Dogs for Defense

A marine takes a nap on Iwo Jima, guarded by his scout dog

Unlike many other countries, when the United States entered World War II, they didn’t have a canine corps. But the military came to believe that dogs would prove an asset, so in March 1942 a war dog program was introduced. Since they were already at war, the military needed a large number of dogs right away, so they asked Americans to volunteer their pet dogs for service.
In the beginning, they accepted almost any kind of medium- to larger-size dog—around 30 different breeds. But as they worked with the dogs, the military found that some breeds were better for service than others and limited the accepted breeds to mostly German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Farm Collies, Giant Schnauzers, and mutts that were predominantly any of those breeds. Americans volunteered almost 20,000 of their beloved pets, but only about half of that number were accepted and trained. Of the trained dogs, only around 2,000 of them were finally sent overseas; the rest were used stateside.

Servicemen and their war dogs

The vast majority of dogs the military accepted were trained as sentry dogs. These dogs were used as guard dogs at airfields, depots, industrial plants, and so on. Almost one-third (about 3,000) of dogs trained for sentry duty were used by the coast guard to patrol and guard the shoreline. Sentry dogs worked on a leash with a military handler and had to be aggressive and moderately smart; they were trained to attack only if they were ordered to or if their handler was threatened.
The best-known dogs trained by the military were scout dogs. Scout dogs, along with their handlers, went ahead of patrols to detect if there were any enemy nearby and were trained to silently alert their handlers if they detected anyone. Scout dogs were especially helpful in the jungles of the South Pacific, and they were so good at what they did, that patrols with scout dogs had far fewer casualties than those without.
There were three other types of dogs trained by the military, but they were used less than sentry and scout dogs. Sled and pack dogs were used in snowy areas. Mine detection dogs were used to try to locate mines, but when they were tested in North Africa, they weren’t found to be very effective. Messenger dogs were trained to trust two different handlers so that the dogs would be able to carry messages from one man to the other across difficult or dangerous terrain or when other communications systems were down.

Stereotypes and Breeds of Dog

Photo: dezi / Shutterstock

Can social psychological theories of stereotypes about people also explain people’s attitudes and stereotypes of different breeds of dog? That’s the fascinating question posed in a new study by Tracey Clarke, Jonathan Cooper and Daniel Mills of the University of Lincoln.

Some jurisdictions have breed-specific legislation that bans particular breeds of dog, usually those of pit bull type. This includes the UK, where this study took place. Stories of attacks by this kind of dog also often get significant media attention. One question behind this research is whether people’s beliefs about certain breeds of dog are influenced by stereotypes.

The “contact hypothesis” is a well-known and well-tested idea in social psychology. It says that our attitudes towards other groups of people – such as those of a different race to ourselves – are influenced by contact with that group. In particular, if people have positive contact with members of another group then their attitudes to that group are very likely to improve. One interesting thing is that it does not even have to be actual contact – imagined contact (such as imagining a positive first meeting with a stranger) is enough to bring about a change in attitudes (Crisp and Turner, 2009).

If applied to dogs, we might expect that people with less contact with dogs would be more likely to believe stereotypes about the behaviour of particular breeds.

Although there is some evidence for breed-specific behavioural traits there is also wide variation, with some studies finding that breed type is more important, and that differences within a breed are very large. People who are more knowledgeable about dogs might be more aware that behaviour is not just influenced by genetics. For example, they might know the importance of early socialization for puppies, know more about dog training, and have a better understanding of the consequences of abuse and neglect.

The researchers developed a questionnaire that assessed people’s level of contact with dogs in three ways: how many dogs they lived with (0, 1, 2 or more); the role that dogs played in their life (e.g. pet, family member, or no role at all); and the amount of knowledge they said they had about dogs. Of these, they expected the last one to be the least useful, since it is difficult for people without much knowledge to accurately assess how much they know (or don’t know).

The questionnaire also asked about people’s attitudes regarding the link between dog breed and behaviour. One hundred and sixty-six people took part, most of them from the Greater London area in the UK. The researchers used a sampling method designed to get participants who had different experiences with dogs, and to include men as well as women (it is much harder to recruit men than women for this kind of study and so they deliberately included a soccer team in their target audience).

The majority of participants (57%) were dog owners and 41% were not dog owners. The role that a dog played in people’s lives was family member (43%), pet (16%) or ‘no role’ (27%). The reason the numbers don’t quite add up is because some participants did not answer this question. In terms of knowledge, 63% said they were knowledgeable and/or experienced about dogs. 

The results found a link between people’s knowledge about dogs and their assessment of a link between breed and behaviour. In particular, people who said they were knowledgeable about dogs were more likely to disagree with the statement that “some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others”, and to disagree that “there are sound and valid reasons for breed-specific legislation”.

There was a link between ownership of dogs and attitudes, in particular to the two statements mentioned above. Also, people who said the role of dogs in their life was ‘family’ were more likely to disagree with these statements than those who said a dog was a ‘pet’ or had ‘no role’ in their life. They were also less likely to agree that a dog’s appearance is linked to its behaviour.

This suggests that the contact hypothesis can also be applied to people’s relationships with dogs. The authors say, “Those with little experience of dogs …are more likely to have stereotypical images of breeds, as are those for whom the dog occupies a more instrumental role in their life (as a pet rather than a family member)”.

