Dog Health

How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

2009-11-24T22:56:00.001-08:00

How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

One of the most biggest misconceptions that most people
have is that their own dogs won't bite. While it is natural
that everybody feels some level of respect for a big,
growling dog we are becoming too nonchalant about our own
dogs. So how can you be sure that your dog will never bite
anyone?

A dog bite injury can lead to some serious, even life
threatening injuries, some even requiring corrective
surgery. There is also the problem of psychological,
emotional, and physical scars from the dog bite injuries
that will need to be overcome. There can also be
staggering financial and legal costs as well.

While some dog biting is fairly common in young puppies
while playing or teething, you need to start to train your
dog that biting is not acceptable. In puppies this is
called 'mouthing' and this is something to keep in mind
since puppies have sharp teeth and while they are playing
it is inevitable that he will use those teeth.

Preventing these dog bite injuries is a necessity both
medically and legally, and this is why dog owners have to
be responsible for their dogs. A dog owner has to recognize
that any dog of any breed is capable of biting someone, and
even a 'nice' dog can suddenly snap and bite if he becomes
frightened, or hurt in any way.

Obedience Training

One way to help to prevent these dog bite injuries is to
invest in a good dog obedience training program. Dogs that
are not trained or not trained well are much more likely to
bite. Get him socialized early with other puppies, and
under calm and positive circumstances, allow him to also
meet and interact with other people, including children.
This is because all dogs are descendants of dog packs and
where dogs often exhibit aggressive behavior having to do
with dominance.

Spay and Neuter your Dog

Another good preventative for either minor or devastating
dog bite injuries is to spay or neuter your dog as this
will eliminate or reduce aggression levels in both male and
female dogs. This will also prevent many health problems
later in his life.

Why do Dogs Bite?

Learning why dogs bite can make it possible for you to
understand some behaviors and to avoid them. You can also
learn to train your dog to prevent possible dog bite
injuries. Despite what many people may think, dogs don't
bite because of aggression, but because of fear and
surprise. This is why socializing your dog when he a puppy
is so important to get him used to other people and other
dogs.

Other Things You Can Do

Be sure to take your dog to the vet on a regular basis and
also make sure that all his vaccinations are kept up to
date. Get your dog licensed and also keep his paperwork up
to date.

Don't allow your dog to wander freely, in fact he should be
contained on your property and you should be able to
control his access to the street.

If you follow these common sense steps you can greatly
reduce an attack or dog bites by a lot. Just be a
responsible owner and start working with your puppy or dog
today.

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Training Choke Collars,
http://budurl.com/cokecollar2 .

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Dogs versus Humans Pt 2

2009-11-22T02:20:00.000-08:00

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Humans vs Dogs Part 2

Aside from the possiblity of traumatic injury incurred by
something like being hit by a car most dog issues today
result from something as controllable as poor nutrition. We
recently looked at some of the physical differences between
dogs and humans that might play on your dogs nutritional
requirements. The difference in the number of teeth. The
inability of the dog to work his jaw side to side and the
short digestive system that is reflected by the dog's
inability to digest raw vebetables and many uncooked
grains. We drew the conclusion that dog's, perhaps even
more than humans, needed a healthy natural food source. I
prefer to take it one step further and insist on human
grade dog food for my own 4-legged friends. Please do not
allow poor nutrition to cause challenges for your dog.

Certain additives that we take for granted, can create
liver and kidney damage. Liver and kidney diseases are
amongst the leading causes of illness in dogs. For example,
our water contains fluoride. Dogs definitely do not need
flouride in their water as they do not get cavities.
Although generally considered safe for humans 10 European
countries have banned flourination of water. In dogs,
fluoride alters serum calcium/phosphorous balance and can
damage bones and kidneys. Because of the high amount of
flourinated water in canned food, dogs should definitely
drink filtered water and avoid canned dog food whenever
possible. These contain high levels of concentrated
fluoride.

Are you aware that dogs actually produce their own Vitamin
C? Dogs use trace minerals in the liver to produce their
own supply of this vitamin. Humans cannot do this.
Supplementing Vitamin C for dogs can create pH imbalances
in the kidney. Adding Vit C can also damage the liver.
Many manufacturers use vitamin C because it is a cheap
preservative that prevents discoloration, not because it
benefits the dog.

There are many differences between dogs and humans and we
can take a look at them in later articles, dog's sense of
smell, sight and hearing is all dramatically different and
bears looking into. What you may not realize is that a dog
not only can see motion better than humans but they have a
third eyelid as well? It helps to remove debris from the
eye and protect it as well. Dogs have flatter lenses and
larger pupils so you see that when you delve a little
deeper into your four-legged friends physiology that you
need to learn more about how dogs are built in order to
understand the "why" of what they might need.

Despite highlighting the nutrional and digestive aspects of
your dog's needs we also need to know as much as we can
about our dog's physiology in order to insure they will be
around and healthy for as long as possible. I hope you have
enjoyed this comparison and that it helps you make informed
decisions about how and what to feed your best friend. We
all need whole, natural, unprocessed food. You can see
that dogs need high quality, human grade dog food for
healthy absorption and digestion.

Amongst other things we will be covering how to read labels
in future articles.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC - The first woman recognized to
adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the
Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association is a
passionate advocate of the benefit of whole foods for both
humans and animals. Her company Lucky Dog Cuisine provides
all natural HUMAN GRADE cooked meals for dogs. For more
info or to receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition
please visit =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

How Your Dogs Agility Training Can Benefit Both You and Your Dog

2009-11-18T23:22:00.001-08:00

How Your Dogs Agility Training Can Benefit Both You and Your Dog

There are many dogs that would benefit from dog agility
training, whether they are a show dog or a dog that is a
family pet and companion. If you have a very large or very
small dog the dogs can have some special challenges not
found in other kinds of dog training.

Some of the benefits of a dogs agility training can include
providing him with plenty of exercise, since a lack of
exercise is the cause of many dog misbehaving. It's great
for people who want to do things with their dog.

The sport of dog agility is a competition where dogs
compete one at a time to navigate around a serious of
obstacles in a particular pattern to find out which of the
dogs competing can complete the course without any errors
or a least the fewest errors.

There are also professional dog agility training
competitions too. Just like a dog show, where you might
have a handler for the dog that is not the dog's owner who
is carrying out the dogs agility training. He is the one
that the dog must listen to for commands.

Some of the obstacles a dog would encounter in agility
training depend on what the particular organization
sanctioning the competition might select. But they usually
consist of jumps, tunnels, contact obstacles, and others.

Some dogs take to agility training rather easily, while
others need extensive training. The dogs agility training
can normally take about 6 to 8 weeks.

As with regular dog training treats and praise figure
prominently as ways to reward the dog for being able to
navigate all the obstacles correctly.

A dogs agility training is great way to ensure the
happiness of your dog, and if give you a chance to spend
some quality time with your dog, and this is why so many
dogs love agility training. If you have a dog that loves
agility training, make sure that you can take advantage of
any dog agility training opportunities to train your dog on
a more regular basis.

There are many dog training schools that offer dog agility
training classes. Many trainers recommend that the dogs
going through these types of classes have already completed
at least a basic obedience course, especially since in
agility training the dogs usually run of the leash and have
to be able to come back when they are called.

You will no doubt find that your dogs agility training will
be both challenging and rewarding for you and your dog, but
it is a great way for both of you to have fan while
spending time together.

If you want to improve your relationship with your dog and
solidify the bond you both share, find yourself a good dog
training school for your dogs agility training, for
whatever discipline you prefer, and just do it. By just
investing a little time, money, and patience, your
relationship will become a forever relationship, and the
your dog will truly be your best friend!

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Training Choke Collars,
http://budurl.com/cokecollar2 .

Dog Health Food - Is Your Labrador Getting The Best Food Possible?

2009-11-16T04:28:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food Feeding Your Labrador The Wrong Food Could Rob Years From His Life

If you've ever wondered if dog health food might be good
for the health of your Labrador, then you're probably
right. These days it is harder and harder to believe in the
safety of commercially produced dog food. With so many
recalls being made on dog food, who knows when or where the
next contaminated batch of dog food is going to land?

Not only is there the possibility of contamination, but
what about the actual nutritional value of your dog's food?
With the focus on profit margins, the only thing you can be
sure about is that the dog food companies want to use the
cheapest ingredients they can get.

