What should I name my dog?

Meet Buddy, an 11 year old German Sheppard

Choosing an appropriate name for a dog is important. Here are some tips on picking a proper name for your pooch, as well as names that should be avoided.  

It is estimated that a pet parent will call out the name of their dog approximately 35,000 times over the course of their pet's life. A name that is going to be repeated over and over again needs to be easy for the dog to understand, appropriate for the the owner to say, and truly suit the dog.

 

Dog Names Should Contain Two Syllables

A dog should be given a name that he can recognize and respond to quickly. Long names with more that two syllables may confuse the animal, as it will take longer to say, and longer for your dog to recognize it. This is especially important when calling the dog, or relaying a command. For instance, "Rover! Sit!" is much more quickly understood than something like, "Mr. Snickers the Third, stay!"

It is also thought that using a two syllable name for a dog is better than one with just a syllable. Just like people, dogs learn that certain intonations in speech can convey specific meanings. This comes into play when disciplining a dog. For instance, if the dog is doing something wrong, you may draw out the syllables of their name, getting their attention and conveying your displeasure all at the same time. For instance, if the dog picks up something in its mouth and you say, "Fiiiidoooo....," the dog will come to understand that their behavior is inappropriate.

It would be more difficult to do this if the dog's name had one syllable, like Spot. Think about it. If you said, "Sppoooooooot..," the dog would most likely not recognize the name, look at you as if you had lost your marbles, and then continue to chew on your tennis shoe.

Choose A Name You Can Call Out in Public

A name like "Piddles" may be cute when the dog is an eight week old puppy, but not when it's a full grown Labrador Retriever. You my find yelling out, "Piddles! Come!" at the dog park a little embarrassing.
The same is true of using proper human names, like Nancy or Robert. You may be naming your dog after a good friend or close family member, but that person may be less than impressed.

These names, once again, can cause sticky situations when calling the dog in public. If someone named Nancy happens to be in the dog park while you are trying to control your dog with the same name, she may not appreciate being told to sit or lie down.

What is The Best Name For a Dog?

Many people choose to name their dogs after the physical traits of the animal, like Patches. Others name their pet after a quality in their personality, like Buddy, or Rascal. These names tend to be the best because they are distinctive, and suit the dog.

If you feel that you must give a dog a long name like Mr. Snickers The Third, you can shorten it to just Snickers when you are addressing the animal. Breeders give their dogs long names that describe the animal's pedigree, but use a nick name when actually addressing the dog.

In the end, only you can decide what name is best for your dog. If you can't decide, try a few out - see which one you like best, or to which one the dog seems to respond to the most. A pet parent seeks to develop a bond with her dog, and the bond begins the first time you say her name. When you say it and your dog responds to it, that is the name both of you will carry in your hearts for a lifetime.

References

Dog Park.com, "What to Name Your Dog" Accessed 9 Sept. 2011
wikiHow.com, "Name your new puppy or dog" Accessed 9 Sept. 2011

Article and Photograph by Ian Shoust for Suite 101

http://ian-shoust.suite101.com/what-should-i-name-my-dog-a388171

Japan tsunami dog reunited with owner

A dog rescued from a roof drifting off Japan's north-east coast more than three weeks after a quake and tsunami has been reunited with her owner.

The owner recognised the dog from a TV news report on the rescue on Friday.

The female owner and the two-year-old dog called Ban had an emotional reunion at an animal care centre where she was being looked after.

"We'll never let go of her," the owner, who wished to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying by a centre official.

The dog was found by a Japan Coast Guard crew on a drifting roof some 1.8km (1.1 miles) off Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, one of the worst-hit areas along Japan's north-east coast.

The roof is believed to have been detached and washed out to sea by the retreating waters of the devastating tsunami, which hit the country on 11 March.

Ban immediately jumped up and wagged her tail when her owner appeared, local media reported.

"I'm happy for the reunion, after they were separated by the disaster," Toshiro Suzuki, head of the animal shelter was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

He said the shelter is caring for 19 dogs and several cats separated from their owners after the tsunami.

