Most people are familiar with the sound of barking dogs, at various times of day, in different situations and areas dogs can often be heard barking. But why do dogs bark?
The simple reason for a dog barking is to attract attention. A dog’s bark is like an alarm, a ringing bell or a human shouting to get help. Dogs often bark when they are disturbed or encounter a situation that frightens or excites them. Barks can often be translated as an alert that the dog thinks that something is wrong.
Barking is an alert mechanism
Most dog owners have experienced their dog barking when a visitor comes to the house and often this is the dog alerting the rest of the household that someone is here.
Rather than being seen as an act of aggression, the dog is alerting his housemates to the fact that someone from outside the home is entering their territory, and they need to know about it to get ready.
There are generally two types of bark that you will hear whenever your dog becomes aware of a visitor. If the dog doesn’t know the person or is unsure then the bark will be like a ‘woo, woo, woo’ sound, which is a classic alarm bark.
On the other hand, if the dog knows the person then the barking will be higher pitched, excited barking, often accompanied by other excitable behaviour as he tells the rest of the house that ‘Dad’ or whoever is back.
Dogs bark when they are excited
Some dogs will bark with excitement or when they play. If you take your dog out in the car to travel for a walk, then he may bark with excitement while in the car as he anticipates a walk, associating the car journey with fun and adventures.
During dog playtime, your dog may bark, either at you or at other dogs or pets that he is allowed to play with. Just as children get excited, so too does your dog.
Children squeal and scream with excitement when they play and your dog will often do similar as his excitement overflows.
They can bark when they are alarmed or scared
Your dog experiences the world in a different way than you and something that seems normal to you (such as the vacuum cleaner) could be a noisy, wavy headed monster to your dog and he might bark at it.
Sudden noises, thunder, the wind, vehicles going past can all be triggers that can cause your dog to sound the alarm and bark.
In many cases we may detect the reason that the dog is barking but in others if may seem that your dog is woofing just for the sake of it.
Your dog hears and smells things that you and I cannot and the sound of the mouse under the floor ( and smell) that we cannot detect, can be a cause of your dog barking.
There are many reasons why dogs bark
Barking can be ‘learned behaviour’
Without realising it, your behaviour and the way that you react to situations, can be a trigger that causes your dog to bark.
If you have a chaotic approach to life and operate at a noisy level for most of the day, then your ‘noise’ can affect the dog which can lead to him joining in with barking and howling.
If you leap up like a madman when the phone rings, or shout when someone rings the doorbell, then its possible that your dog will learn to do the same.
Dogs that live with chaotic humans are more likely to bark than those that are able to experience a more ‘chilled out’ doggy lifestyle.
Emotional or physical distress can cause barking
A dog that is hurt or suffering from some form of stress ( such as separation anxiety) will often bark. This will be a different type of bark than the ‘alert’ bark and will often be more drawn out and sound ‘pained’.
This type of barking is the dog literally shouting for his family to come back ( if he is alone ) or out of simple distress, and calling for attention, if he is hurt or injured
Final Words
There are a number of reasons why dogs bark and often the only real way to understand why your dog is barking is to spend time with him and to look at the world through his eyes.
Often you’ll be able to get a good idea of why he barks and, if this is a problem for you, be able to work out ways to help him to stop.
Sardines are probably not one of the foods that you would necessarily think of feeding to your dog, but maybe rather to your cat.
It turns out that this tiny fish, as well as being good for people, is also a great food option for dogs, providing many health benefits. Being rich in proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids, canned sardines can help support your dog’s health and wellbeing while providing a great alternative to regular dog food.
Keep reading to find more about can dogs eat canned sardines, and why you should consider adding them to the diet of your furry friend.
Protein and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Canned sardines are a very useful means of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which carry various positive health effects. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids are considered as ‘brain food’ for your pet.
Omega 3 fatty acids, which canned sardines contain in large amounts, can help to reduce risk of inflammation and can provide some protection against other types of illnesses and diseases, they also help with maintaining the kidneys, heart and joints.
