How Puppies Steal Our Hearts

How is it that there becomes that one dog (or dogs) that steals our hearts? It turns out that there is actually a scientific reason. Science has proven that when a dog stares into a person’s eyes that it activates the same hormonal response that bonds humans to their babies. As much as people may make fun of the term “fur babies”, in fact, our dogs really do become like our own offspring.

 

Because of the way dogs interact with humans, they have become considered more like partners than pets to many dog owners. Many dogs take on a great many characteristics of their owners, much like children learn to mimic habits of their parents. The earlier that a dog gets to bond to a particular person, especially as a puppy, the bond becomes stronger. As Science Magazine reports, “human-dog interactions elicit the same type of oxytocin positive feedback loop as seen between mothers and their infants.” This sort of positive feedback is believed to have been a major part in dog’s domestication in the first place. The positive feedback loop is what helps people to relieve stress when interacting with their dogs.

 

Beyond the scientific reasons, there’s always a particular dog that steals one’s heart. In particular, Australian Cobberdogs are a particularly popular breed that make great partners. They can be so much more than just a pet. Cobberdogs are known to be good with children and easy to train to do special tasks. They also also extremely sociable and very energetic, making for great exercise partners. It’s great to have such an active partner and since they are so friendly, it’s really like having another person in the family.

 

Whether it’s a Cobberdog or another breed that steals your heart, each dog is an individual each with his or her own quirks and talents, just like a person. And just like with people, even if two personalities don’t seem to mix at first, the difference in temperament between dog and person can actually be a benefit to both. No matter when you meet your dog, near birth or months later, there’s one out there that could steal your heart!

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Should I Microchip My Australian Cobberdog Puppy?

A common question for new dog owners is if you should microchip your puppy. When is it safe to do so, and why should I do it? Here are some reasons that microchipping your Australian Cobberdog puppy will be good for both you and your dog.

The statistics say that one in every three pets become lost sometime during their lifetime. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, there was a study published that confirms the higher rate of returned microchipped cats and dogs to their homes. About 53 percent of microchipped dogs were returned to their owners, compared to only around 22 percent on average. However, less than 60 percent of those microchipped animals actually had been registered with the contact information needed to return the pets to their owners.

Per HomeAgain, registered microchips are the best chance for lost pets to return home. So not only should you microchip your puppy, which is safe to do at birth. You should also register that microchip in a database such as HomeAgain. This is because the microchip itself only has an ID number, so that number needs to be included in a database. In that database, you can associate  the ID number with your contact information. Be sure to keep it regularly updated. This way, you have peace of mind that if you and your beloved puppy are ever separated, you’ll have a much higher chance of them getting found.

Some major pet supply chains, such as Banfield Clinics at select PetSmarts, can scan the microchips of dogs brought into their stores. Any vet or local animal shelter can, as well. By having the contact information to reunite pets with their owners, this takes a lot of strain off of the shelters. More importantly, it lessens the emotional burden on the lost pet and grieving owner by getting them reunited more quickly.

Does it hurt my puppy to have a microchip put in? The microchipping process is quick and usually painless. It’s placed between the shoulder blades with a hypodermic needle. Local anesthesia is sometimes used if you think it best. The area only needs about 24 hours to heal. It’s supposed to bond with the puppy’s tissues so that it’s easier to scan. The earlier the microchipping procedure is done, the better, but it can be done at any time.

There are many benefits to microchipping your Australian Cobberdog puppy. But there is no greater benefit than knowing if you and your pet ever become separated, you’ll be far more likely to be reunited quickly and safely.

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