In 2007 there was a widespread recall from over 100 dog
food manufacturers after it was discovered that there was
melamine (a type of plastic) in much of their dog food. It
was eventually traced back to a factory in China, which
manufactured rice protein and wheat gluten (neither of
which have any real nutritional value for a dog). So what
that means is that it doesn't matter what standards the US
based company may have for their production plants if the
ingredients coming into the plant are already contaminated!

And although this was a couple of years ago, recently
melamine was discovered in milk powder produced under
standards for human consumption! So based on that I think
that it's safe to say that it's only a matter of time
before another similar incident occurs. I certainly don't
want to take the chance that my puppy is going to suffer
because I didn't act. At the end of the day our dogs depend
on us to give them all the nutrients they need and now we
also need to make sure there's no nasty chemicals as well.

So leaving the accidental toxins aside, what other things
are going into your Labrador's food? a really nasty
preservative called ethoxyquin is often present in dog food
but isn't listed. If your dog food contains fish meal it
almost certainly contains ethoxyquin which has been linked
to numerous allergic reactions, cancer and liver failure in
dogs. Often the only time that it's mentioned is if it's
not there!

So take a moment and check your dog's food just to see if
there is fish meal listed as an ingredient, often it's
promoted as being a source of omega 3 (which it is) but
that isn't going to offset the long term side effects that
your dog is likely to suffer from continued consumption of
this preservative.

All this is just scraping the surface and for the sake of
your Labrador and it's long term wellbeing, it's vital to
learn about dog health food. The best way to be absolutely
certain about what you're feeding your dog is to make it
yourself.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

Food from the dog's perspective - A Bugsy Wonderdog Tale

2009-11-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

A dog's eye view of dinner

I am in a relatively unique position in that I own a dog
that doesn't know he's a dog. My dog "Bugsy Wonderdog" (I
just named him Bugsy, he added the Wonderdog part) has had
an opinion on everything ever since he was a puppy. Usually
he is correct. He recently asked me if he could write a
couple of articles for me so, as is the case with most dog
lovers, I gave in to my puppy and I let him do it. I have
taken the liberty of including his first article in the
text of this one and I must admit that as usual I believe
he's right. The need for healthy natural dog food and human
grade dog food is a passion of mine and from a scientific
perspective can be proven. To look at it from the dog's
perspective is an interesting paradigm shift. So without
further ado I bring you words of wisdom from the Wonderdog.

You humans have always had a hard time grasping the concept
of Healthy Natural Dog Food. What's with that. You are
finally trying to eat well yourself as is evidenced by the
proliferation of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets and assorted
other nouveau supermarkets dedicated to providing natural
foods for humans so why not for us dogs? I don't believe
there is anyone more qualified to judge what does and what
should go into that dog bowl them me, your humble
Wonderdog. After all, I am the one who has to eat it.

How would you like to sit down for every breakfast, lunch
and dinner for the rest of your life and be served a bowl
of dry processed cereal? Why do it to your dog then?
There's nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and
again, according to the label they are fortified and
contain tons of vitamins and minerals but you wouldn't want
to live on them. Variety is the spice of life. Whoever said
that sure wasn't your average dog.

While we're talking about it, what's with the double
standard? Have you ever wondered why they even have
something called "Pet Grade"? I'll tell you why, it's
because it's all of the garbage that is deemed not fit for
human consumption. Healthy Natural Dog Food is a complete
oxymoron with respect to most commercial grade pet foods.
Now I know that a dog, even your dog, isn't human. Thank
goodness for that, you people have enough problems but that
doesn't mean we should be deprived of vital nutrients
because you can't see through the marketing propaganda of
the commercial pet food companies. Oh, their commercials
are wonderful showing happy dogs with great coats and lots
of energy. Those dogs are actors. They are probably eating
Filet Mignon and traveling first class. They are the
Brangelina's of the canine world. How about making your dog
feel like a movie star, or at the very least a Wonderdog.
Whether you buy it in a store or you have to cook it
yourself please feed your dogs Healthy Natural Dog Food.

Bugsy Wonderdog

Certainly spoken like someone who has never had to cook dog
food for himself but overall I think he makes some great
points. The innocuous little label "pet grade" in many
cases might just as well say, "poison". One of my favorite
rules to live by when feeding my dogs is that if I wouldn't
eat it myself, I won't feed it to my dog. Pay attention to
the Bugster, he is not your average dog. He is an actor, a
model, a spokesdog and even an author but most importantly
he's a dog and as such has earned the title of "man's best
friend". Let's pay back some of that friendship by feeding
Bugsy and all of our canine friends what they really need.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas has had a long and successful career as
a Doctor of Chiropractic. She was the first woman in Canada
certified to adjust animals and was instrumental in
bringing animal adjusting to Canada. As founder of Lucky
Dog Cuisine she continues her passion for animals by
advocating human grade food for all dogs.
Follow her FREE INFOSERIES Toxic Soup ' Truth about
Commercial Dog Food here =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

Dog Health Food - Your German Shepherd Could Be Suffering

2009-11-13T05:10:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food Your German Shepherd Could Be Suffering

Your German Shepherd could be suffering from the side
effects of commercial dog food, which is why so many owners
are turning to dog health food. With so many potentially
toxic ingredients being put into dog food these days, it
can be hard to know whether you might be actually harming
your best friend with every meal.

First you have to wonder how safe your dog food is from
chemical contaminants that accidentally got into the food
at some point in the production. Maybe basic ingredients
were tainted overseas and nobody picked it up. Especially
at the moment with companies all around the world looking
to get more profit from less cost, we have to wonder if our
dogs welfare is at risk.

Do you know how safe your dog's food really is? Even in
human food production with their far more strict standards,
it's not uncommon for there to be chemical contaminants.

In 2007 there was a widespread recall from over 100 dog
food manufacturers after it was discovered that there was
melamine (a type of plastic) in much of their dog food. It
was eventually traced back to a factory in China which
manufactured rice protein and wheat gluten (neither of
which have any real nutritional value for a dog). So what
that means is that it doesn't matter what standards the US
based company may have for their production plants if the
ingredients coming into the plant are already contaminated!

Although this happened a couple of years ago, what has
changed to ensure that it can't happen again? Melamine was
recently found in milk powder that was produced under human
food standards. So what about the lower standards that pet
foods are produced under? While it may a completely
accidental, even the possibility of having toxic plastics
ending up in dogs food is completely unacceptable.

I know I don't want to pick up the paper and find out that
my dog's food has plastic in it. We are ultimately
responsible for our dogs health, not just that they get the
right nutrition, but to make sure that their food is free
from harmful chemicals too.

Apart from the accidental chemical additives what else is
your German Shepherd really eating? Often there's a proven
carcinogen called ethoxyquin present in many commercial dog
foods. This preservative has been banned for decades from
human food due to it's toxic side effects. Factory workers
who have been exposed to it exhibit symptoms similar to
agent orange. But this toxic chemical is still being added
to our dog's food!

You won't find it listed either, no matter how close you
look. This is because fish meal when it is made gets
treated with ethoxyquin, while it's still on the boat. What
this means is that fish meal might go into the food but the
ingredients of the meal won't be listed.

In some foods they promote the fact that there's fish in
there as a great source of protein and fatty acids, which
is true. However if that fish is in the form of meal, then
there's a whole lot more going in than you bargained for.
They could suffer from allergic reactions, cancer and liver
failure. And this is something that supposed to be healthy!

For the sake of your German Shepherd it's vital that you
learn about dog health food. Commercially produced food is
completely out of your control, you never really know what
could be If you make your own then you can be absolutely
sure that there's no nasty chemicals and carcinogenic
preservatives in your dog's food. You can treat them to a
variety of gourmet tastes and give them the very best
nutrition possible.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
German Shepherd's food could be making them sick and could
even rob years from your best friend's life. To find out
exactly what goes into dog food and how to make your own
delicious dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter,
chock full of great tips to make your dog's life a long and
healthy one. Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

Dog Health Food - Could There Be Toxic Chemicals In Your Dog Food?

2009-11-12T01:19:00.001-08:00

Title: Dog Health Food Are You Accidentally Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Author: Mark Syme

Dog Health Food Are You Accidentally Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Dog health food is fast becoming a mainstream choice for
many dog owners as more dog food recalls are issued. Many
people are losing faith in dog food manufacturers being
able to reliably supply food that is always going to be
free from contaminants. Some people are making their own
food, while most are looking much more carefully at what is
really going into their dog's food.

Now there's a whole range of reasons for dog food to be
recalled and some of them are exactly the same reasons as
why some human food recalls occur. In at least one case
there was a fungal infection on the production line, which
contaminated the food. This would make me ask the question:
What sort of hygiene procedures are in place that allowed
this to occur?

