Belgian Malinois

I met a Belgian Malinois the other day. Belgian Malinois isn't a very common breed in America. Buffy just recently started coming to the PetsHotel Day Camp. She's super sweet and super smart. Her mom was saying when they used to live in a war zone, Buffy would actually warn them of danger even before the missile sirens even went off. She was also saying how this particular breed is very intelligent and can learn all sorts of things, (ie. how Buffy can recognize her name when it's written out), but she had to be very strict because Buffy could have become too protective or too mischievous given the type of personality they are known to have.

Here's an excerpt from dogbreedinfo.com:
"The Belgian Malinois is one of four Belgian sheepdogs. A very bright and obedient dog, it is determined and observant with strong protective and territorial instincts. Socialize well to prevent it from becoming shy or sensitive. The Belgian Malinois needs an experienced master who is firm, but not heavy handed. If you are harsh or overbearing it will become uncooperative. Owners need to display a confident, natural authorityover the dog. Consistant rules must be set and made clear. This breed is instinctively protective so it should be trained and socialized very well from an early age. Puppies should be socialized right from birth. Good for working and competition obedience, these dogs make excellent police and guard dogs...They do however, make excellent pets if they have owners who can challenge their minds with an air of leadership. They are ever watchful, alert and loyal. The Belgian Malinois is good with children if socialized well with them. This breed needs to be part of the family and not locked up in a kennel. They need leadership, daily exercise along with training and companionship, for without it they may become destructive and hard to handle. The Belgian Malinois is high energy, with a high mental capacity, and is quick to comprehend. It needs a job to do, especially if you are dealing with working lines...

Height: Males 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm) Females 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)
Weight: 55 - 65 pounds (24 - 29 kg)"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgianmalinois.htm

Not a pet for the average family, the Belgian Malinois is a very smart dog who needs an experienced parent. Because they are so intelligent and were originally bred to be guard dogs, it's very important to properly socialize them. Buffy is one of the sweetest dogs I know, but her mom made it a point to get her very socialized when she was young.

Product Review #6 - Doggie Mouthwash Part 3

Update on the Nylabone Liquid Tartar Remover: Again, I did not see any obvious difference in the tartar build up.

Here's another attempt at using a water additive. This time I got the Nutri-Vet Bresh Fresh Dental Rinse for Dogs.

Again, like the Nylabone version, I didn't like it as much as the Arm & Hammer version. It wasn't as effective at getting rid of bad breath, and there weren't any obvious decrease or increase in the plaque and tartar. There wasn't a weird minty after smell though, which was nice. For this one, I had to mix 3/4 capfuls of the rinse for every 8 oz. One thing odd that I noticed was the presence of more dead bugs in my dogs' water the next day. It was normal to find a dead bug every once in a while, but I've noticed at least 2 or more dead bugs everyday lately. Now, I don't know if this was caused by the rinse or maybe it's because it's just bug season, but ever since I changed to this brand, I have found more bugs. Strange coincidence? Maybe. Petsmart sells the 8 oz online for $5.27, and Amazon has the 32 oz for $13.75.

Product Review #5 - Toys R Us Critter

Squeakers aren't the only noise making device for dog toys. There are so many toys that make different sounds now. There's the plastic crinkling, like the Petstages Easy Toss Ring that I mentioned in a past post. Covers for water bottles are really popular too. There are toys that oink and moo and ribbit and quack. And then there's this. It GIGGLES!

This is the Toys R Us Pets Small Giggle Critter. When you press the hand the whole thing jiggles and giggles. When I first heard the giggling, I was thinking to myself,  "What in the world is that sound?" That's when I saw a kid walk by repeatedly pressing the hand, and the toy wouldn't stop giggling. I like it because of its unique sound. Unfortunately, the material used to make the toy isn't very durable. Petsmart is selling it for $8.97 in stores, or you can get it online for $2.97 plus shipping.

Happy New Year!

HAPPY BELATED WINTER HOLIDAYS AND WISHING YOU AN AWESOME NEW YEAR!!!

