When It Comes to Your Dog, Size Matters

Dogs are man’s best friend, but many of them would like to eat the remote control. That’s because they’re active by nature, but they live with a TV addicted couch potato. This mismatch can make for a strained relationship - or a really miserable dog.

When bringing a dog into your home, you must consider the activity level that the dog needs to be physically and emotionally healthy. Some lazy adults think that if they only had a dog who needed walking twice daily, then they would get the exercise they’ve so carefully avoided for so many years.

Lazy people are not likely to change their habits enough to make a good fit between them and active dogs. It’s the dog that will suffer as the lazy owner slacks off on walking and the dog fails to get what he needs in regular outdoor time.

The amount of daily activity that a dog needs is not the same as exercise. Every dog needs time each day to walk, run, jump and unwind. That may come with a walk on the leash to the park or around the block.


Dogs are man’s best friend, but many of them would like to eat the remote control. That’s because they’re active by nature, but they live with a TV addicted couch potato. This mismatch can make for a strained relationship - or a really miserable dog.

When bringing a dog into your home, you must consider the activity level that the dog needs to be physically and emotionally healthy. Some lazy adults think that if they only had a dog who needed walking twice daily, then they would get the exercise they’ve so carefully avoided for so many years.

Lazy people are not likely to change their habits enough to make a good fit between them and active dogs. It’s the dog that will suffer as the lazy owner slacks off on walking and the dog fails to get what he needs in regular outdoor time.

The amount of daily activity that a dog needs is not the same as exercise. Every dog needs time each day to walk, run, jump and unwind. That may come with a walk on the leash to the park or around the block.

A dog that lives in a home with a fenced yard can enjoy free running and playing without the constraints of a leash. Older adults who have their own problems with mobility limitations need to choose a dog that requires less daily activity.

People who enjoy spending time outdoors for recreation or to unwind after a day at work are ideal owners for active dogs. Both owner and dog look forward to the end of the day, when they can play chase in the park or go for a run together.

Larger dogs tend to be more physically active. Among those are dogs whose heritage includes being working or hunting dogs. They have an innate desire to be busy and work off energy. Dogs such as Irish Setter, Doberman, Beagle, German Shepherd and Greyhound are built for movement and agility, so they naturally desire daily exercise.


Size can fool you as the extremely large dogs like the St. Bernard and Bull Mastiff, who can easily outweigh their owners, are low activity dogs. Even though you see the St. Bernard in movies rescuing the lost skier, what you miss is the rest of the time when the dog is sleeping in front of the fireplace.

Small dogs like Poodles, Pekinese and Chihuahuas can live in small spaces and forego the daily long walk in the park, but their high-strung temperaments cause them to be high in activity around the house.

Granted, their activity may be running aimlessly around the room, jumping on your guests or bouncing on you, but they do calm down when the energy burst is spent. That’s the point where the little dogs crawl back on your lap or on their plush pillow for a well-deserved nap to recharge.

There may seem like so much to know before buying a dog - and there is! By taking time to make a profile of the dog that best fits your living space, personality, and personal activity level, you’ll have a better match for a lasting relationship.

The Wednesday shout-outs: Good stuff, elsewhere

by Gina Spadafori

Honestly, I try not to think about the fact that day in and day out, the amount of work I have to do is … basically undo-able (and yet, it gets done). Every week I have to write/edit/coordinate the production of an entire newspaper page of content for our friends at Universal Press, write reviews for DogCars.com, blog in three places (including my “day job” work, which on Earth Day involved a post about … David Cassidy! Yes!) and keep moving forward on a half-dozen book projects at various stages, a dozen or so business proposals that keep trickling in, up to 10,000 e-mails a month and …

… uh … take care of pets, keep up with the laundry and remember to brush my teeth. Oh yeah, and plant a garden.

Not to mention, my doctor threatens to not refill my asthma meds if I don’t come in to see her soon. I like breathing, so I guess seeing the doctor for a long-overdue physical will have to move up on the priority list. And because I turned 50 last December, there’s some gastroenterology group leaving messages all over to schedule something I’m likewise in no hurry to get to, nuff said and puh-lease don’t send me icky warnings about colo-rectal cancer. I’ll get to it. This summer, after book deadline. I swear it. More

Barking Dogs Have Something to Say

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

April 22, 2008 -- The emotion conveyed by a dog's bark often seems obvious to its human companions, but new research shows just how clear the message can be -- at least, to other dogs.

The study presents the first concrete evidence that dogs can perceive the difference between barks arising from different situations.

While dog barking is hardly on par with human language in its complexity, experts now think it's clear that dogs are conveying their feelings to humans and other dogs.

