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FREE PUBBLICATION
YEAR 1, NUMBER 1 - JAN./MAR. 2014
Hello friends. We are the staff of Cinofili Stanchi, the Italian magazine of canine information. As many of you read us from abroad, and it is difficult to translate the Italian language even if you use a dedicated software, we are here with the English version of our magazine. His name will be '(no silliest things) ABOUT DOGS'because it is our intention to continue with the same accuracy we use with the original version of CINOFILI STANCHI. Our hope is to find interlocutors eager to find it in our magazine what they do not find elsewhere: advices, scientific notions, and some funny anecdote that you can use to improve your life with your dog. And if life with your dog it's OK, we hope our magazine will serve, however, to increase your knowledge about ethology, psychology, the behavior of your (and our) 4-legged friend. A very big Thank you to our two translators, Mr. Russell Luchsinger and Mr. Fabrizio Gianmatteo. The magazine is free as the Italian version, for consultation and downloading. Happy reading.
ON THE COVER
African village dog (similar to greyhound)
THE STAFF OF ABOUT DOGS
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INDEX Editorial For our dogs: ethics, first The origin of social behavior The history of the Rottweiler Stress in the dog Genes, environment, breeding Primates, Canidae and co-evolution At dawn (Remembrance of Civil Protection) How to feed dogs Homeopathy in the treatment of behavioral disorders Early Neurological Stimulation Dogs in Poetry: Cerberus (The Divine Comedy) Canine Jokes
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In a world where the only important things are marketing and a total misinforma‐ tion , we want to stand out , however, for two qualities : 1 ‐ Provide assistance with correct information , in order to establish a healthy rela‐ tionship between owner and his dog. 2 ‐ Do not make money with problems of people, and give the right means to solve the problems of every day. For this reason , comes this online magazine , where you can find ideas , sugge‐ stions , directions, and anything else that may be useful to improve the relationship with your dog. (as understand his language, problems and Needs). We are a group of professionals ( teachers, trainers , breeders, veterinarians ) driven by principles of ethics and morality , because we too have dogs , with whom we live and with which we are confronted every day to understand the social dynamics, the relational system , the ethology and cognitive abilities , the basis of the behavior of our furry friends. We all work in the behavioral field . The idea of About Dogs , came after we think about websites or blogs , often famous , give information backward , inaccurate and sometimes even false . Our goal is to instill in the time a culture of the relationship. We should be conside‐ red important for the contents of this magazine , and not something to mock our country .
The STAFF of ABOUT DOGS
ABOUT DOGS (NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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EDUCATION OF YOUR DOG COMFORTABLY TO YOUR HOUSE
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by Giovanni Padrone Ever since the first forms of life appeared on Earth about 3.5 billion years ago, various species used different strategies to survive. For example, initially created colonies of unicellular microorganisms (stromatolites) survived in high numbers, when compared to unicellular predators. From these colonies, were probably born the first multicellular life forms around 2 billion years ago. Then, approximatly 750 m.y.a. appeared the first real animal species. With more complex forms of life, there were always two competing strategies: aggregation (many subjects leave together) and single animals, were loners who had to find food. When plants appeared to the surface around 400 million years ago during the Devonian era, witnessed the arrival of insects and, after them, the first terrestrial vertebrates. With increasely complex organisms, animals had to find other new strategies to survive, such as gigantism. Sometimes, we find the combination of multiple
strategies: in large herbivorous dinosaurs, for example, there is the aggregation in large groups and gigantism, still other times, the gigantic and heavy armor, so a carnivore could never exceed (Ankylosaurus magniventris). During he Permian (280/260 million years ago) we have two evolutionary branches, which stand apart from the common reptiles and take two different directions: first, Pelycosaurs reptiles (Dimetrodon grandis and Edaphosaurus cruciger) began to change their metabolism from exothermic to endothermic, and arrived in the evolution to paramammals reptiles (Cynognathus crateronotus), and then to mammals (Hadrocodium wui). The second group, reptiles thecodonts, evolved over time in crocodiles, pterosaurs and dinosaurs, and subsequently by the latter (rather from the group of dinosaurs 'celurosaurs'), originated the birds (Protoavis texensis, Archaeopterix litographica) by developing an endothermic condition. The ancestors of birds, celurosaurs, and then the Dromeosaurs, were among carnivores. These groups
ABOUT DOGS (NO SILLIEST THINGS)
formed the first family groups (as pack) and engaged in cooperative hunting. We consider that the small Compsognathus longipes 170 maf, was perhaps less than a meter long and with a size similar to a big chicken. Do to their small size, it is easy to understand, why the Comsognatus developed skills to elude predators that were much larger (as Metriacanthosaurus parkeri or Megalosaurus bucklandii). The best strategy was to speed in larger social groups. Later, the Dromeosaurs developed a winning strategy to aggregate in groups to hunt large prey and often compete with the big predators of the time. Scientists believe that with a larger brains of these reptiles, they were able to huntusing strategies similar to modern wolves and wild dogs. The Velociraptor, Deinonychus and the other members of this group 'wolves of the Cretaceous' apparently hunted in packs. These fast and voracious predators (raptors) had highly developed cognitive abilities and were able to reason much the same way as modern social mammals. This hypothesis is based on a very important prehistoric discovery. A ca6
ve drawing depicts a scene in which these reptiles hunted as a unit and the drawing was carbon dated to 110 million years ago.
