How Can I Get Quality Food For My Dog?

Are you having any problems in choosing food for your dogs? Are you having second thoughts in what brand of dog food you’re going to buy? This column will help you in giving the right and quality food to your dog, especially during its physical and mental development.

Some dog owners argue on what brand, they should give to their dogs. Some say that it is better to buy cheaper dog food, because their dogs are satisfied with it and look okay with the food that they take. Some, on the other hand, says that it is better to buy those expensive foods. Expensive food has more nutrients in comparison to the cheaper ones. However, after giving your dogs expensive food in a month, you will notice that they require less expensive food because they gain weight fast because expensive dog food contains more nutrients. As a result, you will get a new kind of food that is cheaper so that your dog can maintain the weight that you desired for your dog. By doing so, it is pretty clear that the issue is not the price of the dog food.

In choosing the right food for your dog, you must not forget to read the label of the dog food that you will buy. Expensive dog food and store-brand dog food may not be really the best choice if its content does not have the essential nutrients that your dog needs. In selecting a food for your dog, here are some useful tips that you can use whenever you buy food for your dog:

First, you have to consider the meat protein sources since it will help your dogs to develop its muscles. They also get most of their energy and fat from protein. Carbohydrates are also important even though carbohydrates are not really needed by your dogs, its purpose is to hold the dog food together. And lastly, you must make sure that the dog food that you buy has fat sources, preferably animal fats. Try to avoid dog food that has generic vegetable oil, beef tallow, mineral oil and poultry fat. They may have bad effects when you give them to your dogs.

Here are some of the ingredients that may cause harm to your dogs:

1. You have to make sure that the dog food that you are going to buy does not contain by-products for they are left over from processing plants. They may contain anything that comes from chicken feet, head, and feathers, fur, blood, skin, feces, bone, horn and hooves from cow, and dirt or dust that is coming from the processing plants.
2. Generic unidentified ingredients are one ingredient that is to be avoided whether it can be animal, meal or poultry fats. Since they are unidentified, we do not know what elements they contain, so it is better to avoid them before it is too late.
3. Chemical preservatives. They make the products last longer that of the natural preservatives, but chemical preservatives are proven to cause kidney and liver failure and cancer. There may also be other life-threatening effects on your dogs.
4. Salt. Like its effect on humans, it can cause your dogs to have the kidney malfunction.
5. Brewer’s yeast. It can cause skin problems on your dogs. It can also cause infections and ear infections. Though only some dogs are affected to this.
6. Flax. Most dogs are sensitive in flax, they make their stools soft. Onions are also very toxic on dogs and can cause anemia that can cause death to your dogs.

The next time you buy dog food, just check out the label and look for the essential nutrients your dog needs.

Pointers in Training Dogs

One of the best parts in having a pet dog is when you are able to teach your dog some tricks.  It gives a sense of fulfillment seeing your dog doing something you have taught him/her, much more the happiness knowing that your dog is also having fun while doing the tricks. It is not easy, though, teaching your dogs to perform certain things because it requires a lot of patience and time in dealing with your pet dogs.  You should take into mind that even though these are your pets, and you are so well-attached with them already, still they are animals that think and feel differently from humans.

The following are some tips on how to teach your dogs to obey your commands.  Above everything else, obedience is the most important factor that your dog should observe. If you succeed in imposing obedience to your dog, then teaching him/her some tricks will not be that difficult already. Also, if your dog is obedient and well-behaved you will not have a hard time making him/her understand to your commands.

1. Be patient. There are some dog-owners that get discourage easily if their dogs will not heed to their commands. Of course, these are dogs and their way of thinking is not that of the human beings; hence, dogs are more prone to short attention span, impulsive and unpredictable behaviors, and short memory retention. Experts in dog training said that one should be patient in introducing and teaching  patterns or routine to their dogs so that, eventually, the dogs will get familiar with the routine and, the next time around, it will not be difficult for the dogs to perform such actions because they are already familiar with it.  As the old saying goes, patience is a virtue.

2. Proper attitude. It takes proper behavior and attitude when training a dog. You should have an approachable aura so that your dog will not get the wrong signals. There are times that the master is so stern (or looks stern) that the dog will either got scared or in a defensive mode. We should take into mind that training is not just a “school thing” but a playtime as well. Your dog will also enjoy such playtime because if one is so stern, the dog gets stress-out. Despite  this friendly aura, however, you should maintain the concept of master-and-servant so that the dog will always remember that you are the boss, and that whatever is your command, he/she should follow.

3. Resources.  Raising and training a dog entail some available resources.  One has to invest for the wellness and safety of his/her dog because all efforts in the training will just be put to waste if the dog gets indisposed.  There should be proper food and diet for the dog – there is a wide array of dog food you can choose from.  It is not good to over-feed your dog because, like human beings, they have to maintain a healthy body as well. Do not forget also to provide your dog lots of drinking water. Your dog needs it, especially if you are so serious in training him/her.  It is also proper to give your dogs the needed vaccinations to prevent him/her from acquiring illnesses.  Remember, a healthy dog is more receptive to training and commands.

4. Do not pressure your dog. You should be aware that dogs also have feelings. They get hurt and sad, as well as feel pressure and pain. Do not be too harsh when it comes to training them or teaching them tricks. There are times that they will really not obey you – leave them at is and get back to them if the timing is alright already.  Although the reward-punishment concept is effective, one should take into consideration that there is a big difference between training and abusing. Dogs should not be put at harm when training, whether physically or mentally.