Dogs

Dogs and children are the stuff of greeting cards, but not if you’ve got a dog that’s not a fan of the pint-sized crowd. It can be embarrassing if your dog is reactive around children, and depending on the intensity of the display, it can be downright dangerous. Colleen Pelar, author of “Living With Kids and Dogs … Without Losing your Mind,” points out that a dog that’s “fine” with kids is not the same as a dog that’s “good” with kids. Merely tolerating interactions with children can easily tip over into reactivity if a dog is pushed beyond his comfort zone. Being a pet parent to a dog that doesn’t like kids means that you need to be alert and aware to keep all parties safe until you’re able to pursue training to change your dog’s perception of them. Reasons Why Your Dog Might Not Like Kids Does your dog prefer to avoid the junior crowd? There’s a chance it’s because of: A lack of socialization: If your dog didn’t experience enjoyable interactions with children during the puppy socialization period, they might seem scary or overwhelming to him. Socialization is an important dog training step that exposes pups to new sights, sounds and experiences at a gentle pace to help them gain confidence and reduce fearfulness. A traumatic incident: Maybe your dog endured a series of unpleasant dress-up sessions with a small visitor, and now he equates people under 3 feet tall with feeling uncomfortable. Activities that look innocent to us, like allowing a child to climb on a dog or repeatedly take his bone away, can be incredibly stressful for dogs and might cause your dog to develop a negative association with children. Unpredictable behavior: Children yell, run, jostle, tug, hug and tease, and that type of behavior can be overstimulating for some dogs. Pelar points out that nobody likes everyone. “There will be some people your dog doesn’t click with; that’s just life,” she says. “We’re most afraid of things we find unpredictable, and kids can top that list.” What Does Kid-Prompted Stress Look Like? Canine discomfort isn’t always signaled with barks and snarls. (Although, if your dog has those types of reactions around people, young or old, contact a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist). A dog’s initial stress and fear reactions can be too subtle to notice, unless you’re actively looking for them, which is why people will often say a dog “snapped without warning.” The signals are usually there, but pet parents need to be able pick up on them in order to be their dog’s translator and advocate. A dog that’s uncomfortable with children and opts for an avoidance strategy might walk away when approached or attempt to hide when kids get too close. Unfortunately, children usually don’t recognize when a dog doesn’t want to meet them, and they try to pursue him anyway. A dog that’s concerned about the proximity of kids might keep his tail tucked and have his ears plastered against his head. He might shake off as if he’s wet, lick his lips or mouth area repeatedly—as if tasting the air—yawn frequently, or even growl quietly. Dogs that use preemptive strategies to keep their distance from children, like barking or loud growling, leave no doubt about how they feel. However, these demonstrative dogs have likely cycled through the subtler “please stay away” behaviors and have amped up their displays to try to maintain their distance. What Not to Do When Your Dog Shows Discomfort Like most canine behavior challenges, ignoring your dog’s discomfort with kids won’t make it go away. It’s a risky proposition anytime you’re dealing with reactivity, but especially so when dealing with children. Unfortunately, your dog won’t “grow out” of his discomfort around kids. Untreated, there’s a chance it might get worse. Similarly, trying to make your dog “face his fears” can backfire. Pelar warns against putting your dog in a situation where he can’t get away when he’s worried, like holding your dog so that a child can pet him. Forcing your dog to cope with children at close range won’t help him to enjoy them. It might actually cause him to escalate his warnings if he feels that he has no other option.    First Steps If Your Dog Doesn’t Like Kids If you notice that your dog is signaling that he’s uncomfortable in an encounter involving children, the safest bet is to manage the situation and remove him. Prevent children from running up to your dog to say hello, and always maintain a safety buffer when around kids in public. You can begin to change your dog’s perception of kids with basic training that makes a connection between them and something your dog loves, like dog treats. Any time your dog spots a child in the distance, give him high-value dog treats for as long as the child is visible. Once the child is gone, stop giving the goodies. In time, your dog will see children and immediately look to you to collect the treat, which means that he’s started to associate something that usually makes him uncomfortable (kids) with something wonderful (treats). Dogs and Children: Safety First Helping your dog feel more comfortable around children is a big job. If you’re concerned about the intensity of your dog’s reactions, the safest route is working with a positive-reinforcement dog trainer who can create a step-by-step training protocol that will help your dog learn to see the fun in little ones. Image via iStock.com/Image Source

