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WRITTEN BY Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA Animal Trainer,Image via iStock.com/alexei_tm By Victoria Schade It doesn’t take much to win a dog’s unconditional love, and that’s one of the reasons we cherish them as companions. Most dogs are driven to try to make friends with everyone they meet, both canine and human. Their boundless affection and dog socialization skills are inspiring!   But not all dogs like to make friends. Some dogs might be closely bonded with their family but don’t want to connect with anyone else. They’re well-adjusted, happy dogs, but they seem to prefer being introverts, chilling on their own instead of joining the crowd. Because this feels so un-dog-like, pet parents might wonder if they did something to cause their dog’s standoffishness. But loner dog behavior can be a product of nature or nurture, or a combination of both. If your dog is healthy and content and acts appropriately around other dogs and people, it’s actually no reason for concern. The Difference Between Aloof and Fearful Responses It’s important to first distinguish between a reserved dog and a dog that’s fearful, as the reactions can look similar at first. While both dogs might be reluctant to approach strangers, aloof, loner dogs will likely regard someone they don’t know from a distance without retreating, or might quickly sniff the person and then move on to avoid further contact. A fearful dog might cower, run away or try to hide when approached by an unknown person. Similarly, loner dogs usually don’t initiate interactions with other dogs. They might allow a dog to do investigative sniffing and reciprocate, but they’ll rarely respond to play requests. These are the dogs at the park that prefer to investigate the perimeter rather than getting their paws dirty in the scrum. On the other hand, a fearful dog might retreat before another dog can get too close, or preemptively bark to prevent the dog from approaching.

How to Keep Your Dog’s Mouth Clean Here are the best ways to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and eliminate bad breath: Brush your dog’s teeth 2-3 days a week or more using dog toothpaste Sprinkle dog dental powder on your dog’s food at every meal Try a dental water additive made for dogs Ask your vet about prescription dental diets for dogs Give your dog dental treats that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance Schedule regular veterinary dental cleanings   Featured Image: iStock.com/LittleCityLifestylePhotography,WRITTEN BYMichelle Diener, DVM Veterinarian I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I obtained by BS degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 and my DVM degree at NCSU in 2006. I have…,Many people believe that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans’ mouths. This belief has been around for a long time, but is there any truth behind it? Find out how clean a dog’s mouth actually is, whether their saliva can cause infections and skin rashes in people, and how to keep your dog from licking you so much. Is Your Dog’s Mouth Cleaner Than Yours? Unfortunately, the answer is no. A dog’s mouth and a human’s mouth both contain billions of bacteria belonging to roughly 700 different species. Although we both have bacteria in our mouths, the bacteria in a dog’s mouth are mostly different species than the bacteria that inhabit a person’s mouth. These bacteria prefer a dog to be the host, and thankfully, they are not harmful to people. However, there are similarities between the mouths of dogs and people. For instance, Porphyromonas is the bacterial family that causes periodontal disease in both dogs and people. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which means inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is caused by bacteria in the mouth that form dental plaque. Billions of bacteria slowly build up on the surface of the teeth, which eventually leads to bad breath, gum recession, tooth root abscesses, and the destruction of bone around the tooth roots. Early stages of periodontal disease are treatable for both dogs and people with at-home dental care, and just like people, dogs need their teeth professionally cleaned periodically.

Hosting with a pet this year? Here’s what you should know.,Jump to section Holiday Petiquette For Hosts Do… Prep your home. Do create a Plan B for in-laws who love feeding pets human food. Know it’s OK to decline other furry guests. Don’t… Forget to tell your guests that you have pets. Let your pet be a distraction during mealtime. Assume everyone will love your pet. Holiday Petiquette For Guests Do… Express when you’re uncomfortable or afraid. Bring your pet as a plus one—but only with permission and asking the house rules. Acknowledge when damage is done (and fix it!). Don’t… Bring furniture-loving pets to another person’s home without a plan. Correct or handle another person’s animals without asking. Correct or handle another person’s animals without asking.

Show dog names can seem long and unnatural to people unfamiliar with the dog show world.They often have longer names than most people! Although those fancy names you hear at the dogs shows may seem strange, to seasoned dog exhibitors, they can tell a complete story of a dog’s origins. Let’s break it down!