DOGGIE DOG BLOG

Posted by: David Harris

Written by: David Harris

Observation is key to survival.  Dogs are keen observers of human behavior and are keenly aware of their environment and all that moves about them.

Unfortunately, some humans seem oblivious to their environment.  I suspect that sensory overload may play a big role in this.  We are constantly bombarded by information and stimulus from all sides. Cell phones, Computers, T. V., Radio, I-Pods, and just the everyday constant noise and visual stimulus of life.

But, observation is a critical component of successful human/canine interactions.  Without close observation of your dog’s behavior you will miss many of the cues they are trying to give you that tells about their condition, both mentally and physically.  If you watch, you will see a wide range of behaviors that you never noticed before and that information will open up a wide range of opportunities to improve on your communication skills with your canine companion.

And because dogs cannot speak for themselves it is critically important that we are ever vigilant in our care for them.  You should make it a habit to notice your dog’s habits since changes in those habits can indicate signs of well being.  Eating is the most obvious.  If your dog is a strong eater and suddenly doesn’t eat you should be aware of that and be on high alert for the cause.  By noticing early that something is amiss you will have a better chance of avoiding an emergency a few days later.  Another habit I would suggest developing is looking into your dog’s mouth.  Over my years in the animal care industry I cannot tell you how many times I have discovered problems with a customer’s dog’s teeth, items lodged in their pet’s mouth, sores or an abscess that the owner never noticed because they were not observant of their dog.  They noticed a smell or noticed the dog not eating so well, but were not vigilant in seeking out the cause because their dog’s normal behavior wasn’t something they were focused on.

I recommend that you put your hands on your dog at least once per week and make an attempt to touch every square inch of him.  Slowly move you hands across applying gentle, but firm pressure.  Become familiar with all the parts of your dog.  It may save their life someday and will also go long way in deepening the bond we all hope to have with our pets.

If you have questions or comments please feel free to write.

David Harris
Owner
Animal Resorts & Training Center
www.animalresortstc.com
 
Developer & Writer
www.doggiedogblog.com
 
502-223-5208 Kennel
502-542-9747 Mobil