Truffles, among the world’s most expensive delicacies, are fungi that grow under the soil and leaf litter at the roots of several tree species. They require dogs or pigs to find them. The Italian dog known as the Lagotto Romagnolo is specifically bred for truffle hunting, but other breeds are suited to learning the task. Not only must you train these dogs to find truffles, but you must train them not to eat the little fungus fruits. The same canines that hunt for truffles can also find morels.

Truffle and Mushroom Hunting

Any dog can potentially become a truffle or mushroom hunter, but not every breed is perfectly suited to the task. You can try out your dog’s skills at truffle hunting clinics held throughout the country. The training period for “professional” truffle hunting canines lasts between two and four months. If you want to purchase a well-trained dog specifically for truffle or mushroom hunting, expect to pay in the six figures.

Lagotto Romagnolo

Originally used as a water dog in the Italian marshes, the Lagotto Romagnolo has been used for truffle hunting since at least the 19th century. Between the end of World War I and the start of World War II, the breed was used by virtually all Italian truffle hunters. The medium-size, curly-haired canine appears in various shades of brown. Besides his keen nose for mushrooms, this smart dog is easy to train and makes a good family pet.

Detection Breeds

Dogs that shine at detection work often succeed in truffle hunting. These breeds include the German shepherd and Belgian malinois, dogs used by law enforcement and security agencies worldwide. Not only are these dogs talented truffle hunters, but they’re also smart and easily trained, and they possess a good work ethic. While scenting is paramount in truffle training, it’s of little use unless the canine is also obedient and cooperative. The same sort of discipline required for truffle hunting is needed for the more serious pursuits of bomb detection or search-and-rescue.

Sporting Breeds

Dogs bred specifically for sport, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, can excel as truffle hunters. So can various types of setters and pointers. Even beagles can make good truffle hunters, since they’re especially ruled by their noses. If you want to train a sporting breed for the task, choose a dog from field lines rather than from show lines: Breeders of the former make a special effort to pass on hunting talent in their dogs.

Dog experts are torn on whether or not adopting two dogs at once is a good idea. According to “The Whole Dog Journal,” adopting two dogs at the same time is a terrible idea. As a future dog owner, it’s important that you hear both sides of the story before making your decision. While some may not love the idea of adopting two dogs at once, it may be the right decision for you and your family, but you must understand what to expect. Have a question? Get an answer from a Vet now!

Training

One huge advantage to adopting two dogs at once is you’re able to train two dogs at once. If you plan to eventually have two dogs, it’s best to adopt them both at once for easier training. You can work on housebreaking, crate training, and other basic training at one time. This can be much more beneficial than adopting dogs separately because it will greatly reduce the time spent. There are also cons to training two dogs at once. When you come home, you may have no idea which dog peed on the floor or destroyed your shoe. Another con is trying to wrangle two dogs who are misbehaving.

Companionship

Adopting two dogs at once ensures that your new dogs always have someone to play with. If you work outside the home, your dog will be less likely to experience separation anxiety, because he has someone to play with. You must remember, though, that dogs will establish a pack. Good owners are always seen as the alpha in the pack, but the dogs will then choose who is next in command, and may fight until they establish the order.

Stress

Adopting two dogs at the same time can also be stressful for both you and the dogs. First of all, the dogs may not get along and may try to exert dominance over each other. Another problem arises if you try to house both dogs in the same crate. This can create anxiety in the dogs as they fight for their own space. Dogs can also experience separation anxiety if they become close and one passes away.

Expenses

Adopting two dogs at once can also be very expensive. Not only will you have the adoption cost, but you will need to buy two of everything all at once. This means two collars and leashes, two crates and enough bedding for two crates, two food bowls and two water bowls. When you adopt pets separately, you’re better able to handle the costs. Never underestimate the costs of raising a pet. Even if you save money adopting, purchasing all the supplies will be costly, especially if you’re buying for two. Veterinarian costs can also add up.

The San Diego-based chain today became the first national pet specialty retailer to ban Chinese-made treats from its shelves. The action came days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that more than 5,600 dogs and 24 cats had became ill over the past seven years after eating jerky treats. More than 1,000 dogs died.

No proof has been found to conclusively link jerky to the pet illnesses. Most of the jerky was produced in China.

Chinese-made dog and cat treats will disappear from Petco’s 1,300 stores, its website and Unleashed by Petco locations over the coming months.

“We know some pet parents are wary of dog and cat treats made in China, especially chicken jerky products, and we’ve heard their concerns,” says Petco CEO Jim Myers.

“Very simply, we feel this decision is in the best interest of the pets we all love and, ultimately, for our business,” he adds.

The FDA investigation and the agency’s latest update spurred Petco to act.

“We’ve been following the FDA warnings and related customer concerns closely, and we’ve been actively reducing our China-made assortment and expanding our American-made offerings for several years now,” Myers says. “We know the FDA hasn’t yet identified a direct cause for the reported illnesses, but we decided the uncertainty of the situation outweighs the lack of actual proof.

“It has taken some time and careful thought to get to this point, but we’re proud to make the change and we believe our customers will be pleased with it as well.”

Among the brands Petco is touting as alternatives to Chinese-made treats are selections from U.S. companies such as American Jerky, Blue Buffalo, Canidae, Dogswell, Merrick, Nature’s Variety and Zuke’s as well as treats and chews from New Zealand, Australia and South America.

