Dog Health

Dog Health Food - Do You Know What Really Goes Into Your Dachshund's Food?

2009-12-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

Dog Health Food Is Your Dachshund Being Accidentally Poisoned?

Dog health food could add years to the life of your
Dachshund. By making sure that your dog is not eating toxic
additives they'll have more energy and vitality.

With companies around the world looking for ways to
increase their profits, you have to question if they are
going to justify the expense of high quality ingredients.
With many sources of cheap protein available now, who knows
how it was produced, under what conditions and if it even
has any real nutritional value for your dog?

With so many cases of profits being put before the health
of humans, what is being done to our beloved dogs? By
taking waste products from human food production and
putting them in to dog food, there has been a huge increase
in diet related health problems in recent years.

In 2007 over 100 different brands of dog food were recalled
after contaminated ingredients caused the deaths of a
number of dogs and made many more very ill. Eventually it
was found to be melamine in rice protein and wheat gluten,
from a factory in China. This means that there could be
anything in your dog food no matter what the standards are
in the US factory. Also there is very little nourishment in
these grains for dogs. Usually it's just a filler to add
bulk to the food.

Recently there was a case of melamine being found in milk
powder that had been produced under the much stricter human
food production standards. This leads me to think that it's
only a matter of time before there's another contaminated
batch of dog food released, and I certainly don't want to
have my puppy suffer as a result of not taking action. We
now need to be aware of how safe the food we are feeding to
our dog is, not just if it has the right nutrition in it.

Now we have to have a look at the actual nutritional value
of your dog food. More and more it's becoming accepted
practice to bulk out dog food with rice and corn proteins.
These proteins are an unusable by product of the human food
industry, until someone realised that they would fall under
the definition of protein and could therefore be added to
dog food. While plant proteins are fine, there just isn't a
lot of nutrition for a dog. Even if they were whole
proteins rather than the highly processed ones that are
added, a very small amount would be sufficient for a dogs
diet. However, there is all to often more plant protein
than animal. This isn't going to help your Dachshund stay
healthy and free of disease.

Lately fish protein is being hailed as a great source of
protein, which is true. However, along with that protein
comes a toxic preservative that has been linked to severe
allergies and cancer. So be wary of fish meal in your dog
food

This is just the start of what could be going into the food
that your Dachshund is eating every day. By learning about
dog health food you could add years of life to your best
friend. If you make it yourself you will know exactly what
is in your dog's food, and best of all it's great fun.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
Dachshund?s food could be making them sick and could even
rob years from your best friend?s life. To find out
exactly what goes into dog food and how to make your own
delicious dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter,
chock full of great tips to make your dog?s life a long and
healthy one. Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

FAQs About H1N1 Influenza Virus and Pets

2009-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

FAQs About H1N1 and Pets

The H1N1 influenza virus has received publicity worldwide
and has researchers, health care officials and health care
providers all scrambling for vaccines, treatments and
general information about the disease. More recently, it
has become evident that this virus can also affect our
pets, leaving many pet owners concerned about the health of
their dogs, cats and other animals and asking questions
about how to deal with the situation.

What is the H1N1 influenza virus? The H1N1 influenza virus
is the virus responsible for the flu strain originally
known as "swine flu". The infection has been diagnosed
throughout the world. Flu-like respiratory symptoms are the
most common sign of the disease. However, complications can
occur with this influenza strain and it has been deadly for
a great number of people worldwide.

Which species of pets can become infected with the H1N1
virus? As of December 1, 2009, the H1N1 influenza virus is
known to be able to infect dogs, cats, ferrets, pigs and
turkeys. Other species may also be found to susceptible in
time. This is an emerging disease with new information
becoming available on a regular basis.

What type of symptoms should I watch for in my pet?
Flu-like respiratory symptoms are characteristic of H1N1
infection. Coughing, sneezing, wheezing, heavy breathing
and/or a nasal discharge may be seen. As with people, it is
possible for complications to occur causing the virus to be
fatal to pets. For this reason, it is vital that your pet
be examined by a veterinarian if any of these symptoms are
noted. Because there are numerous other diseases which may
cause similar symptoms, diagnostic testing may need to be
performed to properly identify the cause of your pet's
illness.

Should pet owners consider getting rid of their pets? No,
there is no need to panic. It is obvious that the H1N1
strain of virus can be passed from people to pets.
Infections have occurred in this manner for most if not all
of the sick pets. However, we do not know whether the virus
can be passed from pets to people or how likely this is to
occur. Either way, the danger of exposure to the virus from
your pet is no greater than the danger of exposure from
other people.

How can pet owners protect their pets? Pet owners should
monitor their pet's health closely and have their pet
examined by a veterinarian if respiratory symptoms such as
coughing, sneezing, wheezing or a runny nose develop.
Adequate hygiene and sanitation, including washing your
hands frequently and covering your cough, will help protect
your pet in the same way it helps protect other people. If
possible, avoid contact between your pet and sick people,
especially those with flu-like symptoms.

Is it safe to eat pork or poultry since these species have
been found infected with H1N1? Yes, there is no reason to
believe that there is any danger from eating pork or
poultry which is properly prepared and thoroughly cooked.
Proper preparation of the food and hygienic food handling
techniques remain important, as always, to prevent
food-borne disease of any type.

I've heard some wild animals may be infected. Is it safe to
visit zoos or wildlife parks? There is a report of a
cheetah which may have been infected with the H1N1 virus.
However, there is no need to avoid visiting wildlife parks
or zoos.

What else is known about the H1N1 virus? The H1N1 virus was
originally dubbed "swine flu" because of its resemblance to
the influenza virus that infects pigs. It also bears
similarities to other strains of influenza viruses which
infect people and avian species. However, it is distinctly
different than other strains of virus and is unique.

Why is it so worrisome that this virus can infect so many
different animal species? Researchers and health officials
are concerned that the ability to infect many different
species will give this strain of influenza virus access to
an extremely wide gene pool which could increase its
ability to mutate into a much more virulent strain of
influenza, potentially becoming more deadly than it is
currently. Influenza viruses in general are well-known for
their ability to mutate easily and quickly.

About the Author:

Lorie Huston is a pet health and pet care expert and has
been a practicing veterinarian since 1986. She is the
feature writer for pet care at Suite101.com and is the
National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Her blog, the
Pet Health Care Gazette, can be found at
http://www.pet-health-care-gazette.com/

Your Dog and Garlic - Dispelling the myths

2009-12-07T10:07:00.001-08:00

The Power of Garlic and your Dog

I am passionate about whole foods both for myself and my
dogs. One of the great unsung heroes of the canine
nutrition world is garlic. Yes that magical little clove
that spices up your tomato sauce now brings all of its
glorious powers to your dog's meals.Learn why I use it when
I cook for both my family and my furry babies. For healthy
benefits beyond parallel I only have one thing to say. Ahh
Garlic!

For centuries garlic has been used as a blood tonic. There
has recently been controversy over feeding dogs garlic.
Too much can cause a disease called hemolytic anemia. Too
much, means 50 cloves at one time - that is too much for
anyone! Conservative use of one or 2 cloves per 50lb dog a
few times a week has so many benefits. Now even the AAFCO
(American Association of Feed Control Officials) recognizes
garlic as safe. The AAFCO gathers information from
professional toxicologists from the entire US and is
responsible for monitoring the safety of animal feed
products.

Let's look at some of the amazing natural health benefits
of garlic. it has pronounced effects on multiple organ
systems. For the skin, it makes its way through sweat
glands and pores. Garlic is a very effective natural
deterrent against fleas, ticks and mosquitos. With them
being 10,000 times more sensitive to its smell than humans.
How great is that? No more flea powder just human grade
dog food with garlic. For the stomach, garlic triggers
gastric juices for better digestion and promotes the growth
of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract. It also has
the ability to help regulate blood sugar and reduces
cholesterol and triglycerides while purifying the liver by
helping with detoxification. Garlic also contains the
powerful antioxidant, selenium. Selenium activates
enzymes, which protect against cancer. Cancer is the
leading cause of non-accidental deaths in dogs. The
National Cancer Institute has found garlic to be effective
in slowing the growth of cancer cells.

In summary, we can see that garlic stimulates immunity. It
has antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral
properties. It also aids in digestion and detoxification

Whether it is garlic and people or garlic and your dog, the
power of nature is seen again in the wonderful effects of
garlic. The best way to receive these benefits is through
eating a diet rich in whole, natural, unprocessed foods.
Dogs, like people, live longer when fed human grade dog
foods that contain vitamins, minerals and real ingredients
like natural garlic. It is a simple thing to do to add to
the health and vitality of your canine family! And it
tastes great too!

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

The first woman in Canada certified to perform Chiropractic
on animals, DR. JANICE ELENBAAS DC is a long time advocate
for "whole foods" for both people and pets. Her passion for
dogs is evident in her work as CEO of Lucky Dog Cuisine, a
company that makes all natural "human grade" meals for
dogs. To receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition
please follow =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

Dog Health Food - Could There Be Poisons In Your Beagles Food?

2009-12-06T03:10:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food What Additives Could Be Going Into Your Beagle's Food?

Today more than ever dog health food is a vital key to
keeping your Beagle healthy and free from disease. It can
be hard to find out exactly what really goes into dog food
with less strict labeling laws than on human food.

Contaminated dog food can be in circulation for months
before it gets picked up, and often it's only when there's
a number of dogs getting sick and dying from the food that
a recall is issued. Often quality is being sacrificed for
the sake of profits.

In a bid to increase profits, many dog food manufacturers
are using cheap by products from human food production and
adding it as a protein source. This is can do your dog a
lot of harm over the long term, leading to allergies and
other chronic health issues.

In 2007, over 100 different types of dog food were recalled
after melamine, which is a type of plastic, was found in
many batches. Eventually the food was found to be tainted
from imported rice protein. There are large questions about
whether there is really any nutritional value in rice
protein for dogs in the first place. But what this really
means is that there is a chance that anything could end up
in our dog food.

You may be thinking that this happened in China so I won't
affect you, but many companies around the world are using
imported ingredients from China and other countries that
don't have the same regulation of their food products that
we do in the western world. And when you think that
contaminated milk powder was found recently, it's really
only a matter of time before it happens again.

Even if there's no accidental contamination, your Beagle
could still be at risk from additives that are put into the
dog food, before it reaches the factory. Ethoxyquin is
routinely added to fish meal. Fish meal is then often
promoted as a healthy form of protein. However they neglect
to mention that ethoxyquin has been linked to serious
allergic reactions, cancer and liver failure in dogs. And
that it has been banned for human consumption for decades.

So have a quick look and see if your dog food has fish meal
in it. And just think that if it's present then every meal
your dog has is going to have a dose of carcinogen.

For the sake of your Beagle and it's long term health, you
really need to get educated about dog health food. It is
our responsibility to know what is going into our dog's
food and to make sure that there are no toxic additives. or
preservatives. We all want our best friend's to live a long
and healthy life and it's not hard with a bit of knowledge.

About the Author:

How would you feel if your dog died at a young age and it
was completely preventable? We need to know what goes into
the food that we feed our dogs and if it's making them
sick. Our dog health food newsletter is chock full of tips
for healthy eating, delicious recipes and information about
what really goes into commercial dog food. Click here to
subscribe http://www.dog-health-food.com

Dog Health Food - Don't Let Your Yorkshire Terrier Suffer From Eating Cheap, Low Quality Foods

2009-12-04T02:20:00.000-08:00

Dog Health Food Feeding Your Yorkshire Terrier The Wrong Food Could Be Deadly

If your Yorkshire Terrier isn't eating dog health food,
they could be at risk from the side effects of toxic
additives to commercial food. Being unaware of the real
ingredients could be dooming your best friend to an early
death.

Who knows what could be in the next batch of dog food? What
about the actual nutritional content of the food? Most
companies are looking at ways to boost their profits and a
cheaper source of ingredients might be a great way to make
more money, but it's unlikely to be the best thing for your
pooch.

More and more dog food companies are looking for cheaper
options to make up the protein requirement of their food.
Cast off protein from rice and what production that has no
nutritional value is often added to bulk out the food.

2007 saw a widespread recall of dog food after melamine (a
type of plastic) was found. Over 100 types of dog food were
affected by this recall and it took months to trace the
tainted ingredients to an overseas supplier of rice and
wheat protein. This shows that it doesn't matter what
standard the US based manufacturer has if they are
receiving tainted products from off shore. And that's
leaving aside the fact that rice protein has almost no
nourishment for dogs!

This may have happened a couple of years ago, but when
could it happen again? Even this year there was a case of
milk powder, produced under stricter human food standards,
that had melamine in it. It's just a matter of when it
happens again. I don't want my best friend to suffer
because dog food companies want to boost their profits. Now
we not only need to make sure our dogs have the right
nutrition, but we also need to make sure that their food is
free from toxic contaminants.

Apart from the occasional, accidental toxin that may get
into your Yorkshire Terrier's food, what other nasties are
routinely being added? Often there?s a preservative called
ethoxyquin that gets into dog food through fish meal. This
means that this preservative is almost certainly in your
dog food is it has fish meal, but it won?t be listed. And
ethoxyquin has been linked to many serious and life
threatening diseases including cancer and liver failure.

Just have a quick look and see if fish meal is in your
dog's food, sometimes it'll be promoted as a great healthy
option. Fish is a great source of protein and essential
oils, but when it comes with a potentially carcinogenic
additive, it's really not worth it.

This is just the tip of the ice berg and if you really want
to make sure your Yorkshire Terrier has a long and healthy
life, then you need to learn about dog health food. It's
very easy and often cheaper to make your own food so that
you know exactly what is going into it. This is something
that you should really consider as a vital component to
keeping your best friend healthy and happy for years to
come.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

How the Proper Dog Pet Care Can Make a Difference for Your Faithful Friend

2009-12-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

How the Proper Dog Pet Care Can Make a Difference for Your Faithful Friend

Dogs are social animals that have always run to greet us
and wait patiently for our return, but more than that, they
have worked with humans for thousands of years. They have
played an important role in many different cultures. Since
dogs are highly valued for their intelligence and loyalty,
it is important to train and care for them with the proper
dog pet care.

Dog pet care is all about demonstrating love, compassion
and responsibility. Good dogs, after all must be trained
to be good dogs. Whether you have a puppy or an older dog,
he can still benefit from being properly trained.

In spite of the importance that we understandably attach to
dogs, many dog owners find it can be hard when it come to
dog pet care and in training in particular. Responsible
dog owners need to make sure to feed, housebreak, and clean
their dogs, since dog caring is important for his health
and well being.

Dog pet care essentials include the dog care tips:

Dog Care Tip 1 - Always providing your dog with fresh clean
drinking water that is always available. You can use large
stainless steel bowl or even the automatic drinking bowls
if you work and can't be around to feed them during the day.

Dog Care Tip 2 - You should make sure that you give your
dog or puppy a good nutritional diet that is well balanced.
Consult with a veterinarian on just what a diet your dog
should have and how often he should be fed.

Dog Care Tip 3 - All dogs and puppies need exercise, so you
should see to it that he gets enough to be physically fit.
You should also as your veterinarian how much exercise to
give him.

Dog Care Tip 4 - As part of good dog pet care you want to
feed your dog quality dog food, even if it is somewhat
higher priced. Lower priced dog food may not give your dog
the healthy look of a shiny coat and bright eyes.

Dogs can be very much like their owners, and will often
behave in many of the same ways, they are also like small
children, and you will have to treat them like children.

As with children dogs and especially puppies should not be
left alone and extended periods of time, since they will
have a tendency to get into trouble. When you have to leave
your dog at home alone, you must set aside a designated
area with boundaries. Leave them with some chew toys or
other items that will keep them occupied.

Have you dog checked out regularly with veterinarian visits
and make sure he gets all of his necessary vaccinations.
Because of the problem of dog overpopulation, you should
also spay and neuter him.

Another aspect of dog pet care is to be sure you enter your
dog in some good dog training instruction like that found
in the Secrets to Dog Training download package,
recommended by experts. The benefits of training your dog
include being able to control your dog's behavior and it
can even improve the bond between the two of you. How you
choose to train your dog in very important. You want him
to be a dog you can take for a walk with out worrying about
him getting out of control. Also don't forget to praise
and reward him when he behaves properly.

Remember that caring for your 'social animal' can be
difficult sometimes but keep in mind that with proper dog
caring, love and dog training your friend and companion
will likely love you unconditionally for life.

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Dog Pet Care, visit
http://budurl.com/dogpetcare2 .

Dog Food Suppliers For Everyone That Needs Convenience

2009-12-02T23:35:00.001-08:00

Dog Food Suppliers For Everyone That Needs Convenience

If you have a pet pooch, it is essential that you feed it
good quality food. Pets don't deserve to be treated any
differently to a human being, and the food they eat should
be tailored to a dog's needs providing them with the
vitamins and nutrients your pet needs to stay healthy and
live a long and fulfilling life.

The Dog Food Supplier That Tries Harder

There are a wide range of dog food suppliers out there, but
not all of them offer the right food for dogs. Some just
offer a quick and easy solution to feeding you dog,
omitting key nutrients that the dog needs. What you need is
a dog food supplier that ensures your dog is being fed
healthy and nutritious foods. In addition to this, you want
a dog food supplier that offers good value for money.

Fresh Meat or Dry Dog Food?

With the recession still in full flow, pet owners are even
more conscious about the money they spend on things like
dog food. Naturally, you want your pet to eat well, but you
don't want to make yourself bankrupt in the process. Pet
owners that insist on feeding their dogs fresh meat each
day are lucky they can afford to do that, but for the
majority of us, its about finding a dog food supplier that
provides packaged food that can be fed on a daily basis.
Dried dog food is still very popular in the UK and the US,
although it is estimated that UK pet owners are more
inclined to go down the pre-packaged dog food route. It
offers convenience and provides much better value for
money. Plus, if you buy in bulk you will find that you can
get a really good deal on the brands your pooch loves from
the dog food supplier of your choice.

Get A Good Deal

Of course, you need to feed your dog, but spending copious
amounts of money on fresh meat isn't necessary when there
are some suitable dog food suppliers out there that offer
great value for money when you need it most. The recession
isn't over yet and money is tight for some people. A good
tip is to find dog food suppliers that give free delivery
with each order over a certain amount. Also, many suppliers
are now offering free samples for your dog to try, so you
can test whether or not your pet likes the new food you
have in mind. This is a great incentive.

About the Author:

Don't keep looking for the best dog food supplier, as you
have just found the very best here - Burgess Pet Foods is a
leading UK pet food provider. Visit the website today:
http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk

Promote Good Dog Health With These Helpful Dog Grooming Tips

2009-12-01T22:55:00.001-08:00

Promote Good Dog Health With These Helpful Dog Grooming Tips

A shiny coat on a dog means more than just looks and good
dog grooming, although it certainly begins with that. Take
a look at your dog, does he have a shiny healthy looking
coat?

Grooming sessions can be a great opportunity for bonding
with your dog and to examine his health too. Some dog
grooming tips include seeing if your dog has a shiny
lustrous coat of fur, as should be an indication that you
dog is in good health. Proper dog grooming is very
important in promoting good health in you dog.

Maintaining a Shiny Coat with Dog Grooming

With this dog grooming tip, good dog health begins with
good dog grooming. You must groom your dog everyday if you
want him to have a healthy coat of fur. It is not
necessary to bathe him everyday, however. Bathing your dog
just once a week should suffice, or maybe once every two
days if you have a dog that has longer or thicker fur.

