Pepper spray is a long-range self-defense spray (up to 15 feet). The defender holds the spray canister towards the attacker’s face and empties the canister. It is messy, but effective. The active ingredient (oleoresin capsicum) immediately dilates the attacker’s optical capillaries, causing the eyes to slam shut; the OC also inflames the lining in the bronchial tubes, making it hard for the attacker to breathe. The effect can last several minutes — plenty of time for the would-be victim to get away and call the police.

A stun gun does not shoot anything. It is about the size of a cell phone and has two metal prongs on one end. Much like a cattle prod, the two prongs are thrust into the attacker’s body or clothes. A trigger is pulled. Immediately an electric shock courses through the attacker’s body. The charge released can be anything from 50,000 to 625,000 volts at a rate of three milliamps. That’s enough to cause the muscles to spasm involuntarily, and violently, so that the attacker loses all control of his body.

The longer the stun gun is pressed into the attacker, the more convincing the results will be. For full effect, you have to hold the stun gun to him for a good five seconds. During this time, the assailant will not be able to wrest the weapon away from you, because he is being electrocuted. And if your body touches his, the charge will not transfer to you. Ultimately, the shock will not kill him (it can’t even affect a pacemaker) but it will allow you to incapacitate him and get away with your life.

The only problem with this is that it only works at very close range. If you know that someone is trying to hurt you, but they are still a few feet away, why wait? That’s why it’s the more popular self-defense weapon today.

By: Ross Bainbridge

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You undoubtedly have heard of the stun gun as a self defense or personal protection device. They are carried by law enforcement agencies around the world and today are quite popular among private citizens looking for an easy and non-lethal way to defend themselves in case of attack. There are some unusual uses for them that you’re probably not aware of, though. You shouldn’t try these yourself, but it’s interesting to think about this device being used for purposes far beyond its invaluable self defense features.

Stun guns have recently been tested for the treatment of brown recluse bites. This poisonous spider’s venom can apparently be stopped by one second of shock from the stun device, placed directly on the bite area. Several physicians around the world are known to have used this method repeatedly with success. Dr. Stan Abrams, one of the proponents of stun gun treatment for such bites, recommends a pattern of five or six shocks from 100,000 volt stun device (the type frequently sold for self protection) across the bite region. He has used them to treat hundreds of patients in Texas for brown recluse bites. Those who use his methods have also tried them for the treatment of wasp stings, tick bites, and other insect stings. Whether this method works is said to depend on the individual’s biochemistry, the severity of the bite, and the length of time between the bite and the stun treatment.

Missionaries in remote regions, particularly in Africa, have also been using stun guns and other high-voltage, low-amperage electrical sources (such as the current from a small engine battery) to shock snakebites. This method is used in these areas because there are practical problems in obtaining anti-venom quickly enough to treat bites.

There is science to back up this unique use of stun devices, though the current scientific literature is inconclusive. The use of electroshock to treat venomous bites was recognized within the scientific community during the 1980s. However, other studies have found that venom injected into animals could not be successfully treated using this method. Those who believe in this treatment method argue that because the venom of the brown recluse spider penetrates deep into the tissue, it is necessary to use a stun gun device, which provides a deeper shock than surface-only shock devices. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons why it is so effective at stopping attackers. In addition, the stun gun is believed to inactivate the enzymes in the venom, inhibiting the venom’s attack. Those who have used these treatments for bites often claim that the pain has disappeared, leaving no bite reaction.

Though these methods are certainly an interesting use for stun guns, trying these methods is not recommended unless you have been trained in the use of stun guns in such situations. Stun guns should never be used except in the case of an imminent violent confrontation. The improper use of stun guns can cause pain or detrimental health effects, particularly in those with underlying heart conditions.

By: Richard Armen

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When you first get your dog you will want to socialize them, begin basic training, and simply introduce them to your home. It is also extremely important to practice crate training.

This is one of the most effective ways you will introduce your puppy or dog to the new home. The reason this is so efficient is because it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve what you are hoping to accomplish rather than you forcing them to do something.

In order to get the best results from crate training a dog, you need to get into a good routine. Having a routine to follow will help the dog learn when it needs to go to the bathroom while avoiding going in the wrong places.

Throughout the process, it is vital you praise your dog every time they go to the bathroom at the right time in the right spot. This will help them understand they have done a good job which will lead to them doing it the right way every time.

