Friday, December 5, 2008

3 Types of Natural Dog Food

The best way of providing your pet dog healthy living is to keep him on a nutritious diet. The basis of good health is healthy food. When a dog is fed well, he has a better chance to maintain good health. Healthy dog food is the same as what nutrition experts tell us to eat; an assortment of fresh foods which are filled with critical nutrients like vitamins and minerals. This is considered to be the better type of diet your pet dogs can have which could add years to their lives.

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If you wish your dog to eat the best foods, start by feeding him with some natural and newer food ingredients. Fresh foods have minimal processing. The less the processing, the healthier the food is because fewer important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are lost. A fresh food diet might include home created dog food, a raw diet or dried food. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a veterinarian who has done extended research in natural pet care, advocates feeding pets a healthy diet of home cooked foods created to the specific needs of the animals.




Raw foods are gaining acceptance with many pet owners. These pet owners are gradually coming to know the goodness of raw foods. Raw foods are proving to work well in the treatment of conditions like long-term allergies as well as other ailments. Rather than feeding Fido a raw bone from your butcher, you can now access wholesome frozen raw foods from specialty stores. Raw foods are now made in frozen form where the dog food is freeze-dried or 'cold processed'. This process ensures the more vital components like enzymes, amino acids and probiotics stay whole.




Another source of natural dog food is the dried diet. These foods are preserved and protected through an action of drying at low temperatures, similar to the ready-made soup mixes which we buy from the store. Since the action involves minimal heat, the built-in enzymatic activity are suspended until such time as the food is rehydrated. The action of dehydration only loses about 3% to 5% of the foods' nutrients. Other food preservation processes like canning or kibble making, the nutrients lost can be in the range of sixty percent or more.




While home-cooked foods are a good healthy option for pet dogs, this may not always be possible since it is tough to keep the ideal ratio and balance between meat and vegetable components of the dog's diet. The good news is that there are pre-mixes now available that take the guessing out of creating homemade dog food. All you need to do is add some water and fresh meat to make a yummy meal for your four-legged friend. Just like we enjoy a delicious meal, it should not be any different for our furry friends. When we pay attention to the freshness of the components, the variety in what is served and the quality of food that we offer our pets, they will not only enjoy their eating experience but will remain happy and healthy, too.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Test Your Canine Acumen

1. According to tests made at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington, D.C., dogs and cats, just like people…
A. Worry about what they will wear to work in the morning.
B. Enjoy reading while eating breakfast.
C. Need a retirement plan.
D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.

D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.
TBD: Very, very, interesting, don't you think?

2. Jackals are different from dogs and wolves in what way?
A. They live on a different continent.
B. They are really alien life forms.
C. They are canids.
D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.

D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.
TBD: Even though they may look like alien life forms, they are Canids just like dogs and wolves.

3. Most dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with their ears. However, a few breeds have only about 10 expressions. Can you name those breeds?
A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
B. Labrador and Golden retrievers
C. Poodles and Dachshunds
D. Beagles and Chihuahuas

A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
TBD: Due to their breeding, dogs such as Bulldogs and Pitbulls have fewer facial expressions and so are often misinterpreted by other dogs which leads to fights. Poor misunderstood pooches.

4. The fear of dogs and/or rabies is called what?
A. Rabodogophobia
B. Dogophobia
C. Cynophobia
D. Canophobia

C. Cynophobia
TBD: Hey, don't blame us, that's what the research says!

5. Of the more than 300 breeds of dogs that exist worldwide, how many does the American Kennel Club recognize?
A. 300
B. 212
C. 145
D. 101

C. 145
TBD: Gee, I wonder why you would have answered 101?

6. Jack London wrote this story about a dog named Buck. Can you name it?
A. A Dog Named Buck
B. Buck's Marvelous Adventures
C. Don't Pass the Buck
D. Call of the Wild

D. Call of the Wild
TBD: Gosh, we tried to make it easy for those nonliterary types out there… After all, there is even a movie! We read the book, however.

7. The Dalmation was named for the place where the breed first originated, can you name it?
A. Mount Dalmation in Africa
B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
C. Dalmation Island in the Thousand Islands
D. The tiny country of Dalmatia

B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
TBD: The other places are only a figment of our imagination, so far as she knows anyway…

8. Can you name the dog featured in the Grinch Who Stole Christmas?
A. Who
B. Max
C. Rudi
D. Suzi

B. Max
TBD: Phllllbbbttt! To those who didn't know. It was Max who stole the show, don't ya think!

9. The English Romantic poet Lord Byron inscribed this passage on a gravestone "Beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices." Can you name the object of his tribute?
A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
B. His wife Anna Isabella.
C. His daughter Augusta Ada.
D. His granduncle William.

A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
TBD: Come on, be real! This is a quiz about dogs!

