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7 Big Benefits of All-Natural Dog Food Less than 100 years ago, eating organically was the norm. Processed foods were rare with family farms and local produce supplying the bulk of our meals. Today, we have to make careful choices about what we’re consuming. You may already be in the habit of reading food labels for yourself, but what about for your pup? Many pet parents don’t take the opportunity to double check what’s bound for the food bowl, and it can spell disaster for your doggy’s diet. Wondering if holistic and organic kibble is worth the price? These seven benefits of all-natural dog food are a great reason to budget a bit more. What Makes A Dog Food ‘All-Natural’? It only takes one or two ingredients for a dog food to go from all-natural to non-organic. A pinch of animal byproduct, sprinkle of synthetic chemical, or an ounce of anything artificial and it’s instantly disqualified. Organic and holistic dog foods fall under the same umbrella but are categorically different. Both aim to produce a sense of overall well-being, but to be considered organic, a dog food must meet the USDA’s specifications. (Read: no chemicals or antibiotics used on any ingredient at any stage.) All-Natural Dog Food Benefits Where food has gotten systematically sketchier for humans, our fur babies are enjoying plentiful all-natural puppy food options. Fill the bowl with quality kibble and you are likely to notice benefits like: Reduced allergies. Food allergies aren’t just common in humans; man’s best friend also suffers at the hands of a few common ingredients. When you say bye-bye to byproducts, low-grade grains, and processed portions there’s far less chance of your pet experiencing an allergic reaction. Improved skin, coat, and teeth. The more nutrients they take inside, the more it will show outside. Not only will it add luster and shine to their coat, all-natural dog food can also prevent fatal gum disease in dogs. Fewer vet visits. You don’t need us to tell you that vet services are expensive. The more health conscious their diet, the less trips you’ll have to make outside your regular checkup. Better breath. No matter how much you love your pup, bad breath is a bummer. Want to banish your dog's bad breath? Chomping on all-natural dog food can dislodge bacterias that lead to a stinky snout. Increased digestive health. A regular pup is a happy pup. As an added bonus, the more nutritionally complete their dog food, the more you can prevent painful gas bubbles from forming (and escaping) their digestive tract. Faster fill-ups. The more nutrients you provide your pet, the more satiated they’ll stay. A high-grade protein will fill Fido up fast, causing him to eat less at each setting. This means you’ll have to replenish your supply less often, too. Consistent, healthy weight. The dangers of doggie obesity are numerous. The healthier they eat, the more energy they’ll have to run, play, and keep the weight off. When looking at labels, steer clear of filler ingredients like starches or sugars that can pack on the pounds. Lengthened life expectancy. You probably want your pooch to live forever! (Or at least as long as you do.) While all-natural pet food can’t make any sweeping promises, it has been shown to boost animal immune systems and increase their longevity. Essentially, maintaining a balanced doggy diet starts with eating clean. While all-natural dog food may cost you a little more upfront, it’s likely to save you in the long run. Discuss the change with your vet and be sure to slowly switch out food over a two-week period to avoid digestive upset. When in doubt, remember that high-quality food equals a high-quality life! Mitch Felderhoff Meet Mitch Felderhoff. Mitch joined his family business in May of 2007 after graduating from the University of North Texas. After several years working in sales, Mitch took on the responsibility of marketing, new product development, and was named Vice President of Muenster Milling in 2009. With the company now firmly in the 4th generation of Felderhoff’s, Mitch’s commitment to excellence is stronger than ever. When Mitch isn’t working on extruding dry pet foods, he is a husband and loving father of three boys. :|zpendofcontent|:
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The Importance of Letting Your Dog Sniff Imagine you’re on a trip of a lifetime. You’re on safari and looking forward to seeing all the different types of animals out on the plains. However, your tour guide is driving so fast that before you get a good look at what you think might be an elephant, it’s already gone. In fact, it went by so quickly that you’re not even sure it was an elephant, it could have been a rhino. Our dogs experience this every day as we rush them around on their walks. Not only does it become frustrating, but we are affecting our dog’s mood by denying them a Scent Safari, or a ‘Sniffari’ if you will! Scent goes directly to the emotional centre of our dog’s brain or limbic system. The limbic system is the most primitive part of the brain and is responsible for our dog’s emotional life. Pleasure, fear, frustration as well as the ability to learn and remember are all governed by this ancient part of the brain. Allowing your dog to sniff enables the release of feel-good hormones leading to a happier dog. Not only is a daily walk good for you but it’s often the highlight of your dog’s day. Exploring the World Differently Together Walking isn’t just physical exercise for our dogs. Exploring the assortment of smells along the way is how our dogs make sense of their environment. It’s well-known that our dog’s sense of smell is far superior to our own. A dog’s nose has up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to humans who only have around 5 million! Dogs can separate each smell into the individual elements that make up that smell. While we enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass, our dog is smelling the grass, the earth, the motor oil of the lawn mower, the scent of the person using the lawnmower and everyone else that has recently walked on the grass. The Nose Knows While our sense of smell shares the same nasal channels as our respiratory system, our dogs have a much more sophisticated way of detecting scent. Their