Fig. 1 - Deinonychus antirrhopus
Near Oklahoma City in 1931, paleontologist Barnum Brown found the remains of a herbivorous dinosaur, Tenontosaurus tilletti, along with the remain of five Deinonichus, Dr. Brown did not consider the Deynonichus remains in close proximity as important because dinosaurs were considered slow and clumsy animals. It was not until 30 years later that a colleague of Brown, John Ostrom, understood the importance of that finding. The evidence suggested that at least some of the dinosaurs was not so slow and clumsy and that perhaps, as a group, they were able to take down larger prey. The Deinonychus, although individually could only hunt small prey (the reptile was 3 meters long and just over a meter tall), had learned to aggregate to hunt prey much larger, such as Tenontosaurus t., It is thought that the same tactics are used today when wolves hunt bison or caribou and wild dogs hunt
wildebeest, buffalo or war- grams, which arrived to tens of kilos or tons). In this case, thog. the evolution brought by inThere is also evidence of lar- sectivorous species, to herbige carnivorous dinosaurs, vores, carnivores and omnisuch as Utahraptor ostrom- vores animals. What, howemaysorum (also belonging to ver, increased cohesion in Dromeosaurs) or Daspleto- mammals was that puppies saurus torosus (probable an- were conceived within the cestor of Tyrannosaurus womb (and not inside an rex), that used various forms egg, isolated from evero of cooperative hunting in ything and everyone) and, packs. These big carnivorous after birth, were suckled by are very heavy animals the mother for a period of (between 500 kg and 4/5 time (in species of small size tons), and there is evidence for a few weeks, in the larger they hunted large herbivo- ones for months). Of course, rous dinosaurs like ceratop- this change is reached sians (Styracosaurus alber- through a long process of tensis). In South America the which we still witness in monotremes Giganotosaurus carolinii, mammals hunted in packs when atta- (Echidna and Platypus still cking the giant Argentino- lay eggs) and marsupials saurus huinculensis, a sauro- (kangaroos and opossums pod up to 40 meters long and grow premature puppies inside a bag placed on their weighing over 80 tons. belly). But everyone, howeWhen these large reptiles di- ver, suckle their young. Lisappeared along with many kely a direct transition from other species, mammals and paramammal reptiles more birds gradually came to oc- advanced to the first true cupy the same ecological ni- mammals was a small detail che and evolved over time, but it has caused great diffedeveloping too often size e- rences. norm. Starting from very small animals (except for a Today we can see these diffew species, the majority of ferences, only through the mammals of the first Tertiary skeleton of those ancient aniperiod did not exceed the si- mals, because the internal ze of a mouse), in some hun- organs and soft tissues of the dreds of thousands of years body have never been prewould increase the measure- served (in a few cases with ments and the weight of so- various animal species has me hundreds or thousands of been preserved the mark of times (think of animals with the skin, as in some Cretacea weight of a few tens of ous hadrosaurs, or the mark 7
of feathers, as in Archaeopterix, and only in some mammoths died at the end of the last ice age, they are the full remains of these animals, in a sort of glacial mummification).
GIOVANNI PADRONE Dog/human trainer Author of the books ‘Whisper to your dog’ ‘...And the dog chose to meet Humans’ (in italian language) Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/ giovanni.padrone? hc_location=stream
Fig. 2 - Echidna e Wallabi, marsupial mammals
A new thought among biologists and ethologists is that this bond between mothers and puppies developed over time, an affective - emotional state, which has the highest expression in humans, as is argued already in the nineteenth century, the founder of the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin. Over the past few decades has been re-evaluated the in many animal species, of which it was thought that 'instinctive' and now they are able to perform complex thoughts, and feelings and emotions. (to be continued)
ABOUT DOGS (NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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by Roberto Mannu - Until a few years ago, most of the lovers of the breed, believed that all Molossians, descended from the Tibetan Mastiff, considered the ancestor. This argument in the light of new archaeological findings and methods of investigation, is losing to be credit because in that region have not been found remains and images documenting the existence of a similar dog. After this preface, I come to describe a little history of the breed I breed, the Rottweiler. Its name derives from Rottweil, a German city in Wurtemberg, with intense trade relations with Aargau (a Swiss canton) since the time of the Roman occupation, because in that city played an important cattle market. For centuries cattle ranchers accompanied the herds to be sold and they used dogs of large size, powerful and brave, who helped the herders-merchants to guide and to check out the herds. Sold livestock to market, protecting the revenue (money) on the return journey along the roads infested with brigands. The merchants trusted so much these dogs, to put on their hips the bags containing the money to keep it safe.
Those dogs were descended from Molossian dogs introduced in Central Europe, by the Celts, Alans, Huns and Romans, and they were the ancestors of Swiss cattle dogs, in their Once the ancestors of the Rottweiler. The German cynologist Strebel believes the breed is discende from the Bavarian cattledog, in its turn related to the Bullenbeisser, but of the latter there is no trace or news. Today you can find common points between the Rottweiler, and other breeds of Switzerland, such as the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Great Swiss Mountain Dog and the Appenzell Cattle Dog. Physically they are similar, and also the colors of the coat are similar, except for the white, which is required in Swiss Cattle Dogs, but not in the Rottweiler (it was until a few decades ago, as confirmed by documents published from 1949 to 1965). A time ago, the Rottweiler was known in antiquity as "Packer" (biter), to emphasize the strength of the grip jaw, and as "Metzgerhunde" (butcher's dog) to indicate its use. The Rottweiler was also used as a dog to pull carts (for its remarkable strength), loads of milk or other goods of street vendors. Brought in
the South Germany, the breed arrived intact until the end of the nineteenth century, when it became compulsory to transport cattle no more on the streets, but by rail. This rendered useless the service of these dogs, and brought the Rottweiler almost to extinction. It was for their ability to guardians and defenders, who were rescued from extinction. At the end of the nineteenth century, some cynophilists began the selection that led to today's breed. Today, the Rottweiler is a dog for guarding, defense, companionship, and thanks to its qualities is used in a variety of activities (agility, obedience, IPO, civil defense, police, etc..). The Rottweiler is not a dog for everyone, but it must be manage by people who have past experiences with dogs and able to put rules, without sudden methods. Today, the Rottweiler is one of the most balanced dogs. Roberto Mannu - Breeder acknowledged by ENCI F.C.I. with Affix 'DI ALBASCURA' - Member of the Register of dog trainers, Section 1 - Utility Dogs.
