Category: Dog

John Grogan’s international bestseller “Marley: A Dog Like No Other” is suited for children of all ages, and it tells the story of a young puppy, Marley, who quickly develops a big personality, boundless energy, and becomes the troublemaker in the homestead.

Grogan describes Marley as always causing problems. Sometimes he steals food from the kitchen, gets into the house violently, or disturbs visitors coming to see the family.

Some people may say that he is the worst dog around; however, those who have interacted with him for a long time consider him a dog like no other.

Marley’s astounding affection and trustworthiness are as a source of joy in the family. As he grows under the care of Grogan’s family, he teaches them about the important things in life.

The story, narrated in the first person, starts when John and Jenny, his wife, were looking for a new member of their young family. They had been married for slightly more than a year, and they thought that having a dog could bring joy into the family.

After searching in what had once been Florida swampland, they settled on Marley, a yellow fur-ball of a puppy. The author describes the dog as having a passion for life. As he grew into maturity, his zest for life also equally increased.

As soon as Marley was taken to his new home, he followed John wherever he went and tried to gnaw at almost everything he found around him. And he soon found out the best thing about his new place of residence, that is, sprinting across the house with the toilet-paper roll.

As the family increased in size, they relocated to Pennsylvania. Here, Marley found out the joy of playing in the snow. He also enjoyed tobogganing down the hill on John’s stomach. He exhibited strange eating habits.

His destructive behavior made John and his wife register him at a local dog training club that provided basic obedience classes so that he could become a good dog.

“A stern, no-nonsense dog trainer who believed that there are no bad dogs, only weak-willed and hapless owners,” assumed the duty of training the misbehaving dog (Grogan, 29).

However, the dog instructor soon threw him out of the obedience classes because he was causing problems at the training center and he could not heed to instructions.

This book is not only about Marley, the mischievous dog, but it also concerns the life of the Grogans. It describes the hard times that the family managed to go through and how the dog fitted in and responded in these circumstances.

As much as the author describes the crucial moments that shaped their lives all through their thirteen years of staying with the dog, he does not abandon the book’s main character, Marley the Dog.

The dog, despite his queer habits, helped the family to realize that as much as there can come a day when there is no tomorrow that is not a reason good enough to stop living and take pleasure in today’s life. At one point, the dog featured in a movie in which he quickly drove the cast crazy.

He got out from the cage he was confined in with the help of his tongue, and he befriended each one, both people and animals.

Some of the actions of the family members in the book depict that they were sometimes not behaving as responsible dog owners.

For example, on one occasion when John and Jenny were taking Marley to the veterinary officer, they allowed him to peep out of the car window for quite some time. To their surprise, the dog managed to get out of the car and stand right in the busy street.

John was convinced that the dog would get into the path of one of the angry drivers who was swerving around them. They staged a show on the street as they were trying to get him back to the car.

In another instance, John and Jenny allowed the dog to drink a lot of salt water so much that he did not comply with the beach rule of not pooping inside the water.

However, these deeds and misdeeds of Marley make him be an entertaining member of the family. The author himself says, “one thing was clear. Jenny and I loved our dog” (Oregon, 42).

“Marley: A Dog Like No Other” should be read by every child, especially when he or she wants to understand the intrigues of pet ownership. The book is simple to read, and young readers would inevitably laugh and cry when reading this hilarious, emotional, and tender story.

The dog’s character will steal the heart of the reader as the author describes the last bits of the dog’s life; the reader aches along with his owner.

In spite of being the worst behaved dog around, he proved to be the best companion for the Grogans, providing them with loyalty, dedication, and total, complete affection.

Works cited

Grogan, John. Marley A Dog Like No Other. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2007. Print.

Mushers Defend ‘Traditional’ Practice Exception in Dog Act

On 27th January 2011, the Northern News Service published a story about mushers who defended traditional practice exception in the Dog Act. ‘Traditional practice’ refers to a clause that makes exceptions to locally accepted and traditional practices as far as prohibiting cruelty to dogs is concerned. The mushers defended the clause on 22nd January 2011 at a public hearing on bill 16 that sought to amend the Dog Act before it was taken to the legislative house that will be opened in February. The public hearing was held at the Midnight Sun Complex, which was attended by more than 30 people. The main contentious issue was whether to define the word tradition or to completely delete it from the Act. One of those who wanted the word to remain in the clause was the president of the Beaufort Delta Dog Mushers and also an Inuvik welder. Mr. Mike Baxter said that defining the word would be difficult, if not an impossible task, and that those who abused animals would still do so no matter what the Act said (Curtis, para.1-2).

The manager of the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA, Linda Eccles, said that she had witnessed very many cases associated with horrific cruelty and also listed particular cases that she had handled in Inuvik. She, in fact, disclosed that in ten years, she had been reporting cases of animal abuse. However, only a single investigation had been taken to court, and being that the Act was written many years ago, a fine of $25 or a jail term of 30 days was the maximum punishment. As a result, she said that she didn’t want a continuation of this where people are let off the hook because of loosely written laws. The Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Dave Ramsay, concurred with Eccles that the N.T. needed a comprehensive Act that does not have an undefined section where one who abuses animals would claim to be traditional practice. To counter Eccles’s remarks, Baxter said that what mattered most was whether a dog was healthy and able to perform, for there cannot be a common way of training and feeding dogs as done on horses. He added that under no circumstance that any musher would justify Eccles’s argument and that any abuser of dogs would still do so no matter the definitions, and one who provides good care would also continue doing the same (Curtis, para.3-10).