brain is structured differently to our own, with the area dedicated to scent detection forty times larger than ours. When dogs breath in, they separate the breath along two separate pathways in the nose. The first pathway moves around 12% of the air to an olfactory recess for sampling, while the second pathway takes the rest of the air to the lungs. Dogs’ noses have receptors within their olfactory recess that sort the odour into its parts. The brain then receives messages about each of the various elements. Our dog’s ability to use separate routes for breath and odour allows for an almost constant sniffing action and means that they can hold onto smell even once they’ve exhaled. And if that wasn’t enough, our dog’s nostrils work independently from each other enabling them to check out two smells at once. Schedule a Scent Safari! While it might not be possible to take your dog on a Sniffari every day, you can set aside time within each walk to let them explore smells and scents. Sniffing is mentally challenging. It’s a bit like us having to sort through complicated paperwork or learning a new skill. Not only will it benefit your dog, but you will reap the rewards too. Giving your dog an opportunity to use their nose not only enables them to exhibit a natural behaviour but as a bonus, it tires them out much faster. Remember to Smell the Roses Our dogs love to use their noses, and they are specifically designed to do so. Giving our dogs the opportunity to explore their environment in their own unique way contributes to their wellbeing. So, next time you’re out walking with your dog, take time to enjoy their enthusiasm for life and the safari of scents all around us. Practical Paw Practical Paw is written by Kim and Mike, with inspiration provided by our own dog, Theo (the happy ginger chap in the photo). Whether you are brand new to sharing your life with a dog or an experienced dog parent we are here to offer you a Practical Paw on all things dogs. We believe in positive reinforcement, kindness and respect to our animals. It is our aim to promote the well-being and best practice for dog lovers for all aspects of being a responsible dog owner. Practicalpaw.com :|zpendofcontent|:
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A Day in the Life of a Dog Owner Owning dogs, or rather, being owned by dogs is the life for many of us. Some of us own one, some own multiple dogs. However, no matter how many dogs you are owned by, dog parenthood is pretty much the same all around. Behind all the glitz and glammer people see when we walk our gorgeous pups, is a lot of work. A lot of routines. A lot of love, and a lot of fun! So what do our days look like? I can't speak for everyone, but here is a break down of a day in the life of a dog owner, from my own personal experience with my three Siberian Huskies. 9:00am - Wake up, take the dogs outside for a morning pee. 9:10am - Give the dogs some water, and breakfast 9:20am - Lock the dogs in the living room, using the baby gate in order to avoid counter surfing and garbage picking in the kitchen. 9:45am - Go to work 6:00pm - Come home from work to clean up whatever they decided to chew in the living room. 6:15pm - Take dogs outside for a walk and a pee. 7:00pm - Feed the dogs dinner , and water 8:00pm - Howling match with my huskies 8:15pm - Playtime with the dogs. Play catch with them etc... 9:00pm - Tv time, which means cuddle time with the huskies, and dog hair all over my clothes. 10:00pm - Change out of my dog fur clothes into my jammies. 11:00pm - Take dogs outside for a pee 12:00am and onward - get ready for bed 2:00am - Fight for some space on my bed 2:30am - Give up on fighting for space, and just curl into the big balls of fur beside me. Rinse repeat. Keep in mind this is just a general day. Of course, more is involved on weekends and what have you. But you get the idea. A lot of work yet a lot of perks go into being owned by dogs. I think one of the biggest benefits aside from a dog's undying love for us, is the social part of it. Walking your dog, or even taking him to a dog park is a great way to meet people in your area. I have made some awesome friends just because our dogs wanted to sniff each other. Exercise! When you are owned by dogs, exercise is essential. So for my lazy butt, my huskies keep me moving. Keep me busy, and keep me outdoors and active. Boredom seldom occurs when you have dogs. It's Sunday, there is nothing to do. No one is around. Hmmmm what to do, what to do? Look over at your dog who is always eager to do just about anything with you, and bam light bulb hits. Take the dog for a walk. Go to the dog park. Go outside and play with your dog. Make a fun hide and seek game with treats. Bake some easy, yummy treats for him. The possibilities are endless. Now you know the typical day in the life of a dog owner from my perspective. But I'm curious. What does your day look like? Share in the comments! Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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5 Telltale Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Canine hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition that you see a lot in larger dog breeds, but smaller dogs breeds can develop it as well. Hip dysplasia occurs when your dog's ball and socket joint in their hip develops incorrectly and grinds or rubs together instead of glides. This condition can drastically decrease your dog's overall quality of life, and there are five telltale signs of canine hip dysplasia you want to watch for. These signs can worsen over time, so early detection and treatment are key. 1. Decreased Activity One of the easiest 'tells' or signs that something is wrong with your dog's hips is a decreased activity level. You may notice that your dog wants to rest or sleep more, and they'll be less enthusiastic about activities that make them physically active like going on walks or playing. A lot of pet parents may assume that this is simply a consequence of their dog getting older. However, it is very important to mention any radical change in your dog's behavior like decreased activity to your vet because your dog may be in pain and you don't want them to suffer. 