PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Most dogs enjoy a visit to the dog park. Outdoor fun with a compatible group of dogs– what could be better? Unfortunately, dog parks are also often the site of serious injuries to dogs or to humans, and some dogs have become seriously ill after visiting dog parks. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of visiting dog parks.

Pros:

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I cringe every time I see a dog wearing a barking collar, particularly the type that delivers a painful shock to a dog’s neck. These collars are stronger than many people think. When I put a standard Petsafe bark collar around my own neck and made a barking noise to trigger it, the shock I received was strong enough to make my knees buckle momentarily. It felt like a baseball bat to the throat. While shock collars are perhaps better than a dog losing its home due to problem barking, these painful collars should be used only as a last result. Most habitually barking dogs can become good neighbors using a combination of enrichment, positive reinforcement training, and management of their environment, without ever subjecting the dog to a shock and to the unpleasant potential side effects of punishment, which include fear and aggression.

Honestly Evaluate Your Involvement in the Problem

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The subprime mortgage crisis, declines in some sectors of the economy, and a rising cost of living have led to more families moving out of houses and into apartments, townhomes, and condos. I see ads on Craigslist or in the newspaper almost every day, reading something like, “Free Border Collie. Have to move into an apartment and he won’t be happy there. Needs a yard.”

Does apartment living with a high-energy dog always spell disaster? Do all high energy dogs need a yard and a spacious house in order to be happy? While some dogs simply can’t function in an apartment, the majority of high-energy dogs can adjust to apartment living, and though the situation’s not ideal, it’s certainly a better plan than giving away a family member because of necessary changes in one’s living situation. More →

Golden Retrievers are among the more active breeds and require a lot of exercise to stay fit and happy. Originally bred for game fetching, these energetic dogs can run much of the day, even late into life.

Training and exercise should start young, at around 8-10 weeks. At first the level of activity should be no more than what the pup is willing to do spontaneously. They’ll scamper around, explore bushes and wrestle with one another in between naps. But add to that by getting them to follow you in a particular direction, at least briefly. That’s the beginning of focusing on you and doing as you ask.

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The German Shepherd breed was developed over 100 years ago, as the name suggests, for herding sheep. That activity is less common in the world today, but the basic skills are still much in demand.

GSDs, as they’re sometimes known, will patrol a border for hours, keeping strangers at bay and protecting those within. Seeing some dogs roam back and forth along a fence would suggest a mental problem, or at least a high level of frustration. But German Shepherds enjoy routine, never tire of doing their jobs and thrive when they have a role that keeps them active.

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