The Net’s Most Wanteds

I’m pretty certain although hog roasts have been around for almost a thousand years they are at their most fashionable right now.In medieval times roasting an entire hog to serve at a special feast was one of the most amazing and amazing things anyone could do. It was only the really prosperous and prestigious who could afford to do this, and therefore only a select few got to experience it. Anyone can now experience a hog roast as in 2009 they are even more fashionable then they were back in the medieval times. There is no easier way of feeding numerous greedy people then having a hog roast at your event, so when you are next holding a big party you should consider it as a possible actionThe method applied today has very little deviations to the method used about a thousand years ago. The little differences are the obvious ones, for example utilising a gas cooker and a mechanism to work the spit instead of a fire pit and a manual spit turning arrangement. Nevertheless both methods develop the same results, a attractively roasted hog, dripping with flavour and covered in golden brown crackling, a vision which few men or women can refuse.

Should I get a dog, or should I not? This is a question that so many people are asking themselves. Do I really want to get a dog? The pleasures of dog ownership are numerous, but along with the pleasures, there are also responsibilities.

Gone are the days when a dog just “hangs around”, and you occasionally throw him a bone. Gone are the days of just feeding the dog each day and forgetting about it. Many people are now opting to share their homes with their dogs, inviting them to be part of their family. Some people are opting for dog ownership in lieu of a family or in lieu of having children.

Obviously the role of dog ownership has certainly changed……and what about the role of the dog? This role has also changed. There are mixed breeds and purebreds just like there always has been, and now there are “designer” dogs. This is an intentional breeding of two different kinds of purebred dogs hoping to pull the better traits from each breed. The cost of a “designer” dog often exceeds the cost of a purebred dog, and their popularity is on the rise.

As people become more health conscious, they are interested in healthy options for their dogs as well. There are nearly as many health choices for dogs as there are for people. Although there are still good ole’ milk bone biscuits available, many owners only serve their canine companions gourmet treats that are made from all natural ingredients. There are the standard beef, chicken, and lamb flavors as well as the more gourmet flavors. How about sweet potato biscotti or pumpkin muffins? There’s even doggie ice cream now.

An abundance of clothing and accessories is also available. From trendy “Yorkie” carriers, a small carrier to enable your companion to travel with you, to orthopedic beds for easing joint discomfort for your dogs, to doggie boots for keeping paws dry, and hats and coats and p.j.’s, and the list goes on and on.

Doggie spas are here to supply canine massages and pedicures complete with nail polish. For the working moms and dads, there are doggie day cares or dog walkers who actually come to your house to walk your dog. Yes, the role of “the dog” has certainly changed, as well as the role of the owner.

Most dogs are now very pampered family members, and yes, there is responsibility in dog ownership. To dog or not to dog is something that only you can answer, however; all I can say is that the rewards from such a venture are enormous.

Copyright 2006 Cari Haus

By Connie Tersigni and Cari Haus. Connie is President of http://www.milliondollarmutts.com/, from which she sells upscale pet supplies for dogs. Cari, a web designer and entrepreneur, is webmaster for the site.

Fundamentally, dog training is about communication. From the human perspective the handler is communicating to the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in what circumstances. From the canine perspective the handler must communicate what behaviors will give the dog the most satisfaction to his natural instincts and emotions. Without that inner satisfaction a dog will not work well.

A successful handler must also understand the communication that the dog sends to the handler. The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional state of the dog is an important consideration in directing the training, as a dog that is stressed or distracted will not learn efficiently.

According to Learning Theory there are a four important messages that the handler can send the dog:

Reward or release marker
Correct behavior. You have earned a reward. For example, “Free” followed by a reward.

Bridge
Correct behavior. Continue and you will earn a reward. For example, “Good”.

No reward marker
Incorrect behavior. Try something else. For example, “Uh-uh” or “Try again”.

Punishment marker
Incorrect behavior. You have earned punishment. For example, “No”.

Using consistent signals or words for these messages enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If the handler sometimes says “good” as a reward marker and sometimes as a bridge, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward.

Rewards can be treats, play, praise, or anything that the dog finds rewarding. Failure to reward after the reward marker diminishes the value of the reward marker and makes training more difficult.

These four messages do not have to be communicated with words, and nonverbal signals are often used. In particular, mechanical clickers are frequently used for the reward marker. Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs.

Dogs usually do not generalize commands easily; that is, a dog who has learned a command in a particular location and situation may not immediately recognize the command to other situations. A dog who knows how to “down” in the living room may suffer genuine confusion if asked to “down” at the park or in the car. The command will need to be retaught in each new situation. This is sometimes called “cross-contextualization,” meaning the dog has to apply what’s been learned to many different contexts.

