Dogs – A Look at Why They Truly Are Man’s Best Friend

Dogs and humans have been inseparable for many thousands of years. Wherever you find humans in the world, you’ll almost certainly find dogs accompanying them. These amazing creatures proved to be smarter than we have ever imagined. Astonishing new researches reveal that dogs are more than just tamed wild animals. Their ability to read our emotions so effectively is what makes our relationship special. Some even claim that dogs possess a special kind of social intelligence which allows them to get along with people in the way that is unique in the whole animal kingdom.

Mans Best FriendEvery dog person will tell you that dogs feel humans’ emotions like anger, happiness, despair, fear, and so on. Dogs were once fearsome predators, but today they are the most loving pets. Right now, there are almost half a billion dogs and we treat them as members of a family, almost as human beings. We share our lives, our homes, even our beds with dogs. Many a dog owner would agree that his pet is not just part of the family, it is family.

According to a research published in the Animal Cognition journal, canines are responsive to human emotions more than any other species, including humans. Asking for no reward, dogs will approach strangers in distress trying to comfort them by nuzzling and licking. That specific dog’s behavior was tested in the experiment that included 18 pet dogs. Those dogs were faced with two unfamiliar persons – one who was pretending to cry and the other who was talking casually. All of the 18 dogs responded to the person who was pretending to cry and offered comfort.

Loyalty to their owners is common for all dogs, but one breed stands out. Akita is a large fluffy dog originating in the northern Japan. Unbelievable and sad life story made an Akita a legend among dog breeds. An Akita named Hachiko followed his owner to the train station every day. His owner was a professor in another town. At exactly 4 p.m. Hachiko would arrive at the train station to meet his owner. Some years later, the professor died from stroke at work, but loyal Hachiko waited at the train station every single day for the next ten years until he passed away. Statue of Hachiko in bronze at Shibuya train station in Japan reminds us why dogs truly are man’s best friend.

Unlike humans, dogs have no tendency to criticize, to be racists, to stab in the back, to murder or have prejudice. Without any question dog will accept the owner no matter if he is poor, blind, crippled, old or young. Dogs give everything and ask very little in return – food, water and place to sleep. If you take good and proper care of your dog and you treat him with love, be sure that love will be returned. You will mean the whole world to your dog and your dog will mean everything to you.

Tips to Make Caring for Your Dog a Breeze

The dogs provide their owners with the unconditional love, loyalty and pleasure. However, they don’t ask much in return. After the adjustment period which takes up to two weeks, caring for your dog should become a routine. In exchange for a lifetime friendship, you have to provide shelter, water, food, veterinary care and exercise to your canine companion.

Get your dog as many dog supplies as he needs. Since your dog needs less accompanying items than you, don’t be stingy when it comes to dog accessories.

One of the most vital things your puppy needs is proper feeding. Most of the dogs are ravenous and they will eat everything you give them. Act wisely and do a research about what dog food will bring the best to his health and energy. Always pick a top quality food made of pure ingredients including vitamins, minerals and protein.

dog care

Dogs don’t care about getting messy which makes you responsible for their bathing and cleaning. Try to make bath time gentle and pleasant, so both the dog and you can enjoy. Always use shampoos specially designed for dogs.  Besides the simple bathing, the dog’s eyes, ears, teeth, nails also need care. Regular cleaning of your dog’s ears will help prevent mites and ear infections. During the process of cleaning you should gently massage the base of the ear for about half a minute. Treat your dog well afterward. Long nails can be painful to your dog, so you should consult a vet for trimming tips.

Be sure that the collar is always around your dog’s neck. A name tag containing the dog’s and the owner’s name, and home address should be attached to the collar. Think how desperate both of you would be if your dog got lost.

Many veterinaries agree that flea collars can be dangerous for your four legged buddy. More effective protection from the boring fleas is topical application of treatments such as Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, etc.

Regular visits to veterinary clinic are necessary. Good idea is to implant a microchip in your dog because this way you can be sure that he will be returned to you even if he loses his collar.

On hot summer days don’t force your dog to run or exercise. Instead, provide him with a shelter in the coolest place of your yard. Large amounts of fresh drinking water are of the utmost importance in order to avoid accidents such as a heart stroke.

Spaying or neutering your dog will help him live longer and healthier life. Those procedures also influence dog’s behavior in the way that he becomes less aggressive.

Don’t let your dog eat much of human food because it may cause obesity, hyperactivity or intestinal problems.

If you’re planning to go for a long trip with your dog, don’t forget to bring his blanket. Favorite blanket with familiar scent will keep him relaxed and comfortable.

Spend some quality time cuddling and hugging with your pooch so that he feels loved and cherished. You won’t regret it because the dogs know how to return the favour.

Looking for the Best Dogs for House Guards?

Looking for the Best Dogs for House Guards? Here Are Our Top 10.

Since they were first domesticated, dogs served men as guards. In the whole animal kingdom, dogs are at the top of the affection list. A good guard dog should be loyal to the owner, intelligent, strong and courageous.  Many dogs will alert you to approaching strangers, but few can handle an intruder. Small breeds like Chihuahuas and Terriers are considered to be brave dogs; still what are their chances against the heavyweight dogs? Exactly – none.

BullmastiffHere is our list of 10 best watch dog breeds:

10.   The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was made to fight bulls and bears. This short-haired medium-sized English breed is similar to the American Staffordshire Terrier, although much smaller. Staffordshire Terrier can be very aggressive and, like all the other terriers, has powerful jaws that can bite with immense force.

