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The Black Dog Still Barks

2011 January 24
by Admin

At first glance, it appears that he was born with all the advantages. Certainly he was born into wealth and prominence. He was, after all, born at Blenheim Palace and was a descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. He has a politician-father, Lord Randolph, the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough. His mother was Jennie Jerome (ne Jeanette Jerome) of Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of American millionaire Leonard Jerome. It is not surprising that he would do well in the world of politics with all these advantages political, social, and even financial advantages.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a British politician and is best remembered as Britain’s Prime Minister who tool over after the fall of Neville Chamberlain in May 1940. He was Britain’s prime minister throughout World War II and stepped down shortly after the victory against Germany. Sir Winston Churchill was elected twice as Prime Minister of Great Britain. He was in some way involved in British public life for sixty years. However, he is mostly remembered for his outstanding leadership during World War II. He was also awarded the Noble Prize for Literature in 1953.

Although Churchill gained tremendous popularity during World War II, Sir Winston had to go another war…he waged war against depression.

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. Like Churchill, there are more than 20 million people in the United States who are afflicted with depression, a morose feeling that does not seem to go away. It’s more than just a feeling of being blue or empty for a few days. Symptoms of depression persist and interfere with everyday life.

Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder but also on other people around them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary.

Depression can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women. However, not everyone who is depressed or manic-depressive experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, while some can suffer from all the manifestations of clinical sadness. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time. These are some of the more common symptoms of this disease:

Sadness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Weight loss
Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
Energy loss
Feelings of worthlessness
Thoughts of death or suicide

Churchill admitted that he had gone through those symptoms. He even coined the term Black Dog for his own struggle with depression. So what’s with a dog? The dog and man have a long and complex history of interaction. In both classical and contemporary iconography and symbolisms, such as in art, literature, popular culture and the images of ancient mythologies, a myriad of canine incarnations appear as figures whose presence resonates with a significance beyond the contours of their physical form.

Through representations of classical mythology, dogs menace, pollute, and patrol borders, both earthly and supernatural. Still, dogs are also reconized for their ability to protect and act as symbols of loyalty and fidelity. In a modern setting, people use dogs to coin a variety of phrases with different meanings. These phrases are include we let sleeping dogs lie… we go to the dogs or die like a dog… we dog someone at every turn or compete in a dog-eat-dog environment. And when we put a name to our depression such as black dog, it only means that our sadness always lurks behind us, clinging tenaciously at our backs. Churchill drew upon this image to conceptualize his own struggle with depression, and it is with him that the metaphor is generally attributed to.

In Australia, there is an research facility that was inspired from Churchill’s metaphor. The facility, which also serves as an educational institution in a community setting, is called The Black Dog Institute. It offers specialist expertise in mood disorders that include depression and Bipolar Disorder (formerly called manic depression). The Institute is attached to the Prince of Wales Hospital and affiliated with the University of New South Wales. The logo of the Black Dog Institute refers to and respects Churchill’s symbol of his own depression.

Fortunately, unlike Churchill’s time, there are effective treatments for overcoming depression, including antidepressant prescriptions, counseling, or talk therapy. Most people do best by using a combination of two or more treatment methods. The most important thing that anyone can do for the depressed person is to help him or her get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment, which are the only means to have an effective and immediate recovery. The second best thing is to offer emotional support. This involves giving the depressed person a lot of understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement.

The logo of the Black Dog Institute is a victory sign that has a shadow of a figure of a black dog. It provides a metaphor for a disorder that is constantly lurking in the background. It acknowledges that depression can indeed shadow the sufferer, even when the mood is upbeat and victorious. Just as Churchill’s sign proved stronger than the evil it opposed, the logo carries the suggestion that the positive should and still be more powerful than the negative.

The Working Dogs

2011 January 17
by Admin

The following dog types are commonly available for adoption in rescue homes and animal shelters:

Sporting Dogs Dogs that are largely used as sporting dogs breeds are the spaniels, pointers, setters and retrievers. Sporting dogs is a product of years of breeding to come out with dogs that work closely with their owners and are comfortable on land, and is not intimidated by water. Sporting dogs also called gun dogs are popular for their ability to work with other dogs. They excel in outdoor activities as they are bred for hunting. Sporting dogs are loyal and friendly. They love interacting and playing with the whole family and are protective with children. Another endearing quality of the sporting dog is being affectionate and gentle.