Many dogs treat fallen leaves like nature’s snack bar, happily munching on a pile around the yard or chasing them down on a walk. But while the habit might seem harmless, can dogs eat leaves safely?  Eating a leaf here or there usually isn’t a big deal, but some leaves can be toxic, and eating too many can upset your pup’s stomach. Here’s what you need to know about why dogs eat leaves, the risks to watch out for, and how to curb the behavior if it becomes more than just an occasional nibble.  If you suspect your dog ate a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 immediately. 

Treatments for Excessive Peeing in Dogs Some of the more likely causes and their treatments include: Psychogenic Polydipsia (Increased Thirst) Once this condition is diagnosed by ruling out all other possible causes, water deprivation is commonly recommended. Kidney Failure Treatment for this condition is based on the stage of renal failure. It can range from fluid administration at home to hospitalization for intravenous fluids, low-phosphorus diets, appetite stimulants, gastroprotectant medications, and sometimes blood pressure and antibiotic therapy. Medication Side Effects The side effects of these medications are often self-limiting, as the body normalizes over the first 1-2 weeks of taking them. Sometimes dose adjustments are made by the veterinarian if urination becomes excessive and remains this way. Kidney Infection or Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) Appropriate antibiotic therapy and often pain medications and probiotics are used to treat these infections. Diabetes Mellitus Insulin therapy is the mainstay of treatment for diabetes mellitus. Sometimes hospitalization is required if this condition becomes more serious and progresses into diabetic ketoacidosis. Cushing’s Disease This condition is usually treated using a medication called trilostane, which is a synthetic enzyme used to decrease the production of excessive cortisol.  Bladder Stones and Crystals Certain types of stones and crystals (specifically struvite) can be dissolved using prescription diet changes. Stones that cannot be dissolved often require surgical removal. Prostatitis Antibiotics and pain medications are often used to treat this condition. Pyometra Surgical removal of the infected uterus is the preferred therapy. For open, draining uterine infections, longer courses of antibiotics can often clear the infection, but these infections often recur until the uterus is surgically removed. Cancer Treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer. Often a mixture of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are used to attempt remission. Liver Infection Treatment often requires hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics, fluid therapy, and gastroprotectants. If diagnosed and treated early on in infection, most dogs can be cured. Electrolyte Imbalances Treatment is dependent on the cause and type of electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes hospitalization and fluid therapy is initiated. In other cases, treatment is as simple as a diet change and avoiding high-sodium treats. Featured image: iStock.com/bernardbodo Related video: Increased Urination and Thirst in Dogs,If you notice that your dog has to go out more often to pee, or they’re suddenly having accidents in the house or squatting to urinate more than usual on their walks, it’s always a good idea to check with your vet. Here are some guidelines for how much dogs pee normally and some of the most common reasons your dog may be peeing a lot more than usual. How Much Should Dogs Pee? The “normal” amount for your dog to pee depends on a few factors, including their hydration level and underlying medical issues. Adult Dogs As a general rule, healthy adult dogs should be able to hold their urine for 6-8 hours. Normal adult dogs should produce about 20-40 milliliters of urine per kilogram of body weight over 24 hours. So, for a 20-pound dog, that would be about 6-12 ounces per day, and a 45-pound dog should pee about 14-28 ounces per day. Puppies Puppies will pee more because they are potty training and because their bodies need more water to keep them from becoming dehydrated rapidly. Puppies should be taken out to urinate every 2-6 hours depending on their age. They should usually be able to hold their urine the same number of hours as their age in months. For example, a 2-month-old puppy should be able to hold their urine for 2 hours. When puppies reach about 6-8 months old, however, their requirements are dependent on their lifestyle and any underlying medical conditions. Senior Dogs Senior dogs may also need to urinate more frequently, either due to underlying medical conditions or cognitive dysfunction (meaning they may forget they’ve already urinated or forget they should be urinating outside).