How to Bathe Your Dog

A useful dog grooming tip is when you are bathing your dog,
wet him completely with a hose or a detachable shower head.
Then applying dog shampoo work up a lather, going all the
way from his chest to the top of his head, then go down his
back and tail and then his legs. While applying the
shampoo, take care not to get any shampoo in his eyes or
ears.

Another dog grooming tip is to use a dog shampoo that has
been formulated for dogs, not your own shampoo. Shampoo
designed for human hair can be harsh and irritating to a
dog's skin. Dog shampoo is designed for the sensitivity of
the skin and fur of dogs. Besides a general dog shampoo,
you can also use medicated shampoo for skin conditions, or
a flea shampoo or rinse.

You should rinse your dog thoroughly after you have
shampooing and conditioning his fur. This is because if
even a small amount of soap remains on the dog it can lead
to severe irritation of his skin that could lead to eczema.

After Your Dog's Bath

When you are finished bathing your dog, make sure to dry
him thoroughly by using a towel to pat all the excess water
out of his fur. If your dog has short hair, you can simply
allow him to air-dry his fur out. But if have a dog with
thick or long fur, you may need to dry his fur out with the
use of a hair dryer instead. You should comb out any loose
and matted and tangled hair with a fine-tooth metal comb.
This will get rid of any burs, ticks or fleas. This should
be done every day whether you a bathing your dog that day
or not.

Beyond Grooming

One more dog grooming tip having to do with a dog's shinny
coat. While having a shinny coat of fur for you dog is
highly desirable for you dog's appearance the shinny coat
is also a good indicator of good dog health too.

Good nutrition also plays a large role towards promoting
good dog health. If a dog gets all the nutrients that his
body needs, then definitely he will get a shiny coat.

There are some cheap dog food brands out there, but they
are made up of low-quality ingredients. So to be sure that
your dog is eating good food, do not skimp on quality dog
food. You can also cook up your own dog food to feed your
dog.

If after regular dog grooming and regular feeding of
high-quality food and your dog still does not display a
shiny coat, it means that there is something else that is
wrong with his system. Your dog may not be as in high a
level of good health than you may have guessed. In this
case, it is time to go to the vet.

As you can see good dog grooming goes hand in hand with
watching out for your dog's health and nutritional needs if
you want to enjoy your loyal companion for many years.

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Dog Grooming Tips, visit
http://budurl.com/doggroomingtips2 .

[article_announce] Information about Chihuahuas

2009-11-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

Chihuahuas and their history

You've seen Chihuahuas in the movies with celebrities like
Reese Witherspoon. She carried her pet dog in a little
tote. These dogs can be fun to own.

Techichi dogs hunted in packs. Their traces can only go
back to as the 9th century but it is very much possible
that this kind is the native Mexican ancestor of the
Chihuahua. The Aztecs, who conquered the Toltecs, believed
that the Techichi dogs possess mystical powers. Where size
is concerned, the Chihuahua at present times is much
smaller compared to its ancestors. This change was thought
to be the result of the Spanish bringing miniaturized
Chinese dogs into South America. In 1850, this particular
breed was found near Casas Grandes in Chihuahua, Mexico.
This Mexican state serves as borders for Arizona, Texas and
New Mexico, places where Chihuahuas first became prominent
and were developed in the North America.

There are many variations in height with the Chihuahuas.
Generally, the Chihuahua's height would range from 6-10
inches, however, some of these dogs can grow tall and reach
up to 12-15 inches. The standard weight for these dogs
range from 4-7 pounds but if they are allowed to become
overweight or if they have larger structures, then they
could weigh up to 10 pounds or more. For their colors and
spotting, the standard list includes solid colors of black
and white, Dalmatian spotting, extreme black spotting, and
other varieties of patterns and colors like Blue which is
considered very rare, Chocolate, Cream, Fawn and Red.
Combinations of these patterns and colors can greatly
affect each other, which will then result to a higher
degree of variation.

Being naturally protective and defensive, Chihuahuas are
easily provoked and they do not always go well with other
breeds, which are the reasons why they are not generally
suitable for homes and households, especially those with
small, rowdy children. These dogs can be overly hyper and
energetic but are easy to please. They love to be petted
and will sit in your lap for hours. They can be yappy dogs,
but with constant proper training, they can acquire a fine,
terrier-like attitude.

Chihuahuas are not fit to become pets of small children
because of their small size, temperament, and have a
tendency to bite and hurt when they are frightened. It is
very much recommended that children should be of school age
or even older when adding and taking care of a Chihuahua
inside their home. Also, keep in mind that Chihuahuas focus
their loyalty and devotion on one single person alone, so
they tend to become overly jealous of the other human
relationships that his owner might have. This can be toned
down through socialization. Chihuahuas like to be around
other dogs of their species.

About the Author:

If you are tired of those dull-looking checks, make your
checks look good by adding photos or images of Chihuahua's
on them. These cute dogs will surely make your day every
time you open your checkbook. Now wouldn't that be nice?
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[article_announce] Prada, The History of

2009-11-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

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included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
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Title: Prada, The History of

Word Count: 611
Author: Trevor Eastveld
Email: sales@laboutique.com.ph
Category: Home & Family
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=75525

The article is preformatted to 60CPL.

Prada, The History of

The roots of the Fashion House Prada can be traced back to
1913 when Mario Prada began designing and selling
handbags, shoes, trunks, and suitcases though two boutiques
in Milan with clientele across Europe and the United
States. The original Prada Signature suitcases were both
exotic and distinctive in appearance. Made from heavy
walrus skin the advent of air travel as the more popular
means of travel rendered the heavy and cumbersome Prada
suitcases obsolete. At this point Prada began designing
more practical suitcases and accessories utilizing lighter
and more luxurious leathers.

In 1978, Mario's granddaughter, Miuccia Prada, took over
the company. Miuccia was a former mime ( and one time
Communist )who had spent five years studying at Milan's
Teatro Piccolo, and had a PhD in political science.
Although her qualifications did not seem fitted to the
design industry, her sense of fashion was unmistakable. The
Prada label was still predominantly a leather goods
manufacturer at this point, and had been struggling
financially for several years. Competition from other
fashion houses like Gucci had taken its toll. Miuccia's
efforts were vital in reversing their financial downturn
and in steering the House of Prada in the direction of
haute couture.

In 1979 the Prada brand tasted commercial success with a
line of backpacks and luxury totes made from black nylon.
Although sales were slow at first, these would pave the way
for new lines of shoes, the iconic and sought after Prada
handbags of 1985.

The black nylon handbags introduced by Prada in the early
1980's were a huge hit, and were carried by many Hollywood
Stars. This in itself created a demand for Prada Handbags
by women wishing to envelop the look and style of their
favourite Hollywood icons.

1986 Miuccia released both an extensive line of women's
footwear and her first clothing line utilizing only the
highest quality materials. Her clothing line quickly gained
her and the company a large amount of fame, and the company
came to be known for elegant garments that were under-stated

A successful menswear collection was added in the 90s and
the Miu Miu clothing brand launched in 1992. The Miu Miu
line was targeted towards the younger consumer and offered
more affordable garments and accessories.

In 1993 Miuccia won an International CFDA (Council of
Fashion Designers of America) award and in 1995 she was
presented with won the "Designer of the Year" Award. These
awards further added to the prestige of the Prada name.

Since the opening of its Milan boutiques, many more stores
have opened in cities throughout the world, including New
York, Paris, Toronto, London, Berlin, Istanbul, Tokyo and
Sydney as well as 7 stores in China. Many of the Prada
flagship stores were designed by notable architects.

Prada wear is normally practical yet fashionable, simple
and luxurious, somewhat removed from other fashion brands
in its celebration of an almost working class aesthetic.
Prada designs, often created in basic blacks, grays, greens
and creams are readily accessorized with other Prada
apparel and accessories. Prada clothing lines are widely
influential Despite being one of the smaller fashion
houses, Prada goods are viewed as a symbol of status and
are extremely popular.

Together with Gucci and Calvin Klein, Prada traditionally
casts previously unknown models for their runway fashion
shows, singling out one model to open the show. This
opening Prada spot is among the most sought after in the
modeling world, as many of these new faces continue on to
further success.

Although they have experienced monumental financial ups and
downs over the years, Prada is now a worldwide empire,
with stores in practically every country in the western
world. The name Prada is synonymous with prestige and
celebrity.

About the Author:

Trevor Eastveld is an online marketer and owner of the
World's Largest Online Replica Designer Handbag Site.
http://www.laboutique.com.ph

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[article_announce] How To Set Your Internet Business Goals...

2009-11-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

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Title: Have You Set Your Online Business Goals?

Word Count: 524
Author: David Hurley
Email: hirohurl@hotmail.com
Category: Internet Marketing/Online Business
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=72371

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Have You Set Your Online Business Goals?

Have you sat down and asked yourself why exactly you want
to make money online?

If you think that is a dumb question, you are wrong.

It is not enough simply to want to make money on the
Internet. That is far too vague. You need to form a clear
idea about what are are aiming to achieve with your
Internet business.

For example:

1. Why you want to use the Internet as your business
medium? What are the particular benefits of starting an
online business for you?

For many people the answers have to do with independence,
convenience, cost and being able to sell your goods or
services worldwide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2. What is your "definite major purpose" for wanting to
start a business on the Internet?

Starting an Internet business is really just a means to a
greater end.

For example, if you made five million dollars on the
Internet you might just decide to retire and do something
else. When you know what that special "something" is you
will also know why you really want to build an online
business - you will have your "major purpose".

Once you are able to articulate what your major life goals
are, write them down and refer to them regularly.

Now you have a clearer idea of what you are trying to
achieve with your the Internet business it will be easier
to find answers to the next few questions...

3. What are your monthly earning targets?

Set a precise target figure, an amount of money that will
enable you to do what you want, whether it is $500 a month,
$5,000 a month or $50,000 a month. Write it down.

4. How long should will it take to reach that level of
income?

If you don't set yourself a time frame in which to reach
your income target you will probably never get there.

5. How much time and money will you need to invest to reach
your target?

Before you set up your online business do some research
about the kind of skills that you will need to develop in
order to succeed.

Think about how much of your time, energy and money will be
needed to develop those skills. What should you outsource
to competent experts and what are you prepared to do
yourself?

For example, when it comes to constructing your website,
are you prepared to do that yourself? Or do you want to
spend your time on something else and outsource the design
side of your business to a competent web designer?

Do you enjoy writing? Do you find the prospect of having to
create fresh content for your website exciting or daunting?
Would you be willing to spend the time and make the effort
to write your own copy, or would it be better simply to pay
somebody to do it for you?

Once you have gone through this self-examination you will
know why you want to make money on the Internet. You will
also have a clearer idea as to whether you are ready to
proceed with your online business and how much time and
money you will need to invest to achieve your goals.

About the Author:

David Hurley is the owner of Grasp-the-Nettle.com and
writes articles on all aspects of Internet marketing. To
learn about how you can build a viable, home based business
on the Internet, check out David's website at:
http://grasp-the-nettle.com .

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[article_announce] 3 Advantages of Going Green at Home

2009-11-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

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Title: 3 Advantages of Going Green at Home

Word Count: 576
Author: Thomas Palmieri
Email: tom@green-business-opportunity.com
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3 Advantages of Going Green at Home

The Advantages of Going Green at Home are obvious to almost
everyone who knows about the effects of acid rain, global
warming, poor air quality and the efforts being made to
reverse the effects of these environmental disasters we
have created for ourselves.

These 3 advantages of going green at home were written for
the few who are not aware we have the power to reverse what
we have done, one person at a time.

Years ago, going green meant spending a lot of money on the
eco friendly products. Yes, they saved the environment, but
killed your wallet in the process. Not true anymore.

Many smart business owners, seeing the future of Eco
friendly products, developed a variety of alternative
power, fuel, cleaning solutions, and food sources. All
designed and tailored for the every day consumer to afford.

Below are 3 advantages of going green at home that will not
only be equal to, or less than, what you are spending now,
but over time, will even save you money.

Advantage #1 Better Household Cleaning Solutions:

View any bottle of cleaning solution in your home and you
will probably see a warning label. "Harmful if Swallowed"

We should not need to discuss what happens to children or
pets that get into these every year.

The statistics say 80% of all household poisoning is
directly related to these toxic chemicals.

They are also bad for our environment.

Cleaning solutions not only have toxic chemicals in the
fluid, but also in the spray. Once these become airborne,
you have effectively contaminated your indoor air.

Once they are flushed they do even more damage to our
environment.

A septic system needs bacteria to work properly. Regular
soap and toxic chemicals kill bacteria.

They also leach into our soil to later evaporate into our
air, further polluting our overall air quality.

Tip: Purchase non toxic cleaners containing Enzymes. These
are the most powerful.

Advantage #2 Light Energy

Incandescent light bulbs are still less expensive to
purchase at first but, over time, fluorescent lights will
save you that money, and more.

They are more expensive to purchase at first but their life
expectancy is 5 times that of its counterpart and they
operate at a 3rd the power consumption.

Tip: Purchase long life fluorescent bulbs for lamps. and
use low voltage lighting when possible.

Advantage #3 Water Saving Shower Heads

This is a no brainer. Exchange your shower heads with high
pressure, low volume spray heads.

These are inexpensive, easy to install and save an average
of 15 gallons of water per 10 minute shower.

That's over 5,000 gallons a year!

If you have a water bill, these pay for themselves the
first year, you start saving the next year and you would
never know the difference between the heads.

Tip: Always shut off water when brushing teeth, use water
saver heads on all faucets.

More Tips: Reduce you footprint at the landfill:

For those of you who have land, start a compost heap.
Compost heaps are filled with vegetable waste, paper
products and other bio degradable substances you would
normally toss in the garbage can.

Recycle: Store and then sell your aluminum cans, cardboard
and newspapers. Recycle stations are everywhere!

Follow these 3 Advantages of Going Green at Home and tell
your friends to do the same!

"The future of our planet is in our hands. We can change
the destiny of the earth we leave to our childrens
children. And we can do it one person at a time."

About the Author:

Thomas Palmieri is a green activist working to change our
environmental impact one person at a time. To learn more
about enzyme cleaners, and claim an opportunity to earn a
residual income while going green, visit me at:
http://www.Green-Business-Opportunity.com/

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Dog Health Food - Your Poodle Could Be Suffering From The Wrong Food

2009-11-29T01:05:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food What Is Going Into Your Poodle's Food? Is It Safe?

Whether you Poodle is a picky eater or will eat anything,
if they aren't getting dog health food for their meals,
they could suffer from a range of side effects and
diseases. After the 2007 dog food recalls, many people are
much more wary about the actual ingredients that go in to
their dog food.

More companies look for ways to cut costs by sourcing
cheaper ingredients wherever possible. This isn't going to
always be the best thing for your dog though.

A couple of years ago there was a very widespread recall of
dog food after it was found that there was melamine (a type
of plastic) in some of the ingredients. After some work it
was found that imported cereal proteins (which have little
nutritional value in the first place) which was the
culprit. But really what this means is that it doesn't
matter what the standards are in the US based production if
the ingredients they are using are already tainted.

This may have been a couple of years ago but I would like
to know what has changed to prevent it happening again.
Considering there was melamine found in milk powder
produced under much stricter human food standards recently,
I don't have much confidence that it isn't going to happen
again. I certainly don't want to have my dog suffer because
of some mix up on a production line.

Apart from the accidental poisonings, what else really goes
into your dog food? A toxic preservative called ethoxyquin
is often added but won't appear on the ingredients list as
it's often added before the production process. Usually
this additive is found in fish meal, so if it's in your dog
food, I'd be thinking very seriously about changing foods.
Ethoxyquin has been linked to side effects from severe
allergic reactions and skin problems to cancer and liver
failure.

Often fish protein is promoted as being a healthy
ingredient for you dog, and it's true that there are other
vital nutrients in fish, but that doesn't outweigh having a
potential carcinogen in your dog food. There's other ways
to get those nutrients that are going to be a lot safer for
your dog.

And then there's the grain fillers that are often used to
bulk out dog food. These fillers, things like corn and rice
protein, have very little nutritional value for dogs. Most
of the time it's just a way to use leftover products from
human food and has little to do with nourishment for your
dog.

This should make you start thinking about what you're
really feeding your Poodle. Dog health food and especially
home made food is one of the easiest ways to make sure that
there is no harmful additives going into your dog's meal.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
Poodle's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

2009-11-24T22:56:00.001-08:00

How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

One of the most biggest misconceptions that most people
have is that their own dogs won't bite. While it is natural
that everybody feels some level of respect for a big,
growling dog we are becoming too nonchalant about our own
dogs. So how can you be sure that your dog will never bite
anyone?

A dog bite injury can lead to some serious, even life
threatening injuries, some even requiring corrective
surgery. There is also the problem of psychological,
emotional, and physical scars from the dog bite injuries
that will need to be overcome. There can also be
staggering financial and legal costs as well.

While some dog biting is fairly common in young puppies
while playing or teething, you need to start to train your
dog that biting is not acceptable. In puppies this is
called 'mouthing' and this is something to keep in mind
since puppies have sharp teeth and while they are playing
it is inevitable that he will use those teeth.

Preventing these dog bite injuries is a necessity both
medically and legally, and this is why dog owners have to
be responsible for their dogs. A dog owner has to recognize
that any dog of any breed is capable of biting someone, and
even a 'nice' dog can suddenly snap and bite if he becomes
frightened, or hurt in any way.

Obedience Training

One way to help to prevent these dog bite injuries is to
invest in a good dog obedience training program. Dogs that
are not trained or not trained well are much more likely to
bite. Get him socialized early with other puppies, and
under calm and positive circumstances, allow him to also
meet and interact with other people, including children.
This is because all dogs are descendants of dog packs and
where dogs often exhibit aggressive behavior having to do
with dominance.

Spay and Neuter your Dog

Another good preventative for either minor or devastating
dog bite injuries is to spay or neuter your dog as this
will eliminate or reduce aggression levels in both male and
female dogs. This will also prevent many health problems
later in his life.

Why do Dogs Bite?

Learning why dogs bite can make it possible for you to
understand some behaviors and to avoid them. You can also
learn to train your dog to prevent possible dog bite
injuries. Despite what many people may think, dogs don't
bite because of aggression, but because of fear and
surprise. This is why socializing your dog when he a puppy
is so important to get him used to other people and other
dogs.

Other Things You Can Do

Be sure to take your dog to the vet on a regular basis and
also make sure that all his vaccinations are kept up to
date. Get your dog licensed and also keep his paperwork up
to date.

Don't allow your dog to wander freely, in fact he should be
contained on your property and you should be able to
control his access to the street.

If you follow these common sense steps you can greatly
reduce an attack or dog bites by a lot. Just be a
responsible owner and start working with your puppy or dog
today.

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Training Choke Collars,
http://budurl.com/cokecollar2 .

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Dogs versus Humans Pt 2

2009-11-22T02:20:00.000-08:00

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Humans vs Dogs Part 2

Aside from the possiblity of traumatic injury incurred by
something like being hit by a car most dog issues today
result from something as controllable as poor nutrition. We
recently looked at some of the physical differences between
dogs and humans that might play on your dogs nutritional
requirements. The difference in the number of teeth. The
inability of the dog to work his jaw side to side and the
short digestive system that is reflected by the dog's
inability to digest raw vebetables and many uncooked
grains. We drew the conclusion that dog's, perhaps even
more than humans, needed a healthy natural food source. I
prefer to take it one step further and insist on human
grade dog food for my own 4-legged friends. Please do not
allow poor nutrition to cause challenges for your dog.

