If you have ever wondered about what is in the food that you feed to your
dog, it is worth finding out! Depending on the quality of food that you
purchase for your dog to eat, you could be offering him/her a high
quality diet that is full of wholesome ingredients, or you could be
feeding him/her an unbalanced, very low quality food product possibly
containing dangerous components to your dog’s overall health.

Low quality foods contain cheap additives; cheap protein sources, and
usually contain ingredients that you yourself would not think of
ingesting. If this is the case, you would not want to feed this type of
dog food to your dog. You need to find out what your dog food contains
before purchasing.

How does one determine what is low quality and what is not? This may
sound like a complicated puzzle, but it really is not. Below is a check
list to keep in mind that will help you to know the difference between
your run of the mill dog food, and a high quality product.
- Generally, low quality dog foods are sold in grocery stores, while
premium products are not.
- Premium food products will usually cost a little more than the cheap
food. This is the case because, to create a better product, better
ingredients need to be used so this raises the price for everybody.
- Premium products will contain no animal by-products but cheap products
will. This is the case, because animal byproducts provide a significantly
cheaper alternative to quality nutritional sources.
- Premium products will contain no artificial colors, or sugar, while the
cheaper alternatives will.
- When reading the label on a dog food bag, the protein component will be
listed first. For a premium dog food this list will commence with a whole
meat, such as a poultry or fish listing.

Another key fact to consider is your dog’s current health. You may be
feeding a low quality food product and are seeing a healthy dog as a
result. What you do not see however is what is on the inside. Every dog
has nutritional needs, and if they are not met, over time, that dog will
begin to suffer as a result. Whether you notice it or not is dependent on
how much attention you give to your dog.

A dog that is lacking in the appropriate calorie intake, may appear
simply lazy to you, but may actually be suffering from caloric
deficiency. A dog that appears to be overweight may be the way he/she is
due to a poor balance of fat to protein ratio. A dog that scratches
constantly may be dealing with an allergy as a result of some component
of his food.

So, it is worth your while to spend a little more to ensure a good brand
of dog food. Your dog will benefit immensely from a high quality, good
balance of ingredients in his/her dog food.

The results speak for themselves. Premium products offer a stable
platform for your dogs vitality, health and well-being.

Dog training is one fun activity that dogs and their owners can share. While it may seem convenient to hire a dog trainer to do the job, training the dog yourself also has its benefits. With the advancement of technology, you can actually learn dog training by just a click of the mouse.

Another good thing is, there are quite a handful of training aids available in the market today. Among these tools are dog training leads.

Dog training leads are what most people know as leashes. While each lead may seem the same, what most people don’t know is that there are quite a few kinds of leads available. Among the more popular materials used are nylon and leather.

Nylon lead may be cheaper than a leather one, but because leather is more durable, it can actually last longer than the nylon lead. Plain or braided, leather leads are more often the wiser choice.

The lead you choose will have to depend on the size and breed of your dog. Bigger dogs require a long-wearing lead, so you must choose a leather lead. If your dog is small and of the smaller breed, a nylon lead may be sufficient.

Leads also come in different lengths, the most common ones are 2, 4 and 6 feet. While a 6-feet lead is usually used for training, a shorter length will enable you to control the dog’s movements, since it keeps the dog relatively closer. However, these shorter leads are ideal if you are merely training the dog to walk. If you are training the dog to fetch things or for tracking, then longer leads are for you.

Leads can extend for up to 12 feet, 24 feet, even 50 feet. If you are undecided on the length, you may purchase extending or retractable leads instead.

Lastly, consider your comfort as well. Choose leads that won’t cut through your skin when tugged. It must also be constructed in such a way that you are able to remove it from the collar with ease. An efficient snapping system should do the trick.

To further narrow down your choices, ask help from a professional dog trainer or any knowledgeable person.

Not all puppies may wear a lead. He must be at least 8 weeks old before he may experience wearing a lead. But before this, he must first be exposed to wearing a collar. Wearing a collar may take some time to get used to. Remember also that the collar must fit the dog’s neck perfectly to make training as fun and enjoyable as it can be.

