Jul 29
Jerry WelshDog Information can dogs cry, dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets
“Dogs can’t cry” this is what skeptics will always say. Dogs being animals have no emotions thus they are not capable of crying and shedding tears. Dogs are wonderful animals and it would not be surprising for anyone that had a dog for a pet to want to get another one. Although owners form a strong bond with the pet it is common to get another dog if the pet is gone. Dogs are the most loved and pampered pets. Because the pet is constantly cuddled and petted, owners can see if the pet is really crying. Tearfalls would be absorbed by the fur thus it would be difficult to see if the dog is really crying but a discerning pet parent would know if something is wrong with the pet.
Dogs have tear glands and tear ducts and tearing would be a normal bodily function. Dogs with light colored coats would have tear stains on the face, a sign that the dog really does shed tears. Aside from lubricating the eyes, tears also have the important function of flushing out foreign objects on the eyes
Although the tear fall may not be seen, it is possible to see the dog’s eyes brimming with tears. Another sigh that the dog can cry are the tear stains on the face. However, scientists explain the tears to be caused by a foreign object on the eyes or caused by a medical concern. Excessive tearing can be caused by a clogged tear duct. Dogs can shed tears but they have no ability to cry because they do not have emotions.
Naturally, dog lovers would have a different view. People that have formed strong ties with their pets would aver that dogs have developed many human-like qualities. Dogs are said to have developed many human-like behaviors after long years of association with humans.
Man’s best friends form strong associations with their masters. Stories have been told about dogs that have deeply mourned the passing away of the master. After the death of the master, the dog would howl, whine and cry. The pitiful sounds a lamenting dog makes would be heartrending to the other members of the family.
Whether the dog has the ability to feel emotions and to cry when they are sad, or whether dogs can’t shed emotional tears, it would still be the responsibility of the dog owner to see what is wrong with the pet. The crying of the dog may not be a sign of loneliness but a symptom that all is not well with its health.
You now know if dogs can cry. But do you know why dogs cry at night and why they may cry when caged? At Sarah’s Dogs you can learn more about this and many other interesting dog behaviours.
Jul 28
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, drooling dog, pets
Drooling, the same as gnawing bones is a trademark of dogs. Caricatures would often depict a drooling Fido or one that is earnestly gnawing a bone. Dog experts tell us pet parents that the saliva of dogs is very important. This fluid secreted by the salivary glands serves as a lubricant and moisturizer that aids in the preliminary process of digestion. While dogs are much loved pets, pet parents would detest the dog’s tendency to drool. Yes, the dog’s drooling is one of the reasons why some dog breeds are not chosen to be pets.
Dogs drool but while some breeds are known to be dry, others would be excessive droolers. People that can’t deal with the drool had best steer clear of Boxers, Basset Hounds and St. Bernard. These breeds are droolers because of the way the mouth is structured. These dog breeds drool a lot because the loose folds of skin traps the saliva. Dogs are food motivated and the smell of food will virtually turn on the dog’s saliva producing glands so that the dog will salivate. At the sight of yummy food, people will smack the lips – dogs will drool.
Instead of being pestered by the drool of the dog that would stick everywhere, an owner can just have paper towels or towels handy to wipe the dogs drool before it creates a mess. A bandana can be tied to the neck of the pet. The colorful bandana will of course enhance the appearance of the pet but it has the more important function of absorbing the drool.
The sight and smell of food and the conformation of the mouth are not the only reason why dogs would hyper-salivate. A dog that was not a born drooler would hyper-salivate because of motion sickness. Nausea due to car travel will make the dog drool and vomit. A health concern can be the reason why the dog drools. “Dry” dogs that have become droolers must be checked by the owners.
Mouth problems that include dental concerns and foreign objects like wood and bone splinters that got lodged inside the dog’s mouth would make the dog drool excessively. If drooling is due to dental problems like gum disease and decayed tooth, the dog would have bad breath as well. Drooling can be a symptom of rabies. Rabies is another cause of excessive drooling. Due to the inquisitive nature and voracious appetite, dogs often get poisoned. Drooling is one of the symptoms of poisoning. A dog that is drooling excessively due to poisoning has to be rushed to the nearest medical facility.
You now know quite a bit about why dogs drool. But there is still more to know about why dogs drool. Come on over to Sarah’s Dogs and find out more about this and other interesting dog behaviours like why do dogs shake, howl, cry, yawn and chew.