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By Marcello Messina ‐ Tal‐ king with friends, I was asked to write an article about stress in dogs. I read the notes of a dog‐lover friend, I tried to find my own , but due to a move I could not find them, so I got the dictionary and I searched for the word 'stress', to be a‐ ble to help myself as source of inspiration. The word stress (pressure, oppression, tension) is a state of the organism characterized from a specific syndrome (increase the activity of the sympathetic nervous system , high production of catechola‐ mines, hypertension, etc..) and can be triggered by various factors (infection, wounds, joy, anger, overwork, etc..).
has allowed us to survive, hel‐ ping human beings to adapt to the differnt changes of the en‐ vironment.
responsible for the absence or reduction of physical and mental wellbeing, thus dama‐ ging our health and producti‐ vity when it comes to perfor‐ Lead researcher Dr. H. Seyle mance measurement. In other introduced the distinction be‐ tween the various types of stress, denominated Eustress, and Distress. Many of you will ask, "what kind of stress are we talking about?", "I know, only the one caused by my wi‐ fe or by my mother‐in‐law," or "why do we have different types of stress?" Studies con‐ ducted by H.Seyle led to divi‐ de stress in 2 groups:
‐ Positive stress (eustress, lite‐ rally means "the right stress"). It comes from the greek eu‐ crasìa, that is "right mix of moods", commonly known as Therefore, stress is concep‐ homeostasis. The Eustress is tually a "barometer of our sta‐ nothing more than a neces‐ te" that the body uses to react sary activation of the orga‐ nism that leads every single individual (be it man, dog, cat, etc..) to activate the best energies, bringing us to o‐ btain an improvement of our abilities. The Eustress is cal‐ led positive stress, because it is a physiological stress, and not a pathological condition.
words, when we talk about stress, we genearally talk of Distress.
Stress and how to deal with it are entirely subjective, so the‐ re may be individuals who get over a particular stimulus wi‐ thout any change, without going into distress and there are people that, even with a very small stimulus, have re‐ actions of negative stress. In a class of students or training camp with several dogs, you will notice that not all indivi‐ duals respond to a given sti‐ mulus in the same way, and Negative stress (distress): it’s more likely that they find The term Distress represents different strategies to overco‐ the negative aspect of stress. me stress. to internal and external sti‐ We intend Distress as an‐ The word 'person' I always muli, helping us to overcome ything that produces an over‐ use, is properly used because that particular situation. load of internal and external we are talking about persons Stress is considered the disea‐ stimuli and it is harmful to the (individuals), and not groups. se of the new millennium, this body. For example, even if all boxers statement is not quite correct, In recent years the concept of are able to overcome the because, since we exist, stress stress has been considered stress of abandon, I can’t take 11
Symptoms that suggest that ‐Unpleasant smell and bad the individual (dog) is stres‐ breath sed are: ‐Excessive reactions: The dog reacts to the stimulus sho‐ ‐Damage to objects wing anxiety, fear, aggression. ‐Intestinal Disorders: Diar‐ The driving forces of stress rhea and vomiting are stress ‐Urinating and defecating: in (technically called stressors) alarm bells can be of various kinds: ‐Excessive hair loss for granted that mine will be able to do it. Every dog, regar‐ dless of the breed or sex, has a different stress threshold and different strategies to be cope with it.
‐Physical stressors: Electric ‐Exaggerated body care shock, exposure to heavy temperatures such as cold and hot ‐Environmental stressors: E‐ xposure to loud noise, intense physical activity
situations of great fear or a sudden fright the dog starts to defecate due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system that signals the colon to release feces and / or urine due to the modification of the hydro‐saline .
‐Metabolic stressors: Reduc‐ tion of blood glucose levels
‐Psychological stressors: A ‐Excessive vocalizations test of examination ‐Dandruff in the body ‐Stressor‐affective: Mourning ‐Restlessness: The dog walks ‐Gluttony ‐Stressor‐food: All substances non‐stop back and forth, una‐ ‐Lack of ability to concentrate. ble to relax. that contain caffeine. ‐Stereotypes: tail chasing, bar‐ Stress reactions are divided ‐Loss of appetite king constantly. into three phases: ‐Hypersexuality/hypo‐ ‐Alarm: Where the nerve im‐ sexuality pulse and the production of hormones (cortisol) help the ‐Irregularity of the sexual MARCELLO MESSINA body to overcome that parti‐ cycle (females) Dog trainer, expert in cular stimulus. ‐Mounting: If the subject ‐ Resistance: The opposition to the 'main event is intensi‐ fied by reducing other secon‐ dary stimuli. ‐ Exhaustion: occurs when the stress lasts too long and the body is unable to stand it, causing risk factors, such as disease and death in extreme cases.
