The massive pet food recall of 2007 had millions of dog owners terrified that they had unwittingly been poisoning their beloved pets. If you and your dog survived that frightening time, you have undoubtedly been more careful in your choice of dog food ever since.
But how is the average dog owner to know what’s really going into your pets dish? One way to know for sure is to make your pet’s food at home, but that can be very time-consuming. The other option is to know which commercial foods are both safe and nutritious.
The question of what to feed your dog is a sensitive one as there are many different camps advocating many different ideas, facts, and theories. For many owners, the question is answered by finances.
To put is simply, if the owner can afford the dog food then that type and brand is going to go into the food bowl. While this approach may seem sensible, especially when the monthly budget is taken into consideration, it may not be best. Why feed the dog sub-par ingredients and face vet bills later on that may have been avoided in the first place by choosing the right food?
The dog foods found on most grocery store shelves, the generic or store brand ones, are not usually considered among the best foods for your pet. More often than not, these brands are full of ingredients that are lower in quality and inexpensive. While these brands provide a cheaper alternative to the other brands, they are generally not recommended. A quick glance at the ingredients can provide an example of lower quality food.
Generic meat ingredients without a specific species named is not a good thing to feed a dog. Avoid phrases such as “meat byproducts” or “meat and bone meal”. Look for brands that list the animal that they use as an ingredient, for example “chicken meal” or “beef”.
Also, avoid any products that list corn as their main ingredient. You are feeding a dog, after all, not a pig or a cow.
But, you say, Fido is delighted with the store brand food, which retails for half of what the brand names do? That’s because Fido’s been tricked. Chemicals have been added to that food, creating a pleasing color and aroma which Fido finds irresistible. These chemicals are easy enough to find if you know what to look for. Coloring agents, drying agents, and texturizers are just some of the tell-tale ingredients that should cause you to sit up and take notice.
There are, of course, premium commercial dog foods which provide the highest grade ingredients free of harmful additives, and in another newsletter we’ll explore how to find them. But they will cost a premium price, and if you are a hands-on dog owner, you might be more interested in preparing your pet’s meals yourself.
This option of making pet food at home has become more and more popular over the past few years as it allows owners to choose directly what is going into their dog’s bowl. Feeding doggie homemade food, however, does not mean allowing him or her to dine on the family’s leftovers.
It means researching the proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for your dog, and finding the food which will provide them in an easily digestible form. One of the best known homemade diets for the canine set is the BARF diet.
And now–what does BARF stand for? Seems you can say it stands for a couple of things, but the most often cited explanation is Bones And Raw Food. The other one floating around on the Internet is Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, which is attributed to Dr. Ian Billinghurst, one of the original Barfers.
The BARF Diet is suitable for many dogs but it takes time and dedication on the owner’s part. While there are noticeable differences between the BARF diet and a diet based on commercial dog foods, the purpose of both diets is to provide the dog with the best nutrients possible.
BARF is about feeding a biologically appropriate diet for a dog that is made up of raw whole foods like those eaten by their ancestors. This would include muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that mimic what the wild ancestors ate.
The BARF diet, however, is not neccesarily the best method of feeding your dog and it takes a great amount of time to prepare and research the foods.
Conversely, commercial brand dog foods have undergone tests to insure that they are compatible with the dietary needs of the dog. Basically, a dog will receive just about the same benefits of the BARF diet if he remains on a commercial diet and may even receive more nutrients that way.
The important thing you, as a dog owner, should know is that commercial dog food is not all the same. You can learn much more about what is in each can, pouch, or bag of dog food by becoming educated in label reading, and the AAFCO standards. Ultimately, it’s your deciaion to choose what’s right for your dog.
Yorkshire Terriers are known for their compact and athletic builds. Yorkies have a flat head with a dark nose and short muzzle. Their average weight is about 7-8 pounds and their height between 6 and 8 inches. They are an intelligent dog breed, but they can also be a little stubborn. A Yorkshire Terriers lifespan is usually in the range of 13-17 years! Although they may be a small dog they more than make up for it with a big heart.
Yorkshire Terriers are some of the most loveable dogs you will have the opportunity to own. They have an upbeat and energetic nature to handle but it doesn’t stop them from being a marvellous companion. Yorkshire Terriers soon become part of the family, being a small, cute and adorable dogbreed probably has a lot to do with it.