Article from BBC News
Japan tsunami dog reunited with owner
Video posted on Youtube

UK Army Dog May Have Died From a Broken Heart

LONDON –  Liam and Theo were a team, fast friends doing a dangerous job -- searching out roadside bombs laid by insurgents in Afghanistan.  The jovial British soldier and his irrepressible dog worked and played together for months, and died on the same day. On Thursday they came home, flown back to Britain in a somber repatriation ceremony for the soldier remembered for his empathy with animals and the companion he loved.

In this undated image made available in London by the Ministry of Defence, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker trains with his Military Working Dog, Theo, in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. The body of Lance Corporal Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps who was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province is to be repatriated to Britain, Thursday March 10, 2011, along with Theo, his bomb-sniffing springer spaniel, who suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base

Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province on March 1 as he searched for explosives with Theo, a bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix. The dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base, likely brought about by stress.

Military officials won't go so far as to say Theo died of a broken heart -- but that may not be far from the truth.

"I think we often underestimate the grieving process in dogs," said Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinarian with animal charity PDSA. "Some dogs react very severely to their partner's loss." 

She said it was not uncommon for pets to respond to an owner's death by refusing food and becoming sick -- and the bond between working dogs and their handlers is especially close.

"The bonding that I have seen between soldiers or police and their dogs is fantastic. When you see them working together, it's really one unit."

A military Hercules plane carrying Tasker's body and Theo's ashes touched down Thursday at a Royal Air Force base in southwest England. As the funeral cortege of black vehicles drove slowly away, it was saluted by a long line of military dog handlers, their dogs at their sides. A black Labrador retriever sat quietly beside its handler as the hearse carrying the flag-draped coffin disappeared from view.

At the nearby town of Wootton Bassett, where people line the streets in a mark of respect each time a dead solder is repatriated, dozens stood silently -- some with dogs at their feet -- as Tasker's friends and family laid roses atop the hearse.  The Ministry of Defense said Theo's ashes would be presented to Tasker's family later at a private ceremony.  Tasker, 26, from Kirkcaldy in Scotland, spent six years as an army mechanic before joining the military working dog unit in 2007. He felt he had found his calling.

"I love my job and working together with Theo," Tasker said in a profile of the pair released by the Ministry of Defense before his death. "He has a great character and never tires. He can't wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing."

The soldier and the 22-month-old dog had been in Afghanistan for almost six months, uncovering roadside bombs and weapons in a dangerous daily routine.  Theo became a bit of a military celebrity last month after the defense ministry released photos and video of him and Tasker to highlight the lifesaving work of military dogs. The footage, now deeply poignant, shows Theo -- energetic, ears cocked, tail wagging -- alongside Tasker searching a compound for explosives.

The ministry said then that Theo had been so successful -- finding 14 hidden bombs and weapons caches, a record for a team in Afghanistan -- that the dog's tour of duty had been extended by a month.

Tasker was the 358th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Theo was the sixth British military dog killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001.

There are calls for Theo to receive the Dickin medal, which since 1943 has recognized wartime bravery by animals, from carrier pigeons to a World War II commando collie.

The loyalty of some dogs is legendary, from Greyfriars Bobby, a 19th-century Skye terrier who guarded his master's Edinburgh grave for 14 years, to Hachiko, a Japanese dog who awaited his owner's return at a train station every day for years after the man's death. Both are commemorated with statues.

Tasker's father, Ian, said Theo would have been devastated by Liam's death.  "I truly believe when Theo went back to the kennel, that that would have a big, big impact because Liam wasn't there to comfort him," he told ITV news.  

Tasker's mother, Jane Duffy agreed. "I'm not nurse or a vet (but) I would like to believe (Theo) died of a broken heart to be with Liam," she told the broadcaster.  Tasker's colleague's recalled the soldier's bond with his dog and zealous attention to duty in tributes released by the defense ministry.  

"A natural with animals, he had an affection for his dog that truly was a window to his soul," said Maj. Alexander Turner, a commander of Tasker's unit.  