Positive Aspects

In support of Baxter’s position, every society has its own traditional practices and way of life, and therefore trying to draw a line on dos and don’ts is a near-impossible task. Particularly because different people use dogs for different purposes, and economic standards can be a factor in how people take care of their dogs. Some use dogs only as pets, and some use them in various sporting activities as well as at work (Lost Temple Pets, para. 1). Doing away with the word ‘traditional’ would be insidious because there are traditional ways of raising a dog that is safe and beneficial; hence if the word is deleted from the clause, then doing that would be an offense. There are communities such as the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit people whose economic lives have since historical times been supported to a larger extent by working dogs for centuries. This shows that deleting the word ‘traditional’ would deny such people of their livelihoods (May, para.4). For any law to provide justice, it should not have any elements of discrimination in its application. This seems to come out when one tries to outlaw traditional ways of rearing dogs in an attempt to curb cruelty, particularly because the law should never view the traditional way of rearing dogs and proper care to dogs as mutually exclusive.

Negative Aspects

In support of Linda Eccles’ position, any law that has an ambiguous clause will definitely be interpreted differently by different people. Hence those who break it will use their interpreted versions to circumvent it and avoid being liable. For instance, the president of the N.W.T. SPCA explained during the public hearings that most people who were unwilling to give proper care to their animals used the word traditional practices to justify their actions (C.B.C. News, para.5). Therefore any ambiguous clause should be done away with if it promotes the same crimes that that law is meant to curb. For laws to be effective, they must be able to address the issues that they were meant to. However, laws developed in the past might not be effective in handling current issues.

Precisely because there are a lot of changes that have occurred between those times and now, some laws should either be abolished or amended to be able to operate effectively. For instance, the Dog Act was written fifty years ago, and the definition of tradition then is not the same as today. At the same time, there are always people who fault the law so that their unacceptable acts can be legalized, and therefore continuous evaluation and amendment laws if a common practice in any society. Based on the accounts of cruelty listed by Linda Eccles during the public hearing, it is clear that the Dogs Act is ineffective, particularly since a lot of cruelty happened and no action was taken, and for the few cases that action was taken, the penalty given to the offenders was too small to deter him or any other person from doing the same. Therefore this gives a good reason why there should be a clear definition of the word ‘traditional,’ or if not, it should be deleted from the bill (Curtis, para. 5).

Significance

What emerges from this event are varied interests that exist in any given society. This is because as much as both parties might agree that cruelty on dogs should be stopped, there would be different opinions on the ways to achieve the objective based on what interest each party has in dogs. It is also important to note that in a given society, it is difficult to reach an agreement that is best for all parties involved. Therefore the prudent thing to do is to come up with the most acceptable and effective solution to a given problem. That means that at times other parties will have to lose. However, they can be compensated because the main aim was to achieve the objective set, which in this case is to curb cruelty on dogs. This can be achieved by collectively evaluating all options and being objective in the process. Being objective ensures that parties are not drawn into irrational arguments over subjective standards. Lastly, changing people’s ideas and traditions is not easy and takes time, and a lot of caution should be exercised.

Work Cited

CBC News. Northern Canada Dog Act ‘traditional’ practices Debated. 2011. Web.

Lost Temple. Pets lost temple fitness canine pulling sports. n.d. Web.

May, Katie. Tradition doesn’t equal animal cruelty: mushers. 2011, Web.

Curtis, Kira. Mushers defend ‘traditional’ practice exception in Dog Act. 2011, Web.

Discussion 1

It is not the consequences, but the circumstances under which Dog House found itself in a dire financial situation that lead to the conclusion that Jerry Teal’s conduct was unethical, as it violated professional standards in business law. First, the landlord took advantage of his position and misappropriated company funds. Second, he used a corporate entity to perpetrate fraud, as he recovered money from the insurance property of Teal Properties, but did not pay that money to Dog House.

In other words, Jerry Teal abused a corporate privilege for his own benefit. As a result, the personal interests of Mr. Teal and the corporate interests of the company became commingled, so the latter appeared to have no separate identity (Carroll and Buchholtz 418). However, even if Teal Properties did not reimburse the tenant for the repair costs and Dog House did not end up in a bad financial situation, the conduct of Mr. Teal would still be unethical.

Discussion 2

Based on the definition of a shareholder’s derivative suit, it is possible to say that corporations can be expected to benefit from this type of litigation. This is because a shareholder’s derivative suit is brought against a third party whose actions are considered to have harmed the corporation. Specifically, corporate directors and officers can take advantage of their positions, thus causing harm to the corporation (Miller 739).

For this reason, it is clear that these persons would be unwilling to bring a lawsuit against themselves. A shareholder’s derivative suit allows a minority member to start litigation which can result in recovering damages caused by officers whose conduct did harm to a corporation. Since such a lawsuit is brought on behalf of a company, all the damages recovered go into corporate funds.

Works Cited

Carroll, Archie, and Ann Buchholtz. Business and Society: Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management. Nelson Education, 2014.

Miller, Roger LeRoy. Business Law Today: Text & Summarized Cases. 11th ed., Cengage Learning, 2017.

Cats and dogs are two of the most common types of pets, and preferring one to another can arguably tell many things about a person. While the question about choosing to have a cat or a dog may seem trivial and insignificant to many people, it can actually indicate a number of important personality traits. While we often tend to argue about one of these kinds of pets being better than another, we do not ask ourselves what these preferences actually say about us. So, before labelling this question as meaningless and frivolous, you might want to ask yourself once again: “Am I a cat or dog person?”

