Are you against animals abuse?

The least one can do is sign a petition
http://www.causes.com/actions/1729388-report-any-mistreatment-of-animals-right-away?ctm=more_from_cause

Herder Gina in February snow.

     Final snow in late February. A day in our kennel club at Kosmaj mountain near Belgrade.
kosmaj-dog.com

Alpha dogs

Dogs on Duty

Special Forces blue team's dog sits to indicate it has located explosives during a training drill at Vohne Liche Kennels. (View larger version)

Photograph by Schweet Entertainment / Tim Kasiewicz

By Jodi Kendall

Published Feb. 12, 2013

Dogs are trained for specific in-the-field jobs including sniffing out bombs, recovering cadavers, protecting police and military, enforcing anti-terrorism initiatives, locating missing persons, detecting forensic evidence and discovering hidden narcotics.anti

While these alpha dogs are often a Working Group breed, not every German Shepherd is a solid candidate. They must demonstrate the right drive, disposition, social skills, and nerve strength to handle the challenges that may come their way. Working dogs rise to the task, despite noise and fatigue. These brave animals are known to ignore personal injury – like cuts, scrapes and open wounds – in the line of duty. They not only persist through extreme temperatures but, with restricted scent, can successfully identify the odor of a cadaver.

According to Ann Christensen, National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) Canine Committee Chair, working dogs will persist despite rain, wind, lava rock, hot pavement, crowded cities and unstable buildings in order to complete the task at hand.

Canine Training

NASAR uses a lot of the same training methods that law enforcement might employ when teaching a dog to detect narcotics or explosives. "First, the dog is taught to recognize the target odor," Christensen says. "Then it is taught a final response or indication so the dog can tell the handler when it's been located. Training works on teaching the dog to search in various environments and around multiple distractions without losing focus." While many civilians train dogs with food rewards, Christensen prefers to reward with a toy, game of tug, or retrieve when they find what they are trained to locate. "Civilian handlers normally plan on about 500 hours of trained to get a dog trained, certified and ready for deployment," she explains. "But experienced trainers can do it in less time." Search and rescue dog teams are dispatched across the globe, with multiple teams throughout the United States and Canada.

Vohne Liche Kennels, a full service K-9 training facility founded by United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth Licklider two decades ago, has trained police and military service dogs for more than 5,000 law enforcement and government agencies. They train their dogs on a 600-plus acre property in Indiana, complete with an obstacle course and workout gym. Off-site training sessions include field trips to hotels, schools, impound lots and jails.

"Obedience is on and off lead to heal, sit, stay, come and down," says Licklider, of VLK training methods. Handlers maintain full control of the dog at all times, and use positive motivation techniques (like a toy) as an associate reward. They designed agility training to increase the animal's confidence in a myriad of environments, and apprehension is based on five phases of control. "Tracking [training] is based on following a combination of human skin cells and disturbed vegetation," Licklider explains. "We begin by tracking footsteps, but gradually encourage the dog to trail the suspect lifting their head, utilizing both ground and airborne scent. All substance detection is imprinted the same way with the dogs learning to locate a particular scent then respond passively. Building and Area searches teach the dogs to locate a suspect using airborne scent in a confined area whether it be inside a building or within a cordoned off perimeter."

Dogs in the Field

Kathy Holbert of West Virginia took her personal dog, Strega, as a civilian contractor to Iraq and Afghanistan from 2009-2010. Strega was one of the few human remains detection dogs, tasked with trying to recover missing United States military and civilians. Led by the promise of 'no one left behind,' Holbert and Strega entered into difficult and dangerous situations.