10. Can you name the dog who caused so many problems for Foghorn Leghorn in the Looney Tunes?

A. Rufus Wufus
B. Barnyard Dog
C. Just Dog
D. Spotted Dog

B. Barnyard Dog
TBD: That was news to us, too.

11. Which animal was first domesticated by humans?

A. Goat
B. Cat
C. Dog
D. Horse

C. Dog
TBD: Apparently some argument can be made that the goat might have come first in some areas, but the dog is Numero Uno for most evidence of early man!

12. Ralph and Sam, the Looney Tune wolf and sheepdog cartoon character adversaries, would engage in what activity between their bouts?

A. They would punch a time-clock.
B. They would have tea.
C. They would play bridge.
D. They would roller-skate.

A. They would punch a time-clock.
TBD: They would punch in at the beginning of each shift and out at the end as well as for their lunch break.

13. The Beatles son "Martha My Dear" was written by Paul McCartney about…

A. His sheepdog Martha
B. His mother Martha
C. His sister Martha
D. His veterinarian Martha

A. His sheepdog Martha
TBD: If you guess wrong, we sincerely hope you guessed "D" because this is a canine quiz after all.

14. Domestic dogs vary widely in appearance and size, but despite these differences all breeds of the domestic dog are essentially identical in anatomy. Which is NOT an anatomical characteristic of the dog?
A. An average of 321 bones in their skeleton.
B. Thirteen pairs of ribs in the rib cage.
C. A spine with seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, seven lumbar vertebrae and three sacral vertebrae.
D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.

D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.
TBD: Apparently not all breeds have a dewclaw and this why the average number of bones in the skeleton varies!

15. Can you name the dog on the Cracker Jack box?
A. Jack
B. Bingo
C. Cracker
D. Prize

B. Bingo
TBD: Just think of all the knowledge we share to make your life more meaningful!



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You can enjoy more trivia created by Deanna Mascle at A Trivia Break, The QuizQueen, and Trivial Topics.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Other Ways To Reward And Keep Your Dog Motivated Other Than Food And How To Keep Your Dog To Sta

Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always easy. Dogs can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the dog and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained dog.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the dog. Doing things the dog enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the dog’s attention and reward him for small successes.

For instance, in order to reward the dog for coming to you, for instance, ask the dog to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the dog has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the dog likes to do.

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the dog does something you want, is a great way to keep your dog motivated. If the dog knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction Training
When training any dog, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The dog must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the dog to come when called.

For instance, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor’s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your dog. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the dog to go back to playing with his friends.

Repeat this several times and praise the dog each time he comes to you. The dog will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the dog does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your dog to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the dog to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your dog’s attention and put the focus back on you. If your dog has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

Once the dog begins to get the hang of coming when called, you can begin to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the dog to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the dog respond to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.



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Discover How You Can Train Your Dog With Immediate Effective Results Using Proven Simple Steps For FREE Click Here => www.absolute-dog-training.com

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Succeeding with Puppy Potty Training

Puppy potty training or housebreaking can be accomplished successfully if you keep a few things in mind.

Right Age

A puppy under eight weeks old is not physically or neurologically ready to be potty trained. If your puppy is younger than eight weeks, it will only frustrate you to try to housebreak or potty train him. Resolve yourself to the idea that you will have to clean up after him for a couple more weeks until he's ready.

Paper Training

Some people choose to begin puppy potty training with paper training. Most experts advise against this because in essence, you are teaching your dog to do his business on your floor. A dog is not capable of telling the difference between a newspaper put down for his purposes and a report you've been working on for weeks that happens to be on the floor next to your chair. Having your puppy learn to use a paper, then expecting him to unlearn it when you want to housebreak him is unreasonable.

Puppy Crates

Crating your puppy can be very helpful. Dogs naturally like to den, so a comfortable crate gives your puppy a secure place to call his own. Under normal circumstances, a dog will not soil his bed so crating a puppy at night after he's been given the opportunity to go outside to potty will help prevent accidents.

Feeding

Puppy potty training begins with proper feeding. Choose a high quality dog food,even if it is more expensive. Not only does it provide better nutrition for your growing puppy, it does not have all the filler cheaper dog foods use. This filler is indigestible and causes gas as well as making your puppy need to move his bowels more often. Feed your puppy at the same times every day then take him outside 15-20 minutes after he's eaten to relieve himself.

Communicating With Your Puppy

Watch your puppy's behavior for signs he needs to relieve himself. Whining, sniffing around and restlessness all indicate a dog that needs to go. Get him outside quickly then praise him for doing well. Establish a word you will use with your dog for potty training. When you praise him, use this word. "Good boy to go potty outside" will help your dog associate what he just did with your pleasure. Dogs love to please.


http://www.pottytrainingtipsonline.com/ provides articles and information if Your Child is Ready for Potty Training for new parents. Great free help, links and more.