Herding Dogs Are also known as pastoral or working dogs. These dog breeds are trained to work with other animals. Some herding dogs work well with most animals while other breeds are trained over generations to work with specific groups of animals making them adapted to specific animal traits enhancing their ability to the animal group that they are working on. Typically, animals that sporting dogs works best are sheep, cattle, deer, goats, and poultry. Herding dogs generally are intelligent animals. Their ability to follow commands is renowned all over the world. Herding dogs makes good family pets. However, they are most happy when they are used as workers. That is the purpose of their breeding and they are seldom happy when inactive. Herding dogs are very lively and strong and need a lot of exercise and activity. Some of the most popular breed of herding dogs are the Coolie, Shepherd, Kelpie, Sheepdog, Herder, Corgi and Terriers.

Hound Dogs Hound dogs are also sporting dogs although its main purpose is to track their prey. Different from sporting dogs, hound dogs do not raise their tail to the direction of the prey like pointers nor do they kill them like retrievers. Instead they assist hunters by chasing the prey using their scant and sight. There are variations of hound dogs. The most popular are the Scent Dogs and the Sight Dogs.

The Scent Dogs We all know that dogs have superior ability to smell and distinguish scents. Scent dogs though are on the top of the list for using their have spectacular sense of smell that enables them to track their prey several miles away. Scent dogs have droopy ears and long moist noses and lips that traps more scent particles that in turn enhance their sense of smell.

The Sight Dogs Are agile and have the endurance to track down and chase their prey. Unlike sight hounds, these dog breeds use their superior ability to spot even small moving objects from a good distance. Sight hounds are fast runners. Because of that, they are characterized by highly flexible spines, deep chest, and big lungs and have very nimble bodies.

Non-sporting dogs Are dogs that were previously bred for specific tasks. As times changed, so did their duties and purpose. There is no definite category for these dog breeds except that over the years their function were deemed less important than the general value that they serve whether as pets, entertainers, companions, guardians etc. Generally these dogs have good appearance but because there is no particular breeding for purpose, non-sporting dogs are now what we may call an all-purpose dog that shares all the positive features found in all dog breeds but may have no particular outstanding trait.

The Right Questions to Ask in Order to Find the

2011 January 10
by Admin

The Right Questions to Ask in Order to Find the Best Pet Health Insurance

People are becoming more curious about the best pet health insurance. This is more true for those who treat their pets as family. And as you go about pet ownership, you will realize how expensive it can be to have you furry companions go through a periodic medical check up to ensure that they are at the top of their health all the time.

Once you start searching for the insurance companies, you will notice that you have so many to choose from. But do not take anything just because it seems to offer the best plans. You must do further research to be sure that you are getting into the real deal. Think about your pets. What do you think will be best for them?

And do not forget the most important rule when you are on the process of finding the right policy for your pet, ask questions. The process is similar to the steps you take when you avail insurance policies for yourself. You must choose the one that will be all worth it in the end. You must feel secure that your policy will take care of you if anything happens all of a sudden like an accident or certain illnesses.

Your role in determining what insurance will work best for your pets is to ask the right questions. If you have no idea on how to go about it, you can start with these selections.

1. Can I avail the service of my chosen vet? Different companies will have different answers to this one depending on their rules and the policy that you will be getting. It is important to know at first hand that when an accident happen, you can bring your pet to the nearest vet and not worry about if they are affiliated with the insurance company or not. But if it is okay with you that the company has a list of service providers, then you must get a copy of that list. This way, you will know where to run once an unexpected incident happen to you pet.

2. Do I need to get a comprehensive plan or a discount insurance plan? This will very much depend on your budget. The comprehensive insurance plan works more like the health insurance of humans. Whereas a discount plan will require you to pay annual fees and you will only avail of discount services with regards to pets and other related examinations.

3. Is there any exclusion to the plan? The answer to this will depend on the insurance company. But the most common exclusions include pre-existing health conditions as well as hereditary defects of your pets. So you have to tell them the exact situation of your furry friend. This way, they will be able to present to you what they deem will suit your pet the best way possible.

4. Are there any deductibles that I have to pay? This will depend on the plan that you will be getting. The deductible is the first payment that you have to give before you can utilize the policy. The smaller this is, the higher your premium will be. But this must be decided according to what you can afford. So look at your budget closely and allocate for such fund wisely.

By asking around the right questions, in time, you will be able to find the best pet health insurance that will perfectly fit on your pet’s needs and on your budget.

The Key To Dog Obedience

2011 January 3
by Admin

For most people, dog obedience training is a difficult process. Well, it could be if you don’t know the proper way to do it. Take note that it can also be stressful on the part of your dog and therefore the speed of his learning process will totally depend on how you execute the training.

