Having a dog is fantastic on it’s own, but having a dog that can do cool things is on a whole different wavelength of fantastic. Which is why you should most definitely teach your dog as many tricks as possible, because it’s good for your dog to be active, and good for you to teach your dog how to obey commands. One fantastic game to start with, that’s also very visually appealing, is Frisbee.
But first you’ll have to introduce that disc to your dog, so that the two can make friends so to speak. One common method to start with is by actually using the Frisbee as a temporary food dish, so that your dog can grow accustomed to the Frisbee, and learn to like it’s presence. This way you associate something good, like eating dog food, with the Frisbee establishing a positive emotional connection in your dog’s brain.
Then introduce the fetch portion of the game simply by going outside and rolling the Frisbee on the ground for your dog. Then your dog should essentially fetch the Frisbee, grabbing it and bringing it back to you. After which you always make sure to get down low to the same level as your dog, and p raise him/her so that they grasp the concept of the game.
After that you want to get your dog used to grabbing the disc out of the air. After you’ve established the Frisbee as a fetch toy, you can take the Frisbee and act as though you are going to throw it to your dog. Your dog should start off running and get a good distance away from you before realizing that you haven’t actually thrown the disc. Then hold the Frisbee out level to one side, allowing your dog to run back and snatch the disc from your hand. This way you establish the same sort of catch that your dog will use to grab the Frisbee out of the air.
Now you’re pretty much set to try a few throws. Try to make the Frisbee go as slow and hover as possible, that way your dog has plenty of chance to catch up to the Frisbee and ample opportunity to try and catch the disc. With some practice your dog will be a seasoned Frisbee player in no time.
Tags: Act, Ample Opportunity, Brain, Cool Things, Dis, Dog Food, Dog Frisbee, Dog Run, Dog Tricks, Emotional Connection, Fetch, Food Dish, Frisbee Dog, Game, Hand This Way, Presence, Wavelength
Spend time at any pet store and the choice of dog foods to feed your dog is in abundance. How do you know which to choose and which is good for your dog? The answer to that is simply, you do not, let your dog choose. Although there are some basics that are recommended.
If you have purchased your dog from a breeder, ask the breeder what they recommend to feed your new pet. A good breeder should be able to tell you what has worked best for their dogs. This is a good place to start. However, if you have adopted your new dog, then it will be up to you to figure out what is good for your dog and what is not. The dog will certainly help you in determining the right food for him.
Always read the labels on a dog food package. What you want to look at is the first ingredient. You do not want to see meat meal, this can be anything within the food including road kill. Chicken Meal or Lamb Meal is a good start. You also always want to see the word meal; whole meat without the Meal is mostly water. Most nutritionists prefer chicken based dog foods as they are easier to digest.
You may see corn or a type of corn product in the dog food. Corn is a protein source the dog food makers use to keep the price reasonable. Some dogs like corn and others do not. If you see your dog start itching, licking his feet, scooting his butt, or getting frequent ear infections, this could indicate a lack of tolerance for corn. Beware of wheat in a food. Wheat tends to be more of an irritant in dogs than corn is.
You need to inspect the label for the sentence “AAFCO feeding trials confirm that (dog food brand) is complete and balanced for adult dogs or all life stages”. This sentence alone will tell you that the dog food was fed to any number of dogs and was determined to meet the nutritional needs for all life stages of a dog.
When it comes to feeding your dog there are certain guidelines that should be followed depending on the age of your dog. For instance, puppies should be fed more regularly than adult dogs. Puppies should be fed as often as four times per day and with a quality dog food geared towards puppies specifically. Adult dogs should be fed twice a day.
In general, feed puppies and adult dogs separately so you can be sure the amount they are eating each time and to prevent fighting. Set a feeding schedule for your dog, but not one to where they become anxious if you happen to be late. It is a good idea to teach your dog to sit before placing the dog food in the bowl; this will prevent them from jumping to get the food.
Nutritionists suggest only allowing your dog 15 to 20 minutes to eat then removing and disposing of the remainder.
Tags: Abundance, Adult Dogs, Chicken Meal, Corn Product, Dog Food, Dog Foods, Food Brand, Food Corn, Food Makers, Food Package, Frequent Ear Infections, Irritant, Lack Of Tolerance, Lamb Meal, Meat Meal, New Pet, Pet Store, Protein Source, Puppies, Wheat
Choosing the right kind of food for your dog can be a DAUNTING task… with so many pictures of smiling puppies and fancy labels staring back at you, how do you make an informed choice?
Well it’s not that hard really, if you know what you’re looking for. Here are my 5 essential tips for choosing the right of food for your dog:
1. Forget about brand names.
A bigger name brand does NOT equal better quality. In fact, the reverse is probably more true, but we won’t get into that right now.
2. Put Your Emotions Aside!
What do I mean by this? Simply, ignore the cute little dogs licking their lips and the ones with big grins on their faces. Do not buy based on how NICE or CUTE the packaging is. I know it sounds stupid to buy dog food based on the cool packing, but it’s so easy to do. I’ve been guilty of this myself more than once.
3. Look at the ingredients
A dog’s diet typically consists of 40% meat, 30% fiber and 30% starch. Next time you’re in a store, pick up a tin of dog food (or look at one you’ve brought previously). Then take a look at the ingredient list.
The first ingredient on that list is the primary ingredient – so make sure it’s a form of meat protein such as chicken, beef, etc (NOT meat by-products) Make sure the rest of the ingredients include a good amount of fiber and starch.
Also, the fewer preservatives the better.
4. Choose Super Premium Brand dog food or Premium Brand.
Do NOT choose Economy Brand dog foods. These are the ones you’ll see in your general store. Go to pet stores and buy the quality stuff there. Buying a Premium or Super Premium dog food can literally add years to your dog’s life.
I was in a big supermarket yesterday, one of those monster chain types, and I ventured down the pet food isle. (I always buy my dog food at the pet store).
Follow these rules next time you’re shopping for dog food and I guarantee your dog will thank you for it!
Tags: Big Grins, Brand Names, Daunting Task, Dog Food, Dog Foods, Fancy Labels, Informed Choice, Lips, Little Dogs, Meat Protein, Monster, Packing, Pet Food, Pet Store, Pet Stores, Premium Brand, Preservatives, Puppies, Starch, Supermarket
