Innholdsfortegnelse for Jan/Feb 2016 Issue 135 i Dogs Life

WINNING LETTER A little ray of sunshine Hi DOGSLife, Before I had children, I was desperate for a dog, but apartment living made it impossible. When I had children, I quickly realised I couldn’t cope with another mouth to feed so kept putting it off to the point I started overthinking the whole thing. When my youngest turned four, and my 40th birthday was looming, my husband suggested I get a puppy for my present. It felt like the right time for us so I started researching breeds. My family dog growing up was a beautiful German Shepherd, and I still get emotional thinking about her. She was loyal and gentle with us whilst being an intimidating guard dog. She sat with my mother for hours on end when she…

Getting ready to welcome a gorgeous new puppy into your home? Along with enjoying the cuddles, snuggles and adorable antics, puppy owners also have the responsibility of toilet training their puppy. Mastering toilet training can be a two paws forward, one paw back process, which might test your tolerance and staying power. But don’t give up. Dr Amanda Cole, registered specialist in veterinary behaviour, says when toilet training a puppy, there are three important things to remember: “Being consistent in your approach, rewarding the puppy for doing the right thing and being patient.” Puppies don’t have the physical or developmental ability that older dogs have to “hold it in”. So when they have to go, they have to go. It’s inevitable that accidents will happen because puppies don’t gain full…

Choosing your new pet is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. The new addition to your family is one which will hopefully be with you for the next 10 or more years, so you want to make sure you take home the right pup for you. There are many different factors to take into consideration when researching the best pup to suit your lifestyle. DOGSLife discusses some of the primary concerns potential pup owners should keep in mind. WHERE TO GET MY PET? Before you decide what type of dog you are interested in, considering where you’d like to purchase it from should come into play. The first and most obvious choice for many people is to get their new pet from a registered breeder.…

Most dog owners find it easy to fall into a routine. They purchase the same brand of kibble or biscuits every week, perhaps adding some meat to the mix as well to help offer their beloved pet a wellrounded diet. However, as our dogs get older and start settling into their middle- and old-age life stages, they can have very different nutritional needs from that of a puppy. “Dogs must be fed according to their life stage,” says Dr James Crowley, a small animal veterinarian from Sydney. This is due to the different levels of proteins, nutrients, vitamins and minerals found in dog food that are required to help a dog function at its optimum performance level according to their stage of life. “Puppies require large amounts of proteins, higher…

Canine cough (or kennel cough) is still a common infectious disease that occurs in Australia and is highly contagious. Your dog can become infected anywhere that other dogs have been, not just at boarding kennels. The bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica, is one of the prime causes of canine cough and can survive on its own or in the environment for months, so your dog may be at risk even if it does not come into direct contact with other infected dogs. The signs of canine cough are a harsh hacking cough often ending with gagging. The coughing is exacerbated by exercise or excitement and severely affected dogs may also have a fever, be lethargic and have a reduced appetite. Coughing can persist for many weeks or months despite treatment so it…

It’s a situation none of us ever want to think could happen — your pet falling sick. Whether it be an illness or a major injury, surgery and treatment and occasionally even diagnosis for your pet can be a very expensive exercise, and certainly isn’t something to be sniffed at. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians spend in excess of $2 billion on their pets’ health each year. Of course, with dogs being one of the most popular pets owned in the land Down Under, it’s no surprise that dog owners were the ones forking out a majority of these fees. When pet insurance first came onto the scene, it didn’t perhaps seem a necessary expense. Since then, technology and medical research by veterinary experts has advanced, allowing…

BREED FEATURE: CAIRN TERRIER Mention the dog breed Cairn Terrier and most people will conjure the adorable plaits of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and her adoring little dog, Toto. That fuzzy-faced icon was indeed a Cairn Terrier — loyal, feisty and cute as a button as he rode with Dorothy in her bicycle’s basket through the dusty streets of Kansas. Toto was one of the characters in Frank Baum’s book of 1900, with an illustration of him drawn by WW Denslow. Elaine Ferbrache, president of the Cairn Terrier Club in Victoria says you might notice that Toto (played by a female brindle named Terry) has a pointier face than the Cairns we see today. Back in the 1930s, the breed looked a bit more like a fox in…

PET POSITIVES We love it when people promote pet care and the many benefits that owning a four-legged companion can bring. That’s why we’re so excited about Mars Petcare’s new Pet Positives campaign and website. This online destination aims to raise awareness of the many positives involved in owning a pet, something the DOGSLife team is all too aware of. Using information compiled by the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, the website is all about spreading positive pet news and sharing interesting facts on the topic. Some of the DOGSLife favourites are: Dog owners walk 31 minutes more per week than non-dog owners. Pet owners were more likely to get to know people in their neighbourhood than non-pet owners. Pet owners have been found to have greater self-esteem and are…