Dog training leads are important aids in dog training. You can purchase them by visiting your local pet or dog shop, or through the internet. Websites for dog lovers often feature some leads for sale. Take note of the instructions which come with the product to ensure proper handling and maintenance of the lead.

When used properly, dogs can actually be taught to follow your commands. The key lies in choosing a good training lead, and in using it well. Training may seem difficult and may take some of your time. But time and money spent would not be a waste, since after some time your dog should be as behaved as you want him to be.

A good dog food for your dog meets with a specific, high quality
ingredient base that provides a high level of optimum nutrition for your
pet. Dog food ingredients are selected based on their quality, and are
human grade, meaning that they are also used for human consumption.
Usually a greater price tag goes along with the purchase of premium dog
food as the cost to find, evaluate and test a high quality ingredient can
be more expensive, and because of this, some dog food manufacturers
substitute quality for quantity and opt for the cheap alternative.

They do this because they know that the uneducated public will, often
times, opt to buy the cheaper alternative when given the choice. Also, it
is more convenient to purchase your dog’s food as your buying your own
groceries, so purchasing your dog’s food at the grocery store just makes
sense right?

Wrong!

For those of you that are unaware, Alpo is a pet food manufacturer that
manufactures pet food that is sold in grocery stores the world over.
Being a reputable company, one would think that Alpo would actually care
about the pets that eat the food that they produce, however for the
trained eye this just is not the case.

Alpo Lamb Meal, Rice & Barley Formula
This dog food to the trained eye is as appealing as a day old glass of
milk left out in the sun. The ingredients are of a low quality, making it
a terrible choice of food for your dog.

First of all, the protein source is cheap and of a very low quality.
Usually on a dog food label, the ingredients are listed from greatest to
least. In this case, we have corn as the first listed ingredient, with
chicken by-product, poultry by-product, animal fat, and finally lamb meal.

A good quality dog food will have the protein source listed first as this
is the highest nutritional component to any dog food; however, we see
here that “lamb meal” which is the only high quality ingredient on the
above list is fifth on the list. The fact that there are multiple animal
by-products on the list at all tells us that Alpo is using the cheapest
protein source that they can find.

The fact that these by-products are listed within the top five
ingredients, is even worse, as these ingredient positions carry a lot of
weight in the overall make up of the food.

This food is not fit for a dog to eat! The fact that Alpo makes millions
of dollars in profit yearly by creating and selling cheap products tells
me as it should tell anybody, that this company is just in the game for
the gain, and you should never stoop to their level and purchase their
food for your beloved dog!

Any dog lover would want to have his pet inside the house. Having to share each activity and experience inside the house with your dog makes the owner happy and a lot less lonely. Unfortunately, bringing the dog in would also mean bringing in the dog poop and urine.

That is why most dog owners make sure that their dog is potty trained at the soonest time possible. This is where dog training pads come in handy.

These pads are necessary if your floors are carpeted and hard to clean and maintain, or if you have babies and toddlers crawling just about everywhere. Just the same, even if your floors are easy to clean, you wouldn’t want to step on anything gooey, right?

A training pad is made of an absorbent material to hold dog waste and urine. The thick surface is treated with some scent which, when sensed by your pet, will make him defecate or pee on it instead of some other place.

This means that the dog’s waste shall only be confined to the pad, except if there will be leaks. The owner shall then regularly check and clean the pad to maintain an odor-free household.

To maximize the use of these pads, keep it in one particular spot of the house. This is usually placed in the kitchen or near the bathroom, for easier and faster clean ups in case of leaks and other accidents. Place it in a particular spot and lead your dog to it.

These pads often have a scent which sends signals to the dog, instructing him to pee in that location. So the next time that he feels like excreting anything, he shall only do so in the pad and not anywhere.

Lastly, do not forget to acknowledge the effort that he did. In this way, he will most likely do the same thing next time. Praise him verbally or through actions, like a pat on the head or by giving him some treats. Positive reinforcement is an effective method of training your dog.

Aside from serving as toilets for your pup, these training pads also serve as beds for some dogs. This explains why there are various designs and types of pads available. You can find round, igloo types as well as the regular rectangular ones.

