Some of you may think it is strange I write this time all about dogs. Many people in this part of the world don't even like them (and may even fear them) because they are not considered ritually clean.
But whatever your beliefs are, there is an increasing number of dogs kept at home in Saudi so it's important for people to learn how to keep them well.
Also, even if you do not like dogs, it is important to show them mercy and guide others to do the same.
Read this hadith:
"While a man was walking along a road, he became very thirsty and found a well. He lowered himself into the well, drank, and came out. Then [he saw] a dog, panting from thirst. The man said: "This dog has become exhausted from thirst in the same way as I." He lowered himself into the well again and filled his shoe with water. He gave the dog some water to drink. He thanked God, and [his sins were] forgiven."
The Prophet was then asked: "Is there a reward for us in our animals?"
He said: "There is a reward in every living thing."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 104
Even outside the Islamic writtings the historian William Montgomery Watt makes specific mention that the Holy prophet Mohammed's kindness to animals was remarkable, especially in the social context of the time. He cites an specific example when Mohammed(s) posted guards near were a mother dog had newborn puppies, to ensure they were not disturbed by his army traveling to Mecca, in the year 630.
Even after years of working with animals the one thing I've really learned is "there is always more to learn". New ideas come up about training, new theories about animal psychology, a better understanding about medical conditions and treatments... The internet is a great place to look.
Link of the Month Best Friends Animal Society is a fantastic animal charity (in the USA) but I've just found their on-line resources. There's access to lots of dog articles or you can download the full ABCs of Dog Life for your reference!
One reason a dog is such a lovable creature is his tail wags instead of his tongue.
-- Unknown
Pet Adoptions
There's more information about pet adoptions and fostering on our
website and a larger selection of animals to view. Please visit our facebook page, HERE!
looking for...
Looking for long term relationship with adult human, male or female, no specific nationality or colour required.
I'm a young female, healthy, slender legs and big brown eyes. I like walking and playing games, I'm very social but also love cuddles in the evening.
The human must be kind hearted and prepared to learn if not already trained.
But I'm not worried about looks or wealth - good personality and their commitment is most important to me.
Signed Ms Dog.
If you can be the special person for this sweet natured dog please contact Rania via email rania--911@hotmail.com
There is no medicine for happiness like a warm happy puppy. There is no treatment for loneliness like a loyal dog.
-- Annon
Just for Fun
I like big MUTTS and I can not lie You other mothers can't deny
That when a Newfoundland-Collie-Corgi mix
Does adorable doggie tricks
You fall in love
With a small mixed breed
He'll love you, guaranteed.
I gotta Terrier-Affenpinscher
And those brown eyes are the clincher
I know that dog is flea-ful
But that Chow Chow mix
Make me so gleeful
Ooh, Yorkie-Borzoi
You wanna be my new toy?
Pug mixed wit a Basset Hound
I'll take you from dat nasty pound
Doggy got home.
So ladies (yeah), Ladies (yeah)
Wanna pat my mutt named Sadie? (yeah)
Then grab a leash
You're shelter bound
Pick a lonely dog from the pound
Doggy got home
The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool out of yourself with him - and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool out of himself too.
-- Samuel Butler
do you really want a Husky?
Cool facts about Hot dogs
It's cooling down a bit now it's the end of summer, so I thought I'd bring up a cooool story about some animals from the Arctic - Arctic dogs actually. I want to mention them now because they are becoming popular pets in Saudi - and I don't think that's such a great idea.
'But why? They're so cute and fluffy, they look like tebby-bears!'
Well, here's some information about them, then you can decide for yourself
The great sled dogs of the Northern Arctic regions have a long and proud history; they are strong, very intelligent, athletic and loving dogs.
Life in the Arctic for people would have been impossible without their help and many people owe their lives to these animals.
The main types today are the Samoyed, the Eskimo Sled dog and most popular here in Saudi: the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamutes.
These Arctic dogs are "natural breeds". By that I mean the breed type didn't come from mutations that people then bred more of - like the
Shar Pei or Chinese hairless .
The Arctic is a difficult place to live in and only the animals who had the right physique and personality survived to work and share shelter with the people there.
Samoyed dogs have the longest coats and are usually pure white. They are named after a tribe of the people from where they originated on the Taimyr Peninsula, in Northwestern Siberia. more
Eskimo sled dogs originated as the dog of the Thule Inuit people of far northern Canada and these dogs vary more in colour than the others. more
Huskies and Malamutes look almost alike but the Malamutes are larger with a wider muzzle and only the Husky features the distinctive blue eyes.
Mahlemuts were an Innuit tribe of people who settled in Alaska. They kept large, strong sled dogs for freighting heavy loads across trade and hunting routes in the Arctic. Their dog is what developed to become the Alaskan Malamute.