The FDA is responsible for keeping tabs on the dog food
industry, which is enormous and growing at a staggering
rate. And so we'd like to think that dog food conforms to
the same standards as human food, but all too often this is
far from the truth.

The FDA is growing increasingly under funded and
understandably puts most of its resources into ensuring
that human food production is kept to the required hygiene
standards. That said, plenty of products still slip
through when you think about how often you see food recalls
at the supermarket. So where does that leave the pet food
industry?

Well, the lack of official oversight means that they are
mainly self-regulating. While in a perfect world this
wouldn't be a problem, I have my doubts when it comes to
the sort of money that is being made from dog food today.
In most cases, in the battle between increased profits and
better quality, profits come out on top.

And who could forget the wide-ranging pet food recalls in
2007? This was eventually traced back to contaminated rice
protein and wheat gluten produced in China. One more way
that a cheaply sourced ingredient is added that has little
nutritional value anyway. This means that even if the
standards of the US manufacturer are fantastic, it won't
help if they're using tainted ingredients?

So we need to asking the hard questions of where our dog
food really comes from, what's really in the food that our
best friends are gobbling up and what are the long term
effects on their health going to be?

Many pet owner are turning to some form of dog health food
as a practical way to ensure that their pets get not only
the best nutrition but also keep them safe from any pet
food company blunders. At the end of the day, it's up to us
to give our pets healthy and safe food but we can't always
believe what the large pet food companies are telling us.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Humans vs Dogs Part 1

2009-11-11T03:03:00.001-08:00

Nothing but the Best for your Dog's Tummy

Choosing a dog food is much like choosing a spouse. Lots of
choices but very few quality ones. I have always had a
passion for making sure my dogs only eat the very best but
in order to do that we need to know a little bit about what
makes dogs different from us. Having that knowledge will
allow us to understand why dogs actually need higher
quality proteins than humans. Let's help them live longer
happier lives by feeding them healthy natural, and
preferably human grade dog food.

Let's start with the teeth and jaw. Dogs have 42
well-spaced teeth. People have 32 and our teeth are close
together. The space between dogs' teeth allows food to
enter quickly. Dogs' mouths are funnels to get food into
the stomach as quickly as possible. Your dog gulping his
food is his natural way of eating. He has fewer taste buds
than we do, so there appears to be no need for him to savor
his dinner! Our canine friends also lack the ability to
grind food. Their jaws work only up and down. Side to side
movement is impossible for your dog's jaw. They also do
not predigest starches in the mouth like we do. We get
cavities. Dogs get more tarter build up, but no cavities!

Food travelling from their mouth to their stomach takes
only about 5 seconds. Once in the stomach, the food is
stored and digestion begins. Dogs have more acid in their
stomachs than people do and this allows them to break down
bacteria more effectively than we can. They also have this
antibacterial ability in their saliva.

The small and large intestine in the average human is
approximately 36 feet long. That's roughly the height of a
four storey building! A 70 lb dog has a 6-foot long
intestine therefore dogs need high quality proteins to be
able to digest them quickly. People can digest raw fruits
and vegetables better because of our longer digestive
systems. Give a dog a piece of whole carrot and it comes
out the other end much the same way it entered!

Digestion of complex carbohydrates and vegetables is more
difficult for your dog, therefore in a perfect world they
would be cooked and pureed to simulate predigestion.
Cooking keeps the glycemic index low to help maintain even
blood sugar levels. This causes less stress on the
pancreas and liver and less chance of developing diabetes.

If you are like me and have your dog sleeping on the bed
with you it's not a great leap to understand that after
being domesticated for thousands of years dogs, while
different from humans in many ways, are similar in others.
Just like us needing healthy natural whole foods to thrive
in today's environment your dog needs a healthy natural dog
food as well.

Look for more info on dogs vs humans in upcoming segments.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC - The first woman recognized to
adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the
Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association is a
passionate advocate of the benefit of whole foods for both
humans and animals. Her company Lucky Dog Cuisine provides
all natural HUMAN GRADE cooked meals for dogs. For more
info or to receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition
please visit =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

Animal Communication - How to Overcome Doubt

2009-11-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Title: Animal Communication - How to Overcome Doubt

Many people have expressed to me that they would love to be
able to communicate with their pets. But for many reasons
they feel like they aren't able to.

All of us are born with the inherent ability to communicate
with our animal companions and all life for that matter.

Here are 2 ways to help you overcome self-defeating doubt
so you can confidently communicate with your animal
companions.

Spend Time in Stillness

Allow yourself the time every day to be alone in stillness.
I don't like to use the term "meditate" because that tends
to trigger many limiting beliefs in people.

When people think about meditating there are usually many
rules and techniques associated with it. Instead picture
yourself quietly communing with both your inner and outer
world.

There isn't any right or wrong way to do this. Simply find
a quiet space and allow the stillness to envelope you.

Let your thoughts simply drift. Don't have an agenda. Be
aware of any sensations in your body. This is your time to
connect with the Creative Energy or Divine Intelligence
that orchestrates the Universe.

If you want greater results do this for pleasure. Play.
Have fun. Don't have an agenda.

It is in this space that you are connected to everything,
including your animals. However, don't use this time to
try to communicate. This is your time to experience
oneness, creation and connectivity.

Play With Your Intuition

Your intuition resides in the right side of your
brain...your creative center. Engage in activities that
stimulate the right side of your brain like art, music, and
creative projects.

Use your intuition to solve problems instead of logic. Ask
empowering questions that engage your right brain. For
example, "What is another solution for this situation?" Or
"How can I bring intuition more frequently into my life?"
Allow the answers to naturally and simply come to you.
Don't struggle and try to figure things out. That's using
your left or logical brain.

Practice relying on your intuition for all aspects of your
life, not just animal communication. When you have a
negative feeling about a person, trust that your intuition
is sending you an important message. When you feel great
about a project it is your intuition letting you know you
are on the right path.

Intuition is the language of feelings. The more you
practice using your intuition the easier it will be for you
to trust the messages you receive.

Being about to communicate with your pets will allow your
to create a deeper and richer relationship with them. Use
these techniques to quickly build the skill and confidence
that will make you a magnificent animal communicator.

About the Author:

Becky is a Divine Animal Healer and communicator who helps
people strengthen the bond they share with their animal
companions. If you have a pet suffering from physical or
emotional distress visit her at
http://divinehealingforanimals.com She also helps people
cope with pet loss using Divine Openings. Divine Openings
frees people from negative emotions like depression and
guilt thus allowing them to live lives with more grace,
ease and joy.

What's your dogs lifespan?

2009-11-08T09:54:00.001-08:00

Title: What's your dogs lifespan?

What Is The Lifespan of Your Dog?

10 years, 12 maybe, 15 tops, most people believe that is
the lifespan of their beloved dog. Contrary to popular
opinion it is not unusual for well cared for and well fed
dogs that have had optimum nutrition and a caring partner
to live past 20 years.

Our beloved pets cannot talk to us and they can only hope
that we are aware of their health conditions by knowing
what they are usually like and noticing any behavioral
changes.

If your dog starts to eat more or less food than normal
this could be one sign that there is a problem and also if
they gain or lose weight they could be suffering from some
health problems. Even if a normally quiet dog starts
whining or barking more often they might be trying to give
you a signal that something is not quite right in their
life.

Today a lot of the health problems that our pets are
suffering from is due to the foods they are being fed. And
this is due to the ingredients being used to manufacture
our commercial dog foods. The most popular dog foods often
use byproducts with added chemical preservatives and
artificial colors to make it look good. Ingredients such
as sodium are added to the dog food to make it more
palatable. In fact excessive sodium can be detrimental to
the well being of your dog.

Some dog food manufacturers will also use a high percentage
of grains like corn, wheat, soy to add bulk to the food
while doing nothing for the all-over nutrition of the dog
food. These byproducts and fullers have very little
nutritional value and are certainly not helping in the
overall health of our animals.

Not all of our dog's health problems can be blamed on the
food he/she eats. Obesity and the associated problems that
are present from being overweight is one of the main
reasons for the shortened life span.

One of the best things you can do for your dog besides
regular exercise, good food, water and shelter, is to be
aware of any changes that it might exhibit in all aspects
of it's life. Particularly as dogs get older they might
seem like they are just not interested in exercise any
longer but this might be due to the fact that they are
suffering from pain of some form or another.

