Dogs

Excessive Barking

Dogs bark - it's a fact of doggy life, and to the humans who own them. However, when a nuisance barker disturbs your peaceful environment, it's time to put a stop to the racket. Before attacking the dog, consider the cause of the bad behavior.

Is the dog bored? If so, give him something to do.
Is the dog overstimulated? Passersby can prompt a dog to bark. Try blocking the dog's visual access to the street.
Is the dog dominant/aggressive? Barking can be a way of "marking" territory. Dog training is in order.
Does something trigger the dog's barking? Try to remove the cue or recondition the dog to respond in a different manner.

Avoid "rewarding" a dog for inappropriate barking. Don't run to the door and yell, "Shut up!" Choose an effective punishment, when appropriate. Don't try to soothe him into being quiet, by petting him and saying, "It's okay, we're here." You might as well give him a dog treat, you'll get the same results.

Many products are on the market for deterring barking dogs. Consider the side effects before investing in gadgets. Shock collars can be effective, but how do they affect the dog's emotional state? Are they triggered by other dogs, delivering a shock to your dog when the neighbor's dog barks? Bringing a dog inside at night will usually stop disruptive barking. Confining the dog to a smaller enclosure, such as a dog crate, also can curb barking. Keep in mind, however, that a dog should not be crated outdoors all day.

Surgical debarking provides a sure cure, and your veterinarian can discuss the pros and cons of this procedure. Of course, this surgical alteration of your dog should be strongly considered only after other means of control have been attempted.

How To Choose a Dog Crate

A dog crate should be one of the first items you purchase before taking on the responsibility of a dog. Owners should not feel discouraged to buy a dog crate because it resembles a cage; it is a natural environment that mimics the feel of a den. To put it simply, dogs still retain some qualities and characteristics of their ancestors.

Before the time of domesticated animals, wild dogs would make shelter of small dens. These dens were basically shallow holes or narrow passages, just big enough for the dog to turn around and lie down comfortably, that could offer protection from predators. So, the crate is acting as a modernized version of a den, giving your pet private space. The crate can also be helpful because its speeds the housebreaking process, discourages destructive chewing and aids in travel.

There are a number of variables that you should take into account when choosing a dog crate. Some aspects to consider before purchasing a crate are materials, size and safety.

Materials

Plastic dog crates are generally made of a durable poly-blend with a chrome-plated steel bar door. Features include ventilated side panels and a leak-proof bottom. They offer privacy and are approved for airline travel.
Travel dog crates provide superior strength and durability. They feature heavy-duty construction, excellent ventilation, and great visibility. Travel crates are perfect for flying or driving with your dog, plus they are also commonly used for training.
Wire dog crates provide maximum ventilation, security and portability. Some fold down to a convenient size for easy storage. These crates are also easy to clean because of the maximized open space.

Each type offers some universal services that you expect from a standard crate, while others are better for specific situations.

Size

Dog crates also come in different sizes, and it’s important to know the right size crate for your dog. A dog crate size chart can come in handy. Typically, the height and length of your dog will determine the correct size; the ideal size should allow your dog to stand up, without ducking his head below his shoulders, and to lie down and stretch to his full body length without being cramped.

A divider panel adds versatility to your dog kennel and saves you money by allowing you to adjust the size as your puppy grows. It is important to keep the size somewhat restrictive because dogs will naturally prefer to be clean; if the crate is too big, the dog might relieve himself in one corner, and then go to another corner to sleep.

Safety

A crate not only keeps your furniture safe from a curious or destructive pup while you’re away, it also keeps your pup safe from potentially dangerous situations when you can’t be there to supervise. Just like a child’s car seat, the dog’s crate needs to be properly secured before taking any trips. When you put your pet in a crate, remove his so it doesn’t get hooked or stuck, trapping or choking your dog.

How Much Do You Know about Dog Harnesses?

Harness the Full Potential of Canine Equipment

A dog harness is piece of equipment for dogs, similar to harness tack for horses. There are various designs, depending on the type of use. Harnesses can be used on Seeing Eye dogs in assistance of a disabled person, on working dogs that haul a cart or sled, or even in sporting events, such as in the Scandinavian practice of skijoring and pulka. Harnesses are also worn by non-working dogs for purposes.

A harness is often worn in conjunction with a dog collar and used as an alternative for a dog leash attachment. While a collar only encircles the neck, harnesses have a loop that surrounds the torso as well, with connecting straps between them for added reinforcement and control. The design allows for distribution of force which may prevent choking; a dog will also not be able to slip free from a harness as they may easily do from a standard collar. Harness usage is growing in popularity among many pet owners, especially for those with smaller breed dogs. Buttonholes in pet clothes allowing access to harness straps are among recent adjustments to accommodate the increasing use of harnesses.

Assistance dogs will sometimes wear a harness if part of their job requires guiding or providing physical mobility for a disabled person. Generally, the harness design includes a built-in handle for the person to grip; this type also offers reinforcement to the handler as well as a padded breast plate for the dog’s comfort. Overall sturdiness of the design depends on whether the dog is gently leading, acting as a brace, or physically pulling a wheelchair.