Dog Obedience Training Defined

The human-dog relationship is something that needs to be enhanced. You should have a healthy relationship in the household so that both of you will feel secured. This training covers a lot of techniques and among them are positive reinforcement, clicker training, dog whispering, collar and leash, marker training, reward training, and a lot others. Whether you plan to do it yourself or hire a professional, the main goals should be achieved.

The main goals that have to be attained during the training include a clear line of communication between you and your pet, strengthen your ties, and spend more quality time with each other. Most behavioral problems such as digging, chewing, excessive barking, jumping up, and many others are likewise resolved through proper training.

The training itself is composed of boundaries or rules which aim to educate your dog to become a responsible member of your household and be in control of his behavior. Basically, he will not be solely confined at home. There will be times when he will be taken out for a walk and it will not help if he will be unruly. Like human beings, dogs should be taught good manners. He should know how to properly behave in certain situations, at any given place, and at any given time.

The Benefits of Obedience Training

Training the dog to be obedient is one prime way to enjoy the company of your dog and one that will surely benefit you in the years to come. Here are a couple of advantages that you will definitely be happy about.

The training will make life simple for your dog. It means his confusions will be eliminated and he will be more aware of his good and bad behavior.

It is a rewarding experience. During the training, your dog will have fun learning. If you will do it by yourself, it is likewise your best chance to spend quality time with him.

A trained dog is a confident and happy dog. He is then a pleasurable creature to have around.

The dog will have more freedom. A trained dog can be left alone unsupervised because you are confident he will not be causing nuisance in your place.

A dog that has gone through obedience training is safer. He will not threaten other people and animals around him.

You will be able to respect your dog just like a true family member and companion.

Overall, the dog obedience training process may take time and it requires you to be really patient at all times. So always be consistent and don’t fall short of rewards and praises as well as punishments whenever necessary.

Tatty elder dog

2010 December 27
by Admin

A sleepy, tatty elder dog was resting in the shade beneath a window. a bug moved through the air around his nose and he moved a little, in his sleep, restlessly. He could distinguish people moving above him discussing and laughing and the passionate sound of the bodies moving together. He modified the posture of his old bones and realized the voices were more passionate.
yes yes!” the guy in the room above was murmuring eagerly. The dog discovered that this was the more satisfied gentleman he had known in a few months. Gradually all the whispers had sounded disillusioned and there had been discontented murmurings resonating around the space.
“Oh sweetheart” the woman whispered, “That was wonderful!” He heard the hands caressing each other. Both the man and the lady exhaled with pleasure and rested on the bed.
I was worried that this problem of impotence would go on forever.” The gentleman said, “But I discovered a supporter on the Internet, dear and made the decision to try it.”
“What is it?” she requested and the dog heard a container being passed across the room. “This,” said the gentleman, “Generic Viagra. I knew a website that illustrated my disorder of erectile dysfunction and it said that generic cialis or generic Viagra would assist me to get back on track so I decided to utilize it and I feel like an adolescent.” He was lazily caressing the woman’s arm and she moaned.
“You had better have another of these generic Viagra” she laughed, “I have missed this and want more!”.
“I don’t need to it is a long-lasting pill” he said and threw the packet aside and scooped her into his arms.
What he didn’t know was that the package fell near the dog, right next to the old dog’s leg. He touched the pills. He bore in mind that it had been a while since he had greeted and made the decision to see if he could share in some of this good sexy moment. In a gulp, he got the lozenges, packet and all and sat around to wait and enjoy the possibility of having sex again.
Half an hour later, he felt too excited and went to get the love of the little bulldog that lived next to his dog and sure enough, there she was. had a sniff and set about getting himself some of the action he had been listening to not half an hour before.
“Wellold dog, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but there is sexual desire certainly life in this old dog!”

Signing Up For Dog Obedience Classes: Some Things To Remember

2010 December 20
by Admin

Signing Up For Dog Obedience Classes: Some Things To Remember

Thinking about getting a new puppy or dog? If you are, then you might want to consider signing up for dog obedience classes, especially if you are a first-time dog owner at that. It’s fun to have a dog or puppy around, but that is if the one you got has good manners. Because if not, you might regret getting one in the first place.

So, when you bring home your new pet, make sure that you put enrolling in dog obedience classes on top of your priority to-do list. However, since there are lots of dog obedience schools offering this kind of classes, you must be keen in choosing the one that meets your requirements. So, when signing up for dog obedience classes, here are some things to remember.