Busy Buddy Ultra Woofer Dogs love to chew, and this toy is designed with determined chewers in mind. The extra-wide ends of the Woofer protect a single ultra-thick cornstarch treat ring. The ring is four times thicker than regular Busy Buddy cornstarch rings. The toy design makes it more difficult for dogs to get a grip on the cornstarch. This difficulty combined with the ultra-thick cornstarch rings means this toy will hold a dog’s interest for an ultra-long time. Available from your local pet shop or via petsafe.net/au DOGSLife has fave busy buddy Ultra Woofers to give away. Just let us know what size you would like! A GUINEA PIG PRIDE & PREJUDICE Enjoy the classic Jane Austen tale from a slightly different view – a shorter, slightly furrier one,…

You’re almost ready to bring your new puppy home. You’ve got his collar, his lead, food and water bowls, bedding and all the other accessories a playful pup needs. There’s only one thing left to do to prepare yourself for the arrival of your new fourlegged family member: find the perfect vet. Your vet is not only the person you turn to when your pet gets sick, but also when you need advice on diet, behaviour problems and all those other questions and concerns that pop up in the first weeks and months of owning a new puppy. And in the first year of your dog’s life you can expect to be making plenty of visits to your local vet, so finding one who is professional, easy to get to…

When you bring a new puppy into your family, finding the right food to feed him can be a daunting challenge. Take a stroll down the pet food aisle at your local supermarket or pet store and you’ll find that there are countless brands, different ingredients, eyecatching packaging and celebrity vet endorsements all clamouring for your individual attention. So how do you know which is the right one to give your puppy? Well, the first step in choosing a diet for your pup is to understand that dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages of their lives. “When the puppy is growing, building muscle and bone, the needs are different from when it is an adult,” explains Dr Colin Dick from Pascoe Vale Vet Hospital. “The ratio of calcium…

Choosing the right thing to feed your dog has never been quite so complicated. In the same way that we can’t turn on the TV or log on to our social media profiles and be bombarded with testimonials and celebrity endorsements for any number of diets we should be feeding ourselves, it seems there are plenty of theories and opinions about what’s best to feed to our dogs. If you’ve researched canine diets online or if you’re a member of any doggy social groups (either online or in real life), there’s a fair chance that by now you will have come across something called the BARF Diet. It might not sound all that appetising, but the ‘BARF’ part of the equation actually stands for ‘Bones and Raw Food’ or ‘Biologically…

Most dog owners have faced the conundrum — your pooch develops a cough, a limp, goes off their food or perhaps throws up. And, because they can’t talk to you (and have a tendency to soldier on and hide pain), you’re not quite sure if they require a visit to the vet or if the problem will self-resolve. While you should always check with your vet if you feel it’s necessary, Dr David Neck from Cottesloe Animal Hospital in Western Australia says the following are common signs and symptoms that require a visit to the vet. SIGN #1: RASHES, RED SKIN OR OTHER SKIN DISEASE While rarely life threatening, Dr David says skin conditions are terribly uncomfortable for your dog and are easy to treat. “If you see rashes, constant…

An Australian summer is not something you can experience from indoors. The searing heat, the afternoon barbecues, the feeling of sand between your toes and those days when the sun just keeps on shining forever can only be enjoyed when you’re getting right amongst it in the great outdoors. And if you’re reading this magazine, there’s no doubt your dog will be by your side every step of the way. From playing under the sprinkler in the backyard to taking an iconic Aussie road trip up the coast, there’s plenty of ways you and your pooch can enjoy some fun in the sun during the warmer months. Some of them are fast and frenetic, others are cool and calm — but they all offer the perfect excuse to spend some…

BREED FEATURE: LABRADOR RETRIEVER This breed originated in Newfoundland in the 17th century, when it was trained by fishermen to retrieve nets from icy waters. It also became a highly effective gun dog. It was in the United Kingdom that the Earl of Malmesbury, a huge fan and breeder of these dogs, named them Labradors. With a kind face and gentle eyes, this very attractive breed has a short, dense coat with a waterproof undercoat. The Labrador comes in three solid colours: yellow, black and chocolate. An ideal family pet, the Labrador is friendly, patient and forgiving. It loves being part of the family and gets on well with other dogs and animals. The Labrador is easy to look after, with minimal grooming and bathing required. They thrive on activity…

NICE NOSING YOU Author & Photographer: Elke Vogelsang Publisher: Hardie Grant Books RRP: $29.95 Available: Now, from all good book stores Every now and then, a book comes along that truly touches your heart – and Nice Nosing You is definitely one such a title. This collection was photographed by the talented Elke Vogelsang, who, one Christmas Day found her three dogs barking outside the bathroom door. Upon further investigation, Elke discovered her husband, Carsten, had collapsed, suffering a horrid brain haemorrhage. Carsten’s recovery was long and required extensive hospital time, and in an effort to lift his spirits, Elke started taking photos of their three dogs and bringing them in to show him. As Carsten recovered, Elke’s habit became an obsession — and so Nice Nosing You was born.…

