Sylvia-Dickens blogSylvia Dickens (5,882)     Sylvia Dickens   Hale Publishing How To Choose Healthy Dog Food For Your PetPosted Thursday, July 24, 2008 (1 hour 57 minutes ago.) Viewed 0 times. If you're like other dog owners, you're taking a much closer look at those dog food labels. They claim to offer the top quality, balanced diet for your pet, but how can you know if it's true? How do you guarantee that your dog eats only healthy food? Is it even possible to get healthy dog food from manufacturers now? It has become tougher to find inexpensive healthy dog food. They use high levels of preservatives and take a lot of processing that destroys nutrients. Many use filler to make up the quantity but it does nothing for quality. The most common fillers are wheat and corn. Dogs don't need corn. In fact, it can be slow to digest, giving your dog no nutrients whatsoever. Corn and wheat can also trigger allergies in some dogs. Any grain product should include the entire grain so your dog gets all the benefits including fiber, vitamins and minerals. Look for rolled oats, barley, millet and brown rice as these will provide the best nutritional value. When you read the dog food label, look for those with the best ingredient ratio, which is 40% meat, 50% vegetables and 10% grains. The items are listed in order of quantity. You'll want to make sure meat is at the top of the list. Watch out for meat by-products as this can include indigestible parts of the animals such as feet and beaks. Also, be aware of manufacturers who list meat as the main product, and then follow it with meat by-products. This alters the nutritional ratio significantly. Did you know that Vitamins A and B make good preservatives? Look for labels that list these instead of the cancer-causing chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. Choose a good quality, reputable dog food rather than economy brands as the premium food will contain ingredients of higher nutritional value. Keep in mind that your dog might benefit more from a specific type of dog food, rather than a one-for-all brand. While both types of food offer value, some dogs have additional needs. Factors include your breed's inherited health risks, your dog's activity levels and any other underlying conditions that require certain dog food nutrients. If you want to ensure your dog receives only healthy dog food, you can make it yourself. There are many recipes available online and in dog recipe books. Run an Internet search and you're sure to find a wealth of choices. Look for dog-related forums. People love to go online and chat about their favorite subject - their pets - and share recipes. Knowing how to read dog food labels will help you to identify the best product for your pet, but you can't beat homemade for your peace of mind and to provide the best nutritional and healthy dog food to your beloved best friend. -------- Sylvia Dickens is an award-winning journalist who is also a lifelong dog owner. You can read more Dog Training tips on her site. Pick up your free copy of her latest booklet, "Unveiling the Myths & Mysteries of Owning a Puppy" 
Permalink Comments (0) What Is Normal Puppy Behavior?Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (23 hours 57 minutes ago.) Viewed 6 times. It's not easy to tell what is normal puppy behavior when the symptoms of bad behavior are similar. Puppies love to chew things, attack objects, and play with anything and everything that crosses their path. This is all normal puppy behavior. Chewing helps to strengthen and clean their gums and teeth. Chasing objects is a natural preying instinct. It teaches them basic survival skills they once needed when their ancestors were wild creatures living off the land. Playing with objects is part of that learning. Even puppies can get bored if they don't occupy their time in some entertaining way. In fact, this energy and level of curiosity causes puppies to be easily distracted and exhibit a short attention span. When these and other behaviors become exaggerated, they are abnormal behaviors that need to be addressed early. Otherwise, you could end up with a problem dog on your hands. Let's compare these normal behaviors with similar abnormal ones. Easily Distracted While a puppy will quickly leave one interest and move on to another, it is abnormal behavior when the puppy cannot stay focused for any length of time at all. If the puppy is to learn, it must be able to stay focused long enough to grasp the lessons. Puppies should be able to concentrate for at least five minutes or more. Those that can't will be difficult to train. Switching from one play activity or object to another is normal puppy behavior. When the behavior becomes exaggerated, the puppy likely is hyperactive. You are likely to need considerable patience to teach a hyperactive puppy. Chewing and Biting Puppies normally chew items such as clothes, books, furniture, tassels on rugs and other fascinating objects. They like to mouth the hands of their owners and nip at people's feet. When puppies resort to snapping or attempting to bite people and other pets, or attack in a non-playful or threatening way, they are demonstrating abnormal behavior. It's important to teach your puppy from the start what is objectionable and what is acceptable behavior. Puppies will not outgrow their bad behavior. It's up to you to teach them. Chewing and biting is one of the biggest concerns for owners because puppies tend to get into things you cherish, like your favourite pair of shoes or the edge of a sweater protruding from the laundry basket. Discourage Bad Puppy Behavior When your puppy attacks in an aggressive, rather than a playful, manner it's important to correct him immediately. Stop him firmly and tell him "No". If he persists, give him some quiet time away from people and other pets but make sure he can still see what's going on. Isolating him behind a closed door will cause him anxiety and lead to problems later. After about 30 minutes, let him out again and go through the steps again, telling him "No" and removing him from the action until he begins to understand. Praise him when he cooperates so he knows he's doing the right thing. Make sure he gets a lot of