Innholdsfortegnelse for January Issue#147 i Dogs Life

Hi DOGSLife readers, There’s something so magical about puppies. It’s impossible not to adore these gorgeous creatures with their sweet little stomachs that round after they eat, their gorgeous extra rolls of skin and their delightful puppy smell. Even an inappropriate toileting incident or two can be forgiven when you look into those big, beautiful eyes and see the love and adoration waiting there! Perhaps that is why we love the puppy yearbook so much. It reminds us of when our dogs were puppies. One of my favourite memories of Danger when she was a puppy was how she’d like to sleep. She’d lie with her stomach stretched over your neck, cuddled up around you. Of course, this was when she was very small. Now that she’s a 17kg Staffy,…

Choosing pampering and wellbeing products by skin type and age is not just for humans — it matters for pooches, too! When it comes to choosing shampoos and skincare, age and skin type make a difference to the choices we make. Age, genetics and body type can also influence the type of health conditions we are at risk of developing and, as such, also play a factor in which supplements will be useful for the various stages of our life. This is also the case when it comes to canines. As you no doubt know, there’s a lot that goes into maintaining our four-legged friends, from providing a high-quality diet and getting them out and about for a walk to boost the health of their mind and body, to taking…

DOGSLife has four x 100g 4CYTE Canine Foils to give away. 4CYTE CANINE FOILS Often by the time a dog shows signs of lameness, it has had the underlying issue for some time. It is estimated that 55 per cent of joint pain goes untreated. 4CYTE Canine is scientifically developed and is safe to take long-term, meaning you can support your dog’s joints no matter what stage of life they are at. 4CYTE contains a newly discovered plant extract, Epiitalis, and because of its unique mode of action, has been patented to: • Actively stimulate the cartilage cells, tipping the balance back in favour of the production of healthy cartilage instead of degeneration. • Suppress the chemicals responsible for inflammation. 4CYTE Canine comes in convenient granules and is given daily…

Everyone knows that puppies need training, but where do you start? When you bring your new puppy home, what are the most important skills and behaviours you need to start teaching him? Let’s take a look at five key puppy training milestones you and your furry friend can target and how you can teach your pet to reliably perform each of them. #1 PAYING ATTENTION You won’t be able to teach your puppy anything if she doesn’t listen to you, so it’s essential that you can get your pup to pay attention. One of the biggest frustrations any dog owner can have is asking their pet to do something and being completely ignored, but it’s a problem we’ve all faced at one time or another. “When I see this, it’s…

Today will be the start of a happy lifel ong relationship between your trusted vet and your furry best buddy. Therefore, it’s important to prepare your puppy to ensure it’s a relaxed, fun and positive experience. After all, there will be sights, sounds and smells your puppy hasn’t experienced yet in his young life. There might be big barking dogs or nervous pint-sized ones, cats peeping out of cat cages, and critters such as rabbits or guinea pigs your pup has never laid eyes on before. FINDING A VET When choosing a vet, convenience is often a factor — a vet that’s close by is handy in an emergency. Dr David Mason from AdelaideVet says it’s also important to pick a vet you feel comfortable with. “Talk to friends for…

Have you ever stopped to wonder whether we humans have unrealistic expectations of our four-legged friends? We tend to expect all dogs to get along with all other dogs simply because they’re the same species. We want them to be people-friendly, regardless of whether or not people have been friendly to them. We demand that our canine companions are happy and relaxed at all times — generally speaking, we have zero tolerance for anything other than calm, complaisant behaviour. A pooch that defends himself or has a short temper will likely be labeled “aggressive” or simply a “bad dog” and may find himself surrendered to a shelter … or worse. If that seems unfair, it’s because it is — but it’s also understandable. Fear of so-called “dangerous” dogs is so…

Summer was just four months young when she headed off on her first family holiday with us and her fur-brother, Keiko, a seasoned traveller. The destination? The Great Ocean Road for fur-bulous dogfriendly accommodation, beaches, and forest and coastal walks. You might wonder why we took such a young pup on a holiday. Aside from her being part of the family, a wide range of experiences is an important part of a puppy’s development. The younger a dog discovers things for the first time, the greater their socialisation benefits. We travel frequently with the dogs, so it’s important that Summer is comfortable with this lifestyle. Plus, it’s a fun way of bonding, so why not start as soon as we could? To begin Summer’s first holiday, we caught the ferry…