The only thing to keep your mind on is the high amount of oil in canned sardines, and when feeding canned sardines to your dog you should start off by giving your dog smaller amounts before gradually working your way up to bigger portions.
Other possible sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are: Krill oil, Calamari oil, and Cod liver oil.
Canned sardines have lower mercury levels
There is some controversy going on about people feeding fish to their pets because of the possibly high amounts of mercury inside them, and a general scare of their pet getting mercury toxicity.
Almost all forms of seafood and fish contain some level of mercury which comes from a variety of sources, mainly pollutants in the water, and it is inevitable that sardines will contain mercury.
Thankfully, when compared to larger fish, such as tuna, which is also available in canned forms, sardines contain much lower and therefore, safer levels, making them much more suitable for feeding to dogs.
If we want to get to the specifics, buying sardines in water is a little bit better than buying sardines packed in oil.
It’s not like the ones packed in oil are harmful, it’s just better to not go overboard with the amount of oil we are giving to our dogs as oil can increase your dog’s weight and possibly upset his stomach.
Also, the water that comes with the sardines almost serves like a dressing for any other meal that you give to your pet; it can be poured over dog biscuits, for example, and serve like a kind of gravy.
Also, it’s a great way to disguise medicine to your pet; crush up the pills into a paste and mix with the sardine gravy, chances are they won’t even taste the medicine!
Portions depending on weight
Like many foods it is important to consider just how much we feed to our dogs, to prevent health problems and weight gain.
Canned sardines are a healthy option but too many can have the reverse effect.
Thankfully there are some guidelines out there regarding how many canned sardines we can feed to our dog based on their weight.
A dog below 5lbs can eat up to about 2 sardines, whereas a dog above 51lbs is able to eat about 14 sardines.
Again, nothing harmful will happen if your dog goes “over the limit” but it is more a matter of not overdoing it with the oils, the fats, and the salt, just like a human would not want to overdo it either.
Final Words
Overall, if you haven’t considered it yet, you might as well start thinking about adding sardines into your dog’s diet.
It is probably one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids that your dog can have, as this particular small fish has a very low amount of mercury in it when compared to other fish that might be available to your dog.
In addition to the many health benefits for joints, kidneys, and lowering the risk of illness, dogs also find sardines incredibly tasty, especially the water and the oil in which they are packed.
So, although you may think it strange feeding fish to your dog, they enjoy it immensely and you’ll find that your dog will love the occasional can of sardines every now and then.
Now you have your answer to the question can dogs eat canned sardines. Try it out and you will be surprised by the satisfaction a few tiny fish can bring.
Dogs, like many animals, can become anxious at some point in their lives.
Anxiety in dogs is usually caused by some change in the dog’s routine or something unusual appearing or happening in your dog’s environment.
The best way to deal with dog anxiety is to identify the cause of the stress and then dealing with that and putting things right. When dealing with your dog be patient and quiet, look at things from your dog’s point of view and provide a safe place for him to escape to. Try not to disrupt your dog’s routine and keep things familiar, such as playtime, walks and feeding. You can provide him with treats and toys to help to distract him when he seems anxious.
Your dog cannot tell you how he is feeling but, if you watch him and are familiar with how he normally behaves, then you should be able to recognise changes in his behaviour and identify any symptoms of stress and anxiety.
There are several general symptoms that could be signs that your dog is feeling anxious:
If your dog displays some of the above then it is possible that he may be stressed or anxious and there can be a number of reasons for this anxious behaviour.
It is important to try and look at things from your dog’s perspective to try and identify and understand what could be upsetting him, and to remember that things that seem harmless to you could be a big issue for your dog.
There are some ‘dog experts’ that suggest that you ‘acclimatise’ your dog to these types of noises as a form of ‘cure’.
For a dog that is already anxious at these noises, this type of ‘treatment’ could make things much, much worse and send him over the edge.
Far better for you to simply make life easier for your dog. Create a safe, quiet environment in the home.
Shut the doors, close the curtains and settle down with your dog, keeping him calm and helping him to feel safe and secure.
For dogs that are really anxious you can try plug in pheromone diffusers and sprays which release natural hormones to keep your dog calm and relaxed.