Jul 25
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, dog drooling, Dog Information, dogs, pets
Dogs drool – some dogs drool more than others do. Drooling is one of the less pleasant attributes of dogs. Dogs are one of the most favorite choices for a pet but a lot of pet owners detest the shower of saliva whenever the dog shakes its head. Bloodhounds, Boxers, Mastiffs and other breeds known to slobber are not for everyone especially for people that hate the sticky dog drool that can cling on the clothes, on the furniture, on walls and practically in all places.
Dog drooling is a fact of life as the saliva produced helps in the digestion of food but some dog breeds salivate excessively because of the loose skin on the lips. Being food motivated animals, the sight and the smell of food would make a dog salivate. Excitement or stress can make the dog drool as well. Owners need not be too concerned as these reasons for salivating would not really do the dog harm. To prevent the pet from scattering its slobber, the owner has best keep towels handy to wipe the dog’s mouth.
There is a cause for concern if the non-slobbering dog is suddenly drooling excessively especially if it is manifesting an abnormal behavior as well. Excessive drooling can result to dehydration but what should concern dog owners more is the fact that the cause of the dog’s drooling can be life threatening. Drooling associated with a medical concern would also make the dog show other signs such as shaking of the head and pawing at the mouth. The dog’s excessive drooling can be caused by a serious concern if the pet is panting and bad smell emanates from the dog’s mouth.
Dogs can salivate excessively because of motion sickness. Foreign object in the dog’s mouth can also cause excessive drooling. Dogs are very active and curious animals thus a thorn or a sliver of wood can get stuck between the gums, pierce the tongue or get embedded on the roof of the mouth. Ingestion of a poisonous substance will make the dog salivate as well. Excessive drooling can be due to a dental disease. A dog with a tumor in the mouth will salivate. Another serious condition that will make a dog drool is rabies.
“Dry” dogs that suddenly drools excessively may be suffering from a medical concern thus treatment must be administered. Treatment for this concern would depend on the cause. Some causes of salivating like poisoning can be life threatening. This concern will make a dog vomit and have breathing difficulties. Poisoning is one of the serious causes of drooling and it certainly needs immediate medial attention.
Dog drooling can be a problem. But does it really have to be. Sarah’s Dogs discusses this topic further.
Jul 22
Jerry WelshDog Information do dogs cry, dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets
We humans would cry when we are in pain. The shedding of tears that is accompanied by a sobbing or wailing sound is commonly triggered by an emotional situation. Psychologists believe that crying does have a therapeutic effect as after the emotional outburst, the stress is somewhat relieved. Aside from blotchy face and runny nose, crying does humans no harm.
Dogs are considered as pseudo humans. In animalandia, dogs are among the most intelligent kinds. Aside from being intelligent, dogs are also noted to have human-like emotions. With this premise, is it possible for dogs to shed tears at the demise of the owner? It is not uncommon for dogs to get injured because of their active and inquisitive nature. Can pain caused by an injury make the dog shed tears.
Dogs can produce tears because like humans, these animals also have tear glands. Tear production is necessary as the fluid produced lubricates the eyes. Tears have the important function of flushing out foreign objects that can cause eye irritations. Because the dog have tear glands, they can surely produce tears. Dogs in pain are observed to have teary eyes. The tear stains on the dog’s face have even become a common concern of dog owners especially if the pet competes in beauty competitions.
Pets are often considered as the baby of the family and as such pet parent would observe all the movements of the pet. But even if these people would not take their eyes away from the pet, it would still be impossible to see tears flowing on the dog’s face. Due to the fur that absorbs the tears, the dog will not be seen shedding tears. Dogs can have teary eyes but they are not capable of shedding emotional tears thus unlike humans, tears would not flow on the dog’s face.
Dogs form a strong attachment with their masters thus they are greatly affected if parted from their favorite person. A dog that has bonded closely with its master will be emotionally affected if the master dies. These dogs would continue to mourn for the loss of the master for quite a long while. These indications have contradicted the theory that dogs do not feel emotions. Dogs were not called man’s best friends for nothing. These animals have formed strong ties with their human family so that being parted from their beloved people can make the dog whine and howl. Dogs though would not be seen with tears running down.
Now that you know if dogs can cry – Maybe it is time to find out why dogs cry in their cage and why dogs cry at night?
Jul 19
Venice MarriottDog Information animals, dog anxiety symptoms, dog behaviour, dog howling, Dog Information, dog problems, Dog Training, dogs, dogs howl, family, pets, positive dog training, separation anxiety in dogs, stop dogs howling, why dogs howl
What Makes Dogs Howl
Dog howling is just one of the forms of communication that dogs use alongside barking, whining and growling. Although it is probably now the least useful method of communication for dogs living in a human world.
