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Coronaviruses/COVID-19 and your pets – what you need to know

Our vets provide their expertise on what you need to know about the Coronavirus/COVID-19

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What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the recently identified COVID-19.

What is COVID-19 and can it infect pets?

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the recently identified coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 was unknown before the recent outbreak identified late last year.

Currently there is no evidence suggesting that dogs and cats can be a source of infection for COVID-19, or that they can become sick from the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 is currently spreading through human to human transmission.  However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This helps protect against various common bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, that can pass between pets and humans.

There is a single dog in Hong Kong which tested a weak positive to the COVID-19 virus, however it is still being investigated whether this positive test result was due to environmental contamination or if the dog was truly infected. It is important to note the dog was not showing any signs of disease.  This is an evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available from the relevant human health and veterinary bodies.

Do dogs and cats suffer illness from any coronaviruses?

Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP) and canine coronavirus (CCV) are two coronaviruses which have been unfortunately present and causing disease in dog and cat populations for a long time. It is important to note that FIP and CCV are distinctly different and separate to the COVID-19 virus causing the current disease outbreak with humans. CCV generally causes mild gastroenteritis in dogs, and FIP is a progressive and invariably fatal systemic disease of domestic cats. Both cannot cause illness in people.

Does Petsy Pet Insurance provide cover for COVID-19 or other coronaviruses?

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and canine coronavirus (CCV) are assessed as Illness conditions under a Petsy Pet Insurance policy and are generally eligible for cover under Illness subject to the exclusion periods and provided the condition is not pre-existing.

It is important to remember, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and veterinary bodies have advised currently there is no evidence dogs and cats can become sick from COVID-19. If there are any developments in relation to COVID 19 impacting dogs and cats, we will do our best to keep our customers informed.

Rest assured if your pet is currently displaying symptoms of coughing, respiratory issues or a fever/elevated temperature, you should seek veterinary advice, and know these conditions are generally coverable under your policy provided there were no signs or symptoms that occurred prior to the start of cover or during any applicable exclusion periods (and therefore considered a pre existing condition under the policy and excluded from cover).

What are vaccine preventable diseases?

Vaccine preventable diseases relate to known infectious diseases caused by either bacteria and/or viruses where the risk can be reduced by the use of vaccines. 

These diseases include in dogs; 

• Canine distemper virus (CDV)
• Canine adenovirus (CAV)
• Canine parvovirus (CPV-2)
• Parainfluenza virus (PI)
• Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) and 
• Leptospira interrogans 

In cats these diseases are:

• Feline Parvovirus (FPV)
• Feline calicivirus (FCV)
• Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1)
• Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
• Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and 
• Chlamydia felis

Does Petsy Pet Insurance cover vaccine preventable diseases?

 With a Petsy Pet Insurance policy, we over coverage for a list of vaccine preventable diseases if you can provide sufficient evidence that your pet is up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccinatable diseases are not covered if the pet is not up to date with
vaccinations at the time of first occurrence of and at the time of treatment of a vaccinatable disease and/or related illness. 

If I am quarantined or hospitalised due to COVID-19 and can’t take care of my pet, can I seek assistance for emergency boarding?

If during the Period of Insurance, You are unexpectedly hospitalised for four (4) or more consecutive days, and it is not reasonable for someone who lives with You to look after Your Pet and is therefore necessary for Your Pet to board at a licensed kennel or cattery, We will reimburse a portion of Your incurred boarding costs for a
period of up to thirty (30) days up to the Benefit Percentage, subject to the Annual Excess and Annual Limit as shown in Your Certificate of Insurance.

If you are not hospitalised and are simply quarantined at home due to COVID-19, emergency boarding for your pet will not be covered.

Additional resources

Further information relating to the Coronavirus can be sourced from the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) websites:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

https://www.ava.com.au/coronavirus/

Petsy Pty Ltd (ABN 54 633 343 058, AR 1277359) (‘Petsy’) distributes and promotes Petsy Pet Insurance as an authorised representative of Knose Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 38 620 795 735, AFSL 536651) (‘Knose’). Knose is an underwriting agency acting under a binding authority as an agent for the insurer; (a) Pacific International Insurance Pty Limited (ABN 83 169 311 193)  (’Pacific) in relation to policies from 01 March 2023 or have an anniversary renewal date from 18 March 2023, and (b) the Australia branch of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd (ABN 54 163 304 907) (‘Allied World’) in relation to policies purchased between 17 February 2022 and 28 February 2023 (inclusive) or renewed between 01 March 2023 and 17 March 2023 (inclusive).In all aspects of arranging this product, Petsy and Knose act as an agent of Pacific/Allied World (as the case may be) and not as your agent. Any advice contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account individual objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider the appropriateness of any such advice, the Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’’) (Allied World PDS) and the Target Market Determination (‘TMD’’) (Allied World TMD) available via www.petsy.com.au or by calling 1300 952 790 before making a decision to acquire, or to continue to hold, the product.

Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the PDS.

This article was written by Petsy Pet Insurance

Spending time outdoors is a natural part of being a dog and having access to fresh air, exercise and mental stimulation is vital to a dog’s happiness and well-being. While regular time outside is great for your dog, it also means they have to share the same space as insects, bees and other critters who live outside. Dogs are curious creatures and they investigate the outside world using their noses and paws, which also happen to be the two prime targets of insect stings. Dogs also love to run and chase things including insects which in some cases, protect themselves by stinging the dog.

How to identify if your dog’s been stung

If your dog has been stung, it’s important be aware of the signs so you can get them to the vet as soon as possible. The most common signs to look for are excessive licking or pawing of a particular spot. Other tell-tale signs include swelling, drooling, crying out or running in circles. If you notice your dog exploring a flower, plant or native bush and yelps in pain, they may have experienced a sting. The most common spots for bee stings on dogs include the pads of the feet, the mouth, and the face area.