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Parties and noisy celebrations
If you have parties or events where there are lots of people then these can be stressful for some dogs who simply struggle to cope with the levels of attention and noise.
Dogs can get over excited when meeting lots of new people and, like toddlers, can get carried away, doing things that they wouldn’t normally do.
Some dogs can get very wary of strangers entering their home, with their strange smells and looks and, if they are noisy, then your dog could feel threatened by these unfamiliar people, even thinking that they are a threat and a source of danger.
If you are able to then provide your dog with a safe place where he can settle down and goto sleep, a room perhaps, where he won’t be disturbed.
Provide him with a comfortable place to lie down, keep him warm and consider using one of the many plugin diffusers if he is particularly sensitive.
If you are looking for a comfortable bed for your dog then take a look at Etsy.
If you a vacuuming, for example, then try to do it when the dog is in another room, or, better still, get another family member to take him out for a walk while you do it.
A little bit of thinking gets you there.
Moving home
Moving house is one of the most stressful things that a human being can do – and generally they understand why is is happening and what is going on.
Now, imagine that you are a dog.
Making changes to your dog’s environment is extremely stressful for even the most laid back of dogs and most dogs will be confused, worried and stressed.
In this type of situation it is best to provide your dog with somewhere that he is familiar with where he can feel and be safe and secure, making sure that he has bedding, food and water and that he is as comfortable as possible.
If you move into a new place then you should plan to spend a few days with your dog after the move.
Don’t abandon him and go off to work, take some time off and help him to settle in.
Keep his old bedding with his old, familiar smells on them to help him to feel comfortable and safe.
Remember that a new house will not smell anything like th old one and that this will be a big concern for your dog for a while until his smell and that of you and your family and your belongings, spread around the new property.
He will settle in eventually and some dogs are more adaptable than others. You should be prepared, however, for a few days of unsettled behaviour while your dog adjusts to his new home.
Sometimes your dog just wants to get away from it all and rest in a safe and comfortable place that he can call his own.
Dogs like to have a peaceful den and there are a wide range of indoor dog kennels available, many of which serve a dual purpose of household furniture, that are great for creating the doggy den that your pooch needs to feel safe and secure.
Dogs like to live in harmony with the rest of the family and, as far as your dog is concerned, a cat or another dog, is just another family member.
If your dog is being bullied by another animal or intimidated then this can be a source of anxiety.
It could be over food, toys, sleeping areas and other things.
As a dog owner you will need to be concious of the effect that other pets have on your dog and do your best to ensure that competition between your pets is minimised as much as possible.
Make sure that your dog has his own bed, his own bowls, leads, coat, toys and do your best to encourage the animals to get along with each other. through play, shared walks and family adventures.
Children
Children can be noisy, rapid and excitable. You should never leave a young child alone with a dog, regardless of how much you trust the dog or how gentle you think the dog is.
Older dogs can become stressed at the noise levels of children and frequently children can miss the warning signs that a dog will often display when he is trying to tell the children to go away and leave him alone.
Often a dog will bite out of anxiety or stress because adults have failed to supervise children who have gone onto stress the dog, which then bites.
Always introduce children carefully to a dog, show them the right way to approach the dog, slowly and quietly and always supervise them.
Tell children that the dog is not a toy and that he needs to be allowed to sleep and be left alone when he is tired.
Final Words
It is a fact that dogs can and do become anxious and stressed.
The key to dealing with dog anxiety is to consider the cause and to do your best to remove it and to help your dog to deal with the effects.
If you try to see things through the eyes of your dog and look at how he might perceive certain items and situations then you will be a step nearer to helping prevent anxiety and to helping him to cope.
Providing a well balanced diet to a dog is vital for his health and well being and many owners explore a variety of foods with some wondering if dogs are able to eat raw foods such as undercooked chicken.
Pet dogs can eat undercooked chicken but there are some things that owners should be aware of which include the quality of the meat, its age and the conditions in which it has been kept. Discoloured or mouldy chicken can be infested with bacteria and should not be fed to dogs.
