Not being “judgmental” is nigh impossible. Someone points out that we are doing something stupid. We know they are right. Yet, we don’t like the embarrassment, so we turn up our noses to he sky, and retort sassily, “Uh, you are like… soooo like judgmental and stuff,” without realizing that statement is one of judgement.

Yes, I said sassily. Google it.

We are especially discerning with how other people parent their pets or children. I am personally big on discipline. So, I struggle to keep my nose pointing toward the horizon when I see someone with a dog that is running around peeing on everything, yapping cuss words, and tagging walls with graffiti. I shake my metaphoric fist and shout, “Hooligans!” Immediately my chest puffs out with pride at Basil as he walks right by my…. whoooaaaaaa! Then he takes off after a squirrel and jumps up on some nice old lady trying to lick her face.

To someone who knows Basil, it is endearing. However, seeing a strange dog that is literally tall enough to lick your face when he stands on his hind legs jump up at your face is obviously terrifying.

This photo was taken by our friend Rebekkah Kemp.

I wonder sometimes what others think of me as a dog parent. I do not pretend to not care about what others think. We all care. Simply, it doesn’t rule us, or shouldn’t. I think of it terms of how we describe Royalty. Would others consider me to be Nicholas the Wise? Or the Tyrrant? (shudders) I guess the real question is what would Basil say?

That answer I do know. At this very second he is licking my face. To him, I am just dad. If pushed, he would probably say I am Nicholas the Salty.

This article was written by Dallas Photographer Nicholas Laning.

I am going to combine two loves here. I love dogs. I also love words. So, I am going to throw a big one at you. Don’t act like it is a big deal either. You and I both know you are going to use this word within the next 24 hour period, and will revel in how smart you sound.

Here we go. The word is ANTHROPOMORPHISM. It means, the attribution of human form or behavior to a deity, animal, etc.

We humans love to do this. Think about every Disney cartoon there is. Bambi, Fox and the Hound, Robin Hood, Lion King, they are all feature animals that talk and emote as humans. This isn’t a new thing either. Aesop’s Fables and the Bible both have anthropomorphism in them.

Well, I am no different. After four years, I have noticed that I reward my bloodhound, Basil, by anthropomorphizing him. Without fail, I will say, “Good Boy, Basil!” or “How’s my big man doing?” Yet, if he sits on the sofa (a big no-no in our house) he is banished back to dogdom. “Bad dog, Basil. Bad dog.” This is especially ironic, as sitting on the sofa is a very human thing to do. Poor boy. See, did it again.

I don’t know why I do this, as I don’t think he minds being a dog. Perhaps it is how he sits like a human when he rides in a car, straight up with his back against the seat. Perhaps it is his love for almost all vegetables save tomatoes. Hold out a sugar snap pea, and you are risking losing a finger. Or, perhaps it is the way he cocks his head whenever you talk to him, as if he is trying to understand, but like Scotty from Star Trek, he just doesn’t have the power.

Let me introduce you to Basil, so that you can picture him when I speak of him in the future.

P.S. Let me know how throwing down ANTHROPOMORHISM goes for you. I am very excited to hear about it.

This post was written by: Nicholas L. Laning

China’s economy has blossomed so much that it is said that China has a million millionaires. So, what happens when someone didn’t have money now has more than they know what to do with? I’ll give you leg up and just say that the answer isn’t an increase in charitable giving. Nope. You spend it on a dog. Not dog(s) plural, but DOG… as in one.

The Tibetan Mastiff has become the new status symbol for all those new millionaires. The exact numbers are not known, but it has been reported that a pure bred Tibetan Mastiff sold for 1.5 million dollars.
Now, before I go and share my thoughts on the money aspect of it, let me say that the Tibetan Mastiff is easily one of the most majestic dog breeds I have ever seen, possessing the look of a lion more than a dog (though a lion would be cheaper). They are almost as big as lions too, easily weighing in at over 200 pounds.

