Showing posts with label Golden Retriever. Show all posts

Here's a cute Autumn puppy video that I thought you'd enjoy! –Kim

Golden Retriever Puppies Experience Fall for the First Time

• It's That Time of Year Again
• A Dog and His Pumpkin
• A Festive Autumn Treat for Your Dog
• Cool Pumpkins! (video)
• Free Pumpkin-Dog Stencils

Here's another great article about the spay/neuter controversy...something clearly needs to change! –Kim

Neutering/Spaying Dogs Increases the Incidence of Joint Disorders and Cancer

A recent study on the effects of neutering (including spaying) in Golden Retrievers markedly increased the incidence of two joint disorders and three cancers prompted this study and a comparison of Golden and Labrador Retrievers.

The incidence of joint disorders and cancers is much more marked in golden retrievers than in the Labrador retrievers.

The first part of the study focused on joint disorders, finding that spaying/neutering Labs before the age of 6 months doubles the incidence of joint disorders. But with Goldens, the incidence jumps to 4-5 times as compared to intact dogs. The sex hormones have a role in joint health which has previously been overlooked in veterinary medicine.

The second part of the study compared cancer rates, and they found that the female golden retrievers are the ones at risk: once spayed their risk of cancer rises 3-4 times in comparison to intact females. This same effect was not seen on Labs or in male Goldens. In particular the sex hormones are playing a big role in preventing cancer in the female golden retrievers.

Abstract

Veterinary hospital records were examined over a 13-year period for the effects of neutering during specified age ranges: before 6 months, and during 6-11 months, year 1 or years 2 through 8.

The joint disorders examined were hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear and elbow dysplasia. The cancers examined were lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumor, and mammary cancer.

The results for the Golden Retriever were similar to the previous study, but there were notable differences between breeds.

In Labrador Retrievers, where about 5% of gonadally intact males and females had one or more joint disorders, neutering at less than 6 months doubled the incidence of one or more joint disorders in both sexes.

In male and female Golden Retrievers, with the same 5% rate of joint disorders in intact dogs, neutering at less than 6 months increased the incidence of a joint disorder to 4-5 times that of intact dogs.

The incidence of one or more cancers in female Labrador Retrievers increased slightly above the 3% level of intact females with neutering.

In contrast, in female Golden Retrievers, with the same 3% rate of one or more cancers in intact females, neutering at all periods through 8 years of age increased the rate of at least one of the cancers by 3-4 times.

In male Golden and Labrador Retrievers neutering had relatively minor effects in increasing the occurrence of cancers. Comparisons of cancers in the two breeds suggest that the occurrence of cancers in female Golden Retrievers is a reflection of particular vulnerability to gonadal hormone removal

Scientific Study Available

The entire study can be seen here: Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs, or download the PDF format HERE.

So, what do you do?! Great question, and one that I have asked myself if I were to have a Golden Retriever pup.

I would definitely wait to have them spayed or neutered, likely 2-3 years of age as opposed to 6 months. Based on this study I would consider the earliest time to neuter/spay to be at 1 year, not 6 months.

Obviously there are many factors, and it is new and confusing, BUT the incidence of joint disorders in large breed dogs is especially alarming (who doesn't know a dog that has had a cruciate injury?), or a Golden that has had cancer.

Obviously some of the conventional ways are not working, and it's time to do some things a little different.

I have more suggestions for alternate ways of treating the top 10 dog and cat diseases here:

• Dogs: www.thedogsupplement.com
• Cats: www.thecatsupplement.com
  

• New Evidence Shows Link Between Spaying, Neutering and Cancer
• Spayed or Neutered Dogs More at Risk for Cancers, Other Ills, Research Shows
• Don't Neuter Your Dog YET – Read this Life-Saving Information First!
• Top 6 Things You Can Do Now to Prevent Your Dog from Getting Cancer
• You CAN Heal Your Sick Pet at Home, Without Going to the Vet...

Here's an amazing video... this dog could really go places! –Kim

AMAZING! Golden Retriever with a Perfect Musical Ear!

• Piano Dog Solo
• Porter the Piano-playing, Singing Dog
• Singing Puppies to Sleep
  

News

GRAPHIC: Outrage Erupts over Cops Killing Dogs

People across the country are upset with a police officer from Hawthorne, Calif., after a video of him shooting a Rottweiler went viral.

Very upset, in fact.

So much so, that 113,000 have signed a petition calling for his resignation.

WND has reported on cases of police brutality, constitutional infringement, corruption and the militarization of police.

The response to the Hawthorne case, in which police shot an innocent bystander's Rottweiler as officers arrested the man for recording another arrest, appears to take concern over police actions to a new level.

