Pup Talk

You’ve picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match.

by alicudi

Now what? He needs a name!

Over the course of its life, you will use your dog’s name more than 35,000 times. So be sure you’re picking a name you can live with and love.

With these seven simple steps, the key to finding the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips!

* Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.
* Your puppy’s name shouldn’t sound like any commands. “Stacy” and “stay” are too close for comfort. Such a name will only confuse the issue.
* Remember, you’ll be using your pup’s name in public. “Boner” may be cute among your fellow fraternity members, but it won’t go over well at the veterinarian.
* Make your kids part of the decision process. Kids like it simple, too, so if calling your Champion Cavalier King Spaniel “Bootsie” works for them, consider keeping the hoity toity name strictly for AKC purposes.
* You may think it’s an honor to name your pup after you’re favorite Uncle Norbert. Naming your baby after him may keep you in the will, but naming your puppy after him won’t.
* If you’re bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with the name it already owns. Can’t stand it because “Barney” was the first boy who broke your heart? Then stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. “Barney” morphs into “Farley” easily.
* Once you’ve chosen a name, try it out for a day or so. You’ll know right away whether it’s a keeper. If not, there’s always more puppy names on your list!

Take a look around you. Everywhere you are, you’ll find a variety of terrific ideas on what to name your pooch.

At first glance, a couple things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy him or her for a day or two and take these into consideration.

* Appearance. What’s your dog look like? His color, size, and personal style inspires a variety of name choices. “Stubbs” would be a great name for a dachshund pup. Or you may call a cream colored cock-a-poo “Buffy.”
* Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog’s personality will really shine through. Try “Cuddles” for the sweet little guy who loves to get cozy or “Puddles” for the pooch who can’t seem to find the doggie door.

If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.

* Celebrity puppy names. Today, pooches have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on “Lola,” a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.
* TV dogs. “Scooby” and “Astro” come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.
* Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke’s “Blue” would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs. Or try “Bodie,” from the weeper Steel Magnolias.
* Comic dogs. “Snoopy” will always be a favorite, but also consider “Daisy” or “Odie.”
* German dog names. For starters, try out “Fritz” or “Kaiser.”
* Irish dog names. “Finn” fits well for any pup, as does “Murphy,” which just happens to mean “hound of the sea.”
* French puppy names. “Pierre” and “Gigi” are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.

The choices are endless. However, with these simple tips and some thought, before long, you’ll have found the perfect puppy name!

Need a dog name? Jennifer McVey’s site, Favorite-Puppy-Names.com, delivers thousands of great name ideas.

Dog breeds in general have similar characteristics. Some dog breeds are more likely to kill than others and some breeds are more protective of their masters and physical surrounding than others. There has been a 20 year study to determine which dog breeds are more likely to actually kill human beings. This United States study was done for the years 1979 through 1998.

by This Year’s Love

This study tracks 238 human deaths from dog attacks during a 20 year period. 24% of these attacks involved unrestrained dogs off their owners property. 58% of the deaths involved unrestrained dogs on their owners property. 17% involved restrained dogs on their owners property and less than 1% involved a restrained dog off the owners property.

Some of the conclusions of the study are not suprising. Yes, certain breeds are more likely to kill than others. Yes, deaths from dog attack are quite rare. Also it is sometimes difficult to determine the actual breed of a dog. Communities who try to ban specific dog breeds for public safety will find it difficult to define the parameters of what constitutes that breed.

Several factors interact with the dog to enhance the possibility of a human being attacked by a dog besides the breed of the dog. These factors include heredity, sex, early experience, socialization, training, health, reprodcutive status, quality of ownership and victum behavior. Additionally, this study did not look at intervening variable such as was the dog protecting his owner from serious harm or death or was the dog actually protecting himself from serious harm or death.

Male dogs are 6.2 times more likely to bite then female dogs. Sexually intact dogs,both male and female, are 2.6 more times likely to bite than neutered dogs and chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite then unchained dogs.