So, with that out of the way, this dog lover has to say… a million dollars for a dog? A million dollars for something that is going to poop on your carpet, chew up your sofa, slobber all over your clothes before you, and shed all over your black suit or dress right before you head out for a nice dinner? That is beyond lottery winner frivolous. Just put a basketball court in your bed room, have Sting sing at your daughter’s birthday, or gold leaf your toilet like a normal person would.

I suppose you could throw a saddle on it and try to tell yourself you are saving on gas. Come to think of it, with the way gas prices are today, that isn’t a bad idea. Googling Tibetan Mastiffs now.

Article written by Dallas Photographer Nicholas Laning. To read more articles by Nicholas, go to www.laningphoto.com.

Photo by mastino0100.

Intelligence testing for puppies

A dog is a very socially advanced animal and enjoys living with humans, and can easily learn what’s acceptable and what’s not. As with humans, each individual has a different personality and behaviours .
Carrying out intelligence tests for puppies can be done for a number of reasons, either to test an individual dog’s intelligence, or to find out whether he has a suitable temperament for a particular job or environment.

If you are looking for a puppy that is skilled in certain areas and is adaptable in an unusual environment, then you should always consider carrying out an intelligence test.

It is important to learn how dogs can be trained and how their minds work.

Some studies have suggested that most dogs do not have a great deal of independent intelligence, which consequently means that working out problems or finding solutions can be hard. However, breeds such as the Australian Cattle Dog or Border Collie are often able to think for themselves when they are working livestock.

Dogs learn best by example, either from humans or from other dogs, and they learn quickly through repetition. When shown what to do, a very high percentage will pick up the task or follow a command very easily. This is particularly the case when they are rewarded for following that command. Dogs also have great visual and hearing abilities, and can even learn names of objects.

What is intelligence testing, as it applies to puppies? This is when you examine a dog’s individual behaviour traits, and it’s capacity to learn. You are testing his mood and how he responds in different situations. It’s important to check a dog’s adaptability and attention span to see if he is suitable for your needs. These are basic tests that are used to test small children, but have been somewhat adapted to suit dogs.

For owners who do not have any particular needs when it comes to their dog’s intelligence, it can still be fun to see how smart their four legged family member really is. There are many different IQ tests on the internet which present around ten various tasks so that the owner can see gauge just how clever their dog is. These tests will go through simple memory, social, and language tasks and can easily be conducted at home.

A great deal of research has been put into dog intelligence testing , because dogs play an important role in professions such as the army, or the police force. These tests are very helpful when used as part of the selection process, to match the right dog to the right human partner.

For most of us, intelligence isn’t all that important, and the results of intelligence testing wouldn’t play a big role in our choice of canine companion. Our dog is our friend, our companion, our confidante, and they don’t need a great deal of intelligence to do that well. All they need is to know how to love us.

For more information on this topic visit: here.

There are few things more distressing to a dog owner than the thought of puppy mills and farms that treat dogs like a piece of expendable property. It’s something we don’t like to think about, but we must, so we can take steps to try and stop these people breeding dogs.

Have you been to your local pet store lately? That cute little doggy behind the glass may have come from a puppy farm, where they produce pups in large numbers for sale in pet shops, without any regard for their wellbeing. When the dog is purchased, it puts money in the pocket of the pet shop, and also the breeder who supplies them. It is a deplorable situation that needs to be stopped, and it’s important that people are educated about it.

Adult female dogs are kept at the puppy farm solely for breeding purposes. They may be kept in small cages, and they may not receive the basic preventative health care that all dogs are entitled to. They may not be washed or groomed, and their cages may not be cleaned very often. These dogs may never enjoy a run in the grass on a sunny day.

Many puppy farms operate out of a barn or large building that can house many different breeds. The income potential for this type of operation is quite large. Because they farm so many puppies, and don’t take too much care with their adult dogs, their profit margin is high.

There is legislation in place that regulates dog breeders in many parts of the United States, but these puppy farms are often run as an underground business to avoid being discovered.

