Dog Bakery - A Good Idea2

By: Teri Salvador
Most dog owners know the nutritional needs of our dogs and they are: Proteins and Amino Acids, Fats and Fatty Acids, Energy Needs, Vitamins, Minerals and water. Pretty basic stuff, we don’t need a degree to resolve that question, and its very similar to a human’s nutritional needs to keep us health and alive.

It seems that other countries are following the lead of our entrepreneurs who are catering to a whole new world of pet foods and treats for our favourite dog. One must guard against over feeding with this abundance of dog treats, and watch the caloric intake. If your dog is getting overweight you can see the fat deposits on its back, and the waistline seems to disappear. Obesity is now a great concern amongst pet owners, of both dogs and cats. One out of four pets have an obesity problem, and it can increase with age and lack of exercise.

The health risks are diabetes which was once rare amongst the dog population is now an epidemic. A boring lifetime of commercial based pet foods has made its contributions and other refined carbohydrates are also factors in dog obesity. Dogs do eat meat, but they are not strictly chained to meat products. The diet of a dog can include a wide range of vegetables, and plant based proteins. Older dogs need more protein to maintain good health and we will address that in upcoming articles.

In these dog days of summer, we also need to insure proper hydration and that means water bowls everywhere, inside, outside and on the road trips. Stay in the shade if outdoors and only for short periods of time. Talk walks in the early morning rather than later in the afternoon, or later in the evening when it is cooler. Pour water on your dog if you feel their temperature is very warm. If your dog is panting heavily that is a sure sign of overheating, to prevent heat stress. Water is a basic necessity for your dogs health.

In summary, to insure a properly balanced diet there is much room for improvement in the dog food industry and we look forward to the these changes so that the fear of feeding our dogs becomes less of an issue in making good nutritional meal plans for our best friends. Written by: Teri Salvador
http://www.DogHealth1.com

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Dog Bakery - A Good Idea1

By Teri Salvador
A report from Singapore where they opened a Dog Bakery has been circulated on the news network. As we all know that idea has been around for quite a while in this country. I remember Three Dog Bakery when it first established a store way back in the late 1980’s, and they were the World’s First Dog Bakery. It reminds one of that era and our college years when the rock group “Three Dog Night” were churning out great songs. That rock group, appeared in Milwaukee a few years ago, are still rocking although we are all somewhat older rockers.

Since those early years Three Dog Bakery has exploded and now have Dog Bakery Franchises all over the world, Dog Recipe Books, and very healthy products which have been honed through the years with meticulous care of choosing ingredients to tantalize your dog’s palate. I would predict this chain will increase in numbers in the coming years, with the explosion of the dog foods scandal, and the popularity of these doggy treats.

Recipe books from Three Dog Bakery encourage pet owners to turn on that oven and make some at home, its fun to make them, and could include the whole family in taking care of your dog. Your dog will also appreciate them so much.

The Singapore bakery opened in 2004, a bakery that only caters to dogs is on a busy traffic route in Singapore. It has taken them this long to clone our Three Dog Night Bakery and discovering just how good we can be to our dogs. They named this bakery the “US Doggie Bakery”. You have to wonder if the humans have to wait outside chained to the fire hydrant, or whether they are allowed to eat the treats? However one has to wonder why they established it in a gas station, perhaps it is a pit stop for your dog and your car.

Dog food at this level, is supposedly safe for human consumption except for items that are not geared to humans. One would expect that common sense would prevail and people would eat their own food and isn't that a sign of better products available for our pooches!

After perusing the product line it does not compare to Three Dog Bakery. The Singapore products such as Mini Pizza, Chicken and Cheese, and Quiche contain no preservatives, no salt, but look rather bland from the pictures seen in the news item released a few days ago. However, Three Dog Bakery has such ingredients as: Garlic, Apples, Wheat, Egg, Milk, Honey, Vanilla, Blueberries, Cranberries, Egg, Milk and Molasses. Their wheat is wholesome, which means no additives, all natural and comes from whole grains which adds more fiber and vitamins. They have a team of experts that track down the best wheat producers - that is how far one should go to get the finest ingredients for our dogs health. The whole pet food industry is on the alert since the pet food scandal of March 2007, and people just will not tolerate low standards on ingredients that go into our pet food chain.

