Month: April 2016

Evolution Explains Why Dogs Have Four Toes

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dog four toesHave you ever looked at your hands and feet and compared them to your dogs’? If so, perhaps one of the most prominent contrasting features you may notice is that your hands and feet have five fingers and five toes (that makes you pentadactyl, by the way), whereas, your average dog has only four functional toes. Also, the fingers and toes of your hands and feet are quite long, while your dog’s toes instead are quite short, why is that? For sure, “Mother Nature” must have known what she was doing as she was weighing out the pros and cons of having toes. She then made her final verdict that less was better than more.

“Five is a common number for digital division among vertebrates; and our own hands and feet present these digits in a high degree of perfection.” ~Felter, 1912

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A Matter of Speeddog lung

If we look at the toes of many animals, we may notice that the general standard is to have five toes at the end of a limb. Humans have 5 toes and so do bears, primates, weasels, bats, and several types of reptiles and birds. Some animals such as dogs, foxes, wolves and coyotes though have though four fully functional toes instead of five. What do these four-toed animals have in common? Fossil evidence shows that animals that show a loss of digits are for the most part animals who were required to maintain high speeds for long distances, explains John Buckwalter, Emeritus of Biology at Alfred State College. Such animals are known as “cursorial animals” and they are distinguished for their long limbs, shortened digits and reduced number of toes. Dogs for example have four toes instead of five, and horses (cursorial grazers) have only one (the hoof is simply the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit).

The Recipe for Running

In order to become swift runners, a change in basic physiology was necessary so  several speed adaptations were necessary. While us humans and bears are plantigrades, meaning that we place our whole foot on the ground with a rolling heel-to-toe action, dogs are digitigrades, meaning that they only walk on their digits, a quality that makes them faster and quieter runners as their heels are not required to touch the ground, explains Stanley Coren, in the book “Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know.”

This means that the bones of the dog’s wrist (carpals), palm (metacarpals), sole (metatarsals) and ankle (tarsals) are kept off the ground. We therefore make a mistake when we compare our dog’s paws with our hands and feet. In reality, we are mainly looking at their toes as seen in these illustrations.  Basically, the bones that correspond to our wrists and ankles are set much higher than we would think which explains why many people often confuse the dog’s ankles (tarsal, hock) for the dog’s knee (stifle). However, this doesn’t answer our question:”why do dogs have only four toes?”

” What evolution did to dogs was to rock their legs forward so that their heel would no longer touch the ground. In so doing they became a digitigrade species, meaning that they walk on their digits.” Stanley Coren

dog cursorialLoss of Weight

In us humans, our extra digit, the thumb, played a very important role in our evolution allowing us to manipulate things, but why would a cursorial animal do better with less toes? Dogs didn’t rely much on their digits to manipulate things, but there’s likely an additional reason for having four toes: it’s likely an issue of weight. An extra toe may weigh just a few ounces, but its extra weight on the foot  may ultimately have an impact when it’s carried along for the ride as an animal runs to catch his dinner or runs for his life. So evolution decided that it was in the dog’s best interest to not have a fully developed 1st digit, which is the equivalent of our thumb. Reduced weight is also a plausible explanation also as to why a dog’s legs has concentrated muscle mass at the top, while at the bottom the legs get more slender with a lighter foot. “An increase in limb length adds to stride length, whereas reduction in limb weight especially distally, enhances stride rate.”says  S. M. Kisia in the book “Vertebrates: Structures and Functions.”

“Members of the dog family (canids) have small feet, with usually four digits in contact with the ground. The small size and weight of their limbs requires less energy to move, allowing them to run more efficiently.”~ John Buckwalter,

dog dewclawA Vestigial Remnant….

It would be wrong though to say that the dog has totally lost his fifth toe. In reality, that extra digit is still there but it’s just reduced. You may stumble on it if you take a look at your dog’s foreleg and notice a claw that’s located higher up which doesn’t normally touch the ground as the other toes.

That claw is known as the “dewclaw“and it’s a remnant of that original fifth digit dogs used to have in the past. In technical terms, it’s a vestigial structure, meaning that it has lost its original function and therefore has atrophied.

Note: If you don’t see this fifth digit on your dog’s front feet it likely was removed shortly after birth to give the dog a cleaner look or to prevent it from getting caught on things.

“Dewclaws are vestigial remnants of a fifth digit that was reduced in the process of evolution.”~John Buckwalter

With a Purposedog agility role of tail

It would be also wrong to say that a dog’s dewclaws have completely lost their functionality. Turns out, contrary to what we may have heard, those dewclaws at times actually touch the ground, but because it happens when dogs run at high speeds we hardly notice it.  Christine Zink, a veterinarian working with canine athletes, has found that those dewclaws that many people chop off and think of them as useless appendages, actually help prevent torque on the leg especially when the dog is galloping and making tight turns, as often seen in canine sports. Without the dewclaw, there are risks that leg may twist which over time can lead to problems such as carpal arthritis and other injuries to the dog’s  elbow, shoulder and toes!

Did you know? Some dog breeds (like the Great Pyrenees or Briard for example) have one or even two dewclaws on their rear feet as well!

References:

  • MadSci Network, Why do dogs have dewclaws? and why are they only in the front?John Buckwalter, retrieved from the web on April 10th, 2o16.
  • Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know” by Stanley Coren, W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (July 16, 2012)
  • Evolutionary Biology 8/e by Dr. B. S. Tomar, Dr. S. P. Singh. Edition. 9th Revised Edition
  • Chapter 15, Limbs in Mammalian Evolution, by P. David Polly, retrieved from the web on April 10th, 2015
  • Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2016. The Animal Diversity Web (online).
  •  Vertebrates: Structures and Functions, By S. M. Kisia, CRC Press (April 12, 2010)
  • Course Hero, Mammalian Specializations, Chapter 21,  retrieved from the web on April 10th, 2015
  • Do the Dew(claws)?  by M. Christine Zink DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, retrieved from the web on Aprile 10th, 2016

 

Photo Credits:

Paw and pads in dog by Amos T Fairchild,  CC BY-SA 3.0, edited to add text and adjust size

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These Ear Drops May Be Making Your Dog Deaf

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It may sound quite ironic and surprising that the same ear drops purposely crafted to help a dog recover from an ear ailment, would cause a dog to go deaf, but the risks are real for certain dogs. There are certain ear medications that are known for being “ototoxic” which means that they are toxic to the ear and can negatively affect a dog or person’s sense of hearing. Learning more about these ear drops and potential side effects is important so to recognize early signs of trouble and readily report them to the vet.

dog earsOtotoxic Effects in Dogs 

As seen in the introduction, the term ototoxicity simply means “toxic to the ear.” How can ears drops be toxic to a dog’s ear? While the process is still not completely well understood, it’s likely a matter of the drugs causing damage to the hair cells in the dog’s inner ear or damage to the nerves responsible for sending a dog’s hearing and balancing information from the dog’s inner ear to his brain.

