog trainer can help you resolve pet issues so you can keep the whole family together.

Older pets are great!

test — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:17:32 +0000

Sure puppies and kittens are cute, but… Don’t forget about older pets who may fit into your life perfectly.

With an older pet, you will get a less destructive, more graceful animal, and one who could more easily pass the “basic training”- you may not need to housebreak the pet, and it will learn faster to come when called and what “no” means. And if you work, a full-grown pet is better able to stay home alone during the day – this is especially true for dogs. Older pets are just as loving as young animals, but because most people want “cute” puppies and kittens, hundreds of older animals must be euthanized remain homeless on the streets in Bulgaria each year.

If you’re looking for a good companion, look at the older dogs and cats at the animal shelters. They have lots of love to give and the admirable qualities that come with maturity.