To understand the ramifications of this question, it is first worth comparing and contrasting these two types of pets, taking several aspects into account. The first factor is the comfort and support they provide to their owners. While dogs are usually active and energetic in showing their love and devotion, cats are much more subtle and gentle. Cats may often not even be explicit in demonstrating their affection, which, for many people, creates a misconception that they are not affectionate at all. Being annoyed with the ways cats and dogs show affection can say something about one’s personality. For example, dogs’ ways of showing affection by jumping and licking a person may be considered extremely annoying by some people who are naturally calm and do not like having their personal space violated. At the same time, cats’ indifferent manner of interacting with humans may be considered cold and arrogant by some people, which can make them feel inferior; and no one likes feeling inferior to a cat.

Another aspect that could be discussed to compare and contrast cats and dogs is their usefulness. In relation to how helpful pets are for people, dogs have probably managed to beat their rivals. Commonly considered to be ‘a man’s best friend’, dogs are known for their loyalty and devotion. There are several types of service dogs, such as hearing, guide, and mobility dogs, that help people with various disabilities. Other examples include search and rescue dogs, sniffer dogs, and dogs used in pet-assisted therapy. Although it may seem more challenging to list as many ways in which cats help humans, there is still a number of important ones. For example, they can help people who have mental health problems by calming them, offering companionship, and reducing stress.

The third aspect that can be considered to compare and contrast dogs is their needs. Before getting a pet, people often ask themselves how difficult it will be to take care of it. For example, apart from their basic needs, like food and water, dogs require plenty of exercise and socialization. Owners have to walk with their dogs regularly and develop specific exercise routines. Cats, on the other hand, are often much less social than dogs, and require less attention. Consequently, the same should be reflected in their owners: calm and more introverted people may prefer cats.

It can be concluded that cats and dogs have similarities and differences. While dogs are affectionate and energetic, cats are usually calm. Both cats and dogs, however, are used in therapy and treatments. Finally, taking care of these pets also differs: dogs require more of their owners’ time to walk with them and socialize. Cats, on the other hand, are not as emotionally dependent. Thus, preferring cats or dogs can say a lot about one’s personality, such as being affectionate or reserved, extraverted or introverted, active or calm.

I met various domestic animals in my friends’ and acquaintances’ houses – cats, hamsters, snakes, and even spiders. However, dogs, among all pets, are distinguished by intense devotion and love for their owner. Upon returning home, the dogs’ owners are greeted with joyful eyes filled with sincere love. They are also worried when the owners have a bad mood and rejoice their positive attitude. I always admired this quality of them, and for this reason, I, despite my love for all animals, prefer dogs. Two pets lived in my family – beagle Daisy and labrador Sammy, and the second is still with us. Both dogs became members of our family, but each has its own unique character.

Daisy was actually my mom’s dog and lived with her before I was born. Mother trained Daisy diligently, and she was an obedient dog and only sometimes allowed herself a little misbehavior. Although she was very friendly and even tried to take care of me when I was growing up, my mother was the real owner. My parents told me how I learned to walk holding hands for Daisy. However, this dog’s patience was enough only for a short time, and she quickly ran away to her mistress or just played somewhere else.

Like all beagle dogs, Daisy was quite stunning and charming. She was low, but at the same time, relatively strong, and her ears hung cute when running. Daisy had a standard color for her breed – a combination of red, white, and black shades. We took good care of this girl, and her wool was shinny while walking on a sunny day. Our acquaintances, dog lovers, have always admired her, but Daisy’s beauty is not her leading quality.

Daisy’s hallmark was her energy – to make this dog incredibly happy, we could take her for a walk to the park. She was interested in almost everything – trees, grass, other dogs, birds, and much more. When Daisy was little, she was intrusive in communicating with other dogs, but some did not like it at all, and mom needed to be very attentive so that no one bit her puppy. Growing up, the girl became more careful, and I only remember that she played more with her trusted friends. She was disappointed when she had to go home. In this case, the walk was shorter than usual, Daisy even tried to trick us, pretending that she did not understand that it was time to leave.

Sammy appeared a few years after Daisy died, and he is mine. On the day of our first meeting, when I came to choose a puppy, he immediately noticed me. Not paying attention to the other people around him, the puppy ran up to me and almost jumped in my arms – he chose his human. For the first few days, he was getting accustomed to a new house and was very modest. However, over time, he began to feel like a full-fledged member of the family.

In order to take proper care of Sammy and raise him, I went to obedience school. Besides direct dog training, the coach also taught the owners how to behave in a way that cannot spoil or offend their pets. The upbringing was quite long, but the effort paid off with his good behavior at the current age. Sammy’s devotion to me continues over years, and this is an incredible feeling – to be the center of the world for him.

Sammy is huge, and his color is light, although he cannot be called white. His appearance is not contrasting other representatives of this breed. However, like any dog owner, I will always claim that my Sammy is the best. He is distinguished by a look in which many emotions are displayed, which most often are delight, friendliness, and love. It is also possible to understand what the pet feels by the movement of its hanging ears.

Unlike Daisy, Sammy’s character is calmer, and sometimes he is even a little lazy. This dog is also friendly, obedient, and always wants to be in a person’s company. Sammy sometimes communicates with other dogs during walks, but it seems to me that it is not so interesting for him since he returns to play with me at the first opportunity. Thanks to such qualities, labradors often become assistants comforters in clinics and help people with disabilities.

Thus, both dogs, which lived in our family are unique and beloved to us. Dogs are such pets that will try to become part of every moment of the owner’s life since they are emotionally connected to people and dependent on them. Each of our dogs chose its master – Daisy preferred my mother, and Sammy – me. Both pets are beautiful but have different appearances – a beagle of small height and had a tricolor coat and the big labrador – characteristic for his breed wool of the one color. Their individuality is also manifested in contrasting ways, which, however, did not prevent our family from loving them equally much.