Can dogs eat undercooked chicken?
A dog’s nutrition is one the biggest parts of their life that you as a pet owner can influence.
Dogs don’t have a choice, like us humans, when it comes to the types of food they have access to and eat.
Even if they are prone to overeating, most dog owners control their pet’s food, and we decide what and how much they eat.
As a dog owner, you are responsible for your dog’s diet, so it’s up to you to offer healthy options that will increase your pooch’s quality of life and overall wellness.
In recent years, pet owners have had access to a multitude of sources of information about their dog’s diet, many of which promote the raw food diet, working on the fact that dogs are carnivores and that their ancestors used to feed on hunted or scavenged raw meat.
Nowadays, dogs are genetically manipulated and have been bred for years in order to become the pets we know and love today and many dogs do not have the resilience towards some raw foods that their ancestors would have had.
Would modern dog breeds be able to eat undercooked chicken?
The answer depends on a series of factors that as an owner you should consider:
The chicken – It begins with the undercooked chicken. The quality of the meat you are serving your dog is very important.
Raw or undercooked chicken poses the risk of salmonella, a bacterium that can cause an infection.
However, if the chicken is fresh, and it was stored properly, at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, before and after cooking, the risk of bacteria multiplying is very low.
The dog’s health– A healthy dog has a strong immune system and a stomach filled with clorhidric acid, that most bacteria won’t live through.
If your dog is healthy and happy, is regularly dewormed and doesn’t have any sensibilities or known allergies, undercooked chicken might not be too bad for him.
How you serve undercooked chicken – Your dog would probably love chicken no matter how you serve it. They have a simple mind food wise. “If it smells good, I want it” should be their motto.
However, depending on how undercooked the chicken is, some dogs might not know what to do with it.
Most pet dogs only eat dog food and receive an occasional treat from their owners. Even dogs that beg a lot, only receive cooked food.
Furthermore, one study found that there could be a relation between raw chicken and paralysis in dogs, but this is a very controversial study and most veterinarians consider it safe to offer undercooked chicken to dogs.
Whatever your choice will be regarding your dog’s diet, make sure that you take all necessary safety precautions to keep the entire family safe.
However, there is always the possibility that uncooked chicken could cause an upset stomach and it is probably in your dog’s best interest to cook the chicken before you feed it to him.
Have you ever wondered what do dogs think about when they are lying around?
If you have then you are like many dog owners who ask the same question.
We will never really know for sure just what goes on in a dog’s mind when he is lying around on the sofa. He lives in the same world as us, but sees it in a different way. Maybe he thinks about food, going for a walk, where his humans are, what that smell is, what toys to play with. The reality is that dogs are clever animals and his thoughts may not be much different than yours.
Do dogs think?
It is safe to say that dogs do think although not in the way that we would probably recognise.
For those such as Dr. Alexandra Horowitz Phd, dogs certainly do think and their thoughts are driven by events and the surroundings that they are exposed to and experience.
This best selling author is always studying canine behaviours and strives to see the world from the perspective of dogs, exploring the things that are meaningful to them.
Her best selling book ‘Inside of a dog‘ takes the reader on a voyage of discovery to explore dog behaviour and how dogs think and understand the world around them.
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What do dogs think about?
Dogs often think about the environment that they are in, assessing the surroundings, smells and sights for signs of threats, other creatures and determining if the area is safe or not.
This is a common strategy among all animals, humans included, and a basic tenet of survival.
Of course the domestic dog is not really faced by any real threat and it is fair to say that a large proportion of your dog’s time will be spent thinking about food, his owners, resting, play and generally being a dog.
What goes through a dog’s mind when he is left alone?
Most dog owners are familiar with the dog behaviour that they witness whenever they are about to leave the house without their pet, and they wonder, ‘just how does he know?’
The reality is that dogs are excellent observers of human behaviour.
You pick up your car keys, or grab your wallet and, to you, it means little -but your dog sees these signals and recognises that they mean that you are about to go out.
Many dogs become excitable, as they think that they are coming along, while others appear distressed at the expectation of being left alone.
