Posts Tagged ‘Canine’
What Your Canine Is Saying With His Eyes
What Your Dog Says With His Eyes
Your dog has emotions and feelings just like you. At any given time, he’ll try to communicate them with his body language and expressions. Most owners never learn to identify these signs; the fact that their pooch is sad, anxious, mad, or happy completely escapes them. As a result, they often fail to give the attention their pets need or crave.
The good news is that you can easily recognize the emotions your canine is feeling by watching his eyes. If you know what to look for, not only will you be able to recognize signals, but you’ll also be able to interpret them accurately. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on how to read and decipher what your pooch is trying to tell you with his looks.
Looking For Signals
Most of us are accustomed to inferring intention and meaning from watching the faces of our friends and family. Slight changes or nuances alert us to specific feelings. For the most part, this is a learned trait. You can learn to do the same by identifying the nonverbal signals your pooch uses to express his feelings.
In the same way people can open their eyes wide and shut them, so too, can your canine. Remember that shape varies according to breed. If your dog opens his eyes wide, it is usually a sign that he feels vulnerable. That can include feeling stressed or scared regarding something he finds threatening. He might express these same emotions by squinting a bit, though this might also suggest that he is being submissive to you.
The manner in which he is looking at – or away – from you will also suggest emotions and intent. If a canine stares at you with an anxious, intense look, it usually means he considers you a threat. This should not be mistaken for a friendly dog that is looking at his owner and craves his attention. If a canine looks away from you, that usually signals he wants to be submissive.
If he is looking at you from the corners of his eyes and you notice a large amount of white, be wary. He quite possibly could be agitated, or even worse, see you as a threat. In both cases, he might respond aggressively. It’s common for dogs to do this when you approach them while they’re eating or playing with their favorite toy. This is another signal that is often misinterpreted. If your canine is looking up at you or from the side, seeing the sclera (the white area) of his eyes may not connote aggression. It is easy to tell the difference – his body will not be tense.
Owners who take the time to learn how to read their dogs’ eyes will benefit from understanding their feelings. Remember, the only way your pooch can communicate with you is through nonverbal means. Learning how to identify them will strengthen the friendship you share. Remember to give your dog health dog treats and dog chews
Is Your Dog in Prime Health?
Even if you have owned dogs before, it is possible that not all of your dog’s needs are being met, even if inadvertently. We’re going to talk about a few of the things that you should endeavor to spend extra time and attention to.
First, we’re going to talk about the importance of exercise. All dogs, no matter what breed, need a certain amount of exercise to be in optimum health. A common excuse among pet owners is the lack of time for exercise. What most of these people fail to see is that adequate exercise doesn’t have to be time consuming. Step into the backyard or visit a park for twenty minutes so you can toss your dog’s favorite toy around. Let him fetch it and gain the exercise he needs while you don’t exhaust yourself. If you aren’t pressed for time, consider taking your dog on a nice walk in the mornings or evenings. This is a great way to wake up or wind down, depending on the time of day you walk, plus it shows your willingness to spend special time with your dog, which is terrific!
Your dog’s emotional needs are also not to be forgotten. You can probably think of a few dogs you know (possibly even your own!) who are either very spoiled or simply unsociable. Making sure your dog has plenty of interaction with other dogs and humans will help him to understand how to behave around others properly. This not only will help to make your dog well-rounded, but he will likely be a much happier dog.
How and what you feed your dog has a big effect on your pet’s health and over-all behavior. There are so many commercially available dog foods to choose from that making the right decision can be somewhat impossible. For a change, look beyond the labels and advertisements and look into what exactly your dog food contains. The five main items that need to be in your dog’s food are: protein, carbs, polyunsaturated and saturated fats, and vitamins and minerals. If the dog food label doesn’t list a source for these (ie: source of protein should be listed as beef, chicken, lamb, etc.), then the source probably isn’t very healthy.
Learn to read dog food labels by visiting Dog Food for Life and reading the Confidential Dog Food Report.
Raising a dog shouldn’t be taken for granted. Your dog’s life is still that: a life. The health and happiness of your pooch directly depends upon how you raise him. We encourage you to apply these tips to your lifestyle and help your dog live the fullest and healthiest life possible.