The idea behind crate training is to confine them when they are unsupervised. You will want to place them in their crate whenever you leave the house or at night when you are sleeping. As soon as you return home or wake up, you want to immediately remove them and take the outside to go to the bathroom.

Leaving a dog in its crate for too long of a period can lead to them going to the bathroom in their crate. After all, they cannot hold it forever. You want to use the crate as a tool to train them, not to abuse them by leaving them in it forever.

Another tip to get results out of your crate training is to associate pleasant rewards and good things with good behavior. If you provide them with a treat or a toy after they have gone to the bathroom in the right spot, they will learn that good things come from going to the bathroom at the right time in the right place.

You have to understand that you are going to deal with accidents in the beginning phases as it takes time for them to learn. Make sure you do not punish them too harshly, but firmly let them know what they did was bad. This way they learn but do not become afraid of what you will do to harm them. Just understand that crate training is an extremely effective way to go about training a dog.

By: Dwijen Borah

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Most puppies chew and it is considered to be a natural and healthy activity for them. They chew during the process of teething, exploratory, chewing, stress management. This is a natural habit, but, can cause an amazing amount of destruction.

Leave your puppy untrained and he would scratch deep grooves in to wooden doors and moldings, dig up carefully placed landscaping, or chew your prized possessions. This damage can cost you a good amount of money and can even annihilate the human-animal bond or put your pup’s health at risk.

However, with certain corrective measures, this kind of behavior can be avoided.

Reading further would provide you certain tips that can stop destructive chewing.

Puppies chew anything and everything around them, once they start teething and use their mouths and teeth to eat. They also chew to explore their environment and relieve stress and boredom. And puppies chew more than usual when their permanent teeth erupt.

This is a medical problem that can lead to destructive chewing. Your puppy may suffer from Pica, a disease whereby your puppy eats non-nutritive substances. It results from the same physiologic state that produces emesis, presumably nausea. The same disease was visible in rats. Rats exhibited pica after being given apomorphine- hydrochloride which usually results in vomiting.

Gastrointestinal distress generally makes puppies nauseated, thereby inducing them to chew and consume inapt items to relieve themselves. Puppies generally chew these items in an attempt to feel better.

You need to go through a case study and medical work up to rile out nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal problems your puppy have, that chew excessively. We would like to mention certain measures that you can adopt to prevent destructive chewing. Follow the steps mentioned below to get rid of such a problem.

Most of us choose a puppy that possesses the cutest furry face. Now, it is high time that we resist ourselves from this temptation when choosing a pure bread puppy. The first step must be to investigate the breed’s behavioral traits. This trait should include its tendency to chew. In addition, veterinarians, pet store personnel and breeders can help prospective owners choose pure bred or mixed bread dogs that suit their lifestyles. For instance, a highly energetic puppy may not be useful for an easy going person. He/ she may easily get annoyed by such a behavior. Such a puppy is likely to become a chewer and may be restricted to the backyard, where it will probably dig or bark excessively. This would finally result into abandonment of the puppy by its owner. On the other hand, young children active individuals, or a high energy household may intimidate or stress a quiet or shy puppy. This would result into destructive behavior, often as a form of stress release.

SO, to sum up you must choose a puppy which is best suited to your lifestyle to stay away from destructive behavior by them. You must also remember that a destructive behavior, like chewing is caused by stress or anxiety sensed by your puppy. Hence, choosing a pup wisely would avoid such circumstances in the long run.

By: Ivan Mosquera

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Giardiasis is an infection with giardia that happens in dogs. Giardia is a one cell parasite named protozoa. This parasite infects the small intestine in the dog. There are many ways in which a dog can get infected by this parasite.

Transmission
One of the most popular methods of transmission is through drinking water that has infected cysts. The dogs that already are infested with the parasite can pass on the infective cysts out through the stool. If your dog comes in contact with that stool, he gets quickly infected. These cysts are also transmitted through eating contaminated food.

Symptoms
An infection with giardia means problem in digestion. The dog that is infected eats food but doesn’t get all the nutrients in that food.

Because of that, the dog may appear to be lethargic and he can even start to lose weight. But the clearest sign of disease is diarrhea. Even a mild diarrhea can mean infection.

Diagnosis
So that the dog can be diagnosed, the vet needs to take a sample of his stool and analyze it. You alone can take a sample of the stool to the vet along with the dog.