As the scientists note, stereotypes about breeds could become self-fulfilling, as people avoid certain types of dog and those dogs therefore have a different social environment than other dogs for which such stereotypes don’t exist. The contact hypothesis also says that people will generalize to others who look similar to a particular group. In terms of dogs, this means that attitudes towards bull breeds could be generalized to other dogs that are also short-haired and muscly.

The researchers say “The image of the muscular and powerfully built bull terrier type appears to have entered the public consciousness as the stereotype of a dangerous dog that poses a threat to public safety, despite such a generalization being scientifically unsound. The negative labelling of breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and other breeds of similar appearance leads to simplistic social perceptions of their behavior.”

Although this is a fairly small survey, it opens up a very promising line for future research to investigate perceptions about aggressive behaviour in dogs. It also shows that people’s knowledge about dogs in general is important in shaping their beliefs about BSL. This study used a relatively simple classification of knowledge and contact; having demonstrated that it makes a difference, future research could look more closely at these variables.

Some owners of so-called ‘status' dogs are very keen to improve attitudes towards certain breeds. See, for example, the wonderful work of Your Pit Bull and You in changing stereotypes about both pit bulls and dog training. The results of this research suggest that positive contact with any kind of dog will have an effect on people’s attitudes towards Breed Specific Legislation.

Pit Bull Owner Fights Miami City Hall

 
     MIAMI (CN) - A disabled man sued Miami-Dade County for the right to keep his service dog, Lucky, a pit bull - a breed that the city and county have seen fit to ban under threat of death.
     Miami-Dade County has fined Felix Conde $10,715 for keeping his service dog, and threatened kill Lucky and to put a lien on Conde's property if he doesn't pay, Conde says in his federal lawsuit.
     He had to exile Lucky from the county, as its law allows Miami-Dade County to kill the dog if it stays there.
     Conde claims he is a disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act. His doctor prescribed him Lucky, who can tell when Conde is about suffer a spasm from obstructive airway disease. Lucky then runs and fetches an inhaler for him.
     Pit bulls, like many dog breeds, inspire fanatical devotion in some owners, who claim, with evidence, that the dogs are gentle and friendly. It's bad owners that make bad dogs, they say.
     Be that as it may, in 1989 Miami-Dade County enacted an ordinance giving pit bull owners 90 days to register their dogs. After those 90 days, "No pit bull dogs may be sold, purchased, obtained, brought into Miami-Dade County, or otherwise acquired by residents of Miami-Dade County," according to the ordinance, which Conde cites in his lawsuit.
     Lucky has no history of aggression, Conde says. Nonetheless, "Miami-Dade County issued a citation and order against Mr. Conde, demanding that Lucky be removed from the jurisdiction, and imposing a fine upon Mr. Conde. Pending this action, Mr. Conde has removed Lucky from Miami-Dade County."
     Miami's law authorizes a new fine for each day a pit bull is present in the county, and "humane destruction of the pit bull dog."
     Miami-Dade fined Conde $715 in February. In May, it gave him 10 days to send Lucky into exile under threat of death, and in July it fined him another $10,000, and threatened to put a lien on his property if he didn't pay within 30 days.
     Conde was represented by counsel at all three hearings.
     After the third hearing, seven police officers, in three cars, "forcibly entered" Conde's home at 6 a.m., while his children were sleeping, to search for Lucky. Conde claims the abusive search made one of his kids cry, and accomplished nothing but "instilling great fear" in the children, his live-in companion, and Conde himself.
     "Mr. Conde's fear was exacerbated by the absence of Lucky at his side," Conde says in the complaint.
     Finally, in June, on returning from another county where he had gone to visit Lucky, Conde was in "a catastrophic motor vehicle accident," in which he broke both arms or wrists, both his lungs collapsed, he suffered facial fractures, head injuries and swelling of the brain, tore knee ligaments, and had to be place in a medically induced coma "for several months."
     Conde is still hospitalized. "But for the defendant's conduct, Mr. Conde would never have been required to travel out of Miami-Dade County to be with his service animal," Conde says in the lawsuit. "Even in the hospital, Mr. Conde suffers from the absence of Lucky."
     He claims Miami-Dade County's law violates the American with Disabilities Act, and the Constitution.
     He seeks declaratory judgment and an injunction stating that "the ordinance is pre-empted by the ADA and must be declared as a matter of law to be unenforceable due to its inconsistency with the ADA."
     He wants the threat of his citation and fine enjoined, attorney's fees, and Miami-Dade County required "to permit Lucky's return."
     He is represented by Andy Dogali, of Tampa.

3 of 'The Dogs of the Dow' are Warren Buffett Stocks: Time to Buy?

XOM

Stocks owned by legendary investor Warren Buffett are not generally associated with the word "dog."
But his biggest holding, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]), and two others, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), are among the worst performing stocks on the Dow Jones Industrial Average this year.
As such, each is a "Dog of the Dow," the moniker for the bowsers that underperformed the other members of the esteemed index of 30 highly-regarded, publicly-traded companies. That naturally raises the question for all investors of, "Is it time to buy?"
Due to the bull market, all fell far short of the performance of the exchange-traded fund for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) which is up nearly 25 percent for 2012.
Related: 3 Stocks to Profit from Emerging Consumer Markets
Coca-Cola led the Dogs of the Dow owned by Buffett, up more than 13 percent for the year. Over the same period, Exxon Mobil has pumped higher by just over 13 percent, with a significant recent jump due to the announcement of Buffett's buy of 40 million shares. IBM has fallen by more than 2.5 percent since the first of the year.
Another legendary investor, Shelby Davis, used to reply, when asked about the best time to buy stocks, "When you have the money."
Long-term investors should look upon the performance of these stocks as an opportunity to buy, if they "have the money."
It is impossible to time the market. Each is a well-run company with excellent management and a solid brand (if not, Buffett would not own millions of shares of each), which makes any period a good time to buy. For the long term, each also has a formidable "economic moat" that "The Oracle of Omaha" looks for in an investment. That is the set of assets that protect a business from competition and time.
For the long-term investor, Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobil and IBM should prove to be solid buys. Each pays a dividend with a history of growth, which will add to the total return over time. Buying shares of companies owned by Warren Buffett that are trailing the market should be a profitable strategy for the years ahead

