What Dogs Do Not Shed?

Posted by Jeanne on October 27, 2009

Many people would love to own a pet dog, but are wary of the potential mess that shed dog hair can cause in their homes.  These people want a dog that doesn’t shed to be their companion.  Unfortunately there is no such thing as a dog that doesn’t shed at all.  All dogs will shed and replace at least some of their hair, just like people do.  There are some breeds that shed far less than others, however, and selecting one of these breeds can keep the shedding mess to a minimum.

Airedale Terrier

The Airedale terrier is a large terrier with a rough coat that sheds very little.  These dogs can be good with children, but such socialization needs to start early in the dog’s life.  They may play too roughly for small children.  These are loyal and trainable dogs, but are also very naturally curious and not easily coaxed away from something that catches their interest.  The Airedale usually grows to about 22-24 inches in height and a weight of 50-65 pounds.

Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is reminiscent of the Poodle, especially in the face.  It has a short, curly coat and does not shed much but does require above average grooming.  It is actually a cross between the American Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, hence its appearance and name (Cocker + Poodle = Cockapoo).  These dogs are very friendly, loyal, and playful.  They are good with children and other dogs and are typically very easy to train.

Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is a miniature Greyhound.  The body style of this dog is nearly exactly like that of his racing cousins, but in a convenient, compact size.  These dogs are gentle and submissive.  They become very emotionally attached to their people.  They are obedient and easy to train, but prone to mischief – and they know when they’ve been naughty.  They get along well with children – if the children are well behaved.  If the kids are high strung and rambunctious, the dog will be too.  It is best in a quiet household.  The coat of the Italian Greyhound is short and sleek and they don’t shed much at all.

Miniature Poodle

The Miniature Poodle is not truly a breed all to itself, but one of the three AKC recognized sizes of Poodles.  Like all Poodles, they shed very little, but their short, curly coats require considerable grooming.  They are very intelligent, playful, and quite trainable.  They generally get along well with children, but they can be sensitive or nervous around rowdy kids.  They easily integrate with a family and feel that they have to be a part of all family activities.  They will often act as though they’ve been slighted if not included in family activities.

Note

Many people believe that if you get a dog that does not shed that someone who is allergic to dogs will have no allergic reaction. That is not true! One of the dogs I am most allergic to is the miniature poodle. Although he did not shed, I was still allergic to his dander and saliva. Talk with your allergist before deciding to purchase a dog where there is a person with dog allergies.

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Why Do Dogs Eat Dog Poop?

Posted by Jeanne on July 28, 2009

For reasons that are still fairly unknown to veterinarians and scientists, some dogs seem unable to resist the tasty treat of their own or another animal’s feces.  Amongst a group of dogs a decent sized lump of excrement is less safe than an errant Twinkie at an Overeater’s Anonymous meeting.  If dogs ran the world the finest restaurants would serve  big steaming plates of the stuff as an entrée and the doggie version of T.G.I. Friday’s would serve it as an appetizer, cleverly fashioned into a flower shape.  We don’t even want to guess what would be served as a dipping sauce.

It was once thought that the tendency some dogs have to eat feces stemmed from a nutritional need of some kind.  Poor diet and poor health were considered to be the motivation for this seemingly bizarre and definitely disgusting (to humans) behavior.  Vets and animal health specialists now say that isn’t the case as research shows no connection between canine dietary or nutritional needs and the phenomenon.  At this point, scientists are stymied.  No one knows why some dogs do this.

In the case of a mother dog that has recently given birth, the behavior is completely normal.  Mother dogs will teach their pups to urinate and defecate by licking their hindquarters.  The pups respond to the stimulus by doing what is expected and the mother will eat the results instinctively.  For dogs in the wild this behavior served two useful purposes.  It kept the whelping area clean and eliminated the odors of the pups’ waste that could attract predators.  The puppies often learn this behavior from their mothers and mimic it.  Most puppies stop doing this by the time they are weaned.

It is more curious when non-parent adult dogs eat feces whether it is their own or that of some other animal.  Some scientists suggest that this is scavenger behavior and natural for dogs who are traditionally scavengers.  The theory doesn’t explain why some dogs do it and some do not, however.

As natural as it may be, it is not a good idea to allow your dog to engage in this behavior.  Eating of feces can expose a dog to internal parasites and bacterial infections, as well as raise the risk of viral infections like distemper and parvo.  The best way to prevent a dog from engaging in this behavior is to remove the temptation.  Keep the yard free of feces by disposing of it promptly.  Owners can also train the animal early, before it becomes too habitual.  Other methods that have been employed with varying degrees of success are feeding the dog things like garlic and pumpkin which are believed to make the feces less appealing and spraying the feces with a foul smelling solution (most dogs despise citronella, for example) that will make the dog not want to eat the excrement.

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