Certain additives that we take for granted, can create
liver and kidney damage. Liver and kidney diseases are
amongst the leading causes of illness in dogs. For example,
our water contains fluoride. Dogs definitely do not need
flouride in their water as they do not get cavities.
Although generally considered safe for humans 10 European
countries have banned flourination of water. In dogs,
fluoride alters serum calcium/phosphorous balance and can
damage bones and kidneys. Because of the high amount of
flourinated water in canned food, dogs should definitely
drink filtered water and avoid canned dog food whenever
possible. These contain high levels of concentrated
fluoride.

Are you aware that dogs actually produce their own Vitamin
C? Dogs use trace minerals in the liver to produce their
own supply of this vitamin. Humans cannot do this.
Supplementing Vitamin C for dogs can create pH imbalances
in the kidney. Adding Vit C can also damage the liver.
Many manufacturers use vitamin C because it is a cheap
preservative that prevents discoloration, not because it
benefits the dog.

There are many differences between dogs and humans and we
can take a look at them in later articles, dog's sense of
smell, sight and hearing is all dramatically different and
bears looking into. What you may not realize is that a dog
not only can see motion better than humans but they have a
third eyelid as well? It helps to remove debris from the
eye and protect it as well. Dogs have flatter lenses and
larger pupils so you see that when you delve a little
deeper into your four-legged friends physiology that you
need to learn more about how dogs are built in order to
understand the "why" of what they might need.

Despite highlighting the nutrional and digestive aspects of
your dog's needs we also need to know as much as we can
about our dog's physiology in order to insure they will be
around and healthy for as long as possible. I hope you have
enjoyed this comparison and that it helps you make informed
decisions about how and what to feed your best friend. We
all need whole, natural, unprocessed food. You can see
that dogs need high quality, human grade dog food for
healthy absorption and digestion.

Amongst other things we will be covering how to read labels
in future articles.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC - The first woman recognized to
adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the
Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association is a
passionate advocate of the benefit of whole foods for both
humans and animals. Her company Lucky Dog Cuisine provides
all natural HUMAN GRADE cooked meals for dogs. For more
info or to receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition
please visit =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

How Your Dogs Agility Training Can Benefit Both You and Your Dog

2009-11-18T23:22:00.001-08:00

How Your Dogs Agility Training Can Benefit Both You and Your Dog

There are many dogs that would benefit from dog agility
training, whether they are a show dog or a dog that is a
family pet and companion. If you have a very large or very
small dog the dogs can have some special challenges not
found in other kinds of dog training.

Some of the benefits of a dogs agility training can include
providing him with plenty of exercise, since a lack of
exercise is the cause of many dog misbehaving. It's great
for people who want to do things with their dog.

The sport of dog agility is a competition where dogs
compete one at a time to navigate around a serious of
obstacles in a particular pattern to find out which of the
dogs competing can complete the course without any errors
or a least the fewest errors.

There are also professional dog agility training
competitions too. Just like a dog show, where you might
have a handler for the dog that is not the dog's owner who
is carrying out the dogs agility training. He is the one
that the dog must listen to for commands.

Some of the obstacles a dog would encounter in agility
training depend on what the particular organization
sanctioning the competition might select. But they usually
consist of jumps, tunnels, contact obstacles, and others.

Some dogs take to agility training rather easily, while
others need extensive training. The dogs agility training
can normally take about 6 to 8 weeks.

As with regular dog training treats and praise figure
prominently as ways to reward the dog for being able to
navigate all the obstacles correctly.

A dogs agility training is great way to ensure the
happiness of your dog, and if give you a chance to spend
some quality time with your dog, and this is why so many
dogs love agility training. If you have a dog that loves
agility training, make sure that you can take advantage of
any dog agility training opportunities to train your dog on
a more regular basis.

There are many dog training schools that offer dog agility
training classes. Many trainers recommend that the dogs
going through these types of classes have already completed
at least a basic obedience course, especially since in
agility training the dogs usually run of the leash and have
to be able to come back when they are called.

You will no doubt find that your dogs agility training will
be both challenging and rewarding for you and your dog, but
it is a great way for both of you to have fan while
spending time together.

If you want to improve your relationship with your dog and
solidify the bond you both share, find yourself a good dog
training school for your dogs agility training, for
whatever discipline you prefer, and just do it. By just
investing a little time, money, and patience, your
relationship will become a forever relationship, and the
your dog will truly be your best friend!

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Training Choke Collars,
http://budurl.com/cokecollar2 .

Dog Health Food - Is Your Labrador Getting The Best Food Possible?

2009-11-16T04:28:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food Feeding Your Labrador The Wrong Food Could Rob Years From His Life

If you've ever wondered if dog health food might be good
for the health of your Labrador, then you're probably
right. These days it is harder and harder to believe in the
safety of commercially produced dog food. With so many
recalls being made on dog food, who knows when or where the
next contaminated batch of dog food is going to land?

Not only is there the possibility of contamination, but
what about the actual nutritional value of your dog's food?
With the focus on profit margins, the only thing you can be
sure about is that the dog food companies want to use the
cheapest ingredients they can get.

In 2007 there was a widespread recall from over 100 dog
food manufacturers after it was discovered that there was
melamine (a type of plastic) in much of their dog food. It
was eventually traced back to a factory in China, which
manufactured rice protein and wheat gluten (neither of
which have any real nutritional value for a dog). So what
that means is that it doesn't matter what standards the US
based company may have for their production plants if the
ingredients coming into the plant are already contaminated!

And although this was a couple of years ago, recently
melamine was discovered in milk powder produced under
standards for human consumption! So based on that I think
that it's safe to say that it's only a matter of time
before another similar incident occurs. I certainly don't
want to take the chance that my puppy is going to suffer
because I didn't act. At the end of the day our dogs depend
on us to give them all the nutrients they need and now we
also need to make sure there's no nasty chemicals as well.

So leaving the accidental toxins aside, what other things
are going into your Labrador's food? a really nasty
preservative called ethoxyquin is often present in dog food
but isn't listed. If your dog food contains fish meal it
almost certainly contains ethoxyquin which has been linked
to numerous allergic reactions, cancer and liver failure in
dogs. Often the only time that it's mentioned is if it's
not there!

So take a moment and check your dog's food just to see if
there is fish meal listed as an ingredient, often it's
promoted as being a source of omega 3 (which it is) but
that isn't going to offset the long term side effects that
your dog is likely to suffer from continued consumption of
this preservative.

All this is just scraping the surface and for the sake of
your Labrador and it's long term wellbeing, it's vital to
learn about dog health food. The best way to be absolutely
certain about what you're feeding your dog is to make it
yourself.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

Food from the dog's perspective - A Bugsy Wonderdog Tale

2009-11-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

A dog's eye view of dinner

I am in a relatively unique position in that I own a dog
that doesn't know he's a dog. My dog "Bugsy Wonderdog" (I
just named him Bugsy, he added the Wonderdog part) has had
an opinion on everything ever since he was a puppy. Usually
he is correct. He recently asked me if he could write a
couple of articles for me so, as is the case with most dog
lovers, I gave in to my puppy and I let him do it. I have
taken the liberty of including his first article in the
text of this one and I must admit that as usual I believe
he's right. The need for healthy natural dog food and human
grade dog food is a passion of mine and from a scientific
perspective can be proven. To look at it from the dog's
perspective is an interesting paradigm shift. So without
further ado I bring you words of wisdom from the Wonderdog.

You humans have always had a hard time grasping the concept
of Healthy Natural Dog Food. What's with that. You are
finally trying to eat well yourself as is evidenced by the
proliferation of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets and assorted
other nouveau supermarkets dedicated to providing natural
foods for humans so why not for us dogs? I don't believe
there is anyone more qualified to judge what does and what
should go into that dog bowl them me, your humble
Wonderdog. After all, I am the one who has to eat it.

How would you like to sit down for every breakfast, lunch
and dinner for the rest of your life and be served a bowl
of dry processed cereal? Why do it to your dog then?
There's nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and
again, according to the label they are fortified and
contain tons of vitamins and minerals but you wouldn't want
to live on them. Variety is the spice of life. Whoever said
that sure wasn't your average dog.

While we're talking about it, what's with the double
standard? Have you ever wondered why they even have
something called "Pet Grade"? I'll tell you why, it's
because it's all of the garbage that is deemed not fit for
human consumption. Healthy Natural Dog Food is a complete
oxymoron with respect to most commercial grade pet foods.
Now I know that a dog, even your dog, isn't human. Thank
goodness for that, you people have enough problems but that
doesn't mean we should be deprived of vital nutrients
because you can't see through the marketing propaganda of
the commercial pet food companies. Oh, their commercials
are wonderful showing happy dogs with great coats and lots
of energy. Those dogs are actors. They are probably eating
Filet Mignon and traveling first class. They are the
Brangelina's of the canine world. How about making your dog
feel like a movie star, or at the very least a Wonderdog.
Whether you buy it in a store or you have to cook it
yourself please feed your dogs Healthy Natural Dog Food.

Bugsy Wonderdog

Certainly spoken like someone who has never had to cook dog
food for himself but overall I think he makes some great
points. The innocuous little label "pet grade" in many
cases might just as well say, "poison". One of my favorite
rules to live by when feeding my dogs is that if I wouldn't
eat it myself, I won't feed it to my dog. Pay attention to
the Bugster, he is not your average dog. He is an actor, a
model, a spokesdog and even an author but most importantly
he's a dog and as such has earned the title of "man's best
friend". Let's pay back some of that friendship by feeding
Bugsy and all of our canine friends what they really need.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas has had a long and successful career as
a Doctor of Chiropractic. She was the first woman in Canada
certified to adjust animals and was instrumental in
bringing animal adjusting to Canada. As founder of Lucky
Dog Cuisine she continues her passion for animals by
advocating human grade food for all dogs.
Follow her FREE INFOSERIES Toxic Soup ' Truth about
Commercial Dog Food here =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

Dog Health Food - Your German Shepherd Could Be Suffering

2009-11-13T05:10:00.001-08:00

Dog Health Food Your German Shepherd Could Be Suffering

Your German Shepherd could be suffering from the side
effects of commercial dog food, which is why so many owners
are turning to dog health food. With so many potentially
toxic ingredients being put into dog food these days, it
can be hard to know whether you might be actually harming
your best friend with every meal.

First you have to wonder how safe your dog food is from
chemical contaminants that accidentally got into the food
at some point in the production. Maybe basic ingredients
were tainted overseas and nobody picked it up. Especially
at the moment with companies all around the world looking
to get more profit from less cost, we have to wonder if our
dogs welfare is at risk.

Do you know how safe your dog's food really is? Even in
human food production with their far more strict standards,
it's not uncommon for there to be chemical contaminants.

In 2007 there was a widespread recall from over 100 dog
food manufacturers after it was discovered that there was
melamine (a type of plastic) in much of their dog food. It
was eventually traced back to a factory in China which
manufactured rice protein and wheat gluten (neither of
which have any real nutritional value for a dog). So what
that means is that it doesn't matter what standards the US
based company may have for their production plants if the
ingredients coming into the plant are already contaminated!

Although this happened a couple of years ago, what has
changed to ensure that it can't happen again? Melamine was
recently found in milk powder that was produced under human
food standards. So what about the lower standards that pet
foods are produced under? While it may a completely
accidental, even the possibility of having toxic plastics
ending up in dogs food is completely unacceptable.

I know I don't want to pick up the paper and find out that
my dog's food has plastic in it. We are ultimately
responsible for our dogs health, not just that they get the
right nutrition, but to make sure that their food is free
from harmful chemicals too.

Apart from the accidental chemical additives what else is
your German Shepherd really eating? Often there's a proven
carcinogen called ethoxyquin present in many commercial dog
foods. This preservative has been banned for decades from
human food due to it's toxic side effects. Factory workers
who have been exposed to it exhibit symptoms similar to
agent orange. But this toxic chemical is still being added
to our dog's food!

You won't find it listed either, no matter how close you
look. This is because fish meal when it is made gets
treated with ethoxyquin, while it's still on the boat. What
this means is that fish meal might go into the food but the
ingredients of the meal won't be listed.

In some foods they promote the fact that there's fish in
there as a great source of protein and fatty acids, which
is true. However if that fish is in the form of meal, then
there's a whole lot more going in than you bargained for.
They could suffer from allergic reactions, cancer and liver
failure. And this is something that supposed to be healthy!

For the sake of your German Shepherd it's vital that you
learn about dog health food. Commercially produced food is
completely out of your control, you never really know what
could be If you make your own then you can be absolutely
sure that there's no nasty chemicals and carcinogenic
preservatives in your dog's food. You can treat them to a
variety of gourmet tastes and give them the very best
nutrition possible.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
German Shepherd's food could be making them sick and could
even rob years from your best friend's life. To find out
exactly what goes into dog food and how to make your own
delicious dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter,
chock full of great tips to make your dog's life a long and
healthy one. Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

Dog Health Food - Could There Be Toxic Chemicals In Your Dog Food?

2009-11-12T01:19:00.001-08:00

Title: Dog Health Food Are You Accidentally Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Author: Mark Syme

Dog Health Food Are You Accidentally Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Dog health food is fast becoming a mainstream choice for
many dog owners as more dog food recalls are issued. Many
people are losing faith in dog food manufacturers being
able to reliably supply food that is always going to be
free from contaminants. Some people are making their own
food, while most are looking much more carefully at what is
really going into their dog's food.

Now there's a whole range of reasons for dog food to be
recalled and some of them are exactly the same reasons as
why some human food recalls occur. In at least one case
there was a fungal infection on the production line, which
contaminated the food. This would make me ask the question:
What sort of hygiene procedures are in place that allowed
this to occur?

The FDA is responsible for keeping tabs on the dog food
industry, which is enormous and growing at a staggering
rate. And so we'd like to think that dog food conforms to
the same standards as human food, but all too often this is
far from the truth.

The FDA is growing increasingly under funded and
understandably puts most of its resources into ensuring
that human food production is kept to the required hygiene
standards. That said, plenty of products still slip
through when you think about how often you see food recalls
at the supermarket. So where does that leave the pet food
industry?

Well, the lack of official oversight means that they are
mainly self-regulating. While in a perfect world this
wouldn't be a problem, I have my doubts when it comes to
the sort of money that is being made from dog food today.
In most cases, in the battle between increased profits and
better quality, profits come out on top.

And who could forget the wide-ranging pet food recalls in
2007? This was eventually traced back to contaminated rice
protein and wheat gluten produced in China. One more way
that a cheaply sourced ingredient is added that has little
nutritional value anyway. This means that even if the
standards of the US manufacturer are fantastic, it won't
help if they're using tainted ingredients?

So we need to asking the hard questions of where our dog
food really comes from, what's really in the food that our
best friends are gobbling up and what are the long term
effects on their health going to be?

Many pet owner are turning to some form of dog health food
as a practical way to ensure that their pets get not only
the best nutrition but also keep them safe from any pet
food company blunders. At the end of the day, it's up to us
to give our pets healthy and safe food but we can't always
believe what the large pet food companies are telling us.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Humans vs Dogs Part 1

2009-11-11T03:03:00.001-08:00

Nothing but the Best for your Dog's Tummy

Choosing a dog food is much like choosing a spouse. Lots of
choices but very few quality ones. I have always had a
passion for making sure my dogs only eat the very best but
in order to do that we need to know a little bit about what
makes dogs different from us. Having that knowledge will
allow us to understand why dogs actually need higher
quality proteins than humans. Let's help them live longer
happier lives by feeding them healthy natural, and
preferably human grade dog food.

Let's start with the teeth and jaw. Dogs have 42
well-spaced teeth. People have 32 and our teeth are close
together. The space between dogs' teeth allows food to
enter quickly. Dogs' mouths are funnels to get food into
the stomach as quickly as possible. Your dog gulping his
food is his natural way of eating. He has fewer taste buds
than we do, so there appears to be no need for him to savor
his dinner! Our canine friends also lack the ability to
grind food. Their jaws work only up and down. Side to side
movement is impossible for your dog's jaw. They also do
not predigest starches in the mouth like we do. We get
cavities. Dogs get more tarter build up, but no cavities!

Food travelling from their mouth to their stomach takes
only about 5 seconds. Once in the stomach, the food is
stored and digestion begins. Dogs have more acid in their
stomachs than people do and this allows them to break down
bacteria more effectively than we can. They also have this
antibacterial ability in their saliva.

The small and large intestine in the average human is
approximately 36 feet long. That's roughly the height of a
four storey building! A 70 lb dog has a 6-foot long
intestine therefore dogs need high quality proteins to be
able to digest them quickly. People can digest raw fruits
and vegetables better because of our longer digestive
systems. Give a dog a piece of whole carrot and it comes
out the other end much the same way it entered!

Digestion of complex carbohydrates and vegetables is more
difficult for your dog, therefore in a perfect world they
would be cooked and pureed to simulate predigestion.
Cooking keeps the glycemic index low to help maintain even
blood sugar levels. This causes less stress on the
pancreas and liver and less chance of developing diabetes.

If you are like me and have your dog sleeping on the bed
with you it's not a great leap to understand that after
being domesticated for thousands of years dogs, while
different from humans in many ways, are similar in others.
Just like us needing healthy natural whole foods to thrive
in today's environment your dog needs a healthy natural dog
food as well.

Look for more info on dogs vs humans in upcoming segments.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

About the Author:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC - The first woman recognized to
adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the
Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association is a
passionate advocate of the benefit of whole foods for both
humans and animals. Her company Lucky Dog Cuisine provides
all natural HUMAN GRADE cooked meals for dogs. For more
info or to receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition
please visit =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com

Animal Communication - How to Overcome Doubt

2009-11-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Title: Animal Communication - How to Overcome Doubt

Many people have expressed to me that they would love to be
able to communicate with their pets. But for many reasons
they feel like they aren't able to.

All of us are born with the inherent ability to communicate
with our animal companions and all life for that matter.

Here are 2 ways to help you overcome self-defeating doubt
so you can confidently communicate with your animal
companions.

Spend Time in Stillness

Allow yourself the time every day to be alone in stillness.
I don't like to use the term "meditate" because that tends
to trigger many limiting beliefs in people.

When people think about meditating there are usually many
rules and techniques associated with it. Instead picture
yourself quietly communing with both your inner and outer
world.

There isn't any right or wrong way to do this. Simply find
a quiet space and allow the stillness to envelope you.

Let your thoughts simply drift. Don't have an agenda. Be
aware of any sensations in your body. This is your time to
connect with the Creative Energy or Divine Intelligence
that orchestrates the Universe.

If you want greater results do this for pleasure. Play.
Have fun. Don't have an agenda.

It is in this space that you are connected to everything,
including your animals. However, don't use this time to
try to communicate. This is your time to experience
oneness, creation and connectivity.

Play With Your Intuition

Your intuition resides in the right side of your
brain...your creative center. Engage in activities that
stimulate the right side of your brain like art, music, and
creative projects.

Use your intuition to solve problems instead of logic. Ask
empowering questions that engage your right brain. For
example, "What is another solution for this situation?" Or
"How can I bring intuition more frequently into my life?"
Allow the answers to naturally and simply come to you.
Don't struggle and try to figure things out. That's using
your left or logical brain.

Practice relying on your intuition for all aspects of your
life, not just animal communication. When you have a
negative feeling about a person, trust that your intuition
is sending you an important message. When you feel great
about a project it is your intuition letting you know you
are on the right path.

