8 Common Questions About Feeding Your Dog

It's not easy to work out how to best feed your dog. Everyone from the pet store owner to the dog club trainer has their own opinion, and that's without searching online. It can be hard to find good advice that you feel you can trust.

Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about how to feed your canine best friend.

1. Are all dog foods the same?

No. When it comes to buying dog food, you really do get what you pay for. The less expensive foods have more of the cheaper ingredients, such as cereals, whereas the pricier bags are likely to have better quality meat proteins and fewer types of filler.

Buying cheap food can be false economy because you need to feed your dog more of it, to give him enough of the nutrients he needs to stay well. The other disadvantage is when there's more food going in, there's more coming out the other end so you'll have a bigger clean up job.

2. How do I work out how much to feed?

Have a look on the bag of kibble and you'll see a feeding guide. Remember that this really is just a guide and it's important that you feed your dog to condition. This means that if he is looking too thin, feed him a little more and if he's getting a bit round in the middle, cut back on how much food you put in his bowl. Lean dogs are healthier and live longer so it's better to keep him slightly lean.

3. Can I give my dog bones?

Veterinary dentists recommend that you don't give your dog bones at all. Cooked bones have always been a no-no, but they have extended their warning to also include raw bones. Your dog can fracture a tooth as he chews on a bone, and chunks can get stuck in his intestines. If you're concerned about your dog's dental health, then brush his teeth with a soft toothbrush daily to keep his smile sparkling.

4. There are foods on the supermarket shelf for puppies and some for senior dogs. Are there any differences between them?

Yes. Puppy foods have lots of calories per pound of food because puppies only have small stomachs but their energy needs are high. Some puppy foods cater specifically to large breeds to control their growth rate. This is aimed at reducing the risk of orthopaedic problems such as hip dysplasia and osteochondrosis dissecans. At the other end of the spectrum, senior dog food has fewer calories because elderly dogs tend not to be too active. Added fiber keeps a sluggish gastrointestinal tract moving along.

5. Some dog foods are labelled "grain-free". Are these better than the regular kibble?

For most dogs, no. Grain can still provide a source of protein for dogs. Some individual animals can be allergic to an ingredient and if they do react to corn or wheat, for example, a grain-free food can help. Given that the most common food allergen in dogs is chicken, grain-free kibble may not make any difference to your dog's health at all.

6. How often should I feed my dog?

That's entirely up to you. Dogs do just fine on one meal or two meals a day, so do what fits best with your lifestyle. If you can fit either into your day, then twice daily feeding is likely to be more satisfying for your dog.

7. I don't trust what's in dog food so I'd like to cook my dog's meals myself. Is this okay?

You need to be careful when cooking home-made meals for your dog. It can be hard to make them balanced and your dog may end up with nutritional deficiencies or excesses. If you do want to do this, then have a chat to a veterinary nutritionist who will help you come up with a menu that meets all of your dog's nutritional needs.

8. What about raw diets? They're very popular right now.

Again, raw foods may not be balanced. Many raw diets recommend feeding bones and this can lead to the problems we've already discussed. Lastly, raw food can cause salmonella poisoning which can make children and adults with a reduced immune system very ill.

Feeding your dog can be straight-forward. Choose a good quality kibble as the basis of his diet, and you'll know he's getting all the nutrients he needs for good health.

4 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Dog

It's easy to take our dog for granted. After all, he's always there in the background, and there are many times when life gets busy that we really don't appreciate what he does for us. As Thanksgiving approaches, here are four reasons why we really should be thankful for the dogs in our lives.

    Dogs keep us healthy. A hospital in Finland conducted a study that showed that if you grow up with a dog in your life, you'll have a better immune system than if you never shared your life with a canine friend. There were fewer respiratory illnesses and better health amongst dog owners, when compared to those with no pets.

    Dogs encourage us to exercise. If you have a dog, you're more likely to go out for a walk, which helps keep your heart healthy and your waistline trim. Children particularly benefit; if they can run and play with a canine best friend, they are less likely to become overweight. You can't sit and play with a computer game when there is a pair of big brown eyes pleading with you for a game.

    Dogs provide stress relief. Studies have shown that dog owners are less depressed and have better self-esteem than non-dog owners. Cuddling your dog lowers your blood pressure and reduces the amount of stress hormone circulating in your blood stream. Many veterans are finding that a companion dog helps them to cope when they return to their friends and families after a tour of duty.

    Dogs teach us important life lessons. If you watch your dog, you'll learn a number of ways that help you to live a more meaningful and enjoyable life. Dogs don't bear grudges; when something is over, it is over for good. They live in the moment. They're not worried about what happened in the past or what may happen in the future. This is a great way of getting the most out of every day.

After all, you can't change the past and you can't predict the future. Lastly, dogs appreciate the simpler things in life. They don't need a perfectly cooked steak to enjoy their meal, or a penthouse suite to keep them comfortable while they sleep. If they have a full belly and somewhere comfortable to rest their weary head, life is good.

When you come home from a long day at work where it seems the whole world has been down on you, it's a real pleasure to see your dog. He loves you unconditionally, is always glad to see you and listens to your complaints without judgement. These are by far the biggest reasons to be grateful for the dog in your life.