The things that go through your dog’s mind are probably dependant on his upbringing and experiences as a dog.
Most dogs don’t get enough mental or physical stimulation. Owners go out to work, leave the dog on his own, then come back from work and are often too tired to do anything with the animal.
To help your dog to think healthily when he is alone it is important for you to provide him with mental stimulation, either in the form of training, games or going for interesting walks to as many different places as possible.
The exposure to this stimuli will encourage active and healthy thinking and learning for your dog, just as it would for a young child.
You should do your best to develop your dog’s mind just as you would with your children.
FAQs
Do dogs actually think when they are lying around?
Yes, dogs do think when they’re lying around. Their minds can be active, processing their environment, experiences, and possibly remembering past events, just like humans do when we are idle.
What might dogs think about when they are relaxing?
Dogs may think about their immediate environment, recent experiences, food, their human companions, or other animals in the house. They may also be alert to sounds and smells, and potentially ‘replaying’ recent exciting events in their minds.
Do dogs daydream or have thoughts similar to humans?
While it’s impossible to know exactly what dogs think, research suggests they can have periods of light sleep where they might be “daydreaming”. Dogs have similar sleep cycles to humans, which means they also experience REM sleep, the period when most dreaming occurs.
Do dogs recall past memories when they are resting?
Dogs do have a form of memory known as “associative memory”, which helps them associate specific actions with outcomes (e.g., sitting on command leads to a treat). However, whether dogs actively recall these memories when they’re lying around is still a subject of scientific exploration.
Do dogs think about their owners when they are not around?
Research suggests that dogs can remember and miss their owners when separated. They may associate certain places, smells, or objects with their owners. So, it’s possible that they think about their owners when they are not around.
Final Words -What do dogs think about when they are lying around?
Just like children, dogs enjoy active, informative lives and stimulation and experiences are important to a dog.
Dogs think about lots of different things, owners, walks, food, other dogs and their experiences, in many ways similar things to humans, but in different ways.
Most dog owners are familiar with the cold, wet nose that their dog always has, but, have you ever wondered why do dogs always have wet noses?
The answer lies in the dog’s fantastic smelling ability. A wet nose is better for scent. Your dog focuses more on what he smells than anything else and a wet nose attracts scent molecules much more efficiently. Simply put a wet nose works better than a dry one.
Wet noses are best for the dog
Your dog’s nose is probably the most important part of his body. Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell for communication and to learn and understand the world that they live in.
Just as people rely on their sense of sight, a dog uses his sense of smell in the same way, although his scenting ability is far more refined and better than our sight.
A dog’s sense of smell is difficult for humans to understand as it is so much more powerful, sensitive and refined, up to 10,000 times more powerful than a human being’s.
Your dog’s sense of smell is incredible and is estimated to be at least 10,000 times ( if not more) powerful than a human’s.
An experiment to test a dog’s sense of smell
In her best selling book ‘Inside of a dog’, cognitive scientist Alexandra Horowitz describes an experiment where a single human fingerprint was placed onto a cleaned glass slide.
The slide was left outdoors for weeks, exposed to all sorts of weather.
When presented with a collection of slides containing the fingerprinted slide, the dog was able to detect the one that had been fingerprinted even though the scent was weeks old and weathered.
Your dog’s nose works best when it is wet as the scent molecules stick better to a wet surface.
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Wet noses help a dog to cool down
Dogs cannot sweat like humans and they have to regulate their body temperature in different ways.
This is done mainly by panting, often with the tongue hanging out to get rid of excess heat, but your dog can also lose heat through his paw pads and via his nose.
A wet nose provides a more effective way of getting rid of some of his body heat when he is warm.
Your dog has to keep his nose wet
Mucus – Your dog’s nose produces mucus from glands inside the nasal passages which work to keep his nose wet.
This mucus tends to be sticky so that it sticks to the inside and outside of his nose and acts as a channel for scent molecules, which, when they stick to the mucus are then directed into the nose for ‘processing’.
Dogs lick their noses – this is something that most dog owners see their pets doing but the dog is not just licking his nose to keep it wet.