Intuition is the language of feelings. The more you
practice using your intuition the easier it will be for you
to trust the messages you receive.

Being about to communicate with your pets will allow your
to create a deeper and richer relationship with them. Use
these techniques to quickly build the skill and confidence
that will make you a magnificent animal communicator.

About the Author:

Becky is a Divine Animal Healer and communicator who helps
people strengthen the bond they share with their animal
companions. If you have a pet suffering from physical or
emotional distress visit her at
http://divinehealingforanimals.com She also helps people
cope with pet loss using Divine Openings. Divine Openings
frees people from negative emotions like depression and
guilt thus allowing them to live lives with more grace,
ease and joy.

What's your dogs lifespan?

2009-11-08T09:54:00.001-08:00

Title: What's your dogs lifespan?

What Is The Lifespan of Your Dog?

10 years, 12 maybe, 15 tops, most people believe that is
the lifespan of their beloved dog. Contrary to popular
opinion it is not unusual for well cared for and well fed
dogs that have had optimum nutrition and a caring partner
to live past 20 years.

Our beloved pets cannot talk to us and they can only hope
that we are aware of their health conditions by knowing
what they are usually like and noticing any behavioral
changes.

If your dog starts to eat more or less food than normal
this could be one sign that there is a problem and also if
they gain or lose weight they could be suffering from some
health problems. Even if a normally quiet dog starts
whining or barking more often they might be trying to give
you a signal that something is not quite right in their
life.

Today a lot of the health problems that our pets are
suffering from is due to the foods they are being fed. And
this is due to the ingredients being used to manufacture
our commercial dog foods. The most popular dog foods often
use byproducts with added chemical preservatives and
artificial colors to make it look good. Ingredients such
as sodium are added to the dog food to make it more
palatable. In fact excessive sodium can be detrimental to
the well being of your dog.

Some dog food manufacturers will also use a high percentage
of grains like corn, wheat, soy to add bulk to the food
while doing nothing for the all-over nutrition of the dog
food. These byproducts and fullers have very little
nutritional value and are certainly not helping in the
overall health of our animals.

Not all of our dog's health problems can be blamed on the
food he/she eats. Obesity and the associated problems that
are present from being overweight is one of the main
reasons for the shortened life span.

One of the best things you can do for your dog besides
regular exercise, good food, water and shelter, is to be
aware of any changes that it might exhibit in all aspects
of it's life. Particularly as dogs get older they might
seem like they are just not interested in exercise any
longer but this might be due to the fact that they are
suffering from pain of some form or another.

Many older dogs suffer from arthritis and this can be very
painful.There are all sorts of remedies that can help your
dog from natural remedies to ones that your local vet might
prescribe. Older dogs can become depressed because they
are no longer getting the required stimulation mentally and
a depressed dog will suffer just as a human can do in
similar circumstances.

If we ensure that our dogs get the optimum nutrition,
enough exercise, along with a regular checkup at the Vet,
this is a good solution to ensure that your dog is always
in optimal health and that includes their mental state. We
can expect their lifespan to be considerably more than
current levels and reach that 20 year mark. Remember always
be aware of their behavior and it will ensure that your dog
has a happy and long life.

A regular checkup at the Vet and the best premium dog food
you can afford is a good solution to ensure that your dog
is always in optimal health and is with you a long time.

About the Author:

George Baker is a semi retried professional breeder of
service and working dogs where dog nutriment is a daily
returnee for him. To keep your dog/puppy healthy. Learn
more about dog nutation and holistic natural dog foods, go
to http://www.holisticpuppyfood.com

Canine Heartworm Treatment

2009-11-05T03:09:00.000-08:00

Canine Heartworm Treatment

Canine heartworms, also known as dirofilariasis disease,
can be extremely dangerous or fatal if left untreated.
Heartworms are spawned from mosquitoes, which carry the
parasite and infect other dogs. A veterinarian can
prescribe heartworm preventatives to decrease the chances
of your pet getting this disease. To restrict mosquito
contact, natural methods can be used to keep these insects
at bay.

Canine heartworms are dangerous parasites that live in the
lung arteries and the right side of the heart in dogs. If
left untreated, these long, thin parasitic worms can cause
lung or heart damage, or death. Microfilaria immitis
(heartworm) parasites are carried by mosquitoes. The life
cycle begins by a mosquito biting an infected dog. The
offspring of the heartworm, called microfilariae, begin to
molt inside the mosquito, maturing into infective larvae.
When the mosquito bites another dog, the microfilariae are
injected under the skin, and will molt again in about 10
days. Sixty days later, the microfilariae will molt once
more and begin their journey to the heart and lungs of the
animal. Four months later, the parasites become adult
heartworms.

Heartworms cases have been reported all around the world,
including the United States. In the U.S., the heaviest
concentration of heartworm reports has been in southeastern
states. Dogs may show no sign of heartworm disease until
the infection has become severe. Weight loss, vomiting,
respiratory distress, and lethargy are classic symptoms of
this disease.

Canine heartworm treatment is the best route in preventing
heartworms. These preventative treatments will impede
larvae from becoming adult worms. Some heartworm
preventatives available from a veterinarian include daily
or monthly tablets or chewables, injections every six
months, or monthly topicals.

Keeping your dog indoors more will minimize mosquito
contact, but is not always enough to prevent heartworms.
Using non-toxic sprays or essential oils, such as geranium
oil, can cut down on mosquito contact. All-natural tea
tree, lavender or garlic can also be used as a mosquito
repellent. Maintaining a healthy diet and immune system,
and keeping regular vet checkups, can also help keep
heartworms at bay.

If a dog has already been infected with heartworms, the
treatment can be costly, dangerous, and painful to the
animal. In advanced stages of heartworm disease, there is
no guarantee that the treatment will be effective. Dogs
that are already infected can receive treatments at home.
But, it is best that your dog be hospitalized during canine
heartworm treatment, in case caval syndrome (cardiovascular
collapse) or heart failure occurs. The animal may be
injected with a drug called adulticide and may need to have
several treatments. During this period, heartworm
preventatives should be administered to prevent
re-infection.

Canine heartworm disease can be prevented. Veterinarians
can prescribe medicines to avoid heartworm
infection--preventing long-term damage to the heart or
lungs. If your dog exhibits signs of heartworms, such as
lethargy or vomiting, take them to a vet immediately. They
may need special tretments to kill worms in the heart or
lungs. Heartworm treatment is imperative in helping your
dog live a long, healthy life.

About the Author:

Discover the best and safest canine heartworm treatment
available in the market today, including alternative
heartworm treatment for dogs. Learn all about heartworm
signs and heartworm symptoms to help you how to tell if a
dog has heartworms and extensive heartworm treatment
recovery to keep your pet in the best health possible. Go
to: http://www.canineheartwormcure.com

Pet Loss: How to Overcome Guilt

2009-11-02T02:51:00.001-08:00

Pet Loss: How to Overcome Guilt
by Rebecca Kimes

You had no way of knowing that a car's backfiring would
frighten your dog so badly he'd jump the fence, get lost,
wander on to a busy street and be tragically struck by a
car and killed.

Or that your cat would be caught and torn up by a pack of
coyotes.

Or that the hay you bought from a reputable dealer was
laced with an unknown plant that poisoned your horse.

As a responsible, caring and loving steward of your animal
companions you always do your absolute best for them.
That's why the sudden, unexpected death of your companion
can often be devastating beyond words. And to further
compound the tragedy you are overcome with guilt and blame
yourself for the death of your animal companion.

Guilt is a natural reaction when tragedy strikes. And it
can serve you if you learn from what happened and choose
differently in the future.

However, a little guilt goes a long way. If you find
yourself overcome with guilt and unable to properly grieve
and recover from your companion's death here are 2 steps
that will help you take action and free yourself from
guilt's numbing grasp.

Step 1: Let Empowering Questions Help You Heal

Your thoughts create your feelings. If you find yourself
thinking the same things over and over again like, "If I
had only..." or "Why didn't I..." or "How could I have..."
STOP. You are only entrenching yourself further in the
guilty feelings.

Instead use empowering questions to redirect your thoughts
and emotions. Empowering questions are questions you ask
yourself that engage your Creative Self.

Actively ask yourself empowering questions like: "What is
my favorite memory of my companion?" or "How can I feel
better right now about this?" or "What can I do in this
moment to release the guilt?"

Ask yourself empowering questions any time you find
yourself having thoughts of guilt and self-blame.

As you ask empowering questions your creativity is
stimulated and your thoughts are naturally redirected in a
manner that automatically helps you feel better. You'll
quickly find yourself putting your guilt in the past where
it belongs.

Step 2: Accept What Happened

Your beloved companion is gone from this world and no
amount of guilt or self-recrimination can change that.

Now is the time to look deeply within and discover your
true beliefs about death and dying.

Is it possible that your companion's Soul or Spirit
specifically chose this particular time and method to
transition?

Do you believe that although your pet isn't here
physically, he/she is now enjoying life and romping around
in the spirit realms? And you can still connect with your
pet, just in a different manner than you are used to?

As you answer these questions and the others that will
inevitably emerge allow your Soul or Expanded Self to help
you release the guilt and grief. Perhaps you can now
create a new relationship with your beloved pet. As you
do, you'll accept your pet's physical death as a natural
evolution of life and self-growth.

Although seemingly impossible at times, you can choose to
move beyond the numbing effects of guilt created from the
loss of your pet.

About the Author:

Looking for more support in dealing with the devastating
effects of guilt? Perhaps you want more guidance around
exploring your beliefs around where you pet has gone after
dying? Maybe you'd like help in contacting your pet's
spirit. Visit Becky at http://petlosssupportcenter.com and
discover her many tools and support to help you move on
with your life after the death of your pet in joy and ease.

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Is Your Dog Food Hurting your Best Friend?

2009-10-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

Title: Dog Health Food Are Preservatives Killing Your Best Friend?

Author: Mark Syme

Dog health food is fast becoming a vital part of having a
healthy dog. Knowing what is really in the food that
you're dog is vital to help your dog live a long and full
life. By avoiding the preservatives and additives in
commercial dog food, you could be adding years to your
dog's life.

With dog food labelling laws much less strict than human,
it can be hard to find out what really is put into our
dog's food. If a particular nasty ingredient doesn't
appear on the ingredients list, unfortunately that doesn't
mean it isn't there. Some preservatives such as Ethoxyquin
are routinely added to fish meal, which is then added as an
ingredient but you won't know what went into the fish meal.
It's a bit like those restaurants that can proclaim `no
added msg' because it's only the ingredients and sauces
that they use which contain it.

There are so many loopholes, which are exploited, in human
food that I shudder to think about what really goes into
the food we give our dogs. For example the preservative
Ethoxyquin has been banned for human consumption for
decades, but it's still legal to put it into our dog's
food. Insiders have confirmed that road kill is often added
to increase the protein amount, but that's not the worst by
far. In addition to toxic preservatives, there have been
reported cases of pets being recycled back into dog food
after being put down, complete with the lethal drugs still
in their flesh!

Tumours that have been removed from dying dogs have been
put into commercial dog food. So it's no wonder that
cancers, kidney failure and chronic allergies are fast
becoming an epidemic in the dog world. So when you see
`animal' meat or `animal' protein on a list of ingredients,
run a mile!

There are many, many forms of protein, which can
legitimately be put into dog food but are not really much
better than poison. And even offal, which isn't too bad as
a rule, can be quite harmful. Offal is mainly produced from
inedible organs but these organs can often have a high
concentration of pesticides and hormones from the animal
they came from. Basically, anything that can't be sold as
human grade food seems to find it's way into dog food, and
then promoted as being healthy!

It's no surprise that the incidence of severe food
allergies is rising either. Lots of corn and wheat gluten
is being used to fill out the bulk of dog food. This isn't
anything like a natural part of a dog's diet and their
digestive system doesn't really cope with it. Not many
dogs have a food intolerance when they're born, but they
can develop one later in life.

Allergies can lead to poor coat condition, bloating and
wind, low energy, aggression and even organ damage. While
often the effects are initially minor, if they are ignored,
they can develop into more serious health problems. And all
the time, your best friend can't tell you if they feel sick
after every meal they eat.

With all these things potentially making your pooch sick,
dog health food is fast becoming a vital part of having a
healthy dog. Making your own dog food is easy and fun, but
if you don't have the time, then there an increasing
variety of all natural foods being produced that you'd be
happy to give to your best friend.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Pet Euthanasia: A Compassionate Guide to Help Make a Difficult Decision a Little Easier

2009-10-29T00:48:00.001-07:00

Pet Euthanasia: A Compassionate Guide to Help Make a Difficult Decision a Little Easier
by Rebecca Kimes

Your animal companion is no longer the healthy, vital,
energetic companion he once was. In fact, he is suffering
and you are agonizing over the decision to have him
euthanized.

How do you know when the right time really is?

How do you know you are making the best decision for you
pet?

Are you being selfish in deciding to end the life of
another being?

These questions and others like them are never easy to
answer. Your animal companion has been and still is an
important part of your life and family. Saying goodbye is
never easy much less having to make the determination of
when your pet's life will end.

As you consider when/if you should euthanize your pet the
following guidelines will make the process a little easier.

1. Enlist the help of a trusted family member, friend,
advisor, coach or veternarian. Use this person as a
sounding board to help you reflect back feelings, ideas and
fears.

2. Set the intention that no matter what you have your
pet's best interest at heart.

3. Ask your Expanded Self to help you release any feelings
of guilt, shame or blame.

4. Consider the state of your pet's health by carefully
answering each of these questions. Is he able to get
around by himself or does he need help? Can he get outside
to relieve himself? Is he eating properly and maintaining
weight? Does it hurt to touch him? Is he interested in
things he used to love to do?

5. Consider your financial means. Do you have the
financial resources to properly care for an aged or ill
pet? Will this situation put a burden on you and your
family.

6. Consider your emotional being. Do you have the time
and energy to devote to your pet at this time? Is it fair
to the rest of the members of your family?

7. What are your main reasons for deciding to have your
companion euthanized?

8. What are your main reasons for deciding not to have
your companion euthanized?

9. Connect with your companion and have a conversation
with him about how he is feeling and what he would like to
see happen. This is much easier than you think...and you
are more than capable of doing this.

10. After you've considered all your options and reasons
give yourself a deadline for making a decision.

Making a decision about having your pet euthanized is never
easy. Following these 10 guidelines can help you put your
pet's welfare in the forefront and allow you to make a
heart-centered decision that is best for everyone involved.

About the Author:

Becky is a Divine Animal Healer who helps people strengthen
the bond they share with their animal companions. If you
need to make a euthanasia decision she can help. Visit her
at http://divinehealingforanimals.com She also helps
people cope with pet loss using Divine Openings. Divine
Openings frees people from negative emotions like
depression and guilt thus allowing people to live lives
with more grace, ease and joy.

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Dog Health Food - Don't Poison Your Dog By Giving Him The Wrong Food

2009-10-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food What Is Safe And What's Dangerous For Your Best Friend

Without knowing what dog health food is, you might be
feeding your best friend foods that are harming them. Some
foods can really do a lot of damage to the health of your
dog and it's important to know what's safe and what's
dangerous.

This boils down to the individual dog and their
physiological makeup. Just because you know of another dog
that ate macadamias and was fine, doesn't mean that it's
safe for your little pooch!

Here's a list of the really nasty ones that all dogs need
to avoid:

Chocolate

Most of us know about this one these days, and it really is
amazing how little chocolate can be deadly for dogs. Dark
and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous with milk
chocolate not as bad. But at the end of the day, make sure
your dog just doesn't get chocolate, unless it's specific
dog chocolate which doesn't have theobromine (the nasty
chemical in chocolate)

Onions

These damage red blood cells causing anaemia. One big
serving or regular small ones can both be harmful for a
dog. Cooked onions are safer, but still not a good idea at
all. Thankfully, dogs don't seek onions out like they do
with chocolate, but if they are getting food scraps, make
sure that there isn't any onion in it, cooked or not.

Macadamia Nuts

Can cause muscle weakness and paralysis, usually short
lasting thankfully. Just about all other nuts should be
avoided because there's too much phosphorous for a dog to
handle. Peanuts are alright because they're quite different
to other nuts.

Tea And Coffee (especially coffee grounds)

Both have a similar effect to chocolate, but often dogs
don't eat them of their own accord, so it's not such a
problem. But it's still important to make sure that your
dog doesn't get into compost that has coffee in it.

Raisons or grapes

Can cause kidney failure in even fairly small amounts, so
make sure that you don't let them too close to these either.

Taking note of this list could easily save your dog from an
early and painful death, just by being a little bit more
aware of dog health food is. A lot of the other foods that
are only potentially harmful, need to be given in large
amounts to be harmful. I hope this helps to clear up a few
misconceptions and helps your dog live a long a healthy
life.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Dog Health Food - Don't Accidentally Poison Your Dog

2009-10-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food Could Save Your Dog's Life

Dog health food has the same purpose as health food for
humans. Often our dogs health is a direct reflection of our
own. But what about the additives that we aren't even
aware of, that are being put into our dog's food? Labelling
laws are much more relaxed with dog food than human, with
many loopholes that are exploited to save money.

In the production process of dry food, once the biscuits
are made and look ready, most dogs wouldn't eat them. But
to make it more appetising, a spray of animal fat is then
applied. That's what your dog's smelling when they're
eating commercially produced kibble. That's the smell you
get when you first open a bag of dog food.

You probably don't have to think hard to come up with
something that you've seen a dog eat which you would never
even contemplate eating. So in that light, what gets put
into dog food that even a dog wouldn't eat it without a
tempting coating? Most people who've looked into the
ingredients in dog food would agree that it isn't really
even food. Often there's just nutritionally useless filler,
with a small proportion of protein and additives to put
some minerals and vitamins into it.

This is also why most dogs are always hungry, their food
has so little nutrition in it, it's no surprise they're
hungry. It's a bit like if you were to eat McDonalds for
every meal and expect to get the nourishment you need. You
wouldn't expect it for yourself so why would it work for
your dog?

A dog's metabolism needs much more animal protein and it
can't effectively process too much carbohydrate. So when
there's too much in the way of starch and carbohydrates in
a dog's food, it gets converted to fat because the dog
can't process it. They aren't getting enough protein so
they're always going to be hungry. Begging for scraps five
minutes after being fed. Does this sound like any dogs that
you know?

By changing this so that your dog is getting all of the
nutrients they need, your dog won't just be surviving,
it'll start to really thrive. And in case you've been
feeding your dog on `premium' or `ultra premium' foods
thinking that you are giving them the very best, that's
necessarily the case. Often there's very little, if any
difference in the actual ingredients of the food, just
different packaging.

So you need to make sure that there is a proper breakdown
of protein, fats and carbohydrates in the food your dog
eats. And also there is a big variation in the quality of
the protein. The regulations about what makes a complete
food suitable for dogs only concerns the gross amounts of
protein and fats, not the quality of the protein.

There are many different types of proteins, road kill and
beef are not the same quality, so you want to make sure
that there are named meats and not `animal' meat in your
dog food. Another method that is becoming more and more
common is to make your own so that you know exactly what
goes into the food the your dogs' eating.

It doesn't need to be a long winded chore and is often a
cheaper option. It's also a great way to vary your dog's
diet so that they get plenty of the nutrients that they
need. Mixing up some ground beef, vegies and oatmeal is a
great way to cover the nutritional bases that your dog
needs. You can really let your imagination go, just make
sure you avoid foods like onions, raisons and chocolate in
your recipes.

