The Official Dog Blog

My puppy has lots of tiny red spots on his tummy and seems forever scratching; the vet says he thinks it is an allergy to something. What does he mean?

An allergy means a sensitivity to something or other; usually a food of some kind. Heat bumps in children are an example. Perhaps your puppy has an allergy to eggs, or fish, or even milk with the cream on it. Perhaps you have bathed it in some kind of medicated shampoo to which its skin is sensitive.

Only by a process of elimination will you be able to find out what is causing this irritation. In the meantime, just to make sure the vet is right in his diagnosis, It is strongly advisable that you bathe the dog in a good anti-pesticide soap that the druggist can recommend for mange; when you have washed the puppy, dry it with the soap left in. This will make sure the spots you mention are not follicular mange, which has the same symptoms and which the soap will cure.

If you are going to introduce your puppy to the beach, go on a day when the waves are calm. Most puppies are frightened by the movement and the sound of waves. The best time to take your puppy is in the early morning when there aren’t too many people around. Never let your dog romp on the beach where people are laying and tanning themselves.

The best way to lead a puppy into water is to have him follow you. Try throwing his favorite toy a foot from the shore and see if he will run in to retrieve it. Make it a game for your puppy. You can also try running a few feet into the water or walking along the shoreline to see if he follows you. If your puppy still won’t go in, then carry your puppy in the water about five feet from the shore. Walk back with him as he paddles.

As he gets older and more confident in the water, you can play fetch with him by making him dive off a dock. There is a beauty in watching a dog dive gracefully in the water as he swims out to retrieve a stick or ball. However, never force him in this game if he is not comfortable in the water, or shows little swimming ability.

Since the dog population has increased in most cities, there are more owners who let their dogs run off leash in the parks. Many non-owners feel they are being crowded out of their favorite areas and, therefore, the police often ticket dog owners for having their dogs off leash. As a concession, many cities have converted small parks into dog parks that are just for dogs, or have fenced off certain areas of public parks – pen areas – where dogs can run free.

When taking your dog to one of these parks, don’t let him bolt into the park even if he is familiar with the other dogs. Put him in a sit position for a few seconds at a safe distance away from the other dogs and then tap him gently on the back of the head and say, “Go play!” This sets a pattern for release where he learns when he is allowed to leave your side and play with other dogs.

Personally, I like dog parks because they provide a place for dog owners to take their dogs and not disturb others. But I prefer to see the whole city as a playground for my dogs, rather than letting them be outside in only a penned off area. I don’t like to be restricted to a small area. I think a dog needs to be exposed to many different environments in the city to become well trained.

Most problem dogs are leader types, they are trying to control the activities of the family or certain individuals in the group. In some cases the dogs are in conflict with their physical environment or external social elements, such as fences, tethers, neighborhood children, cats, other dogs, mailmen or visitors. A dog that wants to control these elements, or to lead the activities of its human family pack, is doomed to a life of frustration.

Leader-type dogs exhibit any or all of the following behavior, both on and off their home territory:

- Precedes owner through doors or when walking in almost any direction.
- Does not obey the owner’s commands.
- Displays anxiety about new people or situations.
- Interferes with the owner’s interactions with other people.
- Nudges the owner persistently for physical petting.

When a dog assumes a leadership role in its owner relationships, it usually exhibits behavior that provides clues, even off the home property. Some easily detected signs are:

- Protectiveness of the owner.
- Nervousness (anxiety about the new area, scouting the area).
- Lack of response to the owner’s direction.
- Rushes in or out of doors ahead of the owner.
- Interferes with the owner’s interactions with other people in the new situation.

Buy a loose-fill bed: As far as comfort is concerned, it doesn’t matter all that much what kind of bed you buy. To give the most pawing satisfaction, however, you may want to get a bed that’s made from loose fill – from cedar chips, for example – rather than a solid mattress. This gives dogs the opportunity to move the filling around when they paw, which is closer to what they’d experience naturally.

Give them a bed of their own: Most dogs appreciate having a bed that’s theirs and theirs alone. Even when they’re reluctant to use it at first, the gradual accretion of personal smells will make it part of their territory, and they’ll want to go there when it’s time to sleep. Dog beds are made to withstand a lot of abuse, and most have washable covers as well.

Put the bed where your dog will use it: No one enjoys spending $50 for a comfortable bed, only to watch their dog give it an indifferent sniff before curling up on a corner of the couch. Since dogs are intensely attuned to territory, you’ll need to be accommodating in finding the best place to put the bed. If there’s one spot where your dog always settles down to sleep, you’ll want to put the bed as close to that spot as possible.