Introduction

The dog has been a friend and companion animal for many people over a long period of history. At the same time, it is possible to work with the dog and train it to perform certain actions necessary for the owner. In order to teach a dog to bring a newspaper, when the owner can not do it, the best approaches are through punishment or encouragement.

Learning Through a Simple Subject

A standard practice with a format in which the dog first needs to bring toys, such as a ball, can be effective for training. In the future, the ball can be replaced with the necessary item being the newspaper. At the same time, for the application of classical conditioning in associative learning, it is important to have an association with rewarding after the execution of the command.

Promotion

In the process of training, the trainer influences the behavior of the dog and changes it in the desired direction. The behavior of a trained dog is controlled by the trainer, who induces the dog with his signals, including commands and gestures, to perform certain actions. If the necessary commands are fulfilled, the animal is encouraged, in case of disobedience, the animal is punished. In order for the developed skills to be fixed, the pet must be periodically trained. In this case, the trained animal will ideally perform all the actions that a person requires of it.

Firstly, it is required to decide what reward the dog will receive if it brings the ball. Few of the ways to encourage the needed behavior are treats for training or pieces of pet food. Secondly, it is important to praise the dog during the training to encourage correct behavior. As soon as the dog learns to bring the item by itself, expecting the trainer to ask to bring or throw it again, it has already begun to understand what the essence of this task is.

The trainer does not need to treat the pet if it does not return the ball as this will not reinforce the wanted behavior. Reward and punishment should immediately follow the dog’s actions. The longer the time interval between the positively evaluated actions of the dog and the reward, or between the negatively evaluated actions of the dog and punishment, the longer the reflex is developed, and the more errors occur during training.

Once the dog has learned the correct behavior, the trainer can move on to smaller rewards, such as praise, instead of food. At first, a trainer can encourage the dog every time, but gradually, as the dog begins to understand the command, reduce the edible rewards to nothing so that it does not think that the point of the action is to get a treat. In connection with such a habit, behaviorism is formed, which is based on the positive consequences of the actions of the dog. Such minor intervention in behavior allows you to instill in the dog a response to a command or an independent action.

Teaching to Give Away an Item

Dog training is best to start with general techniques. Due to these techniques, pets develop skills that provide control of their behavior, establish the necessary contact with the trainer, and lay the foundation for special training. In order for the puppy to easily give the item, the trainer should, by pronouncing the command, offer it a treat. Seeing a treat in the hands of a trainer, the puppy immediately gives the item. After that, the return of the rain also reduces to automatic action without additional rewards.

The development of the desired skill should at first be carried out in the most comfortable, familiar environment, in the absence of extraneous stimuli. Only gradually, as the skill develops, can the trainer move on to working in a new environment for the dog or in the presence of strong distractions. It should be borne in mind that physical discomfort contributes to the fact that the obedience of the dog may not be absolute. Therefore, for a start, training on the territory of the house is optimal, with a further exit beyond its territory.

Additional Requirements

Additionally, at the very beginning of the training, it is imperative to understand whether the dog knows its nickname “Skinner”. If necessary, it is also possible to teach a dog a nickname through rewards for the reaction. At the very beginning, for the effectiveness of actions, it is important that the owner accompany and monitor all the actions of the dog. After a certain period of time, when the dog executes the command on its own, it is possible to provide full autonomy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best option for teaching the dog to bring the newspaper is to reward it. A gradual transition is possible from full support of the owner and maximum encouragement to automation of command execution. For the final result without expectation of a reward, it is important that the trainer gradually trains the pet and accustoms it to perform, until the desired result is achieved.

Debates on whether dog is the best pet or not are very common when it comes to choosing a pet. There are many pets that a person can keep, but dogs stand out from the rest. Dogs have been branded as the best friends of man for a very long time and this yet to change.

The relationships between dogs and man have been improving over the years and this has made dogs to be the most preferable pets in the world. Dogs are known to reciprocate love by remaining loyal and the best companions. The people who are still reluctant to choose dogs as their pets simply lack adequate information on why dogs are the best pets to keep. This paper will explain why a dog is the best pet to keep compared to other pets.

The first reason why one should choose a dog for a pet is its ability to do things for its owner. Dogs can do several tricks that other pets such as cats and birds can not do. Dogs are quick learners and can therefore be taught simple domestic tasks for fun. In terms of companionship, dogs are the best option because they have the energy to jog and run alongside their owners.

Dogs are known to offer unconditional love to their owners and are always concerned about their safety. A good pet should give its owner some attention and no other pet does this better then a dog. Dogs learn their names in the shortest time possible and can always respond quickly when they are called by their names. Dog can be learned to play different games and are always available to play with its owner any time it is called upon.

Recent studies have shown that dogs bring health benefits to their owners apart from offering companionship. A dog owner becomes fit by having regular walking sessions with his or her pet. Regular dog-walking sessions help dog owners reduce their cholesterol levels.

Having a dog as a friend helps its owner forget about his or her worries by playing with it. A person who lives alone needs a dog for security and companionship. Psychologists believe that dogs can help bereaved people overcome their traumas in the shortest time possible compared to other pets.

In addition, dogs often serve as guides for blind people. It is believed that dogs feel seismicity and can help their owners avoid being harmed by destruction in case of earthquake. The strong bond between a human being and a dog makes the owner feel calm when their pet is by the side. A dog can make its owner laugh after a very stressful day. A dog is always available to welcome its owner at home regardless of the mood of the day.