Teaching your dog to respond to the “down” cue by putting her belly on the ground requires creativity and patience. Down is a more complex dog training behavior than sit, and it can be more challenging for both student and teacher. The following overview will help streamline the training process and lead to down-dog success! How to Teach a Dog to Lie Down: Getting Started The first step of how to teach a dog to lie down is grabbing a handful of tasty dog treats, like Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail treats. Small treats are best for training dogs since you’ll be giving your dog quite a few during the process! To begin, hold a treat in your hand so that it’s almost touching your dog’s nose, then slowly move your hand towards the floor in a straight line. Act as if you’re tracing a path from your dog’s nose to a spot on the ground in between her front feet. Keep in mind that your dog will follow the treat in your hand wherever you move it, so once you reach the ground, try to keep it stationary. At this stage, most dogs will respond in one of two ways; your dog will either immediately collapse into the down position, or more likely, will your dog will contort herself into a half-down/half-up stance.

Indigenous to the mountain regions of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani Union Republics, the Kabardino-Balkar, Daghestan and Kalmyk Autonomous Republics, as well as the steppe regions of the northern Caucasus and Astrakhan district, the Caucasian Ovcharka spent hundreds of years as a guarding, herding and sometimes fighting dog.

This year, there are more Chewy pets with these names than any other. Bella Luna Max Lucy Daisy Charlie Bailey Buddy Molly Cooper,It’s time to bring home your new pup! You’ve stocked up on dog food, picked the perfect leash and collar, and dog-proofed your home. The only thing left to do? Choose the perfect dog name. Anyone who’s ever had to name a pet can tell you that it’s hard! There are endless options. But we have you covered with this list of 400 dog name ideas. Whether you’re searching for a fun dog name inspired by your pup’s spunky personality or a unique dog name that truly sets your dog apart from the pack, we promise you’ll find the perfect match in this list of the best dog names. So snuggle up next to your new furry friend and get scrollin’ through these great dog names.

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Pet parenthood can come with all sorts of questions, but you probably didn’t expect one of them to be “What if I’m allergic to my pet?”  The good news is that sneezes, sniffles, and itchy eyes don’t have to come between you and your furry bestie. With a few tips—and trips to the pharmacy—pet parents can often keep their symptoms in check.  

Sure, our four-legged friends look extra adorable sporting a winter dog coat—and it’s fun to dive into the season’s best fashion trends—but coats also help keep your pet warm. In those bone-chillingly cold, damp days, when the undercoat Mother Nature provided your pup isn’t quite enough, it’s up to you to deliver that additional layer of protection with a high-quality dog coat or jacket. Not just any old thing will do, though. The Chewy editors know you want the best of the best for your precious pooch—something that’s both functional and fashionable. To help keep your pet warm and stylish this winter, we rounded up the best dog coats that accommodate a range of sizes and weather conditions. These dog coats and dog jackets are a mix of Chewy customer favorites and new items that tap into the hottest trends this winter, like bright and cheerful hues, natural earth tones, and ultra-fuzzy fibers.

Pet grooming is an essential component of optimizing your dog’s overall health and quality of life. When it comes to how to groom a puppy, it is important that you introduce puppies while they are still young. We talked with certified master groomer Suesan Watson, who gave us some dog grooming tips for helping your puppy get accustomed to being groomed. Suesan Watson explains that acquainting your puppy with the basics of grooming is essential. This includes making sure they are comfortable being handled and well-acclimated to grooming tools. The first grooming for a puppy can be a stressful experience for all involved, but with some patience, you can help your pup overcome any grooming-induced anxiety he may experience.