behavioral problems
mounts, not in the presence and social skills of females in estrus, it may be the result of a stress source www.marcellomessina.com (We should exclude hierar‐ chical reasons first) Coat‐poor staining ‐ Biting the leash during training and walk
‐Nervousness: the dog shows nervous fear and poor con‐ WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS centration OF STRESS? ‐Nose dripping ABOUT DOGS ( NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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BOXER AND CANE CORSO BREEDER MOB. 348-8029763 www.allevamentoscudoditalos.com
Foreword Some time ago I had the great honor to meet the famous ethologist Roger Abrantes during my Dog Trainer course. I was really amazed by this incredibly talented man, passionated about his work and a real source of inspiration for all the animal lovers. I contacted him a few weeks ago to talk about the Canadian Inuit Dogs website and I dared to ask if he could write an article for us. I couldn’t believe that he could say yes, but he actually did and after just a few days he sent me this article. This is a really precious contribution to our website and the proof that if you keep asking sometimes your dreams can become a little truer. Debora Segna by Roger Abrantes, PhD Genes code for the traits an organism will show, physical as well as behavioral, but genes are not all. The environment of that organism also plays a crucial role in the way some of its genes will express themselves. Genes play a large role in the appearance and behavior of organisms. Phenotypes (the appearance of the organism) are determined, in various degrees, by the genotype program (the sum of all genes) and the interaction of the organism with the environment. Some traits are more modifiable by environmental factors, others less. For example, while eye color is solely determined by the genetic coding, genes determine how tall an individual may grow, but nutritional, as well as other health factors experienced by that organism, determine the outcome. In short: the environment by itself cannot create a trait and only a few traits are solely the product of a strict gene coding. The same applies for behavior. Behavior is the result of the genetic coding and the effects of the environABOUT DOGS ( NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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ment on a particular organism. Learning is a particular adaptation to the environment that some species show. In small populations, like breeds with a limited number of individuals, the genetic contribution tends to be magnified because there is not enough variation. Therefore, it is very important that breeders pay special importance to lineages, keep impeccable records, test the individuals, and choose c a r ef u l l y , which mating system they will use. Failure to be strict may result in highly undesirable results in a few generations with the average population showing undesired traits, physical as well as behavioral. We breed animals for many different purposes. Breeding means combining 50% of the genes of one animal (a male) to 50% of the genes of another animal (a female) and see what happens. We can never choose single genes as we wish and combine them so we get the perfect animal, but knowing which traits are dominant, which are recessive, and being able to read pedigrees helps us. Here are some guidelines for breeding (inspired by ‘ 20 Principles of Breeding Better Dogs ’ by Raymond H. Oppenheimer). 1. The animals you select for breeding today will have an impact on the future
population (unless you do not use any of their offspring to continue breeding). 2. Chose carefully the two animals you want to breed. If you only have a limited number of animals at your disposition, you will have to wait for another generation to make any improvement. As a rule of thumb, you should expect the progeny to 15
be better than the parents. 3. Statistical predictions may not hold true in a small number of animals (as in one litter of puppies). Statistical predictions show accuracy when applied to large populations. 4. A pedigree is a tool to help you learn the desirable and undesirable attributes that an animal is likely to exhibit or reproduce. 5. If you have a well-defined purpose for your breeding program, which you should, you will want to enhance specific attributes, but don ’t forget that an animal is a whole. To emphasize one or two features of the animal, you may compromise the soundness and function of the whole organism. 6. Even though, in general, large litters indicate good health and breeding conditions,quantity does not mean quality. Quality is produced by careful study, patience to wait until the right breeding stock is available, evaluating what you have already produced, and above all, having a breeding plan that is at least three generations ahead of the breeding you do today. 7. Skeletal defects are the most difficult to change. 8. Don ’t bother with a good animal that cannot reproduce well. The fittest are those who survive and are able to pass their survival genes to the next generation. 9. Once you have approximately the animal you want, use out-crosses spa-ringly. For each desirable characteristic you acquire, you will get many undesirable traits that you will have to eliminate in succeeding generations. 10. Inbreeding is the fastest method to achieve desirable characteristics. It brings forward hidden traits that may be undesirable and you want to eliminate. However, repeated inbreeding can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. 11. Once you have achieved the characteristics you want, line-breeding with sporadic outcrossing seems to be the most prudent approach. 12. Breeding does not create anything new unless you run into favorable mutations (seldom). What you get is what was there to begin with. It may have been hidden for many generations, but it was there. 13. Litter mates share on average 50% common genes, but only on average. Each litter mate got at random 50% of its genes from the male (father) and 50% from the female (mother), but not necessarily the same 50% from each. 14. Hereditary traits are inherited equally from both parents. Do not expect to solve all of your problems in one generation. 15. If the worst animal in your last litter is no better than the worst animal in your first litter, you are not making progress. ABOUT DOGS ( NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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16. If the best animal in your last litter is no better than the
best animal in your first litter, you are not making progress. 17. Do not choose a breeding animal by either the best or the worst that it has produced. Evaluate the total breeding value of an animal by means of averages of as many offspring as possible. 18. Keep in mind that quality is a combination of soundness and function. It is not merely the lack of undesirable traits, but also the presence of desirable traits. It is the whole animal that counts. 19. Be objective. Don ’t allow personal feelings to influence your choice of breeding stock. 20. Be realistic, but strive for excellence. Always try to get the best you can. Be careful: when we breed animals for special characteristics, we are playing with fire, changing the genome that natural selection created and tested throughout centuries. For further reading: http://rogerabrantes.wordpress.com http://www.ethology.eu
by Giovanni Padrone ‐ Driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, especially after seeing some videos where the baboons live together peace‐ fully with wild dogs, even a‐ dopting their puppies, (And I’m not talking about pariah dogs, but just those 'terrible' feral dogs assaulting people in Afri‐ ca and Asia), I'm doing a study for possible discoveries of a certain interconnection betwe‐ en our ancestors and the ance‐ stors of our best friend.
prove not so much their dome‐ stication, but rather a process of adaptation to a new life and new diet (the one of scaven‐ gers of human dumps) already started some time ago.