Depending on what part of the ear is affected, the ototoxicity may be referred to in different ways. When the coclea (the hearing apparatus) is affected causing hearing loss, it’s referred to as cochleotoxicity. When the vestibular-coclear nerve is instead affected causing balance problems, it’s known as vestibulotoxicity.

Ototoxicity therefore may cause a dog’s hearing and sense of balance to be negatively affected. The drug’s ototoxic effect may be temporary (and thus reversible as the drug leaves the body) or permanent.

What Happens Exactly?

dog ears

When a dog normally hears and moves around, the special hair cells located in the dog’s cochlea and the vestibular areas of the inner ear, bend with sound vibrations and movements, thus, relaying information about sounds and movement to the dog’s brain.

When these hair cells are damaged, they no longer work as they’re supposed to, thus, communication is broken and the dog may no longer hear well and his balance function may be affected.

While hearing problems may not be too noticeable, balance problems are known for causing  trouble walking, circling, eye jerking movements, tilted head, nausea and vomiting.

When hearing loss takes place, the signs may not be noticeable at first as the dog’s ability to sense high frequencies is firstly affected, therefore the first signs of hearing loss may become only more noticeable perhaps weeks after treatment.

“High frequencies are affected first, slowing recognition of the toxicity, which may appear at a delay of weeks after treatment has been discontinued.” ~Merck Veterinary Manual

dog ototoxic ear dropsOtotoxic Dog Ear Drops

Several ear drops containing aminoglycoside antibiotics can be ototoxic in both humans and pets. These drugs are often used to treat different types of bacterial infections and they are mostly administered by injection or topically, directly into the ear under ear drops and ointments.

Technically, all routes of administration may cause ototoxic side effects. Ear drops that may cause hearing and balance problems (or even both) in dogs include those containing the following aminoglycoside antibiotics:

  • Gentamicin (Otomax, Mometamax, Gentizol, Otibiotic, Remicin)
  • Streptomycin
  • Tobramycin
  • Kanamycin
  • Neomycin (EnteDerm Ointment)
  • Amikacin

Note: a few dog owners report hearing loss in dogs using  Oti-pak E (Enrofloxacin + Ketoconazole + Triamcinolone) In this case, the hearing loss may be due to the fact that the wax packing clogs the ears as they are meant to slowly melt over 7 to 10 days. Generally the hear loss goes back to normal within 2 weeks but may take even up to 6 weeks, but there are some dog owners reporting that their dogs never gained their hearing back.

“While all aminoglycoside antibiotics can damage auditory and vestibular receptors, streptomycin and gentomycin have their greatest effects on the vestibular system, whereas, neomycin, kanamycin, tobramycin, and amikacin sulfate produce more damage to the auditory peripheral receptors.” ~ K. G. Braund, Veterinary Neurological Consulting

dog hear loss from ear dropsAddressing the Ototoxic Effects

What should dog owners do if they notice signs of ototoxicity in their dogs after inserting ear drops? A prompt call to the vet is imperative. The ototoxic drug  should be stopped, but deafness may be permanent, claims Jared B. Galle, a board-certified veterinarian specializing in neurology. There are chances though that certain supplements may be helpful to reduce the toxic effects, something worthy of discussing with the vet. Generally, if the hearing loss can be reversed, it tends to come back in 1 to 2 weeks, but there have been reports of sometimes taking up to 6 weeks.

“Supplementation of various antioxidants has been demonstrated to attenuate ototoxicity induced by aminoglycosides.” 1

idea tipDid you know? Subtle hearing loss in dogs is often not readily recognized by dog owners because dogs are capable of compensating with their other senses.

Some Final Thoughts from Veterinary Practice News, about giving a head’s up to dog owners:

“When dispensing Otomax or a generic equivalent, “Be sure to inform owners of the possible, be it rare, occurrence of deafness associated with this product. It usually is transient, but it can be permanent.”~Dr. Paul Bloom

Disclaimer: this article is not to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog is showing symptoms after using ear drops, consult with your vet at once.

References:

  • 1) Ototoxicity in dogs and cats, Naoki Oishi, M.D. Andra E. Talaska, B.S.,and Jochen Schacht, Ph.D.
    Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012 Nov; 42(6): 1259–1271, Published online 2012 Oct 10. doi:
  • 2) Merck Veterinary Manual, Aminoglycosides, retrieved from the web on April 9th, 2016
  • 3) Clinical Neurology in Small Animals – Localization, Diagnosis and Treatment, K.G. Braund (Ed.) Publisher: International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), Ithaca, New York, USA
  • Veterinary Practice News, Strategies For Battling Cat & Dog Ear Infections,  retrieved from the web on April 9th, 2016

Six Dog Breeds Named After a Real Person

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Dogs have surely some fascinating histories behind them, and dog breeds who bear the name of people have quite some intriguing stories to tell us.  There are a handful of dog breeds who were named after people and it’s interesting taking a glimpse back into their past to discover how they got their breed names in the first place. How many dog breeds which are named after somebody of relevance can you count? We found several dog breed named after a real person and have compiled a list.

dobermann1) The Doberman

Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann of Apolda is credited for creating the Doberman pinscher breed. His project started around 1890 just after the Franco-Prussian war. What inspired him to create this dog breed? The fact that he was a tax collector and also a dog fancier who worked the night shift for the Public Dog Shelter of Apolda, Germany. Because his door-to-door job of collecting taxes in bandit-infested areas was quite risky, he found a need for an elite partner under the form of a canine guardian. His dream started to materialize courtesy of having access to a wide gene pool to experiment with over the years. His goal was to create the perfect dog, a combination of intelligence, strength and loyalty and he got very close to it when he obtained a large version of a terrier.

While Louis Dobermann was very meticulous in his breeding program, selecting only the best specimens, good record keeping was his weakness, leaving us now wondering what breeds were used. After his death in 1894, his legacy was passed on to Otto Goeller, who owned “Von Thurigen Kennels” and who named the breed Doberman pinscher (pinscher is the German word for terrier) in his honor, but half a century later, the word “pinscher was dropped, as no longer deemed appropriate.