The vet can also take some stool by swabbing the rectum. Sometimes the tests can be inconclusive and this is why the test must be repeated a couple of times. The repeated test must be done a few days apart from the old one. Sometimes, the vet does the diagnosis by taking a blood sample and analyzing it.

Treatment
There are many medications suitable to treat this disease. Metronidazole is one of the most effective. This medicine must be taken for five days. It will clean all the parasites from the dog’s intestine. Of course, there are other medications too and hey can be very efficient but they can have side effects.

By: Cristian Stan

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Counter Conditioning refers to a form of desensitization used by behaviorists to reduce fear of certain people or objects among dogs. Many use counter conditioning with the goal of changing how a dog thinks within the context of certain situations and interactions. The issue with Conditioning based models is that it may not create deep and meaningful change within the relationship beyond what is seen from the surface. Conditioning based models of training attach positive reward based language to promote and appeal to how owners feel about the dog and human relationship rather then what a dog really needs within the context of Nature and pack. Further this type of training attracts those owners who already think about the dog and human relationship at too high of an emotional level. The context of authority as it links to Nature and the pack relationship is often misunderstood and therefore causes a psychological stalemate within the relationship with the dog keeping and gaining power.

Conditioning, when approached from the context of Nature, can be grouped within the context of any interaction which may or may not shift the psychological path of the owner. Owners who think about the relationship at a high emotionally based level may not change how they think about the relationship in a way which shifts enough power within the relationship. When owners fail within these systems it is because these systems have failed to bring what is really needed into the relationship. When meaningful change does occur within these systems it is often more by accident than design. A dog can be conditioned to perform certain responses, ie sit, come while still holding onto power within the relationship. Any intervention / interaction based training can help change the psychological path of the owner.

To better understand conditioning from the perspective a what a dog needs the owner needs to gain deeper insight of behavior within the context of Nature. As a dog gains power within the relationship they expand this authoritative and possessive way of thinking and behaving and in turn associate it to certain situations and interactions. An example of this would be other people coming near a dominant dog’s area such as a mail person etc. The dominant dog will make an association to power within this context. Counter Conditioning is used to attempt to counter certain behavioral associations. The real issue is what the association is actually linked too through Nature, within the pack relationship and the roles. Conditioning alone will not create true role change unless a psychological change occurs which shifts power within the relationship. Training within my system is approached in two (2) stages. The first stage is based on what Nature demands within the context of the pack relationship. Conditioning is then linked to harmony and balance within the context of the pack relationship.

By: Dale McCluskey

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All types of Siberian Husky dogs have one thing in common in that they can trace their ancestry back to the sled dogs of the Northern Hemisphere. These early sled dogs were also called “Eskimo dogs”. Other descendants of the ancient Eskimo dogs include the Siberian Husky, Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute. All these modern sled dogs originated in several Northern Hemisphere countries like Siberia, Canada, Greenland and Labrador. The Siberian Husky gets its name from the Siberian region and from an Inuit tribe, called “huskies” by early Caucasian traders.

White Siberian Huskies were valued for their ability to blend into the snow, helping to thwart predators. Proving themselves time and again as one of man’s best friends, the Siberian Husky made it possible for man to extend his reach across lands that would otherwise have been unreachable. Admiral Robert Peary used Siberian Huskies as part of his expeditions in search of the North Pole. In 1925, Siberian Huskies heroically delivered diphtheria serum over six hundred miles snow to Nome, Alaska.

If you have ever seen the Iditarod, one of the most famous dog races in history, then you have seen a recreation of the historical delivery of the diphtheria serum. The annual Iditarod celebrates the 1925 event.

The classification of a white Siberian Husky is based not on the color of the coat, but on a certain action of the dogs’ genes. There are a few different types of white Siberian Husky. For example, an Isabella White Siberian Husky is usually monochromatic, with jet-black points. The points may also be liver or flesh toned. Isabella White Siberian Huskies have a white undercoat with distinct buff tones above the hock and elbow, on the ears, on the saddle and buff down the center of the tail.

A pure white Siberian Husky is a rare version of the breed, with silver tipping and a silver or white undercoat. The points may be black, liver or flesh colored, but black hair on the body is rare and occasional. This type of Siberian Husky is created with a genetic mix that completely restricts pigments over the entire body.