Dog health food is a lot about knowing what goes into your
dog's food and making it yourself is a great way to be 100%
certain of what you're feeding your best friend. By taking
a little time to find out what really goes into your dogs
food, you can give your dog more energy and a longer,
healthier life.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care. To keep your best friend healthy and add
years to their life, subscribe to our dog health food
newsletter. You'll find out exactly what goes into
commercial dog food and how to make your own at home,
cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Revealed: Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dog's Allergies

2009-10-26T03:24:00.001-07:00

Who Else Wants To Cure Their Dog's Allergies With Dog Health Food?

Allergies in dogs are becoming more common everyday and
many people are turning to dog health food as an
alternative. By being aware of exactly what is really going
into your dog's food, you can spare them suffering and pain
and even add years to their life.

There's heaps of grain, by-product and preservatives going
into your dog's food too. It can be hard for us to figure
out if we have an allergy, so how much harder is it when
your dog can't even tell you if they're feeling sick from
their food? Allergies can make us all miserable and our
dogs too.

So what does a dog suffering from allergies look like?
Unlike humans the allergy usually comes out through the
skin rather than the nasal passage. Not sneezing but
itching and chewing. Often they will suffer from poor coat
condition, sometimes there's greasy layer to the coat and
an unpleasant smell. Often the dog's coat will be in a bad
way Also your dog can get hot spots. These are itchy areas
that often cause quite a lot of distress and irritation for
the dog. They'll end up as open sores that can take a long
time to heal. And short haired dogs can get these just as
much as long haired ones. They are most common at the base
of the tail, but can occur anywhere.

Some dogs can really benefit from regular bathing in a
hypoallergenic shampoo, as this will strip off the dirt and
bacteria that can cause or contribute to the allergic
reaction. If this is combined with a treatment to soothe
the skin it can bring a lot of relief to your dog. Doing
this every day is a good way to break the cycle in severe
cases.

One more common way for allergies and sensitivities to
exhibit is a constant scratching and worrying at particular
area. This is something that is distressing for your dog
and we want a solution right now to give them some relief.

Dogs can be allergic to the same sort of things that humans
are like pollen, dust mites and mould. So a good first
step is to simply make sure that your house is kept clean,
from dust and mould.

Another allergy that dogs can develop is food allergies.
It is rare for dogs to be born with a food allergy and it
usually develops to a certain ingredient in the food that
they are having. Often this is a grain that is being used
to bulk out the food. These grains are commonly corn and
wheat gluten that is a useless by-product of the human food
industry. It is then put in our dog food and supposed to
be healthy! There is not any real nutritional value in this
and it isn't surprising that it causes allergy and
sensitivity, especially after years of consumption.

While it is important for our dogs to have some sort of
vegetable matter to give them the complete nutrients that
they need, grains should only make up a small part of the
total diet. Meat proteins and animal fat are much more
important parts of the canine diet.

In many foods there is a preservative called Ethoxyquin
which has been linked to many allergies and even cancer.
So reading the ingredients list is really important to your
dog having the best health possible. But the problem is
that sometimes the nasty preservatives can be hidden or
added before the final processing, so it won't appear on
the list of ingredients.

It's more important today then ever to be aware of what is
really going into the food that we feed our dogs and dog
health food is a great way of giving the best to your
pooch. By making sure that we only give them the most
nutritious food, we can add years to their life and more
energy everyday. It's really a little effort for a
fantastic and lasting pay off.

About the Author:

Our dogs rely on us to provide them with the best possible
food and care, so it's our responsibility to know what goes
into the dog food that we give them. To keep your best
friend healthy and add years to their life, subscribe to
our dog health food newsletter. You'll find out exactly
what goes into commercial dog food and how to make your own
at home, cheaply and easily. Click here to subscribe
http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Dog Training Courses - Which Method is Right for You?

2009-10-24T05:21:00.001-07:00

Dog Training Courses - Which Method is Right for You?

Dog training courses can mean the difference between having
a happy dog and happy life - or not. Dogs are happier,
healthier and safer when they have loving boundaries set
for them and that's what dog training courses help you
learn to set for your dog.

First let's take a look at the overall methods that dog
training courses use. If you find a method that suits you
best, you will know the type of course that will best for
you and your dog.

Types of Dog Training Courses

Reward Training: Emphasizes positive reinforcement --
instead of punishing or yelling at your dog for what you
don't want him to do, you reward your dog for doing what
you want him to do. Rewards consist of praise and petting
as well as treats. Treats are especially used in the early
learning stages of a new behavior.

Dog Whispering: Dog Whispering is more of a general
philosophy than a method. This is a more advanced method
that should taken on by dog lovers who feel very confident
in their connection with their dogs and are interested in
learning about canine behaviors, motivation and body
language.

Choke or Check Collar Training: Choke collars are collars
that slip over a dogs head onto it neck and tighten down on
the dogs neck when it pulls too hard on its leash. Choke
collars were designed for professional trainers and for
limited use - there is a health risk to your dog's neck and
trachea when using them. In general, dog training courses
that emphasize choke or check collar training are not
recommended.

Prong Collar Training: Don't even think about this method.
A prong collar has metal ends that stick into a dog's flesh
and digs into its neck when it pulls on its leash. Inhumane
period!

Head Collar Training: Very humane collar that gently
redirects a dog's attention or the way you want him to go
instead of punishing or hurting him as the two methods
directly above do. Very effective especially when used with
Reward Training.

Clicker Training: This method takes a hand-held clicker,
which oddly enough makes a "clicking" noise when squeezed.
During clicker training, a dog is reinforced in behaviors
with doggie treats paired with the clicking noise. At some
point, the treats will be eliminated and the dog will know
it has done something right simply by hearing the clicking
noise. Very effective.

Electric Collar Training: As the name implies, this type of
training involves your dog wearing a collar in which you
are able to administer an electric shock to discourage
certain behaviors. this method should only be used by
professional trainers in the most extreme circumstances. If
you are reading this blog, collar training is not for you
-- or your dog.

Ultrasonic Whistle Training: You know of the dog whistles
that you can't hear but a dog can - right? This method uses
these whistles to get your dog's attention as well as to
train him. You will need to be trained in this method first.

About the Author:

Barry Sowder owns an older rescued terrier-mix, Spencer,
and a young pure-bred Collie, Olivia. Find the best dog
training courses for you and your dog at his blog,
available at: => http://www.dogtrainingcourses-1.com/

__,_._,___

Dog's Head out the Car Window: A Dangerous Habit

2009-10-23T05:16:00.001-07:00

Dog's Head out the Car Window: A Dangerous Habit

For most pups, the best part of a car ride is feeling the
breeze in their furry faces as they stick their head out
the window. Despite the feel good nature of this
pleasurable experience, it's actually a very dangerous
habit.

In the early days of automobiles, most cars did not have
windshields and their top speed was approximately 45 mph.
Given those conditions, drivers wore goggles to protect
their eyes. Now that we have windshields to protect us,
you wouldn't consider sticking your unprotected head out
the window at 45 mph. Then why let your dog?

Allowing your dog to let it stick its head out the window
is a very dangerous habit. Their eyes are exposed to dirt,
rocks, dust and other debris. These materials can easily
puncture and scratch your dog's eyes. A line of pet
goggles have come out which are to help prevent these types
of injuries. However, even if you can train your dog not
to paw them off their heads, there are still many other
dangers when your dog's head is out the window while
driving.

Damage to the ears is another big concern. When the dog's
ears flap in the wind, their soft earflaps (pinnae) can
easily become irritated, swell and become very tender. The
constant and rapid flapping of the pinnae against your
dog's head from high-speed winds causes trauma to the ear
and results in swelling. Repeated trauma such as this can
cause lifelong problems for your pup.

Allowing your dog to stick its head out the window can also
lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling out of the
car or getting their head stuck in the window opening.
Taking a turn a bit too fast, traveling over bumpy terrain
or an overly excited pup can cause your dog to lose balance
and easily fall out of the window. These types of incidents
occur more frequently than one might imagine and can cause
severe injury or death to dogs.

It should go without saying; but another very dangerous
idea is to allow your dog to ride in the bed of a pickup
truck. All of the dangers of sticking its head out the
window from inside the car are increased, since the bed of
a pickup offers little or no protection from wind, debris,
or falls. In addition, a pickup's metal bed can reach
dangerously high temperatures on hot days, which can cause
damage to the soft tissue on a dog's paws.

The best place for your dog to ride is in the back seat or
cargo area of your vehicle, properly restrained of course.
Utilizing a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle pet barrier,
or a travel crate is the best ways to ensure that your
pup's travels are happy and safe. Sure, crack the window,
but no heads out!

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

__,_._,___

5 Additives That Could Be Poisoning Your Dog - Dog Health Food Is A Great Alternative

2009-10-21T23:32:00.001-07:00

5 Additives That Could Be Poisoning Your Dog Dog Health Food Is A Great Alternative

Dog health food isn't just a luxury anymore if we want our
best friends to be as healthy as possible. It's not just
human food that is full of additives and fillers. Often
the leftover food that has little or no nutritional value
is being put into our dogs food. Here's 5 of the top
things to avoid in the food that you're giving to your dog.

1. Generic Fats And Proteins

If we want our dogs to eat well, why would we even consider
giving them food with "animal meat' as a primary
ingredient? Would you buy `animal meat' from the
supermarket and serve it to the rest of your family? I hope
not!

Generic meat can hide all manner of substandard animal
parts that you wouldn't knowingly give your dog. So to
keep using the cheapest parts they label them with a very
vague term like animal meat. This could always be a nice
cut of meat, but let's face it, if there was beef in the
food, they'd be labeling that way, not `animal'.

While it's true that dogs in the wild would eat just about
all the parts of an animal. Not too many wild animals
would have concentrated growth hormones and pesticides in
their organs. We've all heard of things like roadkill and
pet bodies being put into our dog's food, but we're never
quite sure. There's a whole bunch of nasty things that can
be put in under the term `animal' so it's probably the most
important thing to avoid in your dog's food

2. Corn Or Wheat Gluten Meal

These are cheap by-products of the human food industry that
have been put into dog food. These forms of protein are
incomplete for a dog so they aren't put in there for the
dog's dietary needs, just because it's a cheap way to fill
out dog food. This is also a handy little rule of thumb to
judge the quality of the rest of the food. Either of these
ingredients is a pretty good indicator that the food is
going to be poor quality overall. There's also a higher
chance that there's cheap but toxic preservatives and
additives in there too.

Rice and soy protein concentrate are slightly higher
quality but still have the problem in that they're
incomplete proteins. For a dog's nutritional needs there
is a vast difference between a pant protein and a meat
protein

3. Meat By-Product Or Digest

These are usually parts of the animals that are considered
unfit for human consumption. Why would we want to feed to
our dogs something that we wouldn't even consider? Quite
apart from that, usually those parts aren't eaten because
they are places that toxins concentrate within the body.

Some by-products may be listed as fit for human
consumption, but unless this is specifically stated it's
pretty safe to assume that it's no good.

4. Ethoxyquin

This is a cheap and commonly used preservative that extends
the shelf life of the dog food by stopping the fat from
going rancid. However this particular preservative has
been banned for human consumption and has also been linked
to many pet health problems.

There have been many cases of dogs developing skin and coat
problems from having foods containing Ethoxyquin added to
their diet. Conversely it has been noted that within days
or weeks of stopping the consumption of foods containing
Ethoxyquin, serious long-term health problems have cleared
up. And this is just the most researched effect of
Ethoxyquin, with plenty more possible nasty side effects.

5. Too Many Grains

While some grains are actually a good source of minerals
for dogs, often there's far too much of them to be healthy.
Grains can fill out the bulk of the food without meeting
the nutritional needs of your dog.

Grains and grain by products are often the waste from the
production of human food and although there is a certain
amount of protein in grains and cereals, it really isn't
the same as animal proteins. Meat is the type of protein
that dogs will get the most nourishment out of. Grains on
the other hand are not something that dogs would be eating
the wild and so their body has a hard time digesting it
properly. This leads to them overeating because they're
not getting enough nutrients but at the same time getting
too much in the way of carbohydrates that they can't deal
with. This often leads to dogs getting obese.

With all the sneaky labeling on commercial food, knowing
about dog health food is really a key component to giving
your dog the very best. Giving them the best possible
nutrition is vital and will add years to their life and
they'll be much more healthy and have more energy. It's up
to us to get educated and give our dogs what they really
need for the best nourishment.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life. To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

__,_._,___

Bad Dog Training Tricks - Training Tricks for Dogs and Owners

2009-10-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

Bad Dog Training Tricks - How to Correct Bad Dog Behavior

Training a dog in obedience is not a simple task when the
dog's owner has not received proper training himself. The
majority of dog owners do not know how to train their dog
and expect the animal to think like humans, which lead to
quite a lot of disappointment. There are simple methods
that can be learned by reading obedience training books or
watching dog training DVDs in addition to attending dog
training classes with a qualified dog trainer, dog and
owner together.

The most important thing in training a dog is to use basic
communication that the dog has learned to understand and
obey. There are 5 basic commands accepted as standard in
English, that all dogs should respond to: sit, down, stay,
heel and come. The command words used are not important but
consistency in their use is. The same words in Spanish will
be understood by a dog that has been trained in the
corresponding language.

The purpose of training a dog is to have the animal behave
properly when around members of the family, invited
strangers and other pets. It is recommended to begin
training when the puppy arrives in its new home to correct
unwanted dog behavior and teach discipline. Basic training
classes with a professional trainer start with puppies of a
least 3 to 6 months old, and before that time, the owner
should prepare himself and read a few books on the subject.

Training a dog is all about good communication between the
dog and the owner. The dog has to understand and obey
simple commands while the handler has to interpret the
dog's signals when it is nervous, excited, confused or
happy. Obedience training is to train the dog, according to
the owner's perspective, what behaviors are good and which
are bad.

There are four signals used by dog trainers to communicate
with the dog:

- The reward signal for correct behavior, letting the dog
know it has earned a reward.
- The keep going signal for correct behavior, telling the
dog it has to carry on in order to get a reward.
- The no reward signal for incorrect behavior, to tell the
dog to try something new.
- The punishment signal for incorrect behavior, to tell the
dog it has earned a punishment.

These signals can be sent with simple words or with a
little mechanical clicker.

Obedience training is most of the time a short course of 6
to 10 weeks when the owner learns how to communicate and
train his animal with a few basic commands. Breeds like the
Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd are easier to
train than others with a minimum amount of time but all
dogs can be trained, even the most challenging.

About the Author:

Michel Gerard is a freelance author based in Asia. His
expertise is wide and varied in a number of topics. Visit
the Bad Dog Training Tricks website and stop your bad dog
behavior before it is too late =>
http://www.baddogtrainingtricks.com

__,_._,___

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

2009-10-19T05:29:00.001-07:00

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

Every responsible pet caretaker wants to take the best
possible care of their companion. This includes
preventative care including a proper vaccination schedule.

Once animals are given their core vaccines they are
typically given a yearly booster. In the case of horses, a
twice per year booster is usually recommended.

Have you ever wondered why people get vaccinated only as
children for most diseases, yet animals need to be
revaccinated every year, sometimes twice a year, for life?

For years now holistic veterinarians have voiced objections
to yearly vaccines. However long practiced habits and
routines are hard to break.

Recently there has been much scientific evidence showing
that yearly vaccines could be hurting your pet more than
helping it.

The practice of vaccinating pets began in the 1950s when
rabies and distemper were all to common and very lethal.
At that time, little was understood about the natural
immune system of animals and vaccines were in their infant
stages.

Today our understanding of the immune system has vastly
improved. In addition, the potency of vaccines has
increased immensely. For example, many vaccines are now
available for dogs and cats which protect against six or
seven viruses in a single shot.

To understand how vaccines affect your animal you must
first consider how they work. Essentially vaccines deliver
antigens, something that the body considers an invading
organism, into your pets body. This stimulates the body's
immune system which produces specific antibodies or
protection against the foreign antigens.

Yearly boosters can easily over-stress your pet's immune
system. Especially since todays vaccines introduce
multiple antigens (protection for different diseases) all
at the same time. If your pet's immune system is currently
fighting some sort of problem like an ear infection or
allergy it is all too easy to cause more problems than you
are trying to prevent.

Evidence of over-stressed pet immune systems is increasing.
Today dog allergies are the number one cause of
veterinarian visits. An allergy is simply a misguided
immune system. For example, if you dog is allergic to
corn, it isn't the corn thats the problem. The problem is
that your pet's immune system thinks corn is an antigen and
is "properly" responding to the invader.

In the mid-1990s, cats began developing malignant tumors
between their shoulder blades--right where they are
typically vaccinated. The correlation is all too clear.

Current research shows that the immunity created from a
vaccination shot lasts 3-4 years. So why are some
veterinarians still recommending yearly boosters?

Vaccines are an important tool in disease prevention and
keeping your pet healthy. However it is your
responsibility and right to have a candid conversation with
your veterinarian about creating a vaccination schedule
that properly supports your pet's health.

About the Author:

Becky Kimes is a Divine Animal Healer and Pet Loss Grief
Recovery Coach. If your pet is suffering from a poor
immune system or plagued with allergies Becky can help.
Visit her at http://divinehealingforanimals.com and
schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discover
how she can help your pet return to optimal health.

__,_._,___

Potty Training For Puppies and Adult Dogs

2009-10-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

Potty Training For Puppies and Adult Dogs

When you have made the decision that your family needs a
new member and you've opted to adopt or purchase a puppy,
you are going to have to make some changes to your routine.
It is a time consuming but necessary process, that of
beginning to potty train a puppy.

We start out each day with a fresh diaper and go from
there. Many puppy owners also use this method to assist
them in training their new pet to control their bladder and
eliminate large messes. You can approach this task in
several ways. One of the most successful seems to be one
which involves crating.

Dog crates aid in the potty training process by allowing
the pet owner to keep an animal isolated, particularly
during the day when the owner may be at work or otherwise
away from the animal. At these times, it is usually
difficult for the puppy to hold its bladder.

Before crating became popular, most new puppy owners were
forced to try to put their pets in a confined area and put
newspapers down to try to keep their carpeting or floors
from being destroyed. Now, special puppy training pads are
made to help with the issue. They are much more absorbent
than newspaper. There is a very large industry that has
been created, trying to aid dog owners in their quest for
full potty training, beginning with their young puppies.

First the puppy owner should take precautions to let their
puppy know that they need to do their business outside. The
quickest and easiest way to get the puppy to do this is by
taking the puppy outside as frequently as possible and
encouraging the dog to go to the bathroom while they are
outside. When your puppy goes outside and does their
business, praise them.

It is easier to get the puppy to realize that this is where
they should be going to the bathroom when you encourage
them and reward their positive behavior. Many puppy owners
take their dogs out once an hour to make sure that they
understand what to do and where. Many people use treats as
a reinforcement to praise.

It is wise to place some of the puppy pads on the floor in
your home, even when you are at home, so that if there are
any accidents, the animal will hopefully learn to keep them
on the pads. Even though it is not ideal for the animal to
go to the bathroom on the pads, it is still a better step
than them using the bathroom on your floors or carpeting.

For this reason, you may wish to reward your dog for going
on the pads, as well. Once your puppy realizes that he or
she will be going outside soon, it is easier to get them to
hold their needs. There's no quick and easy way to potty
train a puppy, but taking these steps should definitely
help.

