One Man and His Dog

Dog is a man’s best friend. A common saying but a dog is often more than a companion. The television programme ‘’One Man and his Dog’’ began over half a century ago and highlights the skills of dogs in controlling flocks of sheep. It is a skill that requires training and many a shepherd takes daily pride in the quality of a good sheep dog. The border collie makes the best sheepdog but it is not the only breed capable of doing the job, and certainly there are several breeds that do far more than provide companionship for their ‘’masters.’’

Dogs in the wild are very successful. They pack and are far more successful when it comes to killing their food because of their ability to instinctively cooperate to catch their prey. Likewise, teamwork is essential to huskies pulling sledges in the Artic while the breed known as the Kangol which originated in Northern Anatolia, now Turkey. They were used to keep wolves away from livestock and their popularity then spread. They now help farmers in places such as Namibia to protect livestock from potential predators such as cheetahs. These cats may be quick but they know better than to seek food when Kangols guard a herd. The alternative for farmers was shooting these lovely cats so everyone is now happy though the cheetahs have had to find an alternative source of food.

The varieties of environment in which dogs perform effectively are very contrasting; the icy wastes of the Artic, the green meadows of Western Europe, the monsoon forests of India and the hot dry terrain of Namibia illustrate this perfectly. In all cases, the dogs’ vision is tested. The glare of the sun off the snow and in the desert-like terrain of Namibia are extremes. In bright conditions, humans can wear sun glasses; not the dogs! Given that humans and animals can suffer with many of the same eye problems, it is essential that dogs’ vision is preserved so that they can function properly.

Dogs need to be fit and healthy and owners are naturally keen that they are, even if their role is simply companionship. Working dogs obviously get plenty of exercise though you won’t see Kangols running around in Namibia unless absolutely necessary. Their very presence is sufficient to keep predators away. However, they are valuable and as such, a healthy diet and regular medical checks are important. Those checks should include ones that check on the quality of their vision.

A good way to supplement a healthy diet to reinforce vision is to use naturally formulated eyedrops available online on websites like eBay which help keep eyes in good condition. It is something that every dog owner can use easily and cheaply without any question of harm. Wild dogs have not got the opportunity to boost their own eyesight in any way but every dog that has an owner can benefit from this extra bit of care.