Even though a Yorkshire Terrier can be quite stubborn they are easy to train if you go about it the right way. Yorkies love to play so its a good idea to incorporate this into their training and keep it fun. Terriers in general have a streak of independence that is best countered using treats, toys, and a sense of fun and play during training. Being very intelligent they soon recognise different commands and are a joy to teach.
A family life is second nature to a Yorkshire Terrier, they are sociable and just love being the centre of attention. Terriers are extremely fun, energetic dogs that also love to lounge on your lap and they make excellent companions. Yorkies are a natural watchdog and they also seek and require a lot of attention. They typically mix well with other household animals including cats and other dogs, especially if they are raised with them.
Yorkshire Terriers are picky eaters so trying to find the right food can be a challenge as they can be stubborn and refuse to eat mixed foods or anything not to their taste. They tend to be picky eaters with small appetites so keep your eye on them and try to stick to two hearty meals a day. Yorkie puppies should eat 3-4 times per day, but because of their small appetites they are susceptible to hypoglycaemia, which usually doesn’t last into adulthood.
Yorkshire Terriers are sometimes prone to tooth problems, even early tooth decay. You will find that grooming instructions usually include help and advice on how to look after your Terriers teeth. Don’t let the size of a Yorkie fool you, grooming them can be a bigger job than first appears. Yorkshire Terriers are also popular pets for individuals susceptible to pet allergies, as their high-maintenance coat is virtually non-shedding.
If you are looking for a small dog that has tons of character to fit in to your family life then you need look no further than the cute, loveable and adorable companion that goes by the name of Yorkshire Terrier.
If you love dogs and have an article about dogs you want to publish then visit this Free dog breeds directory
Dog coats for style and fashion are all the rage these days. Any owner worth his or her salt will own a Dogs Coats or two for their beloved pooch. In many cases, they serve a utilitarian purpose, but some are just made for whimsy and a desire for a little fun and games with the dog. It’s a fact that dog’s are a real part of the family nowadays, so it’s logical that we’d start looking at their wants in a manner that pays homage to their place in our world.
You also can see this fascination with all things dog in people or couples who are “empty nesters,” too. Their children have gone off to college or married and left home. The pet becomes a replacement, in some cases, for the child who used to occupy all of their time.
There are a myriad of dog coat types, and they come in all sizes and shapes. Some are special purpose-built in cases where the dog is a hairless breed, and needs protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Others may be made especially for instances when the dog has some sort of skin illness or otherwise needs protection from the element. Some coats are just plain flat-out for fun and enjoyment for both the pet and its owner.
Dog coats can fall into various categories. There are pullover type sweaters and half-pullover types. These are generally of cotton, wool or some mixture of both fabrics. They’re designed to go on relatively easily and with little fuss on the part of the dog or its owner.
Be careful when the coat has snaps or zippers. A dog’s soft underbelly is a sensitive area, and skin caught in a zipper can cause the dog to maybe lash out with a nip or small bit if they’re handled roughly or in a cavalier manner.
These days, doggie raincoats seem to be all the rage. With more people living in apartments than ever before, it’s no wonder they’d like to keep their pet dry when they have to go for a walk on a rainy day. After all, who want’s to clean up after a wet, smelly or dank dog? Keeping it dry while out walking is a good solution to the problem. Who knows; the dog may even let you put on galoshes and a rain cap if you speak nicely enough to it.
Dog coats also can be found for special occasions, such as weddings or parties. Some look like human tuxedos or ball gowns, and there are numerous accessories which can be had for an additional price. Tiaras, top hats, canes – how a dog carries one of those is baffling – or handbags and purses are just a few of the things you can add to the wardrobe.
When you think about how truly close pets are to us nowadays – and especially our dogs – it makes perfect sense that we’d want to see them as well taken care of as possible. Small Dog Clothes is a big-dollar industry in many countries in the world where dogs are owned and appreciated. For most people, who look at their dogs as more like a child than as an animal, no wonder so many styles and varieties of pooch clothing items have hit the market! These Dog Accessories are what you need.
A key part of training your dog is to teach him to not jump up on people. Puppies often show their excitement by jumping. As it puppy, it may not seem like a big deal. However, when the puppy grows up, it is a much bigger issue.
When a big dog likes to jump up on people, it is likely that it will catch someone off guard and injure them. When a dog is in this habit, it will take some training and some patience to teach him to stop.