In conclusion, people with a problem of choosing a pet for themselves should consider having a dog as a pet because of the many benefits it brings to the owner compared to other pets. Dogs have special qualities that make them stand out from other pets when it comes to companionship and security.

Other pets have limited abilities and can not match the versatility of a dog. Research has proven that dogs bring quite a number of health and social benefits to their owners compared to other pets. The reasons explained in this paper are enough proof that a dog is the best pet that one should consider keeping.

They say that a dog is man’s best friend. While I cannot establish the universal truth of this declaration, I have no doubts that the statement holds true to me concerning Tiger, my 5 year old Pit Bull. Tiger is a brown, thickly muscled medium sized dog. His agile nature combined with his broad cheeks which conceal powerful jaws no doubt make him very intimidating to most people. Quite on the contrary, Tiger is a gentle creature who enjoys playing and is very eager to please.

I first met my dog at a dog shelter as my friend and I were shopping for a pet. A staff at the shelter informed me that Tiger was one of the victims of an illegal dog fighting syndicate that breeds dogs for illegal fighting. A look at the dogs battered face and scarred body affirmed this. One look at the dog’s friendly smile and warm eyes and I decided to adopt him. Since then, I have had numerous adventures with my dog and many lucky escapes.

One of the incidents that quickly springs to mind is from an evening late last year. I was taking Tiger on his regular evening walks when I decided to venture into the forest that borders the park. Tiger was very grateful for this treat for I normally kept him on a short leash and rarely let him venture anywhere near the woods.

Judging by the yelps from the dog and the regular jumping up and down, I could tell that Tiger was enjoying this outdoor experience very much. Since I still had the leash on him, I decided to release him from this so that he could enjoy himself even more. No sooner had I unclipped the chain than the dog sprung off into a well concealed path that I had not noticed before. I called out for the dog to come back to me but my calls went unheeded.

Now this was an unlikely behavior since Tiger was a well trained dog and he would never disobey my commands. For some minutes, I stood still contemplating whether to rush after my dog or to leave him to himself. After deliberating for a while, I decided to follow after him although I made a mental note to punish the dog for being disobedient.

Having decided that, I sprinted off in the direction that Tiger had taken and after about ten minutes, I made out the Pit Bull moving in a slow and deliberate manner towards an opening. I assumed that his movement was in an effort for stealth and so I followed his example and gently moved forward and at last I could see what was making Tiger so cautious.

Below us lay two log cabin houses that had definitely seen better days. However, that was not what fascinated me. It was the young couple who were trussed against a tree outside the cabins that caught my attention. Before I had time to make sense of what I was seeing, a menacing looking lanky man came out wielding a sharp dagger.

It was then that I realized that Tiger had just uncovered a kidnapping incident. The lanky man got to the couple and after a short exchange, the tied down woman cried out in what I could only assume was pain. Tiger barred his great teeth and I had no doubt that he was willing to run off and fight the enemy to the death if I commanded him to do so. However, I decided that it would be better if we informed the authorities.

As luck would have it, I had left my cell phone at home and therefore had no means of communicating to the police. One look at Tiger and I knew that we were not going to leave the hapless couple to the mercies of the scary man. I therefore signaled for Tiger to distract the kidnaper while I made attempts to free the couple.

Tiger whisked off to the other end of the compound and after a few minutes, he let out a loud howl that got the attention of the kidnapper for in an instance, he ran off in Tiger’s direction. With the man out, I took to my heels and headed in the couple’s direction. A closer look revealed that the man had also gagged them. I therefore proceeded to remove the gags and the first words that came out of the man’s mouth were to inform me that the kidnapper had a gun.

By now it was too late to retreat and so I went on to untie the ropes that held the young couple captive. I could still hear Tiger’s angry barks and I was sure that there was an ugly show down between the kidnapper and Tiger. Having untied the couple, we rushed off into the woods and I prayed that my brave Pit Bull would survive his dangerous encounter. We were still making out way out of the woods when I looked back and saw Tiger running towards us. His fine coat was bloodied but save for that he seemed to be in good shape.

We got to the park safely and after taking my contacts amidst copious thanks, the couple went to report the matter to the police. Tiger and I made our way to our home and on our way, we received curious looks from people who were wondering about our worn out looks. I smiled back and thought to myself that they would never have imagined the adventure that my heroic dog Tiger and I had just had.

Introduction

The author in the article says many things about dogs. According to him, dogs are that animal that can fool a person by getting him to spend everything he has while still feeling happy about it. The do all kinds of outrageous behavior but we still love them. If the same kind of behavior was being done by somebody else we would have finished the relationship. If biologists could see the dogs for which they really are, they would categorize them as social parasites and would compare them to the cuckoo bird. As all human beings see is that a cuddly dog needs to be fed and taken care of. They don’t realize that it is not one of their own and has been thrust upon them by the mother of that puppy.

People share many characteristics with dogs, as they both get lonely shouldn’t it be a good idea to have a companion who can love you and play with you. Children and the older generation can truly cherish and in the case of children can develop as individuals with the help of dogs. Yes, had it been somebody else we would have complained immediately but that somebody else can speak, a dog is a speechless animal.

Main body

The author says that people are willing to spend a lot of money on dogs. The amount comes out to be five billion dollars on dog food and seven billion dollars on canine veterinary service. Another aspect of spending on dogs includes the aggression they show towards other human beings, especially children. Dog bites have increased and cost the U.S. economy $250 million in 1996. This amount of spending on dogs is less as compared to all the comforts that the dogs provide us. If we perform a cost benefit analysis then we find out that it is not a rational bargain on our part.

