A day or two ago, I wrote in my blog, Scoop the Poop about how my heart was torn because I had to let go of a rescue dog I recently adopted. He was over aggressive , scared my pets and me as well because he has an unpredictable temper and he bites. It was the main reason he was placed in the shelter. The Northeast Georgia Humane society has been great because they kept him alive and put him in training with a behaviorist. I was another in line to adopt this pet who thought I would be able to handle him and his temper with the love and attention I would shower him. Well he awoke me from my fantasy and I recognized it was too much for me to handle. I felt ashamed because I pride myself on being able to handle and care for any dog. Yet I recognized that I had to let him go. I only did it after realizing that the NE GA Humane Society and I discussed his next steps and the extensive training he will go through with a behaviorist. I felt comfortable because I could tell they genuinely cared for him and his life like I did.

The blog:( When Is The Time To Give Up On An Aggressive Dog )

While contemplating if I should let him go, one of the determining issues was the legal aspect. What if he had bitten the dog clients I have in my house, my parents, my boyfriend’s parents or the kids? That’s plenty of lawsuits we couldn’t afford. So it was the right thing to do.

Today I read an article dealing with this exact issue and I want to share it with you. It’s called : How to Limit Your Liability If Your Dog Bites

Til Next Time…

5 Health Mistakes Dog Owners Make

Feature by Wendy C. Fries

Sometimes, pet owners with the best of intentions still make serious mistakes when it comes to the health of their dog.
Here's what top veterinarians had to say about mistakes owners make that lead to ailments they often see and how you can avoid them.

Mistake 1: Not Getting Preventive Care
Houston’s Canine Health Institute associate medical director Adrianne Brode, DVM, says neglecting preventive health care is the most common mistake dog owners make.
"Taking your dog in to the vet for regular examinations, giving heartworm prevention, and getting your dog the appropriate vaccinations and deworming can prevent many diseases," Brode says. For example, heartworm disease can be difficult to treat and ultimately fatal to dogs, but it's easily preventable.
Oregon veterinarian Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, says yearly exams help your vet catch problems early. Instead of coping with lengthy treatment of an advanced or chronic condition, your vet can catch issues in their beginning stages when care may mean cure. Early care saves you money in the long run.
5 Health Mistakes Dog Owners Make
ShareAA
Mistake 1: Not Getting Preventive Care continued...
Simply getting your dog vaccinated isn't the same as a full physical exam. Among other things, a comprehensive checkup may include:
Blood work
A fecal examination for intestinal parasites
Examination of a dog’s gums, heart, lungs, teeth, eyes, and ears
Talk to your veterinarian to learn more.
Mistake 2: Neglecting Dental Care
Shawn Messonnier, DVM, author of the Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats, says neglecting regular dental care is also common. Dogs need dental care for the same reason we do: to prevent gum disease.
As with human teeth, plaque forms on a dog's teeth after eating. If left alone, the plaque builds, causing inflammation, decay, and eventually bone and tooth loss. And while this silent war goes on in your dog's mouth, she’s probably experiencing pain you don't notice because dogs, like cats, instinctively hide pain.
Gum disease is five times more common in dogs than it is in people. But it's easy to prevent and to treat with dental care that includes:
Daily brushings
Good quality food
Regular oral X-rays, exams, and cleanings
Safe teeth-cleaning treats and chew toys

Mistake 3: Overfeeding
If too much love is ever a bad thing, it's when we show it in the form of too many tasty treats. "Rewarding and loving our dogs with food leads to obesity," Brode says. Overweight or obese dogs are at higher risk for arthritis and other orthopedic issues as well as other health problems.
It can be difficult enough to balance your own diet let alone that of your dog. Your vet can help you select a good, high-quality food for your dog and give you tips on exercise and treats. You don't have to stop sharing occasional goodies with your pooch, as long as 90% to 95% of your dog's diet is healthy and well balanced.
Mistake 4: Sharing Medication
Another dangerous health mistake owners make is giving dogs human medications. "Pain medications like Advil or Tylenol can be very toxic to dogs," Brode says. In addition, there is a host of seemingly benign human drugs that can pose grave health risks for pets.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, according to the ASPCA. Even small doses can be toxic. Antidepressants, muscle relaxers, decongestants, vitamin D derivatives, oral diabetes treatments, and other common human drugs can all pose risks to pets, ranging from seizures to coma to death.
Always keep medication secure -- preferably in a high, locked cabinet -- and never discard medication where pets or children can get to it. If you’re worried that your dog may have gobbled up an over-the-counter or prescription pill you dropped -- or worse, taken an entire bottle from the trash -- don't hesitate. Immediately call the Animal Poison Control Center 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Mistake 5: Delaying Critical Care
We often delay medical care for ourselves, waiting for a bump, pain, or rash to go away. So it may seem natural to do the same thing with our dog.
Unfortunately, dogs don't have the words to let us know exactly what they're feeling. Your canine companion could be in pain, sick, and even gravely ill -- and chances are you wouldn't know it because of dogs’ instinct to hide infirmity.
Don't wait to see if a health problem in your dog gets better on its own. Call your vet if your dog isn't eating or is eating less, is vomiting, seems lethargic, has diarrhea or fever, or just doesn't seem well.