The white Siberian Husky is rarely used for dog sled racing today, because the Alaskan Husky, a faster dog, is the dog of choice for competitive dog sled racing. The dogs still pull loads through the snow though. Many winter sports enthusiasts who own Siberian Huskies as pets enjoy recreational mushing with their dogs.

Other contemporary chores all types of Siberian Husky dogs enjoy include skijoring, a winter sport where Siberian Huskies working in groups of one to three pull skiers. Dogs also race off the snow through the forests of the United Kingdom.

The entertainment industry makes extensive use of Siberian Huskies. A team of Huskies starred in Disney films Snow Dogs and Iron Will. Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, owns a white Siberian Husky named Kyoto, for the Kyoto Protocol. Siberian Huskies are also popular mascots of universities like Jonathan represents the University of Connecticut; King represents Northeastern University; and Blizzard T. Husky represents Michigan Technological University.

By: Andrew A Preston

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No matter where you live, the world today is a constant danger to navigate. Crime is on the rise, and the television and newspapers are full of horror stories about particularly violent attacks which occurs every 22.7 seconds. However, despite these figures, you can give yourself and your family some peace of mind by buying a stun gun for your protection.

Although the mere mention of the name “stun gun” might conjure up images of sci-fi movies and laser gun battles, stun guns are used every single day, here and now. Whether it’s a part of military use when operating in close quarters or by the police if they need to subdue a particularly violent criminal who’s resisting arrest, the effect of a stun gun is both instant and effective. The good news is that you can now buy consumer versions from online sources, which will offer you that extra protection from becoming a victim of crime yourself.

Well, everyone’s probably heard how the brain sends thousand of electrical charges to the body in order to carry out a chosen task. A stun gun works with these brain signals by inserting a high voltage of electricity into your body, counterbalancing the normal amount, resulting in the body’s nervous system becoming confused. When this happens, it tends to shut down, and this is where the recipient of a stun gun charge usually becomes unconscious, or incapacitated.

Even though stun guns may seem dangerous in the fact that they are sending high levels of electricity through the attacker’s body, stun guns are not lethal. They are made purely to bring an attacker down, not kill them. For this reason, the range of electric shock from a stun gun comes from high voltage and low amperage, ranging from 80,000 – 975,000 volts, which is what makes the weapon safe to use (though perhaps not to any assailant). Don’t worry about the electrical current passing through your body, even if the attacker being shocked touches you.

Here are two main types of consumer stun guns that are both effective in their own way:

o Standard handheld stun gun. This is the most common, and is the one you may be most familiar with, and it can be as small as a pager or as large as a baton. The smaller ones basically have a handle with two separate prongs, which normally requires one or two 9V batteries. The electricity is passed between the two prongs, and the gun works when pressed against your assailant.

o Flying taser stun guns. Similar to the standard model, the difference hear is that instead of pressing the gun to your attacker, the prongs are detachable, and are connected to the gun by two wires that conduct the electricity through them. You simply point the gun at your target and press the trigger – the prongs then fly out and attach themselves to whoever you’ve shot at.

The great thing about stun guns, especially the standard handheld ones, is that they’re so portable they can be used virtually anywhere. However, the times when they may come in handy the most is if your wife or daughter is out late at night; or you have a babysitter for your children, and may wish to make them aware of your stun gun’s location; or simply having one by your bedside, in case of any night-time intruders.

Always remember, though, stun guns are not toys, and should be used both properly and sensibly.

By: Angela Hebert

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Not much is written about the heroics of early war dogs. Even today’s modern canine soldier is practically invisible to all but those who work with them side by side in the trenches. But war dogs have a colorful and courageous history stretching all the way back to ancient Egypt. Dogs were deployed for service by ancient Britannia, France, Spain, Normandy, Russia and some Asian societies. But it was the Roman legions who are best known for utilizing the full force of their canine soldiers.

Breeds
Early Egyptians used a Molassian dog. Romans were fond of the mastiff and a breed called the Talbot, an ancestor of today’s bloodhound. Attila the Hun used a giant Molosser dogs in his campaign. The Irish used Irish Wolfhounds to strip the enemy soldiers off their horses and kill them. In more recent times, the German Shepherd, Lab, Doberman Pincher and Bouvier de Flandres are chosen for their size, intelligence and strength. Modern armies also used mixed breed dogs.

