Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Amazing Dog Behavior Snippets

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Any study of dog behavior has to start with an analysis of the behavior of the wolf, ancestor of all domestic dogs.

Wolves are exceptional predators with a complex set of behaviors, signals and communication methods guiding their behavior. Their bodies and brains are the result of millions of years of evolution that has resulted in perhaps the ultimate co-operative hunter.

Dogs are directly descended from wolves and have been domesticated for only 15 000 years or so, a mere blip on the evolutionary scale. So it makes sense that many of the wolf’s instincts and drives are still present in dogs.

Understand this, and many of your dog’s strange behaviors will suddenly make sense.

Here are some of the behaviors common to dogs and wolves.

Pack Mentality: As pack animals wolves naturally submit to a leader. Wolf packs usually consist of a mating pair and their offspring, with the alpha male as the leader.

Dogs also look for leadership in their human “pack”. Where none is present, they will feel compelled to take up the role themselves, leading to dominance issues.

Body Language: In the world of the wolf (and the dog), body language trumps vocal cues every time. This is a complex “language” with body posture, movement, facial expression and eye contact all playing a part.

These signals are often misunderstood by humans. For example, many asume that a dog who wags his tail is happy when he may in fact be highly aggitated and ready to bite.

Territorial Aggression: In the wild, wolves will stake out a territory, then patrol and defend it against intruders. The same behavior can be seen in dogs. They will naturally protect what they perceive as their territory, whether it’s their home, a favorite toy, or even a person they regard as “theirs”.

Socialization: Social interaction is very important in a wolf pack as it helps to develop the strong bonds that are vital to the survival of the pack.

You can simulate this with your dog through play, walks and obedience training. But you need to go further, socializing your dog with a broad spectrum of people and other animals, so that he doesn’t start to see everyone outside his immediate circle as a threat.

Pursuit: A wolf pack hunts by pursuing a prey animal until it is exhausted and easily subdued. Their instinct is to chase anything that moves away from them.

Dogs have this same instinct which is why they love to chase cats, cars, and cyclists.

Fleeing: Even powerful, apex predators like lions, would rather back off than get involved in a fight where they could be seriously injured. A wolf or a dog will rather flee than fight if the odds are stacked against him.

Vocalization: Contrary to popular belief, wolves can bark, they are just less inclined to use vocalization as a form of communication. This is perfectly logical, as a hunter that makes a lot of noise is unlikely to be very successful.

Dogs, on the other hand have spent thousands of years in the company of humans and have learned that we communicate mainly by voice. They therefore have no problem expressing themselves with a bark, a while or even a howl if the mood takes them.

If you want to discover more about dog obedience training, dog care, puppy care and other useful dog information visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Focus on the Black and Tan Coonhound

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The Black and Tan Coonhound, is an impressive distinctive looking dog that excels as a hunting companion.

These medium-sized dogs stand up to 27 inches at the withers and can weigh as much as 75 pounds. They have a black and tan coat and the appearance of a typical hound dog, with long, hanging ears, loose fitting skin and long legs.

The original Black and Tans were created by crossing Talbot Hounds, Foxhounds, and Bloodhounds. The idea was to create a dog for treeing racoons, but the Black and Tan proved such an able tracker that it was soon being used to hunt larger game, including deer, mountain lions, and even bear.

These are loyal, affectionate and good-natured dogs who form close bonds with humans. The are also intelligent and fast learners which makes them excellent pets for an appropriate owner.

They do however need a great deal of exercise and will therefore do best with an active family. Without proper exercise Black and Tans can become destructive and are prone to howling when left alone.

Consistent pack leadership is a must with this breed, as are training and socialization. Dogs that have not been socialized may be aggressive towards other dogs. The hunting instinct is still strong, and these dogs will follow any scent they encounter.

While they are generally good with people they are not really suited to small children as they may be too boisterous for them.With the right amount of exercise though, plus a good training program, this is a wonderful pet and loving companion.

