For people who have always been around dogs, talking to their four-legged friends is probably easy and almost second nature. But at the beginning of the relationship, it is important to immerse yourself in the dog's world and meet it where it is coming from. So you have to learn its language—not the other way around.
Dogs come from their own world, where they have learned their own rules, laws, and ways of communicating. In order to learn to speak a "language" with your dog, you should start by observing it: dogs communicate through their behavior and body language... You just need to watch closely and share experiences with your dog.
The most important aspects of living with your dog should be understanding, trust, and security. Be patient and motivate your dog repeatedly with lots of praise. Then, sooner or later, you should succeed in developing a "common language."
Your dog shows its feelings through certain behaviors. Here are some typical behaviors of a dog—and what they can mean:
Your voice and body language give your dog signals that let him know what you want him to do. During the training phase, you teach your dog certain commands such as "sit," "down," and "off"—always in combination with hand signals—and try to communicate with him as calmly and quietly as possible.
Punishment, shouting, and other aggressive forms of training have no place in dog training, or in any form of education. Consciously put your emotions aside and remain patient, loving, and consistent. Dogs need to be spoken to in the same way so that they can understand your language. Never forget: praise is the key to bonding and successful communication.
A doping scandal in dressage brought this condition to the attention of riders. An increasing number of horses, particularly competition horses, are now affected by this neuromuscular disorder. The causes remain largely unknown. Shivering is considered incurable and can severely impair the horse in some cases. Large, heavy, and male horses between the ages of four and seven, as well as horses with naturally high muscle tone, are particularly at risk.
This infectious disease caused by the coronavirus affects only cats and occurs worldwide. The disease remains one of the most common causes of death in cats. The name is derived from the most common symptom of this disease, peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining).
The West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes between birds, but also to humans, horses, and other mammals. For a long time, it only occurred on the African continent. However, since 1999, the West Nile virus has also spread to the US. In 2018, it was detected for the first time in birds and two horses in Germany (Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt). Since then, infections have occurred in the summer and fall months. Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony are particularly affected. However, more and more cases are now also occurring in Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. West Nile infection is a notifiable animal disease.
Testicular tumors are the second most common type of tumor in male dogs and account for four to seven percent of all tumors in dogs overall. There are different types of tumors, with dogs with one or two undescended testicles (= cryptorchidism) having a significantly increased risk of developing a testicular tumor.
Unfortunately, our pets are not immune to cancer either. Malignant lymphoma is a malignant tumor that originates in cells of the immune system. Since these cells are mainly found in lymph glands, it is also referred to as lymph gland cancer.
Feline asthma, or cat asthma, is a chronic respiratory disease that, like asthma in humans, is triggered by an allergic reaction. Typical signs of feline asthma include severe coughing or wheezing. Young to middle-aged cats are most commonly affected.
Some dogs have long hair, others short, others trimmed... Dog groomers are becoming increasingly popular. And even dogs that don't really need a haircut can relax during a wash, cut, and blow-dry.
A hernia is a bulge in the abdominal wall through which the peritoneum and intestines can protrude. Perianal hernia, also known as perineal hernia, is a condition that occurs in 90% of older, unneutered male dogs, in which fat and abdominal organs protrude under the skin in the perineal area (the area between the anus and the external genitalia).
This eye disease, also known as Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), is a hereditary condition affecting Collies, Shelties, and some related breeds. It is a congenital developmental disorder of the back of both eyes that can lead to visual impairment or even blindness.
When the body produces antibodies against its own structures, this is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body, thereby damaging certain functions and organs—in some cases leading to their complete destruction. Autoimmune diseases in dogs include various forms of the pemphigus and lupus complexes. The individual diseases are distinguished based on the different target structures in the body.
This brain disorder, which has not yet been fully researched in dogs, causes seizures that can be very frightening for dog owners. Epilepsy can be treated very effectively with medication, but its cause is still not fully understood.
The prostate gland is the most important sex gland in male dogs. It is located behind the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The secretion produced by the prostate gland is a component of semen and is ejaculated together with the sperm produced in the testicles. Prostate disorders are usually diagnosed in older, unneutered male dogs. These disorders can cause various changes in the gland.