2. Difficulty Getting Up As canine hip dysplasia worsens over time, you may notice that your dog has difficulty rising after they've been laying down or in a prone position. It can be noticeably worse in the morning after your dog wakes up from sleeping all night. They may also have more difficulty getting up after they've been laying on cold, hard, or slippery floors. Carpeting or area rugs is one way to help your dog, and it can also give them better traction, so they don't slip and fall as they're walking around. 3. Not Able to Climb Stairs or Jump Up Your dog uses their back legs to push themselves up the stairs, and as hip dysplasia advances, their hips become inflamed and sore. This can directly impact how well your dog can climb stairs or jump up because your dog's range of motion in their hips decrease. In the beginning, when the inflammation first starts to develop, you might start to notice that your dog hesitates when they have to climb stairs or jump up. This hesitation can lead to your pet refusing to climb the stairs or jump up completely, or they won't do it without assistance from you. 4. Bunny Hopping The term "bunny hopping" is referring to the way your dog changes their gait when they walk, climb stairs, or run. It got its name because dogs tend to "hop" and lift both of their back legs at once when they're moving to decrease the pressure on their joints. If your dog is lifting and putting down both of their back legs at the same time, it can make them distribute their weight more evenly, and this can make it less painful to move around. They may also lead with the opposite leg when they climb stairs. 5. Hip Pain and Sensitivity A final indicator of hip dysplasia is that your dog displays signs of pain when you or one of your family members touches their hip area. When hip dysplasia starts to develop, the ball joint can pop out of the socket and cause tiny fractures to appear and the joints to stretch to accommodate it. As this problem develops, these tiny fractures and stretching turns into cartilage breakdown and eventually to osteoarthritis. This can make your dog's hip area very painful, and they may shy away when you try to touch the area. Bottom Line Your dog is more than a pet, and you want them to have as happy and as healthy of a life as they can, for as long as they can. This is why it's so important to monitor your dog for any changes in their behavior and talk to your vet if you have concerns. If your dog develops hip dysplasia, early detection and treatment can help to improve your dog's quality of life. They'll be happier and healthier well into their old age. Ashley Turner Ashley Turner is a Dog Mom of a beautiful Westie named Lily. She also happens to be the community manager and blogger for PuppyWire. Her passion is to help other Dog Parents by giving them practical advice through tips, guides, and reviews for popular dog products. Find out more by visiting PuppyWire.com. :|zpendofcontent|:
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10 Ways Your Dog Shows He Loves You Dogs are full of love, that is no secret. And they love to show us just how much they have to give. Generally, it's not hard to tell when a dog is showing affection. But sometimes their action can be mistaken for affection, or vice versa - their affection can be mistaken for something completely different. What do I mean? Take tail wagging for instance... We assume that when a dog wags his tail, it means he's happy and showing his love for us. But that is not always the case. Tail wagging can mean different things such as anxiety, stress etc... Today, lets go over 10 ways your dog shows he loves you: 1. Tail Wagging As mentioned above can most definitely be a sign of affection. 2. Shadow Pup Do you notice your dog follows you around sometimes? While this can mean he needs something (a potty break, food, etc.) it can also be him wanting to just be near you. Your dog's need to be close to you is a sure sign of love. 3. Face Licker! While some may find this intolerable... others will accept it on occasion and some even think it's cute when their dog licks their face. Once again with face licking - it doesn't always mean he is showing love for you, but most cases if your pooch is giving you a big wet sloppy kiss... he loves you. 4. Jumping This unwanted behavior - your dog jumping up on you when you come home - may not be accepted, but still good to know the reason behind it. Your dog wants to come up to your level. As a pup, they learn to lick their mama's face. Recognizing you as a parental figure, your dog wants to greet you by jumping up and attempting to get to that face of yours! 5. Ever Notice a Difference in Your Dog When You Are Ill? Your dog might seem to act a bit different when you have come down with the flu, or even a cold. He might get clingy, or even worrisome. This is because he is concerned for you, and feels the need to watch over you. 6. Whether Your Dog Is Allowed on Your Bed or Not It is still good to know that the reason Fido always wants up there, is because he instinctively feels the need to curl up and sleep with his pack. He sees you as part of his pack, and wants to lovingly snuggle you! 7. The Lean Mostly common in medium to large breeds sized dogs, they tend to lean on your legs. Some think this is the dog trying to be dominant. However, dogs will lean on you to show affection. 8. Say Cheese! Dogs do smile, just like we do, although not quite as obvious. If you know your pet well, it is not hard to see from his facial expression when he is upset, feeling playful, or feeling lovey-dovey. 9. Rough Play Undesirable, yes. But... your dog (generally) is not trying to hurt you, or be rough with you. Puppies play very rough with their litter mates as well as their mothers. Your dog is not trying to hurt you, just trying to play with the fam the way a dog knows best. 10. The Stare Down When a dog locks eyes with you, some people still think that means they are challenging you. When in fact, they are showing you an extreme amount of love. Brian Hare, director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center tells us that oxytocin (a chemical released when new mothers and their babies instinctively bond) is also released when dogs stare at you or even simply touch you. Tell us, how does your dog show he loves you? Author: Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada.
