Innholdsfortegnelse for May/Jun Issue#137 i Dogs Life

Hi dog lovers, Welcome to another issue of DOGSLife. I remember when my husband and I first brought home our oldest dog, Danger. She was a young pup of just eight weeks old, and a few nights after settling in we saw her do something so inherently doggy that it just fascinated us — she turned a circle or two before settling into her bed to sleep. We were intrigued. How did she learn to do this? With no other doggy influences around, how did she discover that turning in a circle prior to sleep was a common canine occurrence? Of course, it’s due to the fact that some behaviour is just ingrained in dogs. We look at this and several other common dog nuances in our Why Does My…

PETSAFE EATWELL 5 MEAL PET FEEDER Ensure your pet is fed on time every time with the PetSafe Eatwell 5 Meal Pet Feeder. Ideal for both cats and dogs, this battery-operated product can deliver food, treats or medication whenever you set the program, allowing for your pooch to eat its meal as per routine, even if you can’t be there to do it yourself. Not only is this great for those nights when you need to go out after work, it’s perfect for those pets on a weight-management program as they often eat smaller portions more frequently, helping with diet control. The PetSafe Eatwell 5 Meal Pet Feeder is easy to use, with an LCD display for simple programming and a dishwasher-safe feed tray. All this convenience can be yours…

You might not realise it, but the average Aussie home is full of things that are poisonous to pets. Most dog owners are vigilant about protecting their dogs from danger. We keep them away from the hazardous substances labelled with skull and crossbones that our minds automatically jump to when we think of poisons. But there are other things, more common and seemingly innocuous, that can cause a great deal of harm to our dogs. So what are these nasties hiding in plain sight and what dangers do they pose for our canines? IN THE HOME The key to safety in the home is being aware of your surroundings and being vigilant about what your dog can access. Two of the most common sources of poisoning in dogs are food…

If your evacuation plan in a fire, flood or storm is wait and see, and if it all goes to hell, pop the dog in the car and go; then think again. Chances are you won’t go at all. In every large-scale Australian disaster, pet owners have lost their lives because they wouldn’t evacuate or went back into storms, floods or bushfires to rescue their four-legged loved ones. Whatever type of disaster, planning ahead will help you and your dog stay safe. When neighbours yelled “Get out now!” as flooding threatened his Queensland home in 2011, 55-year-old Garth Cooke bundled his two dogs in the car and fled, only to plunge into floodwater around a blind bend in the road. Garth escaped through the driver’s window then rescued his two…

Has your office gone to the dogs? Across the country, many pet-friendly workplaces are welcoming four-legged woofers with open paws. And it’s easy to see why. Having a pet in the workplace reduces stress levels, improves productivity and has positive effects on workers’ physical and mental wellbeing. It can also benefit your dog, with lots of pats and cuddles from colleagues, going for walks during the day, and of course you get to hang out together — which will definitely put a big puppy dog grin on your dog’s face. Thinking about taking your dog to work? Here are some reasons why it’s a good idea. CREATE A FEELGOOD OFFICE VIBE It’s a great way to improve stress levels in the workplace. Numerous studies have found patting a dog increases…

BREED FEATURE: AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD 5 fast facts 1 Personality: The Australian Shepherd is quintessentially a working sheep dog but has been taken into thousands of homes around the world as a pet and companion. It is fun-loving and loyal but needs lots of daily exercise and stimulation to keep it happy and healthy. 2 Favourite activities: This canine will excel at all dog sports, especially agility. It will lap up a game of soccer with the kids in the garden and will retire happily at night after a good daily outing with its guardian. Unless given enough exercise and mental stimulation, your Aussie Shepherd may become problematic. 3 Backyard requirements: Although this breed is highly active, it does not need an enormous backyard as long as it receives sufficient exercise…

LOKI is actually our second dog. He’s our rescue dog. We found him through the charity organization ‘Fetching Dogs’. Charlie (our Kelpie X) chose him. We went to visit several rescue dogs from different charity organizations and when she laid eyes on him we knew straight away — they just clicked. It’s funny, but when we first saw pictures of Loki we had dismissed him. He was just a puppy at that stage and his proportions looked all out of whack — he had huge batman ears and a small face. When Fetching Dogs suggested we really had to meet him in person everything changed. I guess you could say that he’s really grown into his features now. We think he’s incredibly handsome! He’s a Kelpie cross Shepherd. What I…