Developed around 100 years ago in Yorkshire, England, the Yorkshire Terrier is a comparatively new breed. Known to many as the Yorkie, the breed was developed from a mixture of terrier breeds and was originally bred for controlling rodents in the Yorkshire cotton mills and houses. Today, it is well known for its lovable character that makes it such a wonderful companion. “The Yorkie is a large dog trapped in a small dog’s body,” Karen Russell of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of NSW says. “They are extremely outgoing, fearless and can be very courageous for such little dogs.” While the Yorkie is considered a familyorientated dog, it is not necessarily the best breed for families with very young children. “With the right education and training, Yorkies will come to accept…

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for the whole family, although toilet training can definitely test your patience. Here’s how the experts recommend getting off to a good start, avoiding (and dealing) with common issues and knowing when to seek help. HOW TO BEGIN Toilet training begins before you bring your puppy home, Grant Matthews, manager at Hanrob Dog Training Academy, says. “Before you bring your new puppy home, you will need to decide on a designated toilet spot,” he advises. “Pick a spot that you and your pooch can get to easily — you ideally need to notice when your puppy starts to toilet there so you can reward them quickly. This will help your puppy pick up toilet training quickly.” Puppies toilet frequently and you…

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Superman can fly. The Incredible Hulk can lift. And Wonder Woman fights hard enough to make a grown man cry. But it’s the humble nose that is the superpower of the dog. In fact, it’s 1000 times more powerful than a human nose, allowing canines to detect the tiniest traces of food, aroma or chemicals thanks to the 220 million scent receptors at work. For diabetics, who need to balance their blood sugar levels to prevent their body and brain from shutting down, this is where a trained alert dog can be life-saving. More than 30 incredible dogs trained by Paws for Diabetics do this very job for their owners across Australia. Many are Groodles (Golden Retriever cross Poodles). Some are Whippets and others are just the average family dog…

DOGSLife: When did you first become involved with your organisation? Sue Barker: I’ve been rescuing animals, mainly dogs, all my adult life. I headed a rescue organisation in another region before moving to Newcastle. I decided to try to do something about the large number of dogs put down in Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Central Coast pounds so I established Dog Rescue Newcastle in 2008. The tragic loss of life in pounds is an ongoing problem, so Dog Rescue Newcastle has continued to grow. We have over 100 dogs and puppies in foster carer at any time and a couple of hundred volunteers that make it all work. DL: What makes your group unique? SB: We rescue all breeds and ages of dogs. If we have a foster carer available…

Vibrating Massage Glove Help your doggy pal to relax with the vibrating massage glove from Gem Candles. Whether you are stroking, soothing or massaging, these gloves provide a nice vibration in either a high or low function, according to your dog’s taste. Available in left- and right-hand gloves, this product could be the indulgent item your pet has always wanted! For more information, visit gemcandles.com.au Cloud7 Dog Leash Coco Lab Mix This striking leash is subtle yet fabulous and the perfect accessory for any dog walker this summer. Not only does it look good, but it’s also vegan-friendly, made from natural cotton with linen ribbon detailing and light metal accessories. The best part is, it’s machine washable, so you can pop it in for regular cleaning with the rest of…

I remember the first time I saw my pet. He was rolling around among his litter, eight weeks young and a ball of cuteness. He stood up and waddled over to us and sat at the gate. My wife and I both looked at each other and knew he was the one. What I love most about my pet is … his spirit for adventure. George is a great companion for bushwalks and trips to the beach. An absolute water-baby, it’s hard to get him out of the Yarra or Port Phillip Bay. We spend time together often … on our walks. We live on the back of a creek and there’s a fantastic trail that George and I walk every day. He keeps me company and entertained as he…

It’s impossible to see a guide dog leading someone who is blind without being awestruck by the bond between the two. These dogs are truly amazing and the training required to prepare them to navigate their owner safely along and across busy streets is a compelling journey. And now, thanks to the Royal Society for the Blind’s (RSB) PupStars program, all Australians can follow the journey of a litter of puppies, from bundles of fluff to fully fledged RSB guide and assistance dogs. “The public has always been incredibly generous when it comes to donating to providing guide dogs to the blind and vision-impaired community,” Rebecca Miller of the RSB says. “These dogs change the life of everyone who receives one, but in most cases there is no government funding…

So you’ve made the decision to add a four-legged member to your family. Congratulations! But where to from here? There are many benefits to both adopting a rescue dog and purchasing a purebred; it comes down to what is the right fit for your family. Matt Hams, owner and managing director of Banksia Park Puppies, says every person searching for a dog should look at rescue shelters first to see if there is a dog there that will suit their family and lifestyle. “Getting a dog from a breeder provides additional choice for families and especially those for which rescue dogs may not suit.” He sees certainty of the dog’s background, including its health and temperament, as well as that of its parents, as benefits of getting a dog from…

