Canine Breeding
Babies and Dogs
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It is an exciting time when a new baby arrives to your home. Along with the excitement comes adjustments as schedules and routines must accomodate the new arrival. Part of those adjustments include the family dog who is a member of your household. It can be particularly trying if the dog has never seen a baby before.
Preparing your dog begins before the baby is born. When the dog is around the baby he will need to be quiet and under control. You can train your dog to sit or lie down on command and stay that way until you give him the command to get up. He needs to be trained to remain calm and sitting no matter what the activity level around him may be.
Begin to teach your dog to sit and stay for a short period of time, using treats as rewards. Gradually increase the amount of time to sit and stay as well as increase the amount of activity around him. Start with simple activity such as walking a few steps away from him then back towards him. Gradually increase the amount of activity as well as the speed of the activity, rewarding the dog for not responding to the activity around him, but sitting and staying.
When your dog has learned to sit and stay with the activity going on around him, you can begin to simulate the activity involved with the baby. You can wrap a doll in blanket and carry it around or rock it. You can let the dog look at the doll while sitting, staying, and remaining calm. Reward the dog with treats.
If the dog gets up before it is suppose to, use a firm "no". If you are using "no" repeatedly, you may need to back up and repeat some prior training. Try to keep the training positive, and do not associate it with punishment. Do not threaten the dog or hit the dog. Remember, you want the dog to demonstrate this calm, sit and stay behavior around the new baby.
When you bring the baby home, gradually introduce the new baby to the dog. From a distance allow the dog to smell the baby and hear the sounds of the baby. When the dog is calm and the baby is quiet, you can begin to introduce them within seeing distance. Make the dog sit and stay and remain calm, then bring in the baby, keeping a safe distance. One person should attend the dog while another person holds the baby. As long as the dog sits and remains calm, he can stay in the baby's presence until the baby begins to fuss or needs to be moved. You can do this several times a day, gradually decreasing the distance between them. If the dog remains calm and under control, you
can bring the dog close enough to smell the baby, but not close enough to bite. Eventually you can let the dog wander around loose while you are with the baby. Do not, however, let the dog have access to the baby when you are not there.
Give the dog as much freedom in the house as possible. Baby gates can be used to keep the dog from the area where the baby is or a screen door with a latch can be put on the baby's room. Be sure to interact with the dog and give him play time, too.
If the dog has aggressive tendencies, or predatory behavior such as chasing and killing squirrels you may want to consult an animal behavior specialist for advice on interaction between your dog and children. Never leave a dog with aggressive or predatory tendencies alone, unattended with a baby. Be careful with them around the baby even when you are present.
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. They may bark to warn of danger or to threaten what they consider an impending danger. They may bark as part of their play or when they are isolated and want attention. They bark when they hear other dogs bark. They bark when their owners come home. They bark when they want to be fed, want to go out, or want to bark for no apparent reason. Excessive, nuisance barking, however, is a problem.
Assessing the reason a dog is barking may help to determine proper treatment. The first thing to consider is the dog's environment. Restrictions on the dog's freedom and isolation could be encouraging the barking. If you are using isolation as a punishment, you might need to correct the problem that led to the isolation instead. Also, do not touch or try to sooth your dog when it is barking as that will reinforce the barking. Wait until your dog is calm and then reward him with petting.
If you have a puppy, train him early not to bark. Avoid reinforcing barking behavior. Puppy classes and obedience classes are a good place to start.
If you have an older dog that has begun to start barking, a medical problem may be causing it. Dogs in their senior years begin to lose their hearing and their eyesight. They may feel more isolated or less able to function.
Desensitization and counter-conditioning may correct the excessive barking when the dog cannot be removed from the physical situation causing the barking. Desensitization begins by exposing the dog to a situation where the dog can, and does, remain calm. Reward him for remaining calm. Gradually increase the stress causing stimulous, rewarding the dog for remaining calm. If the dog barks or exhibits other unwanted behavior, end the training session and lead the dog away from the situation. Repeat the process daily and when the dog is anxious about a stimulous outside the property or home. This process will take time, but you should see improvements within a couple of weeks.
There are some things you can do to get the dog to stop barking instantly. One way is to put a few pennies or marbles in a can and tape the lid back on. When the dog starts to bark, shake the can to distract him, then try to engage him in a more appropriate behavior. You can also use a squirt gun or spray bottle.
Bark collars are another option. One model uses citronella that is sprayed toward the dog's nose when the dog barks. Another emits a high-frequency sound when the dog barks. A third option is a shock collar which emits an electric shock. If using this collar be sure to get one with a safety shut-off feature.
When the barking is related to separation anxiety, fear, or compulsive disorders, medication can be prescribed. The veterinarian will monitor the use of these drugs and in some cases may require blood work periodically.
As a last resort, vocal cordectomy can be performed. This is a surgical procedure that reduces the pitch and level of the bark. Because there will be a slight regrowth of the vocal cord folds as scar tissue, complete silencing cannot be guaranteed.