Armor
Often war dogs would be fitted with spiked collars to protect their necks from attacks by enemy war dogs. The Romans designed special armor for their legions of war dogs. Some of the armor was more advanced than even the human foot soldiers’ armor. Today’s war dogs don’t perform “hand-to-paw” combat like the war dogs of ancient times. So there is less need for body armor.

Ancient History
In ancient times, war dogs performed their duties skillfully. In combat, dogs were armored and sent in for direct close-quarters battle. They were specifically trained to bite extremely hard, exerting as much as 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch: enough to pulverize human bones.

Canine soldiers were also trained to cut off reinforcements, to track and kill retreating soldiers, and to fight other dogs. In fact, in 1476, a regiment of Swiss battle dogs annihilated an entire formation of canine soldiers from Burgundy.

As sentries, dogs were trained to guard troops, supplies, livestock, and prisoners. Some were trained so well that a prisoner was not bound or held by any means: if he made an attempt to escape, he was ferociously put down by his canine guard.

Ancient war dogs were also trained to track and scout. These specialized dogs were actually able to track and report on enemy positions and concentrations. They also hunted retreating enemies and soldiers that had deserted.

Modern Day Soldiers
Today’s war dog is used more to aid allied soldiers than to engage and attack the enemy. This change is primarily due to the change in warfare tactics. Long range missiles have replace swords and arrows.

Delivering messages is a vital role for modern war dogs. Modern dogs of war have saved thousands of lives by serving as messengers. In the Vietnam war alone, it is estimated that the 4,000 dogs that served saved as many as 10,000 American lives. These dogs delivered messages to reserve troops, mortar batteries, and battle headquarters through heavy enemy fire. One U.S. canine soldier was reportedly shot nine times during a mission, but nevertheless still delivered his message, collapsing into death immediately after his job was done.

As medics, strong dogs are trained to bring medicine and comfort to wounded and dying soldiers in the field. Some of these dogs are even provided with “suicide” medication for soldiers who are badly wounded and will likely die or be captured. Others are trained to do nothing more than sit by the side of a dying soldier. Exceptional dogs are trained to pull wounded soldiers to safety.

Some of the larger, stronger breeds are trained as draught dogs. Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Irish Wolfhounds, and other very large breeds have been used to haul machine guns, litters, mortars, and other supplies.

Sadly, some modern war dogs are trained to execute kamikaze missions. In WWII, Russians strapped dogs with explosives and sent them out to explode underneath German tanks. Today, Israeli forces have been known to outfit Rottweilers with explosives and send them into enemy positions to detonate.

With their heightened sense of smell, today’s most advanced military dogs are specially trained to detect mines, traps, IED’s, and other types of explosives. They also are used to detect and uncover weapons caches.

Though they gladly give their lives in defense and protection of their human counterparts, there is, as yet, no permanent memorial to these amazing war dogs. They have become so integrated into our military that they have been given officer rank, been knighted, and awarded medals. Their courage and loyalty should never be forgotten.

By: Geoffrey English

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Many people wonder if stun guns and/or Tasers (R) are legal in their state. Many states have either partial or total restrictions on these, while some states have absolutely no restrictions. Tasers (R) are actually a certain type of stun gun; they work in the same way. A regular stun gun, whether it’s a small hand held device, a cell phone look-a-like, a flashlight, or a baton, incapacitates an attacker by draining his muscles of energy, making him drop to the ground for a short period of time, but long enough for a victim to escape. A Taser (R) has probes that shoot out up to 15′, attach to the clothing of the attacker and incapacitates him.

In Illinois, a stungun or Taser (R) can only be sold to someone who holds a valid Illinois FOID card (Firearm Owner’s Identification Card). The seller must keep a record of the sale for 10 years, same as for a firearm purchase. A licensed firearms dealer must run a background check on the purchaser and there is a waiting period of 24 hrs, same as for long guns, shotguns and rifles. In the city of Chicago, where its longstanding gun ban has been lifted thanks to the Supreme Court, the new ordinances address guns, but these probably apply to stun guns and Tasers (R) also. It’s best to check with your local law enforcement officials to be sure.

So, are stun guns legal in Illinois? The answer is yes and no, depending on where you live and whether or not you have a FOID card. Even if you are qualified to possess a stungun, Illinois is not a “concealed carry” state, so it’s best to be discreet about carrying a stungun with you for protection and know the law.

By: Christine Howatt

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