Mild signs include swelling, scratching rubbing, licking or chewing at the sting. Severe signs include profound swilling, hives, vomiting and difficulty breathing.

If in doubt, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Multiple stings are dangerous.   Dogs who have been stung by multiple bees at once are more likely to have a reaction and may experience anaphylactic shock. If you suspect your dog has encountered multiple stings or has been stung inside the mouth or throat, take them to the veterinarian.

Bee and wasp stings are poisons. The two most common types of stinging insects are bees and wasps. The main cause of pain for the dog is the poison that is injected by the bee or wasp, not the small puncture wound created

Most of the time dogs get stung on their faces from getting too close to a stinging insect. They are also more likely to get bee stings than people as they tend to chase or play with things that move. A sting on your dog’s sensitive nose is particularly painful and they can get stung by several kinds of insects including bees, wasps and hornets. Some dogs may even get stung on the tongue or inside their mouth or throat if they try to bite or catch an insect. These stings can be dangerous as the subsequent swelling can close your dog’s throat and block his airway.

It’s important to note that not all stings are the same. Bees have a barbed stinger that detaches from the bee and will remain in your dog’s skin. For several minutes after the sting, the venom sack on the stinger will continue to pulsate and inject more venom into the area. Wasps and hornets on the other hand don’t have barbed stingers, instead they retain their and can sting multiple times.

Watch out for allergic reactions

Signs of allergic reactions include:

• Redness
• A flurry of yelping
• Pawing at the muzzle or affected areas
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• General weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• A large amount of swelling extending away from the sting site
• A pained yelp or limp

If you notice your dog experiencing any kind of reaction, take your dog to the vet immediately.

What you can do to help

Stay calm

While seeing your pup being in pain may make you anxious and nervous, it will help your pup if try to remain calm while you make your way to the vet. Bee stings, though uncomfortable are rarely fatal with the proper precautions.

Keep an eye on your pup

Keep a close eye on your pup to see if the problem worsens. Signs could include significant swelling, hives, increased pain or signs of anaphylactic shock, like having trouble breathing. You should take your dog to the vet if you notice any of these signs. Once you arrive at the veterinary clinic, if the pet has symptoms consistent with a worsening allergic reaction, injectable therapy such as antihistamines, steroids and/or epinephrine may be administered. Do not give your dog any medication without consulting your veterinarian first.

Do your best to remain calm and give them all the love and support they need until they feel better.

These pups learnt their lesson and know they need to bee more careful next time!

Please note that any advice is general. For further advice and information, you should consult your veterinarian.

This article was written by Petsy Pet Insurance

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If you’re bringing home a puppy, it’s crucial to understand the 6 essential canine development deadlines in a puppy’s life to help ensure you have a well-behaved companion for life.

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Puppyhood is a critical time and the success of your dog-human relationship is based on your teaching your puppy the rules and regulations of domestic living. Understanding this development period will have a profound and everlasting effect that will enrich your dog-human relationship for many years to come. An adult dog’s temperament and behaviour habits (both good and bad) are shaped during puppyhood – very early puppyhood.

Understanding these natural stages of learning and development will help ensure your pup has the best possible start to life and will help avoid many of the behavioural pitfalls that many dog-owners face.

The stages in a nutshell

 Before you bring your puppy home

Stage 1: Educate yourself on dogs

Stage 2: Learn how to evaluate a puppy’s development

Stage 3: Learn how to house-train your puppy

After you bring your puppy home

Stage 4: Socialise your puppy with other people and dogs (by 12 weeks)

Stage 5: Learn bite inhibition (by 18 weeks)

Stage 6: Preventing adolescent problems (by 5 months)

What’s with the rush?

Your pup’s first month in your home is the most crucial developmental period of his life. This is a short, make-or-break period which pretty much determines whether your puppy will develop into a well-mannered and good-natured companion that will bring joy to your life for many years to come, or whether your puppy will develop numerous, predictable behaviour problems and grow up to be fearful and unfriendly.

Before bringing home a puppy, understand that you will be faced with a crossroad with the course of your puppy’s development in your hands. The clock is ticking and there are only three months to get a lot of things done. Early socialisation and training will help to prevent the list of predictable behaviour and temperament problems.

Appropriate socialization and training are the biggest factors in determining how closely the dog will approach your view of perfection in adulthood. Any puppy can be a fantastic companion if properly trained and any puppy (regardless of breed and breeding) can also be difficult to live with if not properly trained and socialised.  No matter which puppy you choose, success or failure is entirely in your hands and your puppy’s behaviour and temperament largely depends on good care and training.

Environmental influences (socialisation and training) exert a far greater impact on desired domestic behaviour and temperament than genetic heredity. For example, the temperamental differences between a good (educated) Malamute and a bad (uneducated) Malamute or between a good Golden Retriever and a bad Golden Retriever are much greater than the temperamental differences between a Golden and a Malamute with an equivalent experiential and educational history.

Why is it important?

Misbehaviour can be one of the most prevalent reasons for re-homing dogs and for them being sent off to shelters. Minor house soiling and chewing mistakes sometimes leads to banishment to the backyard, where the dog may develop severe socialisation problems and learn bad habits.

Some of these predictable habits and problems can be prevented with responsible owner and puppy education.

Before you bring your puppy home

Development stage 1: Educate yourself on dogs and puppies

If you have decided that you would like to raise and train a puppy, before you go looking for puppies, you should complete your education about puppies. This includes understanding what puppies need and how they behave, deciding what kind of puppy you want and how to search for and select a suitable puppy.

