Dog Training Tips and Dog Supplies

       
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Puppy Care 
Feeding Your Puppy

Choose your puppy's food carefully.  Only buy high quality branded Dog foods that include a proportion of good quality proteins derived from fish, chicken, lamb, and/or eggs.

You need to feed your puppy"omega-6" and"omega-3" fatty acids in a ratio of 5:1 respectively. This can come in your food or in supplements such as salmon oil especially designed to give to your dog. Do not feed any supplements to your dog without checking with your vet.

See more details about Puppy Care

Dog Care

 
       How To Select Food For Your Dog

There is a very wide choice of dog food available in pet shops, supermarkets and from your vet, so how do you decide which is best?

Premium dog food and reputable name-brand products from your grocery store will contain protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals, five of the six basic nutrients necessary for your pet's good health. These foods do not usually need the addition of any feed supplements.

When buying dog food you should select premium meat or fish based dog food with 20 percent to 28 percent protein and 10 percent to 15 percent fat for both puppies and adults so as to give good growth and optimal nutrition.

Extremely active dogs may even need a two point percentage higher for both of these items. You should select the lower percentage for an older dog which is healthy, but which is not so active.

                                          Dry dog food

This is usually the most convenient to use. It will normally be in the form of biscuit or kibble (a small roundish dry biscuit 10mm dia. approx.) Dry food is sold in bags of various sizes/weights and with feeding recommendations printed on the side.

Kibble is usually soy bean, corn or rice based. Some of the better brands have meat or fish meal as the first listed ingredient. Although often more expensive, they are worth serious consideration. Dogs will eat less of this higher quality product, and therefore reduce the overall feed cost.

It is very important to read what is printed on the package because many of the better quality feeds give nutritional details and information on feeding dogs of different ages.

Most reputable brands of feed are balanced diets and do not need be mixed with anything else, so they are an easy and convenient way of meeting all your dog’s nutritional needs. However, you may find it necessary to develop a balance between a wholesome rich diet containing all essential vitamins minerals carbo-hydrates and proteins and an ingredient that has less of these ingredients.

                                Too Rich?

You would think that the diet containing the most goodness would be the best for your dog but this may not always be the case.

Sometimes you can change to a very wholesome rich feed for your dog. Then after a few days the dog starts to be sick frequently. Investigation may indicate that the new diet, although excellent, is just a little too rich for your dog. A change to a slightly less rich diet should solve the problem with no adverse effects.

You will find that there are many brands of dog biscuits that have a very low nutritional value. These are normally intended as a “mixer” to be added to tinned (wet) food. Unfortunately some people feed this type of biscuit to their dog believing it to be a complete food, which it is not.

Remember experimentation will probably be necessary and you may eventually obtain the best results by mixing two different brands of feed.

                         Dental Considerations

Just to make things a little more complicated you can contribute to the dental good health of your dog by including certain types of feed in the mix.

There are brands of dog feed that claim to help keep a dog's teeth clean and free from build up. This works because the individual kibbles have a normal centre but also have a thin coating of slightly abrasive food substance.

The theory is that as a dog bites through the kibble the tooth is lightly scoured by the coating thus cleaning the tooth. Obviously this action is only gentle but you will probably notice an improvement in yours dog's teeth (and breath) when using such a feed as part of a mixture.

                                     Wet dog food

This is normally in tins, foil trays or pouches. It is usually palatable but smells stronger than dry food.

Remember that open packages will attract flies in warm weather unless covered and refrigerated, therefore, wet food can be inconvenient if you forget to store open packs properly or if you are travelling.

Some wet foods are complete and so do not need anything added, but others are complementary and need to be combined with a mixer biscuit or meal. Read the package carefully to determine which type you have.

                                    Water

Please ensure that your dog has constant access to clean drinking water. This should be changed at least every day to be certain that it is fresh and has not become contaminated with dust or insects etc.

When feeding dry biscuits or kibble, restrict your dog's water intake just before and after meals (45 minutes each side of mealtime) to assist in reducing the expansion of dry dog food in the stomach.

