The Problem of Processed Food

by
Grant Carroll

When you’re walking down the supermarket aisle looking for a good dog or cat food, you have no choice but to rely on what advertisement looks best or what food is cheapest. Unfortunately, neither of these tactics will get your pet the proper nutrition because pets digestive systems were never meant to eat processed foods in the first place.

In fact, if owners knew exactly what went into making dog and cat chow, they’d never let their pets touch the stuff again. For example, the fat in food is often left over cooking grease that’s been sitting in 50 gallon drums in the sun. Vets say the processed food can lead to serious health problems, such as skin and digestive conditions.

Processed food has other issues with its quality as well. The ideal food for any dog or cat is raw meat. This is what their ancestors and wild cousins eat, and it’s what their intestinal tract is made to eat. Pet food companies have to cook their meat before turning it into chow. They must also add preservatives to prolong the shelf life of the product. Imagine how healthy you would be if all you ever ate was processed, preserved food in pellet form.

Grant Carroll proud father of four dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters

Visit Elizabeth Austin Wholesale for Wholesale Dog Clothes and Wholesale Pet Supplies

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TV Dog Trainers Exposed!

by
Aidan Bindoff

Who could fail to be impressed by the extraordinary results of TV celebrity dog trainers? In minutes they can turn anxious, aggressive, "dominant" mutts into angelic pooches who never set a paw wrong... or can they?

The wonderful thing about television is it's value as an entertainment medium. TV producers (with some very limited exceptions) are not there to disseminate important information, they are there to sell advertising time or subscriptions. And nothing sells like a story of transformation that inspires hope, particularly if that story is about a beloved pet. It's something any pet-lover can relate to. Particularly if you are like the majority of pet owners and struggle with training, obedience and doggy manners.

As a dog trainer I am often amazed at the remarkable success stories I see on TV programs about dog training. In minutes, these gifted individuals can turn a problem dog (or dog owner) around. Sure, I've had a few remarkable success stories myself, but I know they are the exception, not the rule. Big changes to serious problems tend to take more time than TV producers allow for.

The truth is that TV producers will only show the best stories, and even then they won't show you the whole story. What gets left on the cutting room floor? Why do we rarely see follow-up? I know a local TV dog trainer has a string of unsuccessful cases that appeared to be successful on television. Those certainly haven't been followed up and aired!

I also know that it's easy to impress a client by asking their dog to do something very specific in a situation which sets that dog up for success. With a little knowledge and experience I don't tend to make the same mistakes my clients will make, yet even my own dogs are far from perfect. The real world sets us up to make a few mistakes along the way. A 5 minute slot on a highly edited TV program is about as far removed from the real world as possible.

So what can we believe about TV celebrity dog trainers? Everything - with a grain of salt. Watching your favourite dog trainer on television may entertain you, but it's value as an education medium is somewhat limited. Sure, remarkable success stories are possible. Experienced and knowledgeable trainers will get faster results than the general public. But the laws of learning do not change, and it pays to read, discuss and practise them. Getting your information from a multitude of sources would be a wise investment, as would seeking help from a competent 'real live' dog trainer if you have a dog behavior problem you need to solve.

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of Positive Petzine, a free resource for people training their own dogs.

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The Dangers of Hyperthermia for Dogs

by
Grant Carroll

Some may think that winter is the only time of year that weather can be dangerous for dogs. However, the fact is that hyperthermia can kill just as easily as hypothermia can. The ancient Egyptians believed that during the hottest days of summer, dogs were possessed by evil spirits that made them foam at the mouth and search madly for water. Today we know that they were just overheating and dehydrated. Dogs don’t sweat like we do; they expel heat through panting. This panting does cause them to lose water, though, which makes summer a deadly time for many dogs.

It’s important to keep your dog cool this summer, so be sure to take the proper precautions. Most importantly, have plenty of clean, cool water where they can easily get it. Keep them indoors during the hottest time of day (11am-4pm) or at least make sure they have plenty of shade. Those most susceptible to hyperthermia are short-nose dogs, puppies and older dogs. Also, be sure to never exercise your dog during the heat of the day.

If your dog has to be outside, try a cooling pack against his/her belly. They’ll appreciate how good it feels and you won’t have to worry about them overheating.

Grant Carroll proud father of four dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters

Visit Elizabeth Austin Wholesale for Wholesale Dog Clothes and Wholesale Pet Supplies

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