For a quicker fix, click here to read The Secrets to Dog Training Review
The Cause and the Cure
Several things can cause a dog that jumps on people. A dog will often jump when it wants to say “hi”. A sniff to the face is something dogs usually do when they meet. Since your face is so high, your dog jumps to try and reach you.
Jumping can also be from you previously rewarding him when he does so. The affection you show when he gets excited to see you tells your dog that jumping up is the right behavior. Conversly, discliplining you dog for jumping up may cause your dog to do it for the attention.
With a little bit of proper training, you can stop dog jumping. Let’s get going on some training techniques. Don’t make coming home an exciting event. If your dog jumps to greet you, ignore him until he stops. Make sure any visitors are on the same page with this training also.
Rather than your dog trying to reach your face, get down so that he can get to you without jumping.
A great trick to keep your dog from jumping is to ignore the behavior. Once he’s calmed down, you can lavish him in praise. If you still can’t get your dog to stop jumping, push him away using his nose when he jumps on you. Your dog will soon get the picture that jumping is not a desired behavior.
Closing Thoughts
Many behavior problems can be fixed by teaching your dog to “sit”. Your dog should learn this before just about anything else. Once your pooch has this command under control, you can stop any bad behavior by telling him to sit.
After your dog has learned to sit, you should work on teaching him “off.” Tell him “off” anytime he jumps up.
If you show patience and consistency, you can stop your dog from jumping. Keep at it and you can stop your dog from jumping.
It can be very traumatic to be faced with the dreadful situation of giving away your beloved dog. Of course, nobody adopts a pet with the intention of giving it away. But often our life changes paths, sometimes unexpectedly, and we are forced to find our dear dog a new home. Perhaps you have to give away your dog due to new living arrangements or money problems. Maybe your dog has just recently had a litter and you have to find each one of the puppies a new home!
People often place ads in the newspaper or online in order to give away their dogs and puppies. The trouble is, however, how do you know if you are giving these dogs a good home or not? Newspaper and Internet ads reach many people, and some folks with bad intentions comb through these ads with the intention of finding animals. You really never know if you are putting your dog in the care of an animal abuser, a dog fighter, or someone with similar intentions. No dog lover wants to think of these possibilities with any animal, especially man’s best friend.
Keep in mind that while you can always talk to the person or family who is interested in taking the dog, you can never really know what kind of people they are. While they may have smiling faces and seem super sweet, how can you be sure? There is a way, however, to check a person’s background to see if they have ever been convicted of animal abuse. Click this link to read about doing a people search by phone number to be able to tap into detailed people reports about someone.
If you have the phone number of the person to whom you are considering giving your pet, you can start with a reverse phone lookup. By finding the owner’s name and home address, you can verify that he is who he says he is. Then, you can stay in the reverse directory’s website and run other reports like background and criminal reports. Read more about the essentials of reverse phone lookups here.
Certainly, nobody ever wants to be forced to find his or her dog a new home. And, without question, nobody wants to give dogs to someone who may treat them badly. It is unthinkable, but it is true that many animals are abused every day. By doing a little research on the person who might take ownership of your dog, you can have peace of mind and be assured that your animals will be safe. Seriously consider doing a reverse phone number lookup for the sake of your pet’s safety.
All dogs need to be loved, fed and played with. When you give away an animal, wouldn’t you want to be sure that it is going to be treated well? Since dogs can’t stick up for themselves, it’s up to us to be their advocates.
Dog aggression is natural. Dogs evolved this trait over centuries to survive in the wild. Selective breeding and domestication processes have lessened and refined dog aggression. Read on to learn about why dogs behave aggressively.
What is the cause of dog aggression?
Factors such as lack of exposure to other people and dogs as well as dominance are the most common causes of dog aggression.
Stranger aggression:
It is instinctive for a dog to be cautious and suspicious. Inexperience with strangers and unfamiliar situations will almost certainly make your dog feel apprehensive. If you increase your dogs knowledge and consistently build on positive experiences your dog will feel at ease when confronting a new situation. Take a look at our Review of Dog Training Zone for inspiration to deal with aggressive dog behavior.
What can I do about dog aggression?
