The Dog Owner's Handbook E-Book

Graham Meadows

• Herausgeber: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Seitenzahl: 261

Beschreibung

This fully illustrated, practical and modern handbook is the perfect guide for today's dog owner. Written by top veterinarians and animal behaviorists Graham Meadows and Elsa Flint, this book is comprehensive, easy to use and packed with fascinating facts and essential information. It explores the enduring relationship that has existed between dogs and humans, from the earliest days when dogs were reliable allies for hunters and herdsmen to today where selective breeding has produced dogs to suit virtually any temperament, need and personal circumstance. This book offers guidance in choosing the right kind of dog, introducing it into your home, and taking the best possible care of it.

Leseprobe

THE DOGOWNER’SHANDBOOK

THE DOGOWNER’SHANDBOOK

Graham Meadows and Elsa Flint

Foreword by Bruce Fogle

First published in 2001 by

New Holland (Publishers) Ltd

London • Cape Town • Sydney • Auckland

New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd

Garfield House, 86 Edgware Road

London, W2 2EA

80 McKenzie Street

Cape Town 8001

South Africa

3/2 Aquatic Drive

Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086

Australia

218 Lake Road

Northcote, Auckland

New Zealand

Copyright © 2001 New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd

Copyright © 2001 in text: Graham Meadows and Elsa Flint

Copyright © 2001 in illustrations: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd

eISBN: 978-1-60765-381-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.

Publisher: Mariëlle Renssen

Managing Editors: Claudia Dos Santos (SA), Mari Roberts (UK)

Managing Art Editor: Peter Bosman

Editor: Gail Jennings

Design and Illustration: Steven Felmore

Picture Researcher: Sonya Meyer

Proofreader and Indexer: Sean Fraser

Production: Myrna Collins

Consultant (UK): Bas Hagreis

Reproduction by Disc Express (Cape) Pty Ltd

Printed and bound in Singapore by Tien Wah Press (Pte) Ltd

Authors’ acknowledgements

Putting this book together highlighted the value of the Internet for the rapid communication of words, comments and images across the world.

But despite these advances in communication, this publishing effort still required the usual amount of expertise, time and teamwork. Therefore we would like to record our sincere thanks to the following members of the publishing team in Cape Town: Claudia Dos Santos, who skillfully coordinated the project; Gail Jennings, who proved a patient and understanding editor; Steven Felmore, whose design contributed so much to the way the information was presented; and Sonya Meyer, who tackled the not particularly easy task of coordinating the picture research.

We would also like to acknowledge all the other people, whose names are unknown to us, who played a part in bringing this book to publication.

Although the authors and publishers have made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this book was correct at the time of going to press, they accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this book.

page 1

The German Shepherd Dog is particularly intelligent and has highly developed senses, which makes it easy to train.

page 2

The Golden Cocker Spaniel is a strong, independent breed, and usually cannot tolerate being teased by children.

pages 4 and 5

The Golden Retriever is an excellent swimmer, and in the 19th century used to work as ‘crew’ on Newfoundland fishing boats, helping to bring heavy nets to shore.

There are many different dog breeds, each with particular characteristics, traits and even aptitudes. It is the duty of all pet owners to choose a dog that will fit in with their lifestyle and the environment they are able to provide for it. Large breeds, such as those depicted above, require much space, as well as training and regular daily exercise.

CONTENTS

Foreword by Bruce Fogle

Dogs and people

A new dog for you

Caring for your dog

Nutrition

Understanding your dog’s behaviour

Training your dog

Common behavioural problems

Protecting your dog’s health

Monitoring your dog’s health

Growing old

Breeding and reproduction

Index

Generally, Labrador Retrievers have a calm disposition and are intelligent, hard working and reliable. These positive qualities make them eminently suitable for training as guide dogs for the blind.

FOREWORD

The essence of dog-ownership

Dogs are not changing – we are. Not so long ago a dog was considered ‘part of the furniture’. Today it is an active part of the family, a best buddy, a listening friend and a helping paw.

From the time canines first entered human homes, emotion played a role in our alliance with them. My observation during 30 years as a practising veterinarian is that emotional ties play an increasingly prominent role as our relationships with pet dogs are becoming progressively complex. And frequently we get all it wrong. Let me explain.

I accept that dogs and people share similar emotions. Elation, fear, tranquillity, anxiety, contentment, anger and even love are feelings that dogs share with us.