Owners will need to learn how to teach the pup to go to the toilet, what to chew, when to bark, where to dog, to sit when greeting people, to walk calmly on the leash, to settle down and hush when requested, to inhibit his otherwise quite normal biting behaviour and to thoroughly enjoy the company of other dogs as well as people.

You’ll need to decide what breed you like, what breed matches your lifestyle, whether you want a pure-breed or mix-breed, when and where to get your puppy as well as whether you’d like to get a puppy or adopt an adult dog.

Remember, you are selecting a puppy to live with you for a long time. Choosing a puppy to share your life is a very personal choice – your choice. You will save yourself lots of unnecessary problems and heartbreak if your choice is informed and educated.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What breed or type of dog are you looking for and why?
• How many dogs do you want in the household?
• Do you want a male or female dog?
• What age would you like the dog to be when you bring him into your family?
• What type of dog would suit your lifestyle?
• What size dog are you able to keep?
• Do you want a mix-breed or pure-bred dog?
• Will you look for a breeder or adopt from a shelter?
• How much time can you allocate to grooming, exercise and training?

Evaluate the following:

• Sensitivity to sounds and the puppy’s response to a variety of different noises like people talking, laughing, crying and shouting, a whistle, a hiss or a single hand clap.
• Household etiquette and where they are choosing to eliminate in the house (comparing how many piles and puddles are in the toilet area versus on the floor will offer a good indication on where the puppy will eliminate when they arrive at your home).

You are choosing a pup to come and live in your home with you and adapt to your lifestyle so make sure the pup has been prepared as best they can for domestic life in general and suitable for your lifestyle.

Development stage 3: Learn how to house-train your puppy

Have a toilet training and chew toy training program ready to be implemented from the very first day your puppy comes home. Your puppy wants to please but needs to learn how. You will need to be the person who teaches the puppy the rules around the house. You can start by teaching your pup good habits from the first day she comes home. Good habits are just as hard to break as bad habits.

Your puppy will feel the need to bark, chew and eliminate during the day so they must be left somewhere where they can satisfy their needs without causing any damage or annoyance. House-soiling is a spatial problem and involves normal, natural and necessary canine behaviours (peeing and pooping) performed in inappropriate places.

Simple behaviour problems are so easily preventable, yet they are one of the most common reasons for people’s dissatisfaction with their dogs a. Teaching household manners should be your number one priority the first day your puppy comes home.

Toilet training can be accomplished by praising your puppy and offering treats when they go to the toilet in an appropriate area. Usually puppies urinate within half a minute of waking up from a nap and usually defecate within a couple of minutes of that.

Puppies have a 45-minute bladder capacity at three weeks of age, 75-minute capacity at eight weeks, 90-minute capacity at twelve weeks and two-hour capacity at 18 weeks. Releasing your puppy every hour offers you an hourly opportunity to reward your dog for using a designated toilet area. You do not have to do this precisely each hour, but it is much easier to remember to do so each hour on the hour.

Short-term confinement as a method of toilet training offers a convenient means to accurately predict when your puppy needs to relieve herself. Confining a pup to a small area strongly inhibits her from urinating or defecating, since she doesn’t want to soil her sleeping area. Hence, the puppy is highly likely to want to eliminate immediately after being released from confinement.

Short-term confinement, whether to a crate or tie-down, is a temporary training measure to help you teach your puppy where to eliminate and what to chew. A dog crate is the best housetraining tool to help you accurately predict when your dog wishes to relieve herself and is the best training tool to help you to teach your puppy to become a chewtoyaholic. Once your puppy has learned to eliminate only in appropriate areas and to chew only appropriate objects, she may be given free run of the house and garden for the rest of her life.

Short-term close confinement allows you to predict when your puppy wants to go so that you may be there to direct him to the appropriate spot and reward him for doing the right thing in the right place at the right time. During the hour-long periods of close confinement, as your puppy lies doggo in dreamy repose, his bladder and bowels are slowly but surely filling up. Whenever the big hand reaches twelve and you dutifully release the pup to run to his indoor toilet or backyard doggy toilet to relieve himself, your puppy is likely to eliminate pronto. Knowing when your puppy wants to go allows you to choose the spot and most importantly to reward your puppy handsomely for using it. Rewarding your puppy for using his toilet is the secret to successful toilet training. If on the other hand the puppy were left in his playroom, he would most likely use his indoor toilet but would not be rewarded for doing so.

Sadly, the maddening pace of present-day domestic dogdom necessitates teaching your puppy how to enjoy spending time at home alone—not only to ensure your pup adheres to established household etiquette when unsupervised, but more importantly to prevent your puppy from becoming anxious in your absence.

A chew toy is an object for the dog to chew that is neither destructible nor consumable. If your dog destroys an object, you will have to replace it, and that costs money. If your dog consumes the object, you may have to replace your dog. Eating non-food items is extremely hazardous to your dog’s health.

 

In the wild, dogs spend a good 90% of their waking hours searching for food and the regular bowl feeding deprives them of this principal activity – searching for food.

In a sense, each bowl-fed meal steals the puppy’s raison d’etre, its very reason for being. Within seconds of gulping his meal, the poor pup now faces a mental void for the rest of his day with nothing but long, lonely hours to worry and fret, or work himself into a frenzy.

As the puppy adapts to fill the void, normal behaviours such as chewing, barking, strolling, grooming, and playing become stereotypical, repetitive, and maladaptive. Specific behaviours increase in frequency until they no longer serve any useful function except to pass the time.

 

Stereotyped behaviours cause the release of endorphins, perpetuating their repetition, and in a sense, the dog becomes drugged and hooked on mindless, repetitive activity. Stereotyped behaviours are like behavioural cancers; as they progressively increase in frequency and squeeze most useful and adaptive responses from the dog’s behaviour repertoire until eventually the “brain-dead” dog spends hours on end barking, pacing, chewing himself, or simply staring into space.

