Innholdsfortegnelse for October Issue#146 i Dogs Life

Hi, dog lovers, Welcome to another issue of DOGSLife. As I type this, it’s hard to believe that Christmas time is almost here. This year, we’ll be balancing a one-year-old human with our eight- and nine-year-old dogs and we’re looking forward to creating some very special memories with all three of our children, both furry and, well, slobbery (that last tag applying to all three!). In addition to this, we hope to steal some time away on a holiday — and what better place to test our vacationing with fur and human kid skills than along Australia’s east coast? Thanks to our travel feature on page 66, we’re anticipating this will be, if not easy, at least something we are well prepared for. We’re so lucky that we live in…

Is there any better feeling than knowing there are three long months of summer stretching out in front of you, every day of which can be enjoyed with your dog by your side? From the beach to the bush, Australia’s great outdoors provide a host of wonderful summer experiences for dog owners all over the country. Unfortunately, summertime also brings with it a range of unique health and behaviour risks that can cause some potentially serious problems for our furry friends. But with a little bit of knowledge about those risks and how to minimise them, it’s easy to help your pooch stay safe and cool all summer long. KEEPING COOL Dogs need an ample supply of fresh, clean water all year long, but this is especially important in summer.…

Sadly, there are few people whose lives have not been touched by cancer. Almost everyone knows somebody who has been diagnosed with the big C. Unfortunately, our beloved dogs don’t escape the scourge of abnormal cells invading and damaging the body. According to Perth-based veterinary oncologist Dr Ken Wyatt, one in three dogs are affected by cancer. “Cancer is not a rare disease. You don’t have to do anything wrong to get it. It just happens,” says the canine cancer specialist. Dr Lindsay Evans, regional clinical director for Greencross Vets, says that, as in humans, cancer in dogs is not just one condition but a wide range of diseases with different signs, potential causes and treatment options. “Cancer can present in any organ,” she says, “but commonly we see cancers…

We all live busy, busy lives. We have jobs to think about, bills to worry about, families to raise. We are living in fast forward and sometimes that means we get a little lazy with the everyday stuff The downside is that this laziness often creeps into every aspect of family life, including how we nourish our pets. Reaching for the tried and true, the one with pretty packaging and vague claims, becomes routine — but routine can become complacency and that’s not a good thing. We’re so busy we often don’t stop and take time to understand what it is we’re actually feeding our dogs — and some of it is downright dangerous. We all want our dogs to live long, happy lives and nutrition plays a big part…

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, thousands of times more sensitive than our own. While we have about 5 million cells devoted to smelling, dogs have about 220 million as well as 40 times the brain power devoted to processing scents1. Smells aren’t “louder” to dogs — odours have different layers that give hounds a much bigger range of types of information, explains Alexandra Horowitz, a dog-cognition researcher at Columbia University (USA) and author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know. In other words, when you smell vegetable soup, your dog can smell every single ingredient in the soup. You can unleash your dog’s natural ability through canine scent training. “Canine scent work can revolutionise the dog’s world for the better,” says Marion Brand, Australia’s…

School’s out, work is winding down and summer is finally here. It’s time to pack your bags and hit the road for a family getaway — and no family holiday is complete without the family pet. Of course, the unfortunate reality of travel in Australia is that not every destination is as dog-friendly as it could be. So to help you get the most out of your next holiday with your dog, we’ve tracked down some of the best and most beautiful dog-friendly holiday spots on Australia’s east coast. NOOSA, QUEENSLAND Beautiful beaches, a cosmopolitan lifestyle and more dog-friendly attractions and activities than you can wag a tail at — welcome to Noosa. This Sunshine Coast gem combines a laidback vibe and beautiful natural scenery with a plethora of excellent…

ANIMALS IN CHARGE Keep your dog looking stylish with the gear from Animals in Charge. The team of Alex, Mel and Pixel (husband, wife and, of course, dog) are from Melbourne and have a passion for the old world — each item they make is inspired by simple, tried and tested techniques. We love their quality hand-stamped brass ring nametags and their mustard yellow and brass all-weather collar. Not only are these items incredibly stylish; they’re quality, too, ensuring your pet will be looking good for years to come. For more information, visit animalsincharge.com.au. TRAVELLING WITH PETS ON AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST When you hit the road with your furry friend, it can be hard to know which places will allow you to take your pet with you. Thanks to Travelling…

Are you unsure what to get your dog this Christmas? Have you already sorted gifts for everyone else but are still tossing up whether to get your pooch a new toy, a stylish new outfit or maybe a personalised food dish? Rather than bombarding him with more material possessions this Christmas, have you considered giving your furry friend what he really wants? Sure, toys and trinkets are great and can provide plenty of fun, but they probably wouldn’t be right at the top of your dog’s list of all the things he absolutely, desperately, completely would love to receive from you. Here are the five gifts your dog would love to unwrap this Christmas. 1. QUALITY TIME — AND MORE OF IT “I want to do more with my dog…

Did you know fleas can jump up to 48cm? That’s a huge distance for a critter that’s less than 3mm long, so tiny the human eye can barely see it. These pesky parasitic insects survive by gorging on the blood of their hosts and, as any dog owner knows, if your dog has fleas its life can be a misery. So, what’s the story behind these miniature mischief makers and how can we protect our pets against them? According to the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association, the most common species of flea in Australia is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. There is also the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis, but it’s quite rare. Both are more than happy to infect your canine. Fleas range in colour from light brown to dark…