Many older dogs suffer from arthritis and this can be very
painful.There are all sorts of remedies that can help your
dog from natural remedies to ones that your local vet might
prescribe. Older dogs can become depressed because they
are no longer getting the required stimulation mentally and
a depressed dog will suffer just as a human can do in
similar circumstances.

If we ensure that our dogs get the optimum nutrition,
enough exercise, along with a regular checkup at the Vet,
this is a good solution to ensure that your dog is always
in optimal health and that includes their mental state. We
can expect their lifespan to be considerably more than
current levels and reach that 20 year mark. Remember always
be aware of their behavior and it will ensure that your dog
has a happy and long life.

A regular checkup at the Vet and the best premium dog food
you can afford is a good solution to ensure that your dog
is always in optimal health and is with you a long time.

About the Author:

George Baker is a semi retried professional breeder of
service and working dogs where dog nutriment is a daily
returnee for him. To keep your dog/puppy healthy. Learn
more about dog nutation and holistic natural dog foods, go
to http://www.holisticpuppyfood.com

Canine Heartworm Treatment

2009-11-05T03:09:00.000-08:00

Canine Heartworm Treatment

Canine heartworms, also known as dirofilariasis disease,
can be extremely dangerous or fatal if left untreated.
Heartworms are spawned from mosquitoes, which carry the
parasite and infect other dogs. A veterinarian can
prescribe heartworm preventatives to decrease the chances
of your pet getting this disease. To restrict mosquito
contact, natural methods can be used to keep these insects
at bay.

Canine heartworms are dangerous parasites that live in the
lung arteries and the right side of the heart in dogs. If
left untreated, these long, thin parasitic worms can cause
lung or heart damage, or death. Microfilaria immitis
(heartworm) parasites are carried by mosquitoes. The life
cycle begins by a mosquito biting an infected dog. The
offspring of the heartworm, called microfilariae, begin to
molt inside the mosquito, maturing into infective larvae.
When the mosquito bites another dog, the microfilariae are
injected under the skin, and will molt again in about 10
days. Sixty days later, the microfilariae will molt once
more and begin their journey to the heart and lungs of the
animal. Four months later, the parasites become adult
heartworms.

Heartworms cases have been reported all around the world,
including the United States. In the U.S., the heaviest
concentration of heartworm reports has been in southeastern
states. Dogs may show no sign of heartworm disease until
the infection has become severe. Weight loss, vomiting,
respiratory distress, and lethargy are classic symptoms of
this disease.

Canine heartworm treatment is the best route in preventing
heartworms. These preventative treatments will impede
larvae from becoming adult worms. Some heartworm
preventatives available from a veterinarian include daily
or monthly tablets or chewables, injections every six
months, or monthly topicals.

Keeping your dog indoors more will minimize mosquito
contact, but is not always enough to prevent heartworms.
Using non-toxic sprays or essential oils, such as geranium
oil, can cut down on mosquito contact. All-natural tea
tree, lavender or garlic can also be used as a mosquito
repellent. Maintaining a healthy diet and immune system,
and keeping regular vet checkups, can also help keep
heartworms at bay.

If a dog has already been infected with heartworms, the
treatment can be costly, dangerous, and painful to the
animal. In advanced stages of heartworm disease, there is
no guarantee that the treatment will be effective. Dogs
that are already infected can receive treatments at home.
But, it is best that your dog be hospitalized during canine
heartworm treatment, in case caval syndrome (cardiovascular
collapse) or heart failure occurs. The animal may be
injected with a drug called adulticide and may need to have
several treatments. During this period, heartworm
preventatives should be administered to prevent
re-infection.

Canine heartworm disease can be prevented. Veterinarians
can prescribe medicines to avoid heartworm
infection--preventing long-term damage to the heart or
lungs. If your dog exhibits signs of heartworms, such as
lethargy or vomiting, take them to a vet immediately. They
may need special tretments to kill worms in the heart or
lungs. Heartworm treatment is imperative in helping your
dog live a long, healthy life.

About the Author:

Discover the best and safest canine heartworm treatment
available in the market today, including alternative
heartworm treatment for dogs. Learn all about heartworm
signs and heartworm symptoms to help you how to tell if a
dog has heartworms and extensive heartworm treatment
recovery to keep your pet in the best health possible. Go
to: http://www.canineheartwormcure.com

Pet Loss: How to Overcome Guilt

2009-11-02T02:51:00.001-08:00

Pet Loss: How to Overcome Guilt
by Rebecca Kimes

You had no way of knowing that a car's backfiring would
frighten your dog so badly he'd jump the fence, get lost,
wander on to a busy street and be tragically struck by a
car and killed.

Or that your cat would be caught and torn up by a pack of
coyotes.

Or that the hay you bought from a reputable dealer was
laced with an unknown plant that poisoned your horse.

As a responsible, caring and loving steward of your animal
companions you always do your absolute best for them.
That's why the sudden, unexpected death of your companion
can often be devastating beyond words. And to further
compound the tragedy you are overcome with guilt and blame
yourself for the death of your animal companion.

Guilt is a natural reaction when tragedy strikes. And it
can serve you if you learn from what happened and choose
differently in the future.

However, a little guilt goes a long way. If you find
yourself overcome with guilt and unable to properly grieve
and recover from your companion's death here are 2 steps
that will help you take action and free yourself from
guilt's numbing grasp.

Step 1: Let Empowering Questions Help You Heal

Your thoughts create your feelings. If you find yourself
thinking the same things over and over again like, "If I
had only..." or "Why didn't I..." or "How could I have..."
STOP. You are only entrenching yourself further in the
guilty feelings.

Instead use empowering questions to redirect your thoughts
and emotions. Empowering questions are questions you ask
yourself that engage your Creative Self.

Actively ask yourself empowering questions like: "What is
my favorite memory of my companion?" or "How can I feel
better right now about this?" or "What can I do in this
moment to release the guilt?"

Ask yourself empowering questions any time you find
yourself having thoughts of guilt and self-blame.

As you ask empowering questions your creativity is
stimulated and your thoughts are naturally redirected in a
manner that automatically helps you feel better. You'll
quickly find yourself putting your guilt in the past where
it belongs.

Step 2: Accept What Happened

Your beloved companion is gone from this world and no
amount of guilt or self-recrimination can change that.

Now is the time to look deeply within and discover your
true beliefs about death and dying.

Is it possible that your companion's Soul or Spirit
specifically chose this particular time and method to
transition?

Do you believe that although your pet isn't here
physically, he/she is now enjoying life and romping around
in the spirit realms? And you can still connect with your
pet, just in a different manner than you are used to?

As you answer these questions and the others that will
inevitably emerge allow your Soul or Expanded Self to help
you release the guilt and grief. Perhaps you can now
create a new relationship with your beloved pet. As you
do, you'll accept your pet's physical death as a natural
evolution of life and self-growth.

Although seemingly impossible at times, you can choose to
move beyond the numbing effects of guilt created from the
loss of your pet.

About the Author:

Looking for more support in dealing with the devastating
effects of guilt? Perhaps you want more guidance around
exploring your beliefs around where you pet has gone after
dying? Maybe you'd like help in contacting your pet's
spirit. Visit Becky at http://petlosssupportcenter.com and
discover her many tools and support to help you move on
with your life after the death of your pet in joy and ease.

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Is Your Dog Food Hurting your Best Friend?

2009-10-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

Title: Dog Health Food Are Preservatives Killing Your Best Friend?

Author: Mark Syme

Dog health food is fast becoming a vital part of having a
healthy dog. Knowing what is really in the food that
you're dog is vital to help your dog live a long and full
life. By avoiding the preservatives and additives in
commercial dog food, you could be adding years to your
dog's life.

With dog food labelling laws much less strict than human,
it can be hard to find out what really is put into our
dog's food. If a particular nasty ingredient doesn't
appear on the ingredients list, unfortunately that doesn't
mean it isn't there. Some preservatives such as Ethoxyquin
are routinely added to fish meal, which is then added as an
ingredient but you won't know what went into the fish meal.
It's a bit like those restaurants that can proclaim `no
added msg' because it's only the ingredients and sauces
that they use which contain it.

There are so many loopholes, which are exploited, in human
food that I shudder to think about what really goes into
the food we give our dogs. For example the preservative
Ethoxyquin has been banned for human consumption for
decades, but it's still legal to put it into our dog's
food. Insiders have confirmed that road kill is often added
to increase the protein amount, but that's not the worst by
far. In addition to toxic preservatives, there have been
reported cases of pets being recycled back into dog food
after being put down, complete with the lethal drugs still
in their flesh!

