An Apple a Day...

I find a curious perplexity to the fact that every (able) household in America does not have a dog. Some may find that an oddity, however, given the innumerable ways in which dogs are of great benefit to their human counterparts, (very often even lifesaving benefit), it makes perfect sense. The pet lovers of the world have long experienced the reciprocity of ownership, however, those that have not understood that no outfit is complete without at least some dog hair are now becoming privy to the scientific evidence of health benefits that pet ownership provides. 

As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, yet  unlike apples, pets provide benefits to their human counterparts mentally, socially, physically, and physiologically. Pets provide companionship. They thwart loneliness and depression, provide comfort, often a sense of security, encourage routine, and the list goes on and on.

Dogs have been domesticated for centuries and have shown to provide noteworthy advantages to their two-legged counterparts in a major way from the start. Early on, when most of mankind was still hunting for their own food, domesticated dogs assisted in the hunt success. As time passed, they also would protect their human counterparts from other predators and alarm when foes approached.

In modern times, we have come to see the significance of having dogs perform specific jobs. They safely lead the blind, alert when their epileptic human has an oncoming seizure that they are not yet aware of, and alert a parent that their diabetic child is headed for a hypoglycemic attack.  Prevention saves lives.

Dogs have been known to save lives in other ways as well. They have been known to bring humans out of comas and to aid in speedier recoveries in children undergoing cancer treatment. There are news reports centered around the dog that pulled a baby in her bassinet away from a burning fire and then woke the parents up by barking incessantly as well as yet another dog who alerted a father to a choking toddler seconds away from the infant losing consciousness. The in-tune alertness to our concerns that many canines possess is remarkable to say the least.

Dogs provide an excellent format for teaching the importance of responsibility and compassion with kids. Significant studies have also shown that babies and children that are raised in an environment with a dog are healthier than those without. The hygiene hypothesis gives partial rise to this very momentous finding.

Due to their own need for adequate nutrition, the fact that they thrive on routine, and their own exercise requirements, dogs can be the gateway to healthier habits that last. In providing important care for our canine counterparts, we often increase our social interactions with those we share common interests with, leading to healthier relationships with others.

These are only some of the countless ways that canine compadres truly prove to be man's best friend. All in all, we have a lot to thank our eager-to-please companions for. The relationship between human and canine produces a truly unique bond that cannot be replicated with any other animal on earth, which is rather remarkable given that we are much more closely related to other species.

My advice? Forget the apple. Get a dog. 

Retractable Leashes: A Dangerous Idea

Written for Examiner in April of 2011, I covered some of the dangers related to the misuse of retractable leashes. With concern for the growing popularity of this style of leash, it seems appropriate to tackle this topic again to help dog owners avoid a few devastating mistakes.

Originally designed to let owners choose how far a dog can go and offer more freedom for canine companions on walks; retractable leashes are proving to provide a false sense of security and pose a danger to both dog and owner.

There have been thousands of human-related injuries reported from use of retractable leashes such as:

• blindness from the clasps breaking and snapping back to the face
• amputations to fingers when the cord gets wrapped and a dog jerks
• rope burns
• deep cuts

On the canine side, injuries are occurring as well and the results are proving tragic. A not so well-known cause for severe injury from dog fights comes from retractable leashes not capable of holding a dog running full speed. When a dog is running, and the leash is unwinding rapidly, the stop button is often difficult to engage and when it is engaged, it can break fairly easily. In addition, when the dog has reached the end of the leash, the forward momentum paired with the jolt of the lead coming to a sudden halt on the owners end, often causes the lead to snap and break where it is connected to the handle. The end result leaves the owner with a potentially irreversible injury and a dog given the ability to commence attack.

Retractable leashes prove to be constantly cumbersome in vet hospitals. Owners and dogs often become entangled when other dogs are entering or exiting the clinic. Countless cases of entanglement have resulted and staff finds themselves having to cut the dogs free from their entwined leads. Getting two dogs untangled that have come to a disagreement during the commotion can prove dangerous to the pets as well as the owners and staff trying to untangle them.

In the case one would need to quickly pull their pet away from danger, (car, bicycle, aggressive dog, away from cliff while hiking) doing so with a retractable leash proves frustrating, slow, and often ends undesirably without complete cooperation or ability from the dog.

From a safety perspective, retractable leashes offer very little control over a pet. One never knows if the next dog walking by is friendly or not; it is important to be in control of your pet at all times not only just for their well-being and safety, but for the well-being and safety of other dogs as well.

Perfect walking position for canine companions

 - Diane Jessup

Safer alternatives to retractable leashes for safe areas of play are lunge lines, training leads, or simply allowing your dog off-leash to exercise and play in a fenced area.

Overall, the safest way to leash your pet is a thin, comfortable lead, (such as a leather lead or soft nylon lead) that positions your pet by your side for walks in the neighborhood, veterinary visits, or trips to your favorite local pet stop.