But your dog does not understand everything you say. It recognises a selection of words, and can determine your mood from the inflection in your voice. Dogs can read your body language, but they are unable to understand language as we do. Since we treat our dogs like members of the family, we tend to think of them as human and treat them accordingly. But we often expect too much of them.

We should never expect them to do more than their evolutionary status as highly sociable pack animals permits.

Emotion also plays a significant role in a relatively new area of veterinary care: geriatrics. This, together with medical genetics, is the burgeoning growth area in veterinary medicine. Pharmaceutical companies have discovered a vigorous demand for medicines that control age-related behaviour disorders such as disorientation, joint pain and incontinence. Food manufacturers formulate diets that ease the strain on the kidneys or hearts of the elderly. Due to our increased emotional investment in them, we want our dogs to live as long as possible, and advances in geriatric medicine mean that vets can now prolong the lives of pets.

Understanding where dogs have come from, their natural behaviour and our relationship with them all form the basis for what comes next: living with us. Whatever the relationship, our dogs depend on us for good nutrition, proper training, disease prevention and physical and emotional care. Read and learn. I hope you get as much pleasure from your canine companion as my family and I have had from all of ours.

Cordially,Bruce Fogle

DOGS AND PEOPLE

From wild origins to domestication

Dog ownership brings with it a number of therapeutic benefits, not only the joy of companionship. Dog owners suffer less stress, are less aggressive and judgmental and live longer.

If you have ever thought that Alaskan Malamutes and German Shepherd dogs look very much like wolves, you are pretty close to the mark. Despite many opinions as to exactly how and where our modern dog breeds originated, there is very strong evidence (DNA analysis) that domesticated wolves were their common distant ancestors.

Dogs and wolves are both classified as members of the family Canidae and share similar characteristics:

º forty-two teeth

º fifty to 52 vertebrae (seven cervical, 13 thoracic, seven lumbar, three sacral, 20–22 coccygeal)

º a circularly contracting iris

º a similar sense of smell

º similar diseases

º similar behaviour

º an exceptional sense of direction

º nocturnal habits

º a propensity to dig

º gestation of nine weeks

º their puppies’ eyes open at about two weeks of age.

Wolves (Canis lupus), also known as grey wolves, are found only in the northern hemisphere, throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Wolves in the far north vary in colour: animals in a single pack may be black, grey-brown, and white. Those in warmer climates are less aggressive, smaller, more uniform in colour, often yellowish-fawn or grizzled grey-brown like the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).

Wolves and people

We can understand how and why an association developed between wolves and people if we compare their lifestyles during the period of history (between 15,000 and 60,000 years ago) that led to the wolf’s domestication.

Humans were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. They lived in groups, used natural shelters such as caves and made forays to hunt for food. They had leaders upon whose skill or experience the rest of the group relied. Hunting required physical strength and was primarily the task of males; cooking food and rearing children was largely the domain of females.

The grey wolf – ancestor of many North American dog breeds.

Wolves also lived together in extended family groups, or packs, within which there was a distinct hierarchy and a pack leader. They made use of what natural shelter was available, and like humans they also made forays to hunt. Females gave birth to, and reared, their cubs, and for much of the time relied on the strength and ability of the males to protect them and provide food.

Grey wolves in a wild environment. Today, grey wolves are found only in Canada, parts of the United States, Russia, and pockets of Eastern Europe.

Because wolves and humans were hunters, they almost certainly competed with each other from time to time. The wolf’s acute sense of smell helped it to track down its prey, and humans may have taken advantage of this by finding wolves that had made a kill, driving them away and taking over the carcass. Wolves probably followed humans who were hunting and picked up any scraps that were left behind.

As time went by, humans developed a distinct advantage over their canine competitors: the ability to use primitive weapons that made their hunting more effective. A better supply of food meant a more stable lifestyle, and humans began to spend more time in semi-permanent encampments.

Bones from wolf-like dogs have been found in excavations of human encampments dating from 30,000 to 60,000 years ago. They were almost certainly not pets, but semi-wild animals killed by the human inhabitants for food, or had been attracted to the encampments to scavenge on food scraps. Humans may have encouraged such scavengers, for the wolves’ superior sense of smell and hearing would have enabled them to detect approaching predators, such as bears or lions, much sooner than the human residents.

Early humans probably made use of the wolf’s hunting and scenting ability, and the protection it offered, in much the same way that we use dogs today. In return the wolves obtained some food, and by remaining close to encampments also received a certain amount of protection, for most large predators would not venture too close to humans.