"The most memorable mission was a water search in the Morghab River, near the Turkmenistan border in Afghanistan, where two paratroopers had drowned trying to recover a miss[ed] drop of supplies," Holbert shared. "The recovery efforts were in a highly volatile area, where several other deaths had occurred trying to make recovery. One victim was recovered by a well-trained team of British divers before Strega arrived, quite a bit away from the entry point. The army command wanted to expand the search area based on that recovery, which would have exposed our troops to more danger." But Strega alerted on a hydraulic boil, and her consistent and confident alerts ultimately changed the search direction, and the diving team recovered the victims within days. Had they extended the search area as originally planned, the searchers would have been exposed to greater dangers – Strega's training and mission experience were a life-saving asset to the search and rescue team. "It is rare that a dog trained to find the dead ends up saving the living, but I feel that is exactly what we did there," says Holbert.

One Vohne Liche-trained canine located a missing three-year-old child in a cornfield during the freezing winter after all the other searchers had given up, and ultimately saved the child's life, while another one alerted military to the presence of explosives just prior to an assault team going through a door, saving the entire squad.

In a new series on the Nat Geo WILD, Alpha Dogs, camera crews follow Ken Licklider and his handlers as they work tirelessly to train dogs for police and military personnel across the globe. 

Source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/alpha-dogs/articles/dogs-on-duty/

Why the Dog Show Winner Looks Like a Monkey

Sharon Jacobs

for National Geographic News

Published February 16, 2013

Standing less than a foot tall and easily cradled in one of trainer Ernesto Lara's arms, Banana Joe made big news for a small dog when he became the first affenpinscher to win the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday.

His short stature and flattened face might not make Banana Joe look like a typical winner: The name "affenpinscher" is German for "monkey terrier," and its mug is definitely simian in appearance. Now this lesser known breed is basking in the spotlight, monkey face and all. (Read "How to Build a Dog" in National Geographicmagazine.)

Why the Flat Face?

People like dogs whose faces kind of look like people, with a squished-in nose and forward-facing eyes: Pekinese, bullmastiffs, and affenpinschers, to name a few. "It's mimicking the way humans appear," said Jeffrey Schoenebeck, a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health who has analyzed the development of shortened canine snouts. Several centuries ago, breeders probably sought out parents with a flat face. (Genetics note: Gene BMP3 likely contributes to a flat face in toy breeds.)

And so Banana Joe's mug reflects centuries of genetic manipulation. There's no advantage for the dog, Schoenebeck notes, except that humans would crave it more as a companion. (Related: Gallery of Dog Pictures.)

What About That Tongue?

Banana Joe sticks out his little pink tongue a lot. Maybe more than your run-of-the-mill canine. The reason may be the flat face. "There's probably less room in their mouth" for the tongue, said Schoenebeck. "It's hanging out."

Why so Small?

"The Affenpinscher comes from a terrier background," explained NIH senior staff scientist Heidi Parker, and like all terriers, it was bred to chase. The early affenpinschers' specialty was hunting down rats and other vermin for its owners. Breeding for a small size came later, as ladies started bringing affenpinschers into the home as lap dogs-and to keep away vermin that might otherwise hide in corners or under long skirts. Today's affenpinschers are in the 6-to-13 pound (3-to-6 kilogram) range.

But the dog's size hasn't given it an inferiority complex. "Most of these little guys do not realize they're as small as they are," Parker says. Toy dogs have been known to chase birds and other animals that rival them in size.

What Comes After Westminster?

Dog lovers may crave an affenpinscher. And that could cause problems if breeders try to produce more pups.

"You'll see some breeds go through sudden explosions, where they'll go from small numbers to really large numbers," says Parker. "Usually that means an increase in genetic diseases." There aren't a lot of potential parents for a purebred litter, so the odds of inbreeding, and its related diseases, go up.

And What About Banana Joe?

Now that he's made us aware of his breed, Banana Joe will retire from competition and live with his Dutch owner, free to fulfill his heritage as a lap dog.

Buying a Puppy - Things to Consider

By Maya Pillai

It goes without saying that a dog is man's best and loyal friend. Owning a dog can be a great experience. However, remember, bringing home a puppy is a commitment. Therefore this is one decision that needs to be taken after thinking over the pros and cons.