Fun in the Sun

My friends and I took our doggies to the beach today. 4 dogs and 4 people in total. We ended up having to take 2 cars to get everyone there (only because my friend forgot to renew her inspection sticker on her SUV). It went pretty well considering how excited our dogs can get when they get to go traveling. You'd be amazed at how much excitement a lab mix, a Swiss shepherd, a malitpoo, and a cockapoo can cause, lol. My little one barely barked at all, which is good. She's gotten a lot better around strangers. The only time she flipped out was when this guy came running at us trying to catch a frisbee. She was only trying to protect us four girls from the guy and his flying disk, lol.

We walked along the shore for a few hours and then we went to eat dinner. Bringfido.com is a really useful site to find dog friendly restaurants. I saw one of the restaurants listed right across the street so we decided to eat there. Yum burgers! Quite an adventure getting the dogs across the street, up the stairs to the patio area of the restaurant, to their drinking fountain, and finding ways to tie them to the chair/table/fence/whatever we could find. We ended up tying the 2 younger dogs on the side closer the fence so they were farthest from the walkway and then the 2 older dogs were tied on opposite corners (we found out that the 2 older dogs get cranky when they get too close). We had this system going where 2 people would order food/potty break while the other 2 watched the dogs and then we switched off.

Afterwards we went in hunt for a grass patch for the doggies to go potty on. Remember kids: always pick up your doggie's poo 'cause that's the nice thing to do! Then we went home. My doggies slept the whole say back and then went on sleeping once they climbed into their beds. Yep. I would definitely qualify today as a successful adventure!

Australian Shepherd

Fluffy!! Super cute and very pretty, don't you agree? I have a 3--almost 4--month old Aussie puppy in one of my classes. She has a red merle coat and is super super sweet. Aussie's also come in other colors.

I've seen this coloring more often. Here's an excerpt from dogbreedinfo.com:

"The Aussie, as it is known, is a medium-sized, robust, well-balanced, rustic dog. The ears are set high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip. The coat is of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant, of moderate length with an undercoat...Australian Shepherds are easy-going, remaining puppy-like even in their adult years. This courageous dog makes a good watchdog for the home. Aussies are excellent with children, even with an active child, as they love to play. A devoted, loyal friend and guardian, for they are naturally protective. Affectionate, very lively, agile and attentive - they are eager to please, with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. Though aggressive when at work with livestock, the Aussie is gentle with human friends. Australian Shepherds are not the kind of dog to lay around the living room all day or live happily in the backyard with only a 15 minute walk...Working lines may be too energetic for people who only have a moderately active lifestyle...
Height: Male 20-23 inches (52-58cm.) Female 18-21 inches (46-53cm.)
Weight: Male 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Female 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/australianshepherd.htm

Good for people that are active and like exercise and has a backyard. Not so much for the people that have small apartments and don't like to take long walks. As it mentions above, VERY trainable, but you do have to keep it occupied or else the puppy will go find its own fun which is no fun for you. They do have a tendency to herd, so it's very important to teach them that humans (and other dogs) are not ok for herding.

Book: Inside of a Dog

Started reading Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz a few days ago. It's a very interesting read. Basically, it gives a new and different way to see why dogs act the way they do. I'm not even half way through yet, but I've already learned a lot. I'll have to give a full review of the book once I finish, but here's an excerpt from the inside cover for now:

"Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs' perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draws a picture of what it might be like to be a dog...Inside of a Dog also contains up-to-the-minute research--on dogs' detection of disease, the secrets of their tails, and their skill at reading out attention--that Horowitz puts into useful context..."

I really like the writing style, and the book has kept me interested so far (which is saying something because I rarely find nonfictional books even remotely interesting). I've read a lot of books and other research on dog training and behavior, and I haven't always agreed with what they had to say. Inside of the Dog is much closer to what I agree with, but I guess we'll never know unless we could actually read the mind of our dogs, lol.

Yorkiepoo

I really really really want a Yorkiepoo.

Isn't he just adorable?!
Actually the one I want is this one:

Except he might be a mix of other breeds too but whatever. He's so CUTE!
Here's his facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/TeddyArmstrongThePerkyPup
I want to take him home!