Medical Treatment for Dogs

Dogs often seem to have limitless energy and robust constitutions, but don't let this fool you: they are susceptible to all sorts of maladies, ranging from mild to life-threatening. That's why it pays to have a relationship with a dependable, reassuring veterinarian (to ensure good treatment and quick treatment in an emergency), and to follow wise guidelines for dog-owners, which include regular checkups for your pooch and building your own store of knowledge about canine maladies, to catch treatable diseases early. Yes, dogs are energetic and robust by nature, but it's your job to help keep them that way. In this article, you will find tips to help you do just that, including:

Choosing a Veterinarian

Choosing a Veterinarian You don't have to take Fido to the nearest vet, and you never have to use a vet whose manner doesn't make you and your dog comfortable. Here are tips on finding the right veterinarian for both of you, including questions you can ask friends in order to get a strong word-of-mouth reference. We will also help you tell the difference between a problem with your dog that will clear up on its own and a major situation that needs to be seen by the vet right away.

Dog Disease Basics

Modern medicine has made dogs' lives much more pleasant, and longer for sure. But there are illnesses that will always be part of dog life, and these are made more threatening because dogs often come in contact with other animals, which can transmit diseases to them. In fact, there are some diseases that can be transmitted from dog to man. So you need to be familiar with diseases such as rabies, distemper and others, in order to prevent them or catch them early in your own dog.

Dog Illness Warning Signs

A dog owner can usually tell when their pet is not feeling well, but how do they know when the problem is serious? In this section we discuss many general signs that your dog could be ill. Ears and coat, energy level, eating habits and stool habits -- all of these can give signs that your dog is under the weather or seriously ill. This section is a must-read for any dog owner, as it also includes an extensive checklist of visible signs of illness in a dog. We suggest you print this out and keep it handy.

Preventive Health Care for Dogs

How often should your dog have a routine physical exam? More often than you think. Are you absolutely sure your dog has had all of her vaccinations? What about neutering and spaying? Did you know that it can lengthen your dog's lifespan considerably? In this section we cover many important facets of preventive health in dogs. If you're careful about yourself this way, you should extend the same care to your dog.

Alternative Treatments for Dogs

Just as human medicine has made many huge advancements in alternative medicine, so has canine medicine, in areas like acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbal treatments, homeopathy, massage and other kinds of non-standard medicine. Many of these are treatments you can provide yourself, which can foster good feelings in both you and your dog. Other treatments may require the expertise of the specialist, but can be just as beneficial. In this section, we cover alternative treatments for illness and natural ways to help keep your dog healthy.
Let's get started with the most important health care considerations for your dog -- choosing a veterinarian. We will give you some guidelines for choosing a vet in the next section and tell you when to seek their advice.

Dogs Who Are Home Alone All Day

Tina Traster

During the day, Jane Green, an oboist who lives in Buena Park, California, teaches music at home and whips through daily chores before leaving for nightly performances. She also shuttles Dolly, her Labrador mix, to and from doggy day care. Dolly doesn’t go to day care because she’s destructive. She goes to day care—the fee for which is $6 a day—because Green believes that Dolly deserves a full-fledged social life and that having one makes her happy and well-adjusted.

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“I never thought I’d do something like this,” says Green. “It feels exactly like raising a toddler. They need a lot of attention, and they want to have fun all day. The best thing to do is to make sure a dog is well-socialized and has a community.”

Green has learned from experience. Prior to Dolly, Green lived with a rescued pit bull who suffered extreme “separation anxiety,” a kind of panic behavior in which the dog falls apart psychologically when the owner departs. The pit bull destroyed the house when Green left him alone. He even went ballistic if she left him in the car while she pumped gas. Eventually Green gave the dog to a family with many children so he wouldn’t have to be left alone.

Up the Social Ladder

Dog guardians across America grapple with both a dog’s emotions and their own when it comes to leaving their best friend home alone. Not only to quell the symptoms dogs suffer but also to relieve their own guilt over leaving them for 10-hour stretches, dog lovers are jumping through hoops to give their companions a fuller and more stimulating dog lifestyle. They are taking their canines to day care, hiring pet sitters or dog walkers, matchmaking them with neighbors’ dogs, arranging play dates and, increasingly, taking them to the workplace.