We have fallen head over paw for these fabulous creations from The Art of Gifting, which can turn photos of your pooches into beautifully illustrated works of art to hang at home. One of the most popular styles is the colourful Geo-Pop Portrait (pictured), where straight lines are coupled with vibrant colours to really make your pet portrait pop! Starting from $59.95 for unframed poster prints and $115 for ready-to-hang canvas art prints, it is a truly unique and affordable way to showcase man’s best friend. With many other styles available and with lots of different sizing options, you can find anything for any taste or budget. For more information, visit artofgifting.com.au MELBOURNE DOG LOVER’S SHOW The Melbourne Dog Lover’s Show is back at the Royal Exhibition Building from Friday…

1. VACCINATE Giving your pup the right vaccinations is essential to giving him the best start to life. “Puppies and adult dogs should be vaccinated against parvovirus, distemper virus and canine hepatitis, even if they never mix with other dogs, as they are all serious, highly contagious and often deadly diseases,” says Bayer Technical Services vet Dr Liisa Ahlstrom. “Most puppies and adult dogs are also vaccinated against canine cough (kennel cough) because although it’s only rarely fatal, it’s highly contagious and reduces the quality of life in affected dogs for weeks or months.” Vaccination against leptospirosis and coronavirus may also be required depending on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle and its health. Puppies are usually vaccinated two or three times, with the timing of the final dose…

Good dental hygiene is important for your dog’s overall health. While your fourlegged friend may not complain, dogs with dental disease will feel pain from a toothache just as we do. They are also likely to get infections which can spread through the body, says veterinarian Dr Elizabeth-Jo Vickridge. Dental diseases will lower your dog’s immune system, which can affect the heart and cause heart valve disease. It can also contribute to kidney disease, inflammation and chronic gut problems. The good news is, providing the right diet, care and preventive measures is relatively simple and can be implemented from the moment your dog first arrives home. COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) reports four out of every five dogs over the age of three have some sort of…

Sometimes winter can be a thoroughly depressing time of year. The days are shorter, the temperature is freezing and dark-grey clouds seem to oppressively hang over every daylight hour. The active, outdoorsy lifestyle we’ve enjoyed throughout spring, summer and autumn is often replaced by laziness, lethargy, and an overwhelming desire to remain under at least one doona at all times. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), commonly referred to as the winter blues, is a proven type of depression in humans. It leads to a loss of energy, increased moodiness and ongoing feelings of depression or hopelessness, and is thought to be linked to the reduced hours of sunlight during winter. But can this disorder with the very appropriate acronym affect our dogs as well? On an anecdotal level, plenty of dog…

ARTHRITIS ADVICE Q: Dear DOGSLife, Winter is just around the corner and my Border Collie Molly has arthritis. Do you have any tips or advice on how I can keep her comfortable during this colder season? Emma, via email Dr Michael Archinal says: Hi Emma, fortunately we have many different options to help with our arthritic dogs. It is great that you are thinking of this early as we can start effective prevention methods to make the chill of those winter mornings less of a problem. No one method or product is best in all cases so of the options below, choose a few and see how your pet responds. Starting with some simple at-home techniques, we have a variety of options. If your dog sleeps outside, make sure its…

Captain Jack silver skull knit sweater New to the Miyow & Barkley winter range, the Captain Jack sweater will be as warm as any sun-drenched beach in the Caribbean. This unisex sweater is handmade in a beautiful soft silver-grey wool, with a Kewl white skull and cross bones design on the back. This is the first in this range (alongside the new Kehena sweater) to feature a snuggly turtleneck that can be rolled down or left up for extra warmth. Miyow & Barkley knits are designed to allow both male and female paw-sons to use the bathroom conveniently. miyowandbarkley.com Joseph Lyddy Pet Indulgence Dog Bowl Melamine Coming in blue, red and lime green, the Dog Bowl Melamine from Joseph Lyddy Pet Indulgence is yet another simple and stylish product from…

