What do you think about this
http://www.cap4pets.org/food4thought4b.h...
Answers:
I have seen that before and it is so true. I volunteer for a rescue and I can not tell you how many emails we get on a daily basis where families want to rehome their dog that "they love oh so much and this is the hardest thing they have to do". We get the same reasons all the time.
We are having a baby
We are moving
We just got a puppy and our 6 year old dog does not like him/her
We just got new carpet and the puppy is peeing all over the house
I could go on forever. While there are some families out there that really have valid reasons for rehoming, most just do not want to continue the responsibility for caring for the dog.
i think it is rediculous
That is really sad, and I didn't need to read it. Thanks for depressing me.
Very few things actually bring tears to my eyes, and that story did it.thanks, a lot.
At least my dog figured out I had tears and came to give me a kiss!
I love it! It made me cry.
People need to realize that animals are not disposable and that hit it spot on.
That is so sad.
Dioxippus- You're a troll. Go play in traffic.
That needs to be seen by pet owners everywhere! :o(
Why do people do this?!?
I cried when i walked throught the dog shelter. The people who dump those sweet little buddies deserve a penalty to not be allowed ownership of any animal again.
I read this before it is so sad
I definitely cried. A lot, I'm still trying to calm down. So, very sad, and I wish more people would get a clue...
(Tear). That is so sad!! Anyone who is reading my answer, please answer my question: can I volunteer at a shelter while only 13? After reading this, I want to do anything and everything I can to help. OMG!! It's saddest to see it from the dog's point of view!! Imma go hug my dog now. (Another tear)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
For breeders only please. How do you feed your brood BlTCH?
How do you feed your BlTCH from the first signs of heat through weaning of the puppies? Do you add supplements? What food do you feed? Any other details will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Answers:
I never feed my dam's anything special until I knew they were pregnant. If your feeding the highest quality food in the first place then the dam should be in tip top shape anyway. I never added any supplements either unless the vet instructed me too. Too much of one thing is not good for the dam either.
Not until she was pregnant did I incresed the amount of food I gave her and then it was what ever she could eat. You never want an overweight dam to get pregnant in the first place, not good for her or the pups.
I used to feed my Dogs Nutro High performace dog food until I found Canidae. Back then Nutro was one of the highest quality food around but no longer.
You just feed her the regular amount that you are already fedding her until the last 2 Weeks of pregnancy then you need to double her food. Be sure that you are feeding her high quality food also. Not just some cheap stuff. Hope this helped you!
Why do you capitalize that word? We all know it isn't a curse word when used in that respect.
The easiest way is to switch from reg food to puppy food at about 1 month pregnant. No supplements are generally needed but I do add Vit C and coat oil to all my dogs food. There are many top food, I use Pro Plan..
I have recently read that a higher protein diet early on in pregnancy is in fact bad for the ***** also too many supplements can be toxic. As stated if the ***** is in good shape to begin with I gradually increase feeding the same food I normally do and by the half way point feed all she wants until well after weaning. I don't have to worry about weight issues because she normally runs on the thin side.
i feed all my dogs on the B.A.R.F diet. my girl gets the same diet through her heat and when shes bred she gets extra eggs, shells, oils, and meat. only a little extra not much i dont want her to gain a large amount of weight during pregnancy. it can increase the risks of the birth going wrong later. after her pups are born i will buy puppy milk replacer (powdered) and sprinkle it on her food. just enough to coat it... thats it. shes a healthy dog and at optimum health before i breed her so i dont have to do much extra for her.
PIP its capitalized because otherwise it gets sensored and lokks lik this *****
Thank you,
Answers:
I never feed my dam's anything special until I knew they were pregnant. If your feeding the highest quality food in the first place then the dam should be in tip top shape anyway. I never added any supplements either unless the vet instructed me too. Too much of one thing is not good for the dam either.
Not until she was pregnant did I incresed the amount of food I gave her and then it was what ever she could eat. You never want an overweight dam to get pregnant in the first place, not good for her or the pups.
I used to feed my Dogs Nutro High performace dog food until I found Canidae. Back then Nutro was one of the highest quality food around but no longer.
