Pet Facts for New and Veteran Dog Owners

  Did You Know. . . 

Tug-o-war" is not a game to be played with puppies.  Any types of power struggle games tend to leave your puppy with the wrong idea about who exactly is the leader.

The highest number of dog bites are from non-neutered males.

A growl is a warning and should not be ignored or punished. If you punish a growl, next time there may be no warning!

The highest number of dog bites are to children 6 years of age and younger by dogs they know.

Children should not approach dogs on ropes, chains, or leashes. Dogs tend to feel "cornered" and may bite out of fear.

The two reasons dogs tend to bite is out of fear or frustration.

Children should not stare at or hug dogs, especially ones they do not know. Canines perceive these things as a challenge.

Children should be taught never to run at or from a dog. Dogs will chase a willing target and running at a dog may cause them to bite from fear.

Children and dogs make wonderful companions but should never be left together unsupervised.

Having the family take the dog through obedience class is a wonderful learning experience for all.

Children should never be solely responsible for the family pet. They generally will not notice medical or behavioral problems until it is too late.  But children can certainly take part in feeding and other simple tasks.

If your dog knows obedience commands and the children practice giving them, your dog may start to understand they are subordinate to even the smallest of humans.

Hitting, kicking, or teasing the family dog in any way can cause the dog to be shy towards hands and feet and will most likely lead to aggression problems.

If your dog is having housebreaking problems and you use harsh methods to scold your dog, this can cause your dog to become very anxious and may actually make the problem worse.

Dogs can bite as hard as 240 lbs of pressure per square inch of mouth area. That is why we must teach our dogs that even play biting is forbidden!

Dogs are pack animals. They need our affection as much as we need theirs.

If your dog is nipping at you in a rebellious manner, that is considered aggression. Don't make excuses, find help to correct the problem before it gets worse!

If we did not have euthanasia for unwanted pets, every household in the United States would have to keep 62 pets all the time.  For the health of your pet, have it spayed or neutered!

--- by Melissa French, Canine Counterparts