Dog Training by Using Your Dog Leash

One of the most popular methods of dog training is the leash/collar style of training. This type of training has proven it's effectiveness over many years. It is always used when a dog must have a high level of reliability, such as that of rescue dogs, police dogs, guard dogs and dogs for the disabled. But it will also keep you and your dog safe when out on your walks, by preventing the pulling and tugging that invariably occurs with a dog who is not trained properly to walk with a leash.

Positive reinforcement is the best tool to use to train your dog. This is superior to punishment in establishing the behavior of your dog on a leash. Positive reinforcement results in lasting behavioral modification. Punishment changes behavior only temporarily with the result that it will reappear later, bringing along with it more problem behavior. By using positive reinforcement, you will build a bond of trust and cooperation between your pet and yourself.

First you must slowly introduce the leash to your dog and also the collar if he has not been wearing one. A regular, flat buckle collar is all that you need. A choke collar is not necessary. Let your pet sniff them as you gently place them before him. Reward him with praise for his interest. Give a treat, if you plan to use treats with your training. Slowly place the collar around his neck and once he becomes comfortable with that, attach the leash and let him drag it around the house. Praise him for his interest in using the leash and collar.

Keep your training sessions short. You can train several times during the day, but remember this is supposed to be fun for your dog. You don't want to push him past his limit. Puppies generally have an attention span of about 5 minutes, so do not insist on training beyond this or you may teach your pup to actually dread training. Multiple training sessions will help your dog learn quickly.

Since these short sessions to not provide adequate exercise for your pet, you must find other ways of exercise to help tire your dog before beginning your training. Dogs generally pull on the leash because they are full of excess energy. Tire your canine friend before training by playing fetch in the hallway or the backyard. Or maybe drive your dog to the dog park to run with his friends.

Begin your training indoors, where there are fewer distractions for your pet. The initial goal here is not to teach your dog to "heel" right by your side. You want to leave room for your pet to sniff and explore as long as he always leaves some slack in the leash. He must always follow your lead in order to be allowed his freedom. Simply pick up the end of the leash and walk around your home with your dog trotting beside you. As he walks along on a loose leash, give him plenty of praise, petting and some treats. When he decides to strain on the leash, (which he will), simply stop immediately. Don't yank him back over to you with the leash. Call him back to you and praise him when he comes. NEVER ever keep walking when your pet is pulling on the leash. This will reward his behavior and reinforce his bad habit. Your dog learns that the only way he will go move forward is by always leaving some slack in the leash. He will learn that when he pulls on the leash, he will get nowhere. Once your pet is back by your side, begin walking again. And repeat, repeat and repeat some more. It will take patience and persistence, but armed with these qualities and practice, you will be successful.

When you are ready to step outside, you will have a lot of competition for your dog's attention. Simply continue the above steps, working even harder of course. You may need to use a lot of treats in the beginning stages, but as your pet gets the idea of what you expect from him, you can slowly phase out the treats by waiting longer intervals before handing them out.

Training your dog will reinforce the relationship between yourselves and gain the respect of your canine friend. Dogs are wired by nature to seek out leaders and to follow directions from those leaders, so your pet will discover that leader in you. This will help your friend become a more calm, faithful and happier dog and a better family companion to others in your family.

Benefits of Liver For Dogs

When it comes to our pets, proper feeding is critical for their health. In turn, improper feeding leads to various diseases, such as ones of the digestive system, and related metabolic disorders, intoxication, etc. Often these diseases develop very slowly (sometimes for years), due to compensatory mechanisms of the body. As a result, clear clinical signs sometimes appear only after significant damage has been done to the body. Unfortunately, by this time, it may be too late to react. So, a responsible dog owner should always be sure that his or her pet receives every chance to be healthy.

Dogs are known to be carnivorous animals that feed on other animals. Yet, no predator, even in the wild, eats only meat. In order for the dog to be healthy, it should receive all vital substances in its daily diet necessary for long term health. These are not just proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, but also minerals and vitamins. Therefore the composition of a healthy canine diet includes not just muscle meat, but also fruits, vegetables, and organ meat (liver, kidney, heart, offal, etc.).

And whereas it cannot provide itself with food, the mission of every owner is to make sure that its feed contains all the necessary nutrients for continued health.

Liver is a nutrient- rich in organ. In addition to being considered tasty (the consensus of many dogs), liver can provide them with fat, protein, and vitamin A. All these can help your pet to stay healthy if given in moderation. Liver also contains a great deal of copper, niacin, iron, and phosphorus, along with B vitamins, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as basic amino acids (such as DHA and arachidonic acid) which every dog needs to obtain in its diet to keep healthy.

Nevertheless, in addition to a large number of microelements and other nutrients, liver can also cause damage to the pet, if fed in excess. Too much liver can lead to an overdose of vitamin A (or hypervitaminosis A), which can lead to bone deformity, digestive upset, weight loss, and muscle weakness. So, a responsible owner should only give liver to his or her pet once or twice a week when fed as a treat.

Pet owners who feed complete and balanced diet can rest assured that their pet is getting the proper amounts of liver necessary for long term health. So when you feed them any extra liver on the side just keep in mind that feeding these once or twice a week is OK.

So whenever you are feeding your dog any diet, make sure it contains the right amount of liver as well as other important vitamins and minerals so that you pet is on the road to good health. Diets that are labeled complete and balanced, use no artificial ingredients, and are made from real fresh whole foods are the safest and quickest way to good health.