Does your dog chase things - cars, bikes, animals and other people? Apart from being a nuisance this could also be dangerous, both for the dog and the person or thing being chased. If it should be a child its chasing then the child could well be terrified enough to do something stupid like run into the road and get knocked down. So training your dog not to chase is an essential part of basic training.
It's in the nature of a dog to chase since they are carnivorous by nature. With some breeds, like Collies and sheepdogs, we have taken this instinct and turned it to our own use for herding cattle or sheep. But even with these breeds, training is still required to call the dog off when necessary. Like everything else this training is best started young.
The best place to start such training is in your garden, especially if it is surrounded by a fence. This will stop him from being distracted by anything happening outside and help to focus his attention on you. Remove any dog toys or anything that may distract him before starting.
Put your dog on a lead and stand with him beside you. Then take a ball and show it to him without letting him touch it. Roll the ball away from you and state the command 'Off!' If he tries to follow the ball then restrain him with the lead and repeat the command again 'Off!' This will need to be repeated until the dog obeys the command.
Whenever he obeys the command give him a treat as a reward. Repeat the training session in different environments, like indoors and in a busy park, gradually introducing more potential distractions into the training sessions until he obeys in all situations.
Once he has shown he can obey the command in all these different environments then try again in the yard or indoors but without the lead. Again reward him for good performance. Repeat the training in different environments with increasing distractions.
You should never let your dog off the lead until you are sure he is trained not to chase.
Following this simple training exercise will tech your dog not to chase things. This could save you from the embarrassment of having to chase your dog shouting at him to come back. It could also save you from the consequences of his chasing, which could be anything from embarrassment to legal proceedings in the event of an accident caused by your dog.
Scratching is a common symptom in dogs, and a whole range of underlying causes can be responsible. If your dog is scratching, it is advisable to seek treatment as soon as possible, as self trauma can cause secondary injuries that may extend the duration, and cost, of treatment. So, if you have noticed your dog scratching, what should you do about it?
Firstly, ask yourself when was the last time I put anti-flea medication on him/her? Most spot-on flea products only provide protection for a month, so if it has been longer than this then you should re-apply the medication. Be aware that anti-flea products that are on sale in supermarkets and pet shops are general sales list products, and are not as effective as the products available from your veterinarian. However, Frontline? has recently been made available on general sale and so can be purchased without a prescription.
If flea treatment is up to date, with a reputable product, the next step is to rule out mites. Most anti-flea products do not kill mites. The most common type of mite infection in dogs is sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies. This mite causes an intensely itchy dermatitis that can also be transmitted to humans. It is often spread by foxes, so if you have many foxes in your area, this is one to be especially aware of. This is one you have to approach your veterinarian for. Scabies is diagnosed either by doing skin scrapes (using a scalpel blade to scrape debris from one of the affected areas, placing it on a microscope slide, staining it and examining it under a microscope) or via a blood test. Many vets though will choose to simply apply the appropriate drug and if the itchiness stops, a presumptive diagnosis is made. If your dog does have scabies, your vet might give a one off steroid injection to alleviate the itchiness in the short term until the anti-parasitic drug kicks in.
If external parasites have been ruled out, the next step is to rule out a bacterial infection, a yeast infection or ringworm. Of these, only ringworm is potentially transmissible to humans. Ringworm is not actually a worm, but a type of fungus. It is usually tested for by examining the affected area with an ultraviolet light, which causes a certain type of ringworm spore to glow green. If ringworm is diagnosed, your vet will dispense either oral or topical medication to cure it. Bacterial infections are treated with a 2-3 week course of antibiotics, whereas yeast infections are usually treated with a medicated shampoo.
If parasites, bacteria, yeasts and ringworm have all been ruled out then your pet probably has an allergy. This could be a food allergy, a contact allergy or an environmental (e.g. pollen) allergy. For further information on allergies in dogs, see my next article: "The Itchy Dog: is it an Allergy?"
Both Chris R Davis & Matthew Homfray are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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