Try and work out why your dog is barking so much. Some breeds are more vocal than others but this isn’t an excuse for your dog to be barking every day for consistently long periods of time. Your dog could be barking because they are lonely, scared, frustrated or bored.

You could have unintentionally taught them to bark without even realising it. For example, if your dog lets you know they need to go out by barking, and you do what they desire after they bark, you’ve perpetuated the act of barking. It’s an easy trap to fall into; barking invites attention while it’s easy to forget to reward your dog for staying quiet.

You also might be giving your dog mixed signals about barking. You might ignore them barking one day, scold them the next and encourage them another day if there’s someone suspicious around the house.

The easiest approach to stopping your dog barking is to exercise them more. Even if you have a large yard, your dog might not be exercising as much as they should. Vigorous exercise should tire your dog out enough to stop them barking through the night.

Training your dog to stop barking will take more patience. Work with them by issuing a stop barking command and a treat at the same time. Stretch out the length of time between the command and the treat until they can go for a few minutes without barking. If they do bark after they’ve been given a treat, yell the command loudly. It should surprise them enough to stop them barking. In time, your dog should recognise “˜stop barking” as a command and should follow it.

Have you had trouble with your dog barking? What did you do to fix it?

Sources and further reading:
Stop dogs’ excessive barking
When barking is a problem
Dog and puppy barking

[IMAGE SOURCE www.hubpages.com; www.dogtrainingandtricks.com]

History
Said to have descended from the small dogs used to keep Tibetan Lamas (as is monks, not South American critters!) company and act as watchdogs and ‘hot water bottles’ during the colder months. Closely related to the Pekingese, but with some marked differences, the Tibetan people called the dogs ‘little lions’, yet the official Tibetan Spaniel breed was actually established half a world away from its mountainous origins – in England in the 1920s, where it became loved for its lapdog qualities and attractive coat.

Appearance
A toy-sized dog, the Tibetan Spaniel is of about the same height and weight as a Maltese Terrier. In fact, ‘spaniel’ is a misnomer, as the breed differs in significant ways from other spaniels such as the Cavalier and Cocker Spaniels traditionally used as gun dogs.
With a silky, luxurious coat that comes in a variety of colours (with fawn featuring most frequently), the Tibetan Spaniel is a good-looking dog. As with the Pekingese, the Tibetan Spaniel’s head looks small in relation to the body, while its underbite and large, inquisitive eyes give the breed unmistakable charm.

Temperament
Loyal, alert, playful and intelligent, Tibetan Spaniels retain a puppy-like charm throughout their lives. While the Tibetan Spaniel is an affectionate breed, it does have an independent streak and doesn’t feel compelled to be by a human’s side every second. People who own Tibetan Spaniels report that while the dog always wants to be in their vicinity, it is happy to watch on from the floor or another chair, not needing constant handling.
There’s no doubt that Tibetan Spaniels are heart-winners. With a lineage that stretches back to mystical mountains and monastery life, one can’t help but look into those big, black, expressive eyes and wonder if the Tibetan Spaniel knows a lot more about the meaning of life than he’s letting on.

[IMAGE SOURCE www.dogbreedsinfo.org; www.justdogbreeds.com]

This website encourages you to exercise your dog a lot, so that it is better behaved. If your dog is tired and resting, it won’t have time to chew on your shoes and other items in your home. To me this does not seem to be the best reason to go for a walk with your dog. Remember that the biggest benefits of walking your dog are the benefits to both your health, and your dog’s health.

It is important to keep your dog healthy. Exercise can prevent obesity, heart decease and other health issues in dogs and their owners. Healthy Hearts advises that exercise together with a healthy diet and regular check-ups are all part of keeping your dogs heart happy. Remember that exercise routines need to be developed with your dog’s specific size, age and needs in mind.

If you’d prefer to be still and relaxing while your dog runs around fetching toys and sticks then teaching them how to fetch or retrieve is a good idea. This article gives you good tips on how to teach your dog to retrieve if you have not managed to do it yourself yet.

Best of luck!

Your dog’s nails should only just touch the floor when he walks, which means that you’ll need to make sure they stay trimmed – especially if your dog doesn’t often walk on concrete or hard, rough surfaces.

If a dog’s nails get too long, it can hamper his ability to walk and run. The nails can also push painfully back into the paw, causing a lot of discomfort for your poor un-pedicured pooch! This practical video shows you how to keep a handle on your dog’s nails without expensive salon visits!

Click here to view the embedded video.

