FAQs
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Most frequently asked questions about Dogs
How well we have come to know our dogs. Their every mood & action from their puppy clumsiness to the dignity of age. Yet so often they show some behaviors that have us totally flummoxed. We are going to answer some of these most common questions asked so you can start getting to know your pup better –
How much better is my dog’s sense of smell than our own ?
Dogs' sense of smell overpowers our own by orders of magnitude—it's 10,000 to 100,000 times as acute, scientists say. they possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in us. And the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours.writes that while we might notice if our coffee has had a teaspoon of sugar added to it, a dog could detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth.
Why does my dog eat poop? Believe it or not but poop eating is normal for dogs & pups. There’s a scientific name for this habit— coprophagia (kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh). Studies have shown that there could be many reasons for dogs eating poop, it could be due to - boredom, anxiety driven, restrictive confinement, attention seeking, lack of proper nutrition or just a behavior issue. Most puppies grow out of this problem but for the others , the strategies that have helped is better training, strict supervision on walks, keeping their living area very clean, enzyme & vitamin supplementation & finally taste aversion products.
Why does my dog stare at me? “Looking into one another’s eyes can increase hormones associated with social bonding,” says Laurie Santos, director of the Yale University Center for Canine Cognition. Japanese researchers have found that the look shared between owner and dog can activate that same hormonal bonding response. (This was published in the journal Science in 2015.) This eye-to- eye connection between your dog and you can let your dog interact with you, like no other animal and strengthen the bond you share. But apart from this there could be two other reasons your dog is starting at you - It’s either they want something from you like a treat, walk, playtime etc or they are trying to gauge your body language to understand what mood you are in and if you need anything from them like while you are training them.
What are the maximum vocabulary words my dog can learn? According to the Scientists, an average dog can learn 165 words, including signals, and the extra smart ones (maybe, 20 percent or so) can learn 250 words. According to several experts , a dogs’ mental abilities are close to a human child aged 2 to 2.5 years. To help your sweet pup learn new words, acknowledge their achievements when they do what they are told to do. Showing him a ball while saying the word “ball” allows him to associate the 2. Also, for good results, always say your dog’s name first, then the word you are teaching him. But language skills aside, there is no animal that can read our non verbal cues better than our pups, they definitely have an amazing way of understanding us.
Why do dogs eat grass? Dogs love to eat grass but is it bad for them? According to vets some of the grass eating our pups do could be because of some diet deficiency but most often, your pups are munching mouthfuls of grass as it’s in their genetic makeup dating back to the time when they ran wild and hunted for their own food. Dogs are omnivorous and naturally crave the act of eating grass. Some pooches in fact just enjoy the texture & taste of the fresh grass coming out in spring. Grass eating could also be a sign of the dog relieving an upset stomach. Please consult the vet if you think your pup has consumed a toxic plant or grass sprayed with a lot of chemicals.
Why do dogs lick us?While we don't know for certain why dogs lick, most experts agree that there is probably a combination of reasons. Dog licking is an instinctive behaviour that dogs are born with. Canines lick each other as a submissive sign or when mothers clean and bond with their newborn pups. They probably also like the salty taste of our skin and as they lick us we know that happy endorphins are released into their bloodstream that soothes and calms them. And of course, the simplest reason we think our dogs lick us is to say “I love you” !
How can I stop my dog from barking? Barking is one of many forms of vocal communication for dogs. People are often pleased that their dog barks, because it alerts them to the approach of people to their home or it tells them there’s something that the dog wants or needs. However, sometimes a dog’s barking can be excessive. Because barking serves a variety of functions, you must identify its cause and your dog’s motivation for barking before you can treat a barking problem. Some of the common reasons why dogs bark are - Territorial barking, Alarm raising barking, Attention seeking barking, Greeting barking or barking due to frustration. Once the cause is identified and compulsion to bark identified a proper training protocol can be put in place and with consistent training this problem can be resolved.
What vaccinations Should my dog have?Just like vaccinations for humans, immunization shots for dogs fall into two categories: necessary and optional. While laws vary by state, dogs are usually required to have an annual rabies vaccine, to prevent the spread of this dangerous disease. The ASPCA includes the rabies vaccine as a part of the core vaccines: those recommended by most vets for ALL dogs. The other core vaccines are: Canine Parvovirus Distemper Virus Adenovirus-2 Non-Core, or optional vaccines, include Bordetella, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and canine influenza, among others. While these are optional legally, and may not be recommended for all dogs, most canine boarding facilities and dog parks require all visiting pups to receive Bordetella vaccines in addition to core vaccines at least once per year (some need Bordetella once every six months). Before bringing your dog to a daycare or dog park, be sure to go over the vaccination requirements, and talk to your vet about the best way to keep your dog safe from disease.
Should I brush my dog’s teeth?Absolutely you should be brushing your dog’s teeth. Doggie’s dental care is just as important as vaccinations or any other health safeguards we are putting in place. Dogs have teeth very similar to human teeth, susceptible to the same diseases. Unless you brush regularly, a sticky biofilm which is plaque forms a nasty fuzz over their teeth, causing odor. Tooth brushing is the most effective tool for decreasing plaque buildup before it mineralizes to tartar in 24-48 hours. Infection and inflammation in the mouth give nasty oral bacteria access to the bloodstream, infecting distant organs like the kidneys and heart valves therefore regular tooth brushing is most critical.
Does a dog’s wagging tail really mean that it’s happy? It's commonly believed that dogs wag their tails to convey that they are happy and friendly, but this isn't exactly true. … tail wagging can be due to several reasons. Dogs will wag their tail to convey a range of emotions: happiness, nervousness, feeling threatened, anxiety, submission and excitement. A curious dog who’s interested in its environment will often hold its tail straight out. An aggressive dog will often have a very stiff, vertical tail. Often in the parks while the dogs play or greet each other, their high tail will be wagging furiously - a fast paced wag will often mean a dog is happy or excited. A wagging tail is simply a sign of a dog interacting with its environment.