How Dogs Can Teach Us To Be Better Humans!

For those of you who are cable subscribers, you might be familiar with a show entitled "Animal Planet." It
features all things fin, foul, mammal, and reptile. One of the featured programs on the network is Animal
Precinct. This is the mammalian version of the program "Cops." Cameramen ride with law enforcement officials who are responsible for enforcing animal cruelty laws.

And, like cops, they have the power to arrest and detain people who do not meet the requirements for the proper care and feeding of the animals in their charge. Punishment can range anywhere from fines to a number of years behind bars. Some examples of "man's inhumanity to animals" featured the officers breaking up a Pitbull fighting ring.

A man in New York who let his Rot Weiller starve to death. Further acts of repulsive human behavior
involved an individual who beat a German Shepard to death with a tree stump. The program, at times, is hard to watch. I find myself welling up with emotion every time they find another starving and abused animal.

I don't think that I could compose myself in the calm and professional manner that the officers display when they confront an offender. I do not suffer fools lightly when it comes to the abuse of animals.
The only pleasure I can derive from the program can be summed up with one word - hope! Most of the "creature features" responded to medical attention, or, were adopted out to people who could give them the love and care that they deserve.

Take the case of a Cocker Spaniel, given the name "Maggie" by one of the officers. Maggie was found
tied to a pole in a borough of New York City in the middle of winter. Upon closer inspection it was
discovered that her left eye had swollen to the size of a golf ball.

When they got her to the veterinarian, they found that the eye could not be saved and had to be
removed. Adding insult to injury, she also had cancerous tumors in her stomach. You would think that with only one eye, and having major surgery, that Maggie would not be an ideal candidate for adoption. But, this is a story with a much happier ending then you think. A woman from Manhattan adopted the Dog, not only for her, but as a companion for another Dog that she also owned.

She mentioned that Maggie, renamed "Honey," was very friendly and affectionate despite her ordeal.
It made me think of a Rudyard Kipling quote..

"There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog." Rudyard Kipling..

Honey's plight also served as an epiphany of sorts. Even though this dog had been through the worst,
she still looked for approval and affection from their human counterparts. I also realized how these innocent creatures should remind us of a simple biblical lesson. "Forgive those who have trespassed against us".

As human beings, we should have an infinite capacity to grant absolution. I realize that some of us have experienced trauma in our lives that has rendered our ability to forgive permanently "broken". However, most of us will never experience such trauma, or endure the type of physical cruelty that
some animals go through on a daily basis.

Yet, a simple misunderstanding among friends or family, can render us incommunicado with them for months, and sometimes, even years. Our pride can prevent us from bestowing a simple apology. Our jealously can make us sick with envoy over someone else's good fortune. Our human frailties are endless.

I think of my own dog, and how unpretentious she is in her day to day life. She holds no grudge,
does not care how much money I have, or the car I drive. She is always happy to go for walk, and
is never embarrassed to be seen with me! If only we could be so free and forgiving. Our pride and prejudices go by the way side, we could improve our relationships with people, and forgive the imperfections of others.

We all could learn a lot from a truly faithful dog..

Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus product specialist. He is the author of www.productsforresale.com “The Ultimate Guide To Products for Resale!” Over 600 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 230 page ebook at: www.productsforresale.com

Dog Breeds - Which Are Better For Watch Dogs

Dog Breeds differ with different characteristics that are strong with each breed. For example, not all Dogs are good for hunting. Not all Dogs are good for home companionship. Likewise, not all dogs breeds are good for watch dogs. Did you know their is a difference between a watch dog and an guard dog? A watch dog will bark to alert the owners of an intruder. It is also an attempt to scare off intruders. This is were the usefulness of an watch dog stops. A guard dog will do the same as a watch dog and bark, but the guard dog will take it a little further. A guard dog might be trained to restrain or attack intruders. The guard dog is often large and strong enough to attack and drive away a predator. But, often times guard dogs are simply trained to restrain an intruder with his owner's guidance. Be careful of your local laws as a guard dog could get you in trouble if it does attack someone.