Of course we want to keep our dogs warm during the cold seasons, so you might consider getting a heated pad for your pet. A temperature control enables you to adjust the degree or amount of heat as well.

Innovations in the design and technology of the training pad resulted in the creation of new and more efficient designs. Although these may cost more than the traditional pads, these new products prove to be better and more effective, making it easier for you to maintain a dog indoors.

Dog training pads are one of the lesser-known tools in dog training. While it may not be popular, it is still a very basic and helpful tool in training your dog. This aid is most useful for those who do not have a backyard or dog house for their pet, particularly apartment or flat dwellers.

As toilet or bed, these pads remain to be among the most important dog supplies, a must-have for dog lovers like you.

The truth is there are so many dog training schools that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.

Reputation

Reputation has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. But reputation, in general, is a good gauge as to how popular the name of the training school and the appeal of the training methods it uses. It also reflects how many people have trusted on them.

To find a school with excellent reputation you could ask around or search through websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.

Methods of Training

Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog training methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.

A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.

Sufficient knowledge

The knowledge on training of the schools must range from the oldest unreliable method to the latest training techniques for dogs. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.

In researching for training schools, secure information regarding the latest seminars that the trainers attended to and the up-to-date facilities they have. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that the school’s exposure to widespread training. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.

Classroom Set Up

There are two types of classroom set-ups- group classes and private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. Also, when the owner trains alongside his dog, the owner could benefit from exposure to other handlers’ mistakes and techniques.

On the other hand, private trainings could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.

It is easy to pick any dog training school but choosing the right one for your dog could prove to be a tedious process.

Proper nutrition is very important for new puppies. It is important,
because puppies will go through an accelerated growth phase during the
first 15 months of their lives, and having a diet that can provide the
optimum base for stable growth without exceeding or the depleting of
necessary elements is very, very important.

Protein for example is needed in larger amounts by growing puppies than
it is by the adult dog, due to the rapid growth of the puppy’s muscles,
joints and bones. The energy requirements for a puppy are considerably
higher also making it essential for them to receive food nutritionally
rich and calorie dense.

There are many different puppy foods on the market. This is to counteract
the fact that certain breeds of puppies require specific nutritional
elements in specific amounts. Little breed puppies for example, have a
much higher metabolism than those of bigger dogs meaning that they need a
different calorie density food than bigger dogs need.

When feeding, try to feed according to your veterinarian’s suggested
guidelines, or those set out on the label of the dog food bag. Usually,
puppies are fed three times per day, dropping to two daily feedings after
the pup is four months of age.

If you do not feed your puppy properly it can come up with all kinds of
health problems. If you find that your dog has less energy, check its dog
food. If your dog has diarrhea, check into how many feedings would be
best for your dog.

A dog that is fed properly is frisky, playful and happy. You are happy to
see your dog so happy so it is a lovely circle.

Feeding will depend on the breed and size of your dog so be sure to check
with your Vet before starting a good feeding program. If you find a dog
food that you like, check the label for feeding instructions. Of course,
if feeding does not go as well as you hoped for, get a good opinion from
your Vet and maybe start all over again with a new food. You will love
your pet dog, regardless, but it is so much better to get off to a good
dog feeding start from the beginning. This sure beats all kinds of trial
and error runs on your new dog.

Any dog owner will tell you the importance of dog training. If you want your dog to be trained but you don’t have the money to pay a dog trainer, then your next option is to train the dog yourself. But before you can do this, you must spend time and effort to know how to do it.

Dog training can be a rather challenging job, but finding the right dog training supplies makes training a lot easier.

But before you start, make sure that you have enough time to spend. Dog training may take a few hours everyday. You must also identify the area where you will do the training. It can be in your backyard or in the park.

To find good training guides, you make an internet search. Here you can download articles and watch training videos found in some websites. You may also enroll in a training program that some websites offer. You may also visit pet shops and find good training kits there.

These are the same sources for training supplies. Before you purchase any supply, compare the products first using factors such as price, performance and usefulness.