exercise, as lack of exercise will contribute to boredom and bad puppy behavior. If he continues to exhibit aggressive or destructive behavior, talk to your vet for advice. Ask if there might be a medical or physical reason for his behavior. Encourage Normal Puppy Behavior Because of their curious nature, puppies are always looking for new objects to play with, new items to chew. You can deter this wandering spirit by experimenting with different kinds of toys. See which ones he likes the best and look for more that are similar. Rather than giving your puppy all the toys at once, rotate them. Puppies have short memories. When you return a toy after a few days, they will think it is something new and take to it readily. Allow your puppy to have four or five toys at a time and then replace them with a different set after a few days. You'll soon see how this technique can distract your puppy from going after your important items. Toys you can fill with puppy biscuits or peanut butter make excellent toys for the treasure seeker. The work involved in getting those entrapped goodies piques your puppy's sense of adventure and in a way, appeases his prey instincts. Remember that all puppies are inquisitive and have an insatiable appetite for adventure, to examine every aspect of their environment and test their skills. Recognize when their actions are excessive and take appropriate action. By taking steps right away, you can encourage normal puppy behavior and look forward to enjoying a well-behaved adult dog. -------- Sylvia Dickens is an award-winning journalist who is also a lifelong dog owner. You can read more Dog Training tips on her site. Pick up your free copy of her latest booklet, "Unveiling the Myths & Mysteries of Owning a Puppy"
Permalink Comments (0) 6 Summer Safety Tips for Dog Owners with Gun Shy DogsPosted Thursday, July 03, 2008 (20 days 14 hours ago.) Viewed 39 times. Most people have heard of gun shy dogs. It's really a misnomer, because they aren't afraid of guns as such. They're afraid of any loud noises that resemble a gun being shot. This includes vehicles backfiring, fireworks, thunderstorms and, of course, gunfire. Many gun shy dogs have been seriously injured and even killed when fireworks displays have scared them. Their first instinct is to run and, unfortunately, that often means running into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Dog owners with gun shy dogs have to be watchful, especially in summer, when there often are loud noises that come out of the blue. Apart from running into harms way, gun shy dogs can be extremely destructive. They climb on and destroy furniture, they scratch in corners, at walls and doors. They dig under fences in a desperate attempt to escape. Some dogs have severely injured themselves jumping through glass windows in fear. Dog owners who inadvertently leave a door or gate open will soon discover that their beloved dogs have disappeared. If you're lucky, your dog will return when the fear and the perceived danger has stopped. Here are six safety tips you can use to protect your gun shy dog. Dog Safety Tip #1. Travel safety If your gun shy dog travels with you, be aware of areas where there might be loud noises, such as while driving past road construction. The workers often use dynamite and heavy machinery that can scare your dog. Keep your car windows rolled up. Dog Safety Tip #2. Keep an ID on your dog A gun shy dog should always wear a secure collar with an ID tag attached that contains the dog's name and dog owner's phone number, and a current rabies tag. Be sure to include any special information that finders might need to know. For instance, if he requires medication (ie: diabetes, thyroid, epilepsy), just in case you don't get him back before his next dose. If he does go into a health situation, the finder won't have to worry that he might have rabies or other dangerous disease. Besides, the person will know to get treatment for your dog. Dog Safety Tip #3. Find a safe place for your gun shy dog Dogs will seek shelter where they can hide, often somewhere tight and dark such as under a table or in a cave. You can ease his distress by making a spot for him in a closet or under the bed where he can head when he becomes afraid. Get him used to that area prior to such an emergency. Put a familiar blanket on the floor and include a favorite toy to help distract him from the noise. A radio will help. Dog Safety Tip #4. Seek medical advice Some gun shy dogs are absolutely terrified and anxious during fireworks displays and thunder storms. Ask your vet if he can prescribe a sedative you can keep on hand for such events. Dog Safety Tip #5. Get training for your gun shy dog. Dog trainers can advise you on how to desensitize your pet to those alarming loud noises. It will take some time, but it can be done. Dog Safety Tip #6: Watch your own reaction The first instinct of many dog owners is to hold their trembling dog and talk sweetly to try to calm him. This is one of the worst things you can do because it confirms his beliefs that something is wrong. The best approach is to talk normally to your dog, reassure him by telling him "it's okay, relax", and pet him normally. Don't make a big fuss. Laughing is a good response because it's the opposite of what he's experiencing and sends the message that there really is nothing to fear. Distraction is extremely effective. Call his name when he's listening intently to the noise. Offer his squeaky toy. Play with him while constantly talking to keep his ears busy. With these six dog safety tips, dog owners can alleviate their pet's fears and keep them safe from harm. Preparation is important. Have a leash handy for when things get too noisy. Have sedatives on hand. Make sure all the doors, windows and gates are secured. Close your car windows. Get your dog used to a safe hideout in your home where he can feel protected. Dog safety is of prime importance for any dog owner with a gun shy dog. -------- Want more dog tips? Get Sylvia's free dog guide, "Unveiling the Myths & Mysteries of Owning a Puppy" and discover Healthy Dog Secrets. Read her Dog Training Product Reviews and recommendations.
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