The Siberian Husky is widely believed to have originated from within the Chukchi Tribe, off the eastern Siberian peninsula. These people chose smaller, faster dogs to run sleds quickly between settlements and across ice flows.
The special features of the Northern breeds:
Thick, double coat - waterproofing long hairs guard a thick down-like insulating undercoat.
Bushy tail to curl all the way round to his nose - to warm his breath while sleeping.
The nose and nasal passages are shaped to warm the air before it reaches his lungs.
The shape of the ears are pricked and they're covered in fur too, to prevent frost bite.
Long strong legs to work through snow drifts; and thick fur between the toes to provide warmth and grip the ice.
Almond shaped, oblique eyes are shaped and positioned to be protected against freezing cold wind.
Also, in order to survive in a hostile environment the dogs had to be brave to tolerate the extreme weather.
They needed an ability to think for themselves - but this can make them a bit stubborn and independent in training.
However they are very friendly, even to strangers, which makes them sweet pets but they really lack a guarding instinct. You see, the Alaskian tribes were nomadic and people would regularly share shelter in the hash land with other travelers - they needed their dogs to be sociable too, not as guards.
The other day I saw an advert here
"Alaskan Malamute puppies for sale, good size for guard dog, pure breeding".
Saddly, this indicates the owner knows very little about these dogs - and worse, is breeding more just to make money.
Everything about these animals is designed for working in the Arctic, in a very sociable setting, their body is built to conserve warmth and protect it from any chill and they love loads of exercise.
In a hot climate they will either suffer the heat outdoors or be confined to a lack of space under the a/c. Because of their stoic nature and ability to tolerate discomfort, many people miss the obvious fact - these dogs are just not comfortable here; especially, alone as a guard dog!
Would you wear snow-clothes in summer here!?
Look what the native Saluki is wearing - much better, huh?
There are many lovely types of dogs who are well suited for warmer climates, and many more varieties of cross breeds (look below). But really think seriously, a polar bear a penguin or an Alaskan sled dog is not a wise choice if you want a pet in Saudi.
I know there are some people who put a lot of effort into keeping these dogs to make them comfortable here. But for every one of them there are many more who will not and if these breeds gain popularity more animal will suffer.
- for more information on heat exposure in pets check HERE .
My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already believes me to be.
-- Unknown
Good Boy!
Easy to make training treats
When training your dog you need to give a reward when he gets things right - so he learns what is good and has an incentive to repeat the good behaviour (to get another treat).
My dog (a Labrador) loved food so much, it was pretty easy to get his interest, but some dogs aren't so motivated with a dog biscuit. So try these liver treats!
Buy some ox liver (it's the cheapest and also easy to handle).
Cut it into really thin strips, as long as you like, and place on a wire mesh tray.
Slow cook in the oven, on the lowest possible setting, to dry out and slightly cook - for five or six hour or until it appears completely dry.
Leave it out overnight to dry further, then you can store it in a container.
It does not need to be refrigerated; you can even cut it up and keep pieces in your pocket during training sessions.
The dogs love it.
Just remember, don't give toooo much liver to your dogs (or cats); because it is very rich and too much can cause some problems.
While training and games are good for your dog's body and mind, if you dog is over weight, remember to reduce their dinner with a similar proportion as the treats you use in training - or the treats will add to more weight gain.
Last tip! remember you are not just training your dog in training sessions - he is watching you all the time. You body language, your reactions, are constantly giving clues about what behaviours you allow, think are good or bad. Knowing how to live with dogs is the key, not just some commands. Always be 100% consistant.
Money may buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of its tail.
-- Henry Wheeler Shaw
The most common problem
Seperation Anxiety in Dogs
Barking when alone, destructive behaviour, toileting in the house...all signs of seperation anxiety in dogs.
HERE is an article that may help. Understanding the dogs' problems means you can then help solve it.
Does your neighbour / friend's dog have these problems? Maybe they could do with a copy to help them too.
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-- Josh Billings
Where do Puppies come from?
Buyer Be-Aware! about mail order dogs.
A few of the pet shops are now offering "mail order puppies" (or dogs). They are usually imported from Europe and claim to be good quality and Kennel Club Registered breeders. There are also some fancy looking websites now which claim they help dog buyers find their perfect pooch from abroard.
Oooo! That sounds Good! Well, there is a dark side to this practice - most of those dogs come from puppy mills (A.K.A Puppy farms). These are a Western idea, consumer driven dog supply farms. But as public awareness grows against them there, these "puppy farmers" are now targeting the Middle East as an outlet for their dogs. We need to act!
What's a Puppy Farm?
A puppy farm is a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon making money out of making puppies. Out of these farms, millions of dogs are produced to sell for profit.
But these are pedigree dogs with registration; they must come from a good place, right?
A pedigree is just a record of the parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc, if they are registered with the Kennel Club as belonging to a specific breed.
There is no guarantee of health or good temperament in a pedigree dog and there is no requirement to provide specific care for a breeding pedigree dog.