A vital facet of your puppy’s early education is to teach him how to peacefully pass the time of day. Feeding your puppy’s kibble only from hollow chew toys—Kong’s, Biscuit Balls, and sterilized bones—keeps your puppy happily occupied and content for hours on end. It allows the puppy to focus on an enjoyable activity so that he doesn’t dwell on his loneliness.

Each piece of extracted kibble also rewards your puppy for settling down calmly, for chewing an appropriate chew toy, and for not barking.

Teaching your dog to enjoy his own company while you are gone

Teach your puppy how to settle down calmly and quietly when you are absent by teaching him how to settle down with chew toy at time when you are present. Right from the outset, make frequent quiet moments part of the puppy’s daily routine.

When playing with your pup, have him settle down for frequent short interludes every one or two minutes. Initially, have the pup lie still for a few seconds before letting him play again. After a minute, interrupt the play session once more with a three-second settle-down. Then try for four seconds, then five, eight, ten, and so on.

Although being yo-yoed between the commands “Settle down” and “Let’s play” is difficult at first, the puppy soon learns to settle down quickly and happily. Your puppy will learn that being asked to settle down is not the end of the world, nor is it necessarily the end of the play session, but instead that “settle down” signals a short timeout and reward break before he is allowed to resume playing. If you teach your puppy to be calm and controlled when told, you will have years of fun and excitement ahead.

Once your puppy has learned to settle down and shush on cue, there is so much more your dog can enjoy with you as this well trained dog will be invited to many adventures like trips in the car, picnics, visits to the pub and dog-friendly activities.

On the other hand, if you allow your puppy to run amok when he is a puppy, there is no doubt that he will want to run amok when he is an adult. Try your best to teach your puppy to enjoy his own company, to develop self-confidence, and to stand on his own four paws.

 

When you are at home (short-term confinement)

It is important to supervise your puppy. When the two of you are not play-training, confine your pup for an hour at a time to her doggy den (short-term confinement area), such as a portable dog crate.

The purpose of short-term confinement is threefold:

1. To prevent mistakes around the house
2. To teach your puppy to become a chewtoyaholic (since chew toys stuffed with food are the only chewables available), so that she learns to settle down quickly, quietly, and calmly
3. To be able to predict when your puppy needs to eliminate

When you’re not at home (long-term confinement)

An example of long-term confinement is containing your puppy in a small puppy playroom like the kitchen, bathroom, utility room, or section of the room cordoned off by an exercise pen. Include a comfortable bed, a bowl of clean fresh water, plenty of hollow chew toys (Kong products and sterilized bones stuffed with dog food), and a doggy toilet in the farthest corner from her bed.

The purpose of a long-term confinement area is twofold:

1. To prevent mistakes around the house
2. To maximize the likelihood that your puppy will learn to use the provided toilet, to chew only chew toys (the only chewables available), and to settle down calmly and quietly (without barking)

Housetraining recap

When you are away from home, keep your puppy confined to her puppy playroom, where she has a suitable doggy toilet.

Otherwise, when you are at home:

1. Keep your puppy closely confined to her doggy den, or on-leash by her bed.
2. Every hour on the hour, release your pup from confinement and quickly run her (on-leash if necessary) to the toilet area. Instruct your pup to eliminate and give her three minutes to do so.
3. Enthusiastically praise your puppy, offer her three freeze-dried liver treats, and then play/train indoors or in the yard. (Once your puppy is over three months old, take her for a walk as a reward for eliminating in her toilet area.)

After you bring your puppy home

Development stage 4: Socialise your puppy with other people and dogs (by 12 weeks)

A dog’s temperament, especially his feelings toward people and other dogs, is primarily the result of his level of socialisation during puppyhood—the most important time in a dog’s life.

Your puppy should be socialised with people before he is twelve weeks old. As a rule of thumb your puppy needs to meet at least one hundred different people during his first month at home. To capitalize on the time your pup needs to be confined indoors, you can invite people over.

Puppies that enjoy the company of people grow up into adult dogs that enjoy the company of people. And dogs that enjoy the company of people are less likely to be frightened or bite.

Many puppy training techniques focus on teaching your puppy to enjoy the company and actions of people. Well-socialised dogs are confident and friendly, rather than fearful and aggressive. For under socialised dogs, life is unbearably stressful.

Socialising your puppy to enjoy people is vital—second only in importance to your pup learning to inhibit the force of his bite and develop a soft mouth. Socialisation must never end. Remember, your adolescent dog will begin to de-socialise unless he continues to meet unfamiliar people every day. Walk your dog or expand your own social life at home if this becomes the case.

There are 3 goals of socialisation:

Goal 1: Teach your puppy to enjoy the presence, actions, and antics of all people—first the family, and then friends and then strangers, especially children and men. Adult dogs tend to feel most uneasy around children and men, especially little boys. A dog’s antipathy toward children and men is more likely to develop if the puppy grows up with few or none around, and if the puppy’s social contacts with children and men have been unpleasant or scary.

Goal 2: Teach your puppy to enjoy being hugged and handled (restrained and examined) by people, especially by children, veterinarians, and groomers. Specifically, teach your puppy to enjoy being touched and handled in a variety of “hot spots,” namely, around his collar, muzzle, ears, paws, tail, and rear end.

Goal 3: Teach your puppy to enjoy giving up valued objects when requested, especially her food bowl, bones, balls, chew toys, garbage, and paper tissues.

 

Development stage 5: Learn bite inhibition (by 18 weeks)

Bite inhibition is the single most important quality a dog must learn. The narrow time window for developing a “soft mouth” begins to close at four and a half months of age.