He "was here to save life, finding explosive devices that kill more farmers than combatants in our area," Turner said. "His fortitude and zeal for that perilous task was humbling; it imbued us all with confidence. He used to joke that Theo was impossible to restrain but I would say the same about Lance Corporal Tasker."

Tasker's uncle, Billy McCord, said the soldier had been due to leave Afghanistan soon and worried about being separated from Theo.  "He actually said at one point that when he finished his tour he was not sure what would happen to his dog and that he could be separated from his dog," McCord told the local Courier newspaper in Scotland. "That was preying on his mind, but they are not separated now."

Article: Associated Press - http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/10/uk-army-dog-died-broken-heart-1606316739/#ixzz1ZRJGVO17

Dog Art

By artist hound Noma Bar's Scottie Dog Paper Punch 

Scottie Dog Art Machine.  Image: Noma Bar 

Weighing in at over 1653 pounds (750 Kilograms) and standing at just about 6 ½ feet tall (2 meters), the ginormous Dog was created by the cutting edge graphic designer & artist Noma Bar.

Article site

How to Keep your Pets Lean and Fit

It’s all too easy to give your pets snacks between meals – they are so appealing, after all – but according to animal charity PDSA, more than a third of British dogs are already overweight, and this proportion could rise to 50% by 2013. The charity has been highlighting the dangers of over-feeding pets in recent months, with slimming competitions for tubby tabbies and corpulent canines encouraging pet owners to do something about the situation.

So, what are the dangers to overweight animals – and how can owners help pets whose paunches have become a problem?

Portly pets?
The simple case is that – like humans – pets which are overweight have a reduced quality of life. They are likely to be less sprightly generally and less keen to exercise – in short, they are going to be less fun.
But in addition to this, they are also likely to suffer from a range of conditions linked to their obesity. Again, as with humans, this can include heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, high blood pressure and even cancer.

The RSPCA calls obesity “an extremely serious welfare issue”, highlighting that it causes a large amount of unnecessary suffering to pets. Ultimately, it can lead to reduced life expectancy.
Obesity can be a result of disease, and there are also a variety of factors that can have a bearing on weight for both cats and dogs. For example, some breeds are more prone to obesity than others, while being neutered and the ageing process also increases the risk.
However, a more common reason than any of these is that a pet is getting more energy from its food than it is using up in exercising; either it’s eating too much, or not being active enough.
With cats and dogs, you should be able to feel the ribs – though they should not be sticking out – and the animal should have a waist which is visible from above, along with a belly which is tucked up when viewed from the side. If it does not have these features then it may be overweight, or even obese, depending on the scale of the problem, and it could make sense to contact your vet.

What owners can do
It is suggested that owners feed their animals commercial pet food – as recommended by a vet – as opposed to providing a home-made diet, as pet foods make it easier to gauge the level of nutrients they are getting. Try to follow the guidelines on the packaging so you don’t under- or over-feed.
While giving treats can work well in training to reward good behaviour, owners should try to avoid sugary or salty food – in fact, the PDSA suggests that most dogs like chopped carrot.
The other part of the equation is ensuring that your pet gets plenty of exercise. In addition to taking a dog for walks – and allowing it to run off the lead in safe, contained areas – there are a number of ways to encourage it to take exercise. Playing ‘fetch’ with a tennis ball or even a Frisbee is a common example, while allowing your dog to swim is a good option for animals with joint problems. If you are up to it and if you have a dog which is calm enough, you could even try a ‘springer’ – a fixed lead with a built-in spring – which allows you to cycle safely alongside your pet.
Cats – particularly those which spend their time indoors – may also need to be encouraged to play, with owners setting aside time to interact with them. In addition, a cat which has a relatively soft life can be encouraged to ‘work’ for their food by using toys which release food when they are pushed around.
Ultimately, a slim pet is likely to be healthier than an overweight one. Something to bear in mind too is that pet insurance is available to cover health conditions.

