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About Dogs - A Man's Best Friend "Understanding, Training and Love, make a friend for life!" -hkh "Man's best friend", has come to conversation at dinner tables, at friend's houses and even on romantic moonlit walks, as a part of life's encounters. Dogs, over time, when treated with understanding, are trained and loved, they become one of the best companions you'll ever find. It's in our view that even though Dogs are categorized as Pets, they are more like their masters over time and always like a serene teenager as they get older - more accurate in judging situations and people. Unlike cats, who mature moreso in independance, dogs, live to please their masters. They are eager to play as pups and eager to obey as they mature - as long as they know it makes you happy. When a dog is insecure about pleasing his master, they become anxious and if fearful of the hand, will always walk head down, ears down and tail between their legs. When a dog is happy and proud of his human bond, he'll(whoops - she'll) always walk with the head and tail up, otherwords, walking proud, attentive to what's next on the agenda. When thinking about getting a dog or pup, think of it as adopting a toddler, where repetition and patience pay off. Dogs require being cared for and share a common goal. Almost all breed of dogs, desire to please you, make you happy and be your friend. It doesn't matter if you fancy a poodle or a pit bull, dogs have one main objective. IF they are unhappy, they will act out like a child. By taking heed to the action as opposed as reacting with action - honestly think out what needs to be changed, to set things straight. Bonding with understanding builds a strong bridge between you and your dog. And while some dogs will act out (damage property, urinate in a certain spot at a certain time, unresponsive to commands etc) it is only because they cannot talk to us to make us understand, so they act out.. actions speak louder than words By trying to figure out what's wrong and making compromise, it's amazing how fast situations change and never re-occur.

Without getting too much off topic and to give an example of how compelling dogs can be and how the discipline of compassion can make a difference when it comes to the "broken" character of a dog. I want to share a quick story about a female Rotweiller - Terrier mix I picked up many years ago. I met her getting gas. A taxi driver had her, he was upset about this 8 week old puppy that (he'd leave alone 12 hours a day - without attention, feeding, water fill ups let alone walks to do her business or be house trained) who peed in the house, chewed his sofa and had a busted back left leg. I took her immediately and got her to a vet. After about a month, I was ready to inquire about placing her in a new home, she ate everything my daughter and I touched. Everything! In tears my 16 yr old daughter sat with me, having purchased the 6th pair of shoes (with her own money she worked for) to replace the others the dog had eaten (so I wouldn't find out). This atop of everything else she had destroyed or urinated on, only told me that the dog was not happy and I assumed it was with us. On a couple of occasions I was so angry I scolded her to no end, then it dawned on me, that even though there was someone at home with her all the time, she was accustomed to being scolded to get attention. I kid you not. Starting the very next day, when she chewed my sunglasses that I put down to go to the washroom, I snapped my fingers, pushed her to her bed and everytime she moved, I snapped and pointed to her bed. I never made eye contact and I never spoke a word to her she only got throat responses and finger pointing, while I went about my business. When my daughter got home from school, I told her about the new game plan and how we were going to make one last attempt at helping the dog have a change of heart. Afterall, buddy did break her leg and she needed more than medical attention, she needed understanding to make her see life had changed - for the better. Over the next few days, she did other things and she got the same reaction. The ONLY time we spoke to her, was when she did her business outside - then she got pure praise and pats for a good two minutes. When back in the house, she was treated with silence. By the end of that week, the dog had already begun to change. No shoes were eaten, nothing was urinated on, no wires were chewed and she'd get excited to hear herself called "a good girl". From that week on, she never repeated the same actions she did in the first month, nor did we change our treatment with her. She always got praise for going outdoors and being good in the house. She grew to know what to expect. When her belly was hungry she knew she could go to her bowl. When she had to do her business, she knew she could go to the door and get verbal, so she could go out. When it came to walks, she knew if she had a good walk and walked nice on command she'd get praise and a treat when we got back! Attention to matters at hand, routine, reliability and companionship, inherit you with a best friend for life. (*Trixie Girl was adopted out at 6 yrs old. She had more character than you could shake a stick at - she needed a home that her character would be appreciated and not squashed so it took some time to place her accordingly.) When dealing with a dog, you are not dealing with a dumb animal, you are dealing with an intelligent character that doesn't speak the same language, therefore bonding and making each other understood, is the base for a friendship you'll carry in your heart for a lifetime.

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