Dogs are funny creatures. When they find something they love, they’ll love it until there’s nothing left to love. And they’ll protect and guard it completely, whether it’s a well-chewed toy, a bowl of food or a prime sleeping spot in front of the heater. Whatever it is, if it has value to the dog they’ll make sure no one else gets it. Does this sound like your dog? Just as children need to be taught how to share, sometimes we need to teach our dogs to “let go”. WHY DO DOGS GUARD RESOURCES? It’s important to understand that resource guarding (also known as food aggression) is common canine behaviour. It manifests when a dog perceives a threat to their resources (which can be food, treats, toys or even people)…

Nothing says “I love you” like the full-bodied greeting of an excited pooch jumping on its master after any absence, long or short. But what starts out as an adorable display of affection quickly becomes annoying for you and off-putting for guests. So how can you nip this behaviour in the bud? Melanie Griffiths, pet expert at Mad Paws, Australia’s largest pet-sharing network, says it’s far easier to teach your puppy good habits than retrain your dog later on. “So start as you mean to go on,” she says. “Consistently rewarding ‘four paws on the floor’ behaviour from the very beginning is a great start; don’t greet or interact with your pup until they are calm with all paws firmly on the floor.” Consistency is the key, adds Melanie. “Reward…

HUMAN MEDS FOR PETS? Q: Hi, Dr Michael, I have heard you can give some human medications to pets, making it cheaper (eg antihistamines to help with excessive skin irritation). Is this true? And if so, what sort of precautions should we take? Lisa, via email Dr Michael Archinal says: Hi, Lisa, Good news — there are some human medications that we can safely give to our pet and, as you write, these are often cheaper. You specifically mention the use of antihistamines, which unfortunately work very poorly in dogs. It is estimated that they only work in up to 30 per cent of our dogs with itchy skin disease and that you may have to try up to five different types before you can find one that may work.…

AT A GLANCE Grooming: Exercise: Size: Large Lifespan: 10–14 years Thought to be a combination of the Great Dane, German Shepherd, Weimaraner and Manchester Terrier, the Dobermann was developed in the 1860s by Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector who wanted a dog to protect him on his rounds. This protective streak led to the breed being used as a police dog during the 19th century and later as a war dog in World War II, where they were known as “devil dogs”, working alongside the US Marines to flush out the enemy. Today, the Dobermann is the US Marines’ proud mascot. Traditionally, the Dobermann has a gentle nature but will be as tough and protective as you want it to be. A true companion animal, this breed fits well…

TIP If your dog has drunk too much seawater, they may be unwell and vomit or have diarrhoea. Try to encourage your dog to drink plenty of fresh water to avoid dehydration. If your dog could talk, they’d probably tell you their absolute favourite place to be in summer is chilling by the beach. What’s not to love about plenty of warm sunshine, sand and surf, as well as other doggy pals to meet? Whether your dog likes running in and out of the waves, romping along the sand dunes with new doggy friends, or just hanging beside you watching the surf roll in, there’s lots to do and see. Before you head to the beach, pack plenty of cool drinking water and a bowl, a shade umbrella, some doggy…

Pam and Allen Crampton were distressed to discover that the black cyst on their beloved Malamute’s hind leg was a cancerous mast cell tumour. While surgery successfully removed Maddison’s tumour and an affected lymph node, her prognosis wasn’t good. The Cramptons were uncomfortable with the idea of chemotherapy so their vet introduced them to Dr Kaori Kanemitsu, a Western-trained vet who now specialises in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). They couldn’t be happier with the result. “From a death sentence, we have just celebrated three years of quality life with Maddi,” they say. “Our experience with TCVM has been astounding ... To have been part of the whole cancer journey with our little girl under the guidance of Kaori has brought us much peace and confidence.” Speaking to Dr Kanemitsu,…

All dogs pant. Some do it often; some do it a little. They may be loud or quiet “panters” and some of them do it with a lot of slobber involved. Sometimes they pant quickly; sometimes they pant slowly. Panting is generally normal doggy behaviour and is usually no cause for concern, but it can also be a warning sign of something more sinister. Here are the various reasons your dog pants and the situations where you’ll want to get them to your vet for a check-up. #1: TO COOL THEMSELVES DOWN While humans cool themselves by sweating, dogs only sweat a little between their toes — not enough to cool them down. Instead, panting helps them stay cool by circulating air through their bodies. This type of panting is…

AT A GLANCE Grooming Exercise Size: Small–Medium Lifespan: 12–15 years While it may have initially been developed to hunt small game, the Italian Greyhound quickly became a sought-after pet due to its miniature stature and extreme elegance. With origins dating back more than 2000 years ago to Greece and Turkey, it’s believed the Italian Greyhound made its way to Italy some time in the 16th century and was quickly adopted as a dog worthy of the nation’s title. It is tiny, at 32–38cm high at the withers, and weighs in at just 3.6–4.5kg. It has fine, glossy hair in black, blue, cream, red, white, fawn, or any of those colours broken with white. This dog is perfect for all types of living. If you have a small apartment, the dog…

Fido Studio Tap into your dog’s natural instinct to have a “den” he can call his own with the new Fido Studio from Omlet. This is more than just an indoor dog crate, designed with style and storage in mind. We particularly love the versatile wardrobe for storing treats, favourite toys, leash and, of course, the odd coat or two so they’re on hand and ready to go whenever we are! For more information, visit omlet.com.au. Fred & Friends Winer Dogs Wine Markers Keep a tight leash on your precious wine with a set of six Winer Dogs Wine Markers by Fred & Friends. Made from high-quality rubber silicone, these tags are shaped like sleeping sausage dogs and come in orange, blue, grey, black, white or brown, ensuring you’ll never…