Puppy biting is a normal, natural and necessary puppy behaviour. Puppy play-biting is the means by which dogs develop bite inhibition and a soft mouth. The developing puppy should learn that his bites can hurt long before he develops jaws strong enough to inflict injury. A puppy must learn his limits and can only learn his limits by exceeding them during development and receiving the appropriate feedback.

The greater the pup’s opportunity to play bite with people, other dogs and other animals, the better his bite inhibition will be as an adult.

 

Good bite inhibition does not mean that your dog will never snap, lunge, nip, or bite. Good bite inhibition means that should the dog snap and lunge, his teeth will seldom make skin contact, and should the dog’s teeth ever make skin contact, the inhibited “bite” will cause little, if any, damage.

Bite inhibition is of crucial importance, by far the single most important quality of any dog, or any animal. Living with a dog that does not have reliable bite inhibition is unpleasant and dangerous. Bite inhibition must be acquired during puppyhood.

Bite inhibition training comprises first teaching the puppy to progressively inhibit the force of his bites until painful puppy play-biting is toned down and transformed into gentle puppy mouthing, and then, and only then, teaching him to progressively inhibit the incidence of his mouthing. Thus, the puppy learns that mouthing is by and large inappropriate and that any pressured bite is unacceptable.

 

Teaching bite inhibition

The first step is to stop your puppy from hurting people: to teach him to inhibit the force of his play-bites. It is not necessary to reprimand the pup, and certainly physical punishments are not called for. But it is essential to let your puppy know that bites can hurt. A simple “Ouch!” is usually enough. When the puppy backs off, take a short time out to “lick your wounds,” instruct your pup to come, sit, and lie down to apologise and make up. Then resume playing.

If your puppy does not respond to your yelp by easing up or backing off, an effective technique is to call the puppy a “Bully!” and then leave the room and shut the door. Allow the pup a minute or two time-outs to reflect on the association between his painful bite and the immediate departure of his favourite human playmate. Then return to make up.

It is important to show that you still love your puppy, only that his painful bites are objectionable. Have your pup come and sit and then resume playing once more. It is much better for you to walk away from the pup than to physically restrain him or remove him to his confinement area at a time when he is biting too hard. So, make a habit of playing with your puppy in his long-term confinement area.

This technique is remarkably effective as it is precisely the way puppies learn to inhibit the force of their bites when playing with each other. If one puppy bites another too hard, the bite yelps and playing is postponed while he licks his wounds. The biter soon learns that hard bites interrupt an otherwise enjoyable play session. He learns to bite more softly once play resumes.

Development stage 6: Preventing adolescent problems (by 5 months of age)

Behaviour is always changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Things will continue to improve if you continue working with your adolescent dog, but they will get worse if you don’t. Both behaviour and temperament will tend to stabilise, for better or worse, as your dog matures around his second birthday for small dogs or third birthday for large dogs. Even when your dog reaches maturity, you should always be on the alert for the emergence of unwanted behaviours or traits, which you must quickly nip in the bud before they become hard-to-break habits.

To ensure that your well-schooled puppy remains well socialised and friendly towards people, during adolescence and adulthood, he needs to meet different and unfamiliar people (especially children) every day.

Socialisation often heads downhill during adolescence, sometimes surprisingly precipitously. As they get older, dogs have fewer opportunities to meet unfamiliar people and dogs. Puppy classes and parties are often a thing of the past and most owners have established a set routine by the time their dog is five or six months old. At home, the dog interacts with the same familiar friends and family, and is walked, if at all, on the same route to the same dog park, where they encounter the same old people and the same old dogs. Consequently, many adolescent dogs become progressively de-socialised toward unfamiliar people and dogs until eventually they become intolerant of all but a small inner circle of friends.

Remember, your dog will only remain sociable if he continues meeting and greeting unfamiliar people and unfamiliar dogs every day. Meeting the same people and dogs over and over is not enough. You want your dog to practice the art of meeting and getting along with strangers, not simply getting along with old friends.

As soon as it safe for your puppy to go out, take him on walks – lots of them. There is no better overall socialisation exercise and no better overall training exercise. Dog walks are also good for your health, heart and soul. The secret to a well-socialised adult dog is at least one walk a day and a couple of trips a week to the dog park. Try to find different walking routes and different dog parks so that your dog can meet a variety of dogs and people.

This article was written by

Before taking out a pet insurance policy, your pet Bella has a case of Gastroenteritis (a tummy upset). The condition is treated and Bella recovers. Following the surprise episode, you decide to purchase a pet insurance policy for Bella to help with future, unexpected Vet visits.

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Treasure every moment with your special pooch and do some fun things with them to keep life interesting. Doing activities together will help to strengthen your bond, not to mention add sparkle and interest to their lives. Create memories you’ll always treasure; these fun activities will be sure to get your four-legged friend’s tail wagging. Life is an adventure, enjoy the ride together.