Issued by Sainsbury’s Finance via Dognews.co.uk
http://www.dognews.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-pets-lean-and-fit/

RSPCA - Simon's Sister's Dog 'Fed Up'

Be aware of Pet Obesity -  a message from RSPCA

Dogs 'mimic movements of owners'

Dogs "automatically imitate" the body movements of their owners, according to a study.

Each owner demonstrated a simple door-opening task to their dog

This automatic imitation is a crucial part of social learning in humans.

But Austrian researchers report that the phenomenon - where the sight of another's body movement causes the observer to move in the same way - is evident in many other animals.

They say that it reveals clues about how this type of learning evolved.

The study, which was led by Dr Friederike Range from the University of Vienna in Austria, also suggests that the way in which people interact with and play with their dogs as they are growing up shapes their ability to imitate.

"It's not a spontaneous thing," said Dr Range. "The dogs needed a lot of training to learn it."
She and her colleagues investigated this imitation with a series of trials using a simple door-opening test.

The team built a box with a sliding door on the front that could be opened with a knob.

The owners demonstrated how to open the door by using either their hand or their mouth.

"When the owners used the hand, the dog had to open the door with its paw to get a reward," Dr Range said.
When the owner opened the door with their mouth, the dog had to use the same technique.

Dr Range explained to BBC News: "A second group of dogs had to learn the alternative method - if the owner used their hand, they had to use their mouth, and when the owner used their mouth, they had to use the paw."

The study suggests that the capacity to imitate is forged as a dog learns

The dogs that had to imitate the same action as their owner learned their task far more quickly.
This showed that the dogs had a predisposition to imitate their owners' hand/paw and mouth/muzzle movements.

She noted that, because dogs have a very different body shapes to people, they also had to interpret what they saw.

"This type of learning has obvious evolutionary advantages for animals," Dr Range said. "They can learn about certain aspects of life without having to learn by trial and error, which always comes with some risk."
The new evidence supports a theory of learning which suggests that a system of "mirror neurons" and the capacity to imitate are forged as an animal learns and develops, rather than this system being inborn.


Article by  By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC News
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10777586

My pet spaniel sniffed out my breast cancer

A mother says her breast cancer was discovered... by her faithful pet spaniel.

Brenda Jones, 47, was feeling fit and well but said her loving dog called Mrs Murphy sensed something was wrong.

Grateful: Brenda Jones says her dog Mrs Murphy has been a life-saver

He behaved strangely for a week before pawing at Brenda's left breast causing her to jump up in pain.

Mother-of-two Brenda examined the spot where Mrs Murphy had 'targeted' her - and discovered a strange lump.

She went to her GP the next day and was diagnosed with a Grade Three tumour in her breast.  Brenda was admitted to hospital for emergency surgery and is now undergoing a course of chemotherapy.

But she is in no doubt that her five-year-old pet had saved her life.

Brenda said: 'She was sitting on my lap all the time, something she didn't normally do.

 

Mrs Murphy: 'she sensed something was wrong'

''She would nuzzle against my breast and she was staring at me.

'After about a week of this I was sitting on the sofa when she jumped up and her paw caught my left breast.

'It really hurt - I remember saying to my husband: "The dog has bruised me."

'But when I looked and felt my breast I could feel a lump.'

Brenda, a sales negotiator with an estate agency, was diagnosed with the more rare triple negative breast cancer.

She had surgery for the lump in June and is now in the middle of chemotherapy before having a course of radio therapy.

Brenda said: 'I'm convinced Mrs Murphy could sense that I had a tumour - without her pawing me that day it would have gone undiagnosed.  'I am sure she targeted that part of my breast and I'll always be grateful that she sensed something was wrong.  Brenda and her policeman husband Martin have had Mrs Murphy since she was a puppy.

She got unusual name because the couple thought they had bought a male puppy which they christened Murphy.  But a few weeks later a vet told them Murphy was a bitch so they called her Mrs Murphy instead.  Brenda said: 'She's a lovely dog and I suppose I'm closer to her than the rest of the family.