Human beings are always willing to spend large amounts of money on people or animals they love. We do research on endangered species and many researches fall in love with the animal, they would do anything to protect them. Why should it be any different with the dog? Those who can afford to spend large amounts of money on their dog should do so because it is an important part of their lives.

The author gives us some scientific explanation about relationship between dogs and humans. Their evidence confirms that it is very different from what we thought it to be. This scientific research was called the Dog Genome Project and will develop genetic tests for inborn diseases. Genes help us find out the causes of inborn diseases but they are also helping us find what changes have been made to the dog population because of interaction with the human population.

Like archaeology, genetics can also find out about the history, evolution and social ecology of the dogs. Previously, domestic animals were not paid much attention and were not thought of as good study subjects. When it comes to dog, all humans are sentimental including the scientists. Scientists when talking about dogs would say things which scientifically can not be right or true.

Aguirre and a few other scientists set out to study the dog. They wanted to find out the roots of the degenerative diseases which cause small breeds of dog to go blind. This disease shares many similarities with a human disease known as retinitis pigmentosa. As time passed by this study has broadened its objective to include a map of the entire dog genome. Samples were collected by these scientists. These samples belong to three different generations of dogs and were crosses between dogs. Not much cross breeding takes place in dogs which make them a simpler subject as compared to humans.

The scientists used the junk DNA to create molecular probes which were further enhanced to make the first linkage in the map of dog genome. The gene helps scientists know where they are on the genome and variable bits help in searching for the genetic differences that exist between dogs. As dogs have many puppies at a time some diseases can be easily mapped on them.

Many institutes have started funding research on dogs because many diseases that are in dogs can be linked to humans. The defective gene which causes a disease in a dog has been found in humans as well. Scientists have come to the conclusion that almost ninety to ninety-five per cent of the dog genome and the human genome are the same.

There must be some explanation for the behavior of the dog. There must be some characteristics which explain why it so loyal, loving and friendly. Also, some genes might be able to explain how it evolved from a wolf to a dog.

Maybe this genome resemblance between humans and dogs leads to the relationship that we have developed with them over time. In a way we might be able to relate to them and they become our companions as time passes by.

The author talks about how the dog has evolved and when did we start keeping them as pets. The myth says that humans found him to be a useful companion and dogs have been with us ever since, but how did we actually find the dog. Was it just wandering around somewhere and we took it in without finding out what it was?

The assumption that we have had has been proved wrong by evidence contradicting it. The scientists compared dogs to wolves by taking blood, tissue and hair samples. There is mitochondrial DNA in animals which helps them store food and use it when needed. This DNA comes from the mother, while normal DNA comes from both parents. This DNA can only change if there has been a mutation in the animal which can only happen at a rate on 1-2 per cent. The result of this showed us that the wolves and dogs had a difference of only one per cent. Thus we can say that the dog species emerged from the wolf species around 135,000 years ago.

A different type of specie must have interacted with the dog specie over a period of time and in direct influence to bring about the physical differences that we see today. Also, different breeds of dog have no correlation with the mitochondrial DNA that they carry.

According to the data presented by the research, dogs have been being domesticated for the past 100,000 years. That means that most of the breeds must have interacted with each other missing most of the genes found in them. But then how do we know that the breeds of dog that are living today are pure breeds and have not been mixed with earlier and different breeds. Then one can easily say that no dog is actually a pure breed but just a variation of the older breeds.

Wayne the scientist mentioned in the article then says that the domestication of animals at that time was rare and it must have took place in dogs so that they would be protected from the wild wolfs. But when this interaction started, even man was not fully domesticated. Then how did dogs get along so well with humans and get them to play with it and not eat it? Our perception tells us that having a dog as a friend during childhood helps the child grow and become independent. Can we say that it all happened because of nature and this is how nature has evolved society? Does man then have any say in what is happening and is going to happen in society or will it just happen without man’s consent?

Dogs have been so able to exploit us and take advantage of our simple-ness. They have been their selves by being loyal and loving but it has been us who has thought more of it and called it love. Have dogs learnt how to be loyal or have human picked up loyalty and playfulness from dogs. We know that human adapt to the environment that they get, does that mean that we adapted to the features or behavior that we saw in dogs?

The protectiveness we see in dogs for us does not necessarily mean that they are protecting us. It could mean that they do not want to loose their protector. Also, we know that there is an animal instinct to protect the people around them who have fed them especially. The dog may then just be naturally reacting to that. Animals also protect their territory and whether it is another animal or human who treads on their territory will face the same consequences.

Thus, dogs are no hero when they save an animal or guard a house. They are doing what is in their instinct. When an object is thrown, their first reaction is to go after it. They are trained using that object. Scientists have found behavioral attributes in dogs which explain the way they behave the way they do.

Conclusion

Today we find many dogs that show aggression to one person in the household. This usually happens when the dog is male and young. The same way boys try to show their dominance when they are growing up, the same way male dogs try to make a position for themselves.

In the end, we can say that dogs behave the way they do because it is their instinct not because they love us or hate us. Thus, it is not their fault when they growl at somebody. Also, we should not read into the affection they show us.

References

Budiansky, S. (1999). The Truth About Dogs, The Atlantic Online, 2009. Web.

The Human Dog, Dog Breed Info Centre, 2009, Web.