Apples? Dogs eat apples? Blueberries? They sure do. My dog often chases a little green apple around the park, and chews it, now how is that so much better than a rubber ball? Its nutritious, its fun, it’s a little green thing that the dog’s brain thought was great to chase, its biodegradable, and best of all the dog ate it. No garbage, and no harm to the environment. A natural diet will increase your dog’s metabolic rate, helps to regulate hormones, and cope with diseases.
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How to Remain Best Friends with your Dog

By: Craig Wilson
There is no doubt that a dog can be a man's or woman's best friend but let's face it if your best friend went around digging up your yard and chewing your favorite shoes the friendship would be a bit strained to say the least. If it was just natural instinct for your best friend to do this you may have a hard time changing his ways and both sides would feel very frustrated.

This scenario can often be the case when dealing with a un-rulely canine. The poor dog is only doing what comes naturally to him or her and you just want to protect your belongings. This is where a good training program can come to the rescue, before you do something that you will regret later!

With the right techniques your dog will learn what is acceptable and what is not and develop an understanding that you are the one that decides what behavior is allowed and what behavior is not. Dogs are exceptionally loyal and respectful animals and these traits need to be nurtured to bring out the best in your animal. Using treats and rewards at the right times and praising your dog when he does something right is the start of this nurturing process.

On the flip-side, being overly aggressive towards your dog will bring on a feeling of fear and the dog is likely to either become equally aggressive or retreat into submissiveness, which is not a relationship that is based on loyalty and respect. Sure, when your dog does something that it is not allowed to do, it needs to be shown in a firm way that it's done the wrong thing. The dog needs to be told "no" in a firm, strong voice and perhaps a tap on the snout if the behavior continues will be needed to reinforce your commands. Patience needs to be exercised as well, over time your dog will learn what the word "no" means.

The amount of time that you spend with your dog can also be a deciding factor in how quickly they respond to your training efforts. How many times have you seen dog owners welcomed at their front gate by a dog that is close to wetting itself with excitement! They love people and crave interaction with the people that give them attention so naturally they will be more receptive to someone that they simply love being around. Owning a dog can be a beneficial relationship for both parties and any time that you can spare to work on this relationship will definitely be worth your while.

Next time you find yourself getting angry over the garden beds being dug up again, take a step back and put yourself in the dog's shoes. He is only doing what comes naturally and can't understand why all the yelling and swearing. No wonder there is dog obedience classes popping up everywhere!


For more information on controlling your canine and reviews of online dog training resources please visit Tried n Tested.

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Normal Amount Of Dog Sleep

By Jerry Brecken
Theories abound why we sleep -- from the concept which holds that sleeping consolidates memories to that which claims that sleeping is a way of conserving energy. At an average, humans sleep eight to 10 hours every day, bats and opossums for 18 to 20 hours, while elephants and giraffes for only three to four hours. But now, you have probably noticed that your dog sleeps twice longer than you do. And, most probably, your observation caused you some worries. In the end, you may end up thinking just why your dog is spending long hours sleeping on its crate ?

Take a look at the following facts to help you understand the underlying factors on your dog's extraordinary sleeping habit:

Since dogs are good hunters, they spend less energy landing at a prey, which gives them more sleeping time (approximately up to 16 hours) than humans. Dogs enjoy this unfair advantage over humans. Because they only spend little from the energy stored in their body, they dedicate most of their time slumbering significantly longer than humans do.

Dogs' sleeping hours are greatly affected by various orientations. These orientations pertain to dogs' activities, health, age, and breed, as well as environmental or weather conditions. Consider these:

-- Dogs who are treated as pets generally sleep longer compared to dogs who are doing different activities, and since dogs basically have fewer tasks and responsibilities than humans, they are expected to have longer sleeping hours.

-- Dogs that are suffering from illnesses, undergo medications, suffer from depression, hypothyroidism, and senility generally sleep longer than normal.

-- Middle-aged dogs require approximately 16 hours of sleep daily, while older ones slumber much longer. This perhaps, is why dogs of this age bracket tend to be less mobile than the younger ones. Hence, they have the luxury of being idle. And idleness, like in the case of humans, is a perfect excuse for sleeping.

-- Dogs have the tendency to sleep more during sunny days.