In the past, efforts to keep a dog occupied during the day were undertaken in response to the bored and anxious animal’s destructive behavior or to neighbors’ complaints about his unrelenting barking or howling. Today, however, we just as often labor to create a more enriched social world for our dogs—many of whom show no signs of suffering—because we’re more sensitive to their need for company and stimulation. According to a 2000 study by the Lakewood, Colorado-based American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 75 percent of surveyed pet owners feel guilty about leaving their animals at home while they go to work, and 38 percent admit to calling home to talk to those animals. Some posit that the new enlightenment about the complex emotional life of dogs means that Canis lupus familiaris has achieved higher status in American society. The dog who used to sleep in the barn now sleeps in our bed. Dogs today have birthday parties, wardrobes, health foods and spa services. A primary source of companionship, especially for millions of singles, today’s dog is truly a member of the family.

Because we see our dogs as family members, many of us are reluctant to give them “latchkey treatment.” This generation knows some of the ills of being left home alone during its youth as well as the guilt involved in relegating the care of their children to others. Such pathos may explain why many dog lovers take pains to consider what dogs need from us rather than focusing solely on what we want from them.

Dr. Stephanie LaFarge, psychologist and senior director of the ASPCA’s Counseling department, says that humans have become much more empathetic toward dogs’ needs. Even when dogs do not exhibit distress at being left alone, we tend to “project” or to imagine that the animal is sad. “Some dogs cope when left alone, so there’s a very subjective component to assessing what an animal needs,” says LaFarge. “But even if it’s the human need to make sure a dog is not lonely, that is legitimate. It shows that we can empathize by putting ourselves in an animal’s place. It’s only natural to empathize with creatures who are part of our family.”

Social Skills

Experts stress the importance of socializing a dog during her puppy years. “If you deprive a puppy of social experiences in the well-intentioned goal of protecting her from [negative] experience and disease, the net result is damaged social capacity,” says Dr. Rolan Tripp, an animal behaviorist, author and veterinarian at VCA-La Mirada Animal Hospital in La Mirada, California. “The point of day care and puppy class and the dog park is that they are part of developing emotional stability and flexibility.”

Many of the symptoms of separation are obvious and painful for dog owners who need to go out and earn a living. An estimated four percent of America’s 55 million dogs supposedly has separation anxiety, and many dogs are relinguished to animal shelters every year for behavior problems. While some owners will try independence training, exercise and drug therapy, many experts say early and frequent socialization with other animals or living in a multi-animal home may produce a healthier dog.

“The worst mental punishment a dog can be given is to be kept alone in a tightly confined space where nothing varies,” writes biologist Desmond Morris in Dogwatching (Crown Publishers, 1986). Experts agree that dogs get lonely when they spend much of their time alone because they are pack animals. Descended from wolves, who live and work in groups, dogs are social beings, and we have become their pack members. If they are deprived of companions—both canine and human—they suffer.

Animal behaviorists agree that dogs need environmental stimulation, just as humans do. Dogs will work to see other dogs by pushing a panel with their muzzles. They find activity rewarding. To remove a dog from her own pack without providing a substitute pack can cause great distress to the animal. Those who suffer from separation anxiety demonstrate despair by tearing up furniture or other household items, urinating or defecating, vocalizing, digging, running away or even self-mutilation, which is behavior that provides some sort of distraction. Of all the behaviors that demonstrate despair, incessant barking tops the list. Dogs may suffer silently and without symptoms, as well.

Changing Times

Dogs have had to adapt to society’s changing perception of what a dog is. During the first half of the twentieth century, most dogs “worked” all day, hunting and herding. Many slept outdoors. By the 1950s, however, many a dog’s life took a turn toward “cushy.” By then, many lived inside and were comforted by the companionship of moms who still stayed home to raise children.

Fast-forward through the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s—four decades of tornadic change in the structure of the American family. More and more, both adults worked, and children spent elongated days at schools and day-care centers. “Singles” proliferated, with their long work hours and busy schedules. And with stricter health laws and the sprawl of suburbia, dogs were no longer welcome at the food mart or drug store. Consequently, dogs were not only spending weekdays home alone, but on weekends they were left again as we ran around town doing our chores.

“Dogs were created to do jobs,” says Jacque Lynn Schultz, a certified pet dog trainer and director of special projects for ASPCA Animal Sciences. “It’s as if we’ve taken their jobs away from them and created unemployed workers. There’s a lot less for them to do, and they need outlets for their energy and drive.”

“Working dogs do need a job,” agrees Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Cat/Dog Lover’s Soul. “Retrievers want to retrieve. By shoehorning dogs into our ecosystem, we’ve dumbed them down. They’re accustomed to a world that is rich with color. We’ve slowly dimmed it down, and it’s time that we return some of their genetic potential to them.”

Enriched Environments

Becker points to the trend in modern zoos to keep animals in groups and offer them more stimulation and challenge. “What’s happening to domestic dogs is what happened at zoos two decades ago when zoologists began to consider that animals need to express themselves, and [their environment] needs to be enriched.” Becker believes that if dogs must be left for a lengthy span, they should be given long, exerting walks before their guardians depart and left with chew toys or food puzzles so they have some stimulation while we’re away.

The growing awareness of the dog’s psyche helps explain the explosion of doggy day-care centers. People in metropolitan areas are willing to spend $100 a week to make sure their dogs are happily occupied while they’re at work.

“Animal psychology is far more accepted now,” says Joseph Sporn, who in 1987 founded Yuppie Puppy Petcare Inc. in New York City, the first doggy day-care center in the country. (Sporn says there were more than 500 independent centers nationwide in 2001.) “People are more receptive to thinking about what their dogs are thinking about.”