Well, I already knew the disco‐ very of Sahelanthropus tcha‐ densis in Chad along with Vul‐ pes riffautae dated around 6 million years ago, as I knew the findings of Tautavel (southern France, 500,000 years ago) and Boxgrove (Kent UK, 400.000 years ago) where Homo hidel‐ bergensis was found in the company of many wolves, and Zhoukoudjian (near Beijing 300,000 years ago), with Homo pekinensis in the company of other wolves. In particular, the‐ se findings demonstrate that the various subspecies of Ho‐ mo at some point of their evo‐ lution had a certain affinity with coeval wolves, in the are‐ as where they had settled.
My curiosity prompted me to search among the countless scientific studies available to me (more than 2,000) to see if other human ancestors had so‐ me sort of connection with the Canidae. In doing so, I found three other interesting disco‐ veries that still leads to think of a coexistence between human ancestors and ancient Canidae. In particular, in 2006 the pale‐ oanthropologists working in Ethiopia have found the well‐ preserved remains of a young Australopithecus afarensis, ni‐ cknamed "Lucy's child" becau‐ se its date corresponds to 3.4 million years, more or less the same period in which dates back to 'Lucy', the oldest fema‐ le of Australopithecus. Many other animal fossils have been found along the banks of the Awash, a local river. Among these, paleontologists have de‐ scribed a previously unknown species of canid that was sup‐ posed to live next to the austra‐ lopithecines.
This tradition was later main‐ tained even by the Homo nean‐ derthalis. We have evidence in the cave of Lazaret (France, near Nice, about 130.000/140.000 years ago), in which were found several skeletons of this species of Ho‐ mo along with numerous skele‐ tons of prehistoric wolves, who had the unique feature of ha‐ ving structures and skulls, li‐ ghter than the coeval wild wol‐ ves. Even though that doesn’t
The new canid, an ancestor of 'raccoon dog' (Nyctereutes lo‐ ckwoodi), is represented by a complete skull and other bone fragments. As far as is cur‐ rently known, it was a small canid, about the size of a jackal, but it is the only canid species found on the site. Nyctereutes lockwoodi was not an apex predator, but it could have be‐ en a scavenger or an ecological opportunist, consuming a va‐ riety of foods rather than focu‐
ABOUT DOGS ( NO SILLIEST THINGS)
sing exclusively on meat. However, habits and relation‐ ships of this canid are difficult to establish with certainty. De‐ spite the researchers assum‐ ptions the Nyctereutes lockwo‐ odi could have been a genera‐ list carnivore, and the resear‐ chers acknowledge that we do not know the paleoecology of the site well enough to be sure. In addition, they are sure that this canid belongs to a new genre.
Above, the ancestor of the raccoon dog, Nyctereutes lockwoodi, and below two representatives of this living species spread across Eurasia
Giovanni Padrone Dog/human trainer Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/ giovanni.padrone? hc_location=stream
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by Gianluca Gherghi - At dawn they usually start searching for missing people. It’s a long time that me and my dog are a canine operational unit. We got there after a two year course, long walks in the mountains and rea‐ ding technical manuals a‐ bout communications, cartography, technical rescue, etc.. The good thing, is to get to know people who come from all parts of Italy and they share with you the passion for dogs and the will to sacrifice some of your time to help those in need. In fact, the typical actions are looking up for lost people in the moun‐ tains or people who aban‐ don their home. Unfortu‐ nately, in this field, the majority of the cases are people who decided to commit suicide and they move away from their lo‐ ved ones, so the scenes that you happen to see are not idyllic. I know people who have abandoned this activity after founding de‐ ad bodies. But there are also some beautiful life experiences, which repays you for all the hours spent walking in the rain or a few hours
sleep in the car with the thermometer just above zero. I have attended seve‐ ral missions, but the ones I always keep in my mind are mainly four: my first experience, the search for an elder the search for a boy and one of a baby‐girl. The first research goes back a few months after my qualification, and was referred to a middle‐aged lady who had moved away from home with the express purpose of com‐ mitting suicide. I remember that I was o‐ vercome by the excite‐ ment of the call and I for‐ got half of the equipment at home including the fluorescent harness for the dog and search had to
take place at night with a completely black coated dog (giant schnauzer), I was torn between hide myself or buy a radar. Ho‐ wever, we found some i‐ tems belonging to the lady that guided our research towards the resolution of the case. Since then, I al‐ ways keep a backpack with all the equipment at the end of the bed. The re‐ search of the elderly is a good memory, because the person was not a "dotard", as we had been led to be‐ lieve by his family. He knew exactly where he was and where he was going. After eight hours playing hide and seek with us, he let us find him and it all ended with a
Gianluca and Scuzz work among the rubble
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Gianluca Gherghi and students at the inauguration of the "Friends with tail" Center, in Osimo (An) - Italy
lunch, offered by him. The search for a boy, it was the most touching expe‐ rience. One Sunday mor‐ ning at three o'clock we were alerted that a guy had not come home, and his car had been found ne‐ ar a cliff. With my collea‐ gues we sifted the area, very rough and we mana‐ ged to get the body only around noon. Even today I cannot under‐ stand why a 18 year old guy, with a job, a sport fu‐ ture, surrounded by many friends and a wonderful girlfriend, decides to com‐ mit suicide. I think the only answer is the loneli‐ ness that one feels even while in the midst of o‐ thers, and I will never for‐ get the image of the heli‐ copter that carried off the stretcher with his body.