By licking his nose, your dog can transfer some of the scent molecules into his mouth where they are then passed onto the top of the mouth for an increased ability to deal with the scent.
Your dog also knows that having a wet nose increases his smelling ability – so he will lick it to keep it moist.
Most dogs will run with their noses to the ground – this is where they pick up the best scent and where they get most of their information from.
You’ll often notice that your dog’s face can be wet, even when the rest of his body is dry, he picks up moisture from the ground which wets his face and nose.
Some dogs need wetter noses than others
Have you ever noticed that some dogs produce more ‘doggy goz’ than others? That dog goo that dribbles from their noses and mouths and which can get everywhere, particularly when they shake?
It is quite normal for many breeds and the reason is all to do with scent and improving and supporting that sense.
A bloodhound will produce more goo than perhaps a poodle, and it is no coincidence that bloodhounds possess one of the best scenting abilities in the dog world.
All of that mucus helps to attract scent molecules onto the dog’s face and into his nostrils, resulting in a dog that can track people and other prey with incredible results.
Wet noses are important for a dog
It’s often said that if a dog has a wet nose then he is healthy. What can be certain is that having a wet nose is normal and important for every breed of dog, whether a house dog, pet or working dog.
Dog’s view their world by smell and a wet, cold nose improves and supports their ability to do this.
Final words
Unlike people, who should not have wet noses, your dog relies on his sense of smell to navigate his world.
A damp or wet nose is a good sign and it helps your dog to pick up smells of animals and people, and other scents, that enable him to understand the world around him.
Dogs can be pretty disgusting with their dietary habits, from eating cat poo through to other horrible stuff.
Snails are just another treat to many dogs and there are some pooches that will happily scoff them down, crunching their shells as they do. As an instinctive scavenger your dog doesn’t really know the difference between a slimy, gooey snail and a nice dog treat. To your dog a snail is just another easy meal.
If your dog becomes infected with Lungworm then he can experience coughing or more severe breathing issues such as Bronchitis or serious difficulties in breathing.
If left untreated Lungworm can be fatal.
What do I do if my dog eats a snail?
The chances are that you won’t have to do anything. Dogs have resilient digestive and other bodily systems and it’s likely that your dog will be fine.
If you notice that your dog begins to experience a shortage of breath, is coughing, has an upset tummy, or, indeed if you notice anything out of the normal, then you should get the professional advice of your vet and take him for an examination.
If you live in an area where Lungworm in dogs has been reported then you should speak to your vet to get their advice.
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How do I get rid of snails without hurting my dog?
If snails are a problem where you live then there are a few ways in which you can get rid of them safely. There is no need to use poison or other treatments.
Snails do not like rough surfaces – you can put crushed eggshells down or sharp gravel in the areas where snails gather. The sharp edges of these things will deter snails from grouping.
Salt – Salt will kill snails and slugs although you will need to sprinkle it onto the creatures whenever you see them – often at night.
Beer traps – snails are attracted to beer – simply dig a small hole and place a pot inside, with the edges next to ground level, half fill the pot with beer and leave. The snails will be attracted and will fall in but will be unable to get out.
Hunt them down – go out after dark and simply deal with them ruthlessly.
There is one big difference between snails that you may find in your garden and those that you are served in a restaurant.
The snails that are served for eating are edible and are bred and managed for that purpose under controlled conditions.
Cooked snails, are a good source of protein and are low in fat. There are far better foods for your dog but a single edible snail, cooked, will not do him any harm.
How to protect your dog from the risk of snails
Prevention is always better than cure. You should make sure that your dog’s vaccinations are always kept up to date and that you follow a good pattern of worming.
You should always speak to your vet about worming schedules and about the right wormers to use for your dog.
Most worming treatments nowadays are multipurpose and will keep your dog safe from a number of different worms that they can be subjected to.
Dogs are natural scavengers and the odd snail or two presents an easy and free snack that should not pose any real problems for a vaccinated and healthy animal.
That said, you should try to prevent your dog from eating snails as they can cause illnesses in some cases.
As with all things, if you are concerned about your dog’s health then you should talk to your vet to get their expert advice and opinion.