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8 Tips To Keep Your Dog’s Water Dish Fresh & Clean “Water is the driving force of all nature.” ~Leonardo da Vinci The warm weather has finally arrived in many areas after what seems like a (too) long winter! Now is when we all spend more time outdoors with our dogs, from going on long walks and hikes to extended play times in backyards and at the dog park. It is also the season when dogs can very easily overheat and dehydrate. According to DogFoodAdvisor.com, “Water is perhaps the most neglected daily nutrient your dog must count on for you to provide.” Not only is having a constant supply of fresh water crucial to your dog’s health (not just in the spring and warmer weather, but every day all year long), it is also important to be sure his/her water dish or bowl is always clean. Here are some of my FiveSibes™ tips on taking care that your dog’s drink and dish are the best and safest they can be: 1. Beware of Glass Bowls Do not use glass bowls outside on wooden decks as they not only can heat up to the point of breaking, which the broken glass is a hazard to your dog, but the sun can also filter through the glass like a magnifying glass, causing the wood to ignite and cause a fire. 2. Plastic is Not Friendly Plastic is not a good choice for a pet’s water bowl for many reasons. Aside from possibly harboring potentially dangerous chemicals (even if it is BPA-free), it is a very porous material, where germs and mold love to invade. It is easily scratched or chewed, inviting nasty bacteria, and can crack or have pieces break off that can be sharp and cause a serious health risk to your dog. 3. Keep it Fresh Whether outside or inside, water in dishes can become mucky even after a few laps from saliva, dirt, dropped treats, and dribbles of food into the dish. Multiple dogs? That’s multiple times the amount of drool and slime that gets deposited in the water bowl, so change out the water often. 4. Get Shady Keep your dogs’ outdoor water dishes out of the sun. Check the yard, porch, and/or deck for a shady area and make that your furpal’s designated watering hole. Be consistent, so your dog will always know where to go to get a fresh drink. 5. No Sharing! Always be sure birds are not using your dog’s watering trough as their personal bath to avoid your dog from getting a disease. 6. Water 24/7 If you are not always home to check on your dog’s water quality and supply, check into the possibility of installing one of the constantly flowing fountain-style dishes. 7. H2O on the Go! Going for a walk or hike with your furry best friend? Be sure to bring along a clean portable water bowl and a fresh container of water. A great tip is to freeze a plastic bottle of water beforehand so as the ice melts, you can pour still-cool water into the bowl for your dog. When empty, toss the water bottle into the recycle bin. 8. Clean Means Safer To avoid any growth of germs, bacteria, and/or mold that all can cause our dogs to get sick, be sure to wipe off any slime or film that may be on your dog’s water dish and then give it a thorough wash daily with hot water and soap (rinse well so there is no soap residue left behind), or run it through a cycle in the dishwasher. Just as we drink out of a clean glass or cup, our dogs should drink their water from a clean bowl or dish. According to The Honest Kitchen blog, “While hand washing with soap and hot water will get the bowls clean, the dishwasher takes it a step further. Most bacteria that collect on pet bowls need scalding hot water (140° F) to fully remove and kill it.” Whether you choose to clean your dogs water bowls with some good old-fashioned light elbow grease, or by popping them into the dishwasher, keeping our dogs’ dishes clean, and, thereby, safe for use, is an easy task that will keep our pups happy and healthily hydrated, not only in the warm weather months, but all year long! Dorothy Wills-Raftery Dorothy Wills-Raftery is an award-winning photojournalist and author of EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy; the FiveSibes™ Tales children’s books: What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness; and Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based On A True Holiday Miracle books (ArcticHouse Publishing), as well as the FiveSibes.com, an online encyclopedia for the Siberian Husky breed and Canine Epilepsy information, as well as her international award-winning FiveSibes blog, based on the lives of her five Siberian Huskies. Her work has also appeared in American Pet Magazine, Ruff Drafts, The Sled Dogger, and Hudson Valley Paw Print Magazine. Dorothy is the writer and host of "The Sibe Vibe” Dog Works Radio show. Dorothy is a 9-time Dog Writers of America Association “Excellence” nominee, winning the prestigious Maxwell Medallion in 2017 and 2016 for her writing, photography, and design. Her book EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy received the 2018 Independent Press Award for “Excellence” in the Reference Book category and 2017 NYC Big Book Award for “Excellence” in the Animal/Pet book category. Dorothy was also named “Best Author” in 2015 & 2016 by Hudson Valley Magazine and all four books named “Best in Print” by American Pet Magazine, An official International Purple Day® for Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012 and a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation-Canine Epilepsy, Dorothy is the creator of the FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness campaign and partnered with The Anita Kaufmann Foundation for #Paws4Purple Project, both inspired by her own epileptic Husky, Gibson. In addition to her Siberian Huskies, Dorothy shares her home with her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. You can follow Dorothy and her FiveSibes on Facebook at FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews, on Google + , Twitter, and Instagram(@FiveSibesMom). :|zpendofcontent|:
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How to Appreciate Your Pets Regardless of the fact, that you own a rabbit, horse, cat or dog, your pets will bring great happiness in your life. Might be you bought a pair of earrings for your mother on the Mother’s Day to show your love for her. You also take out your wife/husband for a dinner on Valentine’s day to let her/him know how deeply you love her. But seldom you provide this type of attention to your pets. When was the last time you move out of your position to display your pet how much importance you give them? If you feel difficulty in remembering the exact date and time, when you offer a treat to your pet in your home, then remember your pets require love and attention from your side. If you are ensured of what you need to show your angry pet just how much you love and adore them, don’t sweat, read this article to get some ideas of appreciation for your pets. Here we are ten different methods for you to show your pets how much you appreciate and love them. Petbounce is a good arthritis medicine for cats. 1. Purchase Treat for Your Pet Every cat cherishes a new toy to play around with and every dog likes a nice bone to bite on. For your lovely pet, order toy or a fantastic delicious treat. Dogs especially like chicken jerky, bully sticks and bones. The cats are fond of fish jerky, fresh chicken for dinners and catnip. Order a monthly pet box for your pet, if you want to surprise your pets. You’ll receive a toy every month designed for specific breeds and sized animals. When the tell-tale package will reach your doorstep, your pet will feel appreciated. 2. Devote Some Quality Time to Pet Pets required attention like humans. While purchasing toys and pet treats in one of the methods to display your appreciation, the similar old saying “Money can’t buy everything” applies to your pets also. Every week, make it a habit to spend some quality time with your pet. If you are the owner of a dog, then take her or him to the dog beach or dog park for some time for continuous fun. You can also go with them for the next camping trip. This way they can enjoy the fantastic outdoors with your family and you. Some people inspired and teach their cats to perform some interesting tricks. If you have patience and time, teach some circus-type moves to your cat. Your cat likes the stimulation and you will have the latest starter for conversation for your upcoming dinner party. 3. Renovate Pet Bedding Everyone likes a latest and new comforter to settle up in the night or a brand-new pillow for resting their head. Therefore, your animal is no discrete. If the bed of your pet is looking a little substandard for rest, or if they’ve been deploying old throw pillows and blankets, then leave some cash and save money for real-deal and brand-new bed for your pet. Your angry pet will be very happy for it, and you will feel that you need to implement this idea early. But you won't feel unhappy for a long time because your pets will come near you and show his/her affection and love for you. 4. Choose a Date for Play Like people, animals require socializing with others of their type. Set a return date for play with animals, family and friends so that your pet can love some social interaction. This is also a good method to teach latest skills to your pet. There are some chances that pet of your friends knows something which your pet doesn’t know. Similar to a school for a child, these play dates for pets are necessary to help your fleecy friend become the good animal, as they can be. 5. Acquire a New Pet Many pet owners think that if they adopt a new pet, then their current pet might feel replaced or left out. Fortunately, this is not true. Many pets are social animals like humans. There are great chances that your pet would like his or her new companion or friend to play with. Therefore, you can easily go to your office or socializing during the night. Before you bring your new furry friend to home, ensure that your cat or dog plays well with other pets by fixing the play dates with different pets you will like. Also, speak to your veterinarian regarding your plans to acquire a new pet. As he or she might want you to take some precautionary measures to safeguard the health of your pet before adopting another pet. You are also required to keep yourself updated about the vaccines for the pet. 6. Implement Something New Jointly Hiking the natural trails to taking up Frisbee in the park, there are some things that you and your pet does not know how to implement. Learning something new at the similar time, your pet and you can bond with each other in an exciting and new way. It will give new dimensions to your relationship and your pet and you respect each other mutually. 7. Cook Feast for Your Pet What is the most innovative way that you display your pet friends showing you appreciate and love them? You can cook a feast for your pet. The homemade food is the method to win everyone’s hearts. Therefore, your pet will easily know how much you appreciate and love them by cooking a homemade feast. If their ideal pet food has green beans and lamb, then bake few lamb chops, and top it with green beans and put homemade gravy on the other side. Also, make some homemade cat or dog treats for serving for the dessert. 8. Be a Volunteer of Society To show your pet how much you appreciate them, you need to help others of their type that require it the maximum. By donating or volunteering to some other shelter or to the Humane Society, you are displaying your love and appreciation for the animals they offer you. Most of the pet shelters always require towels and blankets for the animals. You can help the local humane society by cleaning, walking, fundraisers and many other different methods. Pets require your affection. Lavish and shower your love on the pets. Take your pet for a walk. 9. Make Portrait of Pets Draw some beautiful portraits of pet. It is a very nice and relaxing experience for you. Brush the hair of pets. 10. Give your Pet a Massage Dog massages and touch is the latest trend. It is also not too difficult to find a certified pet massage practitioner near your home. Your dog will love the massage done by you. Petbounce is a highly effective arthritis medicine for pets. By attempting out any one of the ideas given above, you can strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Because of this, you share and have a stronger relationship with your pet. Hope you will find this information useful. Kathreen Miller Kathreen Miller is a pet health expert at Petbounce natural pain relief for cats. She lives in Chicago with her daughter and a dog named “Buddy”. She regularly contributes her write-ups to pet health-related websites and blogs. In her free time, she loves listening to music, watching TV and traveling. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Dog Harness VS Collar: The Pros and Cons With the warm weather upon us, we are finally starting to see everyone out walking their dogs, soaking up that long-awaited sunshine. Dogs on collars, dogs with harnesses, dogs everywhere! I have always walked my dogs on a harness when it is time for walks. I have noticed when I take them outside in the yard to have a pee using only their collar and a leash, they tend to pull a lot more. Especially my youngest one. She will go that extra mile by pulling hard enough to make herself gag. That can cause long-term damage of course, so I have to put her full harness on just to go have a pee now. This got me thinking, what are the actual facts between harness VS collar? Which one is best to use, and in what scenario? What are some of the pros and cons? By doing some research on the subject, and combining it with my own knowledge, I came up with a short list for us to look through. Pros of Using a Harness: • Harnesses offer the owner a bit more control over their dog while out walking. • Using a harness you are less likely to have your dog getting tangled up in the leash. • Reduced risk for neck injuries caused by pulling. • Great training tool. • Harnesses can help prevent leash pulling when used as a training tool. Cons of Using a Harness: • Some dogs absolutely hate wearing a harness. This can add extra work for you because your first step will be helping your dog to feel comfortable wearing it.• A harness can be a nightmare for dogs with long fur. It can become tangled, wrap around the straps of the harness, and that can get downright painful.• A harness can irritate the underside of your dog's legs. Causing some pretty major discomfort. Pros of Using a Collar: • Dogs tend to be much more comfortable wearing only a collar. • It is much easier and more convenient to slip a collar on.• Collars usually hold all your dog's info ie: his identification, city tags, etc. Cons of Using a Collar: • Increased risk of neck injury.• For a dog with any sort of respiratory condition, collars can mean bad news.• Using only a collar can make loose leash training a pain.• Collars can create unnecessary eye pressure. • Some researchers claim that collars can contribute to long-term eye and ear damage from neck pressure. Now that we have our pros an cons, what can we conclude? To me, the answer is obvious. Harnesses seem to be the right choice. But this entire topic can get a bit sticky. As I mentioned at the beginning, I use only collars with two of my dogs when taking them outside for a pee. But they do not pull when we are in our yard. My third dog pulls, so she is stuck on a harness even for pee time. However, when I walk them, all three of my babies are equipped with a harness. For me, it is about using your own judgment. If you know your dog is a puller, I would recommend a harness. If your dog has loose leash walking aced, then a collar wouldn't be so bad. That being said, what happens if he happens to see a squirrel he wants to chase? Do those solid loose leash walking skills go out the window? I am a firm believer that investing in harness, that fits properly is the way to go. But I am curious what you think. Let me know in the comments! Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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How to Keep Your Dog Safe During Hurricane Season Hurricanes are a terrifying force of nature. If you live in an area that could be affected by one, you must take steps to prepare well in advance. Read on for tips to keep your family safe and sound during the storm, and learn what to do with your pets during a hurricane. When Is Hurricane Season? Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. However, storms have occasionally developed prior to the season start, so it’s a perfect time to mentally prepare. National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov) is a terrific resource to keep up on hurricane and tropical storm development. Follow These Steps When a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Is Announced When a storm is announced that may potentially impact your area, it’s time to take basic precautions. This is the ideal time to stock up on extra food and water for your family and your pets. Secure extra amounts of any necessary medications your pet requires. It may be a few days/weeks before veterinary offices open after the storm, and you don’t want to run out. Even if the storm ends up not affecting you after all, you’ll use it, so it’s best to be prepared! You should also make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations in case a mandatory evacuation is necessary, as pet-friendly storm shelters are limited and often require current vaccination records. Also stock up on ointments, bandages, and basic first aid. This is also a great time to prep an indoor potty station. Pee pads work well for some dogs, while others, especially larger dogs, may struggle with using them. A great option is to use a small kiddie pool! Pick up a few squares of sod/grass from your local store, or if necessary, cut some out of your yard. Place the grass in the kiddie pool to help encourage them to potty inside during the hurricane. What to Do When a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Is Imminent In the hours before the storm, it gets a little hectic. Set aside time to play with your dog and take them on a nice, lengthy walk to tire out your pup as much as possible. The physical activity will help keep them from being bored and anxious during the storm, which is a difficult and stressful combination to deal with. If you’re evacuating, PLEASE bring your pet. If it’s not safe for you, it isn’t safe for them. I cannot stress that enough. There are always better options than leaving your pet, such as checking with your local news for pet-friendly shelters or hotels outside evacuation zones. How to Manage During the Storm If your area isn’t under mandatory evacuations, and you’re planning to ride out the storm at home, select a windowless area like a closet or hallway to take shelter. Set up your pet’s crate there, along with a mattress on the floor for family members to be comfortable. Track the hurricane’s progress and make a final outdoors potty trip before winds/rain pick up. You and your pup don’t want to get caught in a sudden strong wind gust! Once the storm begins, settle in your safe area with plenty of comfort items - toys, treats, puzzles, blankets, etc. Block off the hallway or keep closet doors closed to keep your dog close so they don’t zoom around the house during the storm. Also keep their leash/harness near, along with food/water bowl. Have their potty area accessible, along with poop bags and cleaning supplies to minimize messes. Avoid going out during the eye of the storm, as they can be surprisingly brief and winds could pick back up suddenly. Plus, there could be damage that could injure your dog. Steps To Take After the Storm Phew, the storm is over! Before letting your dog out, walk the yard or potty route for safety. Look for any downed power lines, holes in the fence, debris that can cut their feet, etc. Once you’ve cleared an area for them, you can take them to potty safely. Have you had to ride out a major storm with your dog? Share any tips you used to keep them calm below! Natasha Thompson Hi there! I’m Natasha Thompson, creator of Om Shanti Pups, a health and holistic lifestyle dog blog. I love puppies (of all ages!), yoga, and dog rescue. I live all the way up in Alaska with my husband Dan and our two crazy four-year-old Puerto Rican sato street rescues Roxy & Rico. Find us on Instagram & Twitter @OmShantiPups, or visit https://OmShantiPups.com. :|zpendofcontent|:
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A Healthy Gut Makes a Healthy Dog As a dog parent, you do many things to keep your best friend healthy. You feed them the best food you can, take them for long walks and give them lots of exercises, you play with them and provide mental stimulation. You watch their weight, care for their teeth, and groom their coat; but unless your dog is sick or has diarrhea, most pet owners don’t spend much time thinking about their dog’s gut. Yet maintaining a healthy gut has been shown to help prevent disease, improve digestion, aid in the absorption of nutrients from foods, strengthen the immune system, and much more. This is because, just like with people, a dog’s immune system is closely linked to the digestive system in his gut, which contains approximately 70% of all immune cells. In other words, your pet’s gut and the health of his digestive system is vital to keeping your four-legged companion healthy and happy. That’s where probiotics come into play. Many holistic veterinarians have been recommending probiotics for years, but with recent studies, even medical vets have begun to agree that probiotics are beneficial to keeping your pet’s gut healthy, thereby reducing their chance of developing digestive and immune system related health issues. The What and Why of Probiotics So what are probiotics? Probiotics are the “good” or “helpful” bacteria that live in your pets’ intestines and are responsible for nutrient absorption, digestive health and immune system support. Certain species of bacteria that thrive in dogs are: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus. According to American Kennel Club (AKC) veterinary expert, Jerry Klein, DVM, probiotics (bacteria or yeast) can potentially provide an array of health benefits to dogs. “They are believed to help treat and/or prevent a variety of illnesses and diseases, especially those related to the gastrointestinal system,” he explains. “They inhibit the growth and activity of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens, as well as provide other advantages to the intestines.” Without the right amount and balance of “good” gut bacteria, your pet can experience major health issues such as severe stomach pains, bloating and gas, chronic diarrhea and even inflammatory bowel disease. And the benefits of probiotics are not just for sick pets. Most people think of probiotics only after they have been sick and have taken a dose of antibiotics, which we all know kills the good bacteria in our stomach as well as the bad. But probiotics are not just for restoring your pet’s body to optimal health after an illness. Taken on a daily basis, probiotics keep optimal levels of helpful bacteria in the gut, thereby helping with food absorption, boosting the immune system, increasing metabolism and energy levels, helping the body to maintain an ideal weight, and reducing digestive related illnesses and problems such as gas and bad breath. Now that I know the benefits, how do I give probiotics to my dog? There are many ways to give your dog probiotics. Here are just a few: Foods that contain probiotics naturally (if these are new to your pet, introduce slowly and in moderation): 1. Dairy that is safe for dogs Kefir (add 2-3 tablespoons to your dog’s meal, or give him 1/2 cup on its own) Goat's milk (give 3-4 tablespoons to 1 meal per day, or feed 1 cup as a treat) Yogurt and buttermilk Soft cheeses such as Swiss, Gouda and Cheddar 2. Fermented vegetables Kimchi Pickled vegetables Sauerkraut 3. Raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fruits Asparagus Garlic (in small quantities) Bananas Apples Seaweed or kelp 4. Seeds Chia seeds Flaxseed Chicory root For both healthy dogs, as well as pets with a compromised immune system or other health issues, a probiotic supplement can also be added to help increase the levels of good probiotics in their system. Look for a good pet probiotic, not one made for humans, as your pet’s needs are different from ours. Final words ... To refrigerate or not? A good, dry, stabilized probiotic doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and refrigeration doesn’t mean it’s a better product when it comes to dog probiotics. When the dry bacteria comes in contact with your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, the bacteria become live, active, and multiply many times over. Viktoria Harris Viktoria is a dog lover and proud pet parent of an amazing Border Collie/Shepherd/Husky mix named Tango. She is also the founder of BestLife4Pets.com, and together with her husband and two beautiful kids runs an online pet store devoted to quality natural products that improve the lives of pets every day. After her kids’ numerous health problems, she sought out natural and homeopathic treatments that weren’t as harmful to their systems as regular medicine. Having experienced the benefits of these natural remedies and treatments on herself and her family, she decided to do the same for her dog. And that is how BestLife4Pets came about. Today, she helps other dogs and cats get pain relief and feel better the natural way. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Is Your Dog Protecting You or Himself? There is no doubt that some dogs will protect their humans or property. Some of these dogs are trained to protect while others are bred to be protective. However, there are also dogs who appear to be protective of their human, but they are actually afraid for their own safety. To know if your dog is protecting you, your property or himself, you need to understand why dogs are protective. Dogs that are trained to protect are taught to perform a behavior (for example, bite an arm) when they are cued to do so. These dogs have a job and are most commonly seen working with police. These dogs are taught to bite when a specific word is said. These dogs are also taught to release on cue. When these dogs bite, they are responding the same way your dog responds when they hear the word “sit”. “Sit” is the verbal cue to perform the behavior of putting their rear end on the floor. Although these dogs appear aggressive and are great “protectors” they only do it when they are told to do so. Dogs that are bred to be protective typically have a job to protect livestock or land. Commonly Anatolian and Great Pyrenes breeds are used for this. These dogs use intimidation more than aggression to