Most of the time when you ask people how and why they chose a particular dog or breed, it turns out that it was just random choice. Maybe they saw a puppy in a pet store that was just too cute to pass up. Or maybe their kids have been begging them for a while about getting a dog and they finally decided to go get one. Or maybe the dog down the street had puppies and they are talked in to taking one. Even though these reasons can be great ways to bring a great dog into someone’s life, it can also spell disaster for both the people and the dog they brought home.
There is nothing better than coming home from a long day to a tail wagging, lovable dog who is excited to see you! But before you decide to bring one of these furry friends into your life, you need to understand they are a huge responsibility to take on! They are completely dependent on you for everything from food to exercise to training. They also don’t take the day off.
Many people don’t understand the requirements of care to keep a dog happy and healthy. They didn’t realize just how much exercise or training was needed to keep their dog healthy and well behaved. After a while they start to wonder why they even wanted to have a dog in the first place.
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Dog attacks each year cause serious injury and even death to many victims. An estimated 4.5 million people are bitten each year. Children and older people are the most common target of attacks. Over half of dog attacks involve children under 12, and those 70 and older make up 10% of the bites and 20% of those are fatally injured. Fatalities from dog attacks have risen over the years. Is the dogs owners to blame or can it be blamed on certain breeds of dogs? There is much argument over this.
Which dogs bite? Is it a certain breed and/or breeds that are the most dangerous? Is it the lack of training or poor training by the dogs owner? Aggressive dogs are often owned by irresponsible owners who provide inadequate training or, worse, teach the dog to be aggressive. Owners should not encourage aggressive behaviors such as playing tug-of-war. This encourages dominance aggression. Dogs not spayed or neutered tend to display more dominance behavior. Male dogs are more aggressive than female dogs.
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Yes, it was quite some time ago when you’ve noticed the changes – the white hair, the slow walk, the sloven, dry look. You didn’t notice it before, but now, you’re aware of what’s happening with your dog. And the more you look at him, the more you realize that he needs your care more than ever.
The truth is, older dogs need as much care as old people, but unlike humans, their aging depends on the size of their bodies. For instance, a Saint Bernard can be considered old as early as six years. Medium – sized ones take nine to eleven years, while the toy dogs show visible aging by the time they reach eleven years. But whatever their size, they will still experience the common symptoms of old age. Here are some of the practical ways to spot them.
Hearing Changes. You’ll notice that your dog will not respond to his name or other verbal commands as fast as he used to. Another possible indication an be sudden barks for no reason at all.
Changes in Urination and Housetraining Routine. When your dog is excessively thirsty or urinates uncontrollably, he may be showing signs of kidney problems or diabetes. Also, inappropriate urination can be a sign that your dog has a hormonal imbalance.
Changes in Eating Habits
An older dog is more likely to develop tooth and gum conditions. And because of sore gums or loose teeth, he may let food drop out of his mouth or even refuse to eat.
Breathing Problems
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DESCRIPTION
The Lhasa Apso is identifiable by its long coat that reaches all the way to the floor. The coat is heavy and double-coated, draping over the whole body and coming in the following colors: Gold, cream and honey (the most popular colors), however they also come in smoke, dark-grizzle, slate and a multi-color assortment of brown, white and black. The color of the Lhasa Apso can change as it grows and matures. Some have likened their appearance to a miniature version of the Old English sheepdog. The coat itself, has a hard. heavy texture and feel, without silkiness. The hair cascades over the body as well as the apple shaped head, finishing over its eyes. Lhasa Apsos have dark a dark beard and moustache, with a medium length muzzle, without squaring. The ears are feathered heavily and pendant in shape, whilst the eyes are deep set, dark brown in color and large (but not overly so). They have a longer body than they are tall, with strong loins and well developed thighs. Forequarters are straight and both forelegs and hind legs are covered with hair. They have cat-like feet with thick pads and a tail that is well feathered and carried in a screw like fashion over the back.
TEMPERAMENT
Their slightly ostentatious look, hides a hardy dog, full of character. The Lhasa Apso is an assertive and intelligent breed, with a friendly and lively disposition, displaying a lot of affection for its masters. They can be trained to a high obedience level, however unfortunately, due to their size, many owners neglect obedience training and do not reinforce their position as pack leaders, as a result this breed is susceptible to ´small dog syndrome.´ This can lead to a variety of unwanted and negative behaviors. Having said this, if this dog is made aware of its place in the ´family pack´ and owners display alpha dog traits, they should make wonderful little pets. When training a Lhasa Apso, motivational and positive reinforcement methods achieve the best results The Lhasa Apso is a vocal dog, with a keen sense of hearing and so can make a good watchdog.
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Dog dental care should be provided to your pet as dental diseases are prone to happen to your beloved animals if their teeth are left unattended. Likewise, if you are already providing such care to your pet but is still suspecting that it is already suffering from a particular teeth problem, then better go immediately to the veterinarian for dental check up.
One way of implementing dog dental care is by providing “safe” bones, those without sharp part to your dog. He will certainly love to chew on them and swallow them. Make them do this from time to time. It helps them develop much stronger set of teeth in a natural way.
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