The days of the plastic dog bedthat your dog refuses to lie in are numbered as luxury indoor dog kennel designs and availability increase.
These indoor dog kennels are a great option for your dog and your home. With 5 star comfort and attractive designs and materials, these are the best luxury dog kennel choices that we’ve seen. They will provide your dog with great levels of warmth and comfort while looking like a piece of furniture that can have practical uses for your home too.
If you want to provide your dog with a great standard of comfort and give him a bed and quiet place that he will appreciate and enjoy then this range of luxury indoor kennels are the answer.
What is a luxury indoor dog kennel?
Luxury indoor dog kennels are just as they sound, indoor palaces for your dog. Many steps away from the traditional hard plastic oval shaped dog bed these luxurious items are just the ticket for your dog to rest and sleep in comfortably.
Many of these dog kennels look just like furniture pieces and, in most cases, they have a dual purpose use – a bed or kennel for your dog and storage space for all of the doggy items and equipment, or other things..
Most luxury indoor kennels are available in a selection of finishes, allowing you to pick and choose the correct kennel for your home.
How we selected the best luxury indoor dog kennels
Our selection process is based on a number of criteria that we follow when rating items for dog use.
By following these we are assured that we only choose items that are the best for dogs and, in the case of dog kennels, are comfortable and durable.
Consistently high rated
Good and consistent user reviews, looking at item quality and customer service
Well made and good quality standards
Easy to use
And – most importantly of all – the best items for dogs
The Fido Nook Indoor Dog Kennel is a modern and elegant piece of furniture that provides a warm and comfortable place for your dog’s bed. It is available in two sizes with or without the built in cupboard and can accommodate a standard sized dog cage if needed.
The kennel provides your dog with the shelter, warmth and protection from draughts that are present in most homes, giving him the best protection and a warm, safe place to rest and sleep.
For the latest prices, reviews and more details on this great luxury dog kennel visit the link below.
The Unipaws Pet Crate End Table is a durable luxury indoor dog kennel that is designed to blend in well with most home decor while providing your dog with a comfortable and safe place to sleep and rest.
The Petsfit luxury indoor dog kennel is an ideal choice for smaller dogs under 15Kg. With grey and white colouring, the wood manufactured dog house has a brick effect finish and metal door for added safety.
This dog kennel is supplied as a flat pack item and is provided with easy to follow instructions for fast and simple construction.
Once built the roof can be easily opened allowing easy and quick cleaning. This is an ideal indoor kennel that looks great and is enjoyed by owners because of it’s quality, ease of use and looks.
You can see the latest availability of this great kennel on Amazon here.
The Fido Studio Dog Crate is another exceptional indoor dog kennel that doubles up as a practical furniture piece.
Providing your dog with his own den inside the house, the Studio Crate also solves the problem of where to put his toys and other accessories. The wardrobe is optional and the kennel is available as a standalone.
Most people like this indoor kennel due to it’s stylish looks, practical nature and the fact that their dogs settled in really quickly and easily.
Our final choice is an indoor kennel that is suitable for small dogs.
Made from kiln dried cedar and treated with organic colour stain, this simple to put together kennel offers a stylish and secure option for your dog’s comfort and safety.
The strong wooden construction means that you can paint or stain this kennel to suit your decor and styles.
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For many dog owners and animal enthusiasts, the distinctive black nose of a dog is a feature as familiar as it is intriguing.
But what lies behind this common trait? Is it merely a quirk of nature, or does it serve a greater purpose?
Your dog’s nose is one of the most important areas of his body and the view is that the colour of a dog’s nose helps to protect it from sun damage. Not all dogs have black noses, however, and the colour of a dog’s nose will vary according to his skin and coat colour, his age, genetics and, importantly, his breed. In general dogs with black or dark coloured coats have black noses while those with liver or lighter coloured coats have noses that are brown or that appear red tinted.
Why dogs’ noses are often black
Genetics and Pigmentation:
The primary reason for the black colour of a dog’s nose is genetic. Dogs have a gene that codes for the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for colouration in skin and hair.