One suprising conclusion of several studies is the fact that many varieties of dogs have been involved in a fatal human attack for one reason or another. Topping the list of deaths by dog in a twenty year period is the Pit Bull and Pit Bull mix at 66 human deaths. The Rottweiler and Rottweiler mix was responsibe for 39 human deaths. The German Shepherd dog and mix were responsible for 17 human deaths. The Husky type dog was responsible for 15 human deaths as was the Malamute responsible for 12 human deaths. The Chow Chow was responsible for 8 deaths while the Doberman was responsible for 9 human deaths. The Saint Bernard was responsible for 7 human deaths and the Great Dane was also responsible for 7 deaths. The Akita killed 4 people, the Bulldog 2, the Mastiff 2, the Boxer 2 and believe it or not the Labrador Retriever was responsible for 1 death while Lab mixes were responsible for 4 deaths. The following dogs were responsible for killing one human each during these twenty years: The Bullmastiff, Cheasapeake Bay Retriever, West Highland Terrier, Japanese Hunting Dog, Newfoundland, Coonhound, Sheepdog, Rhodesian Ridgeback and cocker Spaniel.

The conclusion that I make from this study is that almost any dog of size can be dangerous, particularly to children. Dogs must be properly trained, supervised, and care must be taken when choosing a breed with the propensity to be aggressive. Most important, keep young children away from male, sexually intact, chained dogs.

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offeres information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.

Each year, nearly 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. As many as 800,000 people, require medical attention for dog bites annually, and about a dozen people die each year from dog bite injuries. The good news is that most bites can be prevented. All dogs should be treated with the utmost caution; every dog will bite given the right circumstances. Each dog has its own distinct social and personal distance that a stranger is permitted to enter. This is why dogs that are tied may bite or snap when approached; they are unable to escape when there is a sudden invasion of their personal space. Always pay attention to signals given off by all dogs.

by This Year’s Love

Never assume that because a dog’s tail is wagging that he will not bite. It can mean indecision on the dog’s part. If a dog is chasing you, never run unless you can beat the dog to a safe haven. Running is a sure way to aggravate an attack, so if you see a dog wandering loose without an owner and it approaches you, do not run away, yell or make loud noises. Stand very still like a tree and cross your arms over your chest, as if you are giving yourself a great, big hug. (This shape forms the trunk of your tree.) Look away from the dog, because dogs sometimes think direct eye contact is a challenge for power and control. Your intention is not to challenge the dog. Instead you just want the dog to go away. Toss an object away from you and away from the dog. This should attract its attention toward the object and away from you. The dog should move toward the thrown object to sniff and investigate it, which will give you a chance to slowly, turn and walk away. All stray dog encounters does not have to end in a bite.

If you believe that a dog is going to attack you, offer it whatever you have with you, whether it is a clipboard, briefcase, or purse. If the dog is truly aggressive he will grab the object and hold on. As the dog holds on do not let go of the object, if you do he will soon realize that it is not you and will more than likely attack again. Normally, once the dog realizes that he is having little or no effect, he will stop the attack, or at the very least, give you time to plan your next move. You should only strike the dog as a last resort. Inflicting pain on the dog can only make him more aggressive, as he will identify you as the source of his pain. If you happen to be knocked to the ground, remain motionless in the fetal position, and protect your face by crossing your arms above your head. It is also important to remember that turning and running are signals for a dog to chase and attack. Most people are bitten moving away from a dog when they turn to run. Dogs are usually less aggressive on neutral ground, so it is important to gradually increase the distance from where the dog lives, if that is where the encounter occurred. Sometimes all efforts to resolve a stand off with dog fail and the unfortunate happens.

If a dog that may attack you approaches, first follow some simple steps to avoid being bitten. If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try not to panic. Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water. Contact your physician for additional care and advice. Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency. Tell the animal control official everything you know about the dog, including his owner’s name and the address where he lives. If the dog is a stray, tell the animal control official what the dog looks like, where you saw him, whether you’ve seen him before, and in which direction he went.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director of Repeller Technology, provides self-defense and safety products, tips and advice to fit most situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today at: Repeller Technology.