You just feed her the regular amount that you are already fedding her until the last 2 Weeks of pregnancy then you need to double her food. Be sure that you are feeding her high quality food also. Not just some cheap stuff. Hope this helped you!
Why do you capitalize that word? We all know it isn't a curse word when used in that respect.
The easiest way is to switch from reg food to puppy food at about 1 month pregnant. No supplements are generally needed but I do add Vit C and coat oil to all my dogs food. There are many top food, I use Pro Plan..
I have recently read that a higher protein diet early on in pregnancy is in fact bad for the ***** also too many supplements can be toxic. As stated if the ***** is in good shape to begin with I gradually increase feeding the same food I normally do and by the half way point feed all she wants until well after weaning. I don't have to worry about weight issues because she normally runs on the thin side.
i feed all my dogs on the B.A.R.F diet. my girl gets the same diet through her heat and when shes bred she gets extra eggs, shells, oils, and meat. only a little extra not much i dont want her to gain a large amount of weight during pregnancy. it can increase the risks of the birth going wrong later. after her pups are born i will buy puppy milk replacer (powdered) and sprinkle it on her food. just enough to coat it... thats it. shes a healthy dog and at optimum health before i breed her so i dont have to do much extra for her.
PIP its capitalized because otherwise it gets sensored and lokks lik this *****
For border terrier owners ONLY...is it better to have two?
I have a super 5-month-old border terrier who I absolutely adore, and I've become completely addicted to the breed. We have a very close bond but I know that he really, really enjoys other dogs when playing at the park. It seems that many border terrier owners have more than one. This is something that I'm considering, but I would like to know from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of the breed whether this is a good or bad idea?
Answers:
Border terriers are definitely great dogs. My family has owned three total. If you work a lot than I would suggest getting another dog, but not quite yet, you want to make sure the pup is very well bonded to you (often times if you get two dogs around the same time, especially if they are puppies they bond together instead of with you). If you do get another dog, you definitely could get a border. One of the ones we had grew up with our German bred dog for three years before we got a second one. We ended up getting the second one just because the breed is so amazing, not exactly for the border we already had.
It really depends upon how much you have to leave him and how much time you get to socialize him with other dogs. I agree with you...they are definitely one of the best breeds around!
Good luck...I know I didn't give you a clear cut answer, but it really does depend on your situation. If you want to get another one, go for it once your pup is a little more mature and even more bonded to you! Good luck! :)
Answers:
Border terriers are definitely great dogs. My family has owned three total. If you work a lot than I would suggest getting another dog, but not quite yet, you want to make sure the pup is very well bonded to you (often times if you get two dogs around the same time, especially if they are puppies they bond together instead of with you). If you do get another dog, you definitely could get a border. One of the ones we had grew up with our German bred dog for three years before we got a second one. We ended up getting the second one just because the breed is so amazing, not exactly for the border we already had.
It really depends upon how much you have to leave him and how much time you get to socialize him with other dogs. I agree with you...they are definitely one of the best breeds around!
Good luck...I know I didn't give you a clear cut answer, but it really does depend on your situation. If you want to get another one, go for it once your pup is a little more mature and even more bonded to you! Good luck! :)
For anyone who works as a vet tech please help is hydrocortisone 1% cream safe for a 7 month old puppy?
she has raised red bumps on her tummy it's like a rash. is it safe to use. thank you.
Answers:
It won't hurt her, but the bumps could be a staph infection, so get it checked out at her vet soon. If she gets recurrent skin infections, she could have a food allergy (among other things).
Added: Actually, staph infections often have a collarette of dead skin around each lesion. Regardless of the appearance of the rash, especially without seeing the animal, it is impossible to say what caused it. If it clears up and does not recur, no worries. However, if it does not go away, or recurs, get it checked out.
Its not safe as she can lick it off, not good.
Make an appt. with the vet in the morning to find out what is causing the bumps. It could be many things, and trying to treat it at home can make it worse, and make it harder to diagnose and treat when you finally go to the vet.
as long as you keep her from licking her tummy, and the will be hard to do.
You should bring her to the vet first to find out if it really is a rash.
