BAD HABITS : BITING

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs                  

THE BITER :
The biter is usually an animal who is aggressive. Some of these animals are neurotic, and anything that moves in front of them- motorcycle, bicycle, running child- they are sure to go after it. It's almost like a game to them- like attacking an enemy. As the dog usually has his reasons for biting, an attempt should be made to get at the root of the problem and try to correct it.

In most communities, a dog is allowed three bites and after the third one is put to sleep.

The bad habit is sometimes brought about by excessive roughness when the dog was a puppy. Some owners tend to play too roughly with their puppies- teasing them with their hands and feet. As the dog grows, his teeth become larger and his jaws stronger- this play  becomes more dangerous.

Corrective measures :


Biting should be corrected in the early stages before it gets deeply ingrained in the dog's mind. Obedience training is helpful in that the dog learns to follow his master's command. The punishment for biting should be a sharp slap across the muzzle to show him that his mouth and his biting are what you disapprove of.
You may use a rolled-up newspaper to spank him and punish him. Biting  is a reprehensible habit and should be dealt with promptly and sternly.

Castration will slow down extremely aggressive male dogs. This operation  takes away some of their aggressiveness but it will certainly not help a neurotic dog because he is panicky.


It is sometimes necessary to use a muzzle when turning the biting dog loose in the neigbhorhood. There are comfortable muzzles available in the market and such muzzles go a long way in saving a fine dog from being put to sleep.

Occasionally we see a dog who is incorrigible and can be classified as a canine criminal. No amount of training will correct his biting habit. Certainly such dogs are only fit for military or police work and don't fit in as a home pet. They cannot be trusted with children. They should be either given away or put to sleep.

If a dog is growling or barking at you, never try to run away from him. That would be disastrous. You should stand your ground, and more often than not he will leave you. If you run from him, he'll likely take after you and attack.




Raj Prateek Verma

DECIPHER YOUR PET'S LANGUAGE

GROWLING

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs    

VOCAL SOUNDS ::
Dogs make many different vocal sounds with various meanings. Below is a list of the main ones. All other dogs understand them quite easily! The same cannot be said of owners.

Barking :


The type of bark corresponds to some extent to the breed to which the dog belongs; but it is also, in some measure, individual and peculiar to each dog. A trained ear can, for example, tell whether a bark comes from Setter or a Boxer, male or a female. The tone of the bark is more or less hereditary. Each individual owner can recognize the bark of his own dog and can attach a dozen or so meanings to it: a warning that strangers are approaching, or a strange animal  is present, greeting members of the family returning home, playing with the child or friend, challenging passing dogs, expressing fear because of danger, asking for food or water (whimpering) etc.

There are dogs given to barking, such as Terriers, and taciturn dogs such as Greyhounds, and dogs that do not bark at all such as Basenjis; there are howling or yelping dogs such as hounds, and excellent at warning such as Pomeranians and Poodles.

Yelping :


A yelp is always a request for help, where it is uttered by puppies or adult dogs.





Growling:


There is the playful growl (short and distinct) and the threatening growl (prolonged, hostile, menacing, hoarse and deep) . A dog may sometimes grind its teeth when it growls.

Whimpering 


This is a sign of pain or injury and may also be a form of protest or a request.

Yapping :


This is forceful, hostile and prolonged barking, often to be heard in the country at night.

Whining:                                

This is a sort of moaning sound, low in pitch and prolonged. It indicates a lack of well-being, discontent, impatience and is a plea for pity or attention. Sometimes it may be a sign of saying'Open the door,please', or "let us go home'.

Howling    :
   
A loud, sad noise, made by day or night, sometimes as a  reaction to music or to bell ringing. Other dogs tend to join in. In India, it is considered as a bad omen. It is common among some hounds and in pariahs.


Puffing ::


A sort of warning sneeze, a repressed bark with the mouth shut, the first indication that a stranger is approaching, or there is a suspicious noise somewhere; when a dog 'puffs' or snorts in this way, it will always aim its head at the source of the noise.

When a hunting dog makes various vocal sounds (depending on their breed and use), each of which has a meaning for the hunter. The same is true of dogs used for tracking human beings, for guarding and rescue.   work.



                      

                               Happy Durga Puja








Raj Prateek Verma

BAD HABITS: BARKING

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs                         

BARKING : A NUISANCE 


As the puppy becomes a young dog, as he matures he will bark. The first bark of the puppy turning into a matured dog is astonishing and a matter of pride for the master. The master would love to hear it, to feel that he is now having a full-size dog about which the strangers and encroachers will be afraid of.

However, this situation i.e. the phenomena of barking at the slightest of provocation, becomes a nuisance for the family and the neigbhourhood, if not checked in time.

Barking is a bad habit that starts early. The first stage of barking is whining. Whining is a sing-song stage of barking the puppy uses as a way of nagging complaining. It is a sound which falls short of crying
Sometimes the dog might be unhappy. The mother of the house who is the constant companion, has gone out shopping or is on a visit, leaving the dog alone. Now, the whining is a sympathy-winning sound, and the master is sometimes so distressed bearing this whining that far from stopping it, he gives in to the indulgence of the dog. He gives the dog things it is whining for. This is absolutely WRONG!! It will encourage the dog to get things done his way and later on this whining will turn into barking.