The KONG Puppy Original is a fabulous tool to keep your pup’s active mind busy — and a tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy. Simply stuff with some treats or even some of your pet’s kibble, then let your pup knock the KONG around and feast upon the rewards. kongcompany.com Let your pup snooze in style with the Pearl Jax & Bones Eco Friendly Dog Bed. With comfortable bolstered sides and a soft pillow in the centre, this is bound to have your pup dozing away and having many sweet dreams. dogue.com.au Whether it’s from a bath or a trip to the beach, at some point your pup will get wet — and you’ll want to dry it! Dogs Life loves the puppy microfibre towels from FuzzYard. This soft, super-absorbent…

Let’s be honest, dogs can be gross. They’re adorable, of course, and we love them every bit as much as the two-legged members of our families, but there’s no getting around the fact that sometimes they like to do things that are … well, really rather icky. The list of disgusting stuff that dogs do includes rolling in foul-smelling goodness-knows-what, chowing down on bones that have been buried for months, and devouring their own and other dogs’ poo as if it were caviar. For the most part, we can overlook our canine companions’ less-thancharming quirks. Sometimes, however, Rover’s bad habits can have potentially disastrous consequences for his health — and that’s certainly the case if he should contract intestinal worms. “If worms are left untreated, the worm burden will likely…

Kasper is a much-loved, four-yearold German Shorthaired Pointer. Loyal, intelligent and eager to please, Kasper loves nothing more than being by his owners’ sides as much as possible. But when he’s left alone, Kasper can turn into a very different dog. “Kasper initially came to us as a dog-walking client when he was only nine months old,” explains owner Katie Catherwood, from Heads & Tails Pet Care Services in Melbourne. “His previous owners were finding him impossible to handle as he would constantly howl, become destructive (towards both his possessions and himself) and escape the yard while they were at work. His owners were receiving begrudged letters from neighbours in the letterbox. “Initially, we suspected he wasn’t getting enough physical activity, but we realised the problem ran much deeper after…

PART-TIME PET PARENTS Dear DOGSLife, My partner and I are splitting up, and we are talking about shared custody (don’t laugh!) of our dog, a Jack Russell. But will keeping it in a different house for half of the week just make life harder for it? Could it be emotionally damaging? Jenna, via email Dr Kersti Seksel says: Dear Jenna, I think it depends on the dog! You haven’t said if your Jack Russell is male or female. I will presume he is male to avoid the awkward he/she — my apologies if he is a female! If he has a laid-back temperament and does not become anxious about change then it probably won’t be a problem. One advantage of such an arrangement is that you won’t need to put…

BREED FEATURE: AFGHAN HOUND Everything about the Afghan Hound gives this breed an air of majestic dignity. Aloof, aristocratic, independent, beautiful and intelligent … the list goes on. This is why the Afghan has an age-old reputation as the “king of dogs”, or this could be attributed to the fact that this breed is thought to occupy the hunting kennels of Afghan kings long ago. Some say the Afghan Hound is an ancient breed with origins stretching as far back as 5000 years. However, there appears to be no firm basis to confirm the theory that the Afghan existed in Egypt that long ago. Other sources theorise the Afghan was pictured in the caves of Afghanistan dating back more than 4000 years. According to the Afghan Club of NSW, the…

BREED FEATURE: BEAGLE Beagles are one of the superstars of the puppy world. Big-screen Beagles, such as Underdog, animated characters Mr Peabody and Gromit, and classic comicstrip character Snoopy, have captivated audiences for generations. With their gorgeous doe-like eyes, big, floppy ears and happy disposition, it’s easy to see why they have become a much-loved pet the world over. AN ALL-ROUNDER The Beagle is a very loyal, loving pet. Breeder Lesley Childs from Brialey Beagles says the breed is very adaptable, versatile and suits a variety of lifestyles. “They’re just as comfortable romping about in a busy, noisy household with lots of kids as they are living the quiet life as a companion pet for a retiree,” she says. Beagles are very intuitive, frequently picking up cues from their owners…

I remember the first time I saw my pet, it was love at first sight. She was only 10 weeks old and was running in a large grassy pen with a kelpie at Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Tasmania. My partner and I didn’t even know we were up for adopting another dog until we saw her — and it was decided in an instant. Emma, who runs Brightside, saw the immediate connection I had with Pixel (then called Pencil) and so generously gave her to me as a gift, and she is the most amazing gift I have ever received. We love her to bits. What I love most about my pet is her fearless nature. She commits 110 per cent to everything she does which is sometimes scary to…