About the Author:

Find out more on Potty Training by consulting more experts
and pick up a Free Mini-Course.
http://www.allabout-dogs.co.uk/potty-training-a-puppy

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Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dogs Dermatitis And Arthritis

2009-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Dog Health Food Could Cure Your Dogs Dermatitis And Arthritis

Dog health food could be the answer you've been looking
for. By making your own or getting truly natural food for
your best friend, you can avoid the potentially life
threatening side effects of commercial dog food. Labels
with misleading terms can make it almost impossible to wade
through the ingredients list and find a truly nutritional
dog food.

So when was the last time that you actually looked at the
ingredient list on your dog's food? Go ahead and have a
look now. Do you know what meal is exactly? What about the
preservatives? What are they doing to your dog?

Well, from a nutritional point of view you need a certain
ration of protein, fat and carbohydrate to give your dog
their full spectrum of nutrients. Often you'll see ratios
like 40% meat 50% vegetables and 10% grain. While not
wrong, this can be a bit confusing. The actual ratios that
you want to achieve are based on protein (25-30%), fat
(30-35%) and carbohydrate (35-45%). Then you need to look
at exactly what ingredients make up those ratios. I mean,
lean meat isn't going to add much to the proportion of fat,
compared to a really fatty type of meat.

Often you'll also see carbohydrates being dismissed,
however they are an important part of a dog's health, but
it's when they are the main ingredient used to fill out the
bulk of the food that it becomes a problem.

Sometimes, pet food companies use cheap grains as a filler
for the food so the ratio might be more like 70-80%
carbohydrates, so this isn't going to be the best for your
dog in the long run. And can lead to allergies and
dermatitis just like in humans. After all it's a bit hard
to imagine a German shepherd grazing on the African
savannah isn't it? They aren't herbivores so we shouldn't
feed them like they are.

And what about preservatives? A common and hotly disputed
one is ethoxyquin. This is used to preserve that fat
component from breaking down, but it has been linked to
problems ranging from dermatitis to cancerous tumors and
dramatically shortened life spans. Unfortunately pet food
labeling requirements aren't as strict as human ones, so
some companies are adding this horrible preservative but
aren't actually listing it on the label. Which makes it
pretty difficult to track down, if you want to keep using
commercial dog food but keep your dog healthy. This is one
of the most dangerous additives but not the only one that
is routinely added to dog food and hidden.

But what about the actual protein and fat content? What
exactly are the proteins used? Some research has found a
range of horrible animal parts that have been put into dog
food. Offal and by products of other animals and even
euthanized pets, their plastic tags and lethal chemicals
intact! So just because there's 30% protein, that doesn't
mean that it's something you'd be wanting your dog to eat!

It's easy to see why more people are beginning to make
their own dog food. In many cases it'll be cheaper and far
better quality. You can give your dog a variety of meats,
you can control the quality and you can eliminate all those
nasty chemicals. And it doesn't take long either. Many
people cook up a batch once a week and freeze it. Or you
can opt for a baked biscuit type of food with all your
dog's favorite goodies in there.

Dog health food is fast changing from a luxury for pampered
pooches to an essential component of keeping your best
friend healthy. They trust us to give them what they need,
so it's up to us to get educated about what really goes
into their food.

About the Author:

Did you know that not being aware of what goes into your
dog's food could be making them sick and could even rob
years from your best friend's life? To find out exactly
what goes into dog food and how to make your own delicious
dog health food, subscribe to our newsletter, chock full of
great tips to make your dog's life a long and healthy one.
Click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

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Dog Health Food - Make Sure That You're Not Damaging Your Dogs Health

2009-10-12T04:26:00.001-07:00

Title: Dog Health Food - Are You Poisoning Your Best Friend?

Dog Health Food - Are You Poisoning Your Best Friend?

We all like to think that we are giving our dogs the very
best and dog health food is a vital part of this equation.
By not giving them the nutrition they need, we can make
their lives miserable and even cause them to die years
before they should.

What is animal meal exactly? Meal is made by processing
meat or fish. Cooking it, blending it into a puree and
baking it. This sounds like it's not going to affect the
content of the meat. However it's one of those cases where
they can get away with putting preservatives and other
things into the meal, but then it doesn't appear on the
ingredients list because it was't added as part of the
final processing of the food.

Fish meal is the worst offender as far as toxic
preservatives go. The meal is made on the fishing boat
while they are at sea and the law says that it has to be
preserved with a chemical called ethoxyquin. This is due to
the fact that unpreserved fish meal can become extremely
explosive. On the surface it seems ok, but ethoxyquin is
unfit for human consumption because it's so toxic.

In dogs it has been linked to many health disorders ranging
from chronic skin problems to cancer and liver failure.
Because this preservative is added before the fish meal
arrives at the manufacturing plant, it doesn't need to be
listed on the list of ingredients. However, unless there
is a specific statement that the fish meal does not contain
ethoxyquin, you can assume that it does, like the
overwhelming majority of fish meal.

Other types of animal meal are not always going to be as
bad but you won't know just by reading the label. A good
guide is to avoid 'animal' meal - would you buy animal meat
for dinner? Using the term animal is an easy way to
disguise the true origins of the meat. You want to look
for specific animal meat like beef and chicken. listed on
the ingredients to be sure.

There is still some discussion about whether meal or plain
meat is a better option. This is because even though meal
is processed and may contain some chemical nasties, it is
more concentrated because it's been dried and so has more
protein per gram than meat which has a higher water content.

Another tactic that is often used, is to list some sort of
meat protein as the first ingredient and the next few being
cereals so that it looks like there's plenty of protein
when in reality, there's a whole lot of filler and not much
meat.

By using too many grains to bulk out the food, your dog is
just getting empty carbohydrates. While some grains are
part of an ideal diet it's in a quite small proportion to
the amount of protein. This can contribute to dogs
suffering from allergies and them not really being
satisfied by their food. It's a bit like expecting white
bread for dinner to keep you full and healthy.
Unfortunately our pooches can't tell us if they like it or
not.

Dog health food can get around all of these problems, by
making it yourself you can make sure that only the best
goes into your dogs dinner. It's simple and will often
save you money. Best of all though, you'll be adding years
of life to your dog, giving them more energy and doing the
best thing for your best friend.

About the Author:

With all the preservatives that go into food these days, we
need to think about dog health food to make sure our best
friends have the best life possible. If you'd like to
receive a newsletter full of tips about how to make
delicious, healthy meals and what really goes into dog
food, click here http://www.dog-health-food.com

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Properly Restraining your Pet in the Car Could Save their Lives & Others

2009-10-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

Properly Restraining your Pet in the Car Could Save their Lives & Others

For years, Americans have been buckling up. The proper use
of lap/shoulder belts have been shown to reduce the risk of
fatal injury to front seat car occupant s by 45 percent,
while reducing the risk of moderate to critical injury by
50 percent. Further research has shown that unbelted rear
seat passengers increase the death rate of front seat
passengers by up to 5 times. We buckle up ourselves and
children to ensure all passengers safety, or do we? What
about our pets?

A pet that is not properly restrained in a vehicle is a
danger to itself and other passengers in the vehicle. Even
the best behaved pet travelers can get overly excited or
frightened while riding in a car. This behavior can easily
distract the driver, causing an accident. An unrestrained
pet can potentially become a flying projectile in the event
of a sudden stop or accident - a lethal danger to the pet
and other passengers in the vehicle. Unfortunately,
instances of pets being thrown through the windshield are
all too common in severe accidents.

The dangers are more likely than one may think. A vehicle
involved in an accident traveling at only 30 mph can cause
a 15 pound child to create an impact of 675 pounds.
Similarly, a 60 pound dog can cause an impact of 2700
pounds. Imagine the injury such an impact would cause for
the helpless pet as well as other passengers.

Responsible pet owners need to take heed of the dangers of
unrestrained pets. Many pet owners believe restraint is
not necessary for "around town" travel - the bank, the post
office, the pet store. However, this is when most
accidents occur.

Yet another important consideration is that in the event of
an accident, a frightened pet may run out into traffic
while rescue workers enter the vehicle to assist
passengers. Or it may attack those who are trying to help.
There are many pet restraint options available. Pet
safety belts, pet car seats (with built-in seat belts),
travel crates, and vehicle pet barriers are some excellent
options. Selecting the proper restraint option, best
suited for your pet is essential. Whatever method you
choose to properly restrain your pet in your vehicle, be
sure to give your pet ample time to adapt. For example,
if you choose a travel crate, place the crate in your home
and put some of your pets favorite toys or blanket it.
Allow your pet to go in and out of the crate at its
leisure. Eventually, put the crate in your vehicle and
place your pet in crate. Start out taking short car rides
and gradually increase the time until your pet is
comfortable. If you choose a pet safety belt, let your pet
wear the harness around the house. Allow them time to feel
comfortable in the harness prior to strapping them in the
car. Similar to the travel crate, start out with short car
rides and gradually build up. No matter what method of
restraint you utilize, back seat or cargo travel is the
safest.

In addition to safety, make your pet's comfort a priority.
Just as it's important for your "seat" to be comfortable
your pet's seat should be comfortable too.

Let's all do what's right for our pets. Pets are members
of the family and their safety is our responsibility.

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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Pet Travel Among Seniors

2009-09-30T04:16:00.001-07:00

There are approximately 180 million age 55+ travelers in
the U.S. Their mounting numbers paired with their massive
financial muscle and availability of free time make them a
very lucrative market for the U.S. travel industry. The
average spending by mature travelers on their last
adventure travel vacation was $1,300 compared to $950 for
travelers between the ages of 35-54 and $660 for travelers
between the ages 18-34.

Combine senior citizen's travel habits with the fact that a
growing number of seniors are choosing to become new
parents - pet parents that is. The need to nurture does not
stop when our children are grown. The nice thing about a
pet is that they may grow older, but they will never grow
up. With these new children as part of the family, seniors
look to integrate them into their busy lives. With travel
being such a big part of many seniors' lives, many feel
that they just can't leave their pet behind. So with the
kids out of the house, seniors are taking their new furry,
feathered or finned "children" traveling with them more
often. Whether it's the annual pilgrimage to the winter
home, a family trip or just a get-a-way, seniors and their
pets are traveling together. "Rex is my big baby" states
senior Bill Martin of his 5 year old yellow lab. "My wife
and I travel quite a bit and whenever possible we take Rex
with us. Rex loves to vacation as much as we do and our
trip wouldn't be as enjoyable without him!"

Traveling with your pet can be a wonderful experience if
you plan ahead. Many seniors are turning to the Internet
for help. That's right! More and more seniors are getting
connected. According to eMarketer, the average senior
sends at least 4 emails a day and 46 percent of America's
seniors have been using the Internet for over 5 years. The
number one reason seniors go to the web is to make travel
plans. The challenge has been sorting through lodging
listings and airline websites to find those that will
welcome their pets.

New resources have emerged across the Internet specifically
to help plan pet travel. There is a growing need for
online pet travel information to help seniors find
pet-friendly inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels where
your dog, cat, or other furry friend is welcome. Traveling
with your pet can be a tricky proposition if you haven't
done it before. You need to plan out the trip and be sure
that you have access to lodging and services along the way
to keep your little friend happy and safe.

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

How Our Pets Can Reduce Our Stresses And Anxieties

2009-09-25T05:05:00.001-07:00

How Our Pets Can Reduce Our Stresses And Anxieties

Animals and our pets can be a great way to reduce our every
day stresses and anxieties. It is not easy to deal with
our fears and anxieties, however, spending time with
animals can makes us feel better. Here is a list of ways
of how our pets can help us to better cope with our fears,
anxieties, and stresses and why its good to own a pet.

Spending time with your pets can be a great source of
companionship. Whether you have a pet or go to your local
shelter, spending time with an animal or pet can help us to
feel better. Also many people talk to their pets and this
can help us to get their problems out in the open. Animals
can be of good company to all of us and can prevent the
fear of being alone during our troubles.

Helping animals and other people through community service
can be a great way to overcome our anxieties. There are
many animals out there who could benefit from your time and
talents. Doing something that will help your pet or other
animals can give you a source of pride and accomplishment
and also can lead to possible friendships with others.

Sitting around and accomplishing nothing will not make
things any better whether its dealing with the fear of
being alone or something else. Animals can help us to be
active and to focus our energies on working with them
instead of worrying about things that may or may not
happen. This will prevent us from worrying about our
current situation.

One of the ways to manage stress is to challenge your
negative thinking with positive thoughts. Animals can help
us to relax and help us to focus on the good things in our
lives. This will help us to focus positively on any
situation. Playing with animals can help reduce our fears
and anxieties in any situation.

Animals can get our minds off of our problems. A person
could do an activity with their pet or other animals that
will give them a fresh perspective on things. Spending time
with animals will get your mind off of the problem and give
you the energy to do other things. Most importantly,
playing with animals will give you the self-confidence that
you can cope and that you can get through the day.

Remember that there are many ways that animals can reduce
the stresses of our every day life, however, they are not a
substitute of getting professional help. If your fears and
anxieties become overwhelming, then you will need to talk
to a counselor. The next time you feel stressed, spend
some time with your pet or other animals and you will be
better able to cope with your worries.

About the Author:

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to
Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non
Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a
general overview of techniques that are effective in
managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional
information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

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Moving Tips for Pets

2009-09-10T10:18:00.001-07:00

Title: Moving Tips for Pets

Moving to a new home can be just as stressful on the family
pet as it is on you. Here are some tips to keep your pet
happy and safe on moving day.

- Maintain normal routine: Pack over a period of time and
try to maintain your pet's normal routine. Advance planning
will make your move less stressful.

- Keep your pet secure: Place your pet in a safe, quiet
place, such as the bathroom or pet carrier on moving day so
that he or she cannot escape. If you place your pet in a
room, place a large sign on the door that says DO NOT
ENTER. Containing your pet in a pet carrier on moving day
will keep them safely confined as well. Gradually get them
used to the carrier ahead of time by having your pet spend
time in it prior to moving day.

- Purchase a new ID tag for your pet: Get a new pet ID tag
that includes your new address and telephone number. An
up-to-date ID tag is a lost pet's ticket home.

- Safe car travel: Be sure that your pet is safely
restrained in the car. Utilizing a pet travel harness or
travel carrier are the best ways to keep your pet safe.
They not only protect your pet from injury, but they help
by keeping them from distracting you with their usual
enthusiasm as you drive. Keep their heads inside the
windows, make frequent pit stops, and don't leave them
alone. Pet barriers also work great!

- Talk to your pet's vet: Talk to your veterinarian about
traveling with a pet who doesn't like to travel. They can
recommend behavior modification tactics or medication that
might lessen the stress of travel. Depending on your new
address, your pet may also need additional vaccinations,
medications, and health certificates.

- Find pet friendly lodging in advance.

- Plan ahead for air travel: Check with your veterinarian
and the airline if your pet will be flying. Familiarize
yourself with the rules specific to the airline you are
flying.

- Prepare your new home: Pets love familiar surroundings so
be sure to take with you all the familiar and necessary
things your pet will need from day one in your new home.

- Pet photo: Have a recent photo of your pet on hand if
your pet becomes lost.

These tips can help ensure your pet is welcome, happy and
safe in traveling to their new home.

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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Why Its Important to Choose the Right Dog Breed

2009-08-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

Title: Why Its Important to Choose the Right Dog Breed
Author: Lamar Deane

You've finally decided you want to get a dog, but how do you go
about choosing a dog breed that will fit your personality and
lifestyle. There are over 400 different dog breeds to choose
from. Don't just consider the outward appearance when picking a
dog breed.

Do you want a male or female?
Do you want a puppy or an adult?
Do you want a lap dog or guard dog?

First, consult with a professional dog handler or a
professional dog trainer to learn about certain dog
personalities of different breeds, and try to match what you
want with what a particular dog has to offer. Also, talk to a
veterinarian about your choice of a purebred or mixed breed dog.
The professional trainers and vets' opinions are invaluable, as
they handle many different dogs every day and have first hand
knowledge of the characteristics, and qualities of different
types of dogs and breeds.

You can choose between a purebred dog or a mixed breed dog. The
advantages of purebred dogs are consistency of appearance, size,
coat type, and color. If you decide on a German Shepherd breed,
you can be certain it will grow to a certain size...It will be
similar to other German Shepherds in appearance...Its color,
temperament, coat, etc will be similar to other German
Shepherds. Purebred dogs generally have more genetic faults and
deformities than do mixed breeds.

Mixed breed puppies may mature to look like their dam, their
sire (if known) or neither. Their coats may be rough, smooth, or
wiry. Adult mixed breeds are difficult to ascertain, as are
their expressions. These variations are multiplied when either
or both parents are from mixed backgrounds. Mixed breeds usually
have a certain amount of heterosis ( increased vigor or other
superior qualities that come from crossbreeding), which, under
some circumstances, result in stronger and more
disease-resistant dogs. A mixed breed puppy is likely to have a
very individual personality, seemingly unrelated to either of
its parents.

The temperament of mixed breeds are often quieter and more
stable than those of purebreds, although this characteristic is
not consistent. Temperament is partially genetic and partly the
result of experience and training. Many purebreds have a notably
quiet temperament, and an occasional mixed breed is
unpredictable.

Before you select a purebred or a mixed breed, decide what you
expect of the dog. If you have a desire to exhibit it in
conformation shows, obedience trials, field trials, herding
tests, or other American Kennel Club sponsored events, you must
start out with a purebred.

If you want a companion, a family pet, or a child's dog and
have no aspirations of winning blue ribbons, a mixed breed
should fill your need nicely. Mixed breed puppies and adult dogs
are plentiful, both from shelters and private homes. They cost
less to buy, and may be easier to handle. Mixed breed dogs can
compete in Frisbee contests, 4-H obedience, and non-AKC agility
trials, and are included in the AKC-sponsored Canine Good
Citizen program.

About The Author: Lamar Deane provides information on why its
important to choose the right dog breed for your lifestyle and
personality. Visit: http://bestdogbreeds.info/dogs.html

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Instincts and Traits in Dogs

2009-08-05T09:40:00.001-07:00

Title: Instincts and Traits in Dogs
Author: Janine Carter

Domestication of canines was accomplished by humans thousands
of years ago. Many think that the world's first dogs were tamed
wolves, as dogs share many biological traits with wolves. First
of all they look very much alike and their actions are similar.
They both have highly developed sense of smell and hearing.

Dogs are extremely loyal and dependent on their masters. They
have a place in human society to which few other species can
hold a candle. The only reward for dogs in many cases is a kind
word and a pat on the head. Still, the study of wolves and dogs
teaches us that many of their traits haven't changed from before
they were domesticated.

* Body Language is a postural display by canines that show you
their intentions. When meeting a strange person, canines display
their fear by raising their hackles, meaning, the hair stands up
on their backs and necks. This display comes from lack of
socialization with others. Of course this behavior would look
more frightening with short-haired dogs, making them look larger
and making the other dog or person fear him more. Many times a
dog will also pull back his lips to show his teeth to make the
display even more "large".

* A dogs ears and tail positions can tell you what a dog is
thinking. For example, if your dog's ears go back flat and his
tail goes between his legs, it means he is being submissive to
humans or other dogs. The old saying "ran off with his tail
between his legs" came from this postural display of dogs.
Another submissive behavior is rolling over on the back.

* If a dog kneels or puts his front legs on the ground lowering
his front quarters, it generally means he wants to play. This is
always accompanied by a friendly wagging tail.

* Standing tall on stiff legs and circling another dog is a
posture of superiority and domination. It often includes
strutting around with frequent growling and snarling.