Police were arresting the man "taking video" of an arrest that he witnessed as he was walking his dog. Another bystander got the arrest and the dog shooting on camera and uploaded it to YouTube and set off a firestorm.

The video has been viewed over 5 million times and has prompted angry citizens to gather signatures that were delivered to Hawthorne Police in conjunction with a rally July 27.

Rally organizer Kari Guerrero told WND that she delivered just under 113,000 signatures of upset people from the U.S. and around the world to the department that day.

But the Hawthorne shooting is not an isolated incident.

In Leander, Texas, a family dog was shot and killed when police raided the wrong home in search of a man with an expired vehicle registration.

A 6-year-old witnessed the incident, prompting questions about both policy and practice for officers shooting dogs.

Retraining is one response by police departments, including in the Denver area after officers shot families' pets.


Few would argue that police officers have every right to fire on a vicious dog if their life is threatened. But many of the cases appear to be "shoot first, ask questions later."

In Houston, Texas, alone, at least 228 dogs have been shot by police and deputies since 2010. Putting that number beside Houston's murder rate of 200 per year makes it even more startling.

There are now hundreds of social media sites dedicated to decreasing these deaths across the country.

Family pets including German shepherds, golden retrievers, Australian shepherds, pit bulls, chihuahuas, and others have been shot – in many cases in front of children. A news According to a Memphis news report, a Labrador retriever was shot by a police officer while the owner and child were playing with it outside.

"The police officer, he just came up and started shooting at my dog," the upset 9-year-old child told reporters.

The Denver area, too, has seen several instances of officers shooting family pets.

In an interview with WND, Sgt. Robert Sanchez, an officer in San Diego, told his story of shooting a dog. He said he shot the dog because it was attacking a little girl and there was no other way to subdue the animal. He said there have been less than a dozen shootings by police this year in San Diego, but he couldn't speak for the rest of the state.

Official stats show that San Diego County reported fewer than 10 dogs shot by officers each of the past three years.

When asked why police don’t carry equipment to deal with dogs such as a baton, mace or tranquilizer gun, Sanchez stressed that carrying extra equipment to deal with dogs would take the focus off of dealing with criminals and put it on animals, which is not the job of a police officer.

He explained that it is already a big burden for officers to load their vehicles with all the equipment they might need in the line of duty. To load another gun or mace would burden the officers, he said.
Another consideration is the potential of a lawsuit against an officer if he misses his target.

"What would happen if I accidentally shot a person with a tranquilizer dart?" he asked.

In states such as California, police are subject to greater scrutiny in the courts, and the fear of injuring a person and being sued is greater.

Sanchez said he tries to call animal control because it is better trained to deal with dogs. But he acknowledged the problem of dogs getting caught in the crossfire and the pressure from the public to find a way to deal with it.

The San Diego City Police Department's policy is to contact animal control for assistance when there is advance notice of a potentially dangerous dog. Some officers, like K-9 and narcotics units, carry catch poles. But the equipment is cumbersome for the few officers who carry it, and usually the only equipment the officer has at his fingertips to deal with the animal is his sidearm.

A Harris County, Texas, police spokesman told WND that animal control is only called in cases of a dog bite, and officers do not carry specific equipment to handle dogs. Residents of Harris County, which encompasses Houston, put in 4,100 dangerous animal calls to the sheriff's department in the past two years. In 58 cases, officers shot and killed dogs.

In an interview with Houston's KHOU-TV, Sgt. Joseph Guerra said that training is the answer.

"A lot of times, officers are not sent to training to get that type of certification to feel comfortable enough to deal with these animals," said Guerra.

The Houston Humane Society employs Guerra and other law enforcement officers as full-time investigators. Guerra investigates animal cruelty and neglect, and teaches police how to safely interact with potentially dangerous animals.

"It's enough for you to back up slowly and exit the gate and make that phone call to the owner and have them put that dog up," explained Guerra.

Guerra is pushing for mandatory training for officers. KHOU reports that Houston Police do not require such lessons, and a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office told WND that it offers training but does not require it.

• Protecting Our Families & Pets from Governmental Abuse
• Police Routinely Shoot Harmless Dogs
• Federal Police Officer Shoots Dog in Park
• VIDEO: Owner of Dog Killed by Police Reenacts Crime
• Governor Signs Bill to Teach Police Nonlethal Ways to Subdue Dogs

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

See the Odds Your Favorite Breed has of Winning Westminster

Forty-eight of the top 50 show dogs competed recently at the 134 annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Several sources rank the dogs. We'll list two today.

First off, what does Vegas say? For the fourth year, Wynn Casino has posted odds. There's no wagering, and it's by breed – not on individual dogs, which some news sources are erroneously reporting. Don't believe them!