Sporn agrees that dogs thrive in a pack environment. “It’s what they crave,” he says, recalling that when he first opened the center, he was the butt of jokes. “As word spread, people began to realize it wasn’t only good for their dogs, but it was good for them, too, because it eased their guilt.”

At Yuppie Puppy, which charges $22 per day, dogs have indoor and outdoor play space, a kiddy pool, sprinklers, Murphy beds and constant supervision. Sporn conducts an interview before admitting a dog. There have been a couple of bites over the years but no fatalities. Dogs who have not been spayed or neutered are ineligible, as are those with a history of aggression. Sporn says that most dogs are good candidates for doggy day care, even the shy, reclusive ones. “Animals are antisocial if they were separated from their pack too early or were not socialized as puppies,” says Sporn. “Even so, I think a dog is better off with other dogs, even if he is not interacting, because at least he’s able to stimulate himself with observation.”

At some centers, day care means more than just food, companionship and a walk. At a growing number of day cares, dog “parents” can keep an eye on their companions via video cameras wired to a private Web site—an idea borrowed from the nanny cam, which is popular among working parents. The video cameras offer live coverage of an animal’s daily activities, from sleeping and eating to socializing.

Two’s Company

Not everyone who has a dog can afford doggy day care, nor is every dog a good candidate. In The Latchkey Dog (HarperCollins, 2002), New York City-based veteran dog trainer and author Jodi Anderson cautions, “Doggy day care has its advantages, but too much time around other canines might just teach your dog to become more competitive with them… be sure to keep in close touch with the caregivers who monitor your dog’s daily behavior.” Anderson also warns that too much of a good thing can backfire. “Twice a day with the dog walker,” she writes, “and three times a week at day care. Three weekends a month at the country house and one weekend with the dog sitter. Dogs who have what I call ‘extended packs’ (dogs who live with their immediate pack but spend a good deal of time with other people, or outside pack members) are the quintessential latchkey dogs.”

For some dogs, being thrust into a social situation is as painful as it is for the wallflower to go to the prom. Such dogs might be happier to have another dog—or cat—at home. Throughout the ages dogs have bonded with all kinds of creatures including lions, horses, even birds. According to the AAHA study in 2000, 44 percent of participating pet guardians acquired an animal simply to keep another animal company. In its 2001 survey, AAHA found that 31 percent of pet owners plan visits with others who have pets just to allow their pet to socialize.

Becker believes that dogs share a bond and give each other things that humans cannot duplicate. “I can’t look in the park and see a bird’s eyeballs or smell a pheasant,” he says. “This is something dogs share. It’s like being a woman and never being able to talk to or confide in another woman.” Becker concedes, however, that it’s not cruel to have only one dog, and a dog is far happier on a couch than in a shelter.

Introducing a second dog, or even a cat, takes special consideration. For dogs who have trouble being alone, it could even be a mistake because a new dog might learn to mimic the same undesirable behavior. “If your dog has been diagnosed with separation anxiety, bringing in another dog is unlikely to solve the problem,” says Rolan Tripp. Like others, Tripp believes that bringing a second dog or even a cat into the home can be productive if the original dog is well-adjusted and if the dog owner takes strategic steps in bringing the animals together.

In the case of dogs, Tripp recommends that the two animals first meet on neutral territory. They should be held with leashes slightly slackened and given a chance to do nose-to-nose sniffing. Once that progresses to genital sniffing, the guardian must gauge whether one of the dogs is willing to be passive and whether the encounter is “nonaggressive.” If the dogs show signs of aggression to one another, it might be best to try another potential housemate or playmate. If, however, you’re determined to bring two animals under the same roof and there is tension between them, Tripp says you must work with each dog separately to alter its perceived place in the pack.

Tripp believes that a cat may ease an “only dog’s” loneliness. “Dogs know that a cat’s not a dog, but if a young kitten is raised with a dog, there’s a chance the pair will bond and sleep together.” Tripp warns that the key to starting a good relationship between a cat and a dog is a slow introduction, with the dog on a leash and the cat in its carrying case with the door closed. The dog should be allowed to smell the cat slowly and the cat should be able to assert herself. Tripp recommends allowing the cat to alight where the dog cannot reach her when the carrying case is first opened. “If you make the horrible mistake of letting the cat run loose, the dog’s prey instinct will be triggered, and the cat’s first response will be, ‘I’m outta here!’”

Other Options

Urbanites who do not have enough space for a second animal are honing matchmaking skills. They spot a dog in their neighborhood or apartment building—often another of the same breed—who looks like a companionable mate for their own canine. That’s what Judith Speyer of Manhattan did, and she says that she and Chloe, her shih tzu, are much happier for the arrangement.

Speyer and a neighbor with a shih tzu arrange play dates, share the walking responsibilities and rely on one another to dog-sit when either goes out of town. “Dogs need company,” says Speyer. “I don’t like leaving Chloe alone all day in the apartment. When I tell Chloe that we’re going down to see Chelsea, she gets all excited. She understands that this is part of her life in the same way that I look forward to seeing a friend. She has an enriched social life, and this has made her a much happier, more secure dog.”

For some, the only way to avoid leaving a dog alone is to take him to work—and fortunately for guardians, there’s a growing national trend to allow dogs in the workplace. AAHA reports that 19 percent of pet owners surveyed in 2000 took their dogs to work at least once a month during the year.