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1. Take a road trip and visit a new place together

2. Throw your dog a pawty with all their closest pals. For the ultimate cute patrol, make them dress up in funny costumes

3. Take a break from technology, get off-grid and stay in a dog-friendly Tiny House

4. Make healthy homemade treats for your dog

5. Plan an overnight camping trip. If glamping is more your style, check out these luxurious pet friendly stays

6. Head to a dog-friendly beach like Greenhills and enjoy an early morning walk or leisurely sunset stroll looking out to the ocean (dogs are allowed on the beach before 10am and after 4pm)

7. Have a doggy playdate with a friend’s dog

8. There are a small handful of National parks and reserves with dog walking areas. Discover nature together on a scenic hike at one of these regional parks

9. Pack a hamper full of delicious goodies, bring a blanket and have a picnic together at the park

10. Chill out at home, put on some jazz and enjoy each other’s company

11. Watch a movie together at an outdoor cinema at Centennial Park

12. Practice your coordination with a game of frisbee

13. Take your dog on a boat ride and don’t forget to bring a doggie life jacket

14. Hold your dog while you dance

15. Watch the sun come up at the top of Mark’s Park in Bondi

16. Teach your dog a new trick

17. Stop off at Manly Lagoon Park for a doggy dip in the water

18. Go bike riding and give your dog a workout (or have him relax in a basket)

19. Visit Sydney park – they are allowed in the spacious parks and open spaces with the exception of the children playgrounds

20. Explore a dog friendly hideaway like Sirius Cove reserve in Mosman

21. Socialize and meet new friends at Hawthorne Canal Reserve

22. Head down to Leichardt’s Café Bones to share a cappuccino and a puppacino with your furry friend

23. Take your dog paddle boarding

24. Treat your dog with a gourmet meal

25. Have a steak dinner together

26. Take a trip to the spa and get a

27. Go shopping together at a dog-friendly store

28. Get a dog calendar made with all your dog’s photos

29. Take an obedience class

30. Do doga (dog yoga) yes, it exists

31. Go on a scenic wilderness hike

32. Test your dog’s intelligence with a Pooch IQ kit

33. Create a social media fan page for your furry friend

34. Take a splash in the rain with an

35. Get squeaky clean and have a bubble bath

36. Enjoy the sunshine at the dog-friendly Marrickville local, The Vic on the Park

37. Enjoy a Sunday roast together at The London hotel

38. Enjoy some pub grub at The Henson

39. Bake your dog a dog-friendly cake

Practice balancing treats on your pet’s nose

41. Enjoy million-dollar views at the Observatory Hill Park (it’s off-leash for dogs too)

42. Take a sunshine walk along Beare Park, a small but lovely enclosed playground

43. Have a good ol’ Aussie BBQ with your crew (and their pups of course)

44. Get your heart and legs pumping by running through the Centennial Parklands

45. Have a photoshoot and make your dog a superstar

46. Draw or paint a portrait of your dog

47. Get sandy at the dog friendly beach, Rosebay Foreshore

48. Kayak with your dog, make sure they’re wearing a safety vest

49. Take a scenic hike through the heritage Narrabeen Lagoon trail (8.4km) and appreciate the fresh air and beautiful scenery

50. Take your dog to a dog-friendly farmer’s market

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Before taking out a pet insurance policy, your pet Bella has a case of Gastroenteritis (a tummy upset). The condition is treated and Bella recovers. Following the surprise episode, you decide to purchase a pet insurance policy for Bella to help with future, unexpected Vet visits.

Table of Contents

Which breed is right for me?

An illustrated guide to dog breeds

Knowing which canine companion will suit you best may be a challenge. Different dog breeds have their own personalities and they can either complement you perfectly or you might drive each other crazy.

We’ve created an illustrated guide to help distinguish the differences between different dog breeds so you can make the right decision.

Table of contents

Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu dog breed was originally bred to flush birds and small game and was occasionally used to hunt wild boar. They are one of Japan’s six native breeds: Akita (large), Kishu, Hokkaido, Kai, Shikoku (medium), and Shiba (small). He is known for his spirited personality, small upright ears and cat-like agility. Today he serves primarily as a companion dog.

Temperament and personality traits:
Shiba Inus are alert dogs with fiery personalities. They are dominant dogs who like to be in charge and will make you work for your position as leader. Owning a Shiba Inu means committing to plenty of exercise and lots of intensive training and socialization. These three ingredients are essential to raising a well-adjusted Shiba with good manners. They prefer the company older kids who understand how to behave around dogs.

Shiba Inus require a lot of vigorous activity to maintain health and even temperament. They are sometimes known to be dog-aggressive and a bored Shiba can also become a destructive Shiba. Their minds are just as active as their bodies so they will require lots of exercise, interactive games and early socialization.
The Japanese have three words to describe the essence of a Shiba. Kan-i refers to the breed’s alertness and bravery; this awareness and confidence makes the Shiba a perfect watchdog. Ryosei means being good-natured, loyal, and obedient. Finally, soboku describes their easy, natural good looks.

Fun fact: One of the most unique characteristics about Shiba Inu puppies is the infamous “Shiba scream.” They have this odd and high pitched scream that’s incredibly loud. It’s usually produced when they’re mistreated, unhappy, provoked or just plain old happy! It can be a bit off-putting, scary, and funny at times, depending on the situation.

Golden retriever

Originally bred as gun dogs, the Golden Retriever is a smart, trainable and friendly companion. Because of their intelligence, they make great working dogs and can be seen performing a number of different roles including seeing-eye dogs, hearing dogs, hunting & detection dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

Temperament and personality traits:
One of the world’s friendliest family dogs, the Golden Retriever is cheerful, demonstrative, trustworthy with everyone, and forgiving of any mistakes made by inexperienced owners. They are friendly with everyone (strangers, children, dogs, cats, smaller pets), his bark is welcoming rather than protective. A Golden Retriever remains enthusiastically puppy-like for many years, so early obedience training is required to instill calmness and good manners.

Doberman

A German named Louis Dobermann is credited with developing the Doberman pinscher breed in the late 1800s. The Doberman pinscher has a long head and a sleek, muscular body. The ears are often cropped to stand erect, and the tail is usually docked short.
The Doberman pinscher has a short, sleek and shiny coat that is black, dark red, blue or fawn with rust-colored markings on the face, body and tail.