The top 10:

1. Scottish Terrier (8/1) (Is Scottie Sadie the best?)
2. Doberman Pinscher (14/1)
3. Golden Retriever (15/1)
4. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (16/1) and Puli (16/1)
5. (tie at 4)
6. Toy Poodle (18/1)
7. Boxer (22/1)
8. Bulldog (25/1)
9. Fox Terrier (smooth, 28/1)
10. Pointer (German wirehaired, 30/1).

The complete list (PDF) is here. The Labrador Retriever, the most popular dog in the USA based on numbered of registered dogs, is 15th (55/1).

Come back later for input from a higher authority on these dogs. Check out the video above with David Frei, who explains why some breeds may be favored, and read the Q&A with the Westminster co-host here.

You also have the chance to vote here for your favorite breed out of the American Kennel Club's top 10 list for this year. Or if, like many of us, you're more for mutts than dogs named Muffy, check out our rescue stories – many from your fellow readers.

Source: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/02/see-the-odds-your-favorite-breed-has-of-winning-westminster/1
©2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Here's a great story that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it inspiring! –Kim

Pet Therapy in Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Everyone knows how beneficial pets can be in our lives. But now, recent scientific evidence has actually proven what pet owners already knew. Heart failure patients who spent 12 minutes with a dog or cat had lower stress hormone levels, lower blood pressure levels, and a general brighter outlook about their recovery. Therapy dogs, and cats, have now started their rounds, under "doctor's orders."

Inker, a 9-year-old golden retriever and cancer survivor, is used to visit cancer patients and lift their spirits.

Here's a great series that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

Basic Breed Information – Part 7

Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher has been one of my favorite breed of dogs since I was a little boy growing up in a family of dog trainers and breeders. This breed is one of the brightest, most loyal, compassionate and family-oriented dogs on the planet, despite the negative media attention that seems to have recently followed them. So when it comes to Doberman training, what exactly needs to be emphasized, and why? Well, before specific training methods can be answered, the personality and traits of the Doberman Pinscher need to be examined, so as to understand what makes the dog "click."

The Doberman has many very well-noted and recognized traits about its character, but few are as notable as their amazing bravery and loyalty. These are dogs that were breed for this purpose, and have been used as companions for soldiers all around the world for over a century. This makes the Doberman fearless and able to withstand some training methods that other breeds could simply not endure. Keep this in mind when you undergo Doberman training.
The Doberman is a breed that is EXTREMELY active and thrives on exercise and physical and mental stimulation. This is a trait that is highly important to remember. You can not train this dog in a boring or mundane way. This rules out trying to properly train a Doberman in your living room.
The Doberman is a VERY assertive and confident breed of dog; this does NOT mean aggressive though. Because of this natural trait, the owner must also be a confident and assertive individual who can properly put their Doberman into place if they get out of hand, but NEVER hit your dog! It is important that the owner and breed match (this is true for all breeds) or problems during training and home life may pose to be an issue.
Again it must be noted that when approaching Doberman training, it is wise to stimulate this breed with a lot of out door activities such as running, fetching, romping around and playing outside in general. This is a very active breed that simply needs these things.

These are only a few things that need to be known about the Doberman before you start training this breed. It is very highly recommend, not just from my training and breeding experience, but by many other trainers, that you seek out and acquire all the needed information to undergo Doberman training properly.

It is also very important to mention that this breed, just like many others needs to be trained in a way that is specific to its personality and traits. You simply can not just train a Doberman like you would a Cocker Spaniel, and expect good results to come of it, so make sure that you're armed with the right information on the right training methods for this breed before you start training...it will pay off very well.

For more in-depth Doberman training info, check out: Doberman Pinscher Training or Secrets to Dog Training.

It's hard enough trying to find the needed information for Doberman training; it's even harder finding information that is specific for this breed. Don't waste your time and energy looking in the wrong places...your Doberman is just sitting there wagging its tail and waiting! Visit http://www.squidoo.com/dobermanpincher.

German Shepherd

As soon as you've brought your German shepherd home, it's time to start training. Though Shepherds have a reputation for instability, the fact is, with the help of an experienced obedience instructor, your dog can be extremely well-trained. The first thing you need to understand is that dogs need to be trained from birth; they cannot be trained well when they have already become adults.

Trainers will tell you to always provide your Shepherd with plenty of regular exercise as well as mental stimulation to tame their rambunctious natures. Otherwise, you may find your bored doggie will turn to destructive chewing. If this occurs, simply sprinkle chair legs and other attractive targets with black or cayenne pepper to discourage chewing. Provide plenty of fresh water everyday, but especially after long walks. And introduce your dog to lots of friendly people so he can learn to recognize normal behavior of good guys; a dog that's isolated may become suspicious of everyone, which can lead to biting.