The Black and Tan is generally a robust, healthy breed and suffers from few inherited diseases. There is a risk of hip dysplasia and, as with many long eared breeds, they may suffer ear infections. Eye problems also occur occasionally.

Black and Tans love to eat and are therefore prone to obesity. Strict portion and treat control is therefore advised.

Grooming is quite easy as the short coat only needs to be brushed once a week. You should also take care to inspect and clean the ears and eyes regularly.

It should be obvious that this is not a dog for apartment living. The Black and Tan needs lots of space to move around in as well as vigorous daily exercise. These dogs are tough enough to live outdoors, but are softies at heart and will much prefer to be inside, and close to those they love.

Good dog names can be hard to find. The best advice is to try one of the online dog names, sites. My personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ, a site that has tons of excellent dog names to pick from, including thousands of cute dog names.

Socializing Golden Retriever – An Outgoing Doggie!

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How your Golden Retriever reacts to and behaves with other people and animals depends on how well he was socialized. Socializing dogs means getting them used to adults, children, other dogs, cats, rabbits, and the world in general.

Fortunately, for owners of Golden Retrievers, nature has already done half the work. Goldens are friendly, smart, energetic dogs who love to please. They are normally patient and loving with children, though there are exceptions. Most Goldens are friendly to strangers and good with other animals. However, you may find a Golden who is only comfortable with one sex, with adults but not children, or good with other Goldens but not with other dogs or cats. Socialization depends not only on the breed of the dog but on his early experiences.

Three factors contribute to how well your dog will become socialized: his genetically-inherited characteristics, he experience with his mother and siblings, and his early life experience. Though some over-breeding may have created exceptions, most Goldens are genetically-prone to be open and friendly.

As a newborn, your puppy learned how to behave and react from copying its mother and littermates. In addition to genetic pre-disposition to certain behaviors, its mother’s example will help shape your Golden’s reactions to the world. For this reason, it’s important to make sure the breeder has selected animals with good, even temperaments for breeding. Of course, you can’t know about an adult’s past if you are adopting a rescue. But you can probably draw some pretty good conclusions by his behavior when you bring him home.



Abhishek is an avid dog lover and he has got some great Dog Health Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 80 Pages Ebook, “How To Take Care Of Your Dog’s Health” from his website http://www.Dog-Tale.com/192/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

3 Advantages to Hiring a Dog Walker

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Advantages to hiring a dog walker are:

1. Improved behaviour at home
Have you experienced any negative behaviour from your dog, for example chewing, boredom, hyperactivity anxiety aggressions and/or barking? If your answer is yes, you may consider increasing the number or length of walks with other dogs per week.

Behaviours like the above mentioned come from frustration. Frustration comes from a lack of exercise. When it comes to dealing with behaviour issues, adequate exercise for the breed and energy level is the first thing addressed. Once the energy is removed, the dog can focus on following commands. A provides socialization and exercise that makes city pets calmer, better behaved, less aggressive, friendlier and cause fewer complaints.. A calm mind comes from a well exercised dog!



www.westenddogwalking.co.uk is a resource for dog owners. The website provides information about dog walkers and their prices in Glasgow (UK) and surroundings. Travel Fans also find information about traveling with a dog.

Incredibly Practical Ideas On Training Your Puppy

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All of us dream of parenting the perfect dog, a pup that is a CGC or canine great citizen and is well behaved and dependable at all times. Nicely dreams do come accurate if the training is accomplished with care and dedication. Bear in mind pups understand from day 1 and need to be taught what is correct, what is wrong, and appropriate socialization.

Pups are like kids, they want constant supervision and training. Training a pup want not be an ordeal all you’ll want to maintain in mind are several easy rules. Teach the pup to respect you. Dogs live in packs and instinctively follow a leader. If you establish your leadership in no uncertain terms then training will grow to be easy as the pup will obey you at all times and not challenge your authority. Aids can be bought at any Dog Accessories store.