keep the flock safe. They protect the flock by running a predator off the property rather than attacking. These dogs are usually confident and are bonded to the flock that they protect and only protect when there is a true threat. The misunderstood group are the shy, anxious or fearful dogs. These dogs show signs of fear and anxiety when threatened or not. These dogs are often labeled reactive or aggressive when in reality they are afraid. These dogs will commonly bark or lunge at other dogs or people when in public. Many people will think that these dogs are being protective of their human but in reality, they are just afraid for themselves. More often than not, these dogs will have anxieties in their homes, at a veterinarian’s office or when they are in a new place. Common signs of fear and anxiety are tucked tail, ears that are pinned back, panting when they are not hot or tired, yawning when they are not tired and hypervigilance. When a dog feels threatened a natural response will be to fight, flight or freeze. With fight, they cannot yell or hit, so they will bark, lunge or bite. When people don’t understand that these dogs are afraid, they will often mislabel them as “aggressive” or “protective.” These dogs can be the most dangerous because they may bite another dog or person even when there is no real threat. Shannon Coyner Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West. Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a "Registered Veterinary Technician," a "Certified Professional Dog Trainer" (Knowledge Assessed), a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon is currently serving as President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. Shannon's dog training philosophy revolves around force-free, positive reinforcement, however, her ultimate goal is for healthy happy relationship between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal. Shannon is currently the owner of Ventura Pet Wellness and Dog Training Center in Ventura, CA where she works with anxious and fearful dogs privately as well as teaching agility classes (Venturapetwellness.com). Shannon has also started a training website called Truly Force Free Animal Training. :|zpendofcontent|:
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5 Popular Dog Training Methods That Actually Work From all the popular dog training methods, it’s difficult to find out which one is best suited to your dog’s personality. Some popular training methods manipulate dog’s psyche smartly and ease the job of the owner. There is a great deal of disagreement among various dog owners regarding the best training techniques available out there that can completely satisfy the owners. The top five favorite dog training methods out there are as follows: 1. Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is the top most popular training method. It’s a modern training approach that was introduced by Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, who was the trainer of Obama’s dog. The underlying philosophy of positive reinforcement is that dogs will repeat the behavior that’s rewarded, and avoid the practices that go unrewarded. With a toddler’s mind, your pooch loves to be the apple of your eye, so he immediately picks up the actions you praise and reward. Instead of physical punishment, the reward is withheld to make the dog realize his mistake. 2. Scientific Training Scientific training includes all the training tricks and techniques that are being developed based on authentic research. The research are based on understanding the dog’s nature, behavior conditioning ability, and effects of rewards and punishment on dog’s psychology. The primary scientific training method is operant conditioning that includes positive reinforcement. When the desired behavior is meant to be promoted, rewards are given. When an unwanted behavior needs to be discouraged, rewards are withheld, and the pooch is ignored. You can use the operant conditioning to distract the dog from negative behavior and shift his attention towards a rewarding behavior. With repetition, the pooch will stop repeating the old behavior. 3. Clicker Training Clicker training is based on the models of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement. Clicker is a quick, loud sound of a whistle, clicker, etc. that’s used to signal the dog that the desired behavior is accomplished. It is mostly grouped with positive reinforcement, and the clicker is a quick signal to the dog that the desired behavior is achieved. There can be delays in rewarding the desired behavior in positive reinforcement. The clicker is an immediate signal for the furball to understand which behavior is being rewarded. Clickers are also used for teaching new tricks and behaviors to dogs and young pups. The dog is conditioned by the sound of the clicker that a reward is coming. Clicker training is not used to indicate punishments. 4. Mirror Training Mirror training, also known as ‘model-rival training,’ is based on the theory that dogs learn through observation. We should understand that dogs follow our action more than words as a child does. If the dog owner or trainer has a child who can perform some good behaviors and get rewarded, and act out few bad behaviors and get reprimanded; the dog will learn via observation the correct responses. In another way, the child can be asked to compete with the dog to perform the desired behavior and get rewarded. It will create an urge in the dog to pick up the task quickly and achieve it whenever he is commanded. The dog trainer himself can act as model in terms of his behavior and attitude towards the dog. The owner will have to practice what he preaches. 5. Electronic Training Electronic training method is used effectively by professional dog trainers in which a mild shock is given to dogs for not following the command. It is used to train the dog from a distance when the dog is off-leash. Shock collars and citronella sprays are used for invisible fence training of the dog. Use the best dog shock collars to provide them mild shocks and hurt them the least in case of performing an unwanted action. It will prevent the dogs from performing unwanted actions. But, to avoid putting the dog under stress, you should hire a professional dog trainer. It’s an effective technique for dominating or confident dogs. Fiona Appleton Fiona Appleton is a Labrador owner. She is the manager of https://ultimatehomelife.com/ that has been developed to help people solve the troubles of pet ownership. She is an active advocate of animal protection campaigns. She wants people to understand that dog-behavior is reflective of our behavior. :|zpendofcontent|:
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