The Alaskan Malamute bears a close resemblance to its grey wolf ancestors.

The process of domestication

Over a period of time, wolves living close to humans became more relaxed and sociable towards them. Both dogs and humans discovered mutu al benefits from this loose association, which gradually became closer and led to the process of domestication. One of the key factors in this process was the wolf’s natural instinct to obey a pack leader, and the ability of humans to fulfil that role. Caught when very young, a wild wolf cub was likely to obey its human master and be tamed.

Patterns of dominant and submissive behaviour in wolves

Dominant behaviour

Submissive behaviour

Dominant pose

Stiff, tall stance

Ears up or forward

Tail up or out

Submissive posture

Crouched posture

Ears flat and tail tucked in

Forehead smooth

Pulling corners of mouth

back (’grinning’)

Licking or extruding the tongue

Lowering and averting the gaze

Feet on

Dominant places its forelegs across the shoulders of a subordinate

Submissive arched posture

Back very arched and neck curved down and to the side. Head low, muzzle extended up Tail tucked in and ears flat Lifting hind leg while dropping to the ground, exposing the inguinal region

Muzzle pin

Dominant either bites or grabs subordinate’s muzzle, forcing it to the ground and keeping it there

Submissive sit

Sitting back, tucking chin into chest, sometimes pawing at the dominant and averting gaze

Stand across

Dominant stands stiffly across the forequarters of a prone subordinate

This Canadian grey wolf displays typical dominance aggression as it protects its food.

Domestication was a gradual process that occurred during very similar time periods in Europe, Asia and North America – around 10–15,000 years ago. Initially humans used the sub-species of wolf that occurred in their particular area, but as humans migrated there came a great deal of interbreeding. Four subspecies of wolf had a particular influence on the development of our modern dog breeds:

º The Indian wolf probably gave rise to the ancestors of the Dingo and Asian Pariah Dog. The Dingo’s ancestors moved eastwards with human migration, and eventually became isolated in Australia.

º From the Chinese wolf evolved breeds such as the Pekingese and Chow Chow.

º The North American grey wolf was a major source of North American breeds, such as the Eskimo Dog and Alaskan Malamute.

º European wolves were probably involved in the development of breeds such as the various Shepherd Dogs, Spitz types and Terriers.

The development of dog types

The process of selection and refinement lasted many thousands of years, and was based on the human needs for food, protection and companionship. Dogs had an excellent sense of smell and were faster and more agile than men, so they proved to be valuable allies when it came to tracking and hunting the animals on which humans relied for their food, skins and fur. Dogs also proved useful for watch and guard duty, and for killing the vermin that were attracted to the food in the human encampments. Some wolves proved better at certain tasks than others, and human selection gradually produced different types of dog.

During the Neolithic Age, which started about 8,000 years ago, humans learned to grow crops. They also domesticated and farmed goats, sheep and cattle, so they selected dogs to provide a further service: herding.

By choosing their primitive domestic dogs for different purposes, humans incidentally selected for particular characteristics. Among these were temperament, body shape and body size.

It is suggested that in selecting for temperament they chose animals that were playful, outgoing and showed little aggression towards people, yet readily barked at the appearance of intruders. These traits were consistent with the behaviour of young animals, and over a period of time resulted in an adult population that retained many ’puppy’ characteristics. Scientifically, this is referred to as ‘neoteny’.

In developing a dog type, body shape and size were clearly important. Dogs required to hunt fast-running prey needed speed and agility, and therefore a relatively light, fine-boned body with long legs and a flexible spine. Large, strong dogs were required to hunt prey such as gazelles, but dogs used for hunting hares could be smaller. A dog whose job was to catch rats or dig out a rabbit’s burrow needed quickness and agility, and thus a compact body and short legs.

A dog required to haul loads needed to be strong and sturdy, and bigger to support the large masses of muscle.

Temperament was also an important factor. A large dog developed for guard duties had to have the courage to face an intruder and display aggression. An equally large dog developed to haul loads, a job in which it regularly came into contact with strangers, had to be trusting and remain calm. A small ratting dog needed to retain its innate hunting instinct so that it would immediately snap at vermin.

The ancient Egyptian dog-god Anubis, the god of the underworld.