Introduction

Arthritis is a disease of the joints and can occur in both humans and other animals, including dogs. The onset of the disease is slow and debilitating. The disease, which causes inflammation of the joints, is said to occur in about one in five adult dogs. Collier, P. (2003) states that “arthritis may be suspected as having affected a dog or cat if thunderstudyands up slowly or limps after it gets up, or if it limps on a leg previously injured or operated upon, or generally moves around slower, and is more inclined to be inactive, specially while climbing stairs or getting up onto furniture”. Dinger, B. (2006) lists “abnormal bone/joint development, damage to joints, infection, the instability of surrounding ligaments and tendons, and injury due to immune system as possible causes of the disease”. The Ingleburn Veterinary Hospital (www.Ingleburnvet.com.au, Aug 2002) also lists other symptoms of the disease in dogs like “lagging behind when on walks, yelping in pain when it is touched, reduced appetite, change in behaviour, often into aggression, and licking or chewing at joints”. The Hospital also mentions methods of nursing intervention like “exercise, weight control, pain relief, and environment”. One study by Dybdall et al (2007) has even found that “environmental change, including choice of boarding kennels, can cause a severe adverse effect on the health and behaviour of an animal”. The degree of comfort and care that can be provided to a sick dog can help reduce the pain and physical distress caused by arthritis. In this regard, proper choice of a dog’s home and kennel, choice of bedding, space available to the dog, etc can provide considerable relief to a dog struck with arthritis, particularly in its old age. For Monty, the dog under study, the size, and disposition of the dog, the stage of the disease as also its specific symptoms and behaviour need to be observed and then a suitable choice of home environment, kennel etc needs to be arrived at.

Choice of Kennel

A dog house or kennel is a place outside the house where a dog can be warm in the cold season, dry during rainy days, and cool during the hot summer months. Also, it should be happy and secure in its home. Dog kennels are designed for every kind of dog. A doghouse or kennel should be of correct size, neither too large nor too small so that the dog is both comfortable and has sufficient space to move. The kennel must also be well ventilated, just above the ground, has a proper entrance which keeps out the adverse elements of nature outside like wind, cold, rain, etc. The roof of the kennel should also be detachable so that the inside can be periodically accessed and cleaned. The kennel also should have sufficient space for keeping food and water bowls. The doors of the doghouse may not be too large, and the size of the walls sufficient to prevent cold outside from affecting the dog. While these requirements in a kennel or doghouse are true for both a sick and a healthy dog, the type of house and its specifications assume more importance in case of a dog with arthritis like Monty, the Labrador to be interned for treatment.

Bedding is another important choice in case of a dog struck with arthritis. How comfortable Monty can be during its pain in the kennel depends on the choice of bedding material, floor of the doghouse, and other such matters. In this respect, a bed that is raised up from the ground, preventing incoming cool draught, and providing dry and comfortable sleeping environment, and, ideally, a trampoline-type bed, is suitable for Monty. Also a warm blanket must be provided and good padding may prevent pressure from being applied on the joints of the dog, contributing to comfort and relief from pain. Boras, D. in an article in 2008 mentions several steps that can be taken to help provide comfort to the sick dog in a kennel and these include “the placement of gates across stairs (which help prevent stressing the dog’s weak, painful and swollen joints, elevating bowls/dishes for keeping water or food, providing portable steps or ramps for the dog home, placing a rubber mat to prevent the food and water bowls from slipping while the dog is eating or drinking, and also placing orthopedic dog beds art least 4 inches thick to help cushion the dog’s swollen and painful joints. Also, dog kennels need to stress exercises, walks, and the provision of a clean home environment for the dog”. For Monty, stricken as it is with arthritis, this cannot be overemphasized.

The Ontario SPCA mentions that “doghouse exteriors must be weather-coated with suitable materials or non-leaded paint, and the location needs to be changed with a change in seasons to control effects of sun, shade, and wind. Additionally, suitable bedding materials like straw instead of blankets, with the same changed every 1-2 weeks, as also an outside flap made from canvas could provide the best protection to the dog during winter. In summer, the hall may be separated from the sleeping area by making the wall detachable for providing maximum coolness. Elevation of the house on bricks or cinder blocks could keep the house floor dry with a ramp provided for the dog to enter over the raised sill. Also, the base platform could be kept low, and an insulated ceiling and a separate hallway if provided could keep the dog warmer in the cold season. The roof could be insulated by using an insulation board between plywood pieces, and a small rainproof vent could be provided which would help dissipate any moisture accumulated inside the dog house, thereby reducing the possibility of mold” (www.ospca.on.ca, 2008). The Ontario SPCA also mentions the dimensions of the dog house as 36 inches of floor space for each inch of the dog’s height, and 1 to 2 inches more than a dog’s height when measured in its sitting position to yield the height of the ceiling from the floor of the sleeping area. For a retriever like Monty, the Labrador, the following table (Table 1) would list the ideal dimensions of a kennel according to the SCPA:

Table 1. Areas and Ceiling Heights 24” (Shoulder) / 27” (Sitting) (Inside measurements)

Monty’s Nursing Care Plan

Weight Loss Program

A weight loss program aiming to decrease weight at a rate of 0.5 to 2 % of the bodyweight per week is envisaged. The diet would attempt to provide calorie deficit, maintain the levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals required for maintenance, as also achieve a gradual and safe weight loss. While adopting the weight loss program for achieving a targeted reduction in weight over some time, the dietary management would also help check the progress of arthritis, alleviate pain and other clinical symptoms, safeguard the heart from possible attacks caused by obesity complications and also safeguard against failure of secondary organs. The program would also help alleviate respiratory troubles, if any, improve tolerance of Monty to exercise, aid in countering arthritis, alleviate pain, prevent other diseases like skin disease, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus from occurring as also help prolong the dog’s life and strengthen the quality of life, particularly in the old age. Since Monty appears to crave more food even after feeding him his regular dosage, a nutrient-rich diet at regular periodicity coupled with regular waste elimination, exercises, walks, and phasing out of treats could be essential to reduce body weight, alleviate joint pain and bring him around to normal life and activity. A gradual and safe weight loss coupled with a balanced diet of protein, vitamins, and minerals is envisaged thus.

