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Blog posts Categorized under ‘Pet Adoption’

Is Your Dog Scared of the Vet? 10 Great Tips

Posted on: December 17th, 2009 by

This dog is afraid of the vet.

“When my wife and I were newlyweds we adopted a rescued puppy—a tiny white ball of fluff that eventually grew to be a very smart, loyal Australian Shepherd. While he was still young, though, he contracted parvo and had to spend a week at the vet clinic. We almost lost him and were thrilled when he pulled through.

The incident left scars, though. Afterward, he lived in terror of going to the veterinarian’s office. Whenever we went, he would struggle and claw with all his strength, wrestle his way out of his collar, growl at the veterinary staff, and do everything possible to make sure the experience was miserable for us both.”

Does this Pets Best Insurance employee’s story sound familiar? At Pets Best, we are about more than dog insurance, we are dog lovers and owners, and we know how awful it can be to deal with a dog who hates to go to the vet. So we’ve assembled the following list of advice on the subject from a variety of dog owners and behavior experts. Have any further advice on this topic? Feel free to post it in the comments section below.

10 Great Tips if Your Dog is Scared of the Vet

1) Try changing your own attitude. Because dogs are sympathetic to human emotions, your dog may be picking up on your own nervousness, so stay calm and happy.

2) Reassure your dog that everything’s alright, but don’t do it too much; if you’re saying “It’s okay, sweetie, it’s okay,” over and over, your pet may think there’s reason to be scared.

3) Protective pet? You might try staying in the waiting room during your dog’s exam. Could be your dog is acting tough because he’s trying to protect you.

4) Heard the expression “travel broadens the mind?” If your dog is used to going places and socializing with people and other animals, the vet’s office won’t seem so scary.

5) Start going to the veterinarian’s office just to say “hi.” Your dog will learn it’s not a bad place after all.

6) Whenever you go, keep a bunch of treats in your pocket and reward the dog frequently. Eventually, the dog will associate the veterinarian’s office with food.

7) Small dog? Make sure they feel comfortable, safe and secure by bringing them in their dog crate.

8) Bigger dog? Use a shorter lead when you go to the vet—you’ll have better control and will be able to keep the dog close to you.

9) If your dog growls and snaps at people when scared, consider a comfortable muzzle. Make sure the dog gets used to wearing it at home first, though.

10) If nothing else is working, you may want to ask your vet about prescribing a sedative the dog can take before a visit to the vet. This may reduce the wear and tear that extreme stress can have on the dog’s body.

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Looking to adopt a dog? Be colorblind!

Posted on: December 2nd, 2009 by

When my friend Mark told me he was taking his family to his local animal shelter to look for a dog to adopt, I asked what breed they were looking for. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, “as long as it’s good with the kids. Happy and playful. We’ll know the right dog when we see it.”

Later, after he got back from the shelter, I asked him how it went. He said he was amazed at the number of big, black dogs that were available for adoption. Walking past row after row of kennels, the family saw an array of black faces looking out at them. “It made me start to wonder if there was something wrong with them,” he told me. “Why are there so many large black dogs at the shelter?”

Though animal shelters generally don’t keep statistics on animals based on color, lots of shelter employees confirm that big black dogs are often overlooked by people looking to adopt. In fact, they’ve even coined a phrase to describe the situation, referred to as “black dog syndrome.”

Mark wonders if people shy away from black dogs because they think the dogs might be mean. My theory, though, is that it’s harder to get a read on a black dog’s personality—there’s less contrast between their dark eyes and dark face, so if you don’t know the dog well, you might have trouble seeing and understanding his expressions.

No matter what the reason, if you’re ready to adopt a shelter dog, overlooking large black dogs would be a mistake; you’ll probably miss out on some real gems. After all, there’s no evidence that fur color has anything to do with an animal’s attitude or behavior. And plenty of black-dog owners will testify that they’re often loaded with personality.

So what kind of dog did Mark’s family choose? A sweet, loving black lab they named Skipper. “She may be a black dog,” says Mark, “but she has a heart of gold.”

How Smart is My Dog? The 10 Smartest Dog Breeds.

Posted on: November 6th, 2009 by

Recently, the New York Times reported that a psychology professor named Stanley Coren has discovered some fascinating things about dogs and intelligence.

