Are You Feeding Your Pet The Right Dog Food;

                    Your dog's health and well being is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It's easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.Picking a dog foodThe first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.Types of dog foodThere are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you've never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it's worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog's dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.All Natural Dog FoodMany natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog's skin and also your dog's coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.Dried Dog FoodA good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.Vegetarian dog foodsThere are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.ConclusionOverall it's usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we're eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!For More information please visit My Puppy Academy
               

               

Make Dog Training A Lot More Fun With Games

What is the Secret to Dog Training? Domesticated dogs have been known as "man's greatest friend" for years and years. Just before a dog reaches maturity, an active puppyhood need to be dealt with. Dog training is essential it forms the basis of all future learning. Initial lessons contain learning to come when called, understanding the sit command, and dropping items on command. Potty training a puppy is also a challenge that requirements to be dealt with patiently and consistently.

Although dog training courses and dog obedience schools may be ideal for some dog owners, they are not for everyone. Dog training classes are usually only obtainable in huge cities or community colleges putting them out of the reach of millions of dog owners not residing in a key metropolitan location. Dog training classes also tend to be expensive an extra expense numerous of us cannot justify in today's tough economic climate.

There are, nevertheless, simpler alternatives for those searching to train their dogs in the comfort of their own houses. An straightforward, inexpensive and efficient way of training your pet at home is by utilizing dog obedience games. Dog obedience games have been shown to be extremely successful in resolving numerous dog behavioral issues, and best of all it does so with out having to punish the dog or making use of difficult leash or collar strategies.

Home training a puppy is one thing that is done by the pet owner at home. Ideas may possibly be learned by attending dog training school in regards to this matter yet repetition coupled with a reward program is usually the most productive approach. Dog obedience training is every bit as a lot of a learning procedure for the human owner as it is for the canine companion. Appropriate dog training is imperative for a positive relationship in between owner and dog to survive the ups and downs of daily life.

Although many are skeptical at very first, it should be pointed out that children and infants learn best via the use of understanding games many parents have first-hand experience of this. If you dog is pulling too frequently then you will also want to know the really specific techniques in which you can get your dog to quit pulling on the leash and walk in unison with you. Also, if you've ever skilled your dog dodging their collar, it can be quite an obnoxious factor. There are extremely detailed instructions available on how to get your dog to stop pulling out of its collar.

Have you ever attended a dog training class with your pet? If you have you'll see that the endless repetition training of 'sit', 'stay', and 'come' is draining both you and your dog. Whilst training your dogs via such repetition strategies can be successful, they can get exceedingly dull for all involved. A bored dog will not stick around, it will run off to discover some thing more fascinating to do than listen to you blather on about staying and fetching. When you use dog obedience games as an alternative form of dog training you will notice that the animal is much more engaged and actually interested in what you are trying to teach it. What's much more, you your self will be having enjoyable!

There are many dog training methods out there. Integrating fun doggy games with teaching techniques can be an effective way to train your pet. Not only is your dog a lot more engaged, you get to invest top quality time with it as you teach it new commands and habits. Check the nearby library or bookstore for books with a lot more details on dog obedience training games. You can even check pet owner forums online to learn about the games and techniques employed by other dog owners.

Numerous trainers these days are using visual and audio aids to assist them train the dogs brought to them, and one of the most popular today is dog clicker training. This clicker is created to make a small abrupt click when pressed, and the dog will learn that it is with this cue that they are to do as requested by the trainer.

Learning How To Train A Puppy - Part 3 - Puppy Crate Training Continued

Continuing the Crate training process.  Ok we have established how big the crate should be, where to place the crate and the cue words you should use to send your dog to his crate.   Now lets go more in-depth into the crate training process and eliminate any common problems. Step 1  Start gradually, don't just throw your puppy/dog into his new crate. This will make him fear the crate and avoid using it.  A good tip is to leave the crate door open and leave some puppy/dog treats (his favorite treats) inside the crate. Wait for him to go in and praise him loads - but don't shut the door after him yet as he is not quite ready - he is just starting to get the feel and smell of it.  When you get his meal ready - make sure that you put the bowl of food inside the crate and shut the door with your puppy/dog OUTSIDE... At this point your puppy/dog will be getting excited for his meal - wait for the anticipation to grow...  Continue waiting for the anticipation to really grow and then use the CUE words that we chose in Part 2 e.g "go to kennel" or whatever cue word you chose and then open the crate for him so that he can eat his food WITHOUTshutting the door YET  Step 2  Your dog should now be going into his crate on request, however if he is still hesitant then continue step 1 until he is ready. There is no point pushing him too fast as it will only undo all the hard work you have both put in.  Keep using the reward based methods. Hold a dog treat in your hand and show it to your puppy/dog. Use this to lure him into the crate and when he enters reward with the treat and lots and lots of praise. Repeat this method a few times a day.  If he is not following the lure into the crate continue step 1.  When your puppy/dog has started happily going into the crate every-time - start shutting the door for few minutes and then let him out - DO NOT let him out if he starts barking and whining - this will teach him that bad behavior works.  Only let him out when he is behaving.  Gradually increase the amount of time that he stays in the crate - start with a few minutes, then progress to half an hour and then to an hour.  Give him plenty of breaks during the crate training process.  Increase the times that he spends in the crate but vary the routine. You don't want your puppy/dog to only associate the crate with you leaving the House otherwise this will reinforce that the crate is a negative experience.  Step 3  Your puppy/dog should now be happily going into his crate on your cue command - if he is still not going in to the crate on your command then repeat step 2.  Ok so now he should be going into the crate readily and happily - but now you want to stop using a biscuit or a treat as a lure. This is how you do it...  Use the cue word - "go to crate" or whatever you have chosen and point to the crate as if you have some treats in your hand - remember your dog is quite aware there is nothing in your hand because their sense of smell is so powerful - You are not fooling your dog but dogs associate hand signals and verbal commands together - consequently you are only repeating the movement that you have always used. Dogs always learn the art of body language faster than they learn vocal language.  When he has gone into his crate give him lots of praise and a treat. This is teaching your dog that you won't always have a treat on you but he should still follow your commands as he will be rewarded.