* An instinctive ritual in canines is circling before lying
down. Some specialists say that this came from a habit long ago
of circling to pack down the grass to give a soft bed to sleep
in. Others think the dog is smelling the area for enemies before
lying down, as they put their noses to the ground while they are
performing this task.

* Attacking small animals is an innate hunting instinct in dogs
from the time when they had to hunt for their food.

* Digging is a trait that is thought to come from the dog's
instinct to dig a den when there is nothing else appropriate to
make a den with. Terriers were known to pursue their quarry
through underground tunnels if necessary.

Other things to consider is the dogs sense of smell developed
so they can sniff the air to find game and also to sniff out
enemies that may be approaching. They have a wonderful sense of
hearing for the same reasons and their sight is highly
developed.

Although canines' instincts and actions are influenced by their
heredity, they are highly intelligent mammals, and are the
products of a combination of training, experience and genetics.

This article was written by Posh Pampered Pets, please call
936-520-2903 for any questions. Our home office is located in
Waller, Texas, with warehouses located throughout the United
States such as Dallas TX, Houston TX, New York NY, Denver CO,
Chicago ILL, Seattle WA, Kansas City MO, Miami FL,
Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Los Angeles CA, Fayetteville
AR,Philadelphia PA, Phoenix Arizona, San Antonio TX (Texas.

About The Author: This article was written by Janine Carter,
owner of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions regarding
http://www.poshpamperedpets.com/modular-dog-kennels-and-pet-fenc-t-25.html
Dog Supplies or http://www.poshpamperedpets.com Posh Pampered
Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or email
mailto:info@poshpamperedpets.com.

__,_._,___

Secrets to Caring For a Mastif

2009-08-04T06:35:00.001-07:00

Title: Secrets to Caring For a Mastif
Author: Janine Carter

If you are reading this article, then Mastiffs at least get
your curiosity going. As you are doing your research, you may be
asking yourself if you are really ready for a Mastiff.
Mastiff's, while loving and loyal, pose some unique challenges
for the first time owners. Any dog, regardless of the breed,
takes time, patience, love and training. Because of the Mastiffs
massive size, they require extra time and patience when trying
to train. They can weigh anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds. That's
the weight of an adult human if you think about it. Without
proper training, socialization, limitations and rules, you might
find yourself with a 200 pound animal bounding through your
home. Before you take home that wonderful puppy of your dreams
that will grow in to a loving Mastiff, here are some things to
know about them.

* Mastiffs love to jump and play and require lots of excessive.

* Mastiffs do not like strangers and often show real aggression
towards them.

* Mastiffs are extremely social animals and absolutely love
attention.

If you appreciate these traits of the Mastiff, then he is the
perfect dog for you and your family. Mastiffs require vigorous
daily exercise and in fact taking walks or jogging with him will
greatly increase the bond between you and your canine friend.
Another thing to know is that walking with your Mastiff awakens
a primal migratory instinct within your dog and walking with him
in a heal position will enforce your roll as "pack leader" in
his world. If you can't give your Mastiff regular vigorous
excersise then he may get obese, causing joint pain and other
health problems. Mastiffs thrive on human interaction and
attention which is why it's not good to leave your pet confined
to the basement or backyard. Problems with digging, chewing and
excessive barking can occur if this is the case. As with most
canines, Mastiffs love to please their masters and the people in
their lives, and make excellent pets, despite their huge size.
They have a meek and gentle disposition which allows them to
interact with children very well, even if the children get a
little rough at times.

One must remember that even though Mastiffs have a gentle
dispositon, they do have fighting and/or guard dog roots. Your
Mastiff will require an introduction of all strangers, as they
will not welcome them with open arms without letting them know
its ok to accept a new person. With no introduction Mastiffs
could become aggressive. This wonderful breed makes a loving,
protective pet and with the proper information, all owners will
reap the rewards of this large breed of dog.

If you have any questions on Dog Supplies or Posh Pampered
Pets, please call 979-221-7251 or email us at
info@poshpamperedpets.com. Our home office is located in Waller,
Texas, with warehouses located throughout the United States such
as Detroit Michigan (MI), Indianapolis Indiana (IN),
Jacksonville Florida (FL), San Francisco California (CA), ,
Kansas City MO, Miami, Florida (FL), Raleigh-Durham, North
Carolina (NC), Washington DC, Los Angeles, California (CA),
Fayetteville, Arkansas ( AR), San Francisco California (CA),
Columbus Ohio (OH).

About The Author: This article was written by Janine Carter,
owner of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions regarding
http://www.poshpamperedpets.com/modular-dog-kennels-and-pet-fenc-t-25.html
Dog Supplies or http://www.poshpamperedpets.com Posh Pampered
Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or email
mailto:info@poshpamperedpets.com info@poshpamperedpets.com.

__,_._,___

How to Brush My Dogs Teeth

2009-07-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Title: How to Brush My Dogs Teeth
Author: Pat Burns

A devoted dog owner does everything humanly possible to ensure their dogs hygiene. However, one area that bewilders dog owners is how to brush my dogs teeth?

Why Brush A Dog's Teeth?

Dogs suffer from a variety of tooth problems, just like their
owners:

1. Loose teeth
2. Abscess teeth
3. Cavities
4. Periodontal disease

The common symptom of periodontal disease is bad breath. In
fact, 98% of all dogs with bad breath suffer from periodontal
disease. If there is a delay in treatment, the bacterial
infection can develop and spread to the dog's kidney, liver,
heart and brain.

Thus, it becomes important to brush the dogs teeth.

Steps In Brushing A Dog's Teeth:

Many dog owners take their dogs to the vet for a regular teeth
cleaning. Many vets offer medical plans for pets that include
this important routine. Usually they will put the dog to sleep
or medicate the dog to avoid bites. This is safer for the dog
and the vet. However, if you cannot afford to do this and/or
choose to do it yourself, below are the steps to take in
cleaning your dog's teeth.

1. Allow a vet to check the dog's teeth before brushing.
Otherwise, brushing may be painful, and it will associate
brushing with pain.

2. The dog needs to be used to the owner checking its mouth
regularly. Reward the dog for cooperation.

3. Get a pet dental kit from a pet store. It needs to have a
pet toothbrush, pet toothpaste and a finger toothbrush that the
owner can wear on a finger and brush the dog's teeth.

4. Human toothpaste is not edible and dogs are likely to
swallow toothpaste. Therefore, try to buy beefy flavored
toothpaste that the dog can enjoy. In addition, avoid
toothpastes with detergents, salt or baking soda. Instead, try
to buy toothpastes containing fluoride and enzymes, as they are
good for dogs' teeth.

5. Ease in the brushing process. On day one, merely wipe the
dog's teeth with gauze. Later, adapt the pet to warm water
brushing. Finally, add toothpaste.

6. To brush the dog's teeth, place the brush bristles at a
45-degree angle to the teeth, at the border where the teeth meet
the gums. Gently, move the brush in an oval motion, to complete
ten back-and-forth motions. Then, move the brush to cover at
least 3-4 teeth at a time.

7. Remember to brush the dogs teeth all the way to the back,
which is where most problems develop.

Other Important Tips:

A dog's dental hygiene will not be flawless, if you only brush
the dog's teeth. Try some of these tips to ensure a good dental
health for the dog:

1. To avoid the onset of periodontal disease, take the dog to a
vet for regular checks.

2. Vets can also clean the teeth occasionally to remove tartar
deposits.

3. Feed hard foods to the dog or give bones or hard toys to
chew on.

These are certain systematic ways of avoiding dental problems,
but do not forget to brush your dog's teeth regularly.

About The Author: http://www.dogs-web.com, "Healthcare for Dogs" is all about Dogs Health Care, Supplies and Training.

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Fat Dogs

2009-07-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

Title: Fat Dogs
Author: Pat Burns

Many dog owners refer to their fat dogs as cute and cuddlesome.
Fat dogs are often mistaken as healthy canines without realizing
that obesity is a serious problem, which needs immediate
attention.

Dogs tend to lose weight more easily than gaining it, by
skipping, leaping, hopping and playing. Despite this fact,
roughly 25% pet dogs brought to vets are overweight. This brings
us to the conclusion that it is often a wrong dietary pattern,
which is the root of this disorder. The causes may also include
some genetic inclination or improper functioning of certain
hormones secreted by the thyroid and pituitary glands.

Obesity requires serious thought and treatment, especially when
it comes to dogs. Dog breeds like Labrador, Dachshund, Beagle
and Spaniels are usually at more risk for obesity.

Fat dogs are prone to innumerable disorders such as nervous
tension and pressure on the bones, liver, lungs, kidneys and
heart. They are likely to be lethargic and less resistant to
other diseases. It also hinders normal functioning of the
respiratory and reproductive processes.

Treatment:

The key solution to decreasing obesity in your pet is to
increase its level of activity. It is equally vital to note the
factors for its obesity, and carry out a proper exercise
schedule with the vets advice. This includes taking it for a
regular walk and involving games that will enable it to burn its
calories.

Prepare a dietary plan that suits the dogs energy needs and
accordingly switch to a dog food product, which ensures
comparatively less calorie and more fiber intake. Thus instead
of supplying high-calorie and low-nutrition items such as cakes,
buttered sandwiches or cookies, it is better to give slices of
carrots, bananas or oranges.

Your vet can assist you in determining the best dog food for
your dog. There are many dog foods on the market and many of
them are specifically developed for weight control. Your dogs
age and other health issues should be considered when choosing
the dog food. Dry dog food is best for their teeth.

Dog owners enjoy giving their dogs treats. Keep their diet in
mind when giving treats to your dog. Instead of feeding them
table scraps from the table, give them a dog treat that takes
them awhile to eat, such as a milk bone.

The owner needs to follow many other habits along with these
measures. It is also essential to keep a continuous watch on
your dog to keep it away from garbage cans and areas where your
dog may eat unhealthy and unsanitary items.

Dog owners should view obesity in their pets as an indicator of
the dogs health. Determine appropriate portions for your dogs
size and age in order to avoid overfeeding. Instances of
overfeeding often occur because the owners yield to their pets
wishes. They give it what it likes, instead of giving it what it
needs.

It is the vet who can brief the owner correctly regarding their
pets needs and provide a suitable solution to deal with fat
dogs. It is therefore, important that the owner make correct
choices and implement them with the aid and advice of a good
vet.

About The Author: http://dogs-web.com, Healthcare for Dogs is
all about Dogs Health Care, Supplies and Training.

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How to Train and Care for the Puppy During Its First Year of Life?

2009-07-18T12:02:00.001-07:00

Title: How to Train and Care for the Puppy During Its First
Year of Life?
Author: Patricia Stevens

As a rule, at the age of 2 - 4 months the puppy already finds
the owner. You have got the puppy, now it is in your house and
you are its owner. How to behave correctly? How to begin? For
the beginning ask yourself a question why you have got the dog
and what you wish to see it in its full grown? The answer is
important for it determines the approach for it maintenance,
cultivation, education and training. The dog should become a
member of your family at least for 10 years; so it should
observe the order accepted in your house and to bring you
pleasure at interaction. All your efforts should be directed on
maintenance of a good feed, granting to it an opportunity to
move more and longer to be on fresh air.

It the period, when the puppy is 4 - 6 months, is the time of
the most intensive growth of the puppy and during the very same
period there is a change of a dairy teeth with constants. Your
round nice puppy has turned in long-legged, disproportionate
combined dog. You should turn a special attention on a diet of
feeding. Your puppy by six months should gradually pass on
thrice feeding. During this period you should, achieving
obedience of the puppy, to start its initial training. It is not
an implicit performance of any commands, but comprehension by a
dog of necessity and expediency of submission to the owner. In
the further it will help also in the daily life, rescuing the
dog from hit under the machine, allowing to avoid other troubles
connected with necessity in time to react to a desire of the
owner or to stop.

It is impossible to establish precisely term of the employment
beginning with the puppy, as it depends on a level of
development of the puppy and on a condition of its nervous
system. Anyway, before achievement by the puppy of six-monthly
age it is not recommended to start regular employments.
Therefore in this period only about an initial training should
be conducted.

It is necessary to continue feed the puppy at the age of 6- 9
months three times a day. Often puppies at this age start to
refuse feeding, and aspire to pass to two-time feeding. So this
is a sign for you that you can pass to two times feeding. During
this period you can already start to serious employments on
training, but without greater loadings.

The puppy's training should be directed on achievement of full
contact with the owner and implicit performance of his commands,
which should be fast, exact and vigorous. When the puppy will
master commands, pass to gestures. In any case, by 9 months your
puppy should be, convenient, operated, understanding dog. It
should be easy to walk with it and at desire to start it's
training for competitions, or to prepare it for hunting.

The diet and mode of feeding of the puppy at the age of
one-year changes, gradually passing to what it will be at an
adult dog. It is possible already to start to increase the
loadings of the puppy. At this age it is necessary to approach
very serious to trainings. Later it will be very difficult to
make the dog obedient. After a year its character will be
formed, and then you will already have to not train it, but to
be engaged in correction of its behaviour.

About The Author: Patricia Stevens owns and operates
http://www.whenisapuppyfullgrown.com Learn more about our
precious pets and how to care for them.

__._,_.___

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Nutrition For Dogs - Dog Food Ingredients

2009-07-12T01:38:00.001-07:00

Title: Nutrition For Dogs - Dog Food Ingredients
Author: Garry Neale
First we need to recognize that nutrients are not the same
thing as ingredients. It's not the combination of ingredients
that determines the quality of your dog's diet and whether or
not the dog's nutritional needs are being met, it's the blend of
nutrients. The ingredients in dog food only have to do with
digestibility and palatability. A given dog food can contain
certain ingredients that have no nutritional value or that can't
be digested by your dog. You can find two different dog foods
that may both seem to nutritious, but one may have ingredients
that are better for your specific breed of dog. You should
discuss your dog's nutritional requirements with your vet in
order to select a diet that provides everything needed.

Healthy feeding habits should start as soon as you bring your
dog home! Your dog's diet influences such things as health
status, appearance, development and attitude. The way you feed
your dog will affect certain behavioral aspects like, potty
training and begging. When your dog is a puppy, it is very
important to prevent it from gaining a lot of weight, which may
contribute to the likelihood of obesity and its related health
problems as they age.

Since dogs come in all sizes and shapes, there are specific
foods available that you should consider depending upon if it's
a small breed, large breed, puppy or adult. The nutritional
needs of dogs will change as they age depending on how active
they are. For instance, small dogs tend to require more calories
per pound than larger dogs and thus need a dog food that
provides a lot of energy.

As of late, many dog owners have become seriously concerned
about the safety of commercial pet food. With all the recent pet
food recalls, many more dog owners are starting to prepare their
own nutritious dog foods. There is more than a little concern
about how poorly regulated the pet food industry is concerning
preservatives. Commercial dog food makers add all kinds of
chemicals to keep their foods from deteriorating while setting
on the grocery store shelves. The Association of American Feed
Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publications lists 35 known
preservatives being used by commercial dog food companies. Some
of these have no restriction on amount that can be added to your
dog's food. Chemicals such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole and
Ethoxyquin have controversial safety reputations at best.

Many of the commercial dog food formulations contain meat and
bone meal, which has been shown to contain the remains of
euthanized cats and dogs. These dead animal bodies are sent to
rendering plants, along with road kill and dead live stock. At
the plants they are boiled down to get the fat, which is sold to
dog food manufacturers as "animal fat." The leftover animal
parts are dried, crushed and sold to the same manufacturers as
"meat and bone meal." Knowing this, many dog owners have put
their pets a on raw diet or started making their own homemade
dog food.

Those who advocate raw diets say it is the most natural because
canines in the wild are carnivores and have survived and thrived
for millions of years. They indicate that ever since commercial
dog food appeared on the scene about 60 years ago, the increase
in dysplasia, allergies and other health conditions in dogs has
increased dramatically. However, proponents of homemade dog food
say that dogs are actually omnivores and they need the
nutritional benefits of grain. They intimate that dog owners who
use only raw food are depriving their dogs of valuable
nutrients. In addition, with homemade foods you can be creative
while making your own healthy dog food. Proponents of homemade
food report the activity as a fun way to feel even closer to
their dogs. Especially if they really like what you make. And
the debate goes on.

About The Author: Garry Neale is and avid dog enthusiast and
creator of the popular e-book, "The Dog Lovers Guide", a FREE
dog owners handbook you can download at no cost from
http://www.dog-lovers-guide.net.

__,_._,___

Homemade Dog Food Tips

2009-07-08T04:16:00.001-07:00

Title: Homemade Dog Food Tips
Author: Garry Neale

Before you start making your own homemade dog food, you need to
know a couple of things. You need to find out what foods are
toxic to your dog. You also should understand that preparing
home made dog food may not be as easy as it sounds because it's
very much like to preparing food for your children. Making
homemade dog food is not the same thing as gathering up your
leftovers and scraps and throwing them in a dog bowl. Keep in
mind, your reason for preparing home made dog food is provide
you dog with a healthy diet. On the bright side, making homemade
dog food can be cheaper since you can include your dog's dietary
requirements in your normal food shopping expenses. Dogs are
omnivores just like people. This means they can eat vegetables
and grains as well as meat.

Though people and dogs have different physiologies, there are a
few things in common when it comes to diet. So many times,
you'll be able to make your homemade dog food while making your
people food. For example, most home made dog food recipes will
consist of a ratio of two thirds meat to one third vegetables.
It's all a matter of healthy cooking for both you and your dog,
and making homemade dog food is a great way to start.

When you start preparing homemade food, pay careful attention
to your dog's reaction to the new recipes you use. There will
probably be some items that they just refuse to eat. Try to
substitute something else in the recipe next time, such as
substitute turkey for chicken or potatoes for rice. Be on the
lookout for changes in your dog's behavior, especially such
things such as scratching excessively. This may be an indication
of an allergic reaction to one or more of the foods you're
using. Generally, homemade dog foods usually cause fewer
allergic reactions than commercial dog foods.

By making your own dog food, you have complete control over
what your dog is eating. It also allows you to make certain
their food is fresh and of the good quality. Ensuring that your
dog is getting the best possible food and nutrition is worth the
investment in both time and energy. So why not take the time to
find some homemade dog food recipes that use good quality
ingredients and let your dog try it for a few days. You might be
amazed at the changes you'll witness in both your dog's health
and vitality.

The easiest place to find some good healthy homemade dog food
recipes is online. There you'll find cookbooks and recipes of
all types. Just go to one of the Internet search engines and
type in "homemade dog food recipes" and you have more than
enough sites to visit. But watch out because some recipes are
not as nutritious as others. You may want to take any recipes
you download to your local vet and get their recommendations
before you start feeding it to your pet. If you're at all
concerned about your dog's health, try switching to homemade
food today.

About The Author: Garry Neale is and avid dog enthusiast and
creator of the popular e-book, "The Dog Lovers Guide", a FREE
dog owners handbook you can download at no cost from
http://www.dog-lovers-guide.net.

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Box Training--The Best Way To Train Your Puppy

2009-07-07T06:53:00.001-07:00

Box Training Starts Your Puppy Off Right

Training your puppy with box training is an excellent start
to his training. It is a firm groundwork for the rest of
the training he needs as he grows up

Starting your puppy in box training when he is young will
put you in the position of pack leader. Box training also
benefits the pup, because he gets to know the routine and
loves to have a schedule which he understands. He knows
what is happening and that it is predictable, which he
loves. This also produces a really well behaved pup.