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2) Jack Russell/Parson Russell Terrierjack russell

Reverend John “Jack’ Russell from Devonshire, England, was an enthusiastic dog breeder and avid fox hunter who is credited for developing the Parson Russell terrier dog breed. His passion for dogs and hunting was inherited from his father who took him along hunting sprees with a pack of hounds ever since he was a child.  When he was studying in Oxford, he was impressed by a female terrier owned by a milkman so he persuaded the milkman to sell him the dog. This little white terrier with tan spots over the eyes, ears and tip of the tail, soon she became the foundation stock for the Parson Russell terrier breed. The short and strong legs of Parsons made them perfect for digging and hunting down foxes who had “gone to earth” getting them out of their holes so that the hounds could continue their chase.  In 1875, the Fox terrier club was formed and Rev. John Russell was one of the founder members. Unfortunately, after his death, the breed underwent significant changes making it quite unrecognizable when compared to Reverend Russell’s original specimens.

boykin spaniels3) The Boykin Spaniel

The history of the Boykin spaniel starts with a delighting encounter taking place in the early 1900s. Banker Alexander L. White was walking home when a stray spaniel started following him. It was love at first sight and the banker decided to bring him home. White called the dog “Dumpy” and after noticing this dog’s strong predisposition for retrieving, he decided to send him off to Lemuel Whitaker Boykin, a friend and hunting partner living in Camden, South Carolina. Boykin transformed this little dog into a superb hunting companion who hunted turkey and waterfowl. Dumpy went from being a stray to being the foundation stock for the Boykin spaniel breed. Since the area around Camden was a resort area, it didn’t take that long for people to fall in love with this breed, so the breed spread quickly across the United States.

4) Cavalier King Charles Spanielcavalier king charles

As the name implies, this breed derives from King Charles II who had developed a deep love for dogs that he inherited from his dad, King Charles I of England. It always seemed like everywhere he went, he always had some spaniels trotting alongside. His love for these dogs was so much that he even mandated a decree that they were to even be allowed in the Houses of Parliament! In particular, the king had a weak spot for a special line of white and chestnut spaniels he once saw at Blenheim Palace, specimens bred by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. After the death of King Charles, the breed’s popularity steadily decreased, and specimens were bred with short-faced dog breeds causing a quite drastic change from the original dogs. Many attempts were made to bring back the original specimens back to life, so much that in 1926, Roswell Eldridge offered a prize for the best specimens and the breed started again closely resembling its original precursors.

gordon setter5) The Gordon Setter

This Scottish breed gains its name from Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon who owned a kennel of setters at the Gordon Castle, near Fochabers in the United Kingdom. These dogs were initially referred to as as “Black and tan setters,” but there is some evidence that back then, the dogs bred by Alexander the 4th Duke of Gordon was mostly tri-coloured with black, white and tan coats, rather than black and tan. However, the duke had a preference for the black and tan specimens and therefore it appears like he selectively bred for this coat color. Still as of today though, occasionally, some specimens show a white patch of hair on their chest area which may be a relic of their earlier ancestors. After a decline following the death of Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon and the 5th Duke of Gordon, the breed was then revived by the 6th Duke of Gordon. The breed was given the name “Gordon setter” by the Kennel Club in 1924, in honor of the 4th Duke of Gordon and his dedication.

6) The Plott Houndplott hound

This dog breed is named after the  Plott family who migrated from Germany to the United State in 1750 and brought along their Hanoverian hounds. The family established in the English colony of North Carolina. The Hanoverian hounds were remarkable dogs with the stamina and gameness needed for boar hunting.  However, there were no local boar to hunt in the area the Plott family established, so they decided to convert these dogs for bear hunting.

Soon, voice spread about the remarkable abilities of these dogs. A hunter even traveled from Georgia to check these dogs out for himself and was so impressed that he borrowed a stud dog to breed with his line of “leopard spotted bear dogs.”  In 1780, the Plott dogs became property of of Henry Plott.

 

Did you know? The Dandie Dinmont terrier is named after the character Dandie Dinmont, a jolly farmer in the Novel Guy Mannering novel by Sir Walter Scott

 

References:

Photo credits:

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Discovering a Retriever’s Soft Mouth

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Retrievers are gun dogs with a history of being selectively bred to retrieve game for their hunters. One of the main qualities retrievers were required to have in order to be effective hunting partners was what is known as a”soft mouth.” Along with a soft mouth, retriever dogs are known for being equipped with a strong predisposition for learning and carrying out a variety of tasks, qualities that make them very adept for disability assistance work. Popular retrieving dog breeds include Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Chesapeake bay retrievers and the Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers.

Hunter’s Best Friend dog soft mouthed retriever

As the name implies, retrievers were responsible for retrieving downed birds and returning them to the hunter. This may sound easier said than done.

In order to retrieve, a good retriever must look upwards for incoming birds and memorize exactly where each bird falls once shot. Some very well trained retrievers are even capable of following the direction of the gun barrel so they can gain a better insight of where to expect the birds to fall.

Not always retrievers are capable of seeing where the downed birds fall. In such cases, they are required to perform a “blind retrieve.” This means that in order to find the downed birds, the dogs will have to follow their handler’s directions given through hand, voice or whistle commands with precision from a distance.

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Once the retriever finds the downed bird, he can deliver the bird by dropping it at the hunter’s feet or he may “retrieve to hand” which means he’ll drop the bird directly into the hunter’s hand. Training a retriever to retrieve to hand  offers the advantage of minimizing the chances that an injured bird may escape.

soft mouthed retreiversUnderstanding the Soft Mouth

When a dog is carrying a bird, there are high chances that his teeth may ruin the meat. Retrievers are known for having the distinct feature of picking up the bird gently and delivering the bird without damage, something that could only be accomplished by carrying it with a soft mouth, without biting into it.

Dogs who bite into the meat are known for having a “hard mouth.”

A dog who carries the bird with a hard mouth means the meat risks being inedible and not fit for the table. For this reason, having a “hard mouth” is considered a serious fault in a retrieving dog, almost to the extent of a gun dog being fearful of the noises of gun shots. While a hard-mouthed dog can be trained to develop a softer mouth, having a naturally inclined soft-mouthed retriever is certainly a great advantage that hunters eagerly look for in their prospective retrieving dogs.

“A wooden obedience dumbbell will last years when used with a soft-mouthed dog.” ~M. Christine Zink DVM

Nature or Nurture?labrador soft mouth

There are many claims of goldens and Labs having such a soft mouth that they can carry a raw egg in their mouth, without cracking the shell, but not all retrievers are blessed with such a talent.

So is having a soft mouth something that’s inherited or is it a learned behavior?

As with many other behaviors, there’s likely a learned component at play mixed in with inherited tendencies toward bite inhibition. It’s ultimately a mix of many factors such as the age when the pup leaves the litter, its upbringing and the genes the dogs are born with.

We know that the normal predatory motor pattern sequence in wolves entails orienting, eye stalking, chasing, grab biting, kill biting, dissecting and eating. In our domesticated dogs (who shouldn’t be really compared to wolves), this pattern has substantially changed with some parts being enhanced and others remaining dormant.