Sled dog harnesses vary depending on the purpose of the animal; the two basic duties of a sled dog is hauling freight or some sort or racing. Harnesses come in three main types: the freight harness, the H-back harness, and the X-back harness. Dog sports are growing and more types of harnesses are being developed, including the Y-back style and guard or distance harness.

The freight harness is often a H-back harness that forms a ladder-like effect across the back with a wide chest band and sometimes extra padding. The construction distributes the weight across the chest and over the shoulders because of the broadness of the area; is designed to help the dog pull heavy weights efficiently. They may also feature a spreader bar behind the wheel dogs and before the sled or cart.

Racing harnesses are often lighter and shorter than freight harnesses. The X-back harness gets its name from the straps that form an 'X' across the back of the dog. It is used more frequently than the H-back, with short versions that ride farther forward on the dog's body recently gaining in popularity.

The Y-back is a hybrid that is somewhat similar in appearance to the H-back. The tugline attaches to the harness on top of the dog's back and stretches parallel to the ground or upwards to whatever is being hauled; the direction depends on what is being hauled.

It is much easier to show compassion to animals. They are never wicked.

― Haile Selassie

An Oklahoma police officer is accused of pepper spraying and repeatedly shocking a dog with a Taser, according to officials. William Roy Golden, an officer with the Broken Arrow Police Department, is facing charges of animal cruelty and acts resulting in gross injury/outraging public decency, court records filed Sept. 22 show.

The charges stem from an August incident in which residents of a Wagoner County neighborhood witnessed Golden spray a 50-pound English bulldog with pepper spray, the Broken Arrow Sentinel reported.

Video shared to social media showed Golden spraying the dog, which had gotten loose from a resident’s home, the newspaper reported, and Wagoner County officials soon launched an investigation. In addition to using pepper spray, investigators say Golden shocked the dog with a Taser at least eight times, according to court documents. Golden also drew his handgun and was “threatening” to shoot the animal, the documents said.

At some point, the dog, named Rusty, jumped inside of Golden’s patrol vehicle, according to documents obtained by KOTV. Although the dog approached Golden, it was not acting aggressive, documents said, the outlet reported. Golden couldn’t explain why he felt the need to pull out a gun, but told investigators he was angry, the station reported. Attorney information for Golden was not listed in court documents.

Scott Wood, an attorney who KTUL in early September reported he was representing Golden, told the TV station at the time that the video seen online is missing important context, and “the force that was used was reasonable to use on an animal in a situation like he confronted.” The incident occurred outside of Broken Arrow city limits, so the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office has been in charge of the criminal investigation, Broken Arrow Police Department said in a news release.

Golden has been put on administrative leave while the investigation is underway, the department said, adding that it has conducted its own internal investigation into the matter, but will wait until the criminal investigation is over before sharing its findings. “We share the community’s concern and appreciate your understanding that due process is necessary and takes time to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation,” the release said. “Ultimately, the internal investigation will conclude and determine if the actions taken are aligned with our core values of courage, integrity, professionalism, accountability, and compassion.”

A TRUE HERO IS THE ONE WHO STOPS AND AVOIDS HURTING OR KILLING. ESPECIALLY TO AN INNCATIVE ANIMAL. SO SAD

THERE IS NO HERO IN THIS CASE IF OFFICERS ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT. THIS OFFICER SHOULD BE FIRED AND A HEAVY FINE OR JAIL TIME OR ANY OF US COULD BE A VICTIM OF SUCH CRUELTY. PLEASE SPEAK OUT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE SINCE WE ARE THEIR ONLY VOICE.

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An animal shelter in Brooklyn euthanized a lost, elderly dog just hours after it was brought in by a good Samaritan, breaking the hearts of the owners who said 19-year-old Leona deserved a chance to live out her life.

There needs to be more awareness, training and public outrage for these common occurrences of killing our pets.

Since these animals do get out of their home more frequently, when they get picked up, they should look for the owner and not rush to euthanize the dog. NOT EVEN WAITING A DAY which is in violation of the law, you euthanize this poor elderly dog.

A TRUE HERO IS THE ONE WHO STOPS AND AVOIDS KILLING But THERE IS NO HERO IN THIS CASE IF THE KILLERS ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT. THEY ALL SHOULD BE FIRED. PLEASE SPEAK OUT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE SINCE WE ARE THEIR ONLY VOICE.

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There’s been an uptick in animals being euthanized at the Columbus Animal Care and Control Center in 2023. The Columbus Animal Care and Control was a no-kill shelter for some years, starting in 2019, with local rescues taking in dogs who were not being adopted out. Columbus native, Canita Harnette-Johnson, took over the top role of division manager of the Columbus Animal and Control Center in February 2023. She said she had no background in animal welfare, but the city hired her for her business experience. Harnette-Johnson said she has three focuses, educating the community on spaying and neutering your pets, having them microchipped, and rescuing from the shelter.

Since these animals do get out of their home more frequently, when owners are not careful when opening the door or gate, they should look for the owner and not rush to euthanize animals. They should hold adoption rallies and go to fairs with them to see if anyone wants to adopt these animals.

A TRUE HERO IS THE ONE WHO STOPS AND AVOIDS KILLING But THERE IS NO HERO IN THIS CASE. PLEASE SPEAK OUT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE SINCE WE ARE THEIR ONLY VOICE.

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