Determining the desirable sleeping hours that your pet should only have every day is a hard task. This is basically due to the interaction of the different factors mentioned earlier. Thus, there can't really be a standard regarding dogs' sleeping hours because it is dependent on the above-mentioned elements.

Basically, you shouldn't be worried if your dog sleeps longer than you do. Just make sure that it immediately reacts to sudden bursts of noise or other activities. Older dogs fall under a slightly different case as their failure to be alert may be caused by difficulty in hearing.

Experts advise that you immediately contact a veterinarian when your dog suddenly deviates from the activities that it normally does as this is indicative of an unseen problem. However, always remember that only prolonged changes in your dog's sleeping habits need an expert's advice. To be sure, ask for help if you notice indications, like when your dog is sleeping at a higher or lower rate than the usual or is visibly lethargic-- shows signs of sadness, depression, aggressiveness, or a sudden change in weight.


Jerry Brecken is a writer for www.dogbedsforyou.com , a website where you can choose among the popular varieties of dog furniture and pet beds such as the canopy dog bed for your beloved pet.

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Help Your Dog Sleep Through The Night

By Jerry Brecken
Dogs, like humans, also experience sleepless nights for some reasons that are apparently found in our homes. In this regard, it is very important that dog owners have a keen sense of observation when it comes to a dog's sleeping disorder. Although this may seem like a very ambitious task, a careful attention paid on a dog's well-exhibited difficulties in sleeping is proven beneficial both to the dog and its owner.

However, as with all the other problems concerning the behavior and habits of a dog, the solution to the problem does not take effect after a mere 24 hours. This requires practice and constant monitoring of the dog's reaction to the drills. But, the task can be actually made simple if dog owners would take the full responsibility in performing the following:

Observe and take a careful note on any change that might have triggered the occurrence of modification in your dog's sleeping habits. Your dog may be reacting to several situations like a sudden change in its crate or lounge, or in your furniture set-up, a stressful incident, or a house party. Keep in mind that the smallest change in its environment will cause some sort of a disturbance in your dog's schema of daily events, which will lead to difficulty in sleeping. Identify what is the cause and do something about it, like re-arranging the furniture to their original plan that your dog has been accustomed to, or putting the dog back in the crate where it is used to take a rest.

Give the dog a well-balanced diet. The diet depends on your dog's age. This usually requires more calorie intake for young dogs. Such distribution gives puppies the essential nutrients they need for their growth. On the other hand, older dogs require just the right amount of calories that will support their daily activities.

For the most part, the diet is effective if you always let your dog eat on time, if not earlier than its bedtime. This is particularly important as dogs are energetic after meals. Feeding your dog a short moment before it should actually sleep will most likely give it the energy to move around, bark, and whine while the neighborhood is asleep.

Provide supplements that will help your dog relax. Calming products (which are usually taken orally) will do the magic as these will provide relief from restlessness, nervousness, fear, and aggression, which will yield to a sound slumber for both of you.

Have your dog undergo daily exercise. Generally, your dog should have at least 40 minutes of walking, running, and other exercise regimen everyday. If your dog has too much stored energy, it is more likely to be wriggly at night, just when you are having a beautiful dream. Helping your dog to tire itself before bed time will be ideal, as it will be drained of any excess energy, which can spell sleep disruptions to both of you.

Set a definite sleeping time. Help your dog practice a definite sleeping time. Ideally, you should pattern your dog's bedtime to yours.

Keep your pet's sleeping area clean and comfortable. See to it that your dog doesn't sleep on a damp, cold area, as it will be a major cause of restlessness. Give your pet comfort items like blanket or pillow. Remember that your main goal is to provide total comfort and security for your dog. Dog beds and dog crates will do the trick.


Jerry Brecken is a writer for www.dogbedsforyou.com, a website where you can choose among the popular varieties of dog furniture and pet beds such as the canopy dog bed for your beloved pet.

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Introduction to clicker-training your dog.2

By: Wencke Solberg
To test that the association has been made, you could try to click the clicker when the dog is not paying attention to you. If the dog immediately reacts and looks towards you as if waiting for a reward, the association has been made.

Clicker-training

When the dog associates the mere sound of the clicker with the expectancy of a reward you can use the clicker to mark desired behaviours. At the precise moment the dog does something desirable, you click and reward promptly. The most important thing in clicker training is timing. Since the clicker rewards whatever behaviour is occurring at that exact moment, clicking a little too early or a little too late might reinforce a completely different behaviour than intended.