The basic tool that any trainer should have is the collar. It can be made of nylon or leather, depending on the size and breed of your dog. It can also be an electronic collar. While this may seem dangerous, manufacturers swear that their product is safe. It also lessens the effort that you need to exert in resisting the dog’s movements.

There is also what is called a bark collar, which can control bad and excessive barking. These electronic tools make training easier, although it may cost quite a fortune.

Another tool is the leash. This is used when training the dog to walk. There are also other aids like harness, toys, food, whistles, clickers, bells, poles, and many others. The equipment that you’ll need depends on the training program or technique that you will use.

Positive enforcement is one technique that most dog trainers use. This may also be called a reward system, where dogs are given praise and treats after showing some positive behavior. However, on the flip side, you must not punish your dog if he misbehaves. Positive enforcement does not believe in the use of punishment to enforce discipline.

Most trainers will tell you that younger dogs are easier to train than older ones. This is because puppies are yet to take up any habit. Good habits must be established early on.

But this does not mean that older dogs cannot be trained anymore. Any dog can still be trained. It will just take more time and effort if they have already taken up some bad habits.

The key to success in dog training is in finding the best dog training supplies. But this does not mean that you need to have all kinds of aids available. With just a few pieces, coupled with adequate dog training knowledge, you can be successful in this endeavor.

Aside from these tools, you must equip yourself as well by reading dog training guides. Training your dog is not an easy job. But the feeling of accomplishment that you will have is sure worth the effort that you spent once you succeed.

Taurine is a water-soluble amino acid. It has recently become a hot topic
when referring to the nutritional composition that makes up the human and
animal physical structure. Taurine has been found to be very beneficial
to various components of the mammal skeletal system such as heart,
kidneys and blood.

Taurine – “A colorless crystalline substance, C2H7NO3S, formed by the
hydrolysis of taurocholic acid and found in the fluids of the muscles and
lungs of many animals.” (dictionary.com)

Taurine’s main purpose is to act as a catalyst facilitating the flow of
vital elements to and from cells. Elements such as Sodium, (Na)
Potassium, (k) and Calcium (ca) depend on Taurine in order for them to
move from one cell to another.

Taurine has been a present element in cat food due to its vital
properties and just recently pet food manufacturers have been
implementing Taurine into dog foods also realizing that this A.A. can be
very beneficial to dogs as well as cats. Taurine is most abundantly found
in the retina and cases of blindness have been linked to Taurine
deficiency in kittens, however in most cases, the same studies showed a
reversal of the blindness when Taurine supplements were administered.

Taurine is also very beneficial for the heart, and cases of dilated
cardiomyopathy have been linked to low Taurine levels in kittens. (A
disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown or obscure
cause.)

Not all dog food manufacturers add Taurine to your dog food so you need
to read labels at all times to make sure that Taurine is included. Most
manufacturers are out there to make a buck and are not at all concerned
with your dog’s health. For this reason, we tell you to do your homework.
You need to know as much as you can about what you are feeding your dog.

Dogs don’t know any better, of course, and will eat anything at all that
is placed before them. Your dog depends on your to feed him the best.

With so much competition, research is not high on a dog food
manufacturer’s list so that is why you must be so vigilant. Research
takes time and money so you will pay for the better more nutritious
foods. Take the time and do your own research to ensure that you have
touched all of your nutritional bases.

Here are some tips that could give you the short cuts to training if used well:

Remember training should be fun – When something is strenuous for the dog, it is much easier to discourage him from doing the task. So be sure to incorporate fun and games into the exercises without defeating the real purpose of the activities.

Apart from filling each session of training with fun exercises, you should also make him feel that he is pleasing for you. Remember that dogs, by nature, only want to please their masters so be sure to acknowledge his efforts.

Positive and negative reinforcement – Use both types of reinforcements only when proper otherwise the dog will be confused. Positive reinforcement covers the use of praise, dog treats and taps while negative reinforcement, depending on the viewpoint of the handler, could be anywhere from punishing the dog harshly to refusing to give him the treat you have offered.