Depending on the degree of cooperation that can be achieved from the dog, a mix of regular exercise and food habits through a controlled diet regimen, Monty could be well on the road to recovery. In addition, depending on the severity of the physiological conditions, a controlled regime of exercise twice daily may be attempted to bring around the wellness of the dog. Hawkins, K. (Mar 2006) maintains that “most dogs take around ten to twelve months to achieve their target reduced weight and this depends on the actual weight that can be lost by a particular dog”. Blanchard, G has also acknowledged, like many others, that “obesity is a disease, and that its treatment is now regarded as beneficial to health and life expectancy of pets” and also further stated that the “problem is more pronounced with age, gender, and sexual status, and particularly, the Retriever breed of dogs are more vulnerable to obesity” (2008). For effecting a gradual weight reduction, exercise and regular regimen as part of a nursing schedule can be given as follows:

7.00a.m. Dog to be taken out and walked. His feces to be noted for constitution, color, quantity, and odour

7.30 a.m. Medications as prescribed by the vet to be given

8.00 a.m. Food to be given Quantity of food taken and water drunk to be noted

8.30 a.m. Grooming, bathing, if required, motion exercises, etc to be done

9.00 to 11.00 a.m. Note down specific problem issues to be given to the Vet

11.00 a.m. Take out Monty on a walk and record on eliminations

11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Monitor and record activities of the dog

3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p. m. Medications to be scheduled and Monty to be walked under

Observation

5.30 p.m. TO feed Monty, give water to drink, and record observations

6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Monitor and record observations on the dog’s activities

10.00 p.m. Take him on a supervised walk

11.00 p.m. Give Medication, before he goes to sleep

Monty would be fed 60% of the daily MER at a bodyweight set at 15% less than actual weight during the first assessment. The MER was calculated as per the formula: MER (MJ) = 06. X 0.42 x BW^0.75 Once the target is arrived at, an estimation of time for achieving the same as also the diet to be planned is the next step in the program. The time required to effect the weight reduction is approximated to be around 1% per week in the case of Monty, a conservative estimate considering the present lameness of the dog. The ideal diet needs to restrict calorie intake (low in energy) and at the same time maintain satiety, and contain less fat but have more fiber. “Certain nutrients help the dog’s health and joint management which include Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, Shark Cartilage, Bovine Cartilage, Perna Canaliculus, Sea Cucumber, etc”. (pet-supplies-review.com, 2008) The body weight also needs to be weighed on a fortnightly basis and monitored to see if the program is on track. Table 2 below shows the minimum protein requirements for an adult dog (8 to 12 years old)

Table-2: Minimum Nutrient Requirements of Dogs for Growth and Maintenance (Amounts per kg body Weight per Day)

Protein

(Adapted from: Compendium of Pet Animal Practice, Dr Chander, S., 2004)

“It may be more useful to remember that an adult, non-reproducing dog requires about 22% of the diet dry matter as an average quality protein. Carbohydrates may safely supply 60% of dietary calories without causing a deficiency of proteins, fats, minerals or vitamins. Dietary fat supplies concentrated energy and essential fatty acids, and makes the diet palatable. While only 2% fat as com or soy oil (50%. linoleic acid) s needed to provide the essential unsaturated fatty acids, fat levels of 6-8% on dry matter basis are frequently added to diets for palatability and to help meet the energy requirement”.

Table-3: Minimum Nutrient Requirements of Dogs for Growth and Maintenance (Amounts per kg Body Weight per Day)

FATS

(Adapted from: Compendium of Pet Animal Practice, Dr Chander, S.,2004)

The most recent estimates of the energy requirement of dogs are given in following table 4:

ENERGY

Table-4: Caloric and daily food allowance for the maintenance of adult dogs

(Adapted from: Compendium of Pet Animal Practice, Dr Chander, S., 2004)

Dogs require at least 13 vitamins and the table below shows the ideal intake:

Table 5: Minimum Nutrient Requirements of Dogs for Growth and Maintenance

(Amounts per kg Body Weight per Day)

(Adapted from: Compendium of Pet Animal Practice, Dr Chander, S., 2004)

Table-6: Minimum Nutrient Requirements of Dogs for Growth and Maintenance (Amount per kg body weight per day)

Table-7: Examples of semisolid foods for dogs (%)

(Adapted from: Compendium of Pet Animal Practice, Dr Chander, S.,2004)

Conclusion

One study by Mlacknik, E. et al notes in the JAVMA (Dec 20060 that “The negative impact of obesity on health is well documented. In addition to an association with various medical disorders such as compromised immune function, abnormal glucose tolerance, acute pancreatitis, greater risk for anesthetic and surgical complications, heat and exercise intolerance, and cardiovascular disease, obesity in dogs is thought to be a risk factor for the development and progression of osteoarthritis. In humans, a correlation between osteoarthritis and obesity has already been detected; however, the exact role in dogs has not been fully investigated. The theory pertaining to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is that excessive body weight causes additional mechanical stress on joints, thus promoting their degeneration. Treatment of obesity is based on a restriction of caloric intake. Restricting calories to 60% of the calculated maintenance energy requirements for a dog’s target body weight has been recommended. Restriction of caloric intake and maintenance of lean body condition cannot only increase median life span but can also prevent the manifestation of chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis. In overweight dogs, osteoarthritis changes appear earlier in life and are more severe, compared with their restricted-fed siblings”.