Canine Breeding
The female dog usually has 2 reproductive cycles each year. This cycling begins at puberty, which is about 7 to 8 months of age. It is best to wait until the dog is at least one year of age or started its second heat period to breed the dog. The estrus or "heat" cycle lasts about 21 days from start to finish. The period of time when conception can take place starts about the 7th through the 14th day. If an accidental mating takes place there is an injection that can be given within 48 hours to prevent pregnancy. The best way to know when to breed the dog is to have a microscopic examination of vaginal cells performed in the clinic. Within three weeks after breeding the dog can be checked to see if it is pregnant. The normal pregnancy takes about 63 days to deliver.
Prior to planned breeding the female should be checked for intestinal parasites and should be current on her vaccinations. She should be maintained on regular dog food and provided vitamins during pregnancy. After the dog has delivered the pups then you should increase her food intake up to 30% more for the nursing phase.
Pregnancy Examination Schedule:
Whelping Facts:
If at any time you have concerns that events are happening that seem unusual do not hestitate to call the office.
The symptoms tend to look like those for kennel cough. The majority of infected dogs have had mild flu-like symptoms. A small number of dogs have had complications such as pneumonia. This disease is not as deadly as rumors have reported it to be.
If your dog exhibits any symptoms, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately so your pet can receive treatment promptly.
Elimination Problems in Dogs
Treatment: The correct treatment will be found after the dog has received a physical examination to make sure there is not a medical cause for the behavior. A stool sample or urine sample may need to be check, too. Once any medical problem has been addressed and a behavior problem identified, the following recommendations can be effective:
Begin House Training Again: Take the pet outside on a leash 15 minutes after each meal. Take him out frequently during the day to give him opportunities to eliminate. When he goes, reward him with a lot of praise.
Do not allow the dog the freedom to roam the house until it is house-trained. Confine the dog in a room or in a crate during times when the dog cannot be supervised.
Inappropriate Elimination Sites: Wash the area with soap and water, and use vinegar and water to rinse. Blot dry with an absorbent towel. We have a product called Equalizer available for purchase. It is very effective in getting rid of stains and odors. Block access to the area with furniture or a rug.
Punishment: To be humane and effective, punishment must follow within one second of the offensive behavior. When you catch the dog in the act of making a mess, slap your hands together to make a loud noise, say "No" in a loud voice, and take your dog outside.
When you come home and find a mess, clean it up and concentrate on the house training described above. Punishing or scolding your pet will not be effective as he will not understand why you are upset.
Drug Therapy: Drugs are reserved as a last resort when behavior modification alone will not control the problem. Before your dog begins drug therapy, blood tests may need to be done to determine if it will be safe to put your pet on medication. Once medication begins, it will probably need to be given for a long period of time.
Submissive Urination: Keep the greetings and good-byes brief and calm so the dog does not become excited. Avoid prolonged eye contact which might threaten the dog. Take the dog on walks often so he has opportunities to empty his bladder.
During submissive urination, do not pet the dog. This may accidentally reinforce the submissive urination as an appropriate behavior. Punishment for this behavior is not recommended as it can make the dog more anxious and increase the tendency for submissive urination.
Coprophagia (Stool Eating): The best way to correct a dog eating it's own feces or feces of another animal is to remove the feces as soon as possible. When your dog goes outside to do his business, take him on a leash and pick up the stool sample right away.
Provide a variety of appropriate objects for your dog to chew. Increase the time you spend playing and excercising him.
6 - 12 weeks of age 4 times daily
12 weeks to 6 months 3 times daily
6 - 12 months of age 2 times daily
over one year of age 1 time daily
Feces
It is important to remove feces from the lawn in order to reduce fly breeding and transmission of disease to humans. Diseases that can be passed from dogs to humans include salmonella, roundworms, and hookworms. Roundworm eggs passed in a dog's stool can live in the soil for many years. Dog and cat feces should never be used in composting.
Urine
Urine is a bigger problem for lawns because the urine removes excess nitrogen from the body and thus becomes a liquid fertilizer for the lawn. Male dogs who mark tend to urinate in small amounts on various places. Grass can usually handle this small amount of nitrogen bursts. Young bushes, vines, or tree sprouts may die because of the marking. Female dogs who squat to urinate cause the most damage because they put out a large amount of urine (and nitrogen) at one time in one location. The pH of urine has little or no effect on damage to lawns.
Solutions
You can train your dog to urinate in a specific location in your yard. The area can be landscaped with pea gravel or mulch with an added marking post such as a boulder, bird bath, or lawn ornament. Begin by taking your dog to this area and allowing him to urinate only in this area. It will take at least 2 to 3 weeks to establish a routine and train the new behavior.
Increasing water intake will help to dilute the dog's urine. Check with your veterinarian before making any dietary changes. Adding salt to the diet will increase water consumption, but can be harmful for dogs who have a kidney or heart condition. Feeding canned food, or adding water to the dry food increases water intake but also promotes plaque build-up on the teeth. Other additives to the diet such as vitamin C, fruit juices, baking soda, or potassium citrate may predispose your dog to develope bladder stones or infections. These have little or no benefit to the lawn problem. Premium dog foods available in pet stores and at the veterinarian usually have higher protein quality and more digestible protein contents which means lower fecal output. Once again, check with your veterinarian before making any dietary changes.