'She definitely deserves a few treats - biscuits are her favourites.  'The funny thing is that when friends call round they get bit panicky of Mrs Murphy starts staring at them!'  

Brenda, of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, is about to become a grandmother any day when her daughter Samantha gives birth to twins.  She said: 'That's the light at the end of my tunnel.'  Brenda is to make her debut on the catwalk when she models in a Breast Cancer Care charity fashion show at Cardiff City Hall.  She said: 'The charity has been fantastically supportive and has put me in touch with other women who are going through the same thing.'  Breast Cancer Care yesterday praised Mrs Murphy's role in discovering Brenda's illness.

Judy Beard, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Breast Cancer Care, said: 'It shows a dog can be a woman's best friend too.

'We're really pleased and excited to have Brenda involved in out fashion show. We might have to get Mrs Murphy all dressed up to join her on the catwalk.'

Claire Guest CEO of Medical Detection Dogs, said: 'Mrs Murphy is a superb example of a dog who has naturally used its huge olfactory capacity and intuition to alert her owner to her illness. 

'It is dogs like Mrs Murphy that led us at Medical Detection Dogs to conduct the world's first and only scientific study proving the ability of dogs to smell cancer volatiles in human urine, which was published in the BMJ in 2004.

'Subsequently our ongoing research project, which harnesses a dog's extraordinary olfactory capacity along with a dog's willingness to work with us, continues to prove that dogs can smell different types of cancer from bladder cancer, breast, melanoma and our most recent study is about to launch looking at prostate cancer.

'The long-term objective is to work out if cancer has a generic odour, something that will help in the earlier diagnosis, through which thousands of lives will be saved.'

Article by Daily Mail Reporter and all Photographs are courtesy of Wales News Service

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2042362/My-pet-spaniel-sniffed-breast-cancer.html 

Looking for a fitness buddy? Get a dog

Experts say studies show dog owners walk more, walk faster, and are more likely to enjoy an active lifestyle because of their companion animal.

"I'm fascinated by what a great motivator dogs can be," said Dr. Sandra McCune, co-editor of the book, "The Health Benefits of Dog Walking for People and Pets."

McCune, an animal behaviorist based in Leicestershire, England, said studies show if you're a dog walker, you're more likely to meet the guidelines for daily activities.

Dogs are the reason behind two-thirds, 66 percent, of the walks their owners take each week, according to a recent survey of more than 1,011 adults commissioned by pet food company Mars Petcare.

Brian Stanford walks with his dog on the beach in
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi,
September 3, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Dan Anderson

One-quarter of people with children and pets regularly visit parks and other outdoor spaces because of their dog.

"Personally, I have a Labrador," McCune said. "When it's dark, when it's raining, the dog needs a walk, every day."

She said dog walking also strengthens social and communal ties.

"If people go out with a dog, they're more likely to have a conversation," she explained.

According to the poll some 44 percent of dog owners aged 65 and older exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog.

"Dogs are strong drivers of social capital," said McCune, explaining that social capital is a sociological term which she defined as the value of all relationships.
"Dog ownership benefits the entire community," she said.

This fall YMCAs in several U.S. cities are hosting their version of dog days. Called the Power of Pets, the programs include dog run/walks, dog yoga and other dog fair activities.

"It's a chance to get the community together," Katy Leclair, executive director of the Lake View, Illinois YMCA said of the program. "Families with dogs tend to be more active."

As workout partners, canines can offer energy, enthusiasm, and the social support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program, according to Shirley Archer, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.

"Dogs can provide that companionship," said Archer, a Florida-based fitness instructor. "Frisbee tossing, ball throwing, agility competitions, dog and human boot camps, are great opportunities to be active," she said. "But obedience training is a must."

She cautions that as living creatures dogs need to be taken care of.
"If they ride with you on a bicycle, they need to be trained to stay close," she said. "Keep them hydrated. Check their paws. Don't let them run right after they eat."

Laura Cartwright Hardy, a grandmother and full-time graduate student living in Little Rock, Arkansas, has two huge German Shepherds.