Grooming Tip #1

Whenever you have time, play with your dog's ears, with their tail, the base of the tail, their paws, and their muzzle. Why you may ask? Because those are the more sensitive areas that most dogs do not like being handled. Which is precisely why it's important to get them used to being touched in those areas. This way they won't freak out (as much) at the vet and the groomers. This should prevent unwanted surprises when a kid or someone comes by and pulls on your dog's tail or ears.

Random tips on grooming:

Make sure the claws don't get too long.
If you take them on regular long walk, their claws will naturally file away on the cement. If you have to cut them, then use the scissor clippers and not the guillotine version. According to a groomer I know, the guillotine style has a higher tendency of crushing the nail instead of cutting it. If you wish to grind the nails instead, I recommend getting a Black & Decker rotary tool. Don't use the PediPaws (they break and malfunction way to easily).

Bathe them 1 to 2 times a month at most.
Unless you're using special shampoo (I have expensive medicated prescription shampoo for skin allergies), normal shampoos and conditioners, if used too often, will dry out the dog's skin which will make them itch and scratch. If they get dirty or smelly between baths, use the doggie wet wipes (baby wipes work too) or the waterless shampoos.

Clean their ears regularly.
Especially for floppy-eared dogs. The long ears prevent the ear canals from drying properly which could create a moist environment for bacteria and other nasty things to grow. You can buy an ear rinse at any pet supply store. If you see a lot of wax, or they're walking lopsided, or scratching their ears, or shaking their head constantly (I mean ALL of the time not every few hours), then it's time for a vet visit.

to be continued...

Accidents happen

Guess what? I got peed on today. Of course working with dogs means that I'll get covered in saliva and hair regularly, which is fine. Even the occasional tinkle is fine. Sometimes puppies (and dogs) get a little excited and they may tinkle a little, which has happened a few times actually. This time it was like a flood; not just a few little drops. I guess that's what I get for letting an excited 2 month old shepherd puppy climb into my lap, lol.

Cane Corso

I saw a Cane Corso puppy the other day. SUPER CUTE and adorable and very VERY sweet. I know it as a Cane Corso (Italiano) but apparently it's also called an Italian Mastiff.

It looks a lot scarier than it actually is. [although the picture above makes it look a bit dopey, lol]
Here's an excerpt from dogbreedinfo.com:

"Very loyal, willing to please and quiet around the house. The Cane Corso is highly intelligent and very trainable. Active and even-minded, he is an unequalled watch and protection dog.  The Cane Corso Italiano is great with children in the family. Docile and affectionate with the owner. They are protective yet gentle. The Cane Corso has a very stable temperament. It makes an excellent guard dog and watchdog. It will not wonder from the home. They stick close to their masters. If necessary he becomes a terrible and brave protector of people, house and property. The Cane Corso is not a fighting dog. They were bred as powerful working dogs for hundreds of years. This is a robust dog, with typical bone and joint problems of the giant breeds. This very athletic breed needs a lot of regular exercise. They make excellent jogging companions...
Height:  Males 24-27 inches (64-68 cm.) Females 23-25 inches (60-64 cm.)
Weight:  Males 99-110 pounds (45-50 kg.) Females 88-99 pounds (40-45 kg.)"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/canecorsoitaliano.htm

Seems like a pretty easy-going dog that would be fun to have at home. They also have a pretty interesting past according to my coworker. I met a customer who's friend has a Cane Corso, and she was saying how surprised she was by how gentle the dog is. I hope the puppy I met will come back so I can see him again!

Product Review #4 - Doggie Mouthwash Part 2

Update on the Arm & Hammer Pet Care Dental Water Additive: I did not see any obvious difference in the tartar build up. Maybe it's supposed to just prevent tartar instead of remove it? Either way. My old dog still needs his teeth professionally cleaned. The Dental Water does get rid of the bad breath, which is WONDERFUL.

I decided to try a different brand this time. This time I got the Nylabone Liquid Tartar Remover.