Another crucial element is creating opportunities for the dog to earn rewards frequently. Among professionals a reinforcement rate of one C/T (click/treat) every three seconds is common.

It is also important to break down the tasks into smaller sub-tasks, which is called chaining. Another technique is to start out with easy-to-meet criteria and gradually tighten them.

Example: How to use clicking to train a dog to flip a lightswitch:

The first step here is to teach the dog to touch a target, such as a small plastic-piece, with its nose. Initially, you could try putting something edible on the target. Another method called shaping simply requires putting the target where the dog can reach it and rewarding the dog every time he comes close or touches the target.

When the dog consistently touches the target, you will move on to a target in different positions and eventually transfer the desired behaviour (which is pressing with their nose on it) to the lightswitch. This can be done in a number of ways, but most commonly by putting the plastic target on the lightswitch and therefore rewarding pressing the lightswitch. You can choose to have the dog do this task on command (such as “lights on”) or to give him a wanted reward (such as “if you switch the light on, I will open the door”). In the latter case, you add the act of opening the door to reward as the dog presses the lightswitch.

Clicker-training can be used to reinforce most behaviours in a dog and is counted as a very mild form of training, using the so-called positive approach (reward but no punishment). Clicker-training can also be incorporated into different styles of training and is a very versatile tool for many dog-trainers. Good luck.
Wencke is the webmaster of http://dogbookreviews.5gbfree.com (English) and http://hundebokanmeldelser.5gbfree.com (Norwegian) and has several years of experience in writing useful reviews concentrating on dog-related books. Her main objective is promoting a happy, healthy way of training your dog.

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Introduction to clicker-training your dog.1

By Wencke Solberg
In “clicker-training” the dog is rewarded with the help of a small mechanical device making a “clicking” sound, thus the name “clicker”. Clicker-training is a type of operant conditioning where the dog connects the clicking sound of the device with a reward (food, playtime) and becomes a reward to the dog in itself and therefore marking the precise behaviour that we want to reinforce.

Advantages:

The two most apparent advantages to using a clicker rather than the more traditional vocal communication (for example “good dog”) are speed and accuracy. While “good dog” takes a certain amount of time to say, the clicker can reinforce the desired behaviour instantly, making sure that the dog hasn’t moved on to less desirable behaviours.

Another advantage is consistency. The clicker sound will be the same every time and thus eliminate misunderstanding based on the trainer’s tone, voice, pronunciation and emphasis. As dogs are very sensitive when it comes to sounds, due to their good hearing, they will hear more nuances than we are even aware of. The dog will have to separate voice variations (like enthusiasm and volume) from command variations (good dog, bad dog), one kind as being important, and the other as being unimportant.

Disadvantages:

Commonly mentioned drawbacks to clicker training include the need to have the clicker handy when training the dog, though this can be partially remedied with a “tongue-cluck” (even though it will be less accurate than the actual clicker). The reliance on the clicker might also be exaggerated as it is mainly used to teach new behaviours.

There is also the question of how to reward the dog in noisier surroundings where the clicking sound is not loud enough, such as when training a hunting dog from a distance or working with a retrieving dog. Some dogs that are extremely sensitive might also be frightened by the clicker. In these cases an alternative sounder can be used such as a whistle or a pocket stapler. There are also a lot of different clickers available as to cater to these situations.

Another concern is the dog’s ability to discern which clicker is “his” in a group setting. This has been pretty much disproven by the very popular group clicker classes where the dogs understand perfectly well which one is which though not necessarily by sound.

“Charging” or “loading” the clicker:

“Charging” or “loading” refers to the process of teaching the dog that the clicker sound signals that it will get a reward. The goal is for the dog to instinctively connect the sound of the clicker with an actual reward, usually a tasty treat. Some trainers prefer the reward of playing with their favourite toy, but it can be difficult to maintain a high rate of reinforcement. To condition the clicking sound the dog is given the treat simultaneously with or directly after clicking the clicker. This is often done up to 20 times per session and many dogs can learn the association with five to ten repetitions
Wencke is the webmaster of http://dogbookreviews.5gbfree.com (English) and http://hundebokanmeldelser.5gbfree.com (Norwegian) and has several years of experience in writing useful reviews concentrating on dog-related books. Her main objective is promoting a happy, healthy way of training your dog.