Laura Endicott of Forest Hills, New York, is lucky because she can bring Mufasa, her akita, to work. Endicott says Mufasa is quite content at work, although it wasn’t because of separation anxiety that she took him with her in the first place. In fact, she acknowledges that it was her own assumption that Mufasa would feel bored and lonely that motivated her to bring him to work every day.

“I only got a dog because I knew he could come to work with me,” says Endicott. “I didn’t think it would be fair to leave him, especially because I work long hours. I never thought I’d become this attached, but he’s like my child. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just being anal. He would probably do just fine at home because he sleeps most of the day. But I just love him so much, and I want to make him happy.”

Tina Traster is a freelance writer based in New York City.

dogs for people with allergies Owners of dogs allergies

In this article ...

1.0 Remedies dogs for people with allergies for Food Allergies
1.1 Processing prescription diets Dry / Wet - not recommended
2.0 Initial cleaning of the dogs good for allergies Diet

Step # 1 - Remove all cereals and cereal products

Step # 2 - assess whether you need to go to an elimination diet

3.0 Protocol and elimination diet recipe

3.1 Purpose

3.2 Duration

3.3 transition

3.4 Nutraceuticals dogs good for allergies and elements of alternative medicine

3.5 The elimination diet
3.6 Understanding that includes a novel food

3.7 Elimination dogs for people with allergies Diet Recipe

3.8 Supplements dogs good for allergies to the elimination diet

4.0 The Elimination Diet Ad


1.0 Remedies for Food Allergies

Processed Diets Dry / Wet prescription dogs for people with allergies allergy - not recommended ...

Do not use a dry food or allergen prescribed dogs good for allergies allopathic veterinary prescription wet processed , dogs for people with allergies unless this product thoroughly studied to ensure that the product does not contain ingredients that put your dog or cat in the health of an endangered dogs good for allergies .

 Sound crazy?

Well, many dogs for people with allergies prescribed allopathic veterinary prescription foods contain substances dogs with allergies  that trigger allergies and cause other health dogs good for allergies complications.

You can find an example of one of the most popular veterinary prescribed dry food allergens here complete with a detailed dogs good for allergies explanation of why the product is a healthy choice for your dog or cat.

2.0 Initial cleaning dogs for people with allergies of the Diet

Step # 1 - Remove all grains and dogs good for allergies cereal products
                the diet ( food and treats )

The grain is the number one trigger for allergies in dogs and cats, so the first thing to do is eliminate all derivatives of cereals and grains dogs for people with allergies from the diet ( including food and treats ) . If you are not sure what food ingredients derived from dogs good for allergies cereals that can be read here dogs good for allergies , here and here.

At this point you can dogs for people with allergies begin supplementation support measures 3.4.1 , 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 , or you can choose to see if the simple elimination of grain feeding is sufficient to resolve the symptoms dogs for people with allergies dogs good for allergies .

If after several weeks symptoms of food allergies are present dogs good for allergies , then it's time to move to step 2.

For those of you dogs for people with allergies who are interested to eliminate all possible allergens from the diet front, simply combine steps 1 and # 2 - do not wait for # 1 First and No. 2, after several weeks of dogs with allergies time.

If you are feeding your dog or cat dogs good for allergies a diet free of wheat, grain products and all items listed in step dogs good for allergies 2 and go to step 3 .

Step 2 - Remove these dogs for people with allergies daily allergy triggers
                The diet ( food and treats )

    Chemical preservatives for use;
    Brewer and / or nutritional yeast ;
    For egg products dogs good for allergies ;
    Food of animal origin;
    Poor fats ;
    sweeteners dogs good for allergies ;
    Synthetic dogs for people with allergies additives and supplements ;
    And also ...
        The fruit is rich in dogs good for allergies sugar - is bananas, pears ;
        Root vegetables that are high in sugar - carrots , sweet potatoes .

For more information on what to look for and avoid see section 4.0 of this article " Food allergies in dogs and cats - Causes dogs with allergies , Symptoms, Treatment "
dogs good for allergies
At this point you can begin dogs for people with allergies supplementation support measures 3.4.1 , 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 (if not already done step # 1) or you can choose to see if the mere elimination of additional allergy triggers from the diet is sufficient to resolve symptoms dogs good for allergies dogs good for allergies.

If after 3-4 weeks, dogs for people with allergies symptoms of food allergy are still present, then it's time to move on to stage 3 , the elimination diet .

3.0 The elimination diet - Protocol and
       income

3.1 Purpose

3.2 Duration

3.2 transition

3.4 Nutraceuticals dogs for people with allergies and dogs good for allergies elements of alternative medicine

3.5 The dogs good for allergies elimination diet
3.6 Novel Foods

3.7 Recipe

3.8 Position elimination diet

3.1 Purpose

The elimination diet dogs good for allergies is very limited food dogs for people with allergies ingredient that is intended to be used temporarily for:

    Give cat dog system the opportunity to:
        Detox and calm the body / immune system , providing an opportunity for:
            Stop the accumulation of toxins caused by food allergy ;
    To support the kidneys and liver dogs good for allergies to eliminate toxins ;
        Help relieve the symptoms of chronic allergic reaction dogs with allergies .
    Start the dogs for people with allergies discovery process that identifies the ( s ) Product ( s ) that your dog or cat is allergic .


3.2 Duration

The dogs good for allergies elimination diet should be strictly maintained for 12 weeks (3 months) - No change or treats. This should allow sufficient time for your dog or cat complete detoxification system dogs for people with allergies. To help in the detoxification process Nutraceuticals should be added dogs with allergies to food - see below.