A border collie, for instance, eye stalks and the sequences stop short (hopefully!) after chasing as grab biting sheep legs would be a big problem! In retrievers, the pattern as well stops short at grab biting (hopefully!) as consuming the bird would mean big trouble for a prospective retrieving dog!

“On one hand, we have the wolf whose predatory motor patterns have never changed because they need them intact in order to survive. On the other hand we have our domestic dogs of different breeds with dormant or hyperthrophied motor patterns that have been influenced by breeders whether of pet companion dogs or working dogs.”~ Barry Eaton 

Fixing a Hard Mouthhard mouth dog

Sadly, there are many suggestions to train a soft mouth using aversion-based training methods.

Some of the most horrid and even dangerous entail placing barbed wire or nails into dummies so the dog feels discomfort or pain when he bites hard.

This is meant to teach the dog to think that a dead bird might hurt if they bite down on it, but these methods along with the use of shock collars risk causing dogs to be become reluctant to pick anything with their mouths and their natural mouthing and retrieving instincts may be suppressed due to fear.

Teaching a dog to develop a soft mouth is something that should ideally take place when the dog is a puppy (prior to 5 months old!) by providing feedback when they bite too hard.

Bite inhibition training teaches the puppies to be gentle with human skin, but for a gun dog, it’s also important to learn how to carry things gently, yet firmly in the mouth. There are several ways to train soft mouths using gentle methods as an alternative to forced-fetching.

dog soft mouth

Force-Free Methods For Softer Mouths

  •  Gun dogs (and really any dog!) should never be punished for picking up items nor should items be pulled out of their mouths. Doing so, will cause a dog to bite harder on the object and want to play “keep away,” or perhaps. the dog may even become possessive or reluctant to pick up anything with the mouth. It’s best to teach how drop and trade instead.
  • Several trainers of retrievers suggest avoiding squeaky toys as dogs may develop a hard mouth due to the reward of hearing the squeaky sound upon biting hard.
  • Some trainers also discourage rough tugging games, but some others claim that the dogs can be taught the difference between working on birds and playing with toys.
  • Some dogs (especially the younger ones) may become hard-mouthed initially when they are mostly excited. Letting these dogs burn off some steam and excitement with some bumper retrieving before being sent to retrieve real birds may help.
  • Some dogs may become slightly more hard-mouthed when they retrieve too many bigger and tougher birds (eg. ducks) too often, and then after a while, they are sent to retrieve smaller birds (like quails.) It’s a good idea to switch types of birds every now and then.
  • Practice having your retriever retrieve raw eggs or tomatoes, lavishly praising when delivered with no teeth marks!


idea tipDid you know?  While many retrievers are no longer being used to retrieve downed birds, a soft mouth tendency comes handy when training service dogs. Just imagine the advantage of a person in a wheel chair dropping a credit card and having the dog retrieve it gently without scratching it or adding any teeth marks!

References:

  • Peak Performance EBook: Coaching the Canine Athlete, By Canine Sports Productions, First published: Nov 15, 1997
  • Dominance in Dogs, By Barry Eaton, Dogwise Publishing (January 3, 2011)

Photo Credits:

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Dog Word of the Day: Achondroplasia

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The term achondroplasia is used to depict dogs who have bones that do not grow to normal size, causing them to be of a disproportionate short stature leading to what is known as “achondroplastic dwarfism.” Achondroplasia is considered a genetic condition, meaning that it’s passed down from a generation to another. As much as this disorder may appear problematic up to the point of being crippling in severe cases, achondroplasia is actually encouraged in certain breeds of dogs and is even in their breed standard.  

dog acondroplasiaA Lesson in Etymology

To better understand anchondroplasia, let’s first start off by taking a look at the history of the word. The “a” in this case is used to mean “not.” The word “chondro“comes from the ancient Greek word, khóndros,  which means cartilage, and the word “plasia” which means growth. Put all these words together and you get “a condition where there is no cartilage growth,”or to word it even better,  “a condition where there is deficient growth of cartilage.” How does this happen though? 

A Glimpse at the Process

When a puppy is developing in the womb, its skeleton is made of a flexible material known as hyaline cartilage. Only later, as the puppy develops, its cartilage will transform into bone, through a process known as ossification. When puppies have a mutation in the gene responsible for converting cartilage to bone, this results in shorter bones, a peculiarity that is readily noticeable soon after birth. In particular, the effect is most noticeable in the bones of the legs which appear shortened. This is why the term micromelic (meaning short limbs) acondroplasia is often used. On top of appearing shortened, the legs may appear deformed with bowed forelimbs.

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Desirable in Certain Breeds…corgi

As mentioned, achondroplasia is acceptable, up to the point of desirable, in certain dogs breeds. In these dog breeds, the achondroplasia isn’t fruit of an accidental breeding, but it’s actually wanted and purposely encouraged. In many dog breeds, it’s even written in the breed standards. What dog breeds are traditionally classified as being “achondroplastic?” Here is a brief list of some common achondroplastic dog breeds:

  • Basset Hounds
  • Welsh Corgi
  • Dachshund
  • Skye terrier

“Some breeds of dogs have been bred through the selective encouragement of achondroplasia to achieve short limbs, such as the Dachshund, Skye Terrier and Welsh Corgi.” ~Vetary

achondroplasia german shepherd
Achondroplasia in German shepherd

Undesirable in Others.

While achondroplasia is desirable in certain dogs breeds, in some others it’s not in the breed standard and it’s considered a serious genetic fault. In this case though, it would be more correct to say that these dog breeds suffer from “chondrodysplasia.” In this case, if we look at the etymology, we will notice the the word “chondro” again coming from the ancient Greek word, khóndros,  which means cartilage, while the word dysplasia comes from the  Ancient Greek  dys-, meaning “bad” and  plasis, meaning “growth.”: Put these words together and you have a bad, or better, “abnormal development of the cartilage.”

In what dog breeds is this highly undesirable? In many, but it’s considered particularly problematic in Alaskan Malamutes, Scottish deer hounds, Karelian Bear Dogs, Norwegian elk hounds, Great Pyrenees, German shepherds. The condition in these dogs may not be readily detectable at birth, but signs may manifest later on when the affected dogs show shortened limbs compared to other dogs of the same breed and age. In severe cases, these alterations may cause a crippling effect, but in less severe cases there may be no associated clinical problems. Fortunately, in the negatively affected breeds, the alterations appear to be due to autosomal recessive inheritance, making them slightly less likely (which is why we don’t see it quite as often); whereas, in the dog breeds where it’s desirable by standard, it’s a matter of dominant inheritance.