Some owners are concerned that they have never heard their dog howl, but there is nothing wrong with your dog if they don’t as they simply have no need to howl.
Certainly judging by the number of YouTube hits videos of dog howling gets, people generally find it amusing when they do. That is until they live close to a dog that howls at night or is suffering from dog separation anxiety…
When Dogs Use Howling
In nature, the sound of a dog howling will carry over long distances and was therefore used to locate other members of the pack and call them together for hunting (as wolves still do).
It also acts as a warning to rival packs to keep away because dog howls are individually recognisable, and therefore if they don’t recognise the howl, another pack would know to keep off the territory if they wanted to remain safe.
How to Stop a Howling Dog
If your dog howls in response to high pitched sounds (like a siren), it should stop as the other noise dies away. There’s not much you can do to stop it and it shouldn’t last too long. If your dog is outside, you can try calling them to you, or taking them inside, and using a positive reward system for them when they quieten down.
Never shout at the dog as this can be counter productive in a number of different ways, the least being that they might decide that you are howling too and keep it up for a little while more.
Other triggers for dog howling can be responding to another dog they can hear howling (their hearing is better than ours so you may not be able to hear it yourself), but it shouldn’t last for long. Alternatively, dogs are known to have a howl-along with music, singing, or TV tunes and this will be caused by their natural instinct to howl with the rest of the pack when they get together.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs Cause of Nuisance Howling
The sort of constant howling that upsets the neighbours and stops you sleeping at night is usually caused by other problems which you will need to identify and address.
Howling that is triggered by separation anxiety in dogs will start when the dog is left home alone and will be your dogs attempt at trying to find out where you are and let you know where you should come back to. Naturally they are going to continue to try and locate you if you don’t respond!
Separation anxiety in dogs is not always the easiest problem to deal with, but when it’s sorted out, the need to howl should disappear. A good behaviour modification program should help along with some desensitisation training to the triggers that set off the howling. In very difficult cases, a vet may be able to help by prescribing dog anxiety medication, but always try training first.
Look for other dog anxiety symptoms to help you confirm that anxiety is at the root of your dogs howling problems. Problems such as chewing, urinating on the carpets, or pooping in the house and many others. You can get our free report on the major symptoms of dog anxiety to help you.
Dog Howling for Attention
Attention is another reason your dog might be howling. It’s hard to ignore and if your react by reassuring your dog, talking to them, stroking them or even getting cross with them, its all attention and they are likely to continue using this technique.
To stop your dog howling for this reason, you need to show them consistently that it won’t get your attention. You could also reinforce it by praising quiet, calm behaviour and giving them treats.
Here’s how you do it. Completely ignore them when they howl. Don’t speak to them, stroke or touch them, or even catch their eye. This way they will soon learn that it doesn’t work and dogs rarely carry on doing things that don’t get them what they want. If just ignoring them doesn’t work, try leaving them on their own in another room when they howl. Either take them by the collar, again without speaking or looking directly at them and put them in there until they quieten down, or walk out of the room they are in and close the door. Your dog doesn’t like to be separated from the rest of his pack, so it can be very effective.
Reinforce this by using positive training techniques, (ignore the slip ups, but praise them when they get it right) to encourage calm or quiet behaviour. You could consider trying to teach them to respond to a ‘keep calm’ or ‘quiet’ command to back it up.
If you’d like to know more about Dog Anxiety we’ve created a useful, free report to help you spot the symptoms of anxiety in your dog, because a dog howling could just be the start of anxiety problems, so catch it and stop it quickly.
Jul 10
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dog obedience, dogs, pets
Man uses dogs in various capacities. Due to the loyal and affectionate nature, dogs are most commonly kept as pets and home companions. It is said that the appearance and the behavior of the pet is a reflection of the owner’s personality. This would be due to the fact that caring and responsible dog owners would make sure that the pet is provided with the best food and care to ensure its well being. The owner would also take time to socialize, obedience train and discipline the pet to mold the dog into a good canine citizen.
It is not uncommon for people to treat the dog as family members. Considered as the baby of the family, dogs would receive all the love and attention from its human friends. Dogs are not unlike living toys that will provide the family with affection and constant entertainment. Pet dogs though have the tendency to act as the alpha dog especially if it is allowed by the family to have its ways. Instead of being owned the dog would now own the human family.
Dogs have the habit of chewing inappropriate items, jumping at people, filching food or raiding the trash and barking incessantly. Dogs are not like humans thus they should not be expected to know what is right and what is wrong. Disciplining the pet though is one of the responsibilities of a dog owner.
