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Training Dog Commands in Different Languages

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Interesting in training your Rottweiler German commands? Well, yes, talented dogs are able to learn a new language if you know how to teach them. Whether you want to train your dog to follow new commands in German or any other language, it’s all possible thanks to the plasticity of the dog’s brain and its ability in making associations. To succeed in teaching your dog commands in a different language though you must make sure to follow an exact procedure carefully. The process is not arduous after all and it can actually turn out being an enriching experience. All it takes is some repetition and your dog will be soon on his way to assimilating the new command and responding to it as if he always knew it!

Training Dog German Commands in 3 Easy Steps

When you want to train your dog a new command, you can’t just pronounce it and expect your dog to magically respond to it. The new command obviously has no meaning! So if your dog knows the command “down” but you want your dog to learn the German command “platz”(pronounced “plats”),  you need to help him out by informing him that platz has the same meaning as down. Of course, we can’t just literally tell our dog:”Hey, Rover, ya know? Platz is the German word for down, so when I say it, you must lie down.” So since people and dogs speak a different language, how can we inform them? Here’s a brief guide.

train dog German commandsStep 1) Present the New Command

Your first step is to pick a new command and then it’s your dog’s turn to learn what it means. The procedure to train a dog a new command is quite simple. You simply say the new command and immediately follow it with the familiar one. So in the case you want to introduce the new German command platz, say “platz!” and then, immediately follow it with the familiar command “down.” Upon hearing “platz!” you dog will of course first wonder what you’re asking him to do, but soon, his puzzled face will fade once he’ll recognizes the familiar command “down.” When your dog lies down, praise and reward.

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Step 2) Repeat, repeat and repeat the above sequence at least a dozen times and in different places to help your dog generalize. After several repetitions, your dog will start understanding that the word “platz” predicts the old command “down.”

Step 3) Remove the Old Command 

platzzzzzz

After repeating several times, it’s testing time! Say “platz” by itself. Odds are, that if you practiced enough, your dog will lie down. When your dog lies down, make sure you praise lavishly and reward. If your dog doesn’t lie down, you may need to practice a little more and then re-try.

You can try saying “platz” and then wait a second or two before saying “down” hoping that in that second your dog understands and lies down.

Some dogs benefit from a more gradual fading process by progressively minimizing the old command. For example, you can say “platz” and afterward just whisper the word down, or make the word down shorter by saying only “dow” and then both whispering and making the word down shorter. Then, try removing the word down completely. Make sure to throw a party with praise and treats when your dog lies down!

whistleIntroducing Other Commands

The process remains the same if you are training commands of any other language or if you just want to introduce a new command as in the case wanting your dog to respond to “speak” instead of  “bark.” Make sure though that your dog responds reliably to the old command before introducing a new one!

You can also follow the same procedure if you want to introduce new whistle  training commands, by simply introducing  a specific whistle tone followed by the old, familiar voice command. Generally, the more different the cues, the longer it takes for the dog to associate the new cue with the older cue. The hound in the picture had a quite solid recall after lots of training, but we thought to introduce whistle training so the owners could use it when the dog was at a distance without needing to call him at the top of their lungs. He overall learned fairly quickly, after several reps and lots of high-value treats!

Why Train Dogs a Foreign Language?german

Why are many people interested in training dogs commands in a different language? Some people may simply like the sound of foreign commands, but there’s likely more to it.

For instance, professionals may choose dog training commands in German for the simple fact that they’re unlikely to be used in their everyday conversations which can be confusing to dogs. Others may do so because they find it easier to just stick to an imported dog’s native language once the dog is abroad.

When it comes to police dogs, many may assume that they’re trained commands in German or Dutch so nobody else can give them, but turns out this is a myth. Police dogs go through extensive training where they are trained to ignore commands from anyone except  from their handler! So suspects can shout them as much as they want and the dog will turn a deaf ear.

“There is a widespread myth that foreign language training is intended to prevent suspects from contradicting the commands of the handler.  In fact, the dog is trained to ignore commands from anyone except its handler.” Source Slate.com

Here are Some German Dog Training Commands:

  • “Sitz” is the German command for sit.
  • “Platz” (pronounced “plats”) is the German command for down.
  • “Bleib”(pronounced “bly’b”) is the German command for stay.
  • “Hier,” (pronounced “hee er”) is the German command for here.
  • “Fuss” (pronounced “fooss”) is the German command for  heel
  • “Hopp” (pronounced hup) is the German word for jump
  • “Gib-laut” (pronounced gib-laout) is the German word for speak/bark.
  • “Holen” is the German word for fetch.

References:

Slate.com: So Help You Dog, retrieved on February 4th, 2016

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Dog Word of the Day: Treeing

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It’s Wednesday Word Day! So we casually opened our encyclopedia and landed on a page featuring a tree, so we decided that today’s dog word of the day will be treeing! What do trees have to do with dogs? Well a whole lot when we discover what treeing dogs precisely do and their roles as working partners. Turns out, not all dogs are born for the task and it takes a certain talent to excel in the art of treeing. Indeed, there are several dog breeds that were selectively bred with the task of treeing in mind, so let’s discover more about the art of “treeing” and what it exactly entails.

