Archive for August, 2008

A sniffer dog uses his keen sense of smell to detect the presence or follow trails of mainly explosives, blood and drugs.  These dogs get a remarkable level of training to also detect human remains, plants, animals, firearms, mold, food remains and phones!

The training is done to such perfection that dogs are able to distinguish the distinct smells of all the items mentioned above and can also detect them when present in a combination.

For instance if a person tries to get away with drugs camouflaged with the strong smell of eucalyptus oil or  disinfectants, hidden well in his clothing, a dog can still find out that presence of drugs  and stop him!

Some dogs are sharp enough to sniff out and detect bloodstains more than a decade old!  Labradors, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies are all popular sniffer dogs and are always in great demand because of this. 

Meanwhile scientists are involved in creating an electronic sniffing device.  According to CNN, Yushan Yan, a professor in the University of California and his team are involved with such a project.  They are in an endeavor to create an “electronic nose” that can “smell” as well as a dog!

The device will be hand held and will prove to be an asset in airport security, baggage checking and in military operations, according to Yan.  The advantages, according to the professor is that the device can be deployed without investing time and money on training and maintenance, as one would do with dogs.

With the successful completion of this project will the demand for sniffer dogs decline?  This we will have to wait and watch…..

All pet owners strive to give their pets the twin gifts of good health and hygiene.  They do it by giving pets nutritionally balanced meals besides a regular  dedicated bath -and- brush routine. 

Clean smelling pets are obnoxious to fleas and other parasites! They die in soap lather! So give that bath as early as his coat requires

The frequency of giving your pet his bath should depend on the breed , prevalent weather conditions and the animal’s lifestyle - whether he is a very active outdoor sort or the quiet type that leaves the house only for his daily walk and exercise.

For instance if you own a smooth haired Dachshund, you will have to give him a bath once a month to keep his coat healthy and free of dust and fleas. However a Havanese would need his bath more often (once a fortnight) given the nature of his coat.

Frequent bathing can dry up the skin. Emergency baths are always allowed, for example, following his romping in the garden after heavy rains. A gap more than two months, between baths tends to make the an animal’s skin more oily, attracting dirt and infection on it. Always use high quality brand of Dog shampoo

• Wash your pet in a sink or a bathtub
• Keep comb, Dog shampoo and towels near at hand. Do not leave him dripping after his wash, even for a minute
• Place a rubber mat, below the tub, so that your pet does not slip on water on the floor
• Do not apply soap too close to his eyes
• Summer or winter, always dry the animal well after the bath
• You can allow him a fun bath in summer by letting him play about in a child wading pool, while you hose him down!

The dog itchy skin may be a symptom of various internal or external problems ranging from hypothyroidism, to atopic dermatitis to fleas.  An excellent daily routine of grooming and caring for your dog, can usually bring the problem down to nought. 

The best defenses against dog itchy skin are good health and hygiene made available to the dog by sound advice from dog experts/vets and apt, high quality Dog products . There are a vast range of Dog products available in the market that can keep these symptoms and bay and provide immense relief and comfort to your pets. 

Besides the external grooming care, how about giving an excellent anti flea food to your pet, that can always keep him free of these annoying creatures?  This is how you can prepare it.

Anti flea food

To 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese, add 2 tablespoons bacon grease, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1001U of Vitamin E . Mix the ingredients thoroughly and refrigerate the mix. Add this in a small quantity to his meal every day.