SOCIALIZATION is the process of introducing a puppy to the world in 
a way that will help him be confident and unafraid of people, places 
and things that he will encounter throughout his life.  The most critical 
socialization window occurs before the age of 12 weeks, and that 
window is considered to be closing by 5 months.  Generally the 
younger the puppy is when he is socialized, the more quickly and 
easily he gains confidence.  Waiting too long can result in a need for 
the more difficult process of rehabilitation instead of socialization.  
Most aggression issues are simply a result of inefficient socialization.
 
RULES OF SOCIALIZATION:
 
Each socialization exposure must be fun for your puppy.  If he is 
forced to confront fears he's not ready to handle, the process can 
backfire and create a fearful/aggressive response.  Go at his pace, 
and at a distance he feels safe.  Your puppy should be the one to 
initiate each approach to something new and be allowed to retreat 
when needed to feel safe.
 
Socialization includes generalization.  Though your puppy may be 
fine with the toddlers or dogs in your home, that does not mean he is 
fine with all children and dogs.  Even if he is in a class, he will need to 
meet new and different dogs and people, and in different places, after 
his classmates and their owners become familiar to him.  You need to 
continue to expose him to new things, places, and contexts to best 
generalize his confidence with new things.
 
Pair treats with exposures to make good associations.  If your 
puppy is worried about those children he sees running across the 
street, it can help if the sight of the children makes cheese suddenly 
appear.  Or if he doesn’t like her paws touched, a brief touch followed 
by a lick of peanut butter from a spoon can make paw touches easier 
to handle.  If he will not take food, that is a good indication that you 
need to back up and lower the intensity of the exposure with more 
distance or less pressure.
 
If your puppy seems to be fearful of certain things and doesn’t gain 
confidence quickly, please see a force-free trainer to help you.  
Remember that socialization is a time-sensitive procedure.
_
The Pet Professional Guild has given permission for active Guild 
members to use this educational piece in their businesses © 2012

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Resources/Documents/PPG-Client-Puppy-Socialization-Download.pdf

Knowing your dog is so very important, but many people go through life without fully knowing or understanding them. Yesterday when I was at the park a man walked by us with his two cute little munchkins and gave us a heads up. "There is a guy with a black dog around corner that went after my dog," he told me. I asked if the dog had been on a leash? He said "yes, they were just saying hi and it attacked my dog." I thanked him and we went on our way. Needless to say I kept my eye open for the black dog but he seemed to have left.

This got me to thinking that many people really do not know their own dog. Had this guy known his black dog he would have passed on the greeting. Of course I didn't see what happened but it's a good guess. I used to tell people from far away that Jessie was not friendly, it just wasn't worth all the bluster from her and shock from other people. She was the ultimate "alpha bitch," and went through life wanting everyone to know that fact.

Another park encounter of ours was averted because I know my dogs. We were walking down the path and saw a young looking, very friendly lab. He had a spring in his step and was growing increasing ly excited when he saw my guys. I knew in an instant that Luke would not like this dog, he's not a big lab fan. I told Luke and Elsa "this way," and we veered into the field a bit just as Luke mustered up a gruff sounding exhale. He'd been watching the dog and had his warning already when I made him change course.

At the moment Elsa likes everyone, she is still young and social. In fact she will be 10 months old tomorrow and I love how social and dog savvy she is. She has had so much socializing with a wide range of dogs that her skills have been becoming more and more fine tuned. So far there is nothing that I have to steer away for due to her likes and dislikes. Although if I do see trouble coming or stirring I will remove us. One bad altercation can be enough to start a problem that was not there in the first place. She has now met some grumpy dogs and we quickly find a nice one afterwards; a sort of back on the horse thing so there is no lasting impression, just a life lesson.

But knowing your dogs ins and outs takes time; it takes a great deal of watching and paying attention. How many times have I heard people say to me "I don't know why he does that sometimes?" I say all of the time "Luke's not going to like this or that." I know my boy and he is an extremely complicated yet simple guy. Watching is so very important, not only watching but taking in and learning. Why is your dog reacting the way they are? Almost everything in a dogs life is caused by association whether it be positive or negative. Our job is to make it mostly positive and help them through our human world.

When you go out with your dog, watch. Don't be talking on the phone or in your own world. Watch how they are dealing in your world. Get to know them on every different level. Learning how they see the world will help you to know how they feel about situations that you can then avoid if needed. It's all about knowing your dog, do you?

~Sherri Regalbuto