the girl could have died and be there under. I've seen many, but I did not want to see the body of a three years old little girl. Fortunately, after a little digging, the sighting was negative and so I resumed my search. Ten minutes la‐ ter came a radio communi‐ cation: one of my collea‐ gues had found the girl ali‐ ve and well. The hill was shaken by a shout of libe‐ ration of the over two hun‐ dred rescuers seemed al‐ most to be at the stadium. But the most wonderful feeling it was to see the shine in the eyes of his mo‐ ther when she thanked us for returning her. That look has paid me for ele‐ ven years of sacrifice and I will never forget it.
The last experience refers to the search of a little girl. The baby had been mis‐ sing for four days and her house was in a mountain area. To leave no stone un‐ turned, for the umpteenth time we passed the area where other canine units had already checked. But again nothing! After meeting with the coordi‐ nators, we decided to ma‐ ke the final round in the are around the house, be‐ GIANLUCA GHERGHI cause now hopes were re‐ Consultant for improvement duced to a flicker. in the dog performance With my dog, I had the Friends with tail Center task of beating the entire OSIMO -AN- Italy area upstream of the house while my colleagues were beating left and right. At one point, my dog found a pile of corn cobs in half with a cloth, and immedia‐ tely many ideas came to my mind, including that
ABOUT DOGS ( NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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by Davide Bressi ‐ How to feed dogs is one of the most discussed topics a‐ mong breeders and be‐ yond. Some people feed their dogs with moist fo‐ ods, fresh foods or canned foods, others use dry feed (kibble). Feeding your 4‐ legged friends with the moist, personally prepa‐ ring the meal, it is defini‐ tely the best solution. Fresh foods do not lose their nutritional characte‐ ristics and the quality is de‐ finitely guaranteed. It’s very important to know the daily needs of your dog in order to design a targe‐ ted and balanced diet, but this type of diet can be dif‐ ficult and challenging, as well as economically bur‐ densome, especially for
Kibble these unknown. What to Look for a product of good quality?
those who have large bree‐ dings. The manufacturers of dry food are trying to help their customers offering
targeted products depen‐ ding on size, physical acti‐ vity and breed of the dog. At this point you could ask: what is the best animal fe‐ ed on the market? I do not want to make a list of the best / worst pro‐ ducts on the market. There are several companies and don’t want to risk dama‐ ging some, just not talking about them. My goal is to help you to make a correct choice based on the charac‐ teristics of the feed. Wi‐ thout going into too many details and technical con‐ cepts, let's see how. It's im‐ portant to consider the nu‐ tritional table of the pro‐ duct, understand the mea‐ ning and pay attention to the ingredients. Let’s briefly see the main items on the back of your bag of dog kibble: · Humidity: water present in the feed. · Protein: organic com‐ pounds useful for building muscle. · Fat: also called lipids, compounds useful for energy needs. · Ash: inorganic materials derived from the inci‐ neration of organic substances. Then we have other items such as vitamins, minerals,
ABOUT DOGS (NO SILLIEST THINGS)
etc.. of considerable impor‐ tance, but unfortunately in dry food they lose a lot of quality. Personally, I consider sim‐ plistic and wrong to eva‐ luate a product only for the amount of proteins. Pro‐ teins are divided into two broad categories: animal and vegetable. Animal pro‐ teins are present in milk, fish, eggs and meat. They are composed of complex amino acids and they are essential for muscle hyper‐ trophy and maintenance, but also to perform other vital functions. They are
therefore considered to be of high nutritional value because they contain all the amino acids essential to the body of the animal. The vegetable proteins are in grains, legumes, dried fruit. These are considered to be incomplete and com‐ posed of simple amino a‐ cids. Vegetable proteins therefore do not offer the same quality and quantity 22
of amino acids animal pro‐ tein. Personally I consider them superfluous in both dogs and humans, espe‐ cially in the diet aimed at muscle building. Therefore it is important to understand the real a‐ mount of animal proteins in the feed to figure out the proteinic quality. An excess of cereals in the feed will result in a high quantity of poor quality proteins. I of‐ ten read labels like “with 30% proteins”, but only 20% are animal proteins. What is it the other 80%? How is it possible to get that percentage of protein, with so little meat ? The trick is to add add grain, to raise the proteins quantity. Currently in the market there are products made with meat and fish, they cost more than conventio‐ nal feed, but of course the quality is very high. Keep in mind that the the amount of proteins, should be adjusted according to the lifestyle of the dog and the weather of the place where he lives. Fats are molecules used by the body to produce e‐ nergy. Their quantity is im‐ portant, because along with the proteins are used during muscular efforts. Whereas in nature the dog does not eat carbohydra‐ tes, fats are an indispensa‐
ble resource. Dogs unlike man produce good fats and hardly suffer of hyperlipi‐ demia. The quantity of fat, like the quantity of pro‐