Supplementing Your Dog’s Diet
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Some pet owners firmly believe that standard dry dog food provides all of the essential nutrients that a dog needs to maintain a healthy body. However, they may not be aware of how harsh the cooking process can be for dry food. First we will give you some general background information on the dog food production process to help you understand why supplements may be necessary to keep your dog in optimum health.
There are two main ways in which dry dog food is produced. The first consists of blending ingredients and feeding them through an extruder. The typical “main ingredient” is usually meat by-products (such as meat and bone meal), flour, or grains. Not the healthiest choice for a base ingredient, eh? A dough is created and fed and fed through the screws of the extruder, which will use steam and pressure to help it take shape. After the dough has been cut into bit-sized pieces and given time to harden, it is sprayed with fat or other composites to make it tasty. After the kibble has cooled it is bagged and shipped off. The other common way to product dog food is to subject the food to high temperatures and then broken up into edible pieces. This production style usually does not require that additional fats be sprayed on.
As you can see, high pressure steaming and baking at high temperatures doesn’t seem like the best way to retain nutrients in food, right? Besides, it isn’t as if meat by-products, this sometimes including animals that have been put down in shelters and veterinary offices, provide the best quality of nutrients in the first place! Dry food does still provide some vitamins, but how can you be sure that it’s enough to help your dog keep up a healthy immune system?
Not only are vitamins an important dietary aspect that your dog may be lacking, but he is most likely missing out on minerals, as well. That’s right, just like us, dogs also need calcium, small amounts of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
So, you may be wondering how you can supplement your dog’s food? No, you don’t have to give him a pill or mix up a vitamin/mineral paste. All we mean when we say “supplement” is simply to add foods rich in vitamins and minerals to his diet. You could chop up a variety of vegetables to add to his dry food or puree them and mix it with his food. You could even consider switching your dog to the Raw Food Diet, found in the Dog Food for Life eBook.
There are signs which may suggest that your dog is suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Fur loss, lesions on his skin, and excessive weight loss could mean that your dog lacks Vitamin A. A Vitamin D deficiency is possible if your dog seems to be suffering from muscle loss. If you suspect any vitamin deficiency at all, schedule an appointment with your vet to determine whether your dog is indeed suffering from lack of essential vitamins. Most likely your vet will suggest that you change your dog’s food or add vegetables to his diet.
For more information about what nutrients should be part of a dog’s diet and what brands of food might not be providing them, visit Dog Food for Life.
DIY Dog Food Recipes
You may or may not be aware, but in February 2007, there was a dog food recall that included many of the top brands of dog food. These foods had been laced with melamine, an industrial chemical used to make low-quality wheat gluten and rice concentrate appear more nutritious. More than 5,300 pet food products were taken off the shelves after pets began dying all over the country.
Aside from melamine, there are other ingredients still included in dog food that aren’t particularly healthful, aside from providing the bare minimum to keep your dog functioning. Some of these ingredients include “mystery meat” (unidentified source of meat), Propylene Glycol, Gluten, and BHA/BHT. For a complete list of these unhealthy ingredients, visit Dog Food for Life.
The best way to ensure that you are not feeding your pooch a less-than healthy dog food is to make his food yourself. We’re going to talk about a few dog food and treat recipes that you can whip up for your dog in no time. The Dog Food for Life eBook has tons of great recipes that are easy to follow, so if you find that you prefer to make your own dog food, you would do well to get this eBook!
The first set of recipes provide nutritionally balanced meals that your dog is sure to enjoy!
Meat and Potato Meal
12 ½ cups of potatoes, chunked
3 pounds beef heart, cut into chunks
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup zucchini, squash, carrots or peas
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label, it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)
In a large pot, boil the potatoes until they become soft. If you choose to cook the meat, pour out half the water and add the beef heart chunks. Then simmer until they are no longer pink. Add the remaining ingredients. If you are feeding raw, pour off all of the water after you cook the potatoes, and just add the beef heart with the remaining ingredients.
Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day
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Beefy Rice
2 ½ cups brown rice
3 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
¼ cup dog oil supplement
1 cup zucchini, peas, pumpkin or wheatgrass sprouts (switch them out from time to time)
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label; it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)
Heat 5 cups of water in a large pot until it comes to a boil. Add the rice, turn the pot down to a simmer, and cover it. If you choose to cook the meat, add it now and cook it with the rice. Once the rice is cooked, add the remaining ingredients. If you are feeding raw, you’ll add your meat at this time as well.
Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day
The following recipes are for doggie treats that you can whip up in no time to give your pooch a happy tummy.
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Barking Barley Brownies
1 ¼ pounds beef liver or chicken liver
2 cups wheat germ
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 cup cooked barley
2 whole eggs
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt – optional
Pre heat oven to 350. Liquefy liver and garlic clove in a blender; when it’s smooth, add eggs and peanut butter. Blend till smooth. In separate mixing bowl, combine wheat germ, whole wheat flour, and cooked barley. Add processed liver mixture, olive oil and salt. Mix well.
Spread mixture in a greased 9×9 baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until done. When cool, cut into pieces that accommodate your dog’s size. Store in refrigerator. or freezer.
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Yogurt Pups
16 ounces plain non-fat yogurt
¾ cup water
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
Dissolve bouillon in water, Combine water and yogurt in blender and blend thoroughly, Pour into small containers for freezing, cover and freeze.
Is Your Dog Food as Healthy as You Think?
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If you have ever owned a dog before, you probably know about the joy that a furry pal can inflict on your life. The best way that you can repay your pooch for his loyalty and companionship is to ensure that he leads a healthy way of life.
There are many factors that can influence the health of your pet, but the single most important one is his diet. Many store-bought dog foods do not provide the highest-quality nutrients; while they will give your dog just what he needs to function, they do not support a healthy lifestyle.
In fact, does your dog show any of the following symptoms: large, smelly stool, gaseous, burps often, sheds constantly, prone to ear and skin infections, lack of energy, or hyperactivity. If these issues seem familiar, your dog is likely not getting enough nutrients from his food.
The best way for you to understand your dog’s dietary needs is to find out what nutrients should be included in his food. Overall, dogs need a total of 45 nutrients, which can be broken down into the following five categories: Protein, Carbs, Fats (saturated and polyunsaturated), Vitamins, and Minerals. Of course, your dog needs plenty of water, too! There must be a balance of these nutrients in order for your dog to maintain a healthy body.
However, not all brands of dog food provide all of these nutrients. Even expensive, premium commercial dog foods often contain ingredients that are simply not good for your dog. For example, the first ingredient in a dog food may be “meat,” but what kind of meat is it? If the species isn’t specified, it could be just about anything: Animals that were dead or dying when they reached the slaughterhouse. Animals that were diseased. Cancerous tumors. In some cases, plants that supply pet food companies use road-kill and dead pets from animal shelters and veterinarians’ offices. You can read more about this by checking out the Confidential Dog Food Report.
If you want to be sure that your dog food is up to scratch, the best way is to learn how to read dog food labels. If you find that your current brand of dog food is unsatisfactory, hunt around by reading labels until you find one that meets your dog’s needs. The greatest gift you can give your dog is a chance at a long and healthy life.
To learn more about dog food company cover-ups and how to find a healthy dog food, visit Dog Food for Life.
How Healthy Is Your Dog’s Food?
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If your dog hasn’t been in the pinnacle of health lately, you might consider taking a look at his diet. Have you switched dog food brands lately? You might be surprised to learn that many commercial dog food brands are not supplying the nutrients that your dog needs to function in top health.
The first step in re-evaluating your pet’s diet is to understand which ingredients are necessary to promote good health, and which ingredients can be destructive to your dog’s health. We’re going to discuss the nutrients that your pet food should contain, as well as ingredients that are unhealthy or even harmful for your dog.
A dog’s diet requires 6 basic nutrients to provide optimum health. These items are protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is very important that the food your dog eats contains each of these nutrients in the proper amounts. For instance, protein is the main nutrient your dog requires, therefore meat (such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) should be the main ingredient in your dog’s food. Meat is not the only source that companies can gain protein from. Some dog food companies choose to supply additional protein from plants and grains such as soy, corn, and wheat. Foods that contain too many vegetables or grains are not very beneficial to your dog, since his primary need as a carnivore is meat. Just make sure that any food you purchase or make yourself is high in protein.