Dogs "express basic emotions, and we have not yet found signs for more complex meanings, like 'this is the postman,' 'this is the bill collector,' 'this is the neighbor,' etc.," said co-author Peter Pongracz, who is a professor of animal behavior at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary.

"We might call this functionally referential communication, as we are able to tell what kind of situation could elicit a particular kind of barking," he added. More

Prior research conducted by Pongracz's team found that people could indeed distinguish between different types of barks. For decades, however, dog experts were stumped as to how to prove dogs could do the same thing.

For the new study, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, Pongracz and his team found a way to do just that.

The researchers first recruited pet dogs of various breeds from training schools, to serve as listeners. Next, the scientists made recordings of Hungarian Mudi dogs barking during two different situations. One set of recordings was made when a stranger entered the property where a given dog lived. The second set was made when the dogs were tethered to a tree and left alone. 

Traveling with Your Dog

The warm weather is upon us and people are starting to plan their vacations. Vacationing or just any travel with the pooches is easier than ever. Hotels and resorts are more and more accepting of the furry family members these days, which takes some of pre-departure stress out of your trip. Or if you aren't so lucky, learn to what to look for in a good boarding facility.

Pack the car and off we go! - If you and your pooch are planning on taking a long road trip anytime during the year, here are a few things you should know, and a few items you should definitely have in the car with you. If your pooch is not use to riding in the car take your dog for car rides before your trip just to get your dog use to riding in the car. Also bring bottled water

First Aid Kit - Something every vehicle should have, regardless of pets or children. In an emergency, you never what you will need, keep a fully stocked first aid kit in your vehicle at all times, since accidents can happen at any time.

Stuff You'll Need

Full water bottles - There's no guarrantee that you'll be able to stop along the road near clean water, and even an air-conditioned can make your dog thirsty on his trip. By keeping a water bottle or two full of drinkable water, you'll ensure that he has plenty of moisture. Also keep a bowl handy, as some dogs just will not drink from a bottle.

Extra food - If you don't bring your dog's regular food with you, you do run the risk of having to switch him to a different brand if what he is used to is unavailable wherever you are. This can stress out a dog's digestive system, giving him gas, diarrhea, or causing him to vomit, which makes for a very smelly ride.

His own blanket, or cuddly toy - A little comfort from home goes a long way, even if Mom and Dad are sitting in the front seat. Anxiety and stress can do funny (and smelly) things to a dog, like diarrhea, and nausea. Not pleasant to drive with.

Spare leash and collar - And keep it handy. Not only good for the dog, but a spare leash can used for many things, including tying a splint in place if somebody breaks a bone. And if you put two six foot leashes together, you'll have a twelve foot lead should you need to secure your dog to anything, for any length of time.

Vaccinate your dog - Rabies vaccine, which your dog should have anyway, but he needs it at least thirty days in advance of crossing the border from any side. Bordatella vaccines for Kennel Cough prevention, if you plan on boarding him at any time. This should be done at least 4 weeks in advance. Lyme Vaccine is recommended if you plan on entering an area where ticks are present.

Veterinary records - Simply because you never know when you might need them. They'll prove invaluable if you end up having to rush your pooch to the local veterinarian's office for whatever reason. And if you plan on leaving the country, a current statement of health will be needed, saying that your dog is free of any diseases and has had the current rabies vaccine.

Choosing the Right Veterinarian

Most new pet owners pick their veterinarians by looking through the phone book and calling up the one that's closest to their place of residence. And after a few appointments, if for any reason at all, the owner is uncomfortable with their new vet, be it for his manners or maybe the advice he gives just seems wrong, most will stick with the same doctor anyway. Few people think to change vets, fewer still think to take the time to find the right one in the first place.

* I've included here a few suggestions on finding the right vet for you and our dog in the hopes of making the procedure a little easier, and future health procedures more comfortable for everybody involved.

* Ask other pet owners. Most will be candid when asked if they like their own vet.

* Check with your state Veterinary Medical Board to see if any complaints have been filed.

* Make sure your new vet likes dogs. Surprisingly enough, some don't or are allergic to dogs, causing a decrease in the quality of care your pet receives.

* Find out what there is available for 24 hour emergency care.

* Check if somebody will be with your pet non-stop, all night in case of an accident that requires an overnight stay.

* Ask if the office accepts insurance plans if you have one, or credit cards or payment plans if you don't.

* Watch the interaction between vet and vet technicians. Are they friendly? Does courtesy and politeness rule the day?

* Location is important; you don't want to have to drive an hour when it's an emergency and your dog needs immediate care.

* And last, but perhaps the most important, trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, for any reason at all, keep looking.