Use only positive training strategies. By no means shout at, hit, or punish a dog. It is not just cruel but can result in behavioral difficulties. Use of electric shocks, prong collars, sprays, and so on could hurt the animal. Teach the meaning of No, from day 1. Do not encourage behaviors like jumping, mouthing, tug-o-war, barking, or running out of open gates and doors. Praise great behavior and ignore or walk away when there is bad behavior. The pup will understand that if he misbehaves he will lose his playmate.

To correct a behavior you must catch the pup within the act and startle him by rattling a can of pebbles. When you’ve accomplished this make him correct his behavior and right away supply him a treat and praise. Pups do not recall what happened earlier so scolding him soon after an event is of no use. Usually call/use his name positively. By no means say Bad TOM, or No Tom, this can trigger confusion and also the pup will think that in the event you call his name then it is some thing bad. The pup must associate his name with happy events like hugs, petting, walks, treats, and such. If this happens he will come willingly whenever you call out his name. You can get treats from any Online Pet Store

Bond using the pup and both of you will take pleasure in your lessons. The pup must appear forward to spending time with you and not avoid you by running away or hiding. Make sure to socialize the pup early. Socialization is one of the most important lessons. The pup must understand to be about other animals, folks, sounds, vehicles, along with other activities. So, slowly introduce the pup when he is little to everyday activities and sounds. Take him to the mall/ park, introduce him to kids along with other pets, and make him unafraid of the vacuum and garden hose.

As a pet owner it is possible to decide on to train the dog yourself or register at a skilled training school. Training a dog has numerous stages: kindergarten, obedience training, doggy sports, showing and conformation, also as other aspects like therapy dogs, hearing dogs, and so on. What level you decide on to train depends upon you also as the learning abilities of your dog. As you know, distinct dogs like humans have varied talents. Select well and both you and your pup will have fun times together.

The Chow Chow

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Chow Chow History and origin:

The Chow Chow is a member of the Spitz family that is known for over 2000 years.  This Chinese breed was once used for guarding and hunting.  His thick coat protected him in harsh weather and, unfortunately, provided clothing for the infamous Mongols, who also reportedly used the dog for food.

Description:
The Chow Chow stands 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 65 pounds.  He is a powerful dog with a short, broad muzzle.  The coat may be rough or smooth.  Through coat is dense, straight, and coarse with a thick undercoat; he sheds profusely, particularly in early summer and needs daily brushing.  The smooth coat is shorter and less dense, but sheds just as much.  The color may be red, blue, black, fawn, or cream.

About the Chow Chow:

The Chow Chow is a beautiful dog who tends to be very loyal to only one or two people.  Intelligent and intensely stubborn, the Chow is highly resistant to training, particularly when learning the “Down” command.  Proud and moody, this dog likes to take the lead and have his own way.  He does not like to be touched on the head, legs, or feet, even by his owner, and can be very difficult to groom.  The Chow is extremely aloof with strangers and can be vicious, even to family members.  He will not tolerate lots of people coming and going and prefers a consistent, predictable environment.  He can be very dog-aggressive and has a high prey drive toward small animals.  The Chow may bite a stranger who reaches out to pet him.  Training must begin early and must be firm and persistent.  This breed despises the very idea of submitting to anyone and may attempt to bite even his owner if so inclined. Socialization is crucial and will be the cornerstone of successful ownership of a Chow.  Spoiling this breed will create a bossy, dangerous animal.  As a Chow owner you will very likely have to deal with challenges to your authority, and you will probably face some aggression problems with this breed, no matter how effective a leader you are.  The Chow needs regular exercise each day to stay fit.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia, entropion (a curling in of the eyelids), and skin disorders, and he does not do well in warm climates.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1-1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal home:
This breed is not suitable to live in an apartment.  A house with a well built-in fence and secluded yard is essential.  If you lead a predictable, quiet life, an owner with strong leadership skills, and prefers an aloof, protective, serious dog, then this might be your breed.  Chows are not advisable for those who have children.  The elderly and the disabled may not be able to establish dominance with a Chow and should consider another breed.  There should be no other small animals in the home with a Chow.  Spoilers may create a dominant, dangerous animal that bites.  Time to train and socialize the Chow Chow must be made available.

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