Outsiders are not allowed to see the areas where the animals are being housed. If the farm does allow visitors to see the puppies on site, they will be brought out to a separate area which has been kept clean and tidy. The breeding facility will look nice and respectable from the outside.

If you ever suspect that you are visiting a puppy mill, you can ask the breeder if you can meet the puppy’s parents, and see where the puppies are kept. An ethical breeder won’t have any problem with doing this. If they say no, then you need to wonder what they may have to hide, and reconsider your decision to buy a pup from them. You do not want to support the unethical treatment of any animal in this way.

Is there anything you can do? You bet there is! Educate yourself about your local laws, and add your support to any groups that are working towards shutting down these puppy mills. You may think that you’re just one person and you can’t do much, but if you get together with lots of other people, you can have a big impact on the lives of these poor dogs.

This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right system for you, help you install it, and help train your pet to use the new system. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of electric fence for dogs at the best available prices.

 Aggression in dogs is a pretty common thing.  Training them to redirect their aggression to something else or help them understand that you are the one in charge is key.  Like with anything your dog might need a little coaching on what your expectations are for him.

Here is an example of when Tank and I had to work together for him realise that Mom was in charge:

As I sat watching a TV show the other night, the doorbell rang, on TV.  That didn’t stop my little Australian Shepherd, Tank, from leaping out of his bed and announcing the arrival of a stranger.  Standing at the door, confused that no one was getting up to answer the door, he waited.  After a few minutes Tank plunked back down in his bed to continue his nap.

This scene is common enough in households across America every day, and most people never realize that their dog was just exhibiting aggressive behavior.  We generally think of aggressive behavior as a bite or at least growling and gnashing teeth.  But aggressive behavior in a dog starts with subtle signs and develops into a problem over time, and while frequently a dog’s aggressive behavior may not start out as being dangerous, it should never be ignored.  And it is your responsibility as the pack leader to curb this behavior. 

Click on the link above to read the full article on understanding aggression in your dog.

I know it’s overkill, but being a dog lover, and fact a dog blog owner, it’s hard not to comment on the recent accusations against star football player Michael Vick. I am not going to get into a debate whether he is innocent or guilty. The point I am getting at is the negative exposure that this is giving the Pitbull. As if they don’t have a bad rep to begin with, this seals the deal.

Living here in Pennsylvania, it is very difficult to even get home owners insurance if you own a Pitbull, and on top of that, whole townships have begun a ban on even having the dogs! This is appauling. Once again, as an American trademark, punish everyone for the mistakes of a few.

Again, I am not going to get into a heated debate over politics, and the slow eroding of our rights in this country.

The point I am trying to make is that there are other stories that will never make the frontpage of a newspaper. My father-in-law has 3 dogs. 2 Labradors and one Pitbull. The Pitbull’s name is Jaws, perfectly named because of his huge head. Jaws is one of the most lovable dogs I have ever seen. He is also a big whiney baby. He always wants attention, obeys when you speak, and cries continously about every little thing. He also loves company.

The two Labs are very similar. I commend this to their excellent upbringing. They are all babied and given as much love as possible, and never abused. However, there is one major difference that may shock you.

Thru all the different times of interaction including playing and possibly getting a little rough on my end, there has been a few occasions where the Labs have snapped or nipped at me. I agree it was my fault because I may have accidentaly hurt them in one way or another. However, Jaws the Pitbull, has never snapped or nipped even once!

Not bad for the most vicious dog breed on earth!

I find this so ironic as Labs are one of the most popular and lovable dog breeds known. It just goes to show that almost any animal, hurt or backed up in a corner will always try to defend themselves, mostly out of instinct. I am sure Jaws may be the same way, but we have never seen it yet. He continues to love us, and it is heartbreaking to imagine that one day we may not be able to have him or another Pitbull down the road.

For all of you that may have formed an opinion by seeing all of this dogfight stuff, please realize that Pitbulls are just like any other dog, and they do what they are trained to do. It is the owners that need to be punished, not the Dogs!

Please pass this article on. It just may save a life!

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