Early domestic dogs

The characteristics that people demanded of their dogs varied in different parts of the world, depending on the environment, climate and human lifestyle. People living in the far north needed dogs that could haul loads and withstand extremely cold conditions, and archaeological finds in North America show that 7,500 years ago there were already dogs weighing about 23kg (50lb) that were very similar to the Eskimo Dog of today. They had shorter muzzles than grey wolves, but almost certainly retained their ancestor’s stamina and strength.

In Asia and Europe, dogs derived from Indian and Eurasian wolves were also being bred to do particular types of work, such as hunting. Greyhounds are depicted in Egyptian frescoes dated around 5,000 years ago, and later, smaller hounds appeared that were similar to the Pharaoh Hound and Ibizan Hound we know today.

The Dingo arrived in Australia about 4,000 years ago, the descendent of the Indian wolf – it has never been fully domesticated and is seldom kept as a companion.

Another modern breed whose ancestors are discernible around that time is the Saluki, while a palace dog kept by the ancient Pharaohs in Egypt about 2,000 BC is similar to the present-day Basenji.

The Egyptian Pharaoh Hound spread to Europe after the Roman invasion of Egypt around 2,000 years ago.

Sight hounds and scent hounds

Most of the early dogs were hounds, which suggests that a chief objective in early dog-breeding programmes was to develop varieties suitable for hunting. The development of these varieties varied according to the part of the world in which their human owners lived.

In Egypt, animal scents quickly disseminated on the hot, dry sands. Most of the early hounds therefore relied on their vision to identify their quarry from a distance before running it down; hence the development of ’sight’ or ’gaze’ hounds, from which breeds such as the Afghan and Saluki were developed. These animals also needed speed (long legs and a long supple body) and stamina (a large lung capacity within a deep chest).

Scents lingered for much longer in the cooler and moister environments of forests and woodlands – conditions common in Greece and Italy. Thick undergrowth prevented dogs from being able to follow their quarry by sight, so they needed to be able to track it by scent over long distances. These ’scent’ hounds were physically different from ’sight’ hounds. They had shorter legs and more compact, muscular bodies, and were built for endurance. We know that such dogs existed several thousand years ago.

Spitz dogs

These dogs have a characteristic curly tail and are represented by modern breeds such as the Siberian Husky, Samoyed and Chow Chow. There is evidence to suggest that dogs of this type were widely spread throughout the world. In China, the ancestors of the Chow Chow are featured on Han Dynasty pottery statues dated at 200 BC. A northern connection came a thousand years later: the Vikings brought Spitz-type dogs with them when they invaded and settled parts of England.

Other early domestic dog types

In China and Tibet other ancestral dog types were being developed, as pets and guard dogs, and these gave rise to short-nosed breeds such as the Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier and Japanese Chin.

In the Mediterranean region at least five or six distinctly different dog types were already in existence by Roman times. They included small dogs not unlike today’s Dachshund, fast hunting dogs similar to the Greyhound, and large, heavy, guard dogs rather like the Mastiff. There were short-nosed dogs and long-nosed dogs, similar to today’s Pug and Borzoi. In Britain the Celtic Hounds, forerunners of the Irish Wolfhound, were already established before the Roman invasion.

The English Springer Spaniel was specifically developed to pick up game birds.

The meat of this black-tongued breed, the Chow Chow, was once regarded as a delicacy in Manchuria and Mongolia, and its fur was used for clothing. Today the Chow Chow is a real one-person

The arrival of the ‘pet’ dog

As time went by, more types of dog were developed. Dogs that could hunt by both sight and scent proved useful as all-purpose hunters, and from them were developed the smaller ’earth’ dogs, now known as terriers. Their name comes from the word ’terra’, Latin for earth. They were short-legged, tough and hardy, expert at detecting and catching smaller quarry and an invaluable aid in keeping down the vermin that thrived in most areas of human habitation.

Dogs required for herding cattle and sheep needed to be agile and intelligent, and retain many of the characteristics of their wolf ancestors, who performed similar tasks during a hunt when singling out the weaker animals.

Larger and heavier Mastiff-type dogs were developed to pull loads, protect herds and flocks from dangerous predators such as wild bears or wolves, or guard property against both animals and humans.

The bond that exists between most of today’s owners and their dogs is not new. Two thousand years ago a shepherd in Turkey probably had similar feelings about his working dog as a British, American or Australian farmer does today. But while many people would have felt the need for a dog’s companionship in those early days, few could have afforded to keep and feed a dog that did not work for its living.