The dog may be too effusive with its affection or too aggressive thus it would have to be disciplined. How would you discipline your dog? You know that disciplining the pet is necessary but would you inflict physical punishment or would you persuade the dog to accept you as the leader of the pack with toys and treats?
Physical punishment may not be effective as even though dogs are intelligent animals they may not be aware why they are being punished. A spray bottle filled with cold water or the kid’s water gun and a tin can filled with coins would be good tools to discipline the dog. Every time the pet is at its hobby of raiding the trash can or barking at the passersby or tormenting the cat, use the spray bottle on the dog’s face or rattle the coins in the tin can. These methods that will serve as unpleasant stimuli would be more effective than physically punishing the pet.
There are many ways to discipline a dog. You have now learned about some of the ways. At Sarah’s Dogs you can find further discussion on the topic.
Jul 01
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs wag their tails
Have you ever thought why dogs have the habit of enthusiastically wagging their tails? Your dog cannot voice out its gladness that you have come home safely but if you care to understand, the body movements of the dog would be a clear indication of its feelings in a given situation. Dogs really do have the propensity to wag their tails to show happiness. The wiggling of the dog’s tail typifies its friendly personality. It is common for children to form a legendary attachment with a dog. Dogs may not immediately take to strangers but a child will be met by the dog with a happily wagging tail.
To communicate with humans and with other animals, man’s best friends would use various body movements like pricking the ears and wagging the tail. In the absence of hands, dogs would use the ears and the other parts of the body to communicate. A dog can communicate more effectively by using its tail. Just as calling hi and waving to a friend at a distance, dogs can communicate with dogs at a distance simply by waving the tail. Similar to human handshake; tail waving is the dogs’ way of greeting each other.
The kind of tail wagging depends on the emotional state of the dog. Only the tip of a tail that is raised high is wagged if the dog is tense and aggressive. Dogs wagging the tail this way may attack. Dogs with nervous personalities are also called “yellow dogs”. When confronted by other dogs or by humans the tails of these dogs would be held between the legs and wagged ever so slow.
The wagging of the tail is also an indication of the dog’s submission. The same with the wolf ancestors, dogs are also pack animals. Wolves that are lower in rank would have to recognize the leader of the pack and the way the tail is held is believed to be a form of submission to the alpha male. Dogs lower in rank will wag the lowered tail slowly in the presence of the leader of the pack. On the other hand, the leader of the pack will hold the tail up proudly and wag it in a very dominant manner.
Dogs wag their tails in different manners and to be able to know the emotional state of the pet, it would be very necessary for a dog owner to make an effort to understand what the pet is trying to convey through the movements of the tail.
Having learnt about why dogs wag their tails. Wouldn’t you like to know more. Visit Sarah’s Dogs and read about hundreds of other interesting dog beahaviours.
Jun 30
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs throw up
All animals vomit. Vomiting episodes are more often seen in dogs than in other animals. This is why dog owners would not be too concerned if the pet is seen vomiting as in most cases after throwing up, the put would be its usual energetic self. Dogs have the gross habit of feasting on the vomit thus pet parents, instead of being concerned would be disgusted with the pet.
All is not well with the health of a dog that vomits although vomiting is not considered a disease. A single episode of vomiting is common in dogs but repeated vomiting can result to dehydration, a condition that can be life threatening thus dog owners have to act fast if the pet is throwing up repeatedly. Because dogs are voracious eaters, they have the inclination to eat non-edible substances. Stomach upset that results from eating spoiled and non edible sub stances will make the dog vomit. The introduction of a new diet can make the dog vomit. A dog’s vomiting will be self limiting if it was caused by the pet’s dietary indiscretion.
Other conditions that cause the dog to throw up can have more dangerous results. A dog’s projectile vomiting can be a sign that the dog has swallowed an object that is causing a blockage. Vomiting is the dog’s way of removing the foreign object. Chronic vomiting can be an indication of infection or parasite infestation. A dog infested with roundworms would vomit. Throwing up can be an indication of gastritis or a symptom of stomach cancer, a kidney disease or pancreatitis.
The dog can also be throwing up foamy and frothy vile. This condition is often seen in large breeds that grow fast. The food eaten at night is not sufficient for the needs of the growing body thus the dogs would go hungry at night and vomit frothy vile in the morning. On the other hand, a foamy vomit can be due to a more serious condition – poisoning. Dogs would eat anything and it is possible that the pet has ingested a poisonous substance.