Answers:
It won't hurt her, but the bumps could be a staph infection, so get it checked out at her vet soon. If she gets recurrent skin infections, she could have a food allergy (among other things).
Added: Actually, staph infections often have a collarette of dead skin around each lesion. Regardless of the appearance of the rash, especially without seeing the animal, it is impossible to say what caused it. If it clears up and does not recur, no worries. However, if it does not go away, or recurs, get it checked out.
Its not safe as she can lick it off, not good.
Make an appt. with the vet in the morning to find out what is causing the bumps. It could be many things, and trying to treat it at home can make it worse, and make it harder to diagnose and treat when you finally go to the vet.
as long as you keep her from licking her tummy, and the will be hard to do.
You should bring her to the vet first to find out if it really is a rash.
Friday, July 31, 2009
For any religious and spiritual animal lovers?
My Papillon, Louie, has been sick for the past 4 days and the symptoms that he has been demonstrating are characteristic of either parasites or Parvo. I know it sounds crazy but I'm praying that it's just parasites.
He's going to the vet this morning, please pray for him.
Answers:
I know how it feels when your pet is ill and you hope it is nothing serious. A pet is like part of the family to you and it gives you great joy and companionship to have around. I hope and pray that your dog will get better and it is nothing to serious. I just went through something similar with my cat last year and now what it is like. think good thoughts for your dog and I will to.
It doesn't sound crazy at all. Our animals become part of our families. I would be more than happy to pray for him. Parvo is one of the worst viruses for a dog. If it has a strong smell and he is vomiting and has diareah, then it could be. This smell is unlike any other. Like if you have ever smelled something dead, you KNOW what it is without a doubt. It has a VERY distinct smell to it. I will keep Louie in my prayers. God Bless.
Louie seems to be a very dear friend to you. Whatever needs to be done will be done thanks to a so sensitive owner like you.
I wish best of luck.
why wait til 2morow,im sure parvo would of killed him by now,plus that can pass on to other animals if they havent had their injections...il pray for your sweet louie,that he feels better asap..dont wait to see vets as our dear pets cant talk and they dont complain,im sure your a wonderful owner,big hug for you too.
How old is your pup? Was it exposed to any other dog with parvo? I was a vet tech for many years. Parvo is a terrible disease, but it is also a disease that mainly attacks puppies.
I don't want to put any more fear in you, or upset you any more than I am certain you are, but antifreeze poisoning presents much like parvo - lethargy, diarrhea, lack of appetite, etc. This is much more common than parvo. Do you have any neighbors that are mad at your dog?
I am keeping you in my thoughts today. I love animals, and hate to hear of anyone going through something like this.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Good luck and keep us posted.
Is he vaccinated against parvo? I can tell you that after 4 days of illness most dogs with parvo are near death. If he isn't that bad, it is probably something else.
Wishing you both all the best!!
He's going to the vet this morning, please pray for him.
Answers:
I know how it feels when your pet is ill and you hope it is nothing serious. A pet is like part of the family to you and it gives you great joy and companionship to have around. I hope and pray that your dog will get better and it is nothing to serious. I just went through something similar with my cat last year and now what it is like. think good thoughts for your dog and I will to.
It doesn't sound crazy at all. Our animals become part of our families. I would be more than happy to pray for him. Parvo is one of the worst viruses for a dog. If it has a strong smell and he is vomiting and has diareah, then it could be. This smell is unlike any other. Like if you have ever smelled something dead, you KNOW what it is without a doubt. It has a VERY distinct smell to it. I will keep Louie in my prayers. God Bless.
Louie seems to be a very dear friend to you. Whatever needs to be done will be done thanks to a so sensitive owner like you.
I wish best of luck.
why wait til 2morow,im sure parvo would of killed him by now,plus that can pass on to other animals if they havent had their injections...il pray for your sweet louie,that he feels better asap..dont wait to see vets as our dear pets cant talk and they dont complain,im sure your a wonderful owner,big hug for you too.
How old is your pup? Was it exposed to any other dog with parvo? I was a vet tech for many years. Parvo is a terrible disease, but it is also a disease that mainly attacks puppies.