Tumours that have been removed from dying dogs have been
put into commercial dog food. So it's no wonder that
cancers, kidney failure and chronic allergies are fast
becoming an epidemic in the dog world. So when you see
`animal' meat or `animal' protein on a list of ingredients,
run a mile!

There are many, many forms of protein, which can
legitimately be put into dog food but are not really much
better than poison. And even offal, which isn't too bad as
a rule, can be quite harmful. Offal is mainly produced from
inedible organs but these organs can often have a high
concentration of pesticides and hormones from the animal
they came from. Basically, anything that can't be sold as
human grade food seems to find it's way into dog food, and
then promoted as being healthy!

It's no surprise that the incidence of severe food
allergies is rising either. Lots of corn and wheat gluten
is being used to fill out the bulk of dog food. This isn't
anything like a natural part of a dog's diet and their
digestive system doesn't really cope with it. Not many
dogs have a food intolerance when they're born, but they
can develop one later in life.

Allergies can lead to poor coat condition, bloating and
wind, low energy, aggression and even organ damage. While
often the effects are initially minor, if they are ignored,
they can develop into more serious health problems. And all
the time, your best friend can't tell you if they feel sick
after every meal they eat.

With all these things potentially making your pooch sick,
dog health food is fast becoming a vital part of having a
healthy dog. Making your own dog food is easy and fun, but
if you don't have the time, then there an increasing
variety of all natural foods being produced that you'd be
happy to give to your best friend.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Pet Euthanasia: A Compassionate Guide to Help Make a Difficult Decision a Little Easier

2009-10-29T00:48:00.001-07:00

Pet Euthanasia: A Compassionate Guide to Help Make a Difficult Decision a Little Easier
by Rebecca Kimes

Your animal companion is no longer the healthy, vital,
energetic companion he once was. In fact, he is suffering
and you are agonizing over the decision to have him
euthanized.

How do you know when the right time really is?

How do you know you are making the best decision for you
pet?

Are you being selfish in deciding to end the life of
another being?

These questions and others like them are never easy to
answer. Your animal companion has been and still is an
important part of your life and family. Saying goodbye is
never easy much less having to make the determination of
when your pet's life will end.

As you consider when/if you should euthanize your pet the
following guidelines will make the process a little easier.

1. Enlist the help of a trusted family member, friend,
advisor, coach or veternarian. Use this person as a
sounding board to help you reflect back feelings, ideas and
fears.

2. Set the intention that no matter what you have your
pet's best interest at heart.

3. Ask your Expanded Self to help you release any feelings
of guilt, shame or blame.

4. Consider the state of your pet's health by carefully
answering each of these questions. Is he able to get
around by himself or does he need help? Can he get outside
to relieve himself? Is he eating properly and maintaining
weight? Does it hurt to touch him? Is he interested in
things he used to love to do?

5. Consider your financial means. Do you have the
financial resources to properly care for an aged or ill
pet? Will this situation put a burden on you and your
family.

6. Consider your emotional being. Do you have the time
and energy to devote to your pet at this time? Is it fair
to the rest of the members of your family?

7. What are your main reasons for deciding to have your
companion euthanized?

8. What are your main reasons for deciding not to have
your companion euthanized?

9. Connect with your companion and have a conversation
with him about how he is feeling and what he would like to
see happen. This is much easier than you think...and you
are more than capable of doing this.

10. After you've considered all your options and reasons
give yourself a deadline for making a decision.

Making a decision about having your pet euthanized is never
easy. Following these 10 guidelines can help you put your
pet's welfare in the forefront and allow you to make a
heart-centered decision that is best for everyone involved.

About the Author:

Becky is a Divine Animal Healer who helps people strengthen
the bond they share with their animal companions. If you
need to make a euthanasia decision she can help. Visit her
at http://divinehealingforanimals.com She also helps
people cope with pet loss using Divine Openings. Divine
Openings frees people from negative emotions like
depression and guilt thus allowing people to live lives
with more grace, ease and joy.

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Don't Poison Your Dog By Giving Him The Wrong Food

2009-10-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food What Is Safe And What's Dangerous For Your Best Friend

Without knowing what dog health food is, you might be
feeding your best friend foods that are harming them. Some
foods can really do a lot of damage to the health of your
dog and it's important to know what's safe and what's
dangerous.

This boils down to the individual dog and their
physiological makeup. Just because you know of another dog
that ate macadamias and was fine, doesn't mean that it's
safe for your little pooch!

Here's a list of the really nasty ones that all dogs need
to avoid:

Chocolate

Most of us know about this one these days, and it really is
amazing how little chocolate can be deadly for dogs. Dark
and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous with milk
chocolate not as bad. But at the end of the day, make sure
your dog just doesn't get chocolate, unless it's specific
dog chocolate which doesn't have theobromine (the nasty
chemical in chocolate)

Onions

These damage red blood cells causing anaemia. One big
serving or regular small ones can both be harmful for a
dog. Cooked onions are safer, but still not a good idea at
all. Thankfully, dogs don't seek onions out like they do
with chocolate, but if they are getting food scraps, make
sure that there isn't any onion in it, cooked or not.

Macadamia Nuts

Can cause muscle weakness and paralysis, usually short
lasting thankfully. Just about all other nuts should be
avoided because there's too much phosphorous for a dog to
handle. Peanuts are alright because they're quite different
to other nuts.

Tea And Coffee (especially coffee grounds)

Both have a similar effect to chocolate, but often dogs
don't eat them of their own accord, so it's not such a
problem. But it's still important to make sure that your
dog doesn't get into compost that has coffee in it.

Raisons or grapes

Can cause kidney failure in even fairly small amounts, so
make sure that you don't let them too close to these either.

Taking note of this list could easily save your dog from an
early and painful death, just by being a little bit more
aware of dog health food is. A lot of the other foods that
are only potentially harmful, need to be given in large
amounts to be harmful. I hope this helps to clear up a few
misconceptions and helps your dog live a long a healthy
life.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Don't Accidentally Poison Your Dog

2009-10-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food Could Save Your Dog's Life

Dog health food has the same purpose as health food for
humans. Often our dogs health is a direct reflection of our
own. But what about the additives that we aren't even
aware of, that are being put into our dog's food? Labelling
laws are much more relaxed with dog food than human, with
many loopholes that are exploited to save money.

In the production process of dry food, once the biscuits
are made and look ready, most dogs wouldn't eat them. But
to make it more appetising, a spray of animal fat is then
applied. That's what your dog's smelling when they're
eating commercially produced kibble. That's the smell you
get when you first open a bag of dog food.

You probably don't have to think hard to come up with
something that you've seen a dog eat which you would never
even contemplate eating. So in that light, what gets put
into dog food that even a dog wouldn't eat it without a
tempting coating? Most people who've looked into the
ingredients in dog food would agree that it isn't really
even food. Often there's just nutritionally useless filler,
with a small proportion of protein and additives to put
some minerals and vitamins into it.

This is also why most dogs are always hungry, their food
has so little nutrition in it, it's no surprise they're
hungry. It's a bit like if you were to eat McDonalds for
every meal and expect to get the nourishment you need. You
wouldn't expect it for yourself so why would it work for
your dog?

A dog's metabolism needs much more animal protein and it
can't effectively process too much carbohydrate. So when
there's too much in the way of starch and carbohydrates in
a dog's food, it gets converted to fat because the dog
can't process it. They aren't getting enough protein so
they're always going to be hungry. Begging for scraps five
minutes after being fed. Does this sound like any dogs that
you know?

By changing this so that your dog is getting all of the
nutrients they need, your dog won't just be surviving,
it'll start to really thrive. And in case you've been
feeding your dog on `premium' or `ultra premium' foods
thinking that you are giving them the very best, that's
necessarily the case. Often there's very little, if any
difference in the actual ingredients of the food, just
different packaging.

So you need to make sure that there is a proper breakdown
of protein, fats and carbohydrates in the food your dog
eats. And also there is a big variation in the quality of
the protein. The regulations about what makes a complete
food suitable for dogs only concerns the gross amounts of
protein and fats, not the quality of the protein.

There are many different types of proteins, road kill and
beef are not the same quality, so you want to make sure
that there are named meats and not `animal' meat in your
dog food. Another method that is becoming more and more
common is to make your own so that you know exactly what
goes into the food the your dogs' eating.

It doesn't need to be a long winded chore and is often a
cheaper option. It's also a great way to vary your dog's
diet so that they get plenty of the nutrients that they
need. Mixing up some ground beef, vegies and oatmeal is a
great way to cover the nutritional bases that your dog
needs. You can really let your imagination go, just make
sure you avoid foods like onions, raisons and chocolate in
your recipes.