A dog treeing
A dog treeing

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Treeing dogs, as the name implies, involves  both dogs and trees. Treeing is a hunting method where the dog’s main task is chasing animals up a tree so that they can be easily spotted by hunters. The task doesn’t end here though. In order to make good treeing dogs, the dogs must be willing to bark, bark and continue to bark after the animal has escaped up the tree. This barking is what allowed the hunters on foot to successfully locate the dogs so that they could shoot the treed animal. However, not always the animals hunted in this matter had such a dire ending, treeing can also be used so that the animal is radio-tagged for tracking purposes. If you ever wondered where the famous saying “barking up the wrong tree” came from, well, here you have it,  the famous idiom stems from this practice!

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The Elite Team 

A redbone coonhound
A redbone coonhound

As mentioned, there are certain dogs specifically bred to bark up trees. While foxhounds excelled as hunters when it came to tracking quarry, they were found to be inadequate in hunting animals that climbed up trees such as raccoon, opossums, bobcats and large prey such as bears and cougars. The foxhounds ended up feeling confused when they were unable to hold scent while these animals took for the treetops. So a special type of scent hound was needed for the task and the first treeing dogs were born. These dogs had a keen sense of smell, strong tracking skills and an independent streak which allowed them to hunt at a distance from their hunters without specific guidance or directions. What dogs excelled in these tasks?

Introducing The Coonhounds

Many coonhounds were employed as these fellows had a good ability to alert the hunters of the whereabouts of treed animals with their distinctive baying until the hunters arrived. Bloodhound blood was sometimes added to their lines so to increase their ability to track. A breed specifically bred for the purpose is the Treeing Walker Coonhound, which was responsible for tracking and treeing wild raccoons. Other breeds commonly used for treeing include the black and tan Coonhound, the bluetick coonhound, the American English Coonhound, the redbone coonhound and the plott hound.

Feist treeing
An example of a Buckley Mountain Feist

Introducing The Feists

Another type of hunting dog used for treeing animals is the feist, a small low-maintenance hunting dog used in the rural southern United States for the purpose of locating, chasing and treeing squirrels. The term “feist” refers to small, noisy dogs. As coonhounds, they’ll circle the tree and bark loudly once the squirrel is treed. Unlike coonhounds though they are rather quiet hunters when they track, limiting their barking to only once the animal is treed. Despite their furious chasing, which often involves wading through streams, leaping over logs, and running across roads and fields, these dogs rarely get to the squirrels. Feists, which are often misidentified as Jack Russells, are mixes of various hunting breeds. According to the United Kennel Club, treeing feists are the result of generations of crosses between hunting hounds and terriers.

Introducing the Curs

Curs are several types of mixed dog breeds which are generally known for being closely related to several North American treeing hounds. They are similar to feists, but the term feist refers to small dogs, while curs are large. Curs have a history of being versatile multipurpose farm dogs capable of herding, hunting and treeing small and large game. The treeing cur is currently recognized by the United Kennel Club and is know for its ability to tree squirrels, raccoon, opossum, wild boar, bears, mountain lions and bob cats.

References:

  • Wikipedia: Treeing, retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.
  • Wikipedia: Coonhound, retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.
  • Wikipedia: Feist, retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.
  • Wikipedia: Curs, retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.
  • United Kennel Club: Treeing Feist,  retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.
  • United Kennel Club: Treeing Cur,  retrieved from the World Wide Web on February 3rd, 2016.

Photo Credits:

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What Are Dogs with Different Colored Eyes Called?

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husky eyesIt’s Tuesday Trivia, time to test your canine capabilities! Today is dedicated to dogs with two different eye colors.  For example, a dog may have one blue eye and one brown eye. Whether you encountered these dogs in real life, saw them only in pictures or actually owned one, there’s a specific term used to describe the condition of having two eyes with distinctly different colored irises. So today’s question is: What’s the term used to depict the characteristic of having two different eye colors?

 

A: Horner’s Syndrome

B: Anisocoria

C: Complete heterochromia

D: Ocular melanosis

 

The correct answer is:

Answer:

If you picked A, you likely have heard the term Horner’s syndrome pronounced around dogs, but Horner’s syndrome is actually a disorder where the dog develops several symptoms such as drooping eyelids, constricted pupils and sunken eyes. If you picked B, anisocoria, you are looking at another term that, yes, has to do with eyes, but in this case, it’s the condition of having  pupils of an unequal size. If you picked D, ocular melanosis, you are a bit close, considering that ocular refers to eyes and melanosis comes from the term melanin which means color, but in this case the suffix “osis” gives it a negative connotation as it means an “abnormal state”. Ocular melanosis indeed is a congenital eye disorder in dogs caused by an increase of melanocytes, ( the melanin-forming cells) in the eye.

So the correct answer is C, complete heterochromia.

“Heterochromia is  used to describe a multi-colored iris within the same eye, or two eyes with distinctly different colored irises.” Race Foster DVM

You can read more about dogs with different eye colors and breeds that are prone to complete heterochromia here:  why do dogs have eyes of different colors?