I don't want to put any more fear in you, or upset you any more than I am certain you are, but antifreeze poisoning presents much like parvo - lethargy, diarrhea, lack of appetite, etc. This is much more common than parvo. Do you have any neighbors that are mad at your dog?
I am keeping you in my thoughts today. I love animals, and hate to hear of anyone going through something like this.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Good luck and keep us posted.
Is he vaccinated against parvo? I can tell you that after 4 days of illness most dogs with parvo are near death. If he isn't that bad, it is probably something else.
Wishing you both all the best!!
For all the people that knows about dogs. its an emergency please.?
ok i have a black 6 month old lab. and one day i found a big gaping hole on his left ear. i thought it was just a scratch so i js a scratch so i put some alcohol on it. then the next day i see the same gaping hole with blood oozing at his right ear. so i then i started getting worried. but i decided to see what happens the next day. the next day i see the flesh on his right ear dug up more. then one of my friends told there might be bugs that eat on flesh. is this true? what is causing this. please hes like my little brother
Answers:
GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GET THE DOG TO THE VET!!!
You should be afraid! The poor thing is hurt, and you aren't helping him!!
VET!!NOW!!
Someone get this please!!
I just can't repeat it, yet again.
don't wait any longer. take him to a vet. even if it's not bugs it could be an infection or something serious
Never put alcohol on an open, bleeding wound. Can you imagine just how badly that hurt your dog? Your dog could have a warble, or other insect infestation, and MUST go to a vet.
yes it is an emergency!! get that dog to the vet now--like you should have when you first noticed it
Fleshy gaping hole=vet!!
He is probably the one that is making it worse. And who knows what caused it or what type of infection is going on. If you let it get infected enough maggots might get to it and make it worse. The sooner you take him to the vet the better off you and he will be.
Ok, my Border Collie had the same thing going on with his leg. I don't think it is a bug. She gave me a spray on solution for him. You need to get him to the vet IMMEDIATELY! This may not be the same thing but it sounds like it. It may get worse and you need to get him some help.
omg! it is a good guess that there is a flesh eating bug on your dog. but it also could be a very bad infection. you need to take the dog to the vet RIGHT NOW! if there is a bug or a really bad infection in can go further into the head and do much more serious damage. If you leave things alone it will get worse no matter what. your dog needs medical help right away.
he sounds like he needs to be taken to a vet, they might need to take a skin graph and run some tests on it, please call your vet and make a appointment before it gets worse
If could be an infection, or a parasite who does in fact eat the flesh. Maggots is a possiblity.
Please; do not let this wait any longer. The wound can become severely infected, and could potentially cause the dog to go deaf. Call a real vet (not a Yahoo one) and ask what you should do, then please; take it either to a veternarian clinic or animal hospital. This is something that shouldn't be left alone.
If I knew your area, I could give you some numbers to call. Look online or in the phone books for some numbers.
Good luck with your dog, and let us know what happens. =)
he might have scratched it into a hole down to the flesh. before anything, take him to a vet so u can at least know wut's wrong first be4 u try to treat it. i'm soo sorry to hear this. good luck, i hope he'll be ok.
He could be being attacked by flies or meat-eating bees, or even rats. Without more information, it's difficult to tell. Or he could be doing the damage himself by energetically scratching at his ears because he has ear infections.
We suggest getting your dog checked by a vet to see if he has ear infections, or if there is inidcation of "biting", and to get his ears properly cared for.
It's also a good idea to keep the dog indoors until his ears are healed.
Go to the vet. This could be a hematoma but it could easily get infected and sounds like it needs to be treated. Dogs will scratch any irritation on their ears making the problem worse. If the flesh is falling off it is most definately a serios infection under the skin. At this point I think it needs to be checked out.
Defintely have him checked out. He could have severly hurt himself when you weren't looking and it's progressing as he picks at it or he could have allergies. I know every summer my dog gets really bad alergies and he goes at his ears till he looses all the hair in that area and he bleeds frantically. The symptoms you described can lead to many presumptions including that which your friend gave you however, only a licensed veterenarian can truely diagnose your dog and help him. I urge you to have him checked. It could be small, it could be a reaccuring issue you need to keep an eye on in the future or a bad infection.