Dog health food is a lot about knowing what goes into your
dog's food and making it yourself is a great way to be 100%
certain of what you're feeding your best friend. By taking
a little time to find out what really goes into your dogs
food, you can give your dog more energy and a longer,
healthier life.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Revealed: Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dog's Allergies

2009-10-26T03:24:00.001-07:00

Who Else Wants To Cure Their Dog's Allergies With Dog Health Food?

Allergies in dogs are becoming more common everyday and
many people are turning to dog health food as an
alternative. By being aware of exactly what is really going
into your dog's food, you can spare them suffering and pain
and even add years to their life.

There's heaps of grain, by-product and preservatives going
into your dog's food too. It can be hard for us to figure
out if we have an allergy, so how much harder is it when
your dog can't even tell you if they're feeling sick from
their food? Allergies can make us all miserable and our
dogs too.

So what does a dog suffering from allergies look like?
Unlike humans the allergy usually comes out through the
skin rather than the nasal passage. Not sneezing but
itching and chewing. Often they will suffer from poor coat
condition, sometimes there's greasy layer to the coat and
an unpleasant smell. Often the dog's coat will be in a bad
way Also your dog can get hot spots. These are itchy areas
that often cause quite a lot of distress and irritation for
the dog. They'll end up as open sores that can take a long
time to heal. And short haired dogs can get these just as
much as long haired ones. They are most common at the base
of the tail, but can occur anywhere.

Some dogs can really benefit from regular bathing in a
hypoallergenic shampoo, as this will strip off the dirt and
bacteria that can cause or contribute to the allergic
reaction. If this is combined with a treatment to soothe
the skin it can bring a lot of relief to your dog. Doing
this every day is a good way to break the cycle in severe
cases.

One more common way for allergies and sensitivities to
exhibit is a constant scratching and worrying at particular
area. This is something that is distressing for your dog
and we want a solution right now to give them some relief.

Dogs can be allergic to the same sort of things that humans
are like pollen, dust mites and mould. So a good first
step is to simply make sure that your house is kept clean,
from dust and mould.

Another allergy that dogs can develop is food allergies.
It is rare for dogs to be born with a food allergy and it
usually develops to a certain ingredient in the food that
they are having. Often this is a grain that is being used
to bulk out the food. These grains are commonly corn and
wheat gluten that is a useless by-product of the human food
industry. It is then put in our dog food and supposed to
be healthy! There is not any real nutritional value in this
and it isn't surprising that it causes allergy and
sensitivity, especially after years of consumption.

While it is important for our dogs to have some sort of
vegetable matter to give them the complete nutrients that
they need, grains should only make up a small part of the
total diet. Meat proteins and animal fat are much more
important parts of the canine diet.

In many foods there is a preservative called Ethoxyquin
which has been linked to many allergies and even cancer.
So reading the ingredients list is really important to your
dog having the best health possible. But the problem is
that sometimes the nasty preservatives can be hidden or
added before the final processing, so it won't appear on
the list of ingredients.

It's more important today then ever to be aware of what is
really going into the food that we feed our dogs and dog
health food is a great way of giving the best to your
pooch. By making sure that we only give them the most
nutritious food, we can add years to their life and more
energy everyday. It's really a little effort for a
fantastic and lasting pay off.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care, so it's our responsibility to know what goes
into the dog food that we give them. To keep your best
friend healthy and add years to their life, subscribe to
our dog health food newsletter. You'll find out exactly
what goes into commercial dog food and how to make your own
at home, cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Dog Training Courses - Which Method is Right for You?

2009-10-24T05:21:00.001-07:00

Dog Training Courses - Which Method is Right for You?

Dog training courses can mean the difference between having
a happy dog and happy life - or not. Dogs are happier,
healthier and safer when they have loving boundaries set
for them and that's what dog training courses help you
learn to set for your dog.

First let's take a look at the overall methods that dog
training courses use. If you find a method that suits you
best, you will know the type of course that will best for
you and your dog.

Types of Dog Training Courses

Reward Training: Emphasizes positive reinforcement --
instead of punishing or yelling at your dog for what you
don't want him to do, you reward your dog for doing what
you want him to do. Rewards consist of praise and petting
as well as treats. Treats are especially used in the early
learning stages of a new behavior.

Dog Whispering: Dog Whispering is more of a general
philosophy than a method. This is a more advanced method
that should taken on by dog lovers who feel very confident
in their connection with their dogs and are interested in
learning about canine behaviors, motivation and body
language.

Choke or Check Collar Training: Choke collars are collars
that slip over a dogs head onto it neck and tighten down on
the dogs neck when it pulls too hard on its leash. Choke
collars were designed for professional trainers and for
limited use - there is a health risk to your dog's neck and
trachea when using them. In general, dog training courses
that emphasize choke or check collar training are not
recommended.

Prong Collar Training: Don't even think about this method.
A prong collar has metal ends that stick into a dog's flesh
and digs into its neck when it pulls on its leash. Inhumane
period!

Head Collar Training: Very humane collar that gently
redirects a dog's attention or the way you want him to go
instead of punishing or hurting him as the two methods
directly above do. Very effective especially when used with
Reward Training.

Clicker Training: This method takes a hand-held clicker,
which oddly enough makes a "clicking" noise when squeezed.
During clicker training, a dog is reinforced in behaviors
with doggie treats paired with the clicking noise. At some
point, the treats will be eliminated and the dog will know
it has done something right simply by hearing the clicking
noise. Very effective.

Electric Collar Training: As the name implies, this type of
training involves your dog wearing a collar in which you
are able to administer an electric shock to discourage
certain behaviors. this method should only be used by
professional trainers in the most extreme circumstances. If
you are reading this blog, collar training is not for you
-- or your dog.

Ultrasonic Whistle Training: You know of the dog whistles
that you can't hear but a dog can - right? This method uses
these whistles to get your dog's attention as well as to
train him. You will need to be trained in this method first.

About the Author:

Barry Sowder owns an older rescued terrier-mix, Spencer,
and a young pure-bred Collie, Olivia. Find the best dog
training courses for you and your dog at his blog,
available at: => http://www.dogtrainingcourses-1.com/

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Dog's Head out the Car Window: A Dangerous Habit

2009-10-23T05:16:00.001-07:00

Dog's Head out the Car Window: A Dangerous Habit

For most pups, the best part of a car ride is feeling the
breeze in their furry faces as they stick their head out
the window. Despite the feel good nature of this
pleasurable experience, it's actually a very dangerous
habit.

In the early days of automobiles, most cars did not have
windshields and their top speed was approximately 45 mph.
Given those conditions, drivers wore goggles to protect
their eyes. Now that we have windshields to protect us,
you wouldn't consider sticking your unprotected head out
the window at 45 mph. Then why let your dog?

Allowing your dog to let it stick its head out the window
is a very dangerous habit. Their eyes are exposed to dirt,
rocks, dust and other debris. These materials can easily
puncture and scratch your dog's eyes. A line of pet
goggles have come out which are to help prevent these types
of injuries. However, even if you can train your dog not
to paw them off their heads, there are still many other
dangers when your dog's head is out the window while
driving.

Damage to the ears is another big concern. When the dog's
ears flap in the wind, their soft earflaps (pinnae) can
easily become irritated, swell and become very tender. The
constant and rapid flapping of the pinnae against your
dog's head from high-speed winds causes trauma to the ear
and results in swelling. Repeated trauma such as this can
cause lifelong problems for your pup.

Allowing your dog to stick its head out the window can also
lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling out of the
car or getting their head stuck in the window opening.
Taking a turn a bit too fast, traveling over bumpy terrain
or an overly excited pup can cause your dog to lose balance
and easily fall out of the window. These types of incidents
occur more frequently than one might imagine and can cause
severe injury or death to dogs.

It should go without saying; but another very dangerous
idea is to allow your dog to ride in the bed of a pickup
truck. All of the dangers of sticking its head out the
window from inside the car are increased, since the bed of
a pickup offers little or no protection from wind, debris,
or falls. In addition, a pickup's metal bed can reach
dangerously high temperatures on hot days, which can cause
damage to the soft tissue on a dog's paws.

The best place for your dog to ride is in the back seat or
cargo area of your vehicle, properly restrained of course.
Utilizing a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle pet barrier,
or a travel crate is the best ways to ensure that your
pup's travels are happy and safe. Sure, crack the window,
but no heads out!