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Tips On True Nutritional Value Of Ingredients In Dog Food

The evolution of dogs has gone from one of a being a strict carnivore to an omnivore digesting both animal and plant tissues. Dogs are no longer similar to their relative, the wolf, which is a strict carnivore subsisting on only meat. Although dogs do have a preference for meaty diets, they are able to live on vegetable protein as long as they supplemented with additional amino acids and other missing nutrients.
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Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential for your dog's health. People often have questions on dog food. Here is some dog food information that should help. What and when you feed your dog early in life will shape its preferences when it is older. This applies to time of day, odor, texture and taste and meal temperature. Up to fifty percent of an adult dogs diet can come from carbohydrates such as grain.

It is important to feed and water your pet on a regular basis. To prevent overheating and dehydration, water should be available to your pet at all times, especially during periods of high activity. Puppies need to eat often, while adult dogs can be fed once or twice each day. For pet owners interested in feeding their dog a homemade diet, dog food recipes are available on the internet under the dog information section.

Life's Abundance food for dogs can be obtained in either the regular formula or a special formula designed to help obese dogs trim down. Overall dry dog food outsells all other types. Typically, dry food contains about ninety percent dry ingredients with about ten percent water, blending some grain, meats, meat by products, fat, minerals and vitamin content. Life's Abundance is a premium type dry dog food that contains no meat by products, instead containing a high protein mixture of meat, grain, dried veggies, fruits, and herbs.

There are some dogs that like canned food more than dry. The scent, taste, and texture of dry foods don't seem as appealing to them as those of the canned product. It has been noticed through time that less tartar accumulates on the teeth of canines that eat dry food, and they don't suffer as frequently from gingivitis. They are also not as likely to be overweight. Because of the gum swelling that accompanies a canned food regime, the tissue around the teeth recedes and the teeth themselves become loose. Renal and hepatic damage can occur as well, due to the gradual passage of bacteria from the infected gums into the blood stream.

Each specific dog has its own specific dietary requirements. This means that no two dogs will need the same amount of food to maintain good weight as well as health. Active dogs, and the breeds they come from, function with a greater need for calories than less active breeds. To this end, many dogs today are overweight. While the weight almost never shows on legs, dog's loin and lumbar areas become consumed by fat. Growing dogs and puppies do require more food per pound than adult or senior animals, but there are special foods for all stages of your pet's life, making your job as a caretaker, easier.

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Check the dog food if you find that your dog has less energy, dog food nutrition and visit this website for more detail www.DogFoodReview.net

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Saturday, November 15, 2008

So, will ear mites propose a danger to my dog? The simple answer to this question is yes. Ear mites may affect your dog greatly.

While it can rarely cause accidental death, it would certainly affect your dog's joyful nature. Ear mites are small inconveniences for your pets. Worse, they are living organisms that are thriving on their body for food.

It is possible to find ear mites in dogs and cats, as well as other small animals. Ear mites can be considered as parasites, which actually feed on the epidermal wastes of your pet's body. In this case, they found food in the ears. And there they will stay for as long as they are getting the proper nourishment.

Ear mites may or may not be seen by the naked eye. There are species that are big enough to be seen floating about the hair and the skin of your pet. However, there are also some that can only be observed under a microscope. But then again, you don't have to see ear mites just to know whether or not your dog is suffering from it. There are telltale signs to watch out for.

Dogs that are very irritable and are scratching their ears a lot are most likely to be suffering from this condition. And most of these dogs would have brownish discharges coming out of their ears. The discharges are excessive ear wax. The mites trigger its production.

Generally, you don't have to clean the ears of your dog frequently because they can do it by themselves. So if you see a build up of ear wax in your pet, there's every reason to be alarmed. Your dog could be suffering from ear mites and you have to provide a quick solution to it.

Ear mites rarely lead to death. But that doesn't mean that it is not possible. The most common problem with ear mites is the fact that they can trigger the loss of your dog's hearing. Mites penetrating deep into the ears may cause damage to the ear drums. Keep in mind that the ear is responsible for keeping the body's balance. This is true with both dogs and humans. Ear mites could disrupt that balance and cause seizures to your pet. And if your dog suffered from a bad case of seizure, that's when sudden or eventual death may arise.

Ear mites are highly contagious. So you definitely want to keep your other pets away from the infected ones. This is also the reason why it is very important to address the problem early on. If you are not careful, the disease may spread to all of your pets. And in which case, the mites become harder to eliminate.

Keep your dog clean. That's the first line of defense against ear mites. Make sure that it gets is daily bath. Groom your pet as frequently as required. A healthy, hygienic dog is not likely to acquire any type of diseases - especially not ear mites.


DogEarMites.net - resources and articles dealing with the ear mites in dogs infection, how to prevent ear mites in dogs and how to treat ear mites in dogs






The Art of Raising a Puppy

The Art of Raising a Puppy


You aren''t going to get anywhere with a newborn dog if you don''t understand where it is going and what it wants...












Friday, November 7, 2008

Personalized Maltese Dog Breed Christmas Ornament

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step.


Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command.

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard.

Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dog's reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back.

Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.

After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog.

When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars.

Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities. Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times.

Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dog's, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times.

It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbor's kids.

For more information please visit http://about-animals.info/
 

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