We recently reported on the power of pets to boost the national economy after a study conducted by the Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC) found that last year alone, expenditure on domestic pets totalled $6.02 billion.

This Christmas, the economy looks set to receive another boost from the pet-care industry, with the study also revealing that many owners treat their pets as part of the family, spoiling them with Santa stockings and special treats at Christmas time.

In an interview with The Queensland Times, luxury online pet boutique owner, Clea Sandler, confirmed, ‘Christmas is by far our busiest time of year’. Her store, Snooty Paws, stocks a range of special-treat items to spoil your pet, and even has a Christmas – and Chanukah –line with costumes and themed products for your furry friend.

If you’re thinking of leaving something special under the tree for your four-legged family this Christmas, we’ve got a few tips to help you make the choice!

• Be careful when choosing edible treats. A lot of Christmas treats have ingredients that pets can’t easily digest, so make sure you confirm that your goodies are a pet product and that they have no nasty surprises that may harm your pet.

• If you’re buying a toy, why not buy one that is interactive? More than any toy, your pet desires and thrives on the attention of its family. So for a dog, you may want to consider a Christmas-themed toy that involves the kids – a springy ball on a string will keep both parties entertained and ensure your pet gets good use out of it.

• Practicality is a good thing to keep in mind when buying your pet a gift. If your dog needs a new bed, use Christmas as an excuse to splurge a little and satisfy your needs (and your furniture’s needs) as well as your pet’s!

• Never give your dog leftovers from dinner as a special treat at Christmas. Cooked turkey is always a no-no and could lead to digestive problems or a punctured oesophagus.

Image sourced from: Pretty Fluffy

The festive season is full of reasons to celebrate – the weather’s warm, the kids are on school holidays, the family gets together and Christmas and New Year provide party opportunities like no other.

Unfortunately, the Christmas period can pose additional threats to the four-legged members of your family, with a whole range of health and safety issues to watch out for. So this Christmas, make sure you take extra precautions and watch your pets closely, to avoid a holiday tragedy and keep the good times rolling!

Overheating
Unlike the white Christmas the carols tell us about, we all know that Australia is anything but snowy and cold at Christmas! In fact, this time of year features some of the hottest temperatures and the added activity of parties, barbecues and long nights out mean your pet could be out of sight more often than usual.

Be mindful that hot temperatures can adversely affect dogs very quickly, so make sure your dog has an accessible and constant supply of water and a shady, cool place to rest, and that he is not left unattended for too long. Signs of overheating may include panting, fatigue, inflamed or red gums and diarrhoea.

Pay close attention to your pets in hot weather and if they display any of these signs, seek veterinary advice immediately and try to bring down their temperature with cool water.

Ticks
In many parts of the country, summer is the worst time for fleas and ticks – and with all the commotion around Christmas and New Year, a tick can easily go undiscovered on your pooch until it has done serious damage. Check regularly for ticks and fleas and check out our guide to prevention here.

Overeating, choking and poisoning
We all know that the inside of a house around Christmas resembles a gourmet grocery store, with treats and tasty morsels as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, a lot of the food items – such as chocolate, nuts, cooked bones or other human food – can be dangerous for dogs.

The potential influx of people in your home will mean your dog might get away with begging treats from others, so make sure you let everyone know that feeding your pet could be harmful. Don’t leave food where your pets can access it – the smell is often too tempting for humans to resist a pick and nibble, never mind the effect it will have on your drooling dog!

In order to keep the celebrations happy and stress-free this Christmas, keep in mind that your pets may require a bit of extra attention over the holidays. You’ll be glad you did!

Images sourced from: Free fitness Tips, The Happpy Dog Spot and Bone Bratz

Poor Fido. Imagine having the worst itch imaginable in an unscratchable place, not to mention a whole host of other symptoms. And imagine not being able to let your owners know that you’ve got a serious problem.

Worms are the most common health issue facing dogs, and because they can’t speak our language (or we can’t speak theirs!), we have to be extra-diligent about monitoring their health and keeping on top of worms.

What exactly are worms?

Worms are parasites that make their way inside your dog’s body in a variety of ways, and live off his energy sources. There are five different types of worm that your dog could pick up. Some are visible to the naked eye, others are not, so it’s important to know what your dealing with, how to recognise it and how to treat it.

Roundworms: These are a big problem, especially in puppies. They can grow up to 15cm in length and look like small noodles in the dog’s faecal matter. Euww!