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I am Your Dog’s Trachea

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Also known as the windpipe, your dog’s trachea plays a vital role in the passage of air. You might not be aware much of this structure until it gives signs of problems such as when it triggers episodes of coughing and exercise intolerance. As with many other body parts, taking good care of your dog’s trachea goes a long way in preventing problems, especially if you own a small dog. So today we’ll be introducing the dog’s trachea and learn more about this structure which, as many other dog body parts, certainly deserves some attention. Let’s see what the dog’s trachea has to say.

tracheaIntroducing Your Dog’s Trachea

Hello, it’s your dog’s trachea talking! You likely already know about me, I am that short, fairly rigid tube that extends from your dog’s larynx, right down the neck area and then ends right by the thorax where I divide into two primary bronchi that enter the lungs. I am basically shaped like an upside down letter Y. Structurally, I am just a tube made of  fibrous tissue and smooth muscle kept open by several C-shaped cartilage rings. If it wasn’t for these rings, your dog’s trachea would collapse each time your dog took a breath because of the vacuum created by inhalation. My main function, as mentioned, is to carry air to the bronchi, which in turn supply your dog’s lungs.

I’m a Self-Cleaning Structurepoodle

While my main role is to transport air into and out your dog’s lungs, I am also responsible for protecting your dog’s airway from irritating substances. You see, my surface is lined up with motile cilia, several hair-like structures, which, as it happens in the nasal passages, are responsible for trapping any dirt and debris out of the lungs.

For example, if your dog was exposed to lots of dust and contaminants as you were sweeping the floor, I would produce an increased amount of mucus to help trap all those the foreign particles preventing them from reaching the lungs. The mucus is then moved up towards the larynx so that when it reaches the pharynx, your either dog swallows it into the stomach or it’s coughed up as phlegm to clear the passageway.

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dog collapsed trachea
The white arrows indicate a normal-sized trachea, whereas, the black arrows mark the collapsed trachea.

When Things go Wrong

While I am a fairly rigid in structure, unfortunately sometimes things go wrong. See, in a dog with a healthy trachea, the airways remain nicely open. Imagine me as an agility tunnel. However, when things go wrong, I might weaken overtime, become misshapen and then, I might eventually collapse.

When I collapse, for sake of an example, you can imagine me as an agility chute, also known as a “collapsed tunnel.” When I cave in or collapse, the air has difficulty passing through so I cause the poor dog to develop a goose-like honking cough as a response. This cough can be noticed more when the dog is exercising, coughing, eating or acting excited. Pressure from the collar on me when the dog is being walked can also trigger coughing. And to keep me in good shape, you must also watch what training tools you use. According to the Pet Professional Guild, tracheal and esophageal damage along with neurological problems and many other issues may result from the use of choke or prong collars.

Sometimes, other than coughing, I may also cause trouble breathing, panting, exercise  intolerance and bluish gums which can be very scary symptoms! Some dogs are more predisposed than others in getting a collapsed trachea. Keep in mind that Yorkies, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, pugs and poodles are some dogs that are particularly vulnerable, especially when they age.

Some Preventive Measures

A harness is better than a collar.
A harness is better than a collar.

Preventing me from collapsing would sound like a good idea as there is really no 100 percent effective treatment once I collapse. Some surgeons have had some luck in using stents for keeping me open, but according to veterinarian Dr. Eric Barchas these are prone to failing over time. There are several things that can be done though to slow things down. Even though there’s likely a hereditary component at play in collapsed trachea of dogs, genetics are just one piece of the puzzle. Most dogs with collapsed trachea do not show symptoms until a secondary problem arises and contributes in complicating matters, explains Robert Prosek a board certified veterinarian specializing in internal medicine. So here are a few things that can be done to prevent further complicating matters.

  • Keep your dog in good shape as obesity predisposes to problems.
  • Keep your dog away from cigarette smoke.
  • Keep your dog’s heart healthy as an enlarged heart can push against me and the bronchi.
  • Prevent your dog from getting too stressed or overexcited
  • Use HEPA air filters to minimize exposure to irritants
  • Protect me from respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis
  • Protect me by using a harness instead of a collar
  • Holistic veterinarians may suggest maintaining my integrity by using cartilage builders. Examples are glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, eggshell membrane, and cetyl myristoleate (CMO), explains veterinarian Karen Becker. Consult with your vet.

Did you know? Dog’s have an Adam’s apple too! It’s basically the larynx which sits in the front of the neck just below the dog’s chin, explains Dr. Forsythe, a veterinarian working for Broadway Veterinary Hospital & Wellness Center in Sonoma, California.

References:

  • Clinical Anatomy & Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, Thomas Colville DVM, Joanna M. Bassert VMD, Mosby Inc.  St Louis, MO, 2002
  • Marck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, Home Edition, Merck and Co. INC. Whitehouse Station, NJ, 2007

Photo credits:

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If Your Old Dog is Misbehaving This May Be Why

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Your dog has always been quite remarkable in the behavior department for most of his life, but now that he is getting older he is suddenly misbehaving, why is that? Misbehaving in senior dogs isn’t at all unusual, even though it may be quite surprising for dog owners finding good ol’ Rover raiding the trash can or chewing on clothing when he hasn’t shown an interest in such behaviors as far back as early puppy hood. What is going on? The saying, “old age is like a second childhood” seems to sometimes apply to old dogs as well.