To deal with the dog’s vomiting episodes, a pet parent has to know the reasons why the pet is vomiting. Just as pets with diarrhea, food must be withheld for 12 to 24 hour for vomiting dogs to rest the stomach and to allow the pet to normalize its digestive system. Repeated vomiting can cause dehydration thus a pet parent needs to stop the pet from throwing up. The dog must be immediately taken to an animal clinic. Antiemetic medication are administered to stop the pet from throwing up. The history of the pet will be taken to establish the cause for the dog’s vomiting.
Learn more about why dogs throw up at Sarah’s Dogs. Here you can also learn about dog first aid.
Jun 26
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs lick
Dogs really do have the propensity to lick. Dogs are often seen licking themselves. Dogs have the inclination to lick other animals too. These four legged friends are really great lickers as every time they get a chance, they would lick the face, the hand and any body part of their human friends. A lot of people that love dogs abhor the touch of the rough tongue as well as the slobber of the pet. Dogs have the disgusting habit of eating feces, their own or other animal’s that is why the habit of licking people is a common concern of pet parents. The dog’s tendency to lick can be a concern of dog owners and to be able to put a stop to this habit, it is necessary to know why dogs have the inclination to lick.
Licking becomes a natural behavior as it was learned by puppies from their mother dog. Instinctively, a mother dog would lick the newly born puppies to clean and to promote circulation. Licking is done every time the puppy defecates or urinates. To encourage the mother dog to regurgitate food, the puppies would like the mouth of the mother dog.
Dogs lick to clean themselves. Dogs would be seen using the tongue to clean themselves although they are not as fastidious as cats that would lick themselves clean for hours. Dogs would also lick their injuries. This gives rise to the notion that the saliva of dogs can heal wounds and other injuries.
Dogs are sweet by nature and their inclination to lick people can be a sign of affection. Dogs are known to have high levels of intelligence. Bring a dog its favorite treat and you will be rewarded by wet sloppy licking and kisses. Puppies lick their mother and litter mates to show affection. It follows that the dog will show the human family affection by licking as well
Dogs lick to communicate. Dog are naturally sweet thus they would need attention from the owners. Neglected dogs often develop unwanted and destructive habits. A dog can turn into a barker, be a destructive chewer or be a compulsive licker resulting to lesions in the body
An owner can wash the slobber after being licked by the dog. This behavior though becomes a concern if the dog is already harmed. If your pet becomes an excessive licker it is possible that the dog is a neglected pet. This habit can be the dog’s way of attracting the owner.
You now know a bit about why dogs lick. But there is more to it. Come on over to Sarah’s Dogs where the topic is discussed further.
Jun 26
Jerry WelshDog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs sleep
What would you do if you if you are in a temperature controlled room, have a comfortable bed and have nothing to do? Sleep!. In similar circumstances, the dog would do a lot of sleeping too. Dogs are not only voracious eaters, they are great sleepers as well. A dog would commonly sleep more than half the day away! This has resulted to the notion that dogs are lazy animals.
Actually, dogs are very energetic. These animals would even develop destructive habits if opportunities to expend their excess energies are not provided by the owner. Just as with humans, dogs too would benefit from sleeping. However, there are various reasons for the dog’s inclination to sleep a lot.
General health condition, personality and the level of activity largely influence the dog’s sleeping pattern. Dog are active animals with high exercise requirements but the St Bernard and the Newfoundland are breeds known to be rather slow moving. These breeds are even called rug or mat dogs because of their inclination to lie down rather than indulge in strenuous activities. These mat dogs would sleep for 16 to 18 hours every day.
Working breeds are different as these dog will be seen up and about doing their work. A dog utilized to herd or protect livestock would be seen constantly patrolling the area where the animals being protected are located. The same thing is true with dogs utilized by the law enforcers to sniff narcotics and bombs. Farm dogs that perform varied functions would find little time to curl and sleep.
Unlike dogs in farms that are allowed to roam freely, apartment dogs or dogs that are mainly kept inside the house would be enticed to sleep all day more so if they do not have other activities to do. Most pet dogs are provided by the owners all imaginable comforts. Aside from having a softly padded bed, these dogs would be living in temperature controlled homes. Dogs would be seen sleeping a lot because their environment is conducive to sleeping. Dogs may appear to be soundly asleep but they would wake up at the lightest sound. Dogs have the ability to be alert the instant they are roused from sleep. Dogs may sleep a lot but the heightened senses enables these four legged friends to be awake in an instant thus they can be depended to protect the human family.
Obviously dogs like to sleep, but why do dogs sleep so much? Come on over to Sarah’s Dogs and find out more.
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