Good Luck
yes all dogs have a bug on there skin called a mite and there might be to many mites on its body which is a skin diease called demodex
good grief go to the vet!
OH FOR GOD SAKE, HELLO, GO TO THE VET, WHY ARE YOU WAITING SOOOOOOOOO LONG.
VET NURSE
GO STRAIGHT TO THE VET! Your dog could have a serious problem, and yes it could be a flesh-eating parasite such as maggots or a warble! You should have taken him to the ermegency vet as soon as you saw an open wound on him. And you should never put alcohol on an open wound, it burns like crazy. Go! Go right now to your vet and see what is up with your dog!
There is only ONE simple answer you have said yourself this is an emergency and an emergency should be taken care of by the vet.
It should not have been left to go this far so go now.
It could be a number of things. A common problem are ear mites and he is scratching it because they itch really bad. Is he around other dogs? It could be rough housing or fighting? If it's mites he needs medicine to kill the bugs and mites are contagious. It could spread to other pets. If it is a wound he may need medicine anyway. It's better to find out early so whatever his cause is so it doesn't worsen physically and financially. If money is a problem often the local human society has a clinic that offers vet services at reduced cost. Often times you can call a vet and talk to a vet tech or get questions to the vet. They will ask more specific questions and often tell you if it sound serious enough to come in or even if he needs to come in urgently or offer a remedy for something minor. They can also tell you if it's a bad season for a particular parasite because often times they will have seen a number of the same kind of case from other pet owners. If his ears smell yeasty it could be a yeast infection which can cause itching and pain. This is also very common with particular breeds. One of mine get this from time to time. It's also important because you don't want whatever the problem is to effect his hearing done the road so to speak. I hope this helps.
Of course it's an emergency. Take him to the vet!
This could be caused by fly bites. Check with your vet. If it is, then there is cream/paste/lotion that can be applied to help heal the wounds and prevent future bites.
Get the dog to the damn vet, would ya? What are you thinking?
-MM
You say Emergency. I say Take him to the vet. Don't piss around on here. He can get a serious infection if not properly treated. In the time it took you to type your question and wait for answers you could have already called the vet and made an appointment or been on your way to the vet office. Sheesh....
Well if you had a gaping wound what would you do? You did more harm than good with the alcohol. Not to be mean but that was dumb.
Your little brother needs medical attention right now. Yes fly's can lay eggs in the cut and then they become maggots, they will feed on the dogs flesh! Now here is a credit card company that will if you qualify allow your to get medical treatment for your puppy.
Care Credit
1-800-365-8295. I hope your of age other else this will not help you one bit. I suggest your find the money tonight to get the dog to the vets right now. your puppy can lose his ear flap and he can be sever pain and can be infected already!
You have already waited too long. Don't make that mistake any longer. Get the pup to the vets.
If he has a cut that's infected, flys will be attracted to it and they will lay eggs. Maggots will hatch and start eating the flesh. I've seen a dog eaten by maggots...it's not a pretty sight. If outside a lot, keep him inside and make sure you make a visit to your vet so he can diagnose the problem and fix it.
Answers:
GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GET THE DOG TO THE VET!!!
You should be afraid! The poor thing is hurt, and you aren't helping him!!
VET!!NOW!!
Someone get this please!!
I just can't repeat it, yet again.
don't wait any longer. take him to a vet. even if it's not bugs it could be an infection or something serious
Never put alcohol on an open, bleeding wound. Can you imagine just how badly that hurt your dog? Your dog could have a warble, or other insect infestation, and MUST go to a vet.
yes it is an emergency!! get that dog to the vet now--like you should have when you first noticed it
Fleshy gaping hole=vet!!
He is probably the one that is making it worse. And who knows what caused it or what type of infection is going on. If you let it get infected enough maggots might get to it and make it worse. The sooner you take him to the vet the better off you and he will be.