If your dog prefers a softer meal, pre soak dry kibble for 10 or 15 minutes before serving. Otherwise, the dry crunchy kibble is better for healthy teeth and gums.

Finally, remember:  NOT TO OVER FEED  your dog.
"A fat dog is not a happy dog!"

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                   Changes in Older Dogs

As a dog matures it's hearing and vision, can become impaired also the ability to smell and taste can be affected.
Problems with the digestive system of older dogs are common. Poor dental hygiene can prevent the food from being processed properly before it enters the digestive system. Infections in the mouth can cause a build up of toxins in the body resulting in digestive upsets which cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
Joints and muscles can ache preventing the dog from getting around as nimbly as before. It will probably need less exercise. Where once ,your dog was were eager to chase a ball or Frisbee, a sedate walk may now be sufficient.
In older dogs the efficiency of the lungs decreases causing less oxygen to enter the body. Oxygen is essential for the renewal of body cells so older dogs can be more likely to develop respiratory infections.
Older dogs are more inclined to become stressed. Changes in routine or diet can contribute to this as well as illness and neglect. If there are young children in the house help them to understand that your dog needs some peace and quiet and can not be expected to play as a puppy would play.

          Is There Any Action You Can Take?
You bet there is. A good quality balanced diet with special vitamin supplements and regular gentle exercise, can be of vital important to prolonging an active healthy life for your dog.

                       Preventing Arthritis
Feeding your dog a good quality balanced diet will go a long way towards reducing the risk of arthritis. Try to find a feed that contains a natural source of Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which provide the body with necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Such food usually also contains antioxidants to encourage a strong healthy immune system.Remember try to keep your dog at an ideal weight. Arthritis is much more of a problem in obese pets. If your dog is overweight a strict diet can be beneficial by helping to reduce the workload on the bones and joints but check with your vet as how to achieve a healthy weight reduction.                                

                 Dealing With Arthritis
Like us, dogs are at risk of developing joint problems- especially arthritis. This is more prevalent in some breeds such as Labrador retrievers, German shepherd dogs, Golden retrievers, and Rottweilers.When dogs have arthritis they display symptoms such as being less active, have trouble getting up or lying down, they are reluctant to climb/descend stairs, or they become lame. Some dogs become much slower when they move around.

                Exercise for Arthritic Dogs.

Provide moderate amounts of exercise daily. Modest exercise can actually help some dogs by strengthening muscles and ligaments thus reducing the potential and risk of injury. With arthritis special care is needed, so check with your vet, who will recommend an appropriate exercise programme.

      Helping a dog with joint problems
Slip-free Flooring. Hardwood and tile floors are slippery and can be very difficult for dogs with arthritis to navigate. Statergic placement of carpet and/or rugs will help secure your dog's footing. This can help prevent him from slipping and injuring himself - cheaper than a vet's bill

Soft bedding can help support the bones and joints, making your pet more comfortable. This can be especially important in thin dogs in which bony prominences are likely to rub on hard surfaces. Some beds are made especially for dogs with arthritis, such as water-beds, hammock beds, and beds with plenty of extra cushions.

Restricted Mobility

If your dog has servere mobility problems, the initial advice is that the dog should be put down. In many cases this is the only sensible thing to do. However, for those that really love their "Old Friend" there may be alternatives.

The picture above shows "Greta" a dog with D.M., a progressive desease (rather like M.S. in humans). The owners have taken the trouble to keep Greta moblile with the result that her life span has been extended and that she has a GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. If you have a problem like this contact us and we will try to put you in touch with appropiate advice.

More General Tips

1) Your dog may need a little extra grooming to help maintain a healthy coat and skin

2) Older dogs need to be kept inside where it's warm at night and not left outside to face the elements.

3) Usually the changes, as a dog gets older, are gradual but it's important to be aware of these changes as soon as possible because early diagnosis and treatment can prolong your dog's ability to have a good quality active life well into old age. Regular physical and dental check ups by your veterinarian can keep a look out for ailments that can occur at this time in their life.
4) Dog training is still important to keep your dog interested and alert

We hope these suggestions help you and your dog.

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