“Professor Hannes Lohi’s research group at the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center has identified a mutation in ITGA10 gene, causing chondrodysplasia in two dog breeds, the Norwegian Elkhound and the Karelian Bear Dog.” ~Science News

basset houndAdvantages of Short Legs

Why would certain dog breeds be purposely bred to have short legs? It turns out, short legs may have provided several benefits in a dog’s past as working partners. For instance, in the dachshund, those short legs and long backs allowed these dogs to easily fit in tight spaces so they could effectively flush out burrowing animals. In the basset hound, those short legs helped these dogs follow scent without getting too far as hunters followed on foot. In the corgi, those short legs helped these herding dogs effectively duck from kicking hooves, explains Caroline Coile in an article for Vet Street.

 

References:

  • Vet Street, Short on Leg, Long on Love: Learn About The Dwarf Dog Breeds, by Caroline Coile, retrieved from the web on April 6th, 2016.
  • The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Disorder Achondroplasia, retrieved from the web on April 6th, 2016.
  • Canine Inherited Disorders Database, Osteochondrodysplasia – skeletal dwarfism, retrieved from the web on April 6th, 2016.
  • Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki). “New dwarfism mutation identified in dogs.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 September 2013

Photo Credits:

Vet Book, Achondroplasia01.jpg, WikiSysop

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The Mystery of Air Bubbles Under a Dog’s Skin

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bubble wrap skinAmong the many skin problems dogs may develop in their lifetime, some may be quite peculiar and the sensation of feeling bubbles under a dog’s skin must be certainly one of them. Dog owners report that when they press on their dog’s skin if feels as if they were touching air bubbles causing crackling, popping noises. Some compare the noise upon touching their dog’s skin to the noise produced by bubble wrap, Rice Krispies or a piece of crinkly tissue paper. What is going on with the skin of these dogs? Surprisingly, these symptoms are tell-tale signs of a specific condition in dogs. Can you guess what’s the name of this peculiar disorder?

A Bubbling dermatitis

B Crinkled skin disorder

C Subcutaneous emphysema

D Canine cracking disease

The correct answer is:

 

drum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The correct answer is C, Subcutaneous Emphysema

A Lesson in Etymology

What exactly is subcutaneous emphysema in dogs? We can get a clue from taking a lesson in etymology. If we take a look at the name of this condition, we will notice that subcutaneous means “beneath the surface layer of the skin” while emphysema means “a condition where air is abnormally present within the body tissues.” Dogs owners who report feeling bubbles under their dog’s skin are therefore correct in their descriptions, there is indeed air trapped between the layers of the dog’s skin. So this brings us to the next question: how does the air get trapped under the skin in the first place? There are three ways this can happen.

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“When you press on the skin you can hear and feel a layer of popping crunching tissue just beneath the skin.” ~Dr. Krista Magnifico

1) From Outside the Body

Generally, in this case, the air gains access under the layers of a dog’s skin through a traumatic opening in the skin deriving from  a cut, puncture wound or bite. What happens is that the skin is pulled away from its subcutaneous tissue, and if there is a hole somewhere, air gets trapped between those skin layers, explains Dr, Magnifico. Generally, if there is not infection present and the wound appears to be healing well, the air is absorbed naturally after a few days.

2) From Inside the Body

There are instances where the air gathers under the skin from underlying trauma to the dog’s trachea, chest, bronchi or lung. A penetrating  trauma to the dog’s chest for example may cause air to escape the lungs and reach the subcutaneous tissue of the chest wall. Air escaping the body in this way can be due to being hit by a car or sustaining injuries from a bad fall where a broken rib penetrates the lung.

In some cases, air may escape and cause subcutaneous emphysema following a surgical procedure. In this case, trauma to the dog’s trachea from an endotracheal tube (eg. overblown cuff, sharp edge of tube) may be a culprit. In this case, the swelling of the skin occurs by the neck region and may extend to the trunk of the body and may be seen as early as a couple of days following intubation, according to Blue Pearl Vet. When air is leaking from inside the body, an x-ray can help determine the source of the problem.

3) From  Bacteria

At times, the bubbles aren’t actually caused by the presence of air, but from the presence of gas. This is something though that happens quite rarely when there is a gas producing bacterial infection, explains veterinarian Dr. Dan.  Basically what is happening is that a serious bacterial infection is causing gas to accumulate under the skin, causing the crackling noises. Affected dogs require strong antibiotics to combat the infection.

dog air bubbles under skinSigns of Problems

Generally, the first signs of problems tend to appear three to seven days after the dog sustains some type of puncture wound or injury. Affected dogs may develop swelling in the affected area and some dogs may feel pain when they move. As mentioned, dog owners report feeling a characteristic crackling, tissue paper or Rice Krispies type feel when they touch their dog’s skin, a phenomenon known medically as “subcutaneous crepitation.” When there is a lot of air leaking into the skin, affected dogs may develop considerable facial swelling. When the swelling affects the neck, the dog may develop voice changes and he may have trouble breathing. These dogs require immediate veterinary attention.

Removing the Bubbles

Generally,  subcutaneous emphysema is not typically dangerous in and of itself,  but its symptoms may be associated with serious conditions such as lung problems as explained above. Seeing the vet is important so to rule out these conditions. If a dog appears to have trouble breathing and wheezing, he should be seeing the emergency vet at once. Treatment for subcutaneous emphysema varies based on severity. In mild cases, nothing may be done considering that small amounts of air are usually reabsorbed by the body.

If the dog is painful, treatment consists of removing the air from under the skin when it’s painful. This can be accomplished through the use of needles that aspirate the air or skin incisions. It’s sort of “deflating a dog” almost as one would do with an air mattress, remarks veterinary blogger TJ. When there is a bacterial infection, strong antibiotics are needed; whereas, in the case of trauma to the chest, trachea, bronchi or lungs treatments varies based on the cause.

“The crackling could just be air trapped under the skin from a puncture wound but we also have to worry about some type of damage to the lungs which could be life threatening.” Dr. Jen

Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog has developed a crackling noise under the skin, see your vet promptly for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

References:

  • Vet Info: Subcutaneous Emphysema in Dogs, retrieved from the web on April 5th, 2016
  • Blue Pearl Vet, The Air is where? Subcutaneous Emphysema, retrieved from the web on April 5th, 2016
  • Diary of a Real Life Veterinarian, The tissue paper that hides under your skin. Subcutaneous Emphysema. by Dr. Magnifico,  retrieved from the web on April 5th, 2016

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I am Your Dog’s Pancreas

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Many dog owners may not be aware of the existence of their dog’s pancreas until one day their dog gets very ill and the vet claims that the dog’s pancreas is inflamed. As with many other organs, the pancreas lives mostly in the shadow, until something goes wrong and dog owners are given an abrupt wake-up call about this organ’s existence. Just as in humans, the pancreas in dogs is a structure that carries some functions that go beyond digestion. So today, let’s take a closer look at a dog’s pancreas and discover some interesting facts coming straight from the pancreases’mouth!

dog pancreasIntroducing Your Dog’s Pancreas

Hello! It’s your dog’s pancreas talking! You may not be too familiar with me, but rest assured, I am working hard each and every day to make sure your dog remains healthy and happy. Where am I located? You’ll find me nearby your dog’s stomach, more precisely, attached to the wall of your dog’s small intestine, right by the duodenum. I am overall a small structure compared to your dog’s stomach, but don’t underestimate me, as I do a whole lot!

