Dog - Are You Frustrated With These Pet Food Recalls?

The pet food recall crisis has shed a new light to the safety of commercial dog food that we buy in cans from our supermarket shelves. The commercial pet food industry has existed only for a few decades. What did our dogs eat before the advent of these commercial foods? Their diet consisted of raw meat, bones and organs, table scraps and whatever they could catch and kill themselves. It has only been since the popular use of these commercial dog foods that we have started hearing of our our dogs dying of cancer, kidney failure and all sorts of other diseases. The contaminated pet food has led to the deaths of dogs and cats in North America and have even sparked fears of these contaminants entering the human food chain. The US inspectors of FDA have traced the imported gluten which was used to make the pet food as being the cause of the deaths of many dogs and cats through kidney failure. It is illegal to add melamine to food or animal feed in the US but it seems this chemical is widely used in China in the animal feed to make them appear as having a higher protein content. Melamine is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizers. The Food and Drug Administration speculates that the wheat flour was deliberately spiked with melamine to make it look more protein-rich, thus more valuable than it was. This pet food recall crisis has made pet owners rethink of what pet food to prepare for their pets with some of them opting to prepare the food themselves. The only way to guarantee that the food you give your dog has no artificial preservatives and contaminants is to feed them with natural homemade dog food using ingredients that you would normally have in your kitchen. For an extra measure of protection give your dog supplements and vitamins to make sure that they get all the 38 nutrients they require daily. You can opt to give your dog raw dog food diet and alternate it with homemade dog food recipes. That is why it is recommended to get well formulated recipes with the right nutrients, plus supplements, and have them in the right proportions. For more on these recipes plus more updates on the dog food recall we recommend these sites for Online Dog Food Tips and also for Guides and Updates on Dog Food and Dog Food Recall. A home cooked meal with the right ingredients is the BEST thing you can do for your pet! After all what were we feeding our pets before the advent of these commercial pet foods? Maria Mbura is a publisher of a blog and a writer in a variety of issues that are of interest from time to time. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Mbura

Dog - Dog Training Tips

The worst thing about having a dog is the training part. Just imagine how bad an untrained dog is. An untrained dog could litter anywhere in your house. This gives you're a house a foul odor that is pretty difficult to figure out where it is coming from. Aside from that untrained dogs could be so active that your house may turn into a mess. All of these things could all be avoided though with proper training. Proper training or disciplining your dog can help lessen the hassles. However training a dog is no easy task too. A dog may be smart for an animal but it will still take time and hard work to get your dog trained. Here are some things that make your dog's training be more effective though. A dog will become more trained and disciplined if what you are doing becomes a daily ritual. Making the training very ritualistic will make the dog remember the training slowly. So it is important to train your dog daily. You would need to sacrifice a few weeks of doing this to get your dog trained. When doing this, it is better to make daily short sessions compared to a weekly long one. When training the dog, it is best not to use harshness that much. Instead try to use love and appreciation. If your dog follows the things you ask him or her to do give a doggy treat. Don't give the treat until the task is done. Try doing this whenever you have free time during your day. Remember that you are talking to dog. When training a dog give simple commands, don't give complex commands such as "prepare me dinner" or "wash your own ass" while the training is still at an early stage. It's better to give simple commands such as sit and come. Try not to confuse your dog when training. Only use one word for one action. I.e., when eating try to only say "eat" not "chow". Try to use different words for every different action you'd want your dog doing. When training a dog you and your family must be on the same page. You may be training your dog to stop digging at the garden. But your son still says it's ok to the dog. When this happens the training may just be useless. So when training a dog, it's best to have the family members cooperating. Training a dog is not an easy task really. But that is the sheer reality that you must now face when owning a dog. You must now be responsible for the dog's life and attitude and that includes you training him or her. Jan Thomsen is writing pet related articles for the pet medicine site and family oriented articles for Hald's family blog. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Thomsen