A Matter of Decreased Inhibitionslaundry dog

While your dog may have exhibited good restraint for a great part of his life, getting older may lead to a decrease in his ability to inhibit certain behaviors. This pattern is described as  “decreased inhibitions” and it may or may not be not be associated with other signs of cognitive dysfunction, explains Christopher Pachel, a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist working for Animal Behavior Clinic, LLC, in Portland Oregon. Affected dogs may start slacking off in their adherence to household manners and previously trained sequences. The old dog may be found counter-surfing, raiding the trash can or soliciting attention from his owners in ways he didn’t do before.

old dogsRuling Out Medical Problems

Any time there’s a change in behavior, it’s important to rule out any underlying medical problems, especially when it comes to senior dogs. For instance, an increase in foraging behaviors such as counter-surfing, raiding the trash can or stealing a sandwich off a dish may be linked to health problems that cause an increase in appetite. For example, hormone-related conditions such as Cushing’s disease or diabetes may cause an increase in appetite and so can conditions associated with malabsorption or maldigestion of food, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

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If your old dog instead starts posing a “deaf ear” to your recalls, he might not be purposely disobeying you, but his hearing may be declining. Dogs may also become more clingy as they age; indeed, the onset of separation anxiety in older dogs is not all that uncommon. Vision and hearing loss in older dogs may cause them to feel more anxious, especially when they are separated from their owners. Neurological changes may also lower a dog’s ability to cope with changes in their routine.

Signs of Cognitive Decline
old dog

If your old dog is showing signs of canine cognitive dysfunction, such as confusion, pacing, staring into space, decreased attentiveness, loss of house training and changes in his sleeping patterns, these could be sign of canine cognitive dysfunction, a condition that according to Pfizer Pharmaceutical affects 62 percent of dogs aged 10 years and older. Caught early, the progression of this condition can be slowed down and alleviated with behavior modification, environmental enrichment, institution of a predictable routine and a medication known as Anipryl.

As seen, there may be many things going on. If you notice behavior changes in your older dog it’s therefore smart to stop by your vet before assuming he’s just misbehaving.

dog love
Share love and compassion with your older dog!

Addressing Behavior Changes

So your vet determines that there are no medical causes behind his change in behavior, how should you tackle the issue? Better management of your dog’s environment can help prevent your old dog from putting himself in undesirable situations. Keep the trash can out of the way if he has started tipping it over, store your clothes out of reach if he has started chewing on them and don’t keep your sandwich unattended unless you don’t mind sharing it with your pal. Management is far better than resorting to dozens of “nos” and “leave its” which can turn out stressful in the long run.  In addition, a reimplementation of foundation training and a stronger adherence to consistent reinforcement is the appropriate way to address these changes, further suggests Christopher Pachel.

So if your older dog has started misbehaving, stop by your vet to rule out any medical disorders. As our dogs age, they go through many changes both in the health and behavior department. During this time, it’s important to be mindful of our older dogs’ behavioral changes, so we can provide them with a comfortable and fulfilling life and supply them with as much love, compassion and patience as we can.

“As dogs live longer, the likelihood of age related behavior problems increases. With treatment of underlying medical problems and recognition and treatment of behavioral problems, the quality of life of our geriatric canine friends can be improved tremendously.”  ~Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB

References:

  • Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, Age Behavior Changes of Dogs and Cats, by Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB
  • VCA Animal Hospitals:  Testing for Increased Appetite, based on material written by Kristiina Ruotsalo, DVM, DVSc, Dip ACVP & Margo S. Tant BSc, DVM, DVSc.
  • Pet Education: Senior Dogs: Common Behavior Changes,Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith
  • Florida Veterinary Behavior Service, Treating Geriatric Behavior Changes by Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB

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Discovering How Dogs See Color

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When we look at a rainbow, do our dogs see the same colors as we do? Understanding how dogs see colors can help us get a better grasp on how they perceive the world around them. Discovering how dogs perceive colors is not only a matter of satisfying our curiosity, but also a matter of becoming better informed owners. For instance, do dogs have a hard time finding toys of a certain color? Do colors affect a dog’s ability to fetch a toy or a dog’s performance in canine sports? By understanding better a dog’s color vision, we can gain a glimpse of what it must feel like to see the world through the eyes of a dog.

Dogs see better than this!
Dogs see better than this!

Dispelling the Myth

For many years, we thought that dogs could only see in black and white. The belief that dogs could only see in shades of grey, relying on different levels of brightness to identify the outlines of items, has been so widespread that still as of today we may stumble on people making remarks that it’s an unnecessary practice to pick a specific color of dog toy considering a dog’s monochromatic vision.

While there are several mammals that are monochromats (capable of seeing only one color) such as the seal, sea lion, walrus, dolphin and whale, turns out, dogs aren’t part of this classification. Research has found that, unlike what we have heard for many years, dogs can actually see colors, but quite differently than how we perceive them.

Dog Color-Vision Studydog color

A study conducted by Jay Neitz et al. at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has revealed interesting findings on color perception in dogs. The dogs were basically exposed to the presentation of three light panels in a row–two of the panels were of the same color, while the third was different.

The goal for the dog was to discriminate the panel that was different. Every time the dog was successful, he was rewarded with a treat. The study found that dogs are capable of seeing colors, but they see fewer colors than we do. 

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A Matter of Conesdo dogs see colors?

Cones are the photoreceptors responsible for  allowing us to perceive the details of colors. These photoreceptors send signals about color to the brain.

Humans have three kinds of cones that identify red, blue, green and yellow wavelengths. It is through the combined activity of these cones that humans have a full range of color vision, explains Stanley Coren.

Dogs instead, like most other mammals, have only two cones, one cone which is sensitive to blue, while the other is sensitive to yellow. This means that, unlike humans, who are trichromats, dogs are dichromats, meaning they can see two colors.