Ok, my Border Collie had the same thing going on with his leg. I don't think it is a bug. She gave me a spray on solution for him. You need to get him to the vet IMMEDIATELY! This may not be the same thing but it sounds like it. It may get worse and you need to get him some help.
omg! it is a good guess that there is a flesh eating bug on your dog. but it also could be a very bad infection. you need to take the dog to the vet RIGHT NOW! if there is a bug or a really bad infection in can go further into the head and do much more serious damage. If you leave things alone it will get worse no matter what. your dog needs medical help right away.
he sounds like he needs to be taken to a vet, they might need to take a skin graph and run some tests on it, please call your vet and make a appointment before it gets worse
If could be an infection, or a parasite who does in fact eat the flesh. Maggots is a possiblity.
Please; do not let this wait any longer. The wound can become severely infected, and could potentially cause the dog to go deaf. Call a real vet (not a Yahoo one) and ask what you should do, then please; take it either to a veternarian clinic or animal hospital. This is something that shouldn't be left alone.
If I knew your area, I could give you some numbers to call. Look online or in the phone books for some numbers.
Good luck with your dog, and let us know what happens. =)
he might have scratched it into a hole down to the flesh. before anything, take him to a vet so u can at least know wut's wrong first be4 u try to treat it. i'm soo sorry to hear this. good luck, i hope he'll be ok.
He could be being attacked by flies or meat-eating bees, or even rats. Without more information, it's difficult to tell. Or he could be doing the damage himself by energetically scratching at his ears because he has ear infections.
We suggest getting your dog checked by a vet to see if he has ear infections, or if there is inidcation of "biting", and to get his ears properly cared for.
It's also a good idea to keep the dog indoors until his ears are healed.
Go to the vet. This could be a hematoma but it could easily get infected and sounds like it needs to be treated. Dogs will scratch any irritation on their ears making the problem worse. If the flesh is falling off it is most definately a serios infection under the skin. At this point I think it needs to be checked out.
Defintely have him checked out. He could have severly hurt himself when you weren't looking and it's progressing as he picks at it or he could have allergies. I know every summer my dog gets really bad alergies and he goes at his ears till he looses all the hair in that area and he bleeds frantically. The symptoms you described can lead to many presumptions including that which your friend gave you however, only a licensed veterenarian can truely diagnose your dog and help him. I urge you to have him checked. It could be small, it could be a reaccuring issue you need to keep an eye on in the future or a bad infection.
Good Luck
yes all dogs have a bug on there skin called a mite and there might be to many mites on its body which is a skin diease called demodex
good grief go to the vet!
OH FOR GOD SAKE, HELLO, GO TO THE VET, WHY ARE YOU WAITING SOOOOOOOOO LONG.
VET NURSE
GO STRAIGHT TO THE VET! Your dog could have a serious problem, and yes it could be a flesh-eating parasite such as maggots or a warble! You should have taken him to the ermegency vet as soon as you saw an open wound on him. And you should never put alcohol on an open wound, it burns like crazy. Go! Go right now to your vet and see what is up with your dog!
There is only ONE simple answer you have said yourself this is an emergency and an emergency should be taken care of by the vet.
It should not have been left to go this far so go now.
It could be a number of things. A common problem are ear mites and he is scratching it because they itch really bad. Is he around other dogs? It could be rough housing or fighting? If it's mites he needs medicine to kill the bugs and mites are contagious. It could spread to other pets. If it is a wound he may need medicine anyway. It's better to find out early so whatever his cause is so it doesn't worsen physically and financially. If money is a problem often the local human society has a clinic that offers vet services at reduced cost. Often times you can call a vet and talk to a vet tech or get questions to the vet. They will ask more specific questions and often tell you if it sound serious enough to come in or even if he needs to come in urgently or offer a remedy for something minor. They can also tell you if it's a bad season for a particular parasite because often times they will have seen a number of the same kind of case from other pet owners. If his ears smell yeasty it could be a yeast infection which can cause itching and pain. This is also very common with particular breeds. One of mine get this from time to time. It's also important because you don't want whatever the problem is to effect his hearing done the road so to speak. I hope this helps.
Of course it's an emergency. Take him to the vet!
This could be caused by fly bites. Check with your vet. If it is, then there is cream/paste/lotion that can be applied to help heal the wounds and prevent future bites.
Get the dog to the damn vet, would ya? What are you thinking?