Another option is to water the lawn within 8 hours after the urination. The watering can dilute the urine and create a fertilizer effect rather than a burn effect.
A good resource in Indiana is your Purdue County Cooperative Extension Horticulturist.
If your dog shows one or more of the signs in the following list of questions, it may be developing separation anxiety or actually suffering from this disorder.
If you answered "yes" to any of these and you think your dog might have separation anxiety you can set up an appointment with the veterinarian to evaluate your dog's behavior. You can train your dog to deal with this anxiety. Some pets may need medication in addition to the training to help them
Training you can do at home to help your pet with separation anxiety:
Grapes, Raisins, and Kidney Failure
There is the possibility that grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has received well documented reports of dogs developing acute kidney failure after ingesting grapes or raisins.
Initially, the dogs begin vomitting, then stop eating and develop diarrhea. Their activity level drops as they becom lethargic and have abdominal pain. Urine output decreases.
If your dog has eatten grapes or raisins, induce vomiting and contact your veterinarian right away. The veterinarian will recommend blood work to check the kidney functions. The kidney damage is usually evident within 72 hours of ingestion. Treatment may include hospitalization, IV fluids, medications, and monitoring bloodwork.
Macadamia Nuts
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has been collecting data on dogs who have consumed Macadamia nuts. Their findings indicated that the macadamia nuts are harmful to dogs, but not fatal.
Clinic signs of macadamia nut toxicosis include weakness in the rear legs, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and hyperthermia. In laboratory testing the marked weakness in the rear legs occured within 12 hours of ingestion of the macadamia nuts.
The recommended treatment for uncomplicated cases is home observation. Prognosis for complete recovery is extremely good. The animal should return to normal within 48 hours.
Dogs who have pre-existing conditions or atypical presentations should be taken to a veterinary hospital and admitted for treatment.
Sugar-free Sweetner
According to Dr. Eric Dunayer, a consulting veterinarina in clinical toxicology for the poison control center xylitol can possibly be life threatening to dogs. Xylitol is a sweetner found in sugar-free chewing gum, candies, and other products. The products of most concern are those whose main ingredient is the xylitol. Dogs who have ingested large amounts of the sweetner may have a sudden drop in blood sugar resulting in depression, loss of coordination, and seizures.
If your dog has ingested products with xylitol, it is important to seek veterinary treatment right away. The signs can develop quickly, sometimes in less than 30 minutes.
Puppies explore their environment with their mouth. Everything seems to go in their mouth so they need to be trained as to what they can and cannot chew on. Avoid toys that resemble things you do not want them to chew on. Use rope toys and dental chews for dogs that want to chew on carpets or telephone cords. A plush squeaky dog toy can replace a slipper or glove. Toys help to develop the puppy's sensory abilities more completely, help them cope better with stress, and increase their learning capability.
Toys need to be the right size, texture, and shape for your dog:
Determine the play tendency of your dog:
Consult your veterinarian about destructive or aggressive behavior. He can advise you on behavior modification after he rules out any medical conditions. He may also might refer you to behavior specialist for training.
Advise your veterinarian if your dog suddenly refuses to play or interact as it could be a sign that something is wrong
Whatever the toy it needs to be made of an indestructible material or of a digestible material.
Knowing how your dog plays will help you set boundaries so the interaction will be appropriate and predictable. Undesirable, yet normal behavior can be redirected to appropriate outlets. A rambunctious dog, for instance, can learn that running is only to be done outside. A game of fetch can be played with a Frisbee or you can hit a tennis ball with a tennis racket. Bring out these toys only when you are taking the dog outside to play. Take him out on a special leash, one that is different from going on a walk, and train the dog to be calm and obedient.
Use toys that increase social interaction with people. Dogs enjoy the interaction with people, so use toys that increase the socialization. This will make them a better pet, too. Children and dogs can both be taught to interact calmly and with respect for each other. Teach the dog to sit before the child throws the ball and instruct the child to wait for the dog to sit before throwing the ball. This will keep the dog from jumping up to get the ball from the child's hand. Teach the dog to play with his own toys and to leave the child's toys alone.
Play activities need to be balanced with quiet times in a safe place. Dogs need a safe place where they can get away from children or where they can go when visitors are present. This place could be a crate, a closet, or under a bed where the dog can be relaxed, comfortable, and safe.
Walking your dog strengthens the bond between you and him. It also controls obesity, keeps his muscles strong, benefits his overall health, and he enjoys it. Dogs like a routine that is predictable, consistent, and reliable. Their routine should include time for a walk, elimination, exercise, interactive play, grooming, feeding, training, sleeping, and petting that are generally at the same time each day. You can change the time, but not the routine. For example, you take the dog for walk each morning before breakfast. During the week the walk begins at 7:00am and on the weekend the walk begins at 9:00am, but it is always before breakfast.