The key to your dog feeling comfortable with a wide variety of experiences is starting from a young age. In your choice of experiences include other people, places and animals. Positive experiences like this will reinforce in your dogs mind that meeting new people and going to new places is ok. Make socialising your dog fun and you will soon see how easy it is to do. At puppy pre school your dog will experience new people and new dogs. Exposure to new people and other dogs will build your confidence about where you can take your dog. Your dog will continue to need socialisation, to stay stranger friendly.
Dogs who are aggressive towards family members:
Dogs are often aggressive towards members of their own human family when they are trying to defend something they think of as their own. This is known as resource guarding. Resource guarding usually appears as snarling, growling or over possessiveness. Your dog will behave like this if it thinks it has power over you. Dogs are pack animals and packs are structured differently. Dogs are used to organisation and are ranked according to a hierarchy of position and power in relation to everyone in their family or pack. Dogs rank themselves against their human family as a substitute for a dog family and their ranking tells them how to behave in any situation. If your dog is behaving aggressively then it perceives itself to be at the top of the pack. A lower ranking member of the pack will behave in a passive, submissive way and would never growl or snarl at a higher ranking member if you approached its food or toys. The message to your dog must be clear, that you are the boss and your dog is a lower ranking member of the pack.
Is there anything I can do about this?
Working with your dog regularly and consistently in obedience training will help to re program your dogs preception of you as the pack leader. Short and regular training sessions are the key to effective behaviour modification. Make each training session enjoyable: play a game by giving your dog lots of praise, pats and treats when it has worked well with you.
Take a look at Secrets to Dog Training for more information about dog aggression and a whole host of other dog behavior problems. Check out a full Secrets of Dog Training review at DogHelpdesk.com
Puppies need a different nutritional diet than that of adult dogs. Their coat, bones, organs, and teeth are still maturing. The foods they eat must have an ample supply of nutrients to support their growth. Remember the difference in energy levels there come from puppies as compared to older dogs. In order to remain energetic, they need a constant supply of foods that provide a source of vitamins, minerals, and the right kinds of fats. Further we will review four tips you can use to feed your new puppy.
#1 – Buy Commercial Brands
Many owners are tempted to prepare specific meals for their pups, but it’s usually a bad idea. Without rigorous attention to detail, it’s practically impossible to measure the right level of vitamins, fats, proteins, and other nutrients.
By contrast, commercial puppy foods are specifically formulated to provide the right blend for a puppy’s growing body. Manufacturers understand the special needs of puppies. Their high energy and protein requirements have already been considered within the formulations. As a side note, if you’re raising a large breed (for example, a Bernese Mountain Dog), visit your pet supply store to check whether they carry a breed-specific brand.
#2 – Be Consistent
In many ways, puppies are creatures of habit. Once they start eating a brand they enjoy, changing that brand – even for “variety” – isn’t normally welcome. When food is available, all dogs whether young or old will rarely pass it up. However, unless there is a compelling reason to change brands, avoid doing so. If you must switch, try to wean your pup off the old food by gradually mixing the new food in.
#3 – Set A Time And Stick To It
In the same way people normally establish certain times to eat meals, you should create a feeding schedule for your puppy. Puppies if not supervised will often times overeat. Because canine obesity is such a debilitating problem, try to encourage the right eating habits when your pup is young. Pick two or three times during which you’ll feed him. He’ll quickly come to recognize those times instinctively.
#4 – Make Drinking Water Available
Puppies need water just like people and some breeds require more than others. Even if the your puppy doesn’t drink allot of water at meal time, always make sure that it is readily available. A youthful puppy will use more energy through the course of the day than an older dog. That means he’ll be drinking more water to keep hydrated. Provide him with all he needs.
It’s not difficult to design an easy feeding plan for your pup. Invest in a high-quality commercial brand, avoid switching it, pick feeding times and don’t deviate from them, and give your puppy all the water he wants. You can add all natural dog treats or dog chews as a special bonus for your dog as well. If you follow those guidelines, your pup should grow up to be a healthy, happy adult dog.
The speed at which a puppy puts on weight varies depending upon the breed of dog and whether or not it receives enough exercise or food. There are general puppy weight estimates you can use as a guideline for raising your puppy, however if you suspect that your puppy is either over or underweight, talk to your vet for a confirmation.
You can use the Internet as a resource for finding out roughly how much your puppy should weigh at particular age plateaus. Many veterinary office and websites have a dog weight chart you can look at, which determines a dog’s healthy weight based on an age to size ratio for each dog breed.