"I've had big dogs since I was 20 and that's definitely been part of the reason I've always been fit," said Hardy, who started lifting weights in her 30s so she could carry 40-pound (18.14-kg) bags of dog food with ease.

"They certainly keep you honest about walking," she said. "Those big brown eyes make it impossible to say no."

She added that every human walking partner she has had, except her sister and her husband, quit because she went too fast.

"My dogs (all girls) have been steadfast," she said.

Reuters article by By Dorene Internicola

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/26/us-fitness-dog-idUSTRE78P45B20110926

Heroic Dog won't leave his injured friend in Japan debris

Dogs don't get their loyal rep for nothing.

Amidst the ruins of Japan's earthquake and tsunami, a noble dog refused to leave his hurt friend behind. The pooch's heroism shows that dogs are not just loyal to man, but to their canine pals as well. After the video was shot, the dog's were both taken into care of the local animal shelter.

Here is the translation, provided on YouTube, of the video:

"We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty. He has a collar. He must be someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid. Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead. Where? Right there.

"There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright. The dog is protecting him. Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay. I can't watch this. This is a very difficult to watch. Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive. Yes! Yes! He is alive. He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon. Oh good. He's getting up. It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just amazing that they survived through this all."

Article by Zoe Fox for Time

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/18/watch-heroic-dog-wont-leave-his-injured-friend-in-japan-debris/

China Bans Ancient Dog-Eating Festival Amid Online Outcry

A truck carrying dogs travels along a road on the 

outskirts of Beijing in June 2011

David Gray / Reuters

For the first time in 600 years, residents of Qianxi Township, China, will be banned from holding an ancient dog-eating festival after the public voiced their discontent on the Internet.







The three-day event, which usually takes place in October, commemorates a historic 14th century military victory of the Ming Dynasty. According to legend, the army of Zhu Yuanzhang secretly invaded Qinaxi and killed all the dogs so that the animals wouldn't bark and give away the troops' position pre-battle. When the city was secured, the army celebrated by feasting on the meat of the slaughtered dogs. Thus the tradition was born.

While animal advocates around the world may shudder at this thought, in China, and other parts of Asia, it's not uncommon for humans to eat dogs. In ancient times, dog meat was considered to have medicinal purposes, while today, it is still socially acceptable for the Chinese to purchase dogs and cats at local markets for the sole purpose of sustenance.

Keeping dogs as pets was banned in China throughout the cultural revolution. However, since that ban has been lifted, dog ownership has become increasingly popular in China's middle class.

This is perhaps why the Qinaxi festival has garnered more and more criticism in recent years. In an effort to prove that the meat vendors were selling was fresh, many merchants have taken to skinning and slaughtering the animals in the streets during the event. For a country that is slowly becoming more animal-friendly, this gruesome development didn't go over well among citizens.

According to Xinhuanet, hundreds of thousands of people have posted criticisms of the festival on Internet forums and social networking sites. Additionally, the Qianjiang Evening News reported that most local villagers opposed the carnival, citing a local government survey.

However, there are still some villagers who are unhappy about the ban. "It's our tradition, which the government has no right to ban," one local villager told Xinhuanet. "The dog-eating carnival is like the Spring Festival to me."

Chinese legal experts recently proposed a ban on eating dogs and cats, based on beliefs that the animals are poorly treated and bred purely for slaughter. While a ban has not yet been considered, it has sparked hopes among animal advocates that China's record of poor treatment of animals may soon come to an end.


Erin Skarda is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @ErinLeighSkarda. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/09/24/china-bans-ancient-dog-eating-festival-amid-online-outcry/

Canine of the year: Military Dog Reportedly Assisted in bin Laden Raid

Two soldiers and dogs of the 26th airborne brigade of the 

Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) rappel down 

from a helicopter

Getty Images / TORSTEN SILZ

Article by Jenny Wilson for Time News Feed

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/05/canine-of-the-year-military-dog-reportedly-assisted-in-bin-laden-raid

Accompanying the Navy Seals who completed the bin Laden mission was a faithful four-legged fighter. The trained military dog, either a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois, was attached to a human Seal and lowered from a helicopter into the compound. Wearing canine armor, he went along to sniff out hidden explosives or, if necessary, find a secret room of bin Laden's.

