Author: northforkmusings

New Book – Four Ways to Choosing the Perfect Pet

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After having to step away from my book project for awhile, I am back at it, but am writing a shorter version of my original book. This book, roughly 20 pages long, will address the 30 or so questions that all new pet owners should consider before bringing home a new pet. Few new pet owners, or even those who have had a pet or two in the past, or own one currently, consider the importance of these questions, and how it may affect the relationship between the pet and the owner.

Recent studies have shown what pet owners around the world have known for a long time; that living with animals as pets can be richly rewarding for us. While human and animal studies are relatively new, most have found that interacting with various types of animals can help lower stress, increase social interaction, encourage more exercise, and many other benefits. Studies have found that owning or interacting with pets can help build self-esteem, assist with developing responsibilities, provide a safe companion, provide a vital connection with others, as well as relieve anxiety and offer sensory stress relief. In today’s society, there is a growing need for these and the many more benefits that pets offer. But each person must find the right pet that will fit into their life and needs. For sure, obtaining a pet and bringing it home can be one of the most enjoyable times of your life. Or it can be one of the most miserable ones, full of second thoughts and regrets at the moment of bringing the pet home, as well as years down the line. There is a way to avoid regretting your decision of bringing home a pet. To almost guarantee success and many happy years spent with your new pet and the benefits one can enjoy while being with them. And that is with careful consideration of four important topics: Commitment, Research, Family, and Financial/Living Considerations. If each one of these topics are given careful, and honest, consideration, the chances of a healthy relationship with a new pet can raise significantly higher. Because bringing a new pet into your home and life should not be a spur-of-the-moment thing. Instead, it should be a well thought out decision, one that assures that your chosen pet will suit you and your lifestyle and equally important, that you will match his.

Watch for this book later this summer! If you know anyone who is considering a new pet, let them know about this book! They will be grateful that you did!

Know Your Dog Breed Before You Purchase

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Article written by Ashley Tanstrum – trainer at RHK9 Pet Academy – from a post on Facebook

 

Working at the animal shelter, we hear all different reasons why people need to surrender their pets to us. Moving, allergies, frequently escaping from the home, divorce, etc. But when it comes down to surrendering a heeler (Australian Cattle Dog), it’s almost the exact same reason every time.

“He’s biting us”
“Being very nippy”
“He keeps chasing my kids and biting their ankles”
“Too mouthy, and getting rough”
“Going after people and/or other animals”

These photos (credit to Jeff Jaquish) show exactly why the dog is displaying this behavior. They are bred to work. They are bred to herd and handle large livestock, even the mean, nasty ones. Not all cows are nice and go where you want.

They are bred to bite.

So you take this fluffy cute puppy, raise it in a pet home and not provide any drive satisfaction, that breed’s genetic make up of specific desires and needs come out. One way or another. Biting, destruction, running away.

Research the breed before you commit.

Know what individual breeds are bred to do, and within those breeds know what breeders breed for in traits because there are so many degrees of traits within a breed standard. Pet home vs working dog. (Note: pet homes still have variations of drive levels.)

And if you don’t have cows, or able to provide the sole purpose that dog was bred to do (hunting, racing, detection), give it another type of job (dog sports for example) that can satisfy the dog mentally and physically. Plus train, train, train!

Most importantly, it’s a life time commitment, so make it a happy one for you and your dog by getting to know your dog’s world better.

Update: my post is in regards of dog behavior, genetics and drive satisfaction. I’m not saying if a dog bites or “mouths” it’s meaning the dog is aggressive. In addition, a dog with working traits can still make a good family dog when their needs are met. Also if you own a dog that bites, seek a professional to determine the underlying reason.

(Feel free to share!)

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I SAW THIS POSTED ON FACEBOOK AND FELT THAT IT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT POST TO SHARE HERE, AS SHE TELLS EXACTLY WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE INHERITED TRAITS OF A BREED BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ONE AND BRING IT HOME. While this article only refers to the Australian Cattledog, or Heeler, it holds true for all breeds of working dogs, be they herders, hunters, terriers, guard dogs, etc. The traits that they have inherited will dictate how the dog will behave and how it may react to different stimuli. The different bloodlines, and individual dogs, will vary in the strength of those genetics, but it is best to assume they will inherit the more apparent behavoirs and consider if that is what you want, then to assume that the dog will not inherit much or show much of the traits for it’s breed.

Why “Buy Pets Responsibly” Was Created

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For many years, society has been hearing “Adopt, Don’t Shop.” While the meaning seems to vary depending on who is saying it, the basic idea has always seemed to be to discourage people from purchasing pets from breeders and only obtain from rescues. This was designed specifically to lower the number of animals in the shelters. It was believed that if people only obtained a pet from a shelter or rescue organization, then it would help save unwanted pets from occurring. Sadly, this has not been the case, as it does not address the heart of the problem. It does not encourage people to buy pets responsibly, to own pets responsibly, or to breed pets responsibly. The “adopt, don’t shop,” mantra does nothing to teach people how to chose the correct animal for their home in the first place, which would in turn, over time, help to lower the number of animals who end up in less than perfect situations.

Another side affect of the “adopt, don’t shop” idea is that it points fingers and the blame to all pet breeders. When, in truth, many pet breeders work hard on being responsible breeders, health testing their pets when appropriate, working with the babies so that they can adapt to their new homes, and talking with potential owners to make sure that they are familiar with the pros and cons of that particular pet.

Granted, there will always be those with less honest leanings in the pet world who are breeders, but sadly, there are those in the rescue world who are also not honest, and do not have the best interest of the pet, or the owner, in mind in their businesses.

Buy Pets Responsibly hopes to address the main reasons that pets are in shelters, rehomed, neglected, abused or abandoned. And that is that people need to take the time to learn about their chosen pet and train the pet. If those two aspects have been done thoroughly and correctly, they will be more than happy to keep the pet and grow to love it and consider it a part of the family. This in turn, over time, will begin to lessen the numbers of animals who find themselves in need of a new home or rescued from a unhealthy living environment.