What does this mean to us? It means that we should start re-considering the way dogs see colors so we can make necessary adjustments.

colorSeeing Like a Dog

If we want to put ourselves in our dog’s shoes, we can say that our dog’s color vision is roughly similar to that of a person who is red-green color blind (a deuteranope). 

 As seen in the picture featuring the green and red apple, we can see how it is difficult for the dog to discriminate between these two colors.

They have a much better time though with detecting blue and yellow. So what does this mean for dog owners? Based on these findings, it means that we should choose toys that are blue or yellow, which is sort of not easy considering that many dog toys are orange and most Kongs are bright red.

This seems to prove us that the dog toy industry is more interested in selling toys that are more appealing to us rather than our dogs! So yes, whether you are choosing a Frisbee or a ball to play fetch, your choice of color is important if you want it to stick out. Choosing a red toy that is hard to distinguish from the green grass of the dog park can make life difficult for Rover.

“Overall, if we want dogs to distinguish between colors, the best colors to use are blue and yellow.” Dr. Sophia Yin, D.V.M, M.S

dog agility equipment colorsColors and Dog Sports

And what about dog sports? In the obstacle jumping industry for horses, colors have been used wisely for quite some time, as horses, just like dogs, also have two-color, dichromatic vision. Therefore, to help horses judge the obstacles, jump rails are often painted a different color from the surrounding landscape.

Also, studies have found that there were less chances for horses to knock down a rail if it was painted in two or more contrasting colors. As dog agility shares many features with horse obstacle jumping, this explains why dog agility equipment colors are important. It’s therefore not a coincidence that those contact zones in dog agility are often painted yellow with contrasting shades of blue!

A Look Back

At this point, one may wonder, why do dogs see colors in less detail than humans? It likely must have something to do with our evolutionary past. There are various theories as to why we have full color vision, when many mammals do not.

One may assume that the dog’s ancestors must have relied more on movement than color to capture prey animals; whereas, primates relied more on color to attain food.

The Fruit Theory suggested that primates relied on the ability to see color for the detection of red and orange fruit against a mature leaf background, while the Young Leaf Theory suggested that it was a matter of seeing young leaves. This way primates would spend less time and energy picking unripe fruits.

Interestingly, neuroscientist Mark Changizi has  a totally different theory.”Our vision was never well optimized for that. My hypothesis was that it was about sensing emotions or health on the skin of others.” Looks like more research is needed in this interesting field!

rainbowHow Dogs See Rainbows

So how do dogs see rainbows? “Instead of seeing the rainbow as violet, blue, blue-green, green, yellow, orange and red, dogs would see it as dark blue, light blue, gray, light yellow, darker yellow (sort of brown), and very dark gray.

In other words, dogs see the colors of the world as basically yellow, blue and gray” further claims Stanley Coren.

 

References:

Photo credits:

Simulation of the normal (above) and dichromatic (below) perception of red and green apples, by Limbicsystem, Author: Alex Wade CC BY 2.5 (changes made to add details as to how pertains to dogs)

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Ten Fascinating Facts About Dog Paws

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We often take a dog’s paws for granted, but those paws are quite fascinating body parts that are worthy of being discovered! For a lifetime of walking on rocks, snow and asphalt, those dog paws are sure a work of art on their own considering how many pairs of shoes us common mortal humans must go through throughout our lives. Whether you own a Labrador, great dane or a Chihuahua, those paws are certainly remarkable yet, often, ho-hum, so underestimated. So today is the day to give an all paws up as we celebrate dog paws. So here are some fresh, fascinating facts about your dog’s paws we just fetched and thought to share.

dog paws 101) Tough & Thick-Skinned 

Think you are thick-skinned? Well, a dog’s paws are far more thick skinned than you, literally… Indeed, turns out that the outer surface of a dog’s paw pads boast the toughest AND thickest skin in the body. The foundation of your dog’s paws is composed of thick layers of fat and connective tissue and it comprises five, (yes five!) layers of skin. For dog geeks, the layers include, the following: the deepest layer known as the stratum basale, next, comes the stratum spinosum, followed by the stratum granulosum, the stratum lucidum, and finally, the outermost layer, which is the stratum corneum.

2) Not What You Think

We often compare our dog’s paws to our hands and feet, but turns we often confuse some body parts for others. First off, an important clarification: humans are plantigrades, meaning that we walk on the soles of our feet; whereas, dogs are digitigrades, meaning that they walk on their toes. When we see things from this perspective, we notice that when it comes to anatomy it makes a whole lot of difference. So turns out that those paws don’t really correspond to our hands and feet  as we might think if we take a look at these illustrations.  At a closer look, we’ll notice how the bones that correspond to our wrists and ankles are set much higher than we would think.

