March 2004
Letters 03/04: Whales and Dogs
Subscribers Only Readers inquire about a popular “positive” training technique that marine mammal trainers now refrain from using.
Dogs Playing in The Garden
Subscribers Only Whether you are starting with a new garden or revamping an already existing garden, taking the time to develop a design or plan that incorporates your dog’s needs can save you a lot of grief. Exactly how do you incorporate your dog’s needs into a garden plan? Begin, as with any garden design, by identifying how the yard is used – in this case, how your dog uses it.
Dog Mounting and Dog Dominance Behavior
First, we’re not talking about sexual behavior displayed by intact male and female dogs used for breeding. High hormone levels and normal sexual responses to other intact dogs are different from “problem mounting.” Sometimes, an owner will report that when her young dog plays with other dogs, he gets overstimulated and will attempt to mount another dog or even just “air-hump” for a few seconds. In preadolescent and neutered dogs, this is generally a byproduct of physiologic arousal – an inappropriate response triggered by sensory stimuli, motor activity, and/or emotional reactivity.
Understanding Destructive Dog Behavior
Subscribers Only Owners often misunderstand their dogs’ motives for destructive behavior and misinterpret their dogs’ responses when the damage is discovered. The result of this lack of understanding is often the inappropriate application of verbal and/or physical punishment, which, ironically, can make the problem even worse. Dogs are normally destructive for one or more of five reasons, none of which involve spite, malice, or “getting even.”
Adding a New Dog to a Multi-Dog Household - Plan Ahead!
Subscribers Only Are you thinking about adding a second (or third, or fourth) dog to your household? Will your current dog be thrilled with a new friend? Will the dogs play with each other, romp together, and keep each other company in your absence? Or will adding another dog to your home create disharmony, chaos, or worse?
The Dangers of Antibiotic Misuse and Your Dog
A holistic veterinarian warns dog owners about casual or sloppy use of synthetic antibiotics, and what the consequences could be for your dog, and even you! Every year we are literally dumping millions of tons of antibiotics into our living environment – each ounce of antibiotic with the potential to create yet another antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria.
