Marcus was purpose-bred at the Guide Dogs Centre in Glossodia a small town at the foot of the Blue Mountains, 68km north-west of Sydney. In April 2020, at the start of our most recent global pandemic, when Marcus was eight weeks old, he went to live with puppy raisers Alex and Alison.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's German shepherd, Major, allegedly bit the United Kingdom's prime minister and tore his pants. (Major Roosevelt was sent away from the White House grounds shortly thereafter.) Theodore Roosevelt's bull terrier, Pete, chased a French ambassador up a tree. (Pete was also removed from the White House.) And Calvin Coolidge's fox terrier, Peter Pan, ripped the skirt off of a woman, and was eventually given away to Coolidge's secretary.
Remember that moment at the dog park when you see two golden retrievers, with one bouncing around with bright eyes and a glossy coat, and the other just going through the motions with a dull expression despite being perfectly groomed? Both dogs are clearly loved and cared for, but something deeper separates them: It's the difference between a dog that's genuinely flourishing and one that's simply being maintained.
This study found that the size of the dog was one of the strongest predictors of a dog's behavior. More specifically: Undesirable behaviors become more common or pronounced as the size of the dog decreases. As height increases, so does the dog's trainability. Long-skulled dogs (think Dachshunds or Italian Greyhounds) have higher rates of stranger-directed fear, barking persistently, and stealing food behaviors as the height and weight decrease.
If you haven't already, you should take Stella in for a check-up with her vet. There are a couple of health issues that could be causing the nighttime disturbances. As an older dog, she could be developing dementia. She wakes up and either doesn't know where she is, or doesn't know where you are. As a result, she panics and starts barking.
Each time a family dogs dies I go over it all again and decide that the intense grief is far outweighed by the joy the animal brought to our lives. And, so, it is yet again with Ronda the raven-black, shiny, fine-boned labrador, soft-hearted and so very beautiful, euthanised after spending 12 of her 13 years with us. Dog people know that all canines are different.
To avoid any additional pressure on your pets, show them where all the essentials are before letting them have free reign of the house. Take them to the potty area, and then let them have access to a sanctuary room while they adjust. The sanctuary room should have familiar items such as their bed, food bowls, and toys. Avoid long walks and meeting neighbors until they have had at least a few weeks to learn new sights, smells, and rhythm of their new daily routine.
Every dog owner will be familiar with the puppy eyes given at mealtimes. Whether it's a juicy piece of steak or a slice of cheese, nothing escapes their nose. But if they lick their lips it could be cause for concern, experts have warned. This behaviour doesn't always mean they're hungry - and it's actually a sign of stress or discomfort.
So I have a little chocolate toy poodle, Buddy. He's 5½ years old. Every evening at exactly 7:30 he starts staring at me, talking to me and notifying me that it is time for his "Greenie." He can hardly contain his excitement until it is placed securely in his mouth and then he is off to enjoy his favorite treat.
To be honest, there are plenty to choose from, but perhaps the most egregious, and the one I settled on in this case, is the erroneous advice that some dog trainers used to give (and sadly, some still do) that you should not let a dog growl at you. Unfortunately, this advice puts people at risk of dog bites and, therefore, dogs at risk of being rehomed or euthanized.