Coren polled over 200 professional dog obedience judges, asking them to rank 110 dog breeds according to their intelligence. In general, he says, poodles, retrievers, Labradors and shepherds are the most intelligent dogs, able to learn as many as 250 words, signs and signals.

The smartest dogs, he says, will understand a new command in five repetitions or less, and will immediately obey commands 95% of the time. Here’s his list of the smartest dog breeds:

  1. Border Collie
  2. Poodle
  3. German Shepherd
  4. Golden Retriever
  5. Doberman Pinscher
  6. Shetland Sheepdog
  7. Labrador Retriever
  8. Papillon
  9. Rottweiler
  10. Australian Cattle Dog

Before you rush out to buy one of these smart dogs, though, you should know that there are pros and cons to living with an intelligent canine. As Coren points out, sometimes these dogs are so smart that they learn to manipulate their owners and their environment to get whatever they want.

Who’s the Top Dog Here? Dealing With Dominant Behavior.

Posted on: October 22nd, 2009 by

Does your dog think he’s the leader of the pack at your house? Ignoring commands? Pushing through doorways ahead of you? Trying to move you from your favorite resting spot? When it comes to behavior problems, he may be sending you hints that he thinks he’s the top dog, and you’re the underdog.

A dominant dog may not want to hurt anyone, but just wants to be in charge. And though this article refers to the dog as “he,” it could easily be “she.” It could be a big Labrador or a little Chihuahua. Gender and size have little to do with dominance in dogs.

Remember that dogs don’t necessarily think like you and I do. They operate on a system of social behavior inherited from their wild ancestors. This centuries-old system is what keeps order among the family, or the dog pack. Dogs crave the security of knowing where they stand in the pack’s ranking. Once they understand who is in charge, they may feel much more at ease.

Look for the following signs of dominant behavior:

  • Preventing people from petting him on the top of his head.
  • Growling or barking at you during play.
  • Trying to mount or hump people. (Even female dogs may do this)
  • Refusing to release a toy or bone when commanded.
  • “Marking” (peeing on) your personal items.
  • “Mouthing” (not necessarily biting, but placing his teeth on) you.

Trying to correct dominant behavior? An obedience course is the place to start. The obedience training should involve everyone in your family, at least to some degree; consistency is key when it comes to your dog’s discipline, so everyone needs to be on the same page.

In addition to obedience training, here are some ways you can use the language of the dog pack to reinforce the message of who is in charge:

  • Does your dog have a favorite spot? A pet bed or a favorite chair? Stand or sit in that spot for a couple minutes, several times a week.
  • Don’t pet the dog unless he does something praiseworthy.
  • Before the dog’s feeding time, make sure he sees you eating first.
  • Never let the dog get up on furniture without permission.
  • Don’t let the dog sleep on your bed. If you want to let him sleep in your room, he should stay on the floor or in his own dog bed.

Most importantly, be consistent. Over time, your dog will get the message and will learn to enjoy your leadership, and you’ll enjoy your dog more, too.

On Pins and Needles: Can Acupuncture Really Help Pets?

Posted on: October 15th, 2009 by

Sure, there have been plenty of amazing scientific advances in veterinary medicine, but what may be one of the most exciting new treatments is actually thousands of years old.

Today, non-traditional medicine like acupuncture is becoming more popular than ever. Exactly how acupuncture works is uncertain, though clinical trials have actually shown its effectiveness. In fact, acupuncture has the most scientific support of any form of non-traditional healing methods.

Western doctors believe that acupuncture may help release natural chemicals that promote healing within the body or stimulate of neuromechanical mechanisms that diminish pain and promote healing. As developed by Chinese healers over the course of two and a half centuries, this healing art is based on a principle of restoring balance within the body.

In pets, acupuncture is often used for pain relief and to treat diseases of the liver, kidney, and skin. It may help older dogs feel and act many years younger. Acupuncture treatments can be used together with traditional approaches to healing such as physical therapy and medications.

Veterinary acupuncture may not be widely available, though more and more veterinarians are beginning to offer this type of non-traditional treatment within their practices. And if your pet is covered by a Pets Best insurance policy, benefits are available for acupuncture and other non-traditional treatments (check here for details).

Keep in mind that pet acupuncture isn’t a cure-all, but it’s another tool your vet can use to treat ailments and enhance the quality of your pet’s life.

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