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ATTN members of Doggit - some common sense and a bit o' advice before you post.
Most of Doggit is comprised of people who love their pooches and want to show them off. The true cavaliers of Doggit have some wisdom to share for your common inquires. More tips can be viewed in the comments. --------------- Spaying and Neutering --------------------- Speutering can help prevent, and even eliminate, the risk of testicular, ovarian, mammary, and penile cancer as well as pyometra. There are some drawbacks to this procedure, but rest assured, it is not a **mind altering** surgery for your dog. The desire to roam in male dogs is reduced, unwanted pregnancies are prevented (over four million cats & dogs are put to sleep yearly in the US alone according to humanesociety.org), it can help reduce marking behavior, and can help decrease testosterone / estrogen levels, helping them "cool" their canine jets on aggression, where when unaltered some of these dogs are more prone to escalated aggression, whether canine or human. *Contrary to popular belief, altering a dog will NOT make it fat and lazy. YOU, the caretaker, are responsible for keeping your animal in reasonable body composition.* **Visit a website depicting pros and cons and decide for yourself by entering "pros and cons of spaying and neutering" in a search engine and choose your ultimate decision wisely.** If you fix your dog too early on in puppyhood, for example, you could alter their growth. Do your research. If your dog's manhood is an important issue to you, invest in Neuticles - get the look without the hormones or illnesses. ----------------------- My dog is Hurt! ------------------ The most common problems owners face are paw / muzzle injuries. These injuries are ok to treat at home depending on the severity - a bleeding toenail that has been clipped past the quick can have the bleeding stemmed by applying a mixture of baking soda and flour - avoid strenuous activity with your pooch as the paw will be tender for a while. Muzzle wounds can be stopped bleeding with the same solution, but clean it out first. If your dog was bitten by a wild animal, **CONSULT A VET**. If by another dog, identify vacc. status with owner. Some limping can be caused by pad irritation. If you notice your dog chewing at his pads, examine the paws for any long hair between the toe pads - the irritation this hair gives off can cause dogs to chew their pawpads raw. Keep nails and pad hairs trimmed. Some dogs may also develop a limp or soreness if left to rest on concrete - invest in a cushy bed, and if the problem persists, consult a vet. **IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR DOG HAS INGESTED POISON (Chocolate, grapes, turkey skin, rat poison, antifreeze), VISIT A VET ASAP.** Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, seizures, excessive drooling, tremors, vomiting, poor motor skills, and trouble identifying people or voices, accompanied by a distant look or rolled back eyes. Keep all toxins out of reach - some, when ingested, can cause death in hours, same with snake or spider bites. **IF YOUR DOG IS SEVERELY BLEEDING OR INJURED, IE rectal prolapse, severe injury from another dog, non-working / responsive limbs, eyeballs protruding from sockets, torn ligaments, etc, DO NOT COME HERE. GO TO THE GOD DAMN VET**. If you can't afford it, ask for a payment plan, or if you can't bear to put your dog to sleep in case of irreparable damage, ask for information on rescue groups (extremely easy to find if your dog is purebred) that will allow you to sign over the dog for treatment and placement in a new home. **IF YOUR DOG IS SUFFERING - loss of interest in life, in constant pain, on a whole army of medication, consistently doesn't eat / drink, has cancer, or a breed-related hereditary disease such as Hip Displaysia, underdeveloped and painful ligaments, or any disease that inhibits your dogs enjoyment in life, please do the right thing and humanely euthanize. It is not that expensive, you can obtain your pet's ashes for a fee or bury them, and you can rest assured you did the right thing. True dog lovers cringe when they see an obviously suffering dog kept alive by the owner's perspective of *not letting go of what they love*, who are so blinded by their attachment they do not see the suffering. If your dog is in a serious predicament, DO NOT sit on the internet and ask what to do. GET YOUR ASS TO THE VET, EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE. **LARGER DOGS are susceptible to torsion and bloat, which may happen naturally after eating a large meal. A dog that is on the taller side should be fed out of a lifted feeding tray. Watch & discourage wolfing food down or overeating by selecting bowls with raised sections or placing vet-approved, inedible objects in the bowl and sticking to a strict feeding regimen. Larger breeds should be allowed less protein than smaller dogs. Bloat is a mechanical twist of the