If your looking for a guard dog here are three dog breeds that I would recommend.

1. Rottweilers - This dog started as just a farm dog but over the years of breeding they have developed into very strong guard dogs. Rottweilers are sometimes good around children so make sure they are well trained and acclimated to an environment for children.

2. German Shepards - Very strong breed that has been breeded just for a guard dog role. Germain shepards are not for inexperienced owners and should not be around children.

3. Doberman Pinscher - Another very strong breed. Doberman Pinschers were also breed just for the role of a guard dog. They are very aggressive and dominant of their surroundings. Once again this breed is not for inexperienced owners and should be handled with care.

As for watch dogs you have a lot of choices. Here are 3 of my best choices for watch dogs.

1. French bulldog - The French bulldog in not a great barker, but it will certainly alert the family to approaching people. A natural guardian, the Frenchie is devoted its master.

2. Boston terrier - Small, muscular and compact, the Boston terrier is one of the few truly American breeds. They are gentle, friendly dogs that are protective of family and home. Most have a good bark to alert people when strangers approach.

3. Chihuahua - The Chihuahua is a small dog with a big bark. It will bark vigorously, as if they are trying to make up for being just 6 to 9 inches tall and weighing under 5 pounds. They make sure you know when someone's approaching the house.

Their are many more choices of watch dogs to choose from but these are my best choices.

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Becoming A Better Dog Owner Through A Dog Whisperer

A Dog whisperer is someone that claims to have the ability to communicate with Dogs at a level that a common person can't. They can give you insight into your Dog's behavioral problems and help you and your Dog co-exist in the same home. The recent phenomenon is the result of countless appearances on daytime television like Oprah Winfrey, late night shows like Conan O'Brien, plus celebrity whisperers on cable television like Cesar Millan from National Geographic. Cesar has been referred to as the "Dr. Phil of dogs" and is known to come into a family and mediate whatever troubling issues exist between the family and their dog. It's his goal to get the family and dog to co-exist happily and problem free. Cesar often jokes that he rehabilitates dogs and trains people.

A dog whisperer tends to communicate with dogs just like a dog. People make an all too common mistake of trying to employ human psychology with their dog. For instance, we are taught that shouting is a way to get the attention of another person, and this is correct. Who doesn't turn their head or pay attention whenever someone shouts? A dog doesn't know this. They will either ignore you all together or be frightened and confused by your loud voice. The worst part is they have no understanding as to why you are yelling so you aren't successfully modifying their behavior.

Some people think it is a joke or some kind of sensationalized overly-priced hoax. While there are a number of showbiz trainers that claim dogs communicate specific thoughts and feelings to them, one shouldn't automatically frown upon a the whisperer. We can actually learn a lot from how a theyr approaches a situation. One being that they treat dogs like dogs and use a dog "pack" philosophy to reverse negative dog behavior. This is commonly referred to as "alpha dog training".

They use this method of training whenever they enter a home where an undisciplined dog is running the show. The alpha dog training places the human as the leader of the pack, establishing the dog as a follower. Troubled dogs often believe that everything revolves around them and feel like they can do whatever they please around the house. They will teach the dog owner that he or she must become the Alpha of the household for their dog to fully understand who is in charge, whose commands they listen to and what is expected of them. This way your dog reverses behavior that is a nuisance or danger to others like biting, growling and barking. It also works with things that are dangerous to the dog itself like chewing on electrical chords, getting into the garbage for scraps or running out the front door. Not to mention typical issues like potty training.

So, next time you are watching them on television, remember that while some things are likely pure entertainment, there are still lessons to be learned from the dog whisperers interaction with the dog.

Scott Jackson has been in the Pet Industry for over ten years. He has managed large Pet Specialty Retail stores and has worked as a distributor rep in the pet industry. He is a pet owner and lover who has extensive knowledge in pet nutrition and care. He runs a website http://www.coloradopetresources.com and http://www.dogandcatarticles.com where he gives information on pet care, location of Colorado independent pet retailers, vets, breeders and a general meeting place for pet lovers.

Visit http://www.coloradopetresources.com and find the information you need.