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dog corn chip feet3) That Frito Feet Smell

Did a whiff of your dog’s feet ever made you crave Fritos, popcorn or Doritos? Turns out, the Frito Feet Mystery in dogs has finally been solved! If you’re looking for the source of the smell, you should point your finger towards a strain of Gram negative bacteria known as proteus. Proteus is likely to be held responsible for causing your dog’s famous snack food smell, explains  Dr. Robert J. Silver, a Colorado-based veterinarian in an article for the Huffington Post.  Do your dog’s feet smell too much like Fritos? Here are some tips for dealing with a bad case of dog smelly feet: Dog Frito Feet Treatment.

newfoundland4) If it Looks Like A Duck…

If your dog’s feet look like a ducks’… he’s not a duck. Sure there are many dog breeds with webbed feet, but dogs don’t have completely webbed feet like ducks, swans or geese do. If dogs really had webbed feet in the same way as ducks, they would have a hard time walking on certain surfaces and would end up “waddling” like a duck. Sure, most dogs have some skin in between their toes, but this characteristic doesn’t make them officially “webbed” in the real sense of the term, just as we aren’t considered “webbed” just because we have skin found between the fingers. While all dogs have some degree of “webbing,” it’s true though that certain breeds with a history of  working in water have more webbing in their paws than others. Here is a list of them: dogs with webbed feet.

dog sweaty paws5) Clammy Paw Pads

If you have ever noticed your dog leaving humid paw prints on the vet’s examination table, you weren’t seeing things. Just like humans get clammy hands, dogs may sweat from their paws, especially when they are stressed or nervous. It’s a common myth that dogs don’t sweat. Unlike humans though, who tend to sweat profusely from sweat glands distributed over a large percentage of the body, dogs sweat discreetly from a few sweat glands located on their noses and paw pads. These sweat glands though have a minor role in cooling dogs down, which is why dogs must rely on vaporizing water from their respiratory passages as their primary method to dissipate heat, according to Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology.

carpal pad6) A Braking Device

If you take a close look as your dog’s front legs, you may notice a mysterious pad hanging around the wrist area. Often referred to as “carpal pads” or “stopper pads, ” these foot pads on the back of the dog’s front legs are not there for decoration. Turns out, they actually have several functions. One of them, as the name implies, has to do with the dog’s ability to stop. When a dog canters, there’s a moment when the carpal pad of the front leg touches the ground. During this time, should the dog turn or stop suddenly, the carpal pad along with the dewclaw provides extra traction, and should the dog stop, they’ll work as a braking device, explains veterinarian Chris Zink. Additionally, those stopper pads keep dogs from sliding when walking on steep, slippery slopes and provide an extra cushioning effect when the dog lands after a jump the moment the dog’s leg touches the ground.

7) Getting Cold Feet

Ever wondered how your dog manages to romp happily on the snow without getting cold feet? Well, we must once again thank again those remarkable paws. There are several good reasons why dog feet won’t freeze when running on the snow. One of them is the structure of the dog’s feet themselves, the thick skin, along with the thick layers of fat protect them from the cold, but there’s more. Dogs have a higher temperature than us (101.5 Fahrenheit), and therefore, their paws are significantly warmer, explain D. Caroline Coile and Margaret H. Bohman in the book “Why do Dogs Like Balls.” Last but not least, several Northern dog breeds have hair between their toes that’s snow and ice resistant. The oils in the hairs repel snow, as water and oil don’t mix, so they help protect the pads of these pooches’ feet. However, consider that paws, albeit tough, are still vulnerable. Dog paws  get frostbite too, not to mention damage and cracks from walking on rock salt.

dewclaw dog8) No Thumb Twiddling

You won’t find Rover twiddling his thumbs or sending text messages, but dogs have a structure that is similar to our thumbs. These are called dewclaws and they’re found high up the dog’s leg. However, depending on the breed of dog, he may or may not have them. Some breeders remove them when the puppies are very young. While these dewclaws are far from being effective as our opposable thumbs, they do have several functions. Consider that each dewclaw is attached to five tendons, which are each attached to a muscle. The dewclaws provide support to Rover’s lower legs, so when he makes those tight, swift turns as seen in the sport of agility, his legs are prevented from getting twisted or injured, further explains Christine Zink. As a bonus, those dewclaws help him grasp objects such as toys, bones and sticks so he can chew on them and may come handy when he has to scratch a sudden itch, climb up or remove some foreign item stuck in his teeth!

9) Pooches with Unique Paws

The six toes of the lundenhund
The six toes of the lundehund

Not all dogs paws are created equal. Other than some dog breeds having webbed feet, there are several dogs with unique feet that are worth mentioning. Perhaps the most amazing of all, are the paws of the Lundehund dog breed which sports six toes. Other remarkable paws are seen in the great Pyrenees dog boasting double dewclaws on the same paw (which by the way are considered part of the breed standard.) The Akita instead is known for having what are known as “cat feet.” According to the American Kennel Club, these feet are neat and round, with high-arched toes closely held together. What’s so special about them? These feet require less energy to lift off the ground. Hare feet instead are found in greyhounds. The two centered toes, which are longer than the others, allow them to attain faster speeds.

imprint dog paw10) A Paw is Forever

Dog paws hold a special place in our hearts. We watch our puppies prance on those paws, we hold them in our hands, and when our dogs are no longer with us, we want to remember those precious paws. Dog paws are so cherished, that many dog owners decide to make imprints of their dog’s paws before saying farewell transforming them into a precious, one-of-a kind keepsake. Several companies now offer keepsakes made of clay or metal so dog owners can immortalize those paws.

Dog paws are amazing, aren’t they? Despite being tough, don’t forget about them so protect them from being punctured from sharp objects, burnt by hot asphalt and irritated by ice or road salt. Remember to regularly inspect those paws, keep those nails nicely trimmed and keep the feet moisturized when they become cracked and dry. Your dog and his precious paws will thank you!

