Everything You Need to Know about Dogs and Puppies
What You Need to Know about Dogs and Puppies
Whether you already have a dog or puppy, plan on getting one, or, if your dog is about to give birth to pups, read along to learn everything you need to know. Being a pet-owner is a very big responsibility and it’s good to know what’s required before diving in – and that’s what Alicia’s Online is for. Dog accessories and training how they interact with objects and the pets around them, becomes something that needs to be looked into.
When you begin travelling, for example, you need to make sure the cabin, or hotel rooms, are pet friendly. It wouldn’t be good to all of a sudden not have nearly enough time to spend time with them, to feed them the wrong food, or even to not know how to train them! That’s why this page, and all our articles, have been made. To help pet-owners avoid such concerns.
Types of Training and How It’s Done
Depending on the breed of the dog and your purpose of getting a dog, there are multiple types of training available. There’s training to help teach your dog swimming and tricks, or training for protection and more serious manners. If you’re looking for a house-dog you may want to get one of the easiest dogs to train and one of the most trainable dogs.
Now the ten most trainable dog breeds go as follow: A Border Collie, a Standard Poodle, the German Shepherd, a Golden Retriever, the Doberman Pinscher, a Shetland Sheepdog, a Labrador Retriever, an Australian Shepherd, the Border Terrier, and finally the Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Regarding the top ten most trainable dogs here’s why they’re considered to be the most trainable dog-breeds.
The Border Collie – as a breed itself, this dog must have work! Without working it’ll become quite vicious with a lot of energy!
The Standard Poodle – these dogs are very intelligent! Not only that, they are very cooperative with their owner which makes it a very easy dog breed to train.
German Shepherd – Another dog breed known for it’s intelligence! The German shepherd is a very loyal dog, so loyal that they will risk their life for their owner (their hostile loyalty is why they are known to work with the police force).
Golden Retriever – The Golden Retriever is not only looks! This breed is intelligent as well (not as much as the others though) and is good-hearted. They can be considered more of a “giver”.
Doberman Pinscher – Another breed here that is popular because of the work he does with the police force! He’s intelligent to the point where he can comprehend the training it’s received and absorb it with ease. The Doberman Pinscher must be trained from the start though, keep that in mind.
Shetland Sheepdog – A smart, outgoing, and willing herding dog. He needs a job to fulfill though so be sure to keep this dog busy!
Labrador Retriever – The Labrador Retriever is one of the main service dogs used. They’re willing to cooperate with their owners, and are quite intelligent.
Australian Shepherd – Another herding dog here, this one has similar qualities as the other breeds. Really smart and likes to please others. They like to stay busy and should be kept busy with all that energy they have!
Border Terrier – This breed is one of the more complicated dogs to train but if done right it’s not that hard. He’s a swift learner and obedient as well.
Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever – Another very highly energetic dog breed. Very friendly, loving, caring, and has all the qualities that make it a perfect family dog that’s also easy to train!
Two Common Types of Dog Training
Protection Dog Training – How it’s Done
If you plan on getting a dog breed for protection, you should definitely look into “protection dog training”. If you personally don’t believe you can teach your dog protection training then there are classes/courses to take them to. There are many benefits to protection dog training that will help in many categories.
For example, if you plan on taking your dog to a protection dog training course then his self-confidence will go up! If your dog has low confidence then this type of training may be more difficult to go through but will help more!
Another benefit is it’s physical activity, after training your dog you will notice how much more active he is. Being more active will lead to him having a healthier and happier lifestyle!
More benefits to know of from Protection Dog Training aren’t benefits for the dog. They’re actually benefits you’ll receive yourself! An example would be how you’ll begin to understand your dog better. You’ll also begin to feel more protected and comfortable with him around as he will make sure no harm comes your way!
Aggressive Dog Training – How it’s Done
There are multiple reasons a dog may be aggressive and it’s good to understand why before treating it. The breed, though may have some correlation with the aggression of a dog, isn’t the main reason (though the bigger and more powerful the dog, the more damage it can cause). To understand dog aggression we will look into two things related with it: fear, and authority.
A dog that lacks physical activity will have a lot of excess energy (or a dog meant to be kept busy but hasn’t been – referencing to earlier in this article). If you see your dog not doing much but very energetic, play with him/her or take them on a jog. Get that energy out and it may solve the issue. If the dog is fearful that may relate to their self-confidence (Protection Dog Training may help with that). A fearful dog will be aggressive to stay protected, help them get over their fears if needed.
Another cause of aggression in dogs is authority. Dogs instinctually want to know who the leader of the pack is. They either thrive to be the leader and take over that role or they want to know how to follow instructions of the “Alpha dog”. To settle this issue, gain/earn your dog’s respect, and loyalty.
If you are too busy or can’t do this, other options are Aggressive Dog Training. There is most likely courses near you to help rid the aggression from your dog.
Understanding a Dog’s Mindset
Before getting a dog it’d be a good idea to understand two common myths/activities of a dog. You may have found yourself searching “why do dogs hate cats” or “why do dogs lick their paws” and that’s what we’ll be discussing.
So Why do Dogs Hate Cats?
In nature they don’t mix. They’re meant to be in a neutral state, not enemies nor are they friends or acquaintances. They both have different personalities which is the main cause of tension between the two. If you were to have both under the same roof, do expect some aggressive behavior with the two of them. Just understand that the cause of their hostility is because of their behavior and personality not the breed or other factors.