The Dog Food for Life eBook contains tons of great DIY recipes for treats, everyday food, and even desserts for your dog!
If you were to look on your dog food label to find that it simply states “meat,” you may not think much about it. However, you should be wary of any product which does not specify the source of the “meat.” Unfortunately, some companies find it much cheaper to produce dog food in which the meat is derived from road kill or pets that have been put down in shelters or veterinary offices. While dogs in the wild may get by on a diet of road kill, we certainly don’t want to feed it to our pets, whom many of us consider to be a member of the family. You’ll want to keep your eye out for the following harmful ingredients and steer clear of any foods that contain them: Unidentified fats, BHA and BHT, artificial colors, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate, Propylene Glycol, Brewers Rice, Cellulose, Ethoxyquin, Propyl Gallate, and Gluten.
To get a good grasp on which items make up the bulk of your dog’s food, remember that ingredients are always listed from largest percentage to smallest . If your dog’s food is primarily made up of chicken and lamb, those ingredients will be listed first, followed by the next item of significant quantity, and so on.
Now that you know what your dog’s food should consist of, take a look at the package to determine whether your dog’s diet is in need of change. If you are afraid your pet may be in poor health due to his/her diet, consult with a veterinarian immediately.
If you would like to learn more about dog food ingredients and which brands to avoid/pursue, go to Dog Food for Life.
Vaccinating Your Puppy
Getting your dog vaccinated is an important part of ensuring that he has a healthy life. It is important that you get your puppy vaccinated before he starts socializing with other dogs to minimize his chances of contracting an illness—much in the same way we vaccinate infants before sending them to preschool.
Dogs are susceptible to certain types of illnesses which vaccinations help them to ward off. A mother dog protects her puppy until around six to twelve weeks after birth. When the puppies are first born, she passes on her immunity mechanism by providing disease-fighting antibodies in her first milk. This is called the Maternally Derived Antibody (MDA), also known as “passive immunity.”
Once a dog begins to wean off of his mother’s milk, he will eventually lose the antibodies that were provided through his mother’s milk. Once the puppy has turned about six weeks old (but no younger!), the first set of core vaccinations can be administered. The core vaccinations are most important when protecting your pup against disease. The core vaccines cover the following illnesses: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies.
There has to be a certain number of weeks between each set of core vaccinations, and there are generally three in total. If your pup is given the first set at 6 weeks of age, you can expect to bring him back for the next two at 9 and 12 weeks of age. Some veterinarians will ask you to book an appointment at 15 weeks for a general checkup to make sure that your dog is faring well after the injections.
Non-core vaccines may be suggested by your vet if you have a certain breed of dog that is susceptible to specific diseases. Your vet will be able to inform you as to when these vaccines should be administered.
Some dog owners fear the side effects of vaccination for their pets. This is a valid concern, but the benefits of vaccination far exceed the risks. Effectiveness may not be guaranteed 100% but with the combination of proper nutrition and eating habits, a good and sanitized environment, vaccination is a great way to protect your dog and other of your pets as well.
In addition to getting your pet vaccinated, it’s important that you provide a healthy diet. Not all dry dog foods live up to their promise of providing the highest quality of ingredients. If you want more information about what’s really in store-bought dog food, visit Dog Food for Life to read the Confidential Dog Food Report.
Dogs and Apartments
Dogs are fancied by many people to keep them company in an apartment, for the most part because of lonliness.Pet lovers will be happy to learn that there are various breeds of dogs to consider for apartment dwelling.
These dog breeds are not only friendly with people, they are also small and fit to stay in an apartment.As these dogs don’t need any long yard for running and playing in, they are fit for living in an apartment.
As boxers make great companions and are medium in size, they are great choices for your building.As they have short hair, they are easy to take care of and they have a pleasing personality.They require only short walks to keep healthy and happy.
Though the English Bulldog is a large dog, its calm disposition makes it the right choice for apartment living.You have to take it out only to go to the bathroom as it is quite content staying in an apartment.
The Lhasa Apso weighs only 15 pounds and is therefore just suited for apartment living.The only drawback here is that it requires some time and effort in maintaining its long coat with regular grooming.