-MM
You say Emergency. I say Take him to the vet. Don't piss around on here. He can get a serious infection if not properly treated. In the time it took you to type your question and wait for answers you could have already called the vet and made an appointment or been on your way to the vet office. Sheesh....
Well if you had a gaping wound what would you do? You did more harm than good with the alcohol. Not to be mean but that was dumb.
Your little brother needs medical attention right now. Yes fly's can lay eggs in the cut and then they become maggots, they will feed on the dogs flesh! Now here is a credit card company that will if you qualify allow your to get medical treatment for your puppy.
Care Credit
1-800-365-8295. I hope your of age other else this will not help you one bit. I suggest your find the money tonight to get the dog to the vets right now. your puppy can lose his ear flap and he can be sever pain and can be infected already!
You have already waited too long. Don't make that mistake any longer. Get the pup to the vets.
If he has a cut that's infected, flys will be attracted to it and they will lay eggs. Maggots will hatch and start eating the flesh. I've seen a dog eaten by maggots...it's not a pretty sight. If outside a lot, keep him inside and make sure you make a visit to your vet so he can diagnose the problem and fix it.
For all of you with Labradors?
I have recently moved to a house (from a flat) and my husband and I decided to finally get a dog. He is crazy for labs and we are getting black lab puppy in 5 days. My concern is can u train a labrador retreiver to be a watch dog? I've heard and read that you can't but I would like to hear your personal experience with this breed. My husband works in shifts so sometimes I stay alone in house at night. I'm not in a flat anymore so I would like to have a dog that will alarm the neighborhood if someone tries to break in.
Answers:
You can train any dog to be a watch dog, it will take a little more time with a Lab though. You don't really need a mean dog - you just need a loud dog. As long as he barks at anyone who comes to call you should be fine. A bugler will not want to go to a house where there is a dog making his presence known. Buglers need quite to get away with their theft.
Almost any dog will alarm you that someone is on there turf. Labs will do that. They will bark if it is a stranger. If it is someone they know they may only bark once or twice, then they will go get a toy to show the person.
Labs are great.
Make sure you take your puppy to puppy kindergarten for bonding, and check out this great puppy resource. It was a life saver with our puppy!
He wont be a good guard dog, but he will serve as a watch dog most likely.
Keep him trained, be loving, etc. Just treat him properly.
Most dogs will naturally bark a greeting when someone enters the home or knocks on the door, or just gets close enough. Encorage this, but teach him to stop it once he's acknowledged--reward him for it and he'll keep doing it.
Almost any dog will bark when someone comes over knocking on the door, labs too. If that is all you are looking for, you have made a good choice. If you need more, however, then you need to look at other breeds.
I have had two labs and now am getting a third next wk, an eight wk old puppy, My black lab I have now, by the way all have been females, they love people, when strangers come in she brings them the little cat toys in her mouth, I know that when push comes to shove, they will protect you, I have seen her when i feel uncomfortable in situations, react and sit right by me, I also had a disabled husband with M.S. and my yellow lab that has since passed on was very protective with him, she would sit by his wheelchair. I hear labs dont start fights, but they dont walk away, I always had female labs, i dont know about the males, but I think they are great companions, and loyal,
Def, yes! I have a choc Lab and he is def a great watchdog. He is also well obed trained and very social, a shy dog is not a good watchdog. There have been many Police dogs that were Labs and several Schutzhund titled ones. A Schutzhund titled dog has to do obed., protection and tracking so is a well rounded well trained dog. Never encourage a young pup to bark tho, it creates problems. In an interview with muggers and thieves they told the people that they avoid anyone walking a well trained large dog since they do not know if the dog is trained to bite. So take him to obed. school when young and when he is 10 mos or so train him to bark on command. The command doesn't have to be oral either you can use one you could use while walking the dog on leash such as an ear pinch, or tap on the head. Actually very few dogs will not bark at night esp if someone tries to break in. I've never owned one.
Personal Exp. yes you can train labs as watch dogs, mine doesn't bite or any thing but when some one she doesn't know even tries to go up our stairs( our house is on a second floor) she barks enough to wake the neighbors.