Canines often play a significant role in military operations as they can crawl into small spaces, find enemy soldiers and report back unnoticed with TV footage from a camera attached to their heads. Their primary functions "are finding explosives and conducting searches and patrols," Maj. Wes Ticer, a spokesman for the United States Special Operations Command, told the New York Times, but  Ticer said that many times dogs save "the lives of the Special Operations Forces with whom they operate."

The NYT reports that according to Gen. David H. Petraus, commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, that dogs are useful because “the capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine.”

German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois dogs have the skills best-suited to the job (like sense of smell, courage, athleticism, endurance and intelligence) and thus are most commonly used in the military. It just goes to show a dog is a man's best friend — as long as he's on your side.

Dog Agility for Fun - All dogs can run the course

Active dogs such as Border collies, Aussies, and Shelties love agility and excel in competition. But almost any dog enjoys running and jumping just for fun!

I'm sure you've seen them at festivals, dog shows, or on tv - the speedy little pooches racing around an obstacle course, leaping hurdles, negotiating tunnels, weave poles, A-frames, and teeter totters in the blink of an eye! Of course the object is to finish the course in the fastest time with the least amount of faults, but the dogs have the time of their life, whether they win or not.
Agility originated in England in the late 70's and came to America in 1985. Most events and competitions are organized by local clubs but sanctioned by an organization that sets the rules, keeps records and issues titles. Most organizations are open to all dogs, mixed breed or purebred.

You've probably said to yourself, "My dog would never do that!" Well, competition level does require lots of patience and practice but having fun requires only what you want to give! However, to make sure they are up to the rigors of the sport, dogs should be at least 18 months old and have a vet checkup before beginning. A basic knowledge of obedience commands is helpful but you don't have to be a pro trainer with a competitive breed to take part in agility. Most club members just love dogs and value fun and sportsmanship over winning. If you are not interested in competing, they are usually happy to help you train your dog on any level. So you see, you don't even have to have the smartest dog on the block to enjoy agility. Just go out there and have fun!

Almost every dog loves to leap, jump, and run around, especially when you join him! He'll be having so much fun he won't even realize he is learning commands! And together, you'll strengthen your bond, build confidence, and gain health benefits. If your dog excels and you decide to compete, so much the better!

 

Article by Joy Butler for Suite 101

http://joybutler.suite101.com/dogagilityjustforfun-a1634

Owner who put electric shock collar on dog is fined £2,000

Hundreds of thousands of dog owners who force their pets to wear electric collars were warned yesterday that the devices were “cruel and outdated”.

 

Phillip Pook, 48, from Ogmore-by-Sea in the Vale of Glamorgan, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs for using a battery-operated collar to train his pet border collie.

The collars, which were banned in Wales last year but are still legal in other parts of Britain, give the animal an electric shock when it strays beyond designated boundaries. About 500,000 British dog owners use the device.

The Kennel Club welcomed the prosecution. A spokesman said: “Electric shock collars train dogs through pain and fear.

“They are a cruel, outdated and unsuitable method of training dogs.”

A spokesman for the RSPCA said Mr Pook had been “very bloody minded”. He said: “This has got to be the most expensive dog collar ever – he’s paid £3,000 for it. He was using the collar because he was too lazy to put up a fence.

“Electric collars have now been outlawed in Wales and there’s no excuse for using them. I am under no doubt this would have caused the dog pain.”

Magistrates at Bridgend were told that the collar gave an electric shock to Mr Pook’s dog, Dougie, when it went near a specific fence to escape from his home.

A young couple found Mr Pook’s collie, wearing the illegal collar, roaming a beach near his home in Ogmore-by-Sea.