References:

  • Clinical Anatomy and Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, by Joanna M. Bassert and Thomas P. Colville,  Mosby; 2 edition (December 21, 2007)
  • Peak Performance EBook: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Canine Sports Productions, 2011
  • Why Do Dogs Like Balls?: By D. Caroline Coile, Margaret H. Bonham, 2008, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc, NY

Photo Credits:

Wikipedia,Paw (dog) showing pads, A: Claw, B: Digital Pads, C: Metacarpal Pad, D: Dew Claw, E: Carpal Pad by Amos T Fairchild, GNU Free Documentation License,

Wikipedia, Foot of a Norwegian Lundehund. Picture taken by myself, User:ZorroIII, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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Intelligent Disobedience in Dogs

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Today is Talent Thursday and today we would like to brag about a dog’s ability to make important “judgement calls” something guide dogs must be able to do when they apply what is known as”intelligent disobedience.” While the word “disobedience” gives the negative idea of a dog who ignores what he’s asked to do and just does as he pleases, when we add the word intelligent in front of it, it brings disobedience to a whole different level! From something considered negative, disobedience becomes something remarkable, a quality that is sought in guide dogs working as a team with their owners for their protection and safety.  So today let’s learn more about intelligent disobedience in dogs, how it’s trained and let’s see some examples of how it’s applied.

A blind man with his guide dog in Montreal, 1941.
A blind man with his guide dog in Montreal, 1941.

What is Intelligent Disobedience?

Intelligent disobedience, also known as “selective disobedience” is observed when a service animal willingly disobeys the owner’s instructions because it isn’t safe to do so. Service dogs are taught this quality so they can make better decisions for their owners when the need arises. This entails important “judgement calls” on the part of the dog in critical situation. Need an example on how a dog would apply intelligent disobedience? Here are a few examples:

~At a crosswalk, a blind person listens for traffic and tells his guide dog to move forward, when a car that was not there a second ago, suddenly appears. The dog notices the car and refuses to move, thus disobeying the owner’s request to forward.

~A blind person is walking in the park, and at a certain point, the guide dog refuses to walk because there are low tree branches in the path. While the dog can easily walk underneath the branches, the low branches may actually injure the blind person as he walks through them. The blind person tells the dog to move forward, but the service dog disobeys.

 

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How is it Trained?dog blind

As the service dog training progresses, the dogs are exposed to situations that become gradually more and more complex requiring increased problem solving skills. The dog must learn not only to stop at intersections and  navigate around crowds, but also must learn to avoid obstacles such as lampposts, mailboxes, strollers and shopping carts that are in the way. Dogs must also learn to avoid pot holes, narrow passages, construction sites, objects lying in the path and uneven surfaces. When guide dogs encounter such obstacles, they must guide their owner around it or stop in front of it. While this entails lots of training, a dog’s natural skills and perceptions also play a role.

“Through consistency, repetition, and praise a guide dog can learn to work effectively around overhangs and branches.” Guide Dogs of America

How is intelligent disobedience trained? According to Service Dog Central in the case of the low hanging branch, the trainer walks with the guide dog towards a low hanging branch. When the cane hits the tree branch it makes a noise that is a cue for the dog to understand that something has happened. The trainer may say “ouch!” The team repeats the scene several times until the dog learns to consistently walk around the branch. To help the dog generalize, the same scene is repeated in several different locations and situations so the dog learns to apply the same walk around behavior. Watching for low hanging branches entails lots of training especially considering that looking up is not a natural behavior for a dog. To the dog must become fully aware of the person he’s guiding and always keep him in consideration, despite the fact that the dog can easily walk under or jump over obstacles.

While loads of training and repetition help train these dogs and many training schools have simulated street-like scenarios on their training sites, it’s impossible to cover all real-life situations, so it must be said that a lot “on the job learning” occurs throughout a guide dog’s life. A great amount of teamwork is required in safely crossing a street, and as the team gets to know each other better, a strong partnership forms that’s built on mutual respect and trust.

“In the case of guide dogs for the blind, the dog is not a substitute for vision but rather helps the person with inadequate vision when he or she faced with the problem of safely moving through the world, an activity that normally sighted individuals rely upon their eyes to do.” ~ Stanley Coren

Did you know? Guide dogs do not “read” traffic lights as dogs don’t see colors the same way we do. Instead, the blind person listens for the sound of traffic, and then, with the help of the dog, decides whether it’s safe to move across the intersection.

References:

Guide Dogs of America, An International Guiding Eyes Program

Psychology Today, What Assistance Dogs Can and Can’t Do

Photo credits:

A blind man with his guide dog in Montreal, 1941, Wikipedia, public domain

A blind woman learns to use her guide dog in a test environment, by Brailleliga, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl

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Dog Word of the Day: Babbler

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It’s Wednesday Word Day! Today we opened our encyclopedia and ended on the letter “B” and the page had the word “babble” which is a term we often use to depict somebody who talks rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited way, uttering words imperfectly. So we thought to make “babbler” our dog word of the day. What does babbling have to do with dogs? Last time we checked, dogs weren’t able to talk, let alone babble, so what does it mean? Turns out, this word is part of hunting terminology and the term is sometimes used by hunters to depict certain “vocal dogs.” What are these dogs babbling about? Interestingly, they have something to say, but as the term implies, their excessive “talking” is considered disruptive both by their hunting pals and huntsmen.

fox hunting“That Hound is a Babbler!”