The Kennel Club does give pedigree papers to some puppy farms. Some puppy farms also create bogus papers and certificates to appear more legitimate.
How do they sell the dogs if they are in poor condition?
The puppies are the products which are sold, it's pretty easy to quickly wash, groom and package one to look super cute. They depend largely on their mother's milk at that age so they are not as sickly as the adult dogs.
Phony websites and pet store outlets are used to deliberately to hide the facts; that the breeding dogs, the parents, live in a canine prison hell.
Why would anyone who is a dog breeder treat dogs badly? Surely they love their dogs?
Puppy farming is not about loving, cared for pets. It's about puppy production for profit.
When people put profit above welfare, the maximum profits are made in the worst conditions for animals. Here's how:
Increase the number of animals in your property - crowded, cramped conditions, it disables normal movement for the animals, there are injuries from fighting out of stress and faster spread of disease.
Reduce construction and maintenance costs - cheap cage materials and construction means cages are unsafe and the dogs easily injured inside.
Reduce staff costs: most farms have minimal staff, so cleaning is never thorough, there is no grooming and no exercise time, most animals spend their whole life in the cages.
Reduce power charges: kennels are often dark, air con and heating is often not provided.
Reduce feeding costs: cheap food is made out of waste meat cuts, expired product, bulked out with breads etc. The poor diet leads to rotten teeth, poor coats, general malnutrition; often dogs and very underweight even starving.
Reduce veterinary costs: dogs are often not vaccinated until sold (in case the vaccine is wasted on them) so many puppies show the disease symptoms when they are transported out. Injuries are not treated, and they can be serious, from fighting and getting hurt on cage wire.
Maximise production turnover: means breeding the animals to capacity, every possible season, remove the puppies as young as 4-5 weeks (minimum recommended age is 8 weeks) to reduce their upbringing costs and get the mother back into production. The mothers are destroyed and replaced when their breeding rates start to drop - usually at about 5 years of age.
OMG! Why do they do this?? It's a simple supply and demand issue.
People want to buy pedigree puppies, there is an industry to supply them.
People are sold the idea that cute puppies are better than older dogs - that's easy, since puppies are cute! But puppies also require a lot of training, are very time consuming and often destructive - many are later given up when the novelty wears off.
People are told that a "breed is better", when actually a pure bred dog is more likely to have congenital defects than a cross-breed or mutt - because those have much more broard genetics. In fact, puppies from these places are far more likely to carry diseases and are often underweight for their age and poorly socialised.
So, the poor public are deceived, they are sold a cute picture of a fluffy dog on a cushion with a ribbon in its hair or a lunging Alsatian (GSD) in a bright field of grass - when just outside the picture frame is the truth which is far less attractive.
What can we do about it?
Be an informed consumer.
Get your dog locally.
Adopt a dog in need who has been rescued or one who the owner can't keep and who needs to find a new loving home.
If you do buy something specific, be wise what you are paying for. While there are real costs in taking care, breeding and raising dogs, a reputable breeder will keep animal welfare as the priority. Check it out for yourself; go see the mother and other puppies, where they live, what they eat, who is their vet, check out their personalities, behavours and health.
Breeders who truly care for their animals will be proud to show you a well cared for mother and pups and would absolutely never mail order their beloved pups to a foreign country, to people they don't know. That is the truth.
Take consumer action to stop this cruel puppy farming practice.
Do not buy from pet stores or online sites unless you can live with supporting puppy mills.
Do not think you are rescuing a dog from a pet shop by buying it - you are just opening up a cage for another puppy to be ordered in.
Do forward this to dog lovers you know - especially if they are thinking of buying a dog!
On a personal note, the first time I was aware of puppy farms was when I visited one in Wales near where I was working. I could smell the stench from the car park 100m away: shit, piss and a horrid rotten smell from food and flesh. I will never forget the place. Please believe me this is real.
I Dare you to Care! - I dare you to move, to make a difference.
'But why? They're so cute and fluffy, they look like tebby-bears!'
These Arctic dogs are "natural breeds". By that I mean the breed type didn't come from mutations that people then bred more of - like the 
Everything about these animals is designed for working in the Arctic, in a very sociable setting, their body is built to conserve warmth and protect it from any chill and they love loads of exercise.
When training your dog you need to give a reward when he gets things right - so he learns what is good and has an incentive to repeat the good behaviour (to get another treat).
Barking when alone, destructive behaviour, toileting in the house...all signs of seperation anxiety in dogs.
A few of the pet shops are now offering "mail order puppies" (or dogs). They are usually imported from Europe and claim to be good quality and Kennel Club Registered breeders. There are also some fancy looking websites now which claim they help dog buyers find their perfect pooch from abroard.
There is no guarantee of health or good temperament in a pedigree dog and there is no requirement to provide specific care for a breeding pedigree dog.