They handed the collie over to the Dogs Trust charity, who traced the owner through a microchip.
David Prosser, prosecuting, said: “This is the first prosecution under the regulations for this type of collar. It operates like an electric fence, and if the dog approaches the boundaries or tries to escape it sends a shock. He didn’t accept that it was illegal because it’s legal in England. But this is the law as far as Wales is concerned.”

Magistrates were told the dog ignored the shocks and kept on escaping. It was known at a local kennels as “the dog with the shock collar”.
Mr Pook admitted the offence but claimed he didn’t know the collars had been made illegal. Electric shock collars, which are used to train unruly cats and dogs, were banned by the Welsh Assembly last March. The collars are still legal in England and Scotland. However, their legality is due to be debated in Parliament at Westminster and in Scotland.

The Electronic Collars Manufacturers Association has denied that use of such collars is painful to dogs.
On its website, the organisation says: “Mild static stimulation that your dog feels [is] designed to be undesirable so your dog will avoid it, yet is totally harmless and humane.”

The association said dogs learned in “small stages”, and therefore it takes an average 10 minutes twice a day for two weeks for a dog to be trained wearing an electronic collar.

The Welsh regulation prohibits the use of any electronic collar designed to give a dog or cat an electric shock. Owners caught using the device face a fine of up to £20,000 or six months in prison.


Article by James Hall for The Telegraph.

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/8646521/Owner-who-put-electric-shock-collar-on-dog-is-fined-2000.html

Pet Passport rules to be relaxed

The rules on pet passports are to be relaxed, allowing hundreds of thousands of pet owners to travel abroad with their animals for the first time.

The change to the rules should also save pet owners who do travel with their animals an estimated £7 million a year.

Currently, anyone who wants to travel with their animals and bring them back into Britain needs to have their pet vaccinated a full six months before coming back into the country and be microchipped. Their animals then need a blood test a month later to ensure the anti-rabies vaccine has fully taken. Only then are they given a so-called Pet Passport, allowing them to come back into the country.

On Thursday, Caroline Spelman, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, is expected to announce that Britain will relax the rules, bringing the country into line with more liberal regulations in place across most of the European Union.

Animals will only need to be vaccinated 21 days before coming back into the country and the blood test requirement will be dropped. The new rules are expected to come into force from the start of next year.

Only last weekend Novak Djokovic, the tennis player who moved into the semi-finals at Wimbledon yesterday, was reported to be in distress after being told he could bring his pet poodle Pierre with him to London.

Lady Fretwell, who has campaigned for the end to the quarantine system and for Britain to adopt European pet passport rules, said: "It will make a huge, huge difference. People will no longer need to plan months in advance. If people move jobs it will mean they will no longer be forced to leave their pets behind for months.
"And the dropping of the blood test – for me, that's 'yippee'".
Many vets charge pet owners £100 for the blood test, which most scientists say is completely unnecessary. It is understood that a report, commissioned by Defra, will calculate that pet owners will save £7 million a year as a result of the dropping of this requirement.

An estimated 100,000 owners a year use the pet passport scheme to take their animals on holiday or on work trips.

Rabies has almost been completely eradicated in Britain, with the exception of some rare cases in bats and foxes. According to the Health Protection Agency, there have only been four cases of humans with rabies since 2000, all of which were caused by people being bitten while abroad, outside of the EU. The only person to catch the disease in Britain was when a man who was a licensed bat handler died in Scotland from infection with European Bat Lyssavirus 2, a rabies-like virus.

Some vets have argued that Britain should not be complacent about the rabies threat, pointing out that in some European countries such as Poland, there are still cases. But Lady Fretwell said: "These vets all have vested interests in keeping the expensive system in place."

While pet owners will only need to vaccinate their pets 21 days before travelling if they are arriving from the EU or a developed country, the rules for some other countries such as India, will remain more strict.
Travelling with pets from these countries, the owners are currently forced to vaccinate their animal and put it into full quarantine for six months. However, this will be dropped to four months and instead of quarantine they will need just to be vaccinated.

Article by By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/8606272/Pet-passport-rules-to-be-relaxed.html