fresh ingredients. With the hope that this article will helpful, I wish your dog friends will enjoy their me‐ als! Davide Bressi Brs Passion Rottweiler Kennel San Marco in Lamis (FG) http://www.brspassion.it/it/home-page
Feed your dog a balanced way to avoid health problems such as obesity
teins, should be adjusted according to the dog life‐ style. A sporting dog cer‐ tainly needs to have a diet rich in proteins and fats, while a lap dog, that doens’t have a busy life, ne‐ eds a diet with low pro‐ teins and fats. As for the ashes, in my opinion, the level must be as limited as possible. They are inorganic substances as mentioned above. High quantities of ash can mean that the feed is made using slaughter product or, poor materials such as bones, feathers, etc.. Finally a good dry food must have excellent dige‐ stibility, with short‐term expiration date, which me‐ ans few preservatives and 23
SSION A P S R B F NEL O N E K R E L I CI/FCI N E y b ROTTWE d e g d knowle c a r e d e e r B r Amateu ) - Italy G F ( s i m a L San Marco in
Mob. 328-5972631
ion.it
Site: www.brspass ion.it ss a p rs b @ fo in : il a -m E
by Cristina Pederzani VMD - In recent years we have seen a gradual increase in the common interest for ani‐ mal well‐being and a greater attention to the mental and physical health of our four legged friends. Even the pro‐ fessionals involved in their well‐being and specialized in treating behavioral pro‐ blems are considerably in‐ creased and people are more willing to get help from this field experts. Most of the people working for the mental health of dogs and cat are behaviorists, while I have made a different choice and I chose to work on behavioral problems with alternative medicine, such as homeopathy, herbal medici‐ ne, Bach flowers. The results are wonderful, and, despite the common be‐ lief, it doesn’t take a really long time to re‐enstablish a correct emotional balance, if we choose the correct re‐ medy. Many people are a‐
volved in homeopathy has to deal with more than 3000 remedies and prescribe the Homeopathy was founded in right one. Germany in 19.th century by a certain Dr. Hannemann, he Animals, like every living used vegetable, mineral and being are all different, so the specific remedy has to be as‐ animal remedies. sessed to that particular su‐ He found out that with bject. But how does a home‐ highly diluted doses could opathic remedy work? Ever‐ cure various diseases. Now, ything is based on the idea the interesting thing is that that “similar things can cure in homeopathy we don’t similar problems”. More in consider only the symptoms detail, if a drug is able to produce certain symptoms on a healty person, the same medicine can cure a sick per‐ son with the same symptoms. This topic is ra‐ ther difficult to understand, but the way it works is not biochemical, is energetic and related to the quantum for which customers are physics, restablishing the knocking at our door, but the energetic balance of the or‐ whole animal, in all its a‐ ganism, can put all the pie‐ spects. If, for example, your ces of the puzzle back toge‐ dog has an aggression pro‐ ther.Homeopathic remedies blem, we do not consider are diluted with water or al‐ only his aggressiveness but cohol and we generally use the whole being: character, high diluted doses to treat emotions, fears, what makes behavioral problems. Con‐ him angry or happy, if he is a trary to what you may think cold or warm dog, if he has the more diluted the sub‐ special food taste, if he has stance is, the more able is to physical diseases, etc.. get deep into the body and Only after careful considera‐ act on a mental and emotio‐ tion of the totality of the nal level. to the usual "prozac", is defi‐ nitively accepted easily.
symptoms of that subject, you can prescribe a remedy. fraid of the idea of using That's why in behavioral me‐ drugs, while the use of a na‐ dicine at the end the choice tural remedy, that often of‐ is limited to the usual two or fers better results compared three drugs, while those in‐
In addition to the homeopa‐ thic treatment is generally required a rehabilitation therapy with a dog trainer, who can follow the dog through all the steps of the 25
healing process. There are poison. many examples I could tell you, but a recent case of a dachshund comes to my mind. BILLO is dachshund a one year and a half old male not neutered. He doesn’t allow you to get into the house, he barks all the time, trying to bite and then stepping back (worse with men), he does not accept treats, he vocali‐ zes all the time of the coun‐ seling and every little move‐ ment sets off new attacks on bicycles , dogs, people. Pulls Bear in mind that this re‐ medy should cure all his on the leash. symptoms through the The homeopathic symptoms “similar” law. Snakes do not that I have found are: Terri‐ get parental care while this torial, jealous and constantly dog struggles to be loved by looking for attention, not to‐ every possible means, e‐ lerant of harnesses or coats, xpressing his feeling with suspicious, always trying to the exaggeration, using his go back to its den voice, attacking with no Basically in his mind ever‐ control and being intolerant ything is perceived as a thre‐ to any kind of constraint, li‐ at. Now, considering that he ke harnesses, collars, etc... is a dachsund and not a gol‐ den retriever, some of the “symptoms” are normal cha‐ racteristics of the breed, but we also have to take into account that the extreme way he expresses himself is a severe obstacle to his life and the life of his owners, so I prescribed Lachesis, a re‐ medy made out of a snake
self‐efficacy, in a few months Billo becomes again a da‐ chshund like any other.