You will need a good strong box or better still a metal dog
carrier type cage. The metal cage can't be chewed which
gives it an advantage over wood. A dog transportation cage
with a lock on the door is ideal. It must be large enough
so that the pup can stand up and move around a little.
Anything bigger is not suitable as the puppy will be able
to wander around which makes house training more difficult.

If the box is the right size it will become the puppies bed
where he will not mess. He learns to hold it until he gets
out, which you must make sure is not more than an hour or
so, when he is under two months old. If left too long he
will have to go and will mess in the box because he has no
other option. As he gets older he will be able to stay in
the box longer without problems.

Try to make being in the box really pleasant for him. Give
him a sleeping pad and a treat such as a few dog biscuits
or a bone when he goes in there. In fact placing a treat in
there is a good way to introduce him to the box. He can go
in himself to get the treat. Don't close the door the first
few times, let him wander freely for some time.

When he goes in the box praise him and make it really
pleasant for him. Then start shutting the door and continue
to praise him and talk quietly to him. In 20 seconds or so,
let him out again and just give him a pat. Leave the door
closed for gradually longer periods, but not long enough to
upset him.

For the first day do this a number of times. Every training
period should be a happy and pleasant experience for him.
When he realises that the box is his private place, he will
enter it on his own, with the expectation that he will get
attention and a treat. When he enters the box offer him his
treat and talk to him. Soon you can start to leave the room
when he is in there, for a couple of minutes, and gradually
increase the time. When you come back, don't fuss over him,
just walk in and open the box. It should take about 3 days
to complete this training to the point where you can leave
him for an hour or so. Slowly make the time longer and he
will finally be fully box trained.

Your puppy will love his box and will feel very safe in it.
If you leave your puppy alone, he will quite naturally
experience some separation anxiety. This can cause bad
behavioral traits such as chewing things around the house
or messing. When in his box, he has a sense of safety
because nothing can harm him in there. He will just go to
sleep or chew his treat while waiting for you to come back.

If he has to be left at the vet, if not box trained he will
be very anxious and will cry. He feels lost and alone. If
he is box trained, he knows you will come back as always so
he is not troubled nearly as much.

The box must always be associated with good pleasant
things. It must never be used to punish the animal. Don't
leave the puppy in there for more than 2 hours or so, just
enough time for a sleep and a bit of treat chewing. If left
too long he will cry and you must not let him out not when
he is crying. He will think he has to cry to get out. Be
sure he is being well behaved when you open the box. This
will teach him that he can get out of the box if he is
quiet.

Don't make a fuss when you let him out, just open the door
and take him out to mess. Give him lots of praise and
petting when he messes. Dogs will not go where they sleep
which is in the box, but it may happen if there is no other
option. Certainly you must not scold him. Clean out the box
quietly while he is outside and he will learn to do things
the right way. Box training in this manner is by far the
best thing you can do for your puppy and will have a
positive influence on him for the rest of his life.

About the Author:

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Training a Puppy Not to Nip

2009-07-03T04:28:00.001-07:00

Title: Training Puppy Not To Nip

Puppies learn through play, the same as all baby creatures.
So when training a puppy not to nip the best way is in the
form of play. Everything to a puppy is a game, and each
learning experience is gained from a game.

When playing with your puppy you can teach him at the same
time. One of the first things your puppy needs to learn is
that your are the alpha dog. The most effective way of
teaching him that you are the alpha male is by gently
rolling him over onto his back when playing. This
reinforces that you are the alpha male to the puppy. Do
this as often as possible. Do it firmly, not roughly.

Puppies learn not to bite too hard from their litter mates.
But to some extent they still nip. Puppies, like babies,
love to have things to chew on in their mouth.

A pup learns SO much from their mother before 8 weeks of
age. And, ALL dogs need to be trained to not nip - they are
teething until 7 months of age, and they use their mouths
to communicate.

They have to be taught what is appropriate and what is not.

To train a puppy not to nip involves mane ways. Here are
the seven most common ways to train puppies not to nip.

These techniques are simple and effective. Any of them can
be used when training puppy not to nip :

1) It's normal for a puppy to nip, and they grow out of it.
So one way to train a puppy not to nip is when he nips or
bites give him a little slap on the nose, then grab his
mouth and hold it shut, scold him and say no, bad dog.

This will stop him thinking it is ok to nip. You need to
make sure that you do the same thing everytime you train a
puppy not to nip.

2) You can train a puppy not to nip by making a loud noise
when they do it - a loud yelp and stopping all play
normally does the trick.

3) Most puppies are mouthy/nippy because they're still
young and curious about everything. Also they have not
learned manners and how to control their bites.

Some dogs grow out of this behavior when they get older but
some don't. When training puppies not to nip press down
light, but yet firmly, on its tongue and within a few weeks
this should stop. Make sure you have bones/toys for the
puppy to chew, just like a baby it is teething.

4) It's not going to completely stop. You still have to
train puppies not to nip. The bite inhabitation is teaching
them when enough is enough and to not bite hard enough to
draw blood.

Plus, to young puppies that are teething, it feels good to
bite and chew. When the puppy starts biting on you, try
yelping and turning away from the puppy.

After a few seconds, if it has left you alone, go back to
playing or petting it. The puppy should get the idea that
it's not a good thing to bite YOU or any other human.

5) Another way to train puppies not to nip is to try
teaching them that they should only chew on the
objects/toys you have provided for them. It should help to
eliminate the biting/nipping problem.

With each other nipping and playful biting are principal
ways the dogs play. How much they do that with you depends
how you want them to behave. Giving them repeated gentle
but firm admonitions about it will help them understand.

7) Another way to train puppies not to nip is when the
puppy tries and grab your arm with its teeth but not bite,
when playing. It is usually a territorial thing. To let the
dog know you have seen that behaviors before and that it is
not good behavior, pull the arm back. The puppy will know
the it can play.

Training puppies not to nip involves a few different
techniques. Play, enforced behavior, or verbal admonitions.

However you chose to train a puppy not to nip, make sure
that you are consistent with your training. With time, and
patience, the problem will be resolved.

About the Author:

David Crocombe is an owner of a 6 month old puppy and has
been raising dogs for over 12 years. For more articles and
resources on dog training visit his site =>
http://www.squidoo.com/secrets-to-dog-training-package

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Nine Mistakes Dog Bite Victims Should Avoid - Part #1

2009-06-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Nine Mistakes Dog Bite Victims Should Avoid - Part #1

A person who is the victim of a dog bite attack has a legal
right to recover compensation as long as liability can be
imposed against the owner or person responsible for the
dog. Given this right, the insurance company who is
legally obligated to compensate the victim will go to great
lengths to either deny the claim or minimize the amount of
compensation it has to pay. In fact, most people who enter
the claims process are very much surprised to discover just
how far the insurance company will go to avoid paying a
fair settlement. As a result, there are certain steps that
a dog bite victim can take to protect his or her rights and
maximize recovery. Or put another way, there are at least
nine mistakes that I see dog bite victims make. Committing
one or more of these mistakes can have devastating
consequences in the legal claim, or significantly reduce
the amount of compensation the insurance company is
required to pay.

That being said, you should understand that this chapter is
not intended for people who may wish to bring a frivolous
claim or for those who may want to recover an unreasonable
amount of compensation for an injury that is minor or
insignificant. If you bring a frivolous or unfounded
claim, it doesn't matter what you do or don't do because
the insurance company will go to extraordinary lengths to
defeat that claim. Also, when I say that victims should
maximize their recovery, I mean that there are certain
mistakes to avoid so you have the greatest chance that the
insurance company will pay out the maximum amount of
dollars to settle the claim. Here are the mistakes to
avoid:

Mistake #1 - Failing to seek medical treatment promptly.
If the injury is serious enough to warrant medical
attention, then you need to promptly consult with a doctor,
or go to your local emergency room. Insurance companies
may refuse to believe that the injury is serious unless
prompt medical attention has been received. Also, a visit
to the doctor will result in the creation of a chart note
that becomes a permanent record in the case. The magnitude
of the injury, as well as your symptoms, will be recorded
by a professional and this information can be used later to
prove how bad the injury is.

Mistake #2 - Failing to notify the proper authorities. If
you have been bitten, the proper authorities should be
immediately notified. This may include the police or the
local animal control agency. An investigation by the
authorities can produce information and witness statements
that may be critical in helping you establish liability
against the animal's owner. Sometimes the most important
question to answer is, "Who owns the dog?" If you are not
familiar with the dog, or if the dog runs away after the
attack, then an investigation by the proper authorities may
become even more important to your subsequent legal claim.

Mistake #3 - Failing to take multiple photographs of your
injuries and wounds. This is extremely important. Often
times the value of a dog bite injury is heavily dependent
on the appearance of the initial injury, along with the
appearance of subsequent disfigurement and scarring that
develops over time.

You should take multiple photographs over the period of
time that it takes the injury or wound to heal. Insurance
companies will often put a great deal of weight on
photographs, especially if the injury is significant and
any subsequent scar or disfigurement is severe. We have
all heard the adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
This is no less true with photographs depicting severe dog
bite injuries, disfiguring wounds, or prominent scars.

About the Author:

Christopher M. Davis is a Seattle attorney focusing on
personal injury cases. He is also known as a dog bite and
animal attack lawyer and has written the book 'When The Dog
Bites' as a legal resource for dog bite victims. For more
information about Washington State dog bite law visit:
http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/practice_areas/dog-bites-an
imal-attacks.cfm

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Dog Food Reviews - 6 Reasons To Read Them

2009-06-20T05:15:00.001-07:00

Title: Dog Food Reviews 6 Reasons To Read Them
Author: Dr. Mayra Alfonso

There are many different types of dog foods out there on the
market today and with the dog food recall scare, more people are
being cautious about the foods they purchase for their dogs.
Many dog owners are turning to dog food reviews to help them
pick out the best dog food for their pets. Usually you'll find
that these reviews are quite easy to find, especially if you
look for them online. If you are concerned about the well being
of your dog, you'll want to know more about their food before
you purchase it. So, the following are some important reasons
that you should take the time to read dog food reviews before
purchasing a dog food product.

Reason #1 Easy Compare Prices of Dog Foods One great reason
for reading dog food reviews is to find out about the prices of
different foods so it is easy to compare different prices. Yes,
you'll want to be sure to get dog food that is quality; however,
you'll no doubt want to make sure that you get a good deal on
the dog food as well. So, reading reviews can help you check
into the prices of the food so you can find the best possible
deal when you go out to buy it.

Reason #2 See What Others Have to Say Reading dog food
reviews can also help you see what others have to say about the
dog food as well. You'll find out how it worked for their dog.
This allows you to find out how a dog food reacts without having
to buy it yourself and try it on your own dog. So, you get the
benefit of someone else's experience.

Reason #3 Learn About Recalls When you take the time to
read dog food reviews you will also be able to learn about any
recalls that may have been associated with that type of dog
food. You may not know about all the dog food recalls that are
out there, but when you read reviews, often you'll find out if
there are any current recalls you need to know about. This can
save you from having a serious problem with a dog food because
you weren't aware there had been a recall on it.

Reason #4 Find Out Where to Purchase the Food You'll also
learn about where the best place is to purchase the food when
you take time to read the reviews as well. The same dog food may
cost a different price at different stores. When you read
reviews you'll be more likely to find where you can find the
best deal on that particular brand of food.

Reason #5 You'll Get More than a Sales Pitch If you take
the time to read dog food reviews, you can be sure that you'll
get more than just a sales pitch. You'll learn what real people
have to say about the food and you won't have to worry that they
are just trying to sell it. Reading what the company has to say
about their food only gives you a one sided opinion, so reading
reviews can help you get a more rounded view of the dog food.

Reason #6 Discover Any Possible Problems You will discover
any possible problems with the food when you read the reviews
about it as well. If it caused a dog a problem, you can find
that out when you read what the review of that dog food has to
say. This will allow you to learn about problems without having
to experience them yourself.

As you can see, reading reviews on dog food is definitely a
great idea. These are just a few of the reasons that you should
take the time to start reading the reviews. You owe it to your
dog to make sure he gets the best possible food, so take the
time to read dog food reviews to make sure your dog gets a food
that will benefit him.

About The Author: Increase the happy years of your dog by
checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've
used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's
http://www.cooldoghalloffame.com/dog-food-and-nutrition/dog-food-reviews-%e2%80%93-6-reasons-to-read-them/2519
dog food blog right now

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Should You Adopt That Little Puppy?

2009-06-16T22:54:00.001-07:00

Title: Should You Adopt That Little Puppy?
Author: Dr. Mayra Alfonso

A cute little puppy is a great addition to your house. This
cute cuddly wonder will fill your house with happiness. If you
are thinking of bringing a puppy to your home, you could adopt a
puppy from a local animal shelter or you could get a puppy from
a reputable breeder. In this article we are going to focus on
adopting a puppy from a shelter.

There are several animal rescue centers that provide dogs to
people who want to adopt dogs. These dogs require home and love.
If you think that only `problem dogs' are available in these
shelters, then you are wrong.

It is sad but true that many older and adolescent dogs are
thrown into these shelters every day. These also include
unwanted puppies and puppies abandoned by their mom-dogs. You
would be surprised to find purebred dogs and puppies in most of
these animal shelters.

According to a research conducted, there are around more than
eight million surrendered dogs each year in the United States.
Adopting these dogs will provide them a house of their own.
These homeless puppies are innocent and want a loving home where
they can get love from their family members. Many of these dogs
are as healthy as you can buy from any breeder.

You need to spend a lot of money when buying a purebred puppy
from a breeder. You may have to spend somewhere around six
hundreds dollars or more. However, if you buy a purebred puppy
from a dog shelter, you can save a lot of money. These puppies
are available for anywhere between an amount ranging from
seventy five dollars to a hundred dollars. You can pay even less
for mix breed puppy.

You can also save a lot of money in other ways when you
purchase a puppy from rescue center. First and foremost, these
puppies are spayed and even provided all of their shots. You can
also get discounts on several privileges including training
classes for puppies.

Another important thing is that you would be giving a new life
to someone. You may not know but the fact is that millions of
dogs are euthanized each year. These dogs are perfectly fine.
The only problem they face is lack of family and a home.

Once you adopt a homeless puppy, it will prove to be the
perfect mate for you. You can adopt little puppies, adolescent
ones and older pups according to your desire. This depends on
whether you want to take care of the dog from a very younger age
or buy a trained one to stay out of hassles of obedience
training a dog.

Adopting a puppy will let you do something for a creature that
is living in misery for no fault of his. It is a life saving
matter. All you require to do is to give a home of some love to
the adopted pup and it will prove to be a perfect mate for you.

So next time you decide to purchase a purebred dog from a
breeder, think twice. Try to visit a dog shelter and have a look
at some cute little puppies that are waiting for someone to take
them home. Take home a friend for yourself. Adopt a puppy!

About The Author: Increase the happy years of your dog by
checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've
used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's
http://www.cooldoghalloffame.com/dogs/adopting-a-puppy-what-you-need-to-know/494
dog training blog right now

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How to Train Your Dog to Sit

2009-06-15T23:33:00.001-07:00

How to Train Your Dog to Sit

The Dog training DVD is very helpful in home dog training
for those who had bought a dog for the first time. With the
puppy training videos, you would be able to learn easily
how to train a dog to sit. Several highly professional dog
training DVDs are available on the Internet, which helps
you to teach your dog to sit without yelling at the dog or
confronting it aggressively. Gentle dog training is an art.

Hiring an outside dog trainer is an option but it might
prove to be inconvenient due to the timings that the dog
trainer is able to come to your home. Further, the charges
of the dog trainer might be quite high. On the other hand,
with a dog training DVD, you could teach your dog to behave
and obey all the dog commands. Further, many dog training
videos on the Internet are free or available for very low
charges.

The dog training tips in these videos teach you how to
train a dog. You could teach your dog to come, teach your
dog to stay, and teach your dog to sit. Dog house training
is made easy with such dog training videos. You would learn
how to train a dog with these videos because dogs are
obedient by nature and they are fast learners. Further,
dogs also like to keep their den environment clean and they
never like to soil their living area. If you are alert, you
could take them outside whenever they need to relieve their
bladders or bowels. Young puppies might need to be taken
out several times a day but older dogs could be taken out
twice or thrice a day.

One of the fundamental points insisted in the dog training
DVD is to make the dog understand the dog commands given by
you and relate each one to a particular action. Whenever
you want the dog to sit, say the word ësití and then gently
force him with your hands to sit. Repeat this process
several times until the dog is able to relate your command
to sitting. For each command, this process should be
followed until the dog is able to understand all the dog
commands and perform them. Slowly you would be able to
teach your dog to sit, teach your dog to stay and teach
your dog to come.

The dog training DVD would teach you how to make the dog be
attentive your dog commands. When you are able to get the
attention of the dog to what you say, your job of dog
training is half done. You should also encourage the dog
whenever it responds to your command. This could be an
offer of an enticing food or a spicy biscuit. Dogs like to
play and hence you should have a mix of games in home dog
training. All these and more dog training techniques are
furnished in the dog training videos available on the
Internet. You could try them and decide on the best one
that suits you individually.

About the Author:

Discover the Dog Training Method that has launched more
success stories that any other this year. Finally, A
Complete All-In-One Course That Will Train Your Dog To
Break Their Bad Habits And Become The Pet You Always
Wanted! visit http://dog-training-lessons.com

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Important things to consider before deciding to take on a deaf dog

2009-06-14T04:52:00.001-07:00

How to enjoy living with a dog who has lost his hearing

Owning a deaf dog can be both a rewarding and educating
experience. Owning a dog that has good hearing and sight
can often lead us into being a little lazy, when it comes
to establishing effective patterns of communication between
us and our pet. For the most part we struggle through with
a few voice commands and maybe the occasional hand signal,
that often change depending on the situation. Fortunately,
in a lot of situations our dogs learn to navigate their way
around our impromptu communication style and, begin to
'catch on' to what it is we want from them.

Owning a deaf dog however is a different story; many
owners of deaf dogs testify to how much their lives have
changed since their deaf dog come to live with them. Often,
deaf dog owners talk in terms of how different and, in many
cases how much better their relationship is in terms of
both communication and depth
Variation sentence 4.

A dog can be deaf due to a number of reasons; many dogs are
born deaf. This type of deafness is referred to as
Congenital Deafness, it's cause is due to a defective gene.
Other causes of deafness in dogs are usually the result of
accidents, illness or old age.

If you are thinking of sharing your life with a deaf dog,
then understanding, patience and, a willingness to adapt
will put you in good stead. Amongst the most important
things to consider are keeping your new pet safe,
developing an appropriate means of communication, and
making your home a comfortable and, secure place for your
dog to live.

Dogs that can not hear are often touch sensitive and, can
also become startled much easier than dog who have no
problems with their hearing, for example, if somebody
approaches them from behind and touches them, or if roused
from sleep. When owning a deaf dog you will need to keep
this in mind and, adapt the ways in which you approach and,
handle your dog. This is especially important for those
with young children, as children can be boisterous at times
and, a child running up and touching a dog that can not see
him or her coming could cause the dog to become nervous or
even try to bite.

To help your deaf dog adjust, try approaching him head on,
stamping your feet as you approach your dog from behind can
also be very helpful, as the vibrations will alert him. If
you have children teach them to approach your dog calmly
and to touch him gently.

If your deaf dog is over sensitive to your touch, try to
help him by giving him a tasty food treat each time you pet
him. With practice, your dog will begin to associate your
'unexpected' touch with a feeling