German shepherds shed constantly, so be prepared to do a lot of vacuuming. There are some tips to reduce the work load: Mix one part brewers yeast and garlic with two parts doggie stew, or try Mrs. Allen's Shed Stop that should also be mixed with the dog's food. Daily brushing helps, but frequent bathing isn't necessary. And do remember to trim Fido's nails at least once every two weeks. A little care and lots of love help your German Shepherd grow into a loyal and welcome member of the family for years to come!

For more in-depth German Shepherd training info, check out: German Shepherd Training Secrets or Secrets to Dog Training.

For more information about German Shepherds, visit http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/german-shepherd-training.html.

Golden Retriever

There is a saying that God made man because he was lonely, and then He made dogs so that man won't be lonely. It's a friendship made in heaven; dogs live with us and make the living fine. But a little puppy is like a baby; it needs to be well taught and trained so that both the owner and the pet live in harmony.

Golden Retrievers are obedient and easy-to-train dogs. The puppy has to be taught good manners; it has to get used to a daily routine. You will have to make it known to your puppy where it can and cannot go, whether or not it is allowed to sleep on the sofa or chew your slipper. Do not puzzle the puppy by permitting something one day and forbidding it the next. You can give your puppy a little treat as an incentive and gently reprimand it as a penalty, but never hit your puppy – it will break its spirit.

Toilet training can be started right away. All your energies need to be devoted to it in the first week. You must take the puppy outside as soon as it has had meals or awakens from sleep; puppies usually get a little restless when they have to go. If you like, you can use a word association. Puppies can associate words with going to the toilet, and this way, you can make them go any time you think suitable.

Though the Golden Retriever has a friendly temperament, a new puppy has to be trained to socialize with people. As soon as it is 8-9 weeks old, you should take it out in your arms or in your car. He will love socializing and you'll have a friendly little dog that will be the talk of the town. Twelve weeks is the ideal time when you should start taking your puppy out on walks.

It will take a few weeks before your dog learns to be on the leash. But as soon as he does, walks would be something to which both you and your dog will look forward. You'll walk to the park with wind in your face, flower falling on the path and your Golden Retriever walking by your side, and 'It will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.'

For more in-depth Golden Retriever training info, check out: Golden Retriever Training Secrets or Secrets to Dog Training.

For more information about Golden Retrievers, visit All About Golden Retrievers!

Labrador Retriever

The best method of how to train Labrador Retriever puppies is to apply positive reinforcement, that's combined with unrestricted praise and treats. In order to establish an immediate bond, play with your pup on a frequent basis, and if possible, get down on the floor with her – this bond will later be strengthen through training. Labrador Retriever puppy training can start almost as soon as she arrives home. In a similar way to a small child, she will learn best through activities and games.

At approximately eight weeks of age your Labrador Retriever pup can start to learn about retrieving objects. This is the "fetch" activity that she will enjoy all of her life. Learning how to train Labrador Retriever pups is not difficult. To teach this fun exercise, it's often ideal to have her on a ten foot lead or so. Don't be tempted to use a stick for this activity (this could cause an injury), but take a toy that she recognizes or a soft-ball. Make certain that it's too big to be swallowed.

Gently wave the toy near her head to draw attention to it, and then throw it approximately five feet in front. There's no need to throw it too far, as she's just starting out. If she arrives at the end of the leach all of a sudden, she could be hurt. Use her name, so the command is "Boots, fetch!"

Follow as she runs to the ball, and if she picks it up, offer some encouragement – but not too much praise, yet, as she isn't finished. If your Labrador Retriever pup does not take it in her mouth, wave it in front of her until she does. Then, walk slowing back to the starting point, and encourage her to follow. If she does drop the soft toy, be certain to get her pick it back up. When she arrives back, remove the ball out of her mouth and at the same moment say the command "Out," or a similar command. Now, you may offer her lots of praise.

In a very short time, with some practice, you'll know how to a train Labrador Retriever to enjoy this fun activity. She will soon come to realize what you want and how to receive the most praise. As she becomes accustomed to retrieving without your needing to move in the direction of the soft-toy, begin to throw the toy in various directions.

Labrador Retriever puppy training can also include swimming, but when starting out, it's important to strengthen the swimming muscles. Don't force or throw your puppy into a pond or lake. At approximately three months of age, a puppy may be encouraged to enter the water and will soon realize what's necessary. Wading in with her can assist in getting started, in addition to seeing other dogs having fun in the lake. As anyone who owns a Lab can attest, learning how to train Labrador Retriever puppies efficiently can have an enormously beneficial effect on her future well-being.

For more in-depth Labrador training info, check out: Labrador Retriever Training or Secrets to Dog Training.

Learn how to train Labrador Retriever and put a STOP to your dog's behavior problems!