| Dogs indisputably descended for wolves many | | | | insignificance compared to the dreaded tick. |
| thousands of years ago. Two thousand years ago | | | | This vile creature is a cousin to the spider as it |
| the plaques on houses in Pompeii said 'Cave | | | | has 8 legs. It feasts on mammals' blood and |
| Canem' or 'Beware of the Dog' showing an | | | | spreads disease such as Spotted fever, |
| interest in dogs for protection. | | | | encephalitis and Lyme disease. To remove a tick |
| However dogs became poorly tolerated in | | | | grasp it firmly, rock it back and forth a few times |
| medieval times when phrases such as 'son of a | | | | and pull it off. Wearing surgical gloves or using a |
| bitch' and 'die like a dog' originated. Even so, | | | | plastic bag is a good idea to protect you from the |
| around this time dogs were valued as hunters, | | | | tick's bodily fluids. |
| especially during periods of famine, and a good | | | | * Dogs are social animals. They need the |
| hunting dog was worth more than a slave! | | | | company of other beings in order to develop to |
| * Dogs seem to have the ability to think. Its mind | | | | their full potential. Man brought dogs into his family |
| operates 80% of the time by instinct and 20% | | | | circle and dogs have now come to need the |
| of the time by knowledge gained during its | | | | company of man. It is perhaps the only animal |
| lifetime. However during the first 21 days a | | | | that earns its keep from the sheer love and |
| puppy's mental capacity is zero as it only | | | | affection that it shows its master. |
| responds to warmth, food and sleep. | | | | * Canine behaviour is controlled by three drives: |
| A dog's thinking capacity can be shown by the | | | | Defence, Prey and Pack. |
| story of a German Shepherd dog which loved to | | | | The defence drive has to do with fight or flight. A |
| bring home dead rabbits. The owner was unhappy | | | | dog is more likely to flee when younger and fight |
| with this but never severely reprimanded the dog. | | | | when older. |
| One day, however, he got so fed up that gave | | | | The prey drive to hunt and kill comes from its |
| the dog a severe telling off when it brought back | | | | wolverine ancestors. |
| a rabbit. After this whenever the dog caught a | | | | The dog is on longer a member of a pack of |
| rabbit he would bury it rather than take it home. | | | | wolves but is now a member of the family pack. |
| * Intelligence is not necessarily a good indicator of | | | | It needs the love and attention of the human |
| a dog's trainability as they tend to have their own | | | | pack and will usually do almost anything to get it. |
| agenda. Generally terriers and hounds are tough | | | | It is this desire to fit in and be loved which dog |
| to train because of their intelligence. Sporting and | | | | trainers key in on. |
| herding dogs are easier to train. Dogs like Golden | | | | * The main difference between a cat and a dog |
| Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, | | | | is that cats are independent creatures while dogs |
| German Shepherds and Shetland Sheepdogs work | | | | are social animals. However both are predators. |
| well with human beings. | | | | Cats will pounce on anything that moves while |
| * Dogs with oily coats can develop an unpleasant | | | | dogs will chase anything that moves. Sometimes |
| doggy odour. Brushing is needed to remove dead | | | | cats and dogs never get used to each other in |
| hair in poodles and wire-coated terriers. Dogs with | | | | the same household. In other cases the kitten and |
| short hair may suffer in northern climates while | | | | puppy will play together and build up a relationship |
| dogs with long hair will shed and shed again. | | | | which sees them curled up together in the same |
| * People all over the western world are getting | | | | sleeping basket and drinking out of the same |
| obese. Too much TV, computer games and high | | | | bowl. The type of relationship which develops |
| calorie snacks have made people overweight. Now | | | | really depends on the personalities and |
| dogs are in trouble. The fatter the human the less | | | | temperaments of the animals. |
| exercise the dog is likely to get. Obesity in dogs | | | | * Human beings are often inconstant in their |
| puts stress on their hearts, liver kidneys and | | | | dealings with their four legged friend. For example |
| joints. Fat dogs are also more at risk during | | | | we expect them to accept and fuss over family |
| surgery. | | | | friends but to bark and chase away a burglar. |
| * Fleas, flies and ticks are all after Fido's blood. | | | | During training a dog will learn a variety of |
| The flea arrives in springtime and can jump 100 | | | | behaviours which make them acceptable to the |
| times its own height. The flea not only bites the | | | | human being. It can perhaps be said that dogs are |
| dog but uses its jumping prowess to land on a | | | | better at adapting than their owners. Within limits |
| human where it is not unknown for it to have a | | | | they can modify their behaviour for good or ill to |
| nibble. | | | | cope with human idiosyncrasies and still meet their |
| Flies are bad in that they can attack and bite the | | | | own need for social acceptance. |
| ears of a dog but there nuisance value pales into | | | | |