Pet dogs were largely the province of the wealthy. In China and Japan, ‘toy’ dogs were kept by the emperors and their courts, and it was only when European travellers began to visit those countries that many of the breeds were ’discovered’ and brought back to Europe and England. By AD 500 the Bichon family of dogs was established, giving rise to today’s Bichon Frise and possibly the Lowchen. Various types of small dog were also developed in monasteries, where their roles ranged from companion to watchdog.

One of the world’s most popular dogs, the Pointer was originally bred as a hunting companion due to its excellent sight and sense of smell, coupled with intelligence and a keen ability to learn.

With the passing of the centuries, more of today’s breeds took shape. In AD 1300 the Black Hound, forerunner of the Bloodhound, was established in Britain, while in Europe and Asia herding dogs were developing – among them the ancestors of the Hungarian Puli and Komondor.

Perhaps as many as three-quarters of today’s dog breeds were developed during the last 300 years or so. Improvement in the range and accuracy of firearms resulted in the introduction and refinement of many of today’s gun-dog breeds, while increased affluence led to more interest in general purpose and toy dogs.

By the beginning of the 20th century the development was almost complete, and most of the refinements since then have been cosmetic rather than functional.

Dog breeds and kennel clubs

Today there are hundreds of breeds (some encyclopaedias list more than 400), many of them recognised only in their country of origin. Breed standards are established, which enables breeders and judges to select progeny that come closest to the required characteristics, therefore ensuring their continuation. To gain recognition, a breed must have clearly identifiable characteristics that are passed between generations; these become the basis for the breed’s establishment.

Many countries have their own Kennel Club or similar organisation that controls and monitors the registration and showing of pedigree dogs. It recognises particular breeds for show purposes and classifies them into groups based on similarities of use or characteristics.

The number of groups, their names and the breeds within them are not consistent between countries. There is some agreement about four of the groups (Toys, Gundogs/Sporting Dogs, Terriers and Hounds), but not about any others. Some countries have separate groups for working dogs and herding dogs, while others have groups named non-sporting, utility or Spitz breeds (dogs with the characteristic appearance of a Spitz or primitive breed: tail curled over the back and pricked ears).

Because each country has its own method of classifying dog breeds, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) was formed to rationalise the differences. It divides breeds into 10 groups, using its own classification system: Sheep Dogs and Cattle Dogs (other than Swiss Cattle Dogs); Pinschers and Schnauzer type, Molossian type, Swiss Mountain and Cattle dogs; large and medium-sized Terriers; Dachshunds; Spitz and primitive types; Scenthounds and related breeds; Pointing Dogs; Companion and Toy Dogs; Sighthounds; and Retrievers, Flushing Dogs and Water Dogs.

At the time of writing it had registered 331 breeds. Member countries of the FCI (78 at time of writing) define their own breed standards but submit them to the FCI for international recognition.

Cross-breeds and mongrels account for the majority of dogs in almost every country in the world. Where possible, before you select a mongrel puppy, observe the temperament of its mother.

Cross-breeds and mongrels

This chapter would not be complete without a brief mention of those lovable canines of mixed or unknown ancestry. Cross-breeds are animals of known parentage from two different breeds. Mongrels are of unknown ancestry. Endowed with what scientists term hybrid vigour, they often (but not always) combine some of the more desirable characteristics of their ancestors. They may not be officially recognised, but they still bring joy and comfort to millions of people.

Sadly, they are also the main product of uncontrolled breeding and account for the majority of unwanted puppies, or dogs ’dumped’ by their owners, that end up in animal shelters. Despite efforts to educate owners and discourage indiscriminate breeding, this worldwide problem continues.

A special bond

These days pet animals are one of the many factors that make up what we call ’quality of life’. During the last 20 years, numerous studies have confirmed the psychological and medical benefits of pet ownership. These benefits have also become a basis for programmes based on animal-assisted activities (AAA), also referred to as ’pet-facilitated therapy’ and ’animal-facilitated therapy’. In these programmes, interactions with animals are used to assist humans with physical or psychological problems.

In industrialised societies increasing affluence, a falling birth rate and looser family ties have resulted in pets playing a more important psychological role. More couples are choosing not to have any children, or to have them later in life after the female partner has established a career, and for many of these people a pet becomes an important member of the family. But regardless of your family status, owning a dog is likely to provide you with some important benefits.