Melanin not only provides colour but also offers protection against sun damage. The concentration of melanin leads to darker pigmentation, resulting in black noses in many dog breeds.
Breed-Specific Traits:
Certain dog breeds are more likely to have black noses due to specific genetic traits passed down through generations.
For example, breeds like Labradors, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers commonly have black noses.
A healthy dog typically has a moist and cool nose, which often appears black. However, the colour can change due to health or environmental factors.
If a dog’s nose changes colour (e.g., from black to pink), it can sometimes indicate a health issue, but often it’s a normal part of aging or a harmless condition known as ‘snow nose’ or ‘winter nose’.
Environmental and Climatic Factors:
Exposure to sunlight can affect the pigmentation of a dog’s nose. Prolonged sun exposure can sometimes lead to a lighter nose in some dogs.
Seasonal changes can also cause temporary changes in nose colour. In colder months, some dogs’ noses may lighten in colour.
Protection Against Elements:
The melanin in a dog’s nose not only provides colour but also acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting the nose from sunburn and other damage caused by exposure to the elements.
This is particularly important as dogs frequently expose their noses to the sun while exploring outdoors.
Remember, while black noses are common, dogs can naturally have noses of different colours, including brown, pink, or spotted, depending on their genetics and environmental factors.
Do dogs noses turn black?
Most dogs, as puppies, have pink noses and, as they grow older, their noses change colour, eventually reaching a stage where they reflect the colour of the dog.
In many dogs this will mean that their nose will turn black, but there are some breeds that have light or red coloured coats where the nose will turn light brown or even seem to have hints of red or pinkness in the colouring.
Can dogs noses lose their black colour?
Yes and in most cases this is normal and is nothing to be concerned about.
Many breeds of dogs can go through changes in the colour of their nose in line with the seasons, in summer their nose can become lighter and lose some of it’s natural colouring.
In some areas this is called ‘snow nose’, it is often related to the time of year and is harmless.
Often noses that turn lighter in the winter will return to a dark colour when the weather turns warmer and sunny. For many dogs this is a perfectly normal event.
Old age can often be a cause of loss of pigmentation in a dog’s nose, just as he may develop some grey hairs around his muzzle, his nose can also change colouring as he gets older.
How can I blacken my dog’s nose?
If your dog is losing pigmentation in his nose then you can add a natural supplement to his meals which will support his body’s natural colouring.
This is simply due to the breed of the dog and his natural colouring. Just as a human can have freckles, a dog can have what looks a bit like a ‘freckled nose‘.
Some dogs have a mix of pink and black on their noses and this will vary from breed to breed, again this is perfectly normal for many dogs.
How long does it take for a puppy’s nose to turn black?
By the time your puppy is 8 to 10 months old he will be almost, if not fully grown ( this varies from breed to breed and this is an average time).
When he is fully grown then he will normally have the full pigmentation in his nose which will have turned black – if it is meant to.
Remember that not all dogs have black noses and the colour of your puppy’s nose will depend on his breeding and colouring.
Can a dog’s black nose get sunburned?
It is possible for your dog to sunburn his nose, regardless of the colour, although black noses tend to be better protected from the effects of the sun than lighter ones.
You should also do what you would do yourself and keep him out of the sun until it gets better.
Why do dogs have black noses?
Dogs have black noses primarily because of a higher concentration of melanin in their skin. Melanin is responsible for pigmentation in animals, and in the case of dogs, it results in a black colouration on their noses. The black colour helps protect their noses from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Are there any dog breeds with non-black noses?
Yes, there are certain dog breeds that do not have black noses. Some breeds, like the Dalmatian, have spots or patches on their noses instead of a solid black colour. Other breeds, such as the Samoyed, may have lighter-coloured or flesh-toned noses. These variations in nose colour are primarily due to genetic factors and do not necessarily indicate any health concerns.
Just as people have different skin colours and levels of pigmentation, so do dogs.
Dogs with dark skin tend to have dark and black noses whereas those with lighter skin and coats have noses that are much lighter in colour or even resemble freckles.