All dogs are suitable for training, although some breeds make naturally superior pupils because generations of ancestors were selected for trainability. (You may want to consult owners, breeders and AKC Standards for information about tractable breeds or even check out an Obedience competition).

If you purchase a breed not known for prowess in the Obedience ring, don’t give up. If training isn’t going so well, maybe it’s your problem instead of the dog’s. Perhaps you’ll find that your methods are inconsistent or confusing. If you’re at your wit’s end, contact a professional trainer for advice or join a local obedience class. Also, you may need to research training and behavior problems more thoroughly. There should be a shelf full of appropriate books at your local library or bookstore.

If you’re wondering whether age is an obstacle, rest assured that there is no age limit for effective dog training. You may have to be a little more persistent in training an adult dog, but there is no truth to the adage that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” However, it is certainly easier if a foundation for learning is initiated right from the start of the relationship.

The skin is the largest organ of the dog’s body and a frequent source of problems. The job of the skin is to protect the inner organs and tissues from invasions by foreign substances, changing temperature and dehydration. The skin also works to synthesize essential vitamins for the rest of the body and performs the indispensable job of processing information about the external world through sensation.

Normal canine skin is smooth and flexible. Colors range from pale pink to brown to bluish black. Spotted skin is normal in any dog, even those whose coats are uniform in color. Lumps, bumps, scabs, scales, patches of hair loss or parasites shouldn’t be visible anywhere on a healthy dog’s body.

Dogs have seasonal shedding cycles, which don’t always behave according to strict schedule. There are so many different kinds of canine hair that it’s difficult to draw a typical picture. Obviously the hair of a Miniature Schnauzer shouldn’t grow in like that of a Golden Retriever! Perhaps it’s best to concentrate on what hair shouldn’t be. It shouldn’t break or pull out easily, or seem excessively dry or oily. In a smooth-coated dog, the coat should not appear dull or weak. Any sudden or significant change in the hair’s appearance should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

The dogs keen sense of smell may be involved in more problems than we realize. The odor of their owners is extremely important to most dogs when they cannot identify them by sight or the sound of their voices. Most dogs, even puppies, seem to strive for a whiff of the breath of people when greeting them, which can account for much of the jumping up that occurs.

Other problems that may have olfactory origins appear to be tied to discrimination difficulties. There have been several cases in which the dog, male or female, has begun to avoid or growl at familiar young girls during their first menstrual cycle. These dogs have responded well when the parents and youngsters “talked jolly,” bounced a ball for playtime, etc.

For example, the residual odor of a certain perfumed soap caused one young male dog persistently to mount a family’s 2-year-old child. When the soap was changed, the mounting ceased. Because of olfactory sensitivities, I use only unscented laundry and bath soaps, and refrain from other perfumed lotions or hair sprays to avoid the possibility of “smelling like” my clients.

Most dog owners do not know about the growling reflex which occurs in many dogs when their ear canals are massaged. When this apparently unconditioned response occurs, the dog may be punished, stimulating defensive reflexes to fight, flee or freeze. Also, when many dogs display submissive growling and/or fang baring, (the submissive “smile”), naive owners apply harsh punishment or back away from the dog.

In either event, serious biting problems can result because the threatened dog displays submissive behavior, but achieves no relief from the owner’s threats or punishment so it then actively defends itself; or the retreating owner becomes fearful of the dog, which puts the dog in control.

Growling is one of the least studied kinds of canine behavior. Unfortunately, growling is widely regarded as something an owner should never tolerate, lest the dog become dominant in the relationship. In fact, many owners are advised to apply dominance handling techniques as a counter measure with puppies and adults.

Few dogs are canny enough to win against a porcupine. Quills can easily become embedded anywhere in a dog’s anatomy: legs, chest, neck, throat or head. Any dog suffering multiple punctures from a porcupine immediately distresses. If the quills embed around the mouth, face or neck, the situation becomes life-threatening.

Quill removal is painful. Application of vinegar to the quills softens them. A good measure of success is experienced in quill removal by cutting them at the point farthest away from the dog’s body. Once severed, the quills partially collapse, aiding in their withdrawal. The quills may then be removed, as carefully and gently as possible, with either a pair of hemostats or pliers, either of which give a good grip.

Quills have small barb-like projections that perform similar to a fish hook, and which make removal painful and difficult. Small quills can quickly become totally embedded, to be felt beneath the dog’s skin: these must be surgically removed as quickly as possible. Complete quill removal usually requires veterinary attention because the withdrawal process is so painful, and the animal already in pain often panics. The dog should always see a veterinarian after this type of injury. Treatment with anti inflammatory drugs and antibiotic drugs is commonly necessary.