stomach, cutting off blood supply and can be quite deadly if not treated early. Symptoms can be restlessness, drooling, abdominal swelling, paleness of the gums, and sudden inactivity. YOU MUST SEE A VET. Vaccinations are mandatory, though you will encounter vets who promote unnecessary vaccines. Consult your vet for a vacc. schedule and keep it up to date. Keep an eye out for weeping sores, crusty eyes / nose, lethargy, random fits of aggression, and other unusual behavior. Most vets offer insurance on your pet for a monthly fee, which is invested into an account made for the occurrence of illness. ------------------ ID for your Friends ------------------ Most dogs that end up in shelters after being picked up by AC don't stand a chance. No ID, no leads, just another vagabond. ID'ing your dog, whether by microchip, tattoo, or by collar tags (which should be attached to a snug, not tight, collar), can greatly help reduce the chances that your pet ends up unnoticed ion death row. Collars are not 100% reliable, as they can slip off, microchipping has shown a small incidence in tumors, and tattoos may often be missed - but any ID is better than none in the overflowing shelter system. Ask your local vet about ID'ing your dog and the cost. ------------------- Training -------------------- Though many people use trainers like myself, the need for people like me would be greatly lessened if manners were instilled at a young age. Dogs aren't human - don't coddle them; you're bound to raise a naughty brat. If you get a dog, research training methods, observe friends who have well trained dogs to see how they interact, and be ready to learn and devote a good amount of time to training your friend. My favorite book for learning about canines inside and out is **If Dogs Could Talk** by Vilmos Csányi. Peruse the comments for others must-read doggy books. In the end, you are responsible for how your dogs behaves - bad habits are acquired from inattentive and unengaging owners. -------------- Breeding? -------------- Thinking of breeding? It can be perfect, or it can be disastrous. Read up on the pros and cons at **http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeding.html**, with a real-world, in depth look at canine reproduction. It is not for the faint of heart - while it can be rewarding, it is by no means cheap or without its hazards. ----------------- Am I fit for a DOG? --------------- If you must ask, chances are you are not a good candidate to own a dog at this point in time. To have a well-balanced, responsive, socialized, and well-trained dog, you must put in A TON of effort, which may depending on how fast your dog responds to all this and his independence level. A person who works full-time with little free time to spend is NOT fit to try and raise a puppy - too much time, energy, and devotion. Volunteer at a shelter until life settles down, then consider it. Never owned a dog? Research the breed(s) you are interested in beforehand. Many a pooch is abandoned out front of the local ASPCA due to owners not knowing a damn thing about the breed they were taking on. Can you handle the dog? Are you a first-time owner? What size house do you live in, and how large is your backyard? What are yours' and the breeds' energy level? These are all things you need to consider. If considering buying from a breeder, ask about health certifications / scores such as PennHipp / OFA/ CERF and other hereditary disease testing. ----------------- Common Courtesy, IRL ---------------- A.) Pick up after your dog - no one likes shoe squishies. B.) Most trainers and enthusiasts will agree with me on this - FLEXI-LEADS ARE BAD!!! No control over your dog... Just consider it. Please keep a leash on your pal. C.) If you spy an approaching fellow dogwalker, please be courteous and move to the opposite end of the street. You never can predict a strange dog's reaction; better safe than sorry. D.) IF YOUR DOG IS AGGRESSIVE, place a marker on them. Vests with "warning" printed on the sides, a muzzle, a red ribbon on the leash, and warning those who get too close. Muzzles are a must in areas highly populated with children - even if your dog only dislikes other dogs, a human limb in the middle of two fighting dogs could cause a lawsuit. Put appropriate warning signs on fences and doors. E.) If your dog does not like others, avoid areas that get a lot of canine traffic. Walk your dog at dusk, or early morning, and be mindful of others - move to avoid others who are walking their dog. F.) If you suspect your dog is sick, the only public place you should take your dog is to the vet. Many diseases are easily spread. ------------------- The Unstoppable Escape Artist -------------------- For those who have tried it all, my suggestion is a run with a roof or a Coyote Roller, available online. NEVER tie or stake a dog out - your dog may strangle itself. You can also try stimulating your dog by hiding treats or giving them a Kong ball filled with treats - keep him occupied! more