I don't like it as much as the Arm & Hammer version. It's not as effective at getting rid of bad breath. Not that it doesn't work. Using this is still better than not using anything at all, but there is still a little bit of stinky left. Also, it makes my dogs' breath smell weirdly minty. It works the same way as the Arm & Hammer version. You mix a tablespoon of the mouthwash to every 32 oz. of drinking water. Again, I ran into the problem where one of my dogs wouldn't drink it. I'll update later if I see a difference in the tartar buildup. Petsmart and Petco sells the 16 oz. bottle for $7.99. Amazon has the 32 oz. bottle for $13.99.

Peruvian Inca Orchid

We were talking about hairless dogs at work the other day, and one of my coworkers pulled up a picture of this dog. This breed is called Peruvian Inca Orchid, Peruvian Hairless Dog, PIO, Moonflower Dog, Perro Flora, and Inca Hairless Dog.

It's pretty cool looking, don't you think?
Here's an excerpt from dogbreedinfo.com:

"The Peruvian Inca Orchid has dark round eyes that tend to squint in the sunlight due to over sensitivity. The lips are wrinkled and the think, leathery ears sometimes have wisps of hair. Hair grows on the top of the head. Some are born coated with hair in the same litter as the hairless PIO. The skin is soft  and pliable. It can be heavily mottled in any color, in any combination with a pink background, or it can be solid colored. Quick witted, calm and intelligent. They are usually good with children and get along with other dogs. A fenced in yard is recommended as the PIO is a sighthound and may take off chasing a small animal at anytime. This breed should live indoors and be protected from the elements. The PIO sunburn very quickly. They should have a sweater in the winter and kept at a comfortable temperature in the summer. Keep in mind they do not have hair to protect them from the weather and are basically naked...

Height: 20-26 inches (50-65 cm.)
Weight: 26-50 pounds (12-23 kg.)"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/peruvianincaorchid.htm

Pretty cool breed, but because it's "naked" there are a lot of potential skin problems. However, for the right owner (ie. those with dog allergies), the Peruvian Inca Orchid could be the perfect dog.

Training Tips #1 - Intro

What's the most important thing to keep in mind when training a dog?
Treats?
Consistency?
Timing?
Nope.
The #1 thing to keep in mind when training your dog (whether it be a puppy or a mature senior) is PATIENCE.

Unfortunately for us, dogs aren't born with the ability to understand English, or whichever language you choose to use. On that note, for basic behavioral issues and commands, the best way to make the dog learn is by incorporating the commands into the everyday routine. Make your dog sit before feeding. Make them sit before going out, etc etc. Later on, I'll go over how to stop jumping, biting, whining, as well as sit, stay, down, and other fun things. Can't forget potty training. Potty training is important. So yes. Remember to be patient. It will pay off in the end. The second most important thing to keep in mind is consistency and timing. Make a set of rules and stick to those rules. Make sure everyone in the household knows those rules too. Make sure everyone that comes over knows those rules.

Have a set hand signal/word for each command. Never punish the dog after the fact. The best way to deal with any unwanted behavior is to catch the dog in the act and reprimand him then. Now, when I say reprimand, I don't mean anything physical. Either make a loud sound by saying "No" or any other word (I have a tendency to say "Hey") or stomp or clap your hands, or you can put rocks in a can and shake that. Another option is using a water bottle set to jet spray. Don't use the mist setting because most dogs will think you're playing. Yep. I think that about covers it for now.

Hybrid Dogs

You've just got to love the interesting names they have for some mix breeds. I mean really. I met a Chiweenie today, which is a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. It was so cute! I have a soft spot for poodle mixes, since I have two. I have a Cockapoo and a Maltipoo. I've met a number of Labradoodles, who are all really sweet but very energetic. Apparently, a domestic dog and a coyote mix is called a Coydog. I didn't even know you can have one as a pet. Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle) is a funny name too; only because it sounds like the name of some candy bar to me. Guess what a Shug is. Yep, a German Shepherd and a Pug. Schnekingese are super cute too. I just wish the name wasn't such a mouthfull. And then there are other names like Muggin, Jatzu, Afollie, Weshi, Poshies, Goberian, Borador, Frengle, Cairanian, Ori Pei, Dorgie, and a host of other fun and wacky mixed names. Which kinds do you like more?

