DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Rolan Tripp, DVM of the Colorado State University Veterinary School , says “ Whether it's puppies, kittens or children, Nature insists on play. Play is a requirement for healthy development of a loving personality as well as for a healthy body. In addition, play is the basis for a social structure. Individuals of any species that do not play when they are young are severely mentally and socially compromised when they become adults .” Play for a puppy is extremely important and begins as early as four weeks. Puppies will play with their mother and littermates at this age. Play will teach a puppy many important skills, for example bite inhibition. Bite inhibition is the most important thing the puppy can learn. Puppies need to develop ‘soft mouths’ for when they get older. Dogs without the skill of knowing how much pressure to use when mouthing either their human family or when the play fight with other dogs will very quickly find the game stops and no one will...

Miya is a white Northern Inuit dog. Seen here with my other dog Ben the black Lab. I rescued Miya from an animal rescue center here in Glasgow when she was about 14 months old. I had been to see her a couple of times and decided I wanted to give her the type of home that would let her reach her full potential. I lead a fairly active doggy life. Involved in dog training and spend a lot of weekends doing dog related stuff, like trekking and agility stuff. So I can give a dog like Miya a good life. She was hard work at first, I am her third owner. She was bought as a puppy from a breeder in Central Scotland and given to young children as a Christmas present. I can imagine that at eight weeks old she must have looked like a stuffed pure white wolf cub some kid would have on their bed. Who couldn't resist her. Three months later and sprouting somewhat, she became a bit of a handful. Originally cross bred from German Shepherds and Huskies, Northern Inuits are not Labs. And need a b...