I Aid in Digestion

Many people know that I play a role in digestion. Indeed, I produce important enzymes so to help your dog digest protein, starches and fats. To help digest protein, I produce trypsin and chymotrypsin. To help digest starch, I produce amylase. To help digest fats, I produce lipase. I send these enzymes to your dog’s small intestine (right by the duodenum, which lives just next door to me) through a small tube known as the “pancreatic duct.” Once here, these enzymes activate and break down your dog’s food into easy to assimilate molecules which provide nutrients that are readily absorbed by the cells lining your dog’s intestine. Nutrients are then passed from these cells into your dog’s bloodstream and spread out throughout the body where they’re utilized by various tissues.

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I Maintain Normal Sugar Levelsdog pancreas 1

On top of helping your dog digest, I have special islet cells which produce hormones that help keep your dog’s blood sugar at an acceptable level. The glucose-regulating hormones that I produce are known as insulin and glucagon. I secrete these hormones into your dog’s bloodstream. You see, your dog may not eat sweets as you do, but when your dog eats foods rich in starches and carbs, these foods are then broken down into glucose which ends up in the bloodstream. When I produce insulin, the insulin helps remove the glucose from the bloodstream and directs it to the body’s tissues where it can be used as energy for the cells. If those levels of glucose are too high, the other hormone I produce (glucagon) helps store the surplus in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen.

Small breeds are prone to pancreatitis
Small breeds are prone to pancreatitis

When Things Go Wrong

When I work well, your dog is healthy and happy. Courtesy of my digestive enzymes, your dog can easily digest as my enzymes help break down food into easy to assimilate components. When I become sluggish though, either because of being chronically inflamed or due to some inherited condition, I might not produce enough of these enzymes which may lead to pancreatic insufficiency, also known as  exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or maldigestion syndrome.

What happens in this condition is that all those proteins, starches, and fats are no longer broken down which means they pass through the intestines without being absorbed and they leave the body under the form of feces containing undigested food. This means affected dogs miss out in receiving nutrients big time! These dogs develop diarrhea, start losing weight, their coats become dull and they lose muscle mass. Because food passes into their stools undigested, these dogs may engage in stool eating as the stools taste almost as good as food! These dogs are basically hungry and eating, yet they’re starving themselves of nutrients! Fortunately, treatment is pretty straightforward: borrowing some enzymes from other animals.

I sometimes may become inflamed. This tends to often occur after dogs eat a fatty meal. I am notorious for getting inflamed after the holidays, when dog owners feed their dogs fatty table scraps such as foods prepared in butter, fatty meat and greasy bacon. When  I get acutely inflamed, I cause some pretty scary symptoms such as lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain which causes many dogs to assume a hunched-up position. Basically, what happens here is that instead of my enzymes activating when they reach the small intestine, they activate prematurely as soon as I release them, causing inflammation to myself and my surrounding organs.  In severe cases, my enzymes may even start digesting me! Talk about being in a dangerous situation! My inflammation is therefore not to be taken lightly as I can turn into a life threatening condition. And when I get chronically inflamed with an ongoing, low-grade inflammation, the damage sustained mat cause me to get sluggish in producing enzymes and hormones leading to the pancreatic insufficiency described above and diabetes.

“If a significant number of cells that produce digestive enzymes are destroyed, a lack of proper food digestion may follow. This is known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). If a significant number of cells that produce insulin are destroyed, diabetes mellitus can result.” ~Dr. Ernest Ward

As seen, I carry out several tasks that help your dog stay healthy and in good shape, so don’t take me for granted! I hope this article has helped you understand me better! Best regards,

Your Dog’s PancreasDog Pawprint

References:

  • VCA Animal Hospital, What is Pancreatitis? retrieved from the web on April 4th, 2016
  • Pet Education, Pancreas: Anatomy & Digestive & Endocrine Functions in the Dog, by Dr. Race Foster, retrieved from the web on April 4th, 2016
  • Pet Education, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder) in Dogs, by Dr. Race Foster,  retrieved from the web on April 4th, 2016
  • The Whole Dog Journal, Canine Pancreatitis, by Mary Straus, retrieved from the web on April 4th, 2016

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The Secret Behind the Samoyed’s Smile

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The Samoyed dog breed is stunning for many reasons. One of the most stunning features of this breed is of course the white thick coat which protected these elegant dogs from the harsh -60 degree temperatures as sometimes witnessed in the Siberian town of Oymyakon. In the old days, Samoyeds were the working partners of the Samoyedic people of Siberia who survived by herding and breeding domestic reindeer. Another amazing feature of the Samoyed dog breed is the breed’s “smile,” a distinguishing trait that further adds to this breed’s appeal. Today, we’ll be discovering the secret behind the Samoyed’s smile.

samoyedA Matter of Standard

For a good reason the Samoyed dog breed is nicknamed as “smiley;” indeed, this dog breed really sports a “smile!” The smiling trait of this breed is even mentioned in the breed standard. According to the American Kennel Club standard for the Samoyed breed, the breed is required to have a muzzle of medium length that tapers towards the nose. The lips “should be black for preference and slightly curved up at the corners of the mouth, giving the “Samoyed smile.” The slightly curved mouth along with the sparkling eyes and attentive ears, give the breed what is known as the typically appealing “Samoyed expression.” 

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The Function of the Smile

samoyed smile

Why would a Samoyed need to sport a smile? Many may think that this breed was selectively bred this way just because it’s a cute trait that’s appealing to prospective dog owners, but in reality that “smile” has a function, and a very important one too! According to the American Kennel Club, the Samoyed’s perpetual smile has a practical purpose: those upturned corners keep these gorgeous dogs from drooling.

What’s the problem with drooling? Most dogs drool with no problems after all! Drooling may seem like an innocuous happening in the average domesticated dog living in a warm, cozy home, but it could turn particularly problematic in a dog living in a harshly cold climate as those droplets would quickly freeze and soon icicles would be forming on the Samoyed’s face!

samoyed smilingA Friendly Dog by Nature

Putting the smile’s functional purpose aside, the Samoyed dog breed is a friendly dog by nature with a “jolly” sense of humor. Because of this breed’s gentle disposition, it’s not unusual to see them working as therapy dogs bringing a smile to children and senior citizens. According to standard, the Samoyed breed is smart, loyal and eager to do things. This is a dog breed that thrives on attention and wants to be in company of his family. These traits make this dog unsuitable for a family who is away for most of the day. Being left alone in a kennel all day or secluded in the yard, will make these sociable dogs deeply unhappy and prone to behavior problems. So prospective dog owners should make sure to keep these social dogs in good company so to keep these lovely dogs smiling inside and out!