Things you Need to Consider before Buying a Dog

Is this breed for you? - Is there a breed you want to own or are you confused about choosing a right dog? It is always better to do your homework before you zero in on a dog. You have to make sure that this breed is the right one for you and your family. For instance, if you fell in love with a bearded collie, you have to think whether you have to brush its coat everyday. If you have a busy life style, then it is better to go for a short coated dog. You cannot keep a Golden Retriever or a Labrador in a flat or a studio apartment. These dogs need a lot of space and exercising ground. Take these factors into consideration before you choose a breed.

The financial aspects - The puppy is a member of your family. It means you should be able to meet his expenses. You should be able to afford its food and timely vaccination. When you are on a vacation, you should be willing to take it along with you else's put it in a good and responsible shelter home. Evaluate your budget before you settle in for a dog. Remember dog ownership means responsibility. Check the cost and the expenses that you would have to incur online.

You as a dog owner and your neighbors - Be aware of your responsibilities towards your immediate neighbors and to those who live in the local community. It is worth mentioning that dogs can be a bundle of joy but excessive barking can be annoying not only to you but also for your neighbor. While exercising the dog keep her/him on the leash. This will give you a control over the dog. To keep the environment clean, remember to pick up after your dog.

Obedience training is mandatory - Obedience training is a must to house break your puppy. The dog has to answer your commands. There is nothing more frustrating than a disobedient dog. As a dog owner you should be willing to work with dog systematically if you want a well-behaved dog. You can find the addresses of the trainers from the various online classified sites.

If you are planning to buy a pure breed, pick it up from a responsible breeder. Ask him all the doubts and queries you have about the breed. He would be more than willing to answer your questions. You can also enroll in your local American Kennel Club to know more about dogs.

Visit http://everydayyardsale.com/blog/ for more interesting and informative articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maya_Pillai

Dogs & poetry

     Our pets inspire us even for writing poems. Here is a photo that a lot of people liked. The poem with this photo is in Russian. Rather unexpectedly for myself I made an English version of the poem for more people can read it. These words are so sincere and full of love!

I love you more than a sky,

Than stars that bright in the height.

I miss you when you are away.

And hope that you feel the same.

Я люблю тебя больше неба,
Больше звезд, что горят в вышине.
И когда тебя рядом нету
Я скучаю. А ты по мне?

Be critical with dog food you buy.

Hartz Recalls Contaminated Dog Treats

by MIKE SAGMAN

January 25, 2013 — The Hartz Mountain Corporation of Secaucus, New Jersey, has announced it is voluntarily withdrawing its Hartz Chicken Chews and Hartz Oinkies Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken for dogs in the United States because they contain trace amounts of antibiotic residue.

Hartz is taking this action after recent testing found trace amounts of illegal antibiotic residue in samples of the affected dog treats.

These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other countries but not in the U.S.

What’s Being Recalled?

All Hartz® Chicken Chews™ Soft and Tenders:

§  3.5 oz package

§  8 oz package

§  16 oz package

§  24 oz package

§  20 oz package

All Hartz® Chicken Chews™ Soft and Tender Bite Sized:

§  5.7 oz package

§  16 oz package

§  16 oz package

All Hartz® Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken

§  20 pack Pig Skin Twist Sticks

§  7 pack Mini Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken

§  15 pack Mini Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken

§  5 pack Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken

No other Hartz products are affected by the withdrawal.

What to Do?

If you have these products contact Hartz Consumer Affairs at 800-275-1414.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Get Critical Dog Food Recall Alerts
Delivered to You by Email

Get dog food recall alerts delivered right to your Inbox the moment we become aware of them. Subscribe to The Dog Food Advisor’s Dog Food Recall Alert email notification list now.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/hartz-recalls-dog-treats/ https://twitter.com/HelpAnimals?uid=806835451&iid=am-130280753913609792787917009&nid=23+112