So what do hounds have to babble about? According to the book by David Hancock, Hounds: Hunting by Scent, a babbler is described as a “noisy hound; one giving tongue when not on the line.” What does that mean exactly? Well, if we take a look at how hounds hunt, we will notice that they tend to “talk” when they’re hunting, especially when they are on the trail of the fox scent (line).  Hunters remark the “hounds are giving great tongue” when they give out cries when on a hot trail. Well, turns out a “blabber” is a hound who “talks” inappropriately and freely when exposed to all sorts of scents, when there’s no need to. Many hunters talk about these dogs in a derogatory manner, sometimes describing them as “liars” or as “having a lying tongue.”

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Other Hound’s Reactionsbabbler hound

With dogs who hunt in groups like hounds, it’s interesting observing how the other members react to “blabbers.” Frank Sherman Peer in the book “Cross Country with Horse and Hound” says that the other hounds may initially rush to the babbler’s side, but then fail to confirm him. He claims that their disgusted expression after discovering the false alarm is “something almost human.” The hounds may be fooled once or twice, but soon learn though how to deal with such babblers. Indeed, J. Otho Paget in the book “Beagling and Beagles” mentions that the other hounds soon “find out so that when they hear his voice they will utterly ignore him!”

“Whereas a distinctive voice is an important asset, it is linked with the wisdom of knowing when and where to use it. ” ~Stuart A. Marks,  Southern Hunting in Black and White

hound cry
“Hounds at full cry” by Alfred Wheeler

A Word of Caution

Before labeling a hound as a “babbler,” it’s important to rule out other possible phenomena going on. For example, a hound who is blessed with a more acute sense of smell than other hounds may be confused for a “babbler.” The scent of a hare that walked through overnight may linger for several hours and may be picked up by a hound with a sensitive nose while the other hounds may not sense it, cautions J. Otho Paget. Other times, some hounds are accused of babbling when they’re turned loose from their kennels. In reality though, these dogs aren’t “loose mouthed,” they are just showing their joy and delight in going out for a hunt!” ‘And what’s more marvelous than dogs doing what they love best?

Did you know? The baying noises hounds make when excitedly running is known as “giving tongue” or “throwing tongue”.  Hounds who fail to “give tongue” are known as “mute hounds.” These will take off on their own, running mute without “speaking.”

References:

  • J. Otho Paget, “Beagling and Beagles” Read Country Book, April 16, 2013
  • Frank Sherman Peer, “Cross Country with Horse and Hound” New York,C. Scribner’s sons, 1902

Photo credits:

  • Painting of the Royal Rock Beagles by John Dalby in 1845, public domain
  • Detail of painting Releasing the Hounds by John Wootton, circa 1745, public domain
  • Painting Hounds at full cry” by Alfred Wheeler, public domain
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Guess This Dog Breed

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Can you guess this dog breed? Are you ready to test your canine capabilities? Today, we are going to show you a picture of a quite rare dog breed. Hint: you won’t likely stumble on this dog unless you live in or visit Spain. And even if you live there or decide to visit this country one day, the chances of seeing one of these pooches are quite unlikely considering that this dog breed is in danger of extinction. As you may notice, this dog breed has a distinct feature, a quite unusual nose that has a split appearance. So what dog breed is this?

pachon navarro dog

A Pachon Navarro

B Perro de presa canaria

C Alano espanol

D Carea Castellano Manchego

The correct answer is:

Answer:

If you answered B, Perro de presa canaria, a large molosser-type of dog originating from the Canary Islands, this answer is incorrect. If you answered C, the Alano Español, another large, molosser-type dog originating from Spain, the answer is also incorrect. If you answered D, Carea Castellano Manchego, a dog breed originating in Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, sorry, but this answer is also incorrect. So the correct answer is A, the picture of the dog breed with a split nose is the Pachón Navarro!

dog with split noseIf you never heard about the Pachon Navarro, don’t feel bad, as mentioned, this is not a popular breed. That’s why today we thought to learn more about this breed and feature it as our Tuesday’s Daily Dog Discovery! Also known as Navarra pointer, this breed is a Spanish hunting dog who boasts the peculiar feature of having a “split” or “double nose.” Some time ago, the shape of the nose was thought to give this dog a superior sense of smell, but turns out, there are really no scientific studies to back up this theory.

These dogs are used to hunt small game by pointing. They are used to work on any type of terrain by trotting vigorously and in close proximity to the hunter. According to the Real Sociedad Canina de Espana breed standard, this dog has a sturdy body, slightly short limbs and a big head. The nose is big and wide with open nostrils that can be “splitted” or double in some dogs.  From a temperament standpoint, the Pachon Navarro is an intelligent, docile and quiet dog who tends to get along with humans and other dogs.

Dog Breeds with Split Noses

Today, there are a few other dogs known to have a distinctive split nose: the rare Catalburun of Turkey and the double-nosed Andean tiger hound, which isn’t really considered a breed, but most likely descends from the Pachon Navarro. The double nose though isn’t really what it sounds like, more than two noses, it’s simply a nose with nostrils that are split by a band of skin.

Photo credits:

Picture 1,  Wikipedia, Nafar Eper Txakurra or Pachón Navarro, by Vvven,  CC BY-SA 4.0

Picture 2: Wikipedia, Pachón Navarro, by Vvven, CC BY-SA 4.0

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