…boys toys!

Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category

I’ve talked a bit recently about the new puppy and the ensuing training – here’s my copy of Cesar Millan’s “How to Raise the Perfect Dog”, the second of the two of his books I bought recently, as I found it this morning… I love the irony of the ‘crime’….

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I wrote recently about having bought a couple of Cesar Millan books. Prompted by the arrival of a new dog in the house – we decided we really needed to get the new boy off to a good start and iron out a few (thankfully) minor discrepancies in our existing boy!

Well, I’ve just read the first of the two books we bought – Cesar’s Way – and we’ve also watched the entire first series of The Dog Whisperer as I’ve been reading the book. To be honest I found both the book and the TV series a bit repetitive – not necessarily a bad thing, as there is a simple philosophy behind everything he says. It’s really simple! The repetitive nature of both the book and the series sure makes the basic principles sink in… Read the rest of this entry »

Well the big day arrived and the new puppy has been to the vets and had his testicles unceremoniously removed. Poor guy! But I can’t helped being somewhat amused by the fact that with the protective cone on his head he doesn’t seem to realize how much wider he has suddenly become and keeps getting caught up on doors, corners and when passing sofas…

So – why should you neuter a dog?

Here’s the advantages…

• The dog will be healthier due to lower testosterone levels
• The dog will exhibit fewer territorial behaviours, including aggression
• A neutered dog is less likely to wander
• A neutered dog cannot produce offspring
• A pure bred neutered dog is less attractive to thieves

And to my mind there’s only one disadvantage…

• Surgical risk – as with people the general anaesthetic presents an inherent (very small) risk

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Well – I’ve written a bit recently about the new puppy that joined our family. Now the dreaded hour his here. Tomorrow at 9am he will be separated from his testicles. In some ways it’s a bit sad that being a pure bred Labrador we won’t be breeding him at least once. But from past experience I think it does help calm dogs down as they say, and reduces the risks of them becoming wanderers… Added to that, where we live there are to many strays and muts in need of help it seems wrong to potentially add more into the local population.

I don’t think they take it personally. How can they, they’re dogs not people! But there is always something hard about one male (of any species) doing this to another. I can’t help feel a little bad about it, even if it is the right thing to do… Read the rest of this entry »

Playing hide and seek with a polar bear looks like fun doesn’t it?

Maybe it is – until the polar bear catches you… Read the rest of this entry »