Hookworms: So-called for the way they hook themselves onto the intestinal wall of a dog, these nasty critters are invisible to the naked eye but may cause some blood in the stools due to the way they attack the intestines.

Tapeworms: These are flat, long worms that also live in the intestines. When excreted, they look like small grains of rice.

Whipworms: These red worms live in the large intestine, but because they are not excreted in the stools, they are difficult to see. Although treatable, whipworms are notoriously difficult to eradicate.

Heartworms: As the name suggests, these live in the heart and are the most dangerous of all worms, causing severe damage to the organ. Spread my mosquitoes, they are near impossible to detect until the damage has been done, which is why heartworm-prevention medication is a necessity.

Symptoms

Because worms are a parasite, many of the symptoms that indicate your dog is suffering from them come back to a general decline in overall health. The following are just a few:

•    Dull coat
•    Tired/lethargic
•    Alternating ravenous hunger with loss of appetite
•    Vomiting
•    Diarrhoea
•    Blood in stools
•    Itchy rear end (if your dog is dragging it’s backside along the carpet this is a pretty good indication it is itchy!)
•    Bloated stomach, especially in pups

Treatment

Prevention is the best cure. You must de-worm your dog regularly in accordance with the guidelines for his age and weight. Always use a proven treatment – ideally one such as Advocate, which is a spot-on, monthly treatment that effectively eliminates gastrointestinal worms such as hookworms, whipworms and roundworms, and also prevents heartworm. If you would prefer to give your dog an oral treatment, Drontal provides that option.

If you suspect your dog has worms, a visit to the vet is always advisable, especially if you’re worried about heartworm – and it’s imperative to take him for that yearly check-up!

Image by: Picsicio

What to expect when she’s expecting…

The time has come. Whether you’ve bred your beloved bitch on purpose or whether it’s the unfortunate result of her loose morals with a wandering tramp, you’ve got a pregnant pooch and you’re going to be a grandparent. Pregnancy and birth (known as ‘whelping’) can be a risky time in a dog’s life, so taking good care of her comfort, health and wellbeing during this stage is crucial.

A canine pregnancy lasts for 58-66 days, during which time your furry friend will go through several stages.

20-28 days after fertilisation: morning sickness

Yep, poor old pooches aren’t exempt from the nauseating side effect of pregnancy, and while it is rare for dogs to actually vomit, you will probably notice that your mother-to-be is slightly off her food.

One month along…

By this stage it should be visible that your dog is pregnant, and her nipples will have darkened in colour. Once the morning sickness has subsided and your expectant pet has regained her appetite, it’s important to make sure you increase her food intake, as she will need the extra energy reserves. Be mindful however not to over-feed her because too much weight gain could do more harm than good.

Six weeks in…

By this stage, her belly should be very round and full and your pooch may become increasingly restless, entering the ‘nesting’ phase. She will most likely spend her days wandering around, sniffing out old nooks and crannies and trying to choose a suitable place to give birth. Some dams lose their appetite again during this phase and discomfort takes over. It’s best to try to encourage her to eat smaller, easily digestible meals more regularly. Remember that exercise is still an important daily routine to ensure that your dog’s muscles remain in good shape. Frequent gentle exercise throughout the pregnancy will help her regain her strength more quickly after the birth.

Preparing for the birth…

You will need to either buy or make a whelping box, and keep it in a calm, quiet and warm place. A whelping box needs to be easy to clean, have sides high enough to keep the puppies confined but low enough for their mother to climb in and out. It also needs to have a source of heat for when the puppies are born.

During the birth…

Your dog needs you during the birth, as much for your support and calming influence as for the assistance you may need to provide if something goes wrong. Many dogs and pups suffer unnecessarily or even die as a result of being left alone during those risky hours of birth.

Make sure you have made your vet aware that your dog will be giving birth in the next couple of days so that you can contact them quickly for advice should it be needed.

Puppies are usually born head-first, but can sometimes come out backwards – leading with their hind legs. A breech birth is when a pup comes out bum-first, and there can be problems for both the mother and pup in this situation.

According to veterinarian Dr Rebecca Bragg, ‘If the mother makes no attempt to remove the membranes to allow the puppy to breathe, you will need to do it for her. Clear any debris from around the mouth and nose, then from the body with a towel. You need to stimulate the puppy to breathe and cry by rubbing it with the towel. If the puppy doesn’t appear to be breathing and its tongue is turning blue, you can breathe air into its lungs through its nose. If the placenta is still attached, you need to sever it a few centimetres from the puppy’s body.’