Temperament and personality traits:
Dobermans are extremely intelligent with active minds and bodies with a strong desire to please. They must be properly trained as a bored dog will develop behaviour problems and a big, strong dog, of any breed, must know where it belongs in the pack hierarchy. Socialised early with other dogs, pets and children, the Dobermann can make a lovely family pet. It is loyal and affectionate and will certainly protect the home. They are known to be a one-man dog and will not tolerate teasing so children must be taught how to behave around the dog.

Fun fact: They were first bred by a tax collector. Herr Karl Louis Dobermann was a man with many jobs: He was a tax collector, who would sometimes work as a police officer, night guard, and dog catcher. Because of his career, Dobermann often found himself traveling with bags of money through dangerous parts of town at late hours; it left him feeling uneasy. With his access to the pound, breeding a canine bodyguard to keep him—and his money—safe seemed like a natural decision. He wanted a medium sized dog that was refined but intimidating. The resulting dog is lean and muscular with dark fur and brown markings.

Pug

The pug possesses physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colours, most often fawn or black, and a compact square body with well-developed muscles.

Temperament and personality traits:
Pugs are known to be sociable and gentle companion dogs. They are very childlike and have sweet, comical and charming personalities. Though stubborn, Pugs seldom get into real mischief. Adults spend much of the day sleeping.

Fun fact: The perfect pug tail has two curls: pugs are known for their curly tails that curve up towards their bodies and according to the AKC, “the double curl is perfection”

Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. They come in a wide variety of colours and two coat lengths.

Temperament and personality traits:
Chihuahuas are loyal, friendly and good family pets when treated respectfully. They can get all the exercise needed in the house or apartment.

Fun fact: They’re little geniuses. Relative to their bodies, Chihuahuas have the biggest brain in the dog world. They’re quick-witted and easy to train. They’re not, however, easy to housebreak as a result of a tiny bladder and a willful personality. As desert dogs, they’re also not too keen on the rain or cold.

Poodle

The poodle is skillful is many dog sports and activities, including agility, obedience, tracking to herding, circus performers and assistance dogs. The poodle has been bred in at least three sizes, including Standard, Miniature, and Toy and they exist in many coat colours. The poodle is an active, intelligent and elegant dog, squarely built, and well proportioned.

Temperament and personality traits:
Elegant, proud and clever, poodles are impressive dogs as many best-in-show winners from this dog breed can attest. The Poodle is also known for what their fans call “an air of distinction”, a dignified attitude that’s hard to describe, but easy to spot in the dog. An outstanding trait of the Poodle is his intelligence. He is often said to have human-like intelligence, an amazing cleverness that astounds his owners. Of course, smart dogs can be difficult to live with. They learn fast — good habits and bad — and they remember everything.

Fun fact: Despite their French reputation, poodles hail from Germany, where they were called pudel, which is German for “puddle.”

Scottish Terrier

The Scottish terrier is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and West Highland White Terriers. The Scottish Terrier is a small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built terrier of good bone and substance. They have a hard, wiry, weather-resistant coat and a thick-set, cobby body which is hung between short, heavy legs. They are territorial, alert, quick moving and feisty and is known to be independent and self-assured, playful and intelligent.

Temperament and personality traits:
Scottish terriers are often described as a big dog in a little dog’s body and are informally and fondly known as “Scotties”. They are feisty, independent, and sometimes excitable. As adults, their behavior can become moody. Some Scotties take to only one person. Scotties can be aggressive with other pets and stubborn about training.

Fun fact: They get cramps when they’re too excited. When Scotties get too excited, they might experience something known as the Scottie Cramp. This neurological disorder causes the muscles to tense up, making it difficult to walk. Dogs experiencing this cramp exhibit “a goose-stepping gait” and might somersault or fall over. Luckily, these episodes don’t last long and do not appear to be painful for the dogs.

Miniature Pinscher

The Miniature Pinscher dog breed was originally bred in Germany to hunt vermin, primarily rats, in homes and stables. It is a small domesticated dog, muscular and full of energy.

Active, curious and entertaining, the Miniature Pinscher is not for the peaceful household. Full of bounding energy for a dog their size, the Miniature Pinscher needs a great deal of exercise. A small to medium-sized backyard is the best place for this breed as they love to explore and run. Known to be talented escape artists, it’s essential that any outdoor area be secure. Miniature Pinschers will dig under fences if given the opportunity. The breed requires a great deal of exercise and human attention to remain happy and healthy.

Temperament and personality traits:
Known as the “King of Toys” for his stately appearance and self-assured attitude, the Miniature Pinscher is a fearless, energetic, and alert companion dog who enjoys the company of his family and has a love of toys.

Fun fact: They make good guard dogs – Miniature Pinschers are eager to sound the alarm and love the sound of their own voice, regardless of whether or not anyone else does. Their bark is predictably shrill and sharp, and belted out with gusto. A Miniature Pinscher’s bark reflects their confidence and natural suspicions, but could indicate anxiety or stress-related behaviors. Since they are highly sensitive to separation anxiety, they shouldn’t be left alone if managing their barking is a high priority.

American Eskimo

The American Eskimo dog or “Eskie” is a striking fellow with a white coat, sweet expression and black eyes and comes in three sizes – standard, miniature and toy. Distinctive features include a dense, sparkling white coat with a lion-like ruff around the chest and shoulders; a smiling face, black nose, lips and eye rims that convey a keen, intelligent expression and plumed tail carried over the back.

He’s a Nordic dog breed and are lively, active companion dogs who love to entertain and join the action on family activities.

Temperament and personality traits:
They are very loyal and need to be around their owners. They are highly intelligent but can be stubborn at times and are sometimes prone to excessive barking if not properly socialized with people. They are an intelligent breed and are capable of escapes if not adequately confined.