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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5 Additives That Could Be Poisoning Your Dog - Dog Health Food Is A Great Alternative

2009-10-21T23:32:00.001-07:00

5 Additives That Could Be Poisoning Your Dog Dog Health Food Is A Great Alternative

Dog health food isn't just a luxury anymore if we want our
best friends to be as healthy as possible. It's not just
human food that is full of additives and fillers. Often
the leftover food that has little or no nutritional value
is being put into our dogs food. Here's 5 of the top
things to avoid in the food that you're giving to your dog.

1. Generic Fats And Proteins

If we want our dogs to eat well, why would we even consider
giving them food with "animal meat' as a primary
ingredient? Would you buy `animal meat' from the
supermarket and serve it to the rest of your family? I hope
not!

Generic meat can hide all manner of substandard animal
parts that you wouldn't knowingly give your dog. So to
keep using the cheapest parts they label them with a very
vague term like animal meat. This could always be a nice
cut of meat, but let's face it, if there was beef in the
food, they'd be labeling that way, not `animal'.

While it's true that dogs in the wild would eat just about
all the parts of an animal. Not too many wild animals
would have concentrated growth hormones and pesticides in
their organs. We've all heard of things like roadkill and
pet bodies being put into our dog's food, but we're never
quite sure. There's a whole bunch of nasty things that can
be put in under the term `animal' so it's probably the most
important thing to avoid in your dog's food

2. Corn Or Wheat Gluten Meal

These are cheap by-products of the human food industry that
have been put into dog food. These forms of protein are
incomplete for a dog so they aren't put in there for the
dog's dietary needs, just because it's a cheap way to fill
out dog food. This is also a handy little rule of thumb to
judge the quality of the rest of the food. Either of these
ingredients is a pretty good indicator that the food is
going to be poor quality overall. There's also a higher
chance that there's cheap but toxic preservatives and
additives in there too.

Rice and soy protein concentrate are slightly higher
quality but still have the problem in that they're
incomplete proteins. For a dog's nutritional needs there
is a vast difference between a pant protein and a meat
protein

3. Meat By-Product Or Digest

These are usually parts of the animals that are considered
unfit for human consumption. Why would we want to feed to
our dogs something that we wouldn't even consider? Quite
apart from that, usually those parts aren't eaten because
they are places that toxins concentrate within the body.

Some by-products may be listed as fit for human
consumption, but unless this is specifically stated it's
pretty safe to assume that it's no good.

4. Ethoxyquin

This is a cheap and commonly used preservative that extends
the shelf life of the dog food by stopping the fat from
going rancid. However this particular preservative has
been banned for human consumption and has also been linked
to many pet health problems.

There have been many cases of dogs developing skin and coat
problems from having foods containing Ethoxyquin added to
their diet. Conversely it has been noted that within days
or weeks of stopping the consumption of foods containing
Ethoxyquin, serious long-term health problems have cleared
up. And this is just the most researched effect of
Ethoxyquin, with plenty more possible nasty side effects.

5. Too Many Grains

While some grains are actually a good source of minerals
for dogs, often there's far too much of them to be healthy.
Grains can fill out the bulk of the food without meeting
the nutritional needs of your dog.

Grains and grain by products are often the waste from the
production of human food and although there is a certain
amount of protein in grains and cereals, it really isn't
the same as animal proteins. Meat is the type of protein
that dogs will get the most nourishment out of. Grains on
the other hand are not something that dogs would be eating
the wild and so their body has a hard time digesting it
properly. This leads to them overeating because they're
not getting enough nutrients but at the same time getting
too much in the way of carbohydrates that they can't deal
with. This often leads to dogs getting obese.

With all the sneaky labeling on commercial food, knowing
about dog health food is really a key component to giving
your dog the very best. Giving them the best possible
nutrition is vital and will add years to their life and
they'll be much more healthy and have more energy. It's up
to us to get educated and give our dogs what they really
need for the best nourishment.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Bad Dog Training Tricks - Training Tricks for Dogs and Owners

2009-10-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

Bad Dog Training Tricks - How to Correct Bad Dog Behavior

Training a dog in obedience is not a simple task when the
dog's owner has not received proper training himself. The
majority of dog owners do not know how to train their dog
and expect the animal to think like humans, which lead to
quite a lot of disappointment. There are simple methods
that can be learned by reading obedience training books or
watching dog training DVDs in addition to attending dog
training classes with a qualified dog trainer, dog and
owner together.

The most important thing in training a dog is to use basic
communication that the dog has learned to understand and
obey. There are 5 basic commands accepted as standard in
English, that all dogs should respond to: sit, down, stay,
heel and come. The command words used are not important but
consistency in their use is. The same words in Spanish will
be understood by a dog that has been trained in the
corresponding language.

The purpose of training a dog is to have the animal behave
properly when around members of the family, invited
strangers and other pets. It is recommended to begin
training when the puppy arrives in its new home to correct
unwanted dog behavior and teach discipline. Basic training
classes with a professional trainer start with puppies of a
least 3 to 6 months old, and before that time, the owner
should prepare himself and read a few books on the subject.

Training a dog is all about good communication between the
dog and the owner. The dog has to understand and obey
simple commands while the handler has to interpret the
dog's signals when it is nervous, excited, confused or
happy. Obedience training is to train the dog, according to
the owner's perspective, what behaviors are good and which
are bad.

There are four signals used by dog trainers to communicate
with the dog:

- The reward signal for correct behavior, letting the dog
know it has earned a reward.
- The keep going signal for correct behavior, telling the
dog it has to carry on in order to get a reward.
- The no reward signal for incorrect behavior, to tell the
dog to try something new.
- The punishment signal for incorrect behavior, to tell the
dog it has earned a punishment.

These signals can be sent with simple words or with a
little mechanical clicker.

Obedience training is most of the time a short course of 6
to 10 weeks when the owner learns how to communicate and
train his animal with a few basic commands. Breeds like the
Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd are easier to
train than others with a minimum amount of time but all
dogs can be trained, even the most challenging.

About the Author:

Michel Gerard is a freelance author based in Asia. His
expertise is wide and varied in a number of topics. Visit
the Bad Dog Training Tricks website and stop your bad dog
behavior before it is too late =>
http://www.baddogtrainingtricks.com

__,_._,___

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

2009-10-19T05:29:00.001-07:00

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

Every responsible pet caretaker wants to take the best
possible care of their companion. This includes
preventative care including a proper vaccination schedule.

Once animals are given their core vaccines they are
typically given a yearly booster. In the case of horses, a
twice per year booster is usually recommended.

Have you ever wondered why people get vaccinated only as
children for most diseases, yet animals need to be
revaccinated every year, sometimes twice a year, for life?

For years now holistic veterinarians have voiced objections
to yearly vaccines. However long practiced habits and
routines are hard to break.

Recently there has been much scientific evidence showing
that yearly vaccines could be hurting your pet more than
helping it.

The practice of vaccinating pets began in the 1950s when
rabies and distemper were all to common and very lethal.
At that time, little was understood about the natural
immune system of animals and vaccines were in their infant
stages.

Today our understanding of the immune system has vastly
improved. In addition, the potency of vaccines has
increased immensely. For example, many vaccines are now
available for dogs and cats which protect against six or
seven viruses in a single shot.

To understand how vaccines affect your animal you must
first consider how they work. Essentially vaccines deliver
antigens, something that the body considers an invading
organism, into your pets body. This stimulates the body's
immune system which produces specific antibodies or
protection against the foreign antigens.

Yearly boosters can easily over-stress your pet's immune
system. Especially since todays vaccines introduce
multiple antigens (protection for different diseases) all
at the same time. If your pet's immune system is currently
fighting some sort of problem like an ear infection or
allergy it is all too easy to cause more problems than you
are trying to prevent.

Evidence of over-stressed pet immune systems is increasing.
Today dog allergies are the number one cause of
veterinarian visits. An allergy is simply a misguided
immune system. For example, if you dog is allergic to
corn, it isn't the corn thats the problem. The problem is
that your pet's immune system thinks corn is an antigen and
is "properly" responding to the invader.

In the mid-1990s, cats began developing malignant tumors
between their shoulder blades--right where they are
typically vaccinated. The correlation is all too clear.

Current research shows that the immunity created from a
vaccination shot lasts 3-4 years. So why are some
veterinarians still recommending yearly boosters?

Vaccines are an important tool in disease prevention and
keeping your pet healthy. However it is your
responsibility and right to have a candid conversation with
your veterinarian about creating a vaccination schedule
that properly supports your pet's health.