Blog Update

How do I set it so people can leave comments?

::edit:: Figured it out! Yay! Now people can leave comments~

Newfoundland

Have you noticed? I REALLY like fluffy dogs. Anyway, I saw a Newfie puppy at work. SO CUTE! They're called Newfoundland, Newf, or Newfie. The one I saw was super sweet, and very calm considering it's already 4 months old.

Excerpt from dogbreedinfo.com:

The Newfoundland is a dog with an outstanding, sweet temperament, courageous, generous, peaceable and intelligent. A calm, patient dog, who is mild with guests, and obedient with its master. They are very devoted, loyal and trustworthy. Their huge body tends to move rather slowly. They rarely bark, but are protective and brave when they need to be. When an intruder is caught they are more likely to hold them at bay, either by trapping them in a corner or placing themselves in-between the burglar and the family rather than an all out attack. Usually gets along with other dogs, but should be socialize well with them, giving a correction at any sign of aggressiveness to insure this behavior. Generally good with other animals. Patient, playful, and loving with children. Enjoys the outdoors, but also needs to be with their family. The Newfoundland tends to be very messy when drinking water and often drinks a lot. They do drool, especially after getting a drink, but generally are not one of the worst offenders compared to some other giant breeds. 

Height: Dogs 27-29 inches (69-74cm) Bitches 25-27 inches (63-69cm)
Weight: Dogs 130-150 pounds (59-68 kg) Bitches 100-120 pounds (45-54kg)
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/newfoundland.htm


Sounds like my kind of dog. Fluffy and laid-back, lol.

Dog Names

I met 2 dachshunds yesterday. One is named Steve. His sister is named Speedbump. LOL. That's just too cute. Speedbump is an awesome name for a dog, don't you think? I also met a Jack Blue Moon yesterday too. The mom liked the name Jack, but the daughter wanted to name him Blue Moon. I think Blue is a pretty name for a dog. Ignore the fact that it's the name of a character for a children's TV show. I'm also very surprised how popular the name Sophie is for dogs. That, and Emma, and Belle/Bella and Lula/Lola, and there's Jack and Max and Sam. I don't know why, but I have a thing against human names for dogs. I have a tendency to gravitate towards food names instead (like Snickers or Cookie), which I guess is kind of weird in it's own way, haha. Speaking of which, Oreo and Coco are really common names too. And Lucky. Not that I'm saying one name is better than another. It's just a lot of fun when some one calls out one name and 10 different dogs respond, lol.

Product Review #3 - Doggie Mouthwash

You know? I'm kind of surprised the mouthwash works, sort of.

I got the Arm & Hammer Advance Pet Care Dental Water Additive which is supposed to get rid of bad breath, fight tartar, and whiten teeth. Basically you just add a cap full of the additive to your dogs drinking water, for every 8 oz of water, and then every time your dog drinks his/her water it's supposed to work. I got it mostly for the bad breath, which it does get rid of wonderfully. My dog doesn't have bad breath now, nor does he have weird minty breath. I can't really tell if it's preventing tartar build up or whitening his teeth though; I'll have to do an update on that later when I've used this product longer. There is one problem. Only 2 out of the 3 of the dogs I gave it to actually drank the water, so there is a risk that your dog may not drink the water with the additive at all. I would definitely say give it a try. Petsmart sells it for $8.99.

Product Review #2 - Chuckit! Ball Launcher

F-ing brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of it myself? Basically, it's a long arm that helps you throw the ball farther. Lots of fun for people with dogs that love to fetch. PLUS, you don't have to touch the ball to pick it up. We all know how gross balls get when you play with them outside, covered in dirt and drool and who-knows-what-else. It's also good for people with back problems [as a customer pointed out] since they won't have to bend over to pick up the ball. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes (pocket to mega). Some versions come with water-proof balls. Regular tennis balls will fit. They also have ones that throw smaller balls for our more miniature furry friends. For the size shown above, Petsmart sells it for $9.99 to $14.99. Petco has it for $9.59 to $15.97. Amazon has it for $9.74 to $12.19.