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Thinking About Where Should Your Dog Sleep?

By Jerry Brecken
Just like humans, dogs, too, have particular whims for sleeping nooks. It is this peculiar liking, which every dog owner must address as it will greatly affect pet-owner relationship. Different dogs call for different choices of places to sleep as some dogs can have very discriminate picks. But in a place like your home, they may sleep just anywhere they wish to. There is really no definite area where your pooch should sleep, but it isn't a bad idea to have a list. Depending on the location's availability and the convenience of actually having your pet slumber on them, these are some suggestions on the sleeping areas appropriate for your prized pooch:Who says baskets are just for your groceries? These highly-versatile shopping and marketing companions are also ideal as sleeping nooks for canines. If your dog isn't the type who loves to chew and bite on things, baskets will definitely do the trick. A soft pillow placed inside will be a good way to make your dog comfortable. However, if your dog has active jaws and fangs, using a plastic laundry basket is advisable. You can also let them sleep on nesting beds as these "hug" your pet whenever it crouches on them. Variations of this type of dog bed are designed to allow small dogs to simply crawl inside and enjoy a quick, relaxing slumber. You may as well lend your pet a blanket. Dogs, too, may find this piece of wool a good place to doze off because a blanket is soft and can ably provide the right warm temperature. Just make sure to regularly wash them, so they won't give off a dismaying smell. Dogs also need a clean and dry place to sleep on. In this regard, cold, damp floors are not favorable sleeping areas. Thus, raised platforms protect dogs from wet and cold surfaces and keep them away from sickness. Give your dogs bean bags, which are generally made of dog-friendly fabrics. Such dog beds are specially ideal if your dog is a wriggly one as the beds support your dog's movements. Dog crates are particularly advisable if your pooch loves to feel protected. Crates are a good place to have your pooch sleep on as they also provide a private space for your pets.Of course, where else can your dog feel more secured, relaxed, and loved than on its master's own bed? For the most part, dogs prefer the scent of their masters and the thought of being close to them because they feel that they are being taken cared of, wanted, and protected. From time to time, it is good to have your prized canine pet spend a night dozing off beside you on your comfy bed, treating it just like a fine companion. However, be careful not to allow your pet to slumber beside you for a long time. Aside from the fact that actually having your dog stay on your bedroom on a daily basis is not really advisable, this can also result in your trusted pooch becoming over dependent on you.
Jerry Brecken is a writer for www.dogbedsforyou.com , a website where you can choose among the popular varieties of dog furniture and pet beds such as the canopy dog bed for your beloved pet.
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Dog Training - Coping With the Death of Your Dog

By John Williams
The passing away of your dog is a sad time for all pet owners and a moment we all would like to avoid altogether although it is a natural process of losing a good friend or family member there are options that can make dealing with the situation better. It is certainly can be a big shock to you when you find out your pet has passed away and the first reaction could be that of denial. Denial is a common occurrence when dealing with loss or finding out when someone your love has passed away. This is due to your body not wanting to deal with the blow of a pet's death and it then tries to block it out like nothing has happened. It is generally better to accept the situation of your dogs' death if possible, this may be hard to come to terms with for many on such an emotional time, so a burial or small gathering of friends and family who knew the dog to say a final farewell may be a good idea, and it will help you accept the current situation.Anger and blame may be a result of the shock and you may feel like this is a way to release the emotion you are feeling and pass it on to someone else. Veterinarians go through a tough process to get to the standard of a professional vet, and for good reason, they care for the work they do. Blaming your vet should not be an option and they are always looking out for the best interest of your dog no matter what you might think when grieving your dogs' death. Avoid this type of behaviour as it helps no one and it will only turn into guilt on your emotions start to calm down.When the bad news finally hits home the grieving will start and your emotions will be too much to control, it's good to let your emotional feelings out as this helps the situation greatly. Keeping yourself overly busy is not recommended like many people do, the emotions will need to come out sometime and it has to happen to stop the feeling of emptiness. Try finding groups of others in your community or internet that can relate to your problems and talk to family and friends about your feelings. The more support you get the quicker you will learn to look back on how happy you're dog was and how much fun you had together.
John Williams website ownerFor more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.
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