Dogs might not be man\’s best friend but they are the most loyal. So fiercely loyal in fact that it is capable of self-sacrifice if its owners are in danger and the need exists.

They do not have the intelligence that we would often think that they have. In fact their brains are 10% smaller than that of wolves, but they are heedful or on many occasions seem to comprehend. Their unique comprehension comes the obedience. Dogs unlike other animals do not have the capacity to premeditate its actions to solve a problem or a situation though it learns by constant observation and repetitive instructions and examples. Whatever they lack in traditional intelligence, they compensate with unquestioning loyalty and love.

The loyalty that dogs show is a trait that they have while still in the wild where they have to learn to stick together and take care of its other members to survive longer. Humans clearly see and relate to this love and treat dogs as members of the family. Dogs on the other hand see humans as pack leaders, although members of their pack nevertheless. Humans therefore have to be obeyed and would need as much cooperation from the dog similar to how the dog will respond to a pack leader in the wild.

In spite of all these facts, dogs are predators. They have always been and even behind centuries of domestication, they have not completely lost the instinct. They respect hierarchy. For this reason dogs need training because when left to themselves, they would start believing that they are the alpha males and more advanced than their owners. When they know who the pack leader is, they would always be ready to obey and transfer their imagined superiority when there is firm and gentle guidance, with a whine maybe but never a complaint.

Dogs are generally believed to have descended from wolves, hence the similarity. In antiquity, dogs that are near human settlements ate food that the humans gave them, and that resulted in shorter fangs, limp ears and smaller brains compared to wolves because these attributes are not being used anymore and have become unneeded. Another dog trait not found in wolves is tails that curl upwards and paws that are half the size of those that wolves have.

Dogs with long noses (like hounds) have excellent field visions that are wide but not as detailed, alternatively, dogs with shorter noses as with Pugs sees better details although with a narrower perspective.

Dogs may have floppy ears but they hear sounds four times better than humans and with eighteen muscles to move them around they could detect the source of the sound more accurately. Dogs with more natural looking ears could hear and detect sounds much better.

Humans may have five million smell sensitive cells enough to make scent detection and scent identification efficient but dogs have 220 million cells in their nose cavities.

Mans love affair with dogs goes a very long way that today; there are more breed of dogs than any other animal species on earth.

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When you take your first walk with your adopted dog, you may notice that they are not fond of the leash. If they can have their way, they would rather not be restrained. This really is especially way more if the dog is one from among the active type of breed. This can be why your dog needs to be trained to get used to the leash as early as possible. The following are techniques to ease your dog in getting used to the leash.

The first time is typically the hardest. When you try to attach the leash to your dog for the first time, try attaching the leash hen the puppy is at his best mood. Better yet, attach the leash while the pup is eating. The idea is to attach the leash the first time associating it with happy occasion or at least occasions that are non- threatening. As much as possible, remember to never attach the leash to your dog in ways that will be translated as punishment.

Initially, the dog will jump, pull, nip, whine, and show fear when leashed. There are many good reasons for this. But aside from its natural tendency to refuse restraints, the first experience with the leash must not have been pleasant. Check whether the leash is too heavy for the puppy, and check if the collar is too tight. Being leashed is not pleasant for any creature. The best thing to do is to at least make the leash very comfortable. That one resolved it is now time to take the dog for quick walks around the yard.

Attach the leash to the pup and encourage him to walk on his own. Do not hold the leash yet. Encourage the puppy to come to you and when it does, give the dog treats. The idea is to get the dog get used to the idea of walking with a leash. Do this for a few days until the dog is familiar with walking with the leash.

After a few days the puppy will appear comfortable already, hold the leash for quick periods of time, but let the dog guide the way. Go with his phase. Do not pull at the leash yet, during this initial stage, it is best to give the puppy his space. Remember that you are still inside the home or within the confines of your yard. This can be already control. If the puppy insists on going to places where you do not want him to (like digging on a flowerbed for example) and you are tempted to tug at the leash, carry the pup instead, then move to another location.