Dog - Separation Anxiety

1) What exactly is separation anxiety? Separation anxiety in dogs is the fear of being away from their owners or left alone for any given amount of time. This fear of isolation often results in undesirable behavior. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of canine behavioral problems. It is the fear of the owners' departing and the dog not having a companion for any given amount of time. 2) In what types of dogs and in what social environment/history do we see this condition? Separation anxiety is usually seen in dogs that had little or no socialization when they were puppies. Dogs that may have been moved around a lot or rescued from a neglected situation or from abuse also tend to have this condition. Socialization is a huge factor in sep anxiety; if dogs are raised with exposure to changes from puppy-hood, and learn to adapt to different situations and people, their coping skills are much better than those of a dog that has not had to develop any social skills. 3) What factors seem to be the precipitating cause? One of the contributing factors to separation anxiety can be an abnormal predisposition to dependence. Traumatic events can also be a catalyst for sep anxiety. Removing a puppy from its mother and litter mates too early can be a cause as well. A sudden change of routine or environment, such as the death of the dog's owner or a new baby entering the household, can cause sep anxiety. 4) What are some of the signs exhibited when a dog has SA? Some dogs will only exhibit one or two behaviors relating to sep anxiety, while others engage in many behaviors. Usually it starts with pacing; then the dog might start following you around every where as you start your routine for departure. They might start whining and whimpering and become very mouthy. Some salivate and shake. Others can get aggressive with you as you start to leave by nipping or even in some cases growling at you. Usually, destructive behaviors such as chewing and ripping things apart to climax within 20-30 minutes of the owner's departure; then, after some time, excessive barking and howling might occur. In some cases dogs will defecate or urinate in places that they have never done before, such as your bed. Some dogs will not eat until the owner returns. In rare cases dogs have been known to self-mutilate. 5) What type of treatments are available for SA? Medically, there are a few useful drugs my veterinarians have prescribed for my clients' dogs. "Clomicalm" seems to have proven results. It is also prescribed for fear aggression. "Bu Spar" takes two weeks to become effective, but it also has had great results in aiding sep anxiety. The most effective behavioral treatment is desensitizing the dog to departures and routines of their owners. 6) What are some of the non-drug based therapies available? One is systematic desensitization to departures. Perform all the routine behaviors that you would normally do before you leave, but do not leave. Open and shut the door, then do something around the house; repeat this several times. Ignore the dog's pacing and panting behaviors. You can also depart for very short periods of time, starting with 30 seconds and building up to 1 minute, and then return; the next time, leave for 2 minutes, and then gradually build up to an hour. You can also feed your dog only out of interactive toys, so that the dog has to work for all its food. There should be a reward connected with your leaving. Do not give your dog any attention or exuberant greetings when you come home. Say hello, pet a little, and then go about your business. Once the dog is calm, then you can greet with excitement. A common mistake many owners make is saying over and over again that "it's okay, it's okay". This only reinforces the fear. 7) At what point does SA become a problem that we need to do something about? Sep Anxiety is a problem once the dog shows noticeable behavior changes or begins destructive behaviors. Start management immediately by doing socialization exercises when they are puppies and have your dog learn coping skills at an early age. 8) What behavioral methods do you recommend? Training and socialization exercises. 9) In what breeds do you most commonly see Sep Anxiety? I see it in any dogs that have not had to develop social skills or coping skills. It does not seem to be breed specific. Susie Aga, Atlanta Dog Trainer About the Author: Susie Aga is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist and a member in good standing with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has four rescue dogs and donates much of her time and services to Rescue Organizations. Susie hosts The Animal Hour Radio Show which can be heard through her site, and is Turner Brocasting's Featured Pet Expert. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susie_Aga

Dog - An Introduction to Dog Beds

Some people are so attached to their pets that they wouldn't dream of asking them to simply curl up on the floor to go to sleep. Pet owners, especially dog owners, have created an industry for dog beds that rivals the bedding industry for humans in both creativity and profit margins. Just as dogs come in a variety of sizes -- from toy Chihuahuas that fit in the palm of your hand to Great Danes who are large enough to command most of the back of that family SUV -- so do dog beds. The very first designs for dog beds stressed comfort and ease of cleaning for the small, medium, large and extra large pooch in your life. Today there is a dizzying array of options for dog beds. There are dog beds designed to look like real beds so the lucky canine doesn't feel left out, dog beds designed to look like real furniture, and dog beds for that aging canine, designed to accommodate his creaking bones and stiff joints. There are dog beds made out of fabrics designed to blend in with the d'cor of your home and there are dog beds that can accommodate a dog who likes to stretch out while he naps versus the type who prefers to curl up into a ball. No longer is it sufficient to simply walk into a pet store, find a comfortable looking bed for Rex, choose a color that matches your d'cor, (or his) and leave. Today you have to take many factors into consideration when making decisions about your dog's sleeping quarters. The first thing to think about is where in the house you intend to place the bed. Some people put the dog's bed in the living room, so the dog has a place to lounge other than the family sofa. Other people put the dog bed in their bedroom, so the dog can be close without needing to jump into their bed. Some other things to consider are the size of your pet, and his sleeping habits. There are also extras such as eucalyptus treatments and cedar filling (both to repel fleas), foam filling for the comfort of arthritic animals, and various Velcro attachments. Washing and cleaning are factors to take into account as well, both in terms of everyday wear and because of the dirt incurred from other uses for the bed such as a carrier liner or car seat protector. Gone are the days when buying a dog bed was simple and easy, but the tradeoff is a truly mind-boggling array of options. Dog Beds Info provides detailed information about small and large dog beds, as well as designer, orthopedic, and discount dog beds. Dog Beds Info is the sister site of Bird Cages Web. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough