Overview of Washington State's Dog Bite Laws - Part #2

Author: Christopher Davis

Liability Imposed Against the Dog's "Owner"

Washington's dog bite statute only imposes liability against the "owner" of the dog. So occasionally a dispute arises about who actually owns the dog. For instance, if the person who harbors and takes care of the dog is not the true legal owner of the animal, can this person still be liable for the injuries inflicted by the dog? The answer is usually yes. Although the dog bite statute refers to liability of the dog "owner," there are court decisions that broadly define the owner to include one who possesses and/or cares for the dog.

In one case that occurred back in 1988, the dog was purchased and "owned" by a young woman. But the woman kept her dog at her grandmother's home. The grandmother resided with and cared for the dog during a three-year period before the dog bit and injured another person. The question was whether the grandmother could be held liable for the injuries when she was not necessarily the true owner of the dog. A Washington State court answered yes. The grandmother's conduct of harboring and caring for the dog over a three-year period was sufficient conduct to make her an "owner" of the dog for purposes of imposing liability under the statute. The court seemed to focus on the fact that the grandmother acted like the owner of the dog over a long period of time. Perhaps this case sends the message that if you act like the dog's owner, or if you hold yourself out to others as the owner of the dog, you may be responsible for any injuries or damages that dog inflicts upon others.

Furthermore, there may be various local regulations and ordinances that also broadly define the owner of a dog. In King County a dog owner is broadly defined as "any person having an interest in or right of possession to the animal, or any person having control, custody, or possession of an animal...or by reason of the animal being seen residing consistently at a location, to an extent such that the person could be presumed to be the owner." This definition is broad enough to include any person who harbors or keeps the dog for a period of time that is sufficient to cause one to believe that the person may be the true or legal owner, even if that person is not.

The question may arise: what period of time is sufficient to cause one to believe that one who harbors the dog is the true or legal owner of that dog? This is a factual question that may need to be resolved by a jury. Certainly, the longer a person acts like the dog's owner, or engages in conduct similar to the owner, means the greater likelihood that this person may also be legally responsible for the dog's dangerous or vicious propensities toward other human beings.

Although the dog's "owner" may be defined quite broadly, there are certain limitations that exist. For instance, the question has been raised whether a landlord can be considered an "owner" of the dog for purposes of subjecting the landlord to liability under the dog bite statute. Washington courts have clearly stated no. A landlord will usually not be considered the dog's owner just based on that person's status as a landlord. Thus, if the dog owner is a renter or if the dog attack occurred on property that was being leased, the victim cannot rely on the dog bite statute to attempt to impose liability on the person who either owns or controls the property, unless that person also shares the responsibility of keeping, feeding and harboring the dog - tasks usually performed by the dog's true owner.

About the Author:

Christopher M. Davis is a Seattle attorney focusing on personal injury cases. He is also known as a animal attack and dog bite lawyer and has written the book 'When The Dog Bites' as a legal resource for dog bite victims. For more information about Washington State dog bite law visit: http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/practice_areas/dog-bites-animal-attacks.cfm

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Overview of Washington State's Dog Bite Laws - Part #2

Dog Training Tips for the New Dog Owner

Author: Andrew Bicknell
Let's face it, for many people training their dog is a struggle that sooner or later leads them to just give up and let their dog do whatever he pleases. Then they ask themselves why they have such a disobedient dog. More experienced dog owners know that dog training is something that is always going on. Whenever they are with their dog they are always training him. Going for walks, playing in the park, even just relaxing around the house are all opportunities to teach. Dogs by nature are curious creatures who get easily bored. If there is not a proper outlet for this boredom they will find something to do. And to a dog who doesn't know the difference chewing up a shoe or digging holes in the yard is neither good nor bad. It's just something to do. The more a dog learns to please himself and do whatever he wants the less control his owner will have. A disobedient dog does not just happen; by ignoring, mistreating or being lackadaisical about training him he will learn all sorts of bad behaviors all by himself. Dogs love to please their owners but without feedback they have no idea if they are doing right or wrong. Everything is the same to them. This is why it is important to praise a dog when they are being obedient. Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful dog training tools a dog owner can use. Many people do not realize the amount of work needed to train some of the more amazing dogs they see on TV or here about in news reports. Police dogs, seeing eye dogs, military dogs can take a good year of intense training to get them to the point where they can even start working in that capacity. And their training never stops. Dogs do not come trained and they will not learn simply because they inhabit the same space as their owners. Dogs have no inborn sense of right and wrong; everything is the same to them, unless they are taught. Dog training is all about teaching a dog good behavior. Repetition is the name of the game when it comes to having an obedient dog. Combined with praise for a job well done a dog will soon learn what its boundaries are and who is actually in charge. The first thing every dog should learn is their name. This is what gets their attention and simply saying it should stop them dead in their tracks from whatever they are doing. From there on a dogs training should be a daily routine; housetraining, sitting, staying, not barking or jumping up on people, these are things that will make life with a dog easier and much more enjoyable.About the Author:

For more dog training tips and tricks visit the website Worfdog.com by clicking here.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Dog Training Tips for the New Dog Owner

Yorkie Barking: 5 Ways to Stop Yorkies That Bark Alot

Author: Luke Blaise

Yorkies seem to bark a lot more than other dogs. Whether they do this for social reasons, protection, or to get attention, we don't know. What we do know is that we love these little dogs, but after a while the barking can become annoying and also can lead to problems with neighbors. Here are 5 tips to keep your Yorkie from barking




1. Set firm boundaries about when you will and won't give your dog attention. Dogs love schedules and when you make one and stick too it your dog will know what to expect attention and not to. It is important that you stick to this schedule if you have any hope that your stop barking plan will work.




2. More exercise is always a good idea. Many dogs bark because they have too much excessive energy. Talk your dog for a walk or play with them. If a dog has been resting all day and when they see or hear something interesting they have lots of nervous energy to get rid of. Take your dog for a walk in the mornings, afternoon or evenings. Also play with your dog more to get them tired out. If you know of a situation where your dog regularly barks, then try to tire them out with exercise first.




3. Make sure your Yorkie is aware that there are negative consequences when they do bark. This could be in the form of no treats, being ignored by you, or no toys. Do not use physical punishment. Hitting your dog will only lead to more problems.




4. Any good dog trainer will tell you that the best way to change a dog's behavior is with positive reinforcement. So when your dog does not bark when it normally did, you have to reward them for a job well done. This could be in the form of a treat or positive attention. Over time the old behavior of barking will gradually disappear and you will have a quieter Yorkie.




5. As a last resort you could try citronella collars. This is a dog collar that sprays a small amount of citronella when the dog barks. Dogs do not like this smell so it is a good deterrent. This collar works very well and is much more humane than shock collars. The main problem with these is that at the beginning you have to refill the citronella very often due to the large amount of barking. But over time you will not have to do this as often because the amount of barking will decrease and stop.




If you have trouble with your Yorkie barking too much, realize that you are not alone. Yorkies are the number two most popular dog breed in the United States According to the American Kennel Club, so you can only imagine how many other people are having the same problem.




Yorkies love to bark, but as you can see there are numerous ways to try and change their behavior. It is always easier to change their behavior when they are young, but even older Yorkies can have their behavior modified.

About the Author:
Learn more here about Yorkie Care. To learn more about breeding Yorkies visit: How To Breed Yorkies

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/yorkie-barking-5-ways-to-stop-yorkies-that-bark-alot-828035.html

Give Special Attention to the Diet of Your Sick Pet Dog

Author: Kelly Marshall

When the body temperature of the dog rises above normal, the dog requires extra energy to cope with the illness. As you would know, the diet of the dog plays a very important role in the regulation of its health. The diet of the dog should be regulated accordingly.



If the diet of the dog is not improved, the extra energy requirement of the dog shall be met by the utilization of the reserves of the body. To prevent such a scenario, make changes to the diet of the dog immediately upon the discovery of the fact that the dog is ill.



The change in the diet can be calculated by estimating the additional calorie requirement of the sick dog. The general rule is that for every degree of temperature above normal, the dog should be given three calories per pound of body weight.



If the temperature is 1 unit above normal and the body weight of the dog is 25 pounds, the normal diet of the dog should be supplemented to provide for 75 calories of extra energy. The easiest way to enhance the calories supplied to the dog is to add corn oil to the diet.



A single tea- spoon of corn oil provides 45 calories of energy. Further, corn oil enhances the taste of the food and will also help the dog eat more despite its poor appetite due to the illness.



Fevers of prolonged duration result in a loss of body protein as well as energy consumption. The protein being lost can be replaced by adding three ounces of cottage cheese or one hard-boiled egg to every pound of canned food or every tour ounces of dry food.



A body of a sick dog not only requires extra energy to cope with the illness but also extra protein to restore the body protein lost due to the illness. The best way to replace protein is to add:



• 3 ounces of cottage cheese, or

• one hard boiled egg to

• every pound of canned food or

• every four ounces of dry food.



No changes need to be made to the diet on account of the illness except for the additions mentioned above. The supplements should begin as the illness begins and ends only when the fever subsides. Begin the protein supplement if the fever persists for more than 3 days.



If the fever is caused by an infection, the vet usually prescribes a course of antibiotics to cure the illness. The prescription of antibiotics for the dog will also lead to changes in the diet.



Humans are more vulnerable to bacteria as compared to other living beings including dogs. In fact, many beneficial bacteria living in the intestine of the dog produce essential vitamins like Vitamin B- complex. This vitamin is very important for the health of the dog



Antibiotic therapy, as the name suggests, destroys the bacterium causing the illness in the dog. However, the therapy will also result in the removal of many beneficial bacteria residing in the dog. This deficiency may lead to a fall in the production of vitamins.



Add water-soluble vitamins to the diet of the dog to enhance its vitamin intake. Further, add a gram of brewer's yeast per ten pounds of the weight of the dog. This will not only restore Vitamin B- complex in the body but also improve the appetite of the dog.

About the Author:
Authored by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the place to go for dog steps in all shapes and sizes

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/give-special-attention-to-the-diet-of-your-sick-pet-dog-803345.html

Dogs Cannot Understand Human Language, Or Can They?

Author: Kelly Marshall

It has been noticed that well trained dogs easily distinguish many different words. Some dog owners swear that their dog understands the meaning of every word they say. While this is not impossible, it certain seems highly improbably that dogs would understand the meaning of human words.



There is a difference between identifying a word with a particular action and understand the meaning of the word. Training involves teaching the dog to react in a particular manner when given a particular command.



Does the dog actually understand the meaning of the words 'sit-stay' or does he comply merely because he has been taught to react in a particular manner when these words are spoken?



A command given over the intercom will not have the same effect as a command given in person. The dog often relies on contextual cues like our body language to understand the command. A faceless and nameless voice giving instructions is not likely to be obeyed.



There is a huge difference in the way we use language as compared to animals. Humans use language not just to fulfill an objective but just because it attracts the attention of another human being.



A baby points to a ball and calls it a ball not just because it wants the ball. It may do so because this helps the baby get the attention of others.



On the other hand, animals, even the language trained chimpanzees, never progress beyond using language to achieve an object.



A chimpanzee which has been taught to create sentences using computer symbols or sign languages focuses on obtaining food, toys and attention using the language. It does not learn to use language as an end in itself. Language always remains the means to an end.



There is no evidence that they identify that the symbols stand for concepts. For them, the symbols are merely means to an end. On the other hand, humans identify the symbols and their underlying concepts and also understand that they are interrelated.



Dogs respond to their name not because they are aware that they have a name. They respond merely because they understand that we humans expect them to react when we utter what we call their 'name'/



However, dogs still have the capacity to surprise us all with their ability to distinguish different words. Russian speech scientists have concluded that dogs are capable of identifying the distinction between 'a' and 'i' even when attempts were made to confuse them.



The funny thing is that dogs do not identify variation of consonants. Use the command 'fly clown' instead of 'lie down' and your dog will obey. However, they are capable of distinguishing between vowels even when they do not utter vowels themselves.



A generic explanation could be the fact that mammalian ears have been in existence for more than tens of millions of years. On the other hand, human speech is a recent development. It is just 100,000 years old. Only humans have the physical and mental equipment to speak.

About the Author:
Provided by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the biggest selection of raised dog bowls online

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dogs-cannot-understand-human-language-or-can-they-803369.html

5 Tips on Housebreaking Your New Puppy

Author: Amy Nutt

Puppies can be a lot of fun, they're cute and cuddly and positively adorable. However, a new puppy can also require a lot of work, particularly if you are keeping it in the house. Housetraining a puppy requires patience and consistency, much like toilet training a toddler does. The end result, a dog that is free to enjoy life as a house pet and one that will let you know when he or she needs to go outside, is well worth the initial effort.



1.Be persistent. Right from the start, you need to make sure you teach your puppy the rules. And the number one rule is not to do his business in the house. Obviously, a new puppy won't really get this at first, so you'll need to be very persistent to reach your goal of having a housebroken puppy. Training your dog to go outside is going to take some time and you'll be cleaning up some messes, so be prepared.



2. If you don't see it, don't punish it. It's going to happen. You'll walk into the room and find a puddle or a nice little pile of doggy doo waiting for you. This is NOT the time to express your displeasure with your puppy. He won't understand since the act has been done and he doesn't know what you're upset about. The only time you should punish your puppy for making a mess indoors (and by punish, I mean scolding and perhaps shutting up in his box) is when you actually see it happen. Act immediately, or the entire thing will have vanished from the puppy's mind and you won't be doing any good at all.



3. Follow a routine. Dog training mostly relies on consistency in order to work. If your puppy knows what to expect, he will be better able to do as you want him to. At first, you'll need to tailor your timing to the puppy. Most puppies need to head outside right after a meal, so make it routine to do that. As your dog gets older, you'll be able to lessen the number of trips outdoors and your dog will learn to hold it or let you know if there is a need to be filled.



4. Keep it contained. You will have less to clean up if you keep your puppy in one area of the house. In fact, one form of puppy training involves using a crate to keep the dog contained. The crate can be placed anywhere in the home. If you decide not to use a crate, though, you can still put the puppy in a specific room, particularly at night. Laundry rooms often work well for this since they are easy to clean and warm. Your puppy will also feel more comfortable in a smaller space at the beginning.



5. No food at night. By making sure that your puppy isn't eating at night, you'll save yourself a lot of hassle. You can remove food and water a couple of hours before bedtime and take the puppy out for a walk before turning in for the night. This will work to prevent too many bathroom trips during the night.



As long as you are consistent and patient with your puppy, you'll find that he is eager to please and will do his best to learn bathroom rules quickly. Dogs really do want to make their humans happy and if heading outside when nature calls is what makes you happy, then you can bet that's what your puppy will try to do.

About the Author:
Dog training can take some time and house training is no exception. When looking for Puppy training in Toronto to not pull on a lead, in-home dog obedience training to improve your relationship between you and your dog.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/5-tips-on-housebreaking-your-new-puppy-779354.html

Dogs Are Our Companions and Our Friends

Author: Omar Reyes

Dogs are unique animals. They have the ability to immediately become a part of our families. You know this is true, especially if you have had your dog for a long time.



Since prehistoric times, there has been a strong connection between humans and dogs.



Just imagine for a minute, a prehistoric hunter out in the woods, finds a lost wolf cub and brings the cub home and cares for it. Eventually, he and his family may realize that the wolf cub is a great addition to their household. Furthermore, the hunter probably found that the wolf was helpful for a variety of other reasons.



One of the main reasons is because wolves and dogs in general have similar social systems. Their social systems are similar to those in humans. There is a dominant adult male who leads all others in the pack to ensure their survival. If the leader fails to fulfill his duties, a strong female will step in.



Just like in your family, a pack of dogs must work together to survive and to thrive. There are social bonds and loyalty on both sides. Even if a pack of dogs fight, they will always come together when it matters most to ensure that they survive.



Dogs possess a variety of strengths and abilities. They have a strong sense of smell and are incredibly alert. Some of them are efficient hunters.



Of course, the pack of wolves that men in prehistoric times would have encountered would not have been as gentle and kind as our dogs are today. Wolves possessed just the right type of personality that suited the prehistoric people. In the same way, dogs today have traits and personalities that make them suitable to be a part of our families and homes.



By domesticating dogs we made them more and more suitable to living with us. This happens more and more with each passing generation.



This intertwining of dog culture and human culture has become very strong over time. It doesn't matter what kind of dog you have, it is a friend that will stick with you for life. She will offer you unconditional love.

You probably do not depend on your dog for your survival like many groups of people did so many ages ago. However, it is highly likely that your dog has its own role in your life and in your household.



Some of the many roles of working dogs today are..



Herding stock



Detecting drugs



Helping lead the blind



Guarding homes



Search and rescue services



Beyond these important jobs, your dog can develop a special and emotional bond with you and the other members of your family. Your dog will be there to comfort you and play with you. They will pick you up when you are down. They will comfort you when you are scared.



In order for your dog to thrive you must nurture and care for it. You have a friend for life as long as you feed them and provide them with the attention that they need.



Our dogs are more than just pets. They are our friends and our companions.

About the Author:
Get more information about dogs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dogs-are-our-companions-and-our-friends-777152.html