You could also consider having a cocker spaniel in your place.These dogs are happy just lying in the apartment and waiting for its owner to return to give it its regular exercise. Weighing between 22 and 38 pounds, these dogs are bigger than other dogs. However it is still possible to manage it in an apartment.
The Pomeranian is a small, fluffy and lightweight dog that weighs only 5 pounds, making it the perfect choice for your apartment companion.It is because it has a small figure that makes it fit for use in an apartment.There are so many dogs to choose from for your apartment that you are sure to find something suitable for yourself amongst them.
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Finding Quality Dog Boarding & Grooming
| It’s no surprise that ours is a nation of dog lovers needing services, with people seeking Ann Arbor dog grooming and Ann Arbor dog boarding just as do those in Miami, New York, and everywhere in-between. Dog grooming usually brings to mind images of snooty poodles and people who spend the bulk of their time preparing for dog shows. This is certainly not the case! Proper dog grooming makes your dog healthier and can make you happier. Families don’t neglect the personal grooming of their children, why then the family dog? You find quality caregivers when looking for dog boarding so doing the same for your dog’s grooming makes perfect sense.
Naturally, you might consider professional dog grooming services. Professional groomers offer a wide variety of services, and they vary from groomer to groomer. The simplest service offered by groomers is a simple body wash. Others have services as wide ranging as brushing your dog’s teeth and deep conditioning and styling his coat. Just because you don’t show your dog doesn’t mean she can’t look great for the next family photo. Other services include pre-clipping, which allows dog grooming professionals to thoroughly wash the skin of the dog, before a final professional clipping. Additionally, you can get de-matting services to get rid of those unsightly fur balls. Nail clipping and filing are a must, the better to protect those wood floors at home. dog grooming also emcompasses ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and flea dips. Don’t make the mistake of assuming dog grooming is de facto veterinary service; your groomer may be familiar with dog health, but is not a dog health professional. If you are considering entering the world of dog shows, a competent groomer is a must. Certain breeds are expected to have a specific style to their coat, and groomers familiar with the show dog world should be able to conform to the rules and regulations for the particular dog show. When you start getting into more specialized services, it is important to inquire as to additional fees associated with these services. Because of the care and precision needed to conform to show rules, it isn’t surprising that there are extra costs in most cases. Wherever you make your home, dog grooming is a component of the proper care of your beloved pet. |
Screening Dog Care Professionals
| When it comes to dog boarding, it’s important to remember that you can find quality care, whether it’s Ann Arbor dog boarding or Albuquerque. It’s probably easy to find Ann Arbor dog grooming, but have you considered how difficult it is to find good dog boarding in YOUR town?
Do your due diligence prior to retaining dog boarding services. You never know when an emergency may arise, and you need to act quickly to get care for your pet. When selecting the right facility, you should follow a few simple steps to be sure you’ve found the right place for your dog boarding. Quality dog boarding facilities will have reasonable hours of operation, scheduled daily exercise for the dogs, socialization with other dogs (if appropriate), regular feeding and medication delivery, and comprehensive emergency procedures. If your pet has health problems that require special attention, be sure the dog boarding facility is equipped to handle his needs. Call ahead and schedule your tour of a dog boarding facility. Ask questions over the phone; it’s a good idea to choose the ones that are deal-breakers, so that you don’t waste a visit if the facility is unable to meet your needs. No need to make a trip if they don’t offer as much exercise as you want, or are unable to accommodate your special needs. Upscale facilities may offer additional fringe benefits, like dog grooming. When you’re on your tour of a dog boarding facility, be sure to check to be sure proper licenses are maintained and displayed. It’s always a good idea to check with your local Better Business Bureau to determine whether other clients are pleased with their service. Obviously, take a look around and note whether the rooms are clean and tidy. If you’re near water, it isn’t a bad idea to note whether or not the building is in a flood zone. If you are requesting dog grooming during your pet’s stay, be sure to review past work and that it is to your satisfaction. Each of these things are important to think about when you select the facility that will handle your dog boarding and dog grooming. Whether it’s Ann Arbor dog boarding, Ann Arbor dog grooming, or Albuquerque, quality facilities are nearby, you just have to do the legwork to find them! |