The best thing you can do for your pregnant gal is educate yourself thoroughly on the entire process and seek vet advice all the way through her pregnancy. If at any time during the whelping you encounter a situation you cannot handle, or if your pooch suddenly becomes too tired and overwhelmed to complete the process, seek immediate veterinary attention.

As a pet owner, little else makes you as proud as when your dog obeys a command perfectly – especially in public, when the temptation of his favourite playmate doesn’t distract him…

Of course, the foibles and mistakes and mischief are what give you the great stories about your beloved pooch, but the sense of accomplishment when your dog is well-trained and well-trusted is wonderful – not to mention the fact that your friends, houseguests and fellow dog-owners will no doubt fail to share your affection for the ‘funny’ way in which your lab swallows their shoes/dinner/mobile phone without even having to chew!

Of course, achieving a high level of obedience takes patience and time, and it is tempting to abandon the effort as soon as Fido has mastered house training and ‘sit’. Fine tuning your dog’s behaviour is what requires a real commitment, but if you stick with it, you’ll have a companion you can really trust, who is well-liked in the community. We promise, this will make outings a whole lot more enjoyable!

Manners matter

According to www.austdogtraining.com.au, teaching your pet ‘manners’ is what you should aim to achieve.

Things like pulling on the leash (in the case of small dogs this is simply frustrating and may put unwanted pressure on your pooch’s neck, but in the case of large dogs it can lead to you being dragged face-first like a sled by your enthusiastic companion) are bad manners.

Chewing your belongings, barking when you’re out and refusing to come when called are also bad manners. Jumping up on people is definitely bad manners and, worse, can cause harm if your dog is sizeable and the person he’s jumping up on is elderly or a small child.

The good news is that all of this impolite behaviour can be trained out of your dog, and regardless of breed or age, most dogs can go from being a good dog to a great dog with a few slight modifications to their behaviour.

In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be focusing on various areas of training and would love any tips or tricks that our readers have found useful as well! In the meantime, for some handy starting points, head to www.austdogtraining.com.au and start educating Fido on the finer aspects of dignified behaviour!

Images by: Inlandsocal and mlive

After hearing the tragic story of a beautiful new Maltese puppy that lost his life over the weekend due to a tick, the Dog Diaries team decided that it was high time to warn our readers-again-about the dangers these parasites can pose to your pets, especially in their first year of life.

Unfortunately, ticks occur in residential and built up areas as well as in the country. A combination of global warming, overgrown gardens, composting and mulching means that we need to be more alert than ever, especially in the warmer parts of the country, to protect our best friends.

In Australia, the three most common types of tick are the Brown Dog Tick, the Bush Tick and the Paralysis Tick . The first two, while capable of irritating your dog and possibly spreading disease, are not immediately life-threatening, but the Paralysis Tick, as the name suggests, is very serious and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Why puppies are most at risk
A tick injects toxins while it feeds, and these toxins are what is responsible for the paralysis. The danger is increased with puppies for a number of reasons:
1.    The owner of a new puppy may not be aware of the dangers posed by ticks, and may not realise how frequently they must check for ticks, or that they need to check at all.
2.    Puppies are uncoordinated, and as such the early signs of the paralysis tick such as weakness in the back legs may be missed.
3.    Similarly, puppies have very high-pitched barks (if they bark at all). Another early sign your animal may be affected is that the pitch of their bark may change, which is more difficult to spot in a pup.
4.    Like any baby, puppies have less developed immune systems than older dogs, which over time may begin to build a slight resistance to ticks (though it must be noted that even these dogs who have built up some immunity can still become paralysed).

How do I protect my pet?
Now that we’ve scared the socks off all our new pet-owners out there, let’s talk about prevention—after all, it is the best way to ensure your new addition doesn’t come to any harm. We’ve previously posted a great article on this here, but just to sum up:
1.    Treat your pup regularly with Advantix, it not only kills ticks, but actively repels them, so they drop off before having a chance to bite or attach themselves to your dog.
2.    Regularly check your pooch for ticks. Daily if possible, paying special attention to the head, ears, neck and tail area. It is much easier to feel for ticks than to see them, some can be as small as a pin head.
3.    In tick-prone areas, keep your dog clipped, as it is much more difficult to find a tick in long or matted hair.

While a new puppy brings joy and fun to a family, it is important to educate yourself as much as possible about the potential health risks in this tender stage in its life. Starting a regular tick treatment and check at a young age is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your pup grows into a happy, healthy dog.

Image sources: maheshkhanna and shazz