Why do Dogs Lick Their Paws?
No it’s nothing bad or serious (to an extent) if you see this happening so before we get into it, there’s no need to worry. When a dog licks its paws it’s just a grooming habit they have to clean their self. Though that isn’t always the case. Sometimes if it’s something they do excessively the cause of this would most commonly be: Stress, a way to cope with boredom, or irritation. Sometimes all three factors may play a role leading it to be something simple to deal with or complicated depending on the circumstance.
What to Expect in a Puppy’s Sleeping Behavior
Three questions about a puppy’s sleeping behavior are: “Do puppies sleep a lot”, “how long do puppies sleep”, and “how much do puppies sleep”. Answers to these questions will vary. How much a puppy sleeps will have to do with their age as well. As a human baby sleeps a lot, so will a puppy. A newborn pup will spend almost their whole day sleeping. Expect a puppy to sleep from 15-21 hours a day and the rest of the time being nursed from their mother! Yes that seems like a lot but it’s how it works and it’s what’ll allow them to grow into an energetic and big dog. An issue that may come from this is (if you like sleeping alone) is you don’t know where they will sleep! A good fix for such an issue is a sleeping bag for your dog
What Can Dogs Eat?
When owning a dog you must feed it often and well. However, there are things your dog can and can’t eat. There are certain fruits a dog can eat and certain vegetables a dog can eat as well as meats, grains, and so on. So “can dogs eat blueberries” “can dogs eat pineapple” “can dogs eat celery”? We’re about to find out now!
First off, yes dogs can eat blueberries, yes dogs can eat pineapples, and yes your dog can eat celery. That’s not all though! You can’t just give your dog an unlimited supply of these fruits or vegetables and expect it all to be fine. For example, as we look into celery, dogs are able to eat it but their are things recommended to do before feeding it to them. It’s best to remove the strings so it doesn’t cause any harm to them. There’s also many ways to incorporate their meals with medication the dog takes such as aspirin and other prescriptions. Doing so is like “killing two birds with one stone” and you wont get much resistance from your dog.
If we look into your dog eating pineapples then everything is fine however, a pineapple is high in sugar so feed it to your dog in moderation.
A longer list of what dogs can eat (and how to feed it to them safely):
- Blueberries
- Celery (without the strings recommended)
- Pineapples (in moderation)
- Mangos (not too much and not the seeds)
- Coconuts as a chew toy but don’t allow for the hairs to be swallowed or the shell
- Rice depending on the circumstance
- Cranberries but consult a veterinarian first
- Cauliflower in moderation (can make your dog gassy)
- Shrimp if it’s cooked and in small amounts
- Spinach but not too much
- Peas yes but it’s best to get meat-based protein (not the best option)
- Lettuce of course! No worries with lettuce at all
- Olives preferably pitted especially for small dogs and in consideration (high salt content)
You can feed them their dog food in their own personal dog bowl! Dog bowls made with stainless steel are also easy to clean and can be personalized if you’re looking for gift ideas.
Dogs Perfect for Busy Pet-Owners – Low Maintenance Dogs
If you’ve been very busy recently or expect to be busy in the near future yet still want a pet, you may want to look into low maintenance dogs. The reason some dogs are more low maintenance than others are because of the length of their hair, their nature, etc. Miniature dogs and puppies usually are not in your best interest if you’re looking for a dog that’s low maintenance.
The top low maintenance dogs are:
Short Haired Chihuahua’s – Doesn’t require much grooming and the size also require less time to groom
Australian Cattle Dog’s – Requires baths and grooming occasionally only. A naturally healthy dog requires not too many trips to a vet.
Ibizan Hound – Same as the Australian Cattle dog, it won’t require many trips to a vet and is low maintenance naturally.
Labrador retriever – The only real thing required for a labrador retriever would be to check their ears (as you should do with every dog) so they stay infection free. The rest such as grooming and vet visits are usually kept to a minimum
Smooth Coated Dachshund – Easy to care for but issues may occur as they grow older if their back develops issues
Russell Terrier – Requires moderate care, and a little more vet visits. The main time consuming thing will be to strip their coat (if rough or broken).
Toy Fox Terrier – As easy to care for as it is to care for a cat! One of the most low maintenance dogs there is.
What Else do Dogs Get That I Should Know Of?
Are you concerned about your dog getting a period? If you found yourself searching “do dogs get periods?” Here’s your answer. It depends on the circumstance. If your dog is unspayed it will have a period, if not then it shouldn’t. However, if a female dog is under heat, she may begin to bleed from the vulva.
Ever hear a hiccup from your dog and not know if it was something serious? In most cases don’t be worried but that could’ve answered your question: do dogs get hiccups? A dog may hiccup because of swallowing air as they eat or drink. In other cases, dogs can get hiccups that will help them relieve their stomach from any irritation or gas.
Lastly, you may have wondered do dogs get headaches? Well to be honest, we can never ask the dog and get a response however their are ways to assume they do. Considering dogs can experience head pain, we can believe that it’s a possibility for them to get headaches as well.Keep your dog hydrated, try your best to keep their head safe, and you shouldn’t need to worry about their heads hurting!
In conclusion, a lot comes into the role of being a pet-owner. Owning a pet is similar to being a parent and it comes with many responsibilities. It will possibly take training, vet visits, consideration of their diet, and more. Though it may seem like a lot of work, the reward of having a passionate, caring, protective companion is worth it!