Next: Dog Training part IV – Reward and punishment

Hagar lagarto is a long time Pet lover with many articles and websites on the subject.You can get much more info at pet.freehostia.com

The spinal column is made up of a number of small bones called
vertebrae that are lined up like building blocks. A hole in the
center of each vertebra forms a tunnel in which the spinal cord
lies. The spinal cord is extremely important as it carries the
messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal cord
is extremely delicate, and being surrounded by the bony
vertebrae helps to protect it. Between each pair of vertebrae,
just underneath the spinal cord, is a little cushion, called an
intervertebral disk. Disks cushion the vertebrae from one
another and provide flexibility to the spine during movement.

As a part of the normal aging process, these disks deteriorate,
resulting in so-called disk disease. Normally, each disk
consists of an outer fibrous ring and an inner gelatinous center
(a good analogy would be a jelly doughnut). With age this ring
becomes fragmented an the inner “jelly” center hardens to a
consistency of hard cheese. The fragmented outer ring may no
longer be able to hold this hard center in place, and movement
of the vertebrae on either side may suddenly squeeze the disk
out of its normal position. Unfortunately, this material usually
moves upward and comes to rest against the spinal cord, bruising
it in the process. This “slipping” of the disk often occurs
explosively, causing significant damage to the spinal cord and
pain to the animal. In this abnormal position the disk presses
against the spinal cord, causing further damage.

This type of disk disease may occur in dogs and cats of any age
or breed but occurs most commonly in the “short-legged” breeds
(e.g., dachshund, French bulldog, Welsh corgi, Pekingese) and
some other small breeds such as the poodle and cocker spaniel.
It may also occur in larger breeds of dog, including Doberman
pinschers. The parts of the spine most commonly affected by
“slipped” disks are the neck and the middle to lower back. When
a disk “slips” out of place and pushes against the spinal cord,
it usually causes the animal significant back pain and
frequently the damage to the spinal cord interferes with the
normal functions of the front and/or rear legs (depending on the
location of the disk rupture). In addition to being in pain, the
affected dog or cat may be lame, uncoordinated, and/or paralyzed.

These symptoms (pain, incoordination, and possibly paralysis)
indicate that the dog or cat has a problem affecting the spinal
cord but not the exact location or cause of the problem. Disk
disease, a tumor of the spine, or an infection of the spine may
all produce similar symptoms. Tests are needed to determine the
exact location and cause of the problem and to decide on the
appropriate therapy. In order to accomplish this, the patient
must be anesthetized for x-rays and collection of fluid from
around the spinal cord. “Myelography” is an x-ray study in which
a special dye is injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal
cord. This then allows any disk material pushing against the
cord to be identified on the x-rays. Analysis of the fluid
around the spinal cord helps to rule out other causes of the
problems such as infection.

In most cases disk disease is a problem requiring surgery to
remove the disk material compressing the spinal cord.
Occasionally, animals with disk disease are not treated by means
of surgery. In these animals, strict cage confinement and
immobilization are used. Usually this approach is used for a
first bout of back pain in animals that do not have problems
walking. Although strict cage confinement does not correct the
spinal cord compression, it may temporarily reduce some of the
pain and swelling around the spinal cord and permit the ruptured
disk to “heal.” As time goes on, it is not uncommon for animals
treated without surgery to suffer repeated bouts of pain,
lameness, and paralysis as additional disk material slips and
compresses the spinal cord. With each bout of disk disease the
spinal cord suffers additional permanent damage. Surgical
removal of disk material from the spinal canal is the only
treatment that provides rapid and maximal recovery of spinal
cord function.

Cortisone administration to animals with disk disease is of
therapeutic value only during the first 8 hours after the
initial spinal cord injury. Current scientific evidence does not
support the use of cortisone beyond this time. Furthermore, the
adverse effects of cortisone (e.g., stomach ulcers) must always
be kept in mind.

The surgery used most frequently to remove disk material from
around the spinal cord is called a laminectomy. For animals
undergoing a laminectomy, the speed of recovery and the extent
to which normal function of the legs is regained depend on many
factors, including the degree of the damage to the spinal cord
and the length of time that the spinal cord has been compressed
by the disk material. Animals exhibiting severe neurologic signs
(e.g., depressed feeling in their toes), a rapid onset of
symptoms (hours), and a long period of time before surgery
generally have a prolonged recovery period and may have varying
degrees of permanent damage.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.