Fun fact: They became circus dogs and an eskie was the first dog known to walk a tightrope. Today, they are still known for the wide variety of tricks they can perform.

Beagle

Beagles are scenthounds and will follow a trail with unbroken determination. They’ve got about 220 million scent receptors in their noses, compared to about 5 million in humans

Temperament and personality traits:
Beagles are smart, affectionate, curious, friendly and playful. They are ideal family pets because of their size, groomability, and easy going nature with children. Couch potatoes will want to steer clear of beagles; this breed loves constant activity and the outdoors.

Fun fact: Snoopy is a beagle – The “Peanuts” character Snoopy is arguably the most famous fictitious Beagle. Snoopy was silent for the first few years of the comic strip, but later was given an active imagination and inner monologue.

Bull terrier

The Bull Terrier was originally developed in the 19th century as a fighting dog and, later, a All puppies should be checked for deafness, which occurs in 20.4% of pure white Bull Terriers and 1.3% of colored Bull Terriers and is difficult to notice, especially in a relatively young puppy.fashionable companion for gentlemen, but these days he’s a family companion and show dog.

Bull Terrier’s most recognizable feature is its head, described as ‘shark-head-shaped’ (sometimes confused with egg-shaped) when viewed from the front; the top of the skull is almost flat.

Temperament and personality traits:
They are a goofy, lovable breed whose personality is as unique as it looks. They have the tenacious spirit and agility of the terrier mixed with the brute force of a bulldog (this was originally bred to create the ultimate fighting pit dog) although the personality of today’s bull terrier is clown-like, active and silly.

Fun fact: You can get a small one. Although technically a different breed, miniature bull terriers exist – they only grow to be about 14 inches tall, while their larger cousins can be up to 21 inches. They are hypoallergenic and shed much less than their larger counterparts.

Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is a medium size dog noted for its unique black, liver spotted coat. Over the years Dalmatians have been used as dogs of war, border patrols, cart pullers, sheep herders, dogs of the hunt, circus performers and, of course, coaching dogs. Their outline is square, showing them to be well-balanced, strong, muscular dogs. They have wonderful freedom of movement taking long strides, showing smooth, powerful and rhythmic action. Due to the publication in 1956 of the book 101 Dalmations, have become very popular pets and show dogs.

Temperament and personality traits:
Dals are outgoing and friendly, free from nervousness and aggression although puppies can become hyper if not carefully reared or disciplined as puppies. They are mild-mannered, affectionate dogs who enjoy company and clowning about. They are dedicated and loyal and always want to please but because of their determined natures will easily form bad habits. Because of their hunting instincts they love to run, jump and climb so caution should be taken at all times to ensure their safety.

Fun fact: Dalmatians are born white. Despite being covered in spots in adulthood, puppies are born snow white. Pups generally don’t grow their trademark spots until about four weeks.

Boston Terrier

A playful, fun breed, the Boston is a great choice for people who are looking for a cheerful and energetic companion. They can move very fast and should never be let outside unless they are in a secure, fenced-in yard or on a leash. They are compact, well-proportioned, handsome little dogs. They have broad chests. Their heads are square and rather flat on top; the muzzle is short, square and broad. The Boston’s appealing eyes are round, large and dark.

Temperament and personality traits:
Bostons are good-natured, playful dogs and make cheerful companions. Bostons are considered intelligent and can be well trained, but they can be stubborn. In other words, they may know “sit” and “stay,” but they may not always obey when you want them to. They generally get along well with other pets especially if they are raised together.

Fun fact: They were originally bred to be fighters. Coachmen crossbred their wealthy employers’ dogs to create this pooch. They combined the English Bulldog with the (now-extinct) white English terrier. Originally, they were considerably larger and used as fighting dogs. After dog fighting became illegal, the breed shrunk in size.

Russell Terrier

The Russell Terrier is a predominantly white working terrier with an instinct to hunt prey underground. They originated in England but the country of development was Australia.

Temperament and personality traits:
They are spirited terriers, fearless and sassy with minds of their own and aren’t above causing mischief to get a laugh. They are highly trainable and are famous for their high jumping antics.

Fun fact: They have expressive faces perfect for television. There were more than 100 candidates for the role of Wishbone, a time-traveling canine literature expert on a children’s show of the same name. Despite the stiff competition, Soccer, a Jack Russell terrier, got the job. The little dog got his name thanks to the small dots on his ear resembling a soccer ball. He went on to star in more than 50 episodes of Wishbone and even a movie called Wishbone’s Dog Days of the West.

Pembroke Corgi

Known for their quick intelligence and forceful will, Pembroke Welsh corgis are active, hardy and want to be part of the family. Regular exercise is a must. They are identifiable by their short stature, prick ears and foxy face. Corgis have weatherproof coats — double but short. The color ranges from a rich red or fawn to black or sable with white markings. The blacks usually have white and tan to make them tri-colored with heads varying from red to black. Occasionally a fluffy corgi will appear in a litter. These puppies have a longer, softer, fluffier coat than is typical.

Temperament and personality traits:
Pembroke Welsh corgis are known for their quick intelligence and forceful will. They are active, animated dogs and do not ever want to be left out of the action. Corgis can be prone to excessive alarm barking and to digging or chewing if left alone too much or not exercised enough. Most corgis are fine with other pets and children if they have been raised with them. Beware that they will sometimes chase and nip at the heels of small running children because of their herding instincts.

Fun fact: There is a massive corgi meet-up in Southern California. SoCal Corgi Beach Day started as a humble meet-up event at Huntington Beach in 2012. The first event attracted just 15 dogs; the last one had more than 1100 corgis in attendance. The event happens three times a year.

This article was written by Petsy Pet Insurance