About the Author:

Becky Kimes is a Divine Animal Healer and Pet Loss Grief
Recovery Coach. If your pet is suffering from a poor
immune system or plagued with allergies Becky can help.
Visit her at http://divinehealingforanimals.com and
schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discover
how she can help your pet return to optimal health.

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Potty Training For Puppies and Adult Dogs

2009-10-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

Potty Training For Puppies and Adult Dogs

When you have made the decision that your family needs a
new member and you've opted to adopt or purchase a puppy,
you are going to have to make some changes to your routine.
It is a time consuming but necessary process, that of
beginning to potty train a puppy.

We start out each day with a fresh diaper and go from
there. Many puppy owners also use this method to assist
them in training their new pet to control their bladder and
eliminate large messes. You can approach this task in
several ways. One of the most successful seems to be one
which involves crating.

Dog crates aid in the potty training process by allowing
the pet owner to keep an animal isolated, particularly
during the day when the owner may be at work or otherwise
away from the animal. At these times, it is usually
difficult for the puppy to hold its bladder.

Before crating became popular, most new puppy owners were
forced to try to put their pets in a confined area and put
newspapers down to try to keep their carpeting or floors
from being destroyed. Now, special puppy training pads are
made to help with the issue. They are much more absorbent
than newspaper. There is a very large industry that has
been created, trying to aid dog owners in their quest for
full potty training, beginning with their young puppies.

First the puppy owner should take precautions to let their
puppy know that they need to do their business outside. The
quickest and easiest way to get the puppy to do this is by
taking the puppy outside as frequently as possible and
encouraging the dog to go to the bathroom while they are
outside. When your puppy goes outside and does their
business, praise them.

It is easier to get the puppy to realize that this is where
they should be going to the bathroom when you encourage
them and reward their positive behavior. Many puppy owners
take their dogs out once an hour to make sure that they
understand what to do and where. Many people use treats as
a reinforcement to praise.

It is wise to place some of the puppy pads on the floor in
your home, even when you are at home, so that if there are
any accidents, the animal will hopefully learn to keep them
on the pads. Even though it is not ideal for the animal to
go to the bathroom on the pads, it is still a better step
than them using the bathroom on your floors or carpeting.

For this reason, you may wish to reward your dog for going
on the pads, as well. Once your puppy realizes that he or
she will be going outside soon, it is easier to get them to
hold their needs. There's no quick and easy way to potty
train a puppy, but taking these steps should definitely
help.

About the Author:

Find out more on Potty Training by consulting more experts
and pick up a Free Mini-Course.
http://www.allabout-dogs.co.uk/potty-training-a-puppy

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dogs Dermatitis And Arthritis

2009-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dogs Dermatitis And Arthritis

Dog health food could be the answer you've been looking
for. By making your own or getting truly natural food for
your best friend, you can avoid the potentially life
threatening side effects of commercial dog food. Labels
with misleading terms can make it almost impossible to wade
through the ingredients list and find a truly nutritional
dog food.

So when was the last time that you actually looked at the
ingredient list on your dog's food? Go ahead and have a
look now. Do you know what meal is exactly? What about the
preservatives? What are they doing to your dog?

Well, from a nutritional point of view you need a certain
ration of protein, fat and carbohydrate to give your dog
their full spectrum of nutrients. Often you'll see ratios
like 40% meat 50% vegetables and 10% grain. While not
wrong, this can be a bit confusing. The actual ratios that
you want to achieve are based on protein (25-30%), fat
(30-35%) and carbohydrate (35-45%). Then you need to look
at exactly what ingredients make up those ratios. I mean,
lean meat isn't going to add much to the proportion of fat,
compared to a really fatty type of meat.

Often you'll also see carbohydrates being dismissed,
however they are an important part of a dog's health, but
it's when they are the main ingredient used to fill out the
bulk of the food that it becomes a problem.

Sometimes, pet food companies use cheap grains as a filler
for the food so the ratio might be more like 70-80%
carbohydrates, so this isn't going to be the best for your
dog in the long run. And can lead to allergies and
dermatitis just like in humans. After all it's a bit hard
to imagine a German shepherd grazing on the African
savannah isn't it? They aren't herbivores so we shouldn't
feed them like they are.

And what about preservatives? A common and hotly disputed
one is ethoxyquin. This is used to preserve that fat
component from breaking down, but it has been linked to
problems ranging from dermatitis to cancerous tumors and
dramatically shortened life spans. Unfortunately pet food
labeling requirements aren't as strict as human ones, so
some companies are adding this horrible preservative but
aren't actually listing it on the label. Which makes it
pretty difficult to track down, if you want to keep using
commercial dog food but keep your dog healthy. This is one
of the most dangerous additives but not the only one that
is routinely added to dog food and hidden.

But what about the actual protein and fat content? What
exactly are the proteins used? Some research has found a
range of horrible animal parts that have been put into dog
food. Offal and by products of other animals and even
euthanized pets, their plastic tags and lethal chemicals
intact! So just because there's 30% protein, that doesn't
mean that it's something you'd be wanting your dog to eat!

It's easy to see why more people are beginning to make
their own dog food. In many cases it'll be cheaper and far
better quality. You can give your dog a variety of meats,
you can control the quality and you can eliminate all those
nasty chemicals. And it doesn't take long either. Many
people cook up a batch once a week and freeze it. Or you
can opt for a baked biscuit type of food with all your
dog's favorite goodies in there.

Dog health food is fast changing from a luxury for pampered
pooches to an essential component of keeping your best
friend healthy. They trust us to give them what they need,
so it's up to us to get educated about what really goes
into their food.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life? To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Make Sure That You're Not Damaging Your Dogs Health

2009-10-12T04:26:00.001-07:00

Title: Dog Health Food - Are You Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Dog Health Food - Are You Poisoning Your Best Friend?

We all like to think that we are giving our dogs the very
best and dog health food is a vital part of this equation.
By not giving them the nutrition they need, we can make
their lives miserable and even cause them to die years
before they should.

What is animal meal exactly? Meal is made by processing
meat or fish. Cooking it, blending it into a puree and
baking it. This sounds like it's not going to affect the
content of the meat. However it's one of those cases where
they can get away with putting preservatives and other
things into the meal, but then it doesn't appear on the
ingredients list because it was't added as part of the
final processing of the food.

Fish meal is the worst offender as far as toxic
preservatives go. The meal is made on the fishing boat
while they are at sea and the law says that it has to be
preserved with a chemical called ethoxyquin. This is due to
the fact that unpreserved fish meal can become extremely
explosive. On the surface it seems ok, but ethoxyquin is
unfit for human consumption because it's so toxic.

In dogs it has been linked to many health disorders ranging
from chronic skin problems to cancer and liver failure.
Because this preservative is added before the fish meal
arrives at the manufacturing plant, it doesn't need to be
listed on the list of ingredients. However, unless there
is a specific statement that the fish meal does not contain
ethoxyquin, you can assume that it does, like the
overwhelming majority of fish meal.

Other types of animal meal are not always going to be as
bad but you won't know just by reading the label. A good
guide is to avoid 'animal' meal - would you buy animal meat
for dinner? Using the term animal is an easy way to
disguise the true origins of the meat. You want to look
for specific animal meat like beef and chicken. listed on
the ingredients to be sure.

There is still some discussion about whether meal or plain
meat is a better option. This is because even though meal
is processed and may contain some chemical nasties, it is
more concentrated because it's been dried and so has more
protein per gram than meat which has a higher water content.

Another tactic that is often used, is to list some sort of
meat protein as the first ingredient and the next few being
cereals so that it looks like there's plenty of protein
when in reality, there's a whole lot of filler and not much
meat.

By using too many grains to bulk out the food, your dog is
just getting empty carbohydrates. While some grains are
part of an ideal diet it's in a quite small proportion to
the amount of protein. This can contribute to dogs
suffering from allergies and them not really being
satisfied by their food. It's a bit like expecting white
bread for dinner to keep you full and healthy.
Unfortunately our pooches can't tell us if they like it or
not.

Dog health food can get around all of these problems, by
making it yourself you can make sure that only the best
goes into your dogs dinner. It's simple and will often
save you money. Best of all though, you'll be adding years
of life to your dog, giving them more energy and doing the
best thing for your best friend.

About the Author:

With all the preservatives that go into food these days, we
need to think about dog health food to make sure our best
friends have the best life possible. If you'd like to
receive a newsletter full of tips about how to make
delicious, healthy meals and what really goes into dog
food, click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

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