Play is an important part of your dog’s life, but sometimes playing with Fluffy is easier said than done. Some dogs are reluctant to play. They may simply not like it, or they might never have learnt how. Shelter dogs (especially puppies) who don’t get much contact with people, often don’t learn how to play. In fact, human play behavior and people-operated toys are a scary mystery. Don’t stress, because it’s never too late to teach your dog to play.
How often do you let loose and really play with your dog? Most of us don’t play with our dogs as much as we would like – life is just too busy. We can manage a couple of walks a day and some attention whenever our canine kids come looking for it, but finding the time for romping on the lawn is tricky.
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When bath time looms your dog either turns into a pile of quivering jelly, hides under a tree, or goes stiff as board at the first sight of dog shampoo. If your dog resists bath time with every fiber of her being, you may go to extremes to hide her fate. But even if you think you’ve got every base covered, your dog is always one step ahead of you.
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a condition in which the hip joint doesn’t develop sufficiently to support the leg bone. This results in gradual joint deterioration over time as the leg bone bumps and grinds against it.
Terriers are working dogs, bred to root vermin out of holes. They have more energy than most people can conceive and can going long after other dogs want a nap. Bear this in mind before you welcome a terrier into your home. They can be small, but they don’t always make good lap dogs. They’re far better suited to active lifestyles that include dog sports and activities.
Some cross breeds are favored because they have lower energy levels than their parent breeds. Some are favored because they’re bouncy and cute. Unfortunately, bouncy cuteness can lead to behavior problems if the dog’s energy isn’t properly channeled. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep dogs busy and tire them out. Let’s look at some of the best dog games and activities for cross breeds.
The first part of our buying vs. adopting a pet series looked at buying. In this part we look at rescuing pets.
People who adopt usually do so because they believe it’s the right thing to do. After all, you can give an abandoned, neglected or abused animal a second (third or fourth) shot at a happy home.
Once you’ve decided to get a pet, the biggest question is whether you’re going to buy or adopt. Almost everyone in animal welfare will tell you that adopting is by far the better option. But is it really right for you? We look the differences between buying pets and adopting pets, including the pros and cons of each, so that you can make an informed decision. We’re going to approach it in two parts, starting with buying.
Dog breeders get a lot of flak from animal welfare societies and animal rights activists. Mostly because backyard breeders and puppy mills are terrifying, cruel places that are more interested in profit than ensuring healthy living conditions. They also tend to inbreed dogs which destroys the gene pool and causes severe deformities, poor health and behavior problems.
Breed specific legislation (BSL) refers to laws which prohibit or restrict the ownership of certain dog breeds or breed types. If ownership is prohibited, dogs are forcibly removed from their homes and either destroyed, or especially in the case of mixed-breeds, placed in kennels to establish whether or not they fit the profile of a “dangerous” dog.