References:

  • American Kennel Club, Samoyed Breed Standard, retrieved from the web on April 3rd, 2016
  • American Kennel Club,  10 Things you probably didn’t know about the smiling Samoyed, retrieved from the web on April 3rd, 2016

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Unearthing Seven Surprising Reasons Why Dogs Dig

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We are all familiar with a dog’s digging habits, but we might not be fully aware of what triggers a dog to dig in the first place. What’s exactly behind a dog’s digging behavior? To better understand what is truly going on, we may need to first get into our dogs’ heads. Until the day dogs can talk, we can only make assumptions, but we may get some hints by carefully observing what is happening as our dogs intently scratch the dirt with their paws as they work on building a whole golf course in a day. Interestingly, some reasons why dogs dig may surprise you. There are diggers and diggers in the canine world! What kind of digger is your dog?

dog digging1) The Hunter 

If your dog is a hunter at heart, he may find digging to be an effective way to fulfill his instinctive needs. There are many small critters who like to burrow themselves underground such as mice, moles, groundhogs, voles and several types of tarantulas. If your dog sniffs, then starts digging, then pauses, listens, sniffs and then resumes digging, most likely he is relying on his senses to learn more about the whereabouts of these underground critters.

Among the vast array of dogs populating the planet, the small, determined terriers are likely to win the “digging dog prize.” Just think that the word “terrier” derives from the Latin word “terra” meaning earth. These feisty, short-legged dogs were selectively bred to “go to ground” digging through dens and burrows as they hunted down their dwellers.

 

idea tipTip: Look for some safe, humane methods to fence the critters out of the yard. Provide your dog with interactive toys that will keep his mind mentally stimulated. For small terriers, consider enrolling them in fun “earth dog” trials.

 

2) The Gathererdog digging plants

Not all dogs dig to hunt for underground critters, for some dogs, unearthing and gathering plants, bulbs, roots and all the like may be equally fun. Some dogs discover their “green thumb” after watching their owners gardening. So next time, your dog digs up your flower beds, hold you temper and refrain from the temptation to punish him. Chances are, he’s likely just imitating you!

Not too long ago, a study revealed that our  canine companions are capable of copying our behaviors as long as 10 minutes after they happened. For some dogs though there may be more to it than mere imitation. To a puppy or a bored dog looking for stimulation, playing a game of “tug” with some sturdy tree roots may be fun enough to make digging them up totally worth it!

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idea tipTip: fence up your garden and provide your dog a “digging zone” area where he can dig to his heart’s content. Your plants and your dog will thank you!

 

dog digging hot3) The Builder

If your dog is left out in the yard for the most part of the day, his digging may be his way of building himself up a shelter. Deprived from a heating or cooling system, he may need to figure out his own way to keep himself toasty warm or refreshingly cool.

In the summer, dogs may dig to build up a nice resting spot by exposing the cooler dirt. When these dogs lie down, they get to expose their belly to the cool soil. In the winter instead, dogs may dig holes in the dirt or snow to build their own den-like enclosures so they can stay warm. The best way to figure out if your dog is building holes to warm up or cool down? See if he’s lying down on them or inside them.

 

idea tipTip: Provide your dog with an insulated dog house and extra blankets in the winter, and for the summer, provide cooling options such as a shaded area or a shallow wading pool. Even better, invite your dog inside to share your heating and cooling systems!

 

4) The Explorerdog exploring digging

Some dogs dig just for the sake of exploring. Digging unravels an interesting world of intriguing scents and secret treasures. “When dogs dig, they aerosolize scents that may been hidden,” explains veterinary behaviorist  Karen Overall, in the book “Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats.”With their powerful sniffers they therefore get to explore and keep their mind stimulated.

On top of that, digging may further prove to be rewarding when dogs unearth hidden treasures such as a forgotten toy or a bone the dog buried there several weeks ago. Many dogs who entertain themselves by digging are sporting/herding dogs looking for a “job.”

 

idea tipTip: Want to unleash the explorer in your dog ? Fill up an old swimming pool with lots of sand and bury several toys under the sand. Then, watch your dog go on a fun treasure hunt! These dogs thrive on exercise and mental stimulation, so make sure to provide plenty. Oh, and for dogs who bury bones for later consumption, you can curb this tendency by providing treats that are likely to be consumed in one setting.

 

dog digging escaping

5) The Escapist

Where does your dog dig exactly? Believe it or not, the location where your dog digs can tell you what he may be up to.  If the digging is particularly focused by the fence line, there are chances that he is digging himself a tunnel so he can escape from the yard.

Why would your dog want to escape? It could be because he feels lonely or bored, or  perhaps he wants to hunt, explore or meet new friends on the other side of the fence. In some cases, digging by the boundaries may be a sign of separation anxiety if your dog does that when you leave the house.

 

idea tipTip: You can bury chicken wire at the base of the fence keeping the sharp edges rolled up away from the yard; however, you may ultimately want to find a way to let your dog feel less lonely, bored or anxious.

 

6) The Attention Seekerdog digging for attention

Does your dog dig the most when he’s in your company? If so, the digging may be triggered by a need for attention. It doesn’t matter if you are scolding your dog when he digs, for a dog who craves attention, any form of attention may do. Suspect this type of digging if your dog mostly digs in your presence and doesn’t receive much interaction from you during the day. Perhaps you are away for most of the day or you don’t pay much attention to your dog.

Fact is, many dog owners have a tendency to ignore their dogs when they’re calm and well behaved and give their dogs plenty of attention (of the negative type) when they’re misbehaving. Dogs soon learn this pattern which translates into the persistence of undesirable behaviors not because the dog enjoys the activities per se’, but because he enjoys the attention that comes along for the ride. Some dogs may even find the negative attention amusing to the point that they think it’s a fun game! This means it’s time to shift methods!

 

idea tipTip: Reverse the use of your attention. Ignore the attention-getting digging, while you dole out loads of praise and attention when your dog doesn’t dig or engage in any other troublesome behaviors. Soon, your dog will learn that good behaviors yield the oh, so desired attention!

 

7) The Messengersdog kicking dirt

Some dogs take leaving “pee mail” to a whole new level. These are the dogs who will dig before they eliminate for the purpose of “aerosolizing” the dirt so they get to “read” the messages of dogs who were there prior to them. Other dogs will scratch the dirt with their back paws after they eliminate in hopes of adding further visual and olfactory components to their  “outputs.”