3.3 The transition to the elimination diet

Do not  change without dogs good for allergies an orderly transition , unless you're 100 % sure that your dog or cat has a constitution that accepts change without adverse effects (Beg , diarrhea )dogs for people with allergies .
Slow Transition :

    Substituting dogs good for allergies a small portion of food once a day with some elimination dietdogs for people with all ;
    During the period from one week to two weeks, dogs good for allergies gradually replacing most existing food new elimination diet until the existing food is completely replaced by the elimination dietdogs for people with all.

The countdown begins week 12 dogs with allergies if complete reversal elimination dogs for people with all diet.

3.4 Nutraceuticals and elements dogs good dogs for people with allergies for allergies of alternative medicine

3.4.1 with a Nutraceuticals Detox
Detox supplements is necessary. You can choose one of the following options to help clean your dog or cat's system - read the dogs good for allergies items to ensure that what is appropriate for your dog or cat alone or choose another safe detoxification agent dogs for people with allergies ;

    Diatomaceous earth ( DE) food grade only ;
    Licorice root ;
    Milk Thistle .
and Where are dogs good for allergies

3.4.2 Resolution Total velocity dogs with allergies dogs for people with allergies Food Symptoms
         allergy

    You can do a course of treatment with perception is ingested ,
    Read to dosage dogs good for dogs for people with allergies allergies, precautions and interactions.


3.4.3 Resolution of the speed of yeast infection and related
        symptoms dogs good for allergies

    Can ingested during treatment with the dogs with allergies following methods :
        Colloidal silver ;
        Grapefruit seed extract .
    Follow the instructions for treatment / dosing in the statutes;
    There are also precautions and interactions dogs good for allergies.


3.5 The elimination diet

Elimination diet consists mainly of two ingredients :

    A single source, dogs for people with allergies the protein of the invention, and ;
    A new source of carbohydrates.


3.6 Understanding that dogs good for allergies includes a novel food

The term " novel" , a food that has not sent your dog or cat before dogs with allergies .
Beg

3.6.1 Protein:
If you have had your dog or cat on a diet of chicken dogs for people with allergies :

    You should have a basic mammalian proteins or lamb , if your dog or cat has never had a lamb , or a novel mammalian dogs good for allergies protein - see list below .
    Dogs and cats that are allergic to chicken may be allergic to other birds , such as turkey , duck, etc.
    If you have had your dog or cat on a diet of beef :
        You can try to move dogs with allergies to a new dogs good for allergies chicken or a novel mammalian protein ;
    Fowl new examples:
        duck ;
        Fish ( if your dog / cat has never eaten fish before ) ;
        Emu ;
        Quail ;
        ostrich ;
        pheasant
    New examples of mammals :
        crocodile ;
        Beaver ;
        Bison ;
        caribou ;
        Elk ;
        goat ;
        Kangaroo ;
        Moose ;
        rabbit ;
        Game (deer ) .
and for life  dogs good for allergies eat the potato ;

3.6.2 Carbohydrates:

    If your dog has eaten a diet that included grains - Roman carbohydrates are:
        Pope ;
        pumpkin ;
        kohlrabi ;
        turnip ;
        Squash .
    If your dog dogs or cat would eat the potato before the news ;
        pumpkin ;
        kohlrabi ;
        turnip ;
        Squash .
    If your dog ate pumpkin or squash dogs with allergies before the novel would be:
        Pope ;
        kohlrabi ;
        Turnip .

dogs good for allergiese for life dogs for people with allergies ;
3.7 Elimination Diet Recipe

    If your dog or cat is accustomed to a diet rich in the use of the same crude protein vs carbohydrate protein ) Report dogs good for allergies of the elimination diet ;

    If your dog is a home or business of dogs with allergies dry food diet cooked processed foods include moderate protein and low in carbohydrates ( for example, dry dog Atwood or Orient grain dogs good for allergies free diet like this house ) dogs for people with allergies  , then use the percentage of proteins to carbohydrates as shown below in the recipe dogs with allergies ;


    If your dog is really a processed commercial dog food that consists mainly of the charges, then you need to give your dog or cat more time to adjust to dogs good for allergies the percentage distribution of protein vs carbohydrate below. To make this recipe with a lower percentage of protein (Beg , 35-40 % , and a higher percentage of carbohydrates, for example , 65 to 60 % and slowly reverse the percentages reflect those contained in the recipe below dogs good for allergies .


3.7.1 Removing Food Recipe

Daily meals consist ...

    50% to 60 % of the protein according to the invention;
    40% to 50 % carbohydrates novel ;
    If your dog is used dogs good for allergies to eating the first use :
        New crude protein, and :
        Steamed, novel carbohydrate frozen puree or finely chopped / diced ;
    If your dog is dogs good for allergies used to processed food or home cooking then use :
        New protein cooked (cooked with heat - the heat is not too high to prevent the formation of carcinogens ) and ;
        Use steamed , mashed new carb .

3.7.2 Precautions:

    If your dog or cat suffers dogs good for allergies from other medical conditions you may have to make further adjustments / considerations - such as:
        For kidney stones or bladder may need to adjust the type of protein or carbohydrates depending on the treatment required for the type of glass or stone during treatment - for more information on bladder and kidney stones dogs good for allergies food needs that can be read here .
        To pancreatitis sure to go with a low-fat meat .
    Be sure to check the requirements / dietary restrictions for the condition being treated.