Companionship

For four out of five dog owners the most important feature of owning a dog is the company it provides. Companionship may mean simply having the dog around or the dog may be a working companion or used for a specific task.

The Golden Retriever is an affection-demanding breed – and with their exceptional patience towards children, they nearly always receive the affection they so enjoy.

For many of us a dog acts as a safeguard against loneliness; it becomes a partner and a friend in whom we can confide. If you think you are unusual in talking to your dog as if it were another human being, don’t worry. You are not unusual at all. Most of us behave in a similar way.

As well as talking to our dogs, we instinctively use methods of communication that we would use with members of our own species. To console our dogs, for example, we use standard ’primate gestures’ such as stretching out our hands and patting them, pursing and smacking our lips and uttering soothing noises, although men are generally less demonstrative in this respect than women.

Comfort

A subtle aspect of animal companionship is the physical proximity or nearness of an animal to its owner. The mere fact that our dog is in the same room as us produces a feeling of comfort, and the more attached we are to our dog the closer it may be allowed to sleep to us at night. Some dogs share their owner’s bed, while others are made to sleep outside the home in their own kennel or shed.

Comfort may also come from direct physical contact, or simply from the affection that it displays towards you.

Relaxation

Your dog will help you relax. It has been conclusively demonstrated that a person in a state of tension shows a slowing of the heart rate and a drop in blood pressure when their pet comes on the scene. Owning a pet can be an important stress-management practice for people with high stress levels in their work.

Physical security and protection

An increase in crime in some societies has resulted in more people keeping watchdogs or guard dogs as additional protection for themselves and their property. In these cases there is a trend towards keeping the larger, potentially more aggressive breeds such as the Doberman, German Shepherd Dog or Rottweiler, and other breeds that have been specifically developed for guarding, such as the Neapolitan Mastiff and Dogue de Bordeaux.

But it is not just the size or potential aggressiveness of a dog that is important. For many of us, our feeling of security lies in the knowledge that the animal will detect and react to a stranger or intruder long before we can, and this gives us more time to react to such a situation. For this reason many owners of small dogs feel just as secure with their pet as they would with a large, specially trained guard dog.

Emotional security

In addition to physical protection, a dog can also provide us with psychological protection. For example, it can give us the emotional security to face or overcome irrational fears, such as a fear of the dark or anxiety at being left alone.

If you are doing something in a strange environment, or meeting strangers, having your dog with you can enable you to carry out your tasks more effectively or communicate better. For example, one sociological study into human behaviour showed that people interviewed by a researcher accompanied by her dog generally felt more comfortable and relaxed than those interviewed without the dog present.

Helping to establish new friendships

There is plenty of evidence to show that people who like dogs are more likely to like other people, and are more socially interactive. So if you own a dog you are probably very good at establishing new human friendships.

Dogs certainly act as ice breakers for contact between humans. Take your dog for a walk and it is quite possible that a usually reserved neighbour or even a total stranger will stop and comment on its appearance or behaviour. Dogs also act as an important link between the young and the old.

Self-fulfilment and self-esteem

We all need to feel good about ourselves. Many of us achieve this through success in our family relationships, work, sport or other recreational activities. Others achieve it through reflected glory by owning a dog that is an object of prestige. It may be a rare or unusual breed, a winner in the show ring or an obedience or agility champion.

For some of us the mere responsibility of caring for another living creature can result in a sense of self-worth, and by doing it correctly we may be rewarded by the approval of other people.

Aesthetic satisfaction

Your dog doesn’t have to be a show winner in order to give you pleasure. If you have chosen it for its character and appearance, then every time you look at it you will feel good.

The sensitive Rough Collie (TOP RIGHT) grows deeply attached to its owner and makes a good guard dog, while the West Highland White Terrier (TOP LEFT) is excitable and loves attention.

An aid to leisure activities

Dogs are an important part of our leisure experience. Dogs like to play, and they stimulate us to play with them. This helps us to relax and develop a more active zest for life, diverting us from the comparative drudgery of family chores or work. For many of us merely looking after a dog, such as feeding, grooming and exercising it, can become a leisure activity in itself.

Benefits to children

About two out of three families that own a dog also have children. We might ask why parents coping with a growing family would want to adopt another, non-human member, and the answer is not entirely clear. Many of us think that having a pet dog will help teach our children responsibility: that a child who learns to care for a pet is more likely to have a caring attitude towards fellow humans.

The Labrador Retriever is one of the world’s most popular breeds: a real family animal.