There are many neurotic dogs who love to bark; they are enchanted with the sound of their voices. The neurotic apartment-type dog barks from loneliness and boredom. He craves attention and wants everyone  to know he is there. Every time he hears someone in the hall, or sees someone outside the window, he barks to let the world know that he is a member of the family and also its protector. Every dog has the protective instinct of a guard dog, even if he's not trained for it.

Continuous barking is a social inconvenience and has to be curtailed at all costs. The worst offender is the night barker. This dog probably has slept  all day and is coming alive when the master and the whole of the neigbhourhood is about to retire.

STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO CURTAIL IT :

1. Barking habit is best corrected in the puppy stage before it becomes embedded permanently. A stern 'NO' every time the puppy starts to whine will curb this habit. If you sincerely love your dog, you will not give in to his indulgence. You have to be STRICT with him.

2. Dogs bark because they crave for your companionship. Try spending more time with them when you are home.

3. If your dog barks only when you are away, sneak back to catch him at it and punish him so he'll be able to associate his barking with your disapproval.

4. There are comfortable muzzles which you can put on your dog to prevent him from barking. Muzzling is not a cure, but is an answer when it becomes imperative to stop him from barking. Sometimes a dog will associate the muzzle with punishment for his barking and will be cured.

5. Some vets advise administering female hormones to adult male dogs to suppress excessive barking.

6. Castration is a permanent cure. However, expert advice is needed before this is implemented.



Raj Prateek Verma

YET MORE OF'THE SPECIALISTS:'

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

Labrador Retrievers :
Labrador Retrievers were originally fishermen's dogs. Their main task was to swim to and fom boats dragging nets and ropes.





Lundehund :


Lundehund is a Norwegian breed, specifically trained to retrieve puffin's nests, which are edible. The dog  climbs a cliff, puts the bird to flight, grabs the nest and brings it to its master. If it is working in caves, it can close its ears to keep out dripping water.





Nova Scotia Duck-tolling dog:


These dogs have one function: to excite the curiosity of wildfowl by creating a disturbance on the shore. In theory the ducks are so intrigued that they come and investigate, and the  wildfowler then takes aim. The natural reaction of wildfowl to any predator - e.g. a fox on the shore - is to swim towards it en masse: thus every bird is aware of the predator, which cannot hope to make a sneak and often slinks away in disgust with a fleet of ducks shadowing its progress along the bank.





Portuguese Water Dogs:


Portuguese Water Dogs, like Labrador Retrievers, were fishermen's dogs for centuries. As well as catching ropes, they also brought back fish which had escaped the nets.





Shar peis :


They are probably the oddest looking dogs we know today. They were developed for dog-fights, and their excessively loose and wrinkled skin, with its pig-like bristles, and their very small ears, did not give opponents much to grip.





Tibetan Spaniels :


Tibetan Spaniels were originally used to turn prayer wheels, act as sentinels, and be hot water bottles for their owners.





Tosa Mastiffs:


Tosa Mastiffs are a Japanese breed originally developed for ceremonial dog-fights. They were paraded during festivals dressed up in silk and gold blankets and controlled on the end of huge thick ropes.



Whippets:


The most perfect racing machine ever fashioned by man!!
They were bred by miners in Northern England for snap trails, the aim of which was to achieve the quickest kill of a rabbit in an enclosed area.




Raj Prateek Verma

THE SPECIALISTS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs


Most of the breeds have been developed by man to cater to specific needs. here are some of the unusual specialists.

BULLDOGS :


Bulldogs and similar breeds were used to bait bulls - not merely for the sake of sports but also because butchers believed that the practice tenderised the beef.

CHINESE IMPERIAL CH'IN :


This is a breed that spent most of its day in meditation. It used to be very much a court dog; in one ancient Chinese court about a hundred of the dogs would stand up on their hind legs at the entrance of the Empress and would remain upright until she was seated.

COONHOUNDS:


Coonhounds were bred in America specifically as raccoon hunters but they also used for bear, stag, fox and wildcat. The 'treeing' breeds literally clamber into the trees in pursuit of their prey. The dogs now take part in rough and tough trails, by day and by night, which involves swimming in fast streams and climbing trees.


EASTERN GREYHOUNDS(AFGHAN AND BORZOI)


These hounds were trained to hunt as a brace. The bitch attacked the prey's hindquarters, attempting to hamstring it, and the dog went for the throat. Borzois were supposed to pin a wolf rather than kill it.


ELK HOUND:


Elk hounds were bred for pursuit of elk and bear. They have special hunting methods: they slither over the snow, cut off the prey's line of retreat and drive it into gun range.


FILA BRASILEIRO:

Fila Brasileiro hounds were originally trained to kill Indians in battle and later to capture runaway slaves!!


HEELER:

Heeler is a type of cattle dog which bites the heels of its charges and quickly drops flat to avoid being kicked!


KELPIES:

Kelpies are superb Australian sheepdogs which can do the work of six men and cover more than forty miles a day. They separate the sheep for drinking at the water-hole, and have perfected the art of walking(and running) on the backs of enclosed sheep. They also practise the unique skill of Tinning the Chicken, when they herd a chick into a tin can.




Raj Prateek Verma