Owning a pet gives you a natural high that cannot be compared — just ask the people from Petbarn, whose recent research states that pet owners are more likely to laugh out loud about once a day or more (74 per cent) compared to non-pet owners (64 per cent). It’s not just a case of the giggles that helps you feel good. In this same study of its customers, Petbarn discovered that dog owners will meet an average of 2.3 people a month. Not only that, but 40 per cent of Aussie pet owners report they’ve become more active since introducing a new pet into their lives. “It’s pretty simple — you are much more likely to be active with a pet in your life,” says Scott Charters, chief operating…

Hi DOGSLife, I just wanted to write in to say thank you for your article on canine anxiety in issue 135. It was all too familiar. Behaviour I’d previously ignored in my Staffie as just a personality quirk became something that needed investigating. I’ve since taken Derwent to see a behaviour specialist. We’ve been focusing our training on separation anxiety; although it’s not Derwent’s worst behaviour (when there’s a storm he gets very stressed, as opposed to when I leave, at which time he reaches maybe a six on the anxiety scale), it’s one that’s very frequent and we can take immediate steps to try to fix. Already I’m noticing a difference — it’s great to see Derwent less needy when I am home, as well as when I’m not.…

Did you know dogs can suffer from more than 160 different skin disorders and allergies? As the skin is the body’s largest organ and very responsive to our overall health — whether we are furry or not — it’s no surprise skin problems are a common reason why dogs end up at the vet. Some skin problems are short-term and curable, while others are chronic or hereditary, requiring lifelong treatment to control the often debilitating symptoms. “Like humans, pets can also suffer from allergies and sometimes our fourlegged friends scratch themselves unbearably,” says Dr Danielle Hoolahan, a veterinary dermatologist from the Animal Referral Hospital in Sydney. “If your dog constantly itches and scratches, rubs his face and licks his paws, chances are he is experiencing an issue with his skin.”…

Exercise plays a vital role in our dogs’ health and wellbeing, but how often are you told to ensure your dog is stretched too? Sure, it’s commonplace to warm up when you’re exercising with your pet, and make sure you don’t go too hard too soon to avoid injury, but has the idea of easing any muscle tension ever entered your mind? After all, we sometimes see our dogs stretching themselves — do they need our help to do so as well? “How many of us have felt better after a stretch when our muscles are feeling tight and sore?” asks Tim Norris, a canine rehabilitation practitioner living in Sydney. Tim spent more than 15 years working with people in the area of health and wellbeing before working with dogs.…

Every dog has its own unique personality and quirky little habits. Some of those are cute, some of them are funny, some are a little bizarre and some can be downright disgusting, but they all contribute to what makes your canine companion one of a kind. But have you ever stopped to wonder about the reasons why your dog does the interesting little things he does? Is his behaviour normal for a dog, or could it be a sign of a potentially serious problem? Let’s take a look at some common doggy behaviours to find out what causes them and whether they’re anything you should worry about. WHY DOES MY DOG LIKE SNIFFING OTHER DOGS’ BUMS? This traditional canine greeting often seems pretty gross to human eyes. When two dogs…

The beloved family dog is often referred to as the “fur baby” of the family, so it’s no wonder pet shops are brimming with holistic dog food, doggy pyjamas and puppy prams. Our four-legged friends are being treated like humans with their own massage therapists and even doggy psychologists. The bond between dogs and their owners has never been stronger, which might be why many owners who feel guilty about leaving their pooches home alone when they go to work are resorting to doggy day care. Is doggy day care the key to a happier dog or does it breed spoilt pups and exacerbate behavioural problems? WHAT A DOG NEEDS You may have seen YouTube videos of dogs fretting by the door as they anxiously wait for their owners to…

DOGSLife: How did Jack get started in the acting world? Shanna Olson: Jack got his start in the acting world because I am an actress, and when I would hear about a role where they were looking for a dog, I would try to get him in for the audition. Also, sometimes he would appear on shows with me. One of his first TV appearances was with me, on a show called Groomer Has It, where I played a difficult client and wanted the groomers to give him a cut to look exactly like a show dog. DL: Tell us some of Jack's fabulous working career highlights. SO: Getting a role in Beverly Hills Christmas with Dean Cain is probably Jack’s biggest career highlight so far. This was his first…