So many dog food choices, so little time. Have you noticed that there are entire sections of dog food options. When did this happen? I do know, but it’s still amazing, isn’t it?
Should we feed kibble only, kibble mixed with raw, vegetarian, grilled, broiled, low-fat, high-fiber, or dehydrated rare seasonal meat? More and more, dogs are showing food and other allergies much like their human companions. I’m not so sure that “our” stress hasn’t filtered into their life contributing to their dis-ease.
I encountered a man recently who when asked if I could give his Golden Retriever a treat, recoiled quickly when I said the treat was lamb and rice. He responded with “he’s a Vegan.” A Vegan? That was a new one for me.
Dogs are carnivores. Their teeth, jaw, and digestion were designed for it. I don’t feed my dogs a raw diet, but have heard from those who do that any health issues their dog previously experienced disappeared. I can promise you that once it was authorized that lizards, bunnies, and birds are dinner, my dogs would give it a try.
I’d like to tell you about the best dog food. The Best dog food is the one that keeps your dog healthy and happy. My guess is that there are a lot of dogs who are fed strict diets that far exceed the nutritional value of their people.
Remember – healthy and happy for both you and your dog!
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There are a lot of options for dog toys and chews. Depending on your dog, the stuffed toys can leave a nice layer of white fluff all over the floor and for only a few seconds of enjoyment!
I recommend:
A Natural Beef Bone. These can be purchased at pet stores such as PetSmart. They come in a variety of sizes. They also come filled, but I wouldn’t suggest those unless you’re comfortable with the ingredients. The bone is porous but hard. Most dogs enjoy chewing on them and for added taste, you can soak it in bouillon or spread a dab of peanut butter along the edge.
Nylabone makes a variety of products that last a while and do not typically break off in tiny pieces which can be a choking hazard.
If you have a teething puppy – try soaking a washcloth in water, ringing it out, and freezing it. This feels good on the dog’s gums and they may feel satisfied that they are “allowed” to chew on a cloth. (Don’t remind them that you gave it to them)
Rope toys are good as long as you throw them out when the rope becomes shredded.
Those are some of my top picks. I don’t recommend rawhide as it does not digest. A small piece can get lodged in their throat or if swallowed it sits in their stomach.
Also, rotate their toys. If everything is out all of the time, they get desensitized and may find the chair leg or even their own bed to be a suitable substitute!
Dog Quote: To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
….Aldous Huxley
Puppies love to bite.
They do it naturally and may be something they must be taught not to do. For obvious reasons, this needs to be addressed while they are young. What could be considered an “accident” could still inflict a lot of pain and an unwanted behavior from your dog.
It may seem fun and funny to have a puppy biting but a full-grown dog can do a lot of damage, particularly to children if biting becomes a habit. Games like tug-of-war can encourage a mouthing behavior and should be avoided unless you know for certain that you will “win!”
Puppy teeth are extremely sharp. They lose those teeth only to gain the new-and-improved larger teeth! Dogs have immense strength in their jaws and even a playful nip can do permanent damage to a child. It can also lead to your child being fearful of dogs.
Generally, puppies are taught to control their biting from their mothers. In most cases, we get puppies as pets that have been taken from their mothers at a very young age and it is up to us to teach them. It helps to let your puppy socialize with other dogs as they will quickly learn from their elders, provided they have been taught well, that the desire to bite needs to be curbed to avoid retaliation and an ensuing fight.
If your pup starts to use your hand as a chew toy, you can try saying “ouch!” in a high-pitched voice. Don’t pull away but rather move your hand away slowly and give them an appropriate chew toy. Usually, when you respond quickly with a “hey, that hurt” sound, they will back off.
Children may need to be reminded as often as the puppy that allowing the dog to chew on our hands, arms, or feet is not good behavior. Stuffed Kong toys, Nylabones, and things like fabric and rope chew toys are a much better option.
Many times when I’m with a client I hear myself asking them to lower their expectations.This is especially true if they are dealing with the “oh-we-forgot-what-a-puppy-is-like” syndrome. It’s a fairly common syndrome in retirement communities.
However, there is a time to raise your expectations. Expectation is a dangerous word. Much like the word “potential” it can put a lot of pressure on the object of the word. When you know what you expect, so will they. If you have no expectations, they will gladly oblige.
When you train a puppy and it learns all of the nifty commands – sit, down, leave it, etc., don’t forget to use them when needed. As dogs mature, they will have hormonal shifts and temperment changes and you may feel the need to go back to basics. Raise your expectation.
Remind your dog of what it knows. Leash on or leash off, expect a response to your command and follow through. You will be so glad as the next hormonal shift happens or the next “they’ve never done this before” behavior shows up.
Your dog will match your expectations — hmmmm? I think people are like that too. =)
I live in a rural area where most people own several acres. They leave the dogs outside most of the time so they are not adequately socialized. They’re great at being watch dogs.
Last year there was a fire and people were scrambling to get their dogs out safely. You can imagine how easy it is to put a collar and leash on a dog that hasn’t been required to wear one in the past. Add to that the fear and panic of the family because of the approaching fire.
Why use treats? You certainly don’t have to. With some dogs, it is a way to bond. A way to get them to focus. If they are willing to take the treat, it can indicate they trust you.
For me, there are no absolutes. I use treats; however, if the client doesn’t want to or the dog just won’t take them, I don’t. A dog will not take food from someone they don’t trust or if they are scared or nervous.
So, if they begin to take treats during training when they first didn’t, it can be an indication that things are shifting for them.
Treats aren’t bribes. They are rewards. They are also a way of bonding and with some dogs, it is a moment of celebration for us and them. Here’s a “cool” story that is sure to warm your heart.
Having grown up in the 50’s (I know! Hard to believe!) , there were many long road trips in the back seat of our Chevy wagon as we traveled cross country to visit our Grandparents. If you have ever had this experience, you understand.
The back of the wagon contained an array of Archie comic books and Mad Magazines. There also existed two invisible lines. They separated the space between my brothers and I. You DO NOT cross the line. Not even a finger. God bless Mom and Dad.
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So . . .I was watching the interplay of my dogs as they lie on their beds and floor. If the one on the bed decides that an invisible line has been drawn, a hair better not touch their pillow that doesn’t belong to them.
At times, they will all curl up together and it’s so sweet. Much like children, that can change in a nanosecond and it’s not in your best interest to put a paw on a bed that someone else put “dibs” on.
It appears that the invisible line is not a back-seat exclusive!
Dogs bark. People talk. Some days I’d rather hear the former rather than the latter. Other days – well, you know. I thought I’d share a favorite dog joke.
Melody and Violet were both outside looking up at the moon and barking.
Melody asks Violet, “What’s that?”
Violet responds, “I don’t know, but if we bark at it all night, it goes away in the morning.”
I have always said that “I’m a dog person.” There’s an air of dogs are better in that statement; or at least there was for me. Don’t get me wrong. I love all creatures, but when it comes to which one I chose to live with, dogs were first choice.
Until. . . I started hearing about all of the kittens being left at the shelter, if they were lucky enough to get that far. Cats, along with dogs, are victims of foreclosures. That along with the many kittens that are set free without being spayed or neutered – and so it goes as the population grows.
I decided to foster some kittens. No worries! I checked with the dogs and they were fine with the idea. Two little boy kitties were at the shelter. They were too young and too small to be “fixed” or adopted. “I’ll take them – temporarily.”
For those of you who have had good intentions about fostering, may be having a similar experience to me when the fosters never seem to leave.
I tell myself that if the “right” family comes along, I will let them go. It’s funny how that hasn’t happened yet. I think I’ve joined the ranks of foster victim.