To determine the weight your dog should be, you will be able to use the chart for your breed of dog. As mentioned earlier, many veterinary offices will have a chart you can use, and some even offer the information in pamphlets. Your vet can help you learn about the right type of foods your dog needs and what size they should be by certain age.
It’s a good idea to understand the breed of a dog before taking on the care of one. Larger breed dogs will usually put weight on more quickly than a smaller dog, and breeds which are particularly athletic may weigh more due to their muscularity. For instance, a hunting dog, such as an English Springer Spaniel won’t put on as much weight as an English mastiff, because Springer Spaniels are wiry/athletic where mastiffs are extremely large and less active. Each dog growth rate depends upon the ultimate size of the breed.
To learn more about puppy growth and how to keep them on track with their right growth path, you should check out information for your breed of dog. The puppy one won’t be a puppy for long and he or she needs your help to get to the size you want them to be. The one thing to remember about puppy growth is all dogs are different and different breeds need more than others.
The DogGoneKnit.com mascots – Rhubarb, Shepherd and Pixie – were all crate trained and we’re huge fans of the practice. Read this post, learn from it, implement it and then love it. We’d also love to see photos of your new puppy, so please email them to us and make your new addition famous! And with no further ado, 5 Benefits of Crate Training:
The benefits of crate training make for a happier and healthier household. When a dog understands his boundaries, he can be more affection and loving towards the family he is part of. The owner will also benefit with loving obedient dog.
Why are Pixie (L) and Shep (R) being so polite to their giant snapping turtle guest? You guessed it: crate training!
1. A Crate Makes Housebreaking Easier
Housebreaking your dog becomes considerably easier when crate training because no dog likes to soil where they sleep (dog cages). Confinement to a dog cage helps the dog gain better bladder control by associating going outside with the act of relieving themselves.
Your dog will learn to get control of his need to eliminate since they do not like to rest in the area where they soil. Dogs are den animals that like to have their own quiet place and they’ll do everything they can to keep it clean. But remember, Puppies need to go out frequently to eliminate, so do not keep them in the crate for long periods of time.
2. Destructive Behaviors Are Limited
Dogs naturally enjoy chewing. Your dog needs to learn the things that are acceptable or not acceptable things to chew on. Since your dog is generally going to chew on something, would it not be better to chew on acceptable toys rather than your chair legs and shoes? Therefore, by providing safe chew toys in his crate, you will protect your house from damage and also teach your dog acceptable things to chew on in the house.
3. A Crate Keeps Your Dog Safe from Household Hazards
A house contains hundreds of potentially lethal objects for your dog. If you let your dog roams freely in the house unsupervised, you are really asking for trouble and you unnecessarily put your dog in danger. Your dog may not realize that chewing on electrical wires or eating plants or certain foods can potentially be dangerous. Crate training your dog will bring you peace of mind since your dog will be out of danger when you’re not around to supervise him.
4. Traveling in a Car Is Safer
A crate-trained dog will rest in his crate during a car drive and make the trip for you and him safer and more peaceful. Containment will eliminate some possible distractions if you have a very active dog.
5. Crates provides you dog security when he desires to rest or be alone.
Do you ever notice dogs sleeping under tables or desks? Naturally, dogs like small enclosed spaces in your home that may mimic a den. Dog crates can serve as a great refuge and excellent dens your dog can hangout in. Crates will also prepare your dog from some potentially stressful situations like going to the vet.
Crate training a dog is not only good for your dog – but also good for you. Do yourself and your dog a favor, buy a dog cage, and start crate training him today!
We've talked a lot on DGK about crazy dog costumes over the years, but we've never seen dog beds that have made us do a double-take. Sasquatch Pet Beds – we definitely love the company name – have introduced, among other things, Croc Dog beds. Featuring not the skin of the famous reptile as you may infer, but rather the popular footware. See for yourself!
The giant sandal-shoe-bed thingy measures 31 inches long x 14 inches tall and is 14 inches wide. In addition to being a comfortable place for your pooch to rest their head it's certainly going to be quite the conversation piece too. They're marketed for cats, too and are available in a variety of colors and lining styles. What do you think of this product, and have you seen other unique pet beds in your travels? Perhaps this is the beginning of a new age in silly pet sleep aids.