Did you know? Dogs have sweat glands on their paw pads, and along with those, they also have sebaceous glands in between their toes. When they scratch, they are therefore likely to spread around these special glandular secretions, explains Jensen P. in the book “The Ethology of Domestic Animals: An Introductory Text.”

idea tipThis type of  dirt scratching is more likely to occur in places frequented by other dogs, so expect to see it more in places other than your property (unless your yard is not fenced and it’s often  visited by other animals).

 

References:

  • The Ethology of Domestic Animals: An Introductory Text 1st Edition, by P. Jensen, CABI Publishing; 1st edition (August 8, 2002)
  • Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats, by Karen Overall, Mosby; 1 Pap/DVD edition (July 9, 2013)
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, Your Dog Is a Copycat, by Virginia Morell, retrieved from the web on April 2nd, 2016

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What’s Your Dog’s Play Style?

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Let’s face it: dog play can be quite entertaining to watch and its associated amusement can even beat the best television shows. Have you ever found yourself putting down the remove and shutting off the T.V. to watch your four-legged companions play? The best part is that every dog seems to have a preferred play style. There are dogs who love to chase, dogs who love to wrestle and dogs who are just satisfied to watch other dogs play while carefully monitoring their interactions. In a previous article we looked at the different meanings behind dog sleeping positions, today instead we’ll be discovering different play styles in dogs. Interestingly, there are several! How does your dog play?

The Refereesdog fun police

These dogs may not actively play among other dogs much. Instead, they’ll carefully monitor play sessions sticking by the edges of a group of dogs playing. Their main “play style” seems to entail following at a distance repeatedly barking at the players and swiftly intervening if things seem to get out of hand.

What triggers their intervention? Overly exuberant play or the first signs of a fight brewing may cause them to raise their yellow “penalty card” evoking them to get in between the dogs in an attempt to split things up or break up the fun.

warningCaution: While these dogs’ interventions may be helpful to split things up when dogs seem to not play “by the rules,” things can turn problematic when certain dogs don’t appreciate their “fun police” intrusions and get tired of having their movement controlled.

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“Herding dogs often assume the cheerleader or fun police role.” ~Pat Miller

the chaser dogsThe Chasers

These are dogs who love to romp around chasing other dogs or being the ones chased. They may do a play bow to initiate a chasing session or they may pick up a toy to entice a game of “keep away.” Then, off they go running around wildly.

Most dogs cannot resist a game of chase when one dog takes off asking to be chased. Dogs may even take turns in a tag-like fashion and sometimes play “freeze tag” where they stop and go, stop and go. Herding breeds may add their personal twist to the game and also add staring, stalking and nipping the heels of the dog being chased in the mix.

Many dogs do not mind being chased, but some may get a bit nervous especially when they are cornered. Keep an eye on the body language of the dog being chased. If his tail is low and he is trying to hide somewhere with his ears flattened or paw raised up, there are chances he’s intimidated by the game.

Not too sure if the dog being chased is having fun? Here’s a good test to find out. Gently restrain the chasing dog and see if the dog being chased runs right back to the chaser for more play.

warningCaution: chasing can be contagious! Keep an eye on dogs joining in and chasing down a single dog as seen in the picture! Also, use extra caution with large dogs chasing small dogs; predatory drift is a dangerous phenomenon that can be easily avoided by simply dividing play mates by sizes. Don’t take the risk!

“A dog that is having fun chasing is relaxed and loose. The dog that becomes predatory looks stiff, fixated and intense.” Robin K. Bennet

The Rugby Playersrugby players

Some dogs like to play hard and their passion may be body slamming at full speed against others dogs and even flipping them over. These dogs enjoy full-contact play which can be fun if they find another buddy with a similar play style, but the problem is that not all dogs are accepting of this rough play style.

The body slams and hip checks may be perceived as frightening to smaller dogs, old dogs, and puppies which can get hurt or end up being bullied, cautions dog trainer Jolanta Benal. 

warningCaution: dogs who do not find this type of contact sport acceptable may respond by lunging or snapping and things can take a turn for the worse.

It’s a good idea to train rough-and -tumble dogs a solid “leave it” or a recall so they can be re-directed before things get out of hand.

The Wrestlerswrestling dogs

As the name implies, these dogs seem to mimic a wrestling match with dogs jumping up and pawing at each other. This play style entails mostly vertical play. Along with the pawing, there’s often also big displays of teeth where dogs take turns biting on faces and necks, a behavior that many dog owners refer to as “bitey faces.”

These players are often great in inhibiting their bites and despite how vicious they look, it’s for the most part harmless play. You may sometimes stumble on hounds who will chase dogs and then they’ll start wrestling, ending the matches with fearsome growls and playful mock attacks aiming for the throat.

Many sporting and working breeds, along with the larger terriers, may enjoy this type of play.

warningCaution: as with rugby players, this style of play requires close monitoring to check how other dogs are perceiving it.

The Tuggers

dog tug of war

Some dogs are particularly passionate about tug-of-war games and they’ll encourage other dogs to play by shoving their tug toy near their faces. Despite what you may have heard in the past, this game has little to do with “dominance’ but more about just having fun.

Indeed, you’ll often see large dogs “self-handicapping” when playing it with a smaller or younger dog. This game is reminiscent of ancient times, dating back centuries prior to when tug toys were invented.

Indeed, in the old days a dog’s ancestors were playing games of tug by using remnants of pieces of hides of killed animals.

warningCaution: this game puts dog faces close to each other and there may be some inevitable moments of direct eye contact. Watch the game as some dogs may not be comfortable with this. Also, keep an eye open for signs of resource guarding.

cat likeThe Batters

You often see this play style in small, toy breed dogs or in dogs who lack confidence or have a history of being intimidated by rowdy play. These dogs engage in cat-like play where they will be gently batting other dogs’ faces with their paws and engage in other forms of soft play.

Some dogs may have converted to this play style because of some physical impairment such as arthritis or other orthopedic problem.

warning cautionCaution: These dogs do best playing with appropriately sized playmates or other dogs who match their play style as wrestling, body slamming may be too much for them  physically or emotionally.

As seen, there are many different play styles in dogs, but you may find that many like to combine many of the above and some dogs may have some quite unique play styles. How does your dog play?  Regardless of the type of play that dogs engage in, the most important factor is to make sure everyone is having fun! A good way to dog this is by hand picking dogs that make good, compatible play mates.

 

References:

  • Quick and Dirty Tips: Dog Play Styles and Aggression, by Jolanta Benal, retrieved from the web on April 1st, 2016.
  • Play with Your Dog, by Pat Miller, Dogwise Publishing (July 1, 2008)
  • Off Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety and Fun, by Robin Bennett, CPDT and Susan Briggs, CKO, Dogwise Publishing (January 1, 2008)

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