CRISTINA PEDERZANI Veterinary doctor homeopath Teacher of alternative medicine in instructors courses And SIUA Dog trainer
The dosage is 5 drops per day in a rather diluted dose, its duration varies depen‐ ding on the subject's respon‐ se. After 20 days of therapy Billo is more calm he lets people get into the house wi‐ thout attacking them, and he barks less frequently than before. Now you can take him out for a walk, even though he still can’t stand byclicles coming from behind. By associating the homeopa‐ thic with a rehabilitation that gives him new skills li‐ ke: a greater self‐ confidence, self‐esteem and 26
by Angelo Romanò - There have been many studies on animal behavior, and many experiments have been made on them, sometimes with gentle methods, sometimes using animals as guinea pigs. Surely the methods used led to understand certain behaviors and were, in the light of the facts and despite of everything, a good step for their improvement. Today, animal behavior is subjected to substantial and continous changes, sometimes raising the stress level. Nonetheless the modern techniques allows us to take actions with appropriate methods and with the full respect of the individual, especially because in an anthropocentric society most of the interactions happen between dogs and humans rather then just between dogs. But what differentiates individuals? What is that "something more" that some of them have? Many people think that dog performances have an hereditary origin. Studies carried out on horses, say that speed performance has hereditary origin only for 35% and the remaining 65% is related to nutrition, management and training. These studies deal mainly with physical characteristics like: performances and speed, but not intellectual abilities, neglecting what is most important in individuality and intellectual abilities. The qualities of certain individuals are often linked to experiences, and their ability to connect them. There have been many improvement programs on animals, and many selections, but there are few breeders (amateur and professio-
nal) who use consolidated techniques and methods of selection. Many observed differences between individuals can be explained by having used early stimulation methods. Studies by Scott and Fuller show that puppies with poor stimulation, when they have the chance, choose to remain inside the kennel. Other brothers from the same litter, with a little amount of external stimulation between the fifth and eighth week of life, were more curious and active. When kennel doors were left open, the latter came first, and the others remained behind with a fearful attitude and distrust of everything that was not familiar. A luck of stimulation may produce puppies with a lots of problems, which will probably behave the opposite of puppies exposed to an appropriate amount of stimulus. But what is the "Bio Sensor" or "Super dog"? It's a program born in the United States with to improve dogs used for military and strategic purposes. The program highlighted the best periods of the puppy's life, where the early neurological stimulation provided excellent results. The method consists of five simple exercises: Tactile stimulation on the fingertips Puppy in the upright position Puppy upside down Puppy in the supine position Thermal stimulation.
None of them is normally present during the first stage of a dog's life, and submit this to new stimuli. Experience shows that sometimes pups react abnormally to these exercises, while others endure them without any worries. In both cases, if you want to use this method, it is absolutely necessary to be cautious and have experience, never improvise because excessive stimulation can have adverse effects. From the study of the puppies who participated to the original program "Biosensor", there were five major benefits: Improving the performance cardio-vascular Heart beats stronger Adrenals stronger Increased stress tolerance Greater resistance to disease. Obviously this is only a small part of the complex world of our faithful friends, but it can help to give them something more that will allow them to succed life tests easily and with less stress, especially at an early stage where the world to explore is more complex than the natural one. I like to imagine the potential acquired through stimulation as an aid to their growth, without denying the curiosity and the beauty of the period.
Angelo Romanò www.cuccioliprodigio.it
http://
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CERBERUS - The Divine Commedy - Dante Alighieri Inferno (Hell) - Canto Sesto At the return of consciousness, that closed Before the pity of those two relations, Which utterly with sadness had confused me, New torments I behold, and new tormented Around me, whichsoever way I move, And whichsoever way I turn, and gaze. In the third circle am I of the rain Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy; Its law and quality are never new. Huge hail, and water sombre-hued, and snow, Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain; Noisome the earth is, that receiveth this. Cerberus, monster cruel and uncouth, With his three gullets like a dog is barking Over the people that are there submerged. Red eyes he has, and unctuous beard and black, And belly large, and armed with claws his hands.
Cerberus in a representation of Gustave DorĂŠ (19.th century)
He rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them.
Howl the rain maketh them like unto dogs; One side they make a shelter for the other; Oft turn themselves the wretched reprobates. When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm! His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks; Not a limb had he that was motionless. And my Conductor, with his spans extended, Took of the earth, and with his fists well filled, He threw it into those rapacious gullets. Such as that dog is, who by barking craves, And quiet grows soon as his food he gnaws, For to devour it he but thinks and struggles, The like became those muzzles filth-begrimed Of Cerberus the demon, who so thunders
Cerberus in a representation of Guglielmo Giraldi (15.th century)
Over the souls that they would fain be deaf...
ABOUT DOGS (NO SILLIEST THINGS)
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An information magazine created by CINOFILI STANCHI Our staff (educators, trainers, and professional dog breeders) are present in Ovada (AL), Sermide (MN), Castellazzo Novara (NO), Parma, Ravenna, Ancona, Velletri and San Marco in Lamis (FG).
About dogs, is the brainchild of four cynologists (Marcello Messina, Roberto Mannu, Gianluca Gherghi and Giovanni Padrone), they have combined their minds and experiences to create a point of reference for anyone who lives with his dog and requires correct informations to improve their living arrangements. 'About dogs (no silliest things)', because we are tired of the total disinformation, tired of anyone does marketing on the ignorance of the people, tired of the urban legends. THE FOUNDERS
Piemonte: OVADA -AL- cell. 347-5760185 Castellazzo Nov.se -NO- cell. 339-7397499 Lombardia cell. 348-8029763 Emilia Romagna PARMA 346-6964342 RAVENNA cell. 338-1841201 Marche: cell. 338-3787447 Lazio: cell. 338-6523430 Puglia: cell. 328-5972631 Email: cinofilistanchi@yahoo.it
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We are our dogs...
Try to be a good person as your dog think you are. For this and many other reasons do not mistreat or abandon your best friend. Anyone who abuses or abandons a dog is not a good person.