Sustain a no distraction training area – Dogs and puppies alike could easily get distracted by things that are not connected to their training. Always keep in mind that they could not sustain their interest on one thing alone so control the environment such that the dog will only focus on the activity. A secluded place such as an abandoned yard or a large, empty room could be good places to train the dog.

Complete the task- If you give a command be sure that the dog follows through it all the way. Never leave it half-baked otherwise the dog will think that it is ok not to follow your directions. If you gave the command ‘come’ to the dog, be sure to make him come to you completely.

Be firm and gentle – If you are giving commands, use a lower tone of your voice since dogs sometimes confuse high pitched voices with barking dogs. Be firm with the keyword you use but be gentle in the execution.

As much as possible, don’t use force or cruel techniques such as yanking the dog collar whenever the dog misbehaves. Actions like these would make the dog feel unsure of itself, making him lose his confidence.

Keep the training short – Bite size training works well with canines. There are two reason why dogs are incapable of learning for extended periods- one, they have poor attention span and two, dog’s retention capacity is relatively short so chunking the lessons into one session does not yield positive training.

The key here is to condition the response of the dog instead of flooding him with tasks and commands that his brain is not able to accommodate.

Be patient – Dogs just don’t learn as fast as we want them to learn. In fact, the faster we expect them to digest the training, the slower the process becomes. This is not because they become slower learners, instead the trainers become impatient with their dogs that they just want to fast-forward everything.

So be patient, nothing good ever came from rushing your dog’s training. Guide him as he learns at his own pace.

Train him as a puppy – If you train him during his old age, there is lower chance that he would learn easily. On the other hand, training him as a puppy would yield a better chance of grasping the lessons fairly well. The ideal age for training a puppy is when he is at his 6th to 8th weeks.

As he ages, training becomes more difficult due to the development of some habits that most owners dislike.

Dog nutrition has to be the most important element to successful dog care
that you the dog owner need to be aware of. Dog nutrition contributes
largely to the life span of your pet and the quality of life that your
pet leads. It is such a huge topic of interest right now that finding the
right food and following the correct guidelines can be quite a challenge.
Many dog food owners complain that they need to be scientists to
understand the dog food labels!
Because there are now a vast amount of different dog breeds, pet food
manufacturers have developed different types of food best suited for
optimum dog nutrition for the specific breed of dog. Being aware of your
own dog’s specific nutritional requirements can be a difficult task in
itself, and if you are not sure you can always speak with your Vet who
will advise you on the best avenue to take.
Dog nutrition will change depending on the dog’s age, the possible
developing of bad health, etc. This said, providing the utmost
nutritional base for a dog that is going through a difficult stretch for
whatever reason is very important. Your Vet will be able to best help you
in determining the appropriate food for your pet in cases such as this so
be sure to check with him or her.
Below I have listed some general tips to ensure that your dog gets the
most out of whatever food you do offer him/her:
feeding at the same time each day
When you bide by a feeding schedule, you can ensure that your dog’s food
is always fresh. Dog food that is filled in the bowl first thing in the
morning is exposed to air and so will not be as fresh. Also, allowing for
the food to be down all day, means that your animal can just eat all day
long and we all know what that can lead to!
how much food your dog needs
This fact can be tricky. There are multiple factors to consider when
trying to figure out the appropriate amount of food to feed to your dog
daily. The activity level of your dog, your dog’s metabolism, and
genetics, are all factors to consider. What you want to attempt to do is
feed your dog enough to maintain his ideal body weight. For information
concerning the ideal body weight of your dog, consult your Vet.
feeding table scraps
Under no circumstances should a dog be fed table scraps. Not only will
this develop into a habit on your part, but your dog will never leave you
or your family alone while you are all at the table. Furthermore, certain
foods are very bad for dogs to ingest, and can lead to toxicity and
severe illness for your dog.
exercise
Simply exercising your dog can help to control excess weight gain if your
dog is prone to this. Another suggestion for controlling excess weight
gain is to put your dog on a low density calorie dog food. Your Vet will
be able to assist you in deciding if this is an appropriate option.
You may think that it is cute to have your dog on the chubby side,
starting as a pup and then on toward adult form, but, it is not healthy
so be sure and take your feeding your dog seriously.