“The Koehler Method of Dog Training” is a book and a philosophy, containing a combination of principles, theories and practices that seek to empower dog owners to control their dog’s behavior using mental conditioning. While some of the practices outlined in the original book, published in 1962, are now considered outdated and cruel, many of the underlying principles, such as rewarding good behavior, are still used today.

About William Koehler

William Koehler was a specialist dog trainer who trained dogs for film. He was famously unsentimental and would use pain as much as he would he use reward in order to motivate a dog to perform an action. While modern trainers typically favor positive reinforcement, Koehler advocated a balance of positive reinforcement and positive punishment. In short, he introduced positive stimuli, or rewards, to a dog’s environment when the dog did good and introduced negative stimuli, or punishment to a dog’s environment when the dog did bad.

Goals of the Koehler Method

The Koehler method sets out to empower all dog owners to have off-leash control of their dogs. To achieve this, owners must first teach the dog that certain actions have good consequences and other actions have bad consequences. The outcome of this approach is that the owner need not rely on the leash to control the dog, because the dog understands clearly which actions are desirable and which are not.

Philosophy of Choice

Koehler, like many noted dog trainers, believed that dogs perform actions out of choice. For example, a dog will choose to tip over a bin to eat some of the contents. Because those contents taste good, he’s likely to choose to perform this action again. However, if the contents of the bin were distasteful to the dog, he would be unlikely to repeat the action. Koehler’s method utilizes this philosophy.

Learning Patterns

The key tenet of Koehler’s method is the learning pattern “Action > Memory > Desire.” Koehler’s entire process assumes that when a dog performs an action, his memory of that action inform his desire to repeat it. So if a dog barks and is subsequently punished, his memory of that action is negative, lowering the chances of him desiring to repeat it. But if the dog is rewarded, his memory of barking is positive and the chances of him wishing to repeat it increase.

Q: Why is my dog so afraid of thunder and how can I make him less scared?

A: Many dogs are afraid of thunder simply because they do not understand what it is. Dogs hear this loud noise and perceive it as something threatening.

ThinkstockSome dogs try to go under tables, in bathtubs, or in any other places that make them feel secure. It is ok to allow them to do this.

It is important, however, not to try to soothe your pet too much. Doing so can actually encourage his fear if he senses any insecurity in your voice.

During a thunderstorm, try to provide a background noise for your dog, such as TV or radio. This may help to somewhat drown out the noise of the thunder. You can also try to get your dog’s mind off the storm by playing with him.

There are some dogs that require sedation when there is a storm. Consult your veterinarian so that they can prescribe something to calm your dog during a storm.

You’re covered. Your spouse is covered. So are your house and your car. Now you’re wondering if life insurance policies are available for the family dog. He is, after all, the light of your life, and having an insurance policy on him could help cover his final expenses. You’re in luck — dogs can get their own insurance policies, although the cost and types of coverage vary greatly.

It’s a Dog’s Life (Insurance)

It will take some digging and research, but it is possible to find life insurance for your dog. Traditional insurance companies, like the one your life or homeowner’s policy is through, usually don’t carry policies on dogs, even if they’re purebred. There are companies that specialize in pet insurance, however, and they’re the ones that can provide the coverage you’re looking for.

Who Should Get It

People who get life insurance for their dogs typically have expensive purebred pooches. Not all of them are show dogs, but many are, making insurance a common-sense issue. And because of the cost of a specially trained service dog, people who have these types of dogs sometimes choose to insure them, too.

Things to Consider

Life insurance for dogs doesn’t work exactly like life insurance for humans. You’ll have to shop around and find out what different policies cover and how they determine the payout. Some policies are written for accidental death only, and some will pay for costs like final veterinary expenses, euthanasia, cremation or burial. One insurance company might calculate the payout based on the market value of the dog at the time of his death, while another will base it on the price you paid for your dog. Ask about age cut-offs, too. Some insurance companies won’t insure dogs over a certain age and will even drop insurance once a dog reaches 10 or 11 years.

Other Dog Insurance

If life insurance on your pooch isn’t practical, consider getting help with healthcare to improve the quality of his life and possibly extend it. If you haven’t looked into it before, you might be surprised at the number of companies that offer health insurance for pets. Like your own health insurance, there are usually different levels of coverage ranging from wellness plans to accident coverage. It may not insure the life of your dog, but it can help defray the costs of medical treatment — which may end up literally being a life and death issue.

Most adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth, among them eight premolars and four molars on the top as well as eight premolars and six molars on the bottom, all meant to last a lifetime. If you notice that your pooch has lost a tooth, has loose teeth or appears to be in pain when he chews, consult your veterinarian, as your dog could be suffering from a medical condition or a mouth injury. Dog Molars

Your pooch can’t use his molars to grind her food because his jaw doesn’t move from side to side. Instead, he uses his premolars and molars — powered by his strong jaws — for chewing large pieces of food into smaller bits. If your dog looses these teeth, he could have difficulty chewing larger pieces of food, which may mean he’ll need a softer diet to ensure he’s getting proper nutrition.

Dental Health Concerns

If your dog can eat only soft foods due to molar loss, he may be at a higher risk for tooth decay, plaque buildup and periodontal disease. Without the tooth-cleansing benefits from crunchy foods, your dog’s oral health will depend on your efforts, and those of your vet, to help him keep his teeth clean.