9.    Kuvasz, Hungarian white sheepdog was bred in order to protect large sheep flocks from wolves. Extremely brave, protective and territorial dog with strong connection to the family is easy to train by a patient master. If he is properly trained, he will defend family from any danger.

8.    Rhodesian Ridgeback, also known as African Lion Hound has strong, independent nature which makes him almost impossible to train at adult age. This breed doesn’t bark often, but when you hear Ridgeback barking, it’s time for red alert.

7.    German Shepherd originated in Germany at the end of the 19th century which makes this breed relatively young. German Shepherd is a hard worker originally developed for herding sheep flocks. His thick fur can be very useful in winter conditions to protect his body from blizzards. His ability to learn quickly makes him favorite police dog for K-9 units.

6.    Giant Schnauzer always requires strict training and constant body and mental exercise. This responsible guard dog bonds with a family for life. The Giant Schnauzer is a territorial dog whose only role is to protect and please owners.

5.    Puli (Hungarian Water Dog) is a Hungarian herding breed well known for its long fur similar to dreadlocks. Puli’s nature is not aggressive, yet he will bark vigorously at the intruder if he senses a threat. Needs bathing on regular basis without any coat brushing after.

4.    Doberman Pinscher is a medium sized muscular dog with short hair. His high intelligence makes him very easy to train. He loves human closeness and bonds easily with owners. Great family and companion dog.

3.    The Komondor has natural instinct for protecting and guarding livestock and property. Represents one of Hungary’s national treasures. This devoted breed is loyal, powerful and courageous.

2.    If trained properly, Rottweiler can be reliable and loving guard dog. His bad reputation comes from some irresponsible owners. Exposure to new people and situations in early stage of development is crucial. Probably the smartest guard dog in the world.

1.    If you want the best guard dog who’s afraid of nothing, than Bullmastiff is your dog. His protection instincts, intelligence, loyalty, mental and physical strength are the perfect combination for the best guard dog in the world. Despite his size, he is very agile and quick.

Want to know the top 10 most intelligent dogs? Read this article.

Dogs Lifespan Vs Human Lifespan – A Comparison

dogs lifespanDogs Lifespan Vs Human Lifespan – A Comparison

Relationship between a dog and a man is probably the closest in the pet’s world. There are hundreds of situations which confirm this theory. No man can love his golden fish, miniature turtle or parrot as much as a dog. Unfortunately, our pet’s life is shorter than ours and the hardest part of the relationship is dealing with the dog’s death.

There is an old calculation which says that one dog year is equal to seven years of human life. This ratio isn’t quite accurate. For example, two months old puppy is indeed developed like a 14 months old human baby but ratio decreases as the dog ages.  So, a one year old dog has aged about as much as a 15 years old human. Still, a 14 years old dog matches an 82 years old man, which corresponds to a ratio of only about 5.8.

Several factors can contribute to the dog’s lifespan. Depending on the breed structure, health and genetics, some dogs can live longer than others. It is interesting that smaller dog breeds live approximately 1.5 times longer than the bigger ones. It’s much easier to Chihuahua’s heart to pump the blood than the heart of a Great Dane. If we make comparison between genders, we will notice similarity to humans. Female dogs are expected to live a year or two longer than males, just like people.

The key to longer and healthier life of your dog is quality nutrition. Top quality dog food will extend dog’s life, especially if combined with neutering or spaying. These methods can reduce the risk for cancer of the reproductive organs. Mental and physical exercise on daily basis can affect your dog’s life span in a good way. Be sure to take special care of your dog’s teeth and gums. According to some veterinarians it can extend your dog’s life up to 4 years. Very good idea is to get your dog vaccinated. Just as it is with humans, many stressful situations can affect dog’s health.

Average life span of dogs is between 13 and 14 and for humans it’s about 67.2 years. Due to better medical care and food, dogs and human life span has increased dramatically over the past 100 years.  People of Japan live the longest with average life span of 82.7 years, while in Mozambique it is only 39.2, which is 40% below world average.

It’s all about the evolution – it dictates how long both humans and dogs will live. Both species have changed and developed over millions of years, with the big difference that humans have slower metabolism and for that reason live longer than dogs. In the coming future it will be possible to extend both life spans. I’m looking forward to see 1.000 year old man with 200 year old dog on the porch in front of their future house.

Average Life Span of Top 10 Breeds

·         Labrador Retriever (12.5 years)

·         German Shepherd Dog (11 years)

·         Golden Retriever (12 years)

·         Boxer (10.5 years)

·         Bulldog (7 years)

·         Poodle (12 years Standard) (15 years Miniature)

·         Chihuahua (13.5)

·         Rottweiler (10 years)

·         Doberman Pinscher (10 years)

·         Cocker Spaniel (12 years).

dog running on grass

Short, Fun & Interesting Dog Facts

Dogs are fascinating creatures with quirks and charming habits that we love them for. There always seems more to learn about these incredible four-legged friends.
 
For example – did you know that some dogs can learn over 1,000 words or that their noses are as unique as human fingerprints? Or maybe you’ve wondered why dogs tilt their heads when you talk to them—spoiler: it’s not just to look cute!
 
In this article, you can smell your way through a list of fun & interesting facts that’ll make you see your furry friend in a whole new light. A quick read but some might shock you!

Read more