Yes actually you can. I have a black lab, shadow and when my grandfather was renovating his home, and had no real lock protection, he "borrowed" Shadow to watch him, and alert him, because he's deaf in one ear and if someone was to break in, he would be unable to hear it from the upstairs.
Shadow is a very sweet dog but he was great protection. Every noise he heard from outside he would get up, walk through the doggie door, and if he saw anything unusual, the whole neighborhood was awoken. Once their actually was an intruder. and Shadow was VERY helpful... need i say more?
Haha
Good luck...
yes, i owned a black lab(though she was half german sheperd) and she would always stop unknown people dead in their tracks until we showed up to assess the situation. Sometimes even after we told her they could step onto the property, she would refuse to grant them clearance! Although she was definately more "prejudiced" against men than women, we were never robbed while we had her!
She had no actual guard training given her at all!
Answers:
You can train any dog to be a watch dog, it will take a little more time with a Lab though. You don't really need a mean dog - you just need a loud dog. As long as he barks at anyone who comes to call you should be fine. A bugler will not want to go to a house where there is a dog making his presence known. Buglers need quite to get away with their theft.
Almost any dog will alarm you that someone is on there turf. Labs will do that. They will bark if it is a stranger. If it is someone they know they may only bark once or twice, then they will go get a toy to show the person.
Labs are great.
Make sure you take your puppy to puppy kindergarten for bonding, and check out this great puppy resource. It was a life saver with our puppy!
He wont be a good guard dog, but he will serve as a watch dog most likely.
Keep him trained, be loving, etc. Just treat him properly.
Most dogs will naturally bark a greeting when someone enters the home or knocks on the door, or just gets close enough. Encorage this, but teach him to stop it once he's acknowledged--reward him for it and he'll keep doing it.
Almost any dog will bark when someone comes over knocking on the door, labs too. If that is all you are looking for, you have made a good choice. If you need more, however, then you need to look at other breeds.
I have had two labs and now am getting a third next wk, an eight wk old puppy, My black lab I have now, by the way all have been females, they love people, when strangers come in she brings them the little cat toys in her mouth, I know that when push comes to shove, they will protect you, I have seen her when i feel uncomfortable in situations, react and sit right by me, I also had a disabled husband with M.S. and my yellow lab that has since passed on was very protective with him, she would sit by his wheelchair. I hear labs dont start fights, but they dont walk away, I always had female labs, i dont know about the males, but I think they are great companions, and loyal,
Def, yes! I have a choc Lab and he is def a great watchdog. He is also well obed trained and very social, a shy dog is not a good watchdog. There have been many Police dogs that were Labs and several Schutzhund titled ones. A Schutzhund titled dog has to do obed., protection and tracking so is a well rounded well trained dog. Never encourage a young pup to bark tho, it creates problems. In an interview with muggers and thieves they told the people that they avoid anyone walking a well trained large dog since they do not know if the dog is trained to bite. So take him to obed. school when young and when he is 10 mos or so train him to bark on command. The command doesn't have to be oral either you can use one you could use while walking the dog on leash such as an ear pinch, or tap on the head. Actually very few dogs will not bark at night esp if someone tries to break in. I've never owned one.
Personal Exp. yes you can train labs as watch dogs, mine doesn't bite or any thing but when some one she doesn't know even tries to go up our stairs( our house is on a second floor) she barks enough to wake the neighbors.
Yes actually you can. I have a black lab, shadow and when my grandfather was renovating his home, and had no real lock protection, he "borrowed" Shadow to watch him, and alert him, because he's deaf in one ear and if someone was to break in, he would be unable to hear it from the upstairs.
Shadow is a very sweet dog but he was great protection. Every noise he heard from outside he would get up, walk through the doggie door, and if he saw anything unusual, the whole neighborhood was awoken. Once their actually was an intruder. and Shadow was VERY helpful... need i say more?
Haha
Good luck...
yes, i owned a black lab(though she was half german sheperd) and she would always stop unknown people dead in their tracks until we showed up to assess the situation. Sometimes even after we told her they could step onto the property, she would refuse to grant them clearance! Although she was definately more "prejudiced" against men than women, we were never robbed while we had her!
She had no actual guard training given her at all!
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