There’s nothing quite like the chaos that a puppy brings to a home. It’s a good kind of chaos, of course, but chaos nonetheless, so establishing a daily routine is one of the first things a family should do when a puppy arrives. Puppies undergo significant developmental changes in a relatively short period of time and one of the most important needs to help manage this is regular exercise. For puppies to become well-balanced, happy and healthy dogs, they need exercise help from their family — they need you to be their personal trainer. The question is, where to start? Before beginning a new exercise regimen, we humans are often advised to run our exercise and diet plans past a doctor. We do this “just in case” and this cautionary…

For small-animal vets, every day is different from the last. Treating all sorts of pets for all manner of illnesses, injuries and ailments means that you can never quite be sure what each day will hold. However, there are some injuries that occur far more often than others and send panicked dog owners hurrying to their local vet on a regular basis. So, what are those most common dog injuries and what dangers do they pose to our canine companions? Let’s find out. CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE Cruciate ligament injuries are something many of us associate with elite footballers rather than with our furry friends, but they’re a common cause of unexpected vet visits for dog owners around the country. “The knee joint is relatively unstable because there are no interlocking…

Shortly after I met my husband, he took me out for a beachside picnic. But our romantic evening was interrupted by a phone call around 9pm. “We’ve got your dog,” the stranger said. Sweet Annie, my husband’s Bull Arab, had climbed the chain-wire fence and bolted in fear at the sound of fireworks, running more than 10km before taking refuge in the stranger’s yard. And fireworks weren’t the worst problem. Annie became part of my husband’s life when she arrived on his doorstep during a storm. Given the frequency of storms in our area, this became a big issue. Thunderstorm phobia involves excessive and persistent fear of storms and is quite common in domestic dogs, Justin Jordan, a dog behaviourist and the owner of Jordan Dog Training in Brisbane, says.…

Most new dog owners have a tale of woe about how their cute, lovable mutt somehow morphed into Destruct-o Dog the minute they were left to their own devices. A nibbled pair of favourite sandals, a chewed pen leaking all over the lounge or telltale paw prints (and biscuit crumbs) from the broken biscuit barrel … Most dogs love adventures, making new pals, learning things and checking out what’s going on in their environment. Unfortunately, with today’s busy lifestyles, pet owners can’t always devote the time they want to their dog, even when they’re home. SIGNS OF BOREDOM If we don’t give our woofers something to amuse themselves with, some will make their own fun — and chances are we won’t like the consequences. Nicola White, dog behaviourist from The…

While her partner worked away, heavily pregnant Jessica Thomas struggled to rise early each morning to ensure she walked her German Shorthaired Pointer, Duke, prior to preparing her toddler for childcare and rushing off to her part-time job. When Jessica’s neighbour Tom noticed how exhausted she appeared, he suggested they share dog-walking duties. “I was gobsmacked at the kind offer and just thought that’d be great,” Jessica says. She and Duke were left devastated when Tom and his Border Collie, Betty, moved after a year, ending their reciprocal arrangement. “Duke missed his daily catch-ups with his friend Betty. There was definitely a longing in Duke for that companionship.” Uncomfortable with approaching a stranger to “hang out” in the park with her dog, Jessica devised a way to screen potential candidates…

TOY TROUBLES Q: Dear DOGSLife, My Border Collie, Carrie, loves her ball. She usually keeps them in good condition but, yesterday, she tore one apart. Now I’m a little worried. Are there any rules on what size balls I should be giving her, given she has them all day when I’m not there, and what would happen if she did perhaps ingest a little rubber? Josh, via email Dr Michael Archinal says: Hi Josh, there is little in life that a working dog likes more than a good ball! I am glad you asked this question, Josh, as there is more to this than people may think at first glance. First of all, one of the worst things that we can do for a working dog is to wind them…

BREED FEATURE: ALASKAN MALAMUTE As its name suggests, the Alaskan Malamute evolved in the Arctic regions and was shaped by the adverse weather conditions. The Alaskan Malamute’s sheer size and strength meant it was the ideal hunting partner for big game, such as seals and polar bears, and therefore a necessity for the native Inuit people, known as Mahlemuts. Family-oriented, the Alaskan Malamute is friendly and sociable towards people; however, its size and exuberance makes it an unsuitable playmate for children. This breed can also be aggressive towards other dogs, pets and livestock. The Alaskan Malamute’s fun-loving nature means that without regular exercise, it can become frustrated and destructive, exhibiting behaviour such as digging and howling. Due to its Arctic origins, this breed has a thick, coarse, double coat, which…