3.7.3 Supplements dogs good for allergies elimination diet

Probiotic supplement :

    You must be at least 12 strains of bacteria and 20-50000000000 of bacteria per serving ;
    If the plug does not need refrigeration do not buy that microbes give probiotic supplement their properties are dead and therefore not viable ;
    You can use a probiotic supplement human or sells the dog and cat class ;
    Read this article to understand why a probiotic is necessary;
    Read this article for more dogs good for allergies information on how to choose a good probiotic .


Digestive Enzyme :

    As bromeliad ;
    Make sure that the product contains no fillers , dogs good for allergies sweeteners and other unnecessary additives ;
    You can use a human or sold for dogs and cats of quality ;
    Follow manufacturer's instructions for dosage.
dogs good for allergies and

3.8 Position elimination diet

At the end of the 12 weeks , symptoms cat dog eliminates or better yet, have disappeared completely , dogs good for allergies then you can start adding other foods slowly back to his / her diet one at a time, with days between adding another element so you can find the exact reference that is causing the reaction if symptoms begin to reproduce.

If you still want to feed a diet of processed foods carefully selected - most contain unwanted ingredients , compromising the health of one kind or another .
 Make sure you know how to choose a better product - do not assume you know - people , even those who think they know -not ! Go to my index page, scroll down until you reach
PART 3 - Food and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats
3.1 - Dog and Cat Food
3.1.1 Wet and dry dog and cat food ( commercially processed foods )
- Read the articles in this dogs good for allergies section .

If you want to switch to a diet of nutritious home cooked fresh you can start to use this recipe to cook at home without grain and substitutions sure to follow depending on your dog , cat allergy causes .

Supplementation with omega -3 fatty acids is very important for maintaining good health .

Turmeric and organic coconut dogs good for allergies oil has many health benefits , including anti - allergic properties - both are safe for most dogs and cats - read the articles for more information on the benefits , dose selection a good product, precautions and interactionsdogs good for allergies .

For more information about the causes and symptoms of food allergies that can be read here .

Food Allergies in Dogs, Cats – Remedies, Elimination, Diet ; dogs good for allergies , Recipe

Considerations For Aging Dogs And Glucosamine Supplements

Glucosamine is a dietary supplement that can affect joints by maintaining or possibly even helping to grow cartilaginous tissue. While this sounds great, you may not know whether it is right for your pet. Typically this is a result of the difficulty of spotting the signs of aging, but do what you can to pay attention and consider whether your friend is in need of some help.

One of the signs to watch for is whenever your dog gets down from something such as stairs or a car seat. If he or she is hesitating or taking more time than in the past, you should probably begin working to ease the stress on the animal's joints. Loss of fluids and tissues that brace against falls is typical as they age, but when you start to notice it you should take action.

Bear in mind that this could also be a sign of something more serious, but if it's something that presents without other symptoms it is unlikely that you need to worry. Glucosamine can potentially help your pet maintain or even regenerate some of what he or she has lost. This means that, if nothing else, you can hope to keep him or her from worsening with the continued passage of time.

Remember that how soon you may want to begin supplementing your dog's diet also depends on what kind of life he or she has led. Dogs used in hunting or hiking or those that have had to regularly navigate rough terrain often have problems earlier. There is no harm in beginning a glucosamine regimen earlier rather than later, as it can help even before problems develop.

One thing to note is that this particular supplement is one that takes time to really take effect. This means that you do not want to stop and start or otherwise forget to include it in meals. Check with recommended dosages based on your pet's age and weight, as the dosage can vary depending upon just how active and how heavy your animal is.

Glucosamine for dogs can result in a number of improvements where his or her quality of life is concerned. Be sure that you are maintaining the regimen and including this substance in meals each day. With time and some care you should see your pet managing to get around better than in the past and you may manage to keep it that way for years to come

How to Overcome Your Fear of Dogs

Are you limited to the places you can go or people you can visit and want to know how to overcome your fear of dogs? This is a fear that plagues more people than you may think. Many people make the mistake of assuming that the only people who are afraid of dogs are those that have been injured by a dog in their past. That is not the case at all. There are many reasons that people have fear of dogs.

If you are afraid of dogs, you cannot go wherever you want whenever you want. You may be fearful to go to a park because you know that there will more than likely be a dog somewhere in the vicinity. If friends or family members have dogs, you may find that you are not able to go to their homes because of your fear. The fear is something that is psychological and cannot be controlled. If you have been ridiculed for the fear, it may make you feel silly or foolish, but it is something that you cannot control on your own.

There is hope for overcoming your fear though. You do not have to worry and wonder forever. Hypnosis has been shown to help people dramatically overcome their fear of dogs. Hypnosis changes the way that someone's mind interprets the fear. It changes the way that the brain rationalizes the fear so that the person is able to overcome it and ultimately go on to lead a normal life.

If you think that hypnotism may be a good option for you, you need to take the time to learn what steps to take to get the care that you need. You need to be sure that the hypnotist knows what he or she is doing. Someone that makes a living making people act silly on a stage is not someone that you need to see for the fear that you have. You need to see a professional who has experience with patients who have a fear of dogs. You need to speak with him or her or read reviews about them, to learn about what you can expect before, during, and after hypnotism. There are many people who have been able to overcome their fear through the help of a hypnotist. If you have tried everything else and want to exhaust every option, hypnotism is the one option that you will find really works.