You could already take a more firm control when the pup appears to be comfortable being restrained. Tug gently at the leash when he wanders to places that are not good for him. Be gentle when doing so to minimize the threat whenever possible.

Eventually the dog will not mind being restrained. If in your judgment the time is good, that would be the time to take the puppy out. Then it will be a real walk in the park.

Read more about successfully adopting a dog from a shelter, and download your copy of Adopting A Dog – The Secret to A Successful Adoption now!

Tags: adopt a dog, adopting a dog, adopting a dog from, adopting a dog from a shelter, adopting a dog from the pound, adopting a dog in, adopting a dog tips, adopting a pet dog, adopting a rescue dog, adopting a senior dog, Pets, when adopting a dog

The kind of dog that you\’ll adopt often specifies the future you have with your new best friend. If you choose the wrong breed, size, or character, both of you will likely end up not enjoying each other\’s company.

Each breed of dog has features that set it apart from the rest of the canine community. And while the breed of the dog helps in estimating the habits, character, and characteristics of the dog, it still relies on the individual qualities of your selected dog. To find your perfect dog match, use the following information:

Dog breed

Dog breed is the leading concern when picking a dog to adopt and is probably the best criteria to begin with when choosing a dog. There are literally hundreds of dog breeds you can choose from. To make the selection easier for you, you can either choose use dog breed selectors available online or use some begin your search with the breed you have set your eyes on. You can also narrow down your choices to certain features like:

- breed size,

- energy level,

- exercise needs,

- playfulness,

- affection level,

- tolerance towards other dogs or pets,

- ease of training,

- protection ability,

- grooming needs, and

- tolerance to heat and cold

Dog size

Dogs have many sizes. From tiny toy dogs as small as your coffee mug to giant dogs that seem more like a bundle of muscle than dog.

Small dogs are most vulnerable and are often associated with female owners. They are cute, dainty, very delicate and oftentimes boisterous. If you want a pet that you can carry with you, a small dog – toy or lapdog – is a perfect choice.

Make no mistake, though. Small dogs do not always make for behaved dogs. As if to compensate for their small size, some small dogs develop tough dog attitudes. Be prepared to do plenty of obedience training to curb their small dog aggressiveness.

Mid-size dogs, on the other hand, are ideal for most kinds of keepers – from children, adult to old people. As middle range dogs, they tend to get along with all sorts of training, environment, and people. Although, these benefits do not apply to all mid-sized dogs.

Giant dogs, big as they are, are perfect for people who have the space, budget, and patience for big animals. They require more food, more supplies, more space, and more intensive training. Compared to other dog sizes, giant dogs are more functional and more fun to be with, especially if you are the kind of owner who loves the outdoors.

Age

When it comes to age, you have three choices. You can choose from puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs.

Most people choose puppies because they are irresistibly cute and loaded with energy. They are also the hardest to take care of. When wanting to adopt a puppy, you should prepare for plenty of surprises such as accidents, misbehavior, and the possibility of ending up with a dog that is different from what you expected.

Adult dogs are the ideal choice. They have already shown their actual temperament, size, attitude, and activity level. They are also, in most cases, already trained.

Senior dogs, on the other hand, are the ones that deserve adoption but are often not adopted. Would-be owners often fear that senior dogs are poor choices for pets. The reverse, in fact, is often true. It could be a very rewarding experience to bring home an aged dog, and a very compassionate experience at that.

Read more about successfully adopting a dog, and download your copy of Adopting A Dog – The Secret to A Successful Adoption now!

Tags: adopt a dog, adopting a dog, adopting a dog from, adopting a dog from a shelter, adopting a dog from the pound, adopting a dog in, adopting a dog tips, adopting a pet dog, adopting a rescue dog, adopting a senior dog, Pets, when adopting a dog