First, look into the reputation of the dog obedience school offering dog training classes. Of course, the more popular the school is, the more reliable it could be. Try to ask from your neighbors for suggestions. Also, you can talk to friends, colleagues, and relatives who have already tried dog obedience classes for their pets. But the most reliable recommendation that you can get is from your local veterinarian. He/she knows where dogs can be trained well in your area, so check out the name he/she recommends.

Now, if you don’t anyone who can recommend you a reputable dog school, you can always rely on the Internet for information. Some dog obedience schools have already conquered the web to reach more potential clients. So, start doing your research online and check on the school’s feedbacks to know whether their services are good or not.

Next, see whether the trainers comprising the school have sincere love and attachment to dogs. This is a little difficult to determine because anybody can claim that he loves dogs and enjoys training them. So, how to know this? Try to observe the classes first. For example, if you have a friend who has a dog enrolled in one, you can always join them during sessions and note your observations. If the qualities of the trainer meet your requirements, then consider that school on top of your list.

And lastly, of course, you have to consider the cost of signing up in a dog obedience class. If your dog is a high-breed, the cost of getting one may already be high enough, much more if you start buying dog foods and bringing it to a veterinarian for some check-ups. So, ask yourself, can you still afford the cost that goes with training your dog or puppy? Before signing up, make sure that you inquire about this first because you might end up quitting the course just because you run out of budget.

So there you go. Now that you know all these, you’re off to getting the right dog obedience classes for you and your pet. Take note that a dog obedience class can very much help you teach your new dog some basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. Once your pet learns all these, you will have more control over it during social events.

So, never underestimate the significance of these classes for you and your dog.

Significant Information About Dog Obedience Training

2010 December 13
by Admin

A dog is one of the most amazing pets to have. Actually, it’s even considered as man’s best friend. Owning one has a lot of benefits. It does not only help guard one’s house but also makes a great companion. Even those couples that don’t have a child yet consider having a dog as their companion for the time being. A dog is just like a human being, and sometimes even better. It offers affection, enjoyment, and so much fun.

But since a dog is still an animal, most of the time it will still act like an animal, unless the owner allows it to have a dog obedience training of some sort. Now, if you happen to have a dog, are you also considering about getting it trained? If you are, this article will give you significant information about dog obedience training.

First off, you might wonder what dog obedience training is and what it is all about. Well, it is a technique on which a dog trainer helps you train your dog by imposing yourself as its boss. Actually sometimes, you can even do the training yourself, as long as you have the knowledge about the basic dog commands. But to be certain about getting effective results, you can always rely on a dog trainer to assist you on this.

Moving on, there are several dog obedience training techniques that can be used to make your pet a well-behaved one. These include the collar or leash training and the reward training. Although the approaches of these two are different, both are bound to set a common language on which you and your pet will understand.

The collar or leash dog obedience training is said to be the harder technique. Because of this, it is less popular to dog owners these days. However, for some breeds of dogs, this is found to be more effective than the rewarding type of training. As its name implies, a collar or leash serves as the way to communicate to a dog in the collar or leash dog obedience training. To have control over your pet, the collar or leash technique have multiple degrees, which can be from soft pulls of the leash or collar to stronger ones. This way, you are able to show your pet that you are the one handling the situation and that you are the leader.

Meanwhile, on the reward dog obedience training, instead of using leash or collar, reward is used to teach a few common commands to your dog. Once your pet is able to follow what you are trying to command it to do, you give reward such as a treat. However, a reward does not necessarily consist of treats alone. You can also use verbal praises like “Good boy, or good dog!” if it follows your command and behaves accordingly.

Now, upon learning about this dog obedience training information, are you all set to sign up for a dog obedience class? Remember, you will not be doing this for your pet alone, but also for you as its owner. So make sure that you choose the right dog obedience training technique for you and your pet.

Rehoming and Adult Dog

2010 December 6
by Admin

Puppies are a bundle of joy (and mayhem) and they are fun to be with. Not to mention, they are so darn cute that it is often hard to resist their charm. But, are they good for adoption? Not exactly. Adult dogs are the ideal choices.

Why You Should Choose An Adult Dog
You’ll have a much calmer, more behaved dog Ten to one, would-be dog owners prefer puppies for adoption based solely on their looks. What they do not know is that it is often very hard to keep up with puppies. They may look as cute as toys, but they are not. You just can’t send them off to their puppy houses when you dont feel like playing with them or turn them off just like you would a toy.

Adult dogs, on the other hand, are much easier to keep. They have outgrown the high energy craziness of puppies and they already know what are demanded of them. When adopting from a shelter or any rescue organizations, it is always advisable to go for the adult dogs, not the pups. Because adult dogs’ behavior are already ‘fixed’ to make them suitable for domestic environments.

Adult dogs are trained Most adult dogs in shelters are trained. They are housebroken and potty trained. Although there is always the possibility of bad behavior due to the history of ownership the dogs have. Some dogs were abused and maltreated before they were fostered by rescue groups. Be sure to ask about the dog’s history before adopting it.

Lesser medical expenses Adult dogs in shelters, on top of having received some training, have also received necessary medical attention. More often than not, they are already neutered or spayed, saving you a lot of money on surgical operations. They are also vaccinated. You can save further when you choose a dog that comes with a clean bill of health.

How To Integrate An Adult Dog Into A New Environment

Appropriate an adjustment period A healthy adult dog will have no problem adjusting to a new environment. Although, of course, you should expect an adjustment period before your new dog becomes very comfortable with his new surroundings and family.

He has had rough beginnings, which you should understand, will affect your future relationships. You should then be very careful of the first impressions you give him.

Be very patient Even well-trained dogs can commit accidents and mistakes in new environments. It is very possible for them to forget their training while in the shelter because there is simply not enough personnel to attend to their needs. You should prepare yourself for remedial housetraining.

Clarify your house rules Your new dog cannot guess which behavior is appropriate at your house and which are not. It will take some time before he fully understands that some behaviors that he used to have are no longer applicable and that new behaviors are needed to be formed.

Include your family in the training of your newly adopted dog It is very important to have common rules for handling the dog. Otherwise, your dog will be confused and problems could arise.

Private Jet Charter: Traveling with pets

2010 November 29
by Admin

Can’t bear to leave the family pet in a kennel and don’t want your trusted companion stuck in commercial’s cargo section? No need to worry. One benefit of private jet travel is the opportunity to take the pride and joy of the family with you in the main cabin.

Despite the fact that pets are often considered members of the family, the FAA classifies pets as cargo. Generally this means they must be appropriately secured, most commonly in an animal carrier, during takeoff and landing for the safety to themselves and others. International travel poses additional procedures and restrictions, and these may differ from one country to another.

Prior to booking your flight, inform your charter operator if you plan to travel with your pet. They can check if there are any restrictions or requirements and ensure that the jet can accommodate your pet.

Some Helpful Tips:
If using a travel carrier for the first time, give your pet at least a month prior to your flight to become familiar with the carrier to minimize his or her stress during travel.
Talk with your veterinarian about prescription tranquilizers if you are considering sedating your pet during travel. Make sure to specify it is for air travel.
Bring along a confirmation of your pets immunization (to verify a clean bill of health).

Pets: How to Take Care of your Dog

2010 November 22
by Admin

The Bond that can come between a person and a dog can be extremely strong, especially if that bond had been strengthened living with each other for many years, I have personally cried after loosing our family dog that had been like a best friend to me from my birth till I as 15 years old, when he was hit by a car one morning.

Dogs serve many different needs for people. Some people get a dog because they are lonely and need a loyal friend or because they want a dog to protect the home. A dog that is taken good care of and given attention to regularly will give his life to help protect his home and his owner. For the blind a dog can be a pair of eyes to help them get around and for the police a dog can be an important tool and a loyal partner, with a nose that nothing can beat.

The first thing you need to know about taking care of a dog is that dogs need lots of exercise. This is the same for large dogs and small dogs. All dogs need to be let out at least once every 8 hours and should given at least a 20 minute walk to give the dog some fresh air, exercise and a chance to relieve themselves.

It is also important to play with the dog on a regular basis. This can mean going to the park on a weekend or day off and having a good game of fetch, tossing the ball around in your back yard or just wrestling on the ground with the dog, just make sure if you are ruff housing with a little dog that you dont accidentally hurt the dog. Playing with the dog for a half hour a day, is not only good for the dogs physical health but a dig that is played with regularly is mentally healthier and less likely to become a depressed dog, it also lowers your blood pressure as well and it will form an unbreakable bond between you and your pooch, which will extend to your family if you should start having one after having the dog.

What you feed your dog is very important to the dogs continued good health. The better dog foods will be marked for what are groups the food is appropriate for. Younger dogs need certain vitamins and minerals in larger amounts then an adult dog, and the same goes for an elderly dog they need more calcium in their food to help protect their bones and joints. Feeding your dog the wrong food can stunt the dog’s growth and opens the dog to a larger risk of surgery when they are older.

Just like a person a dog should be taken to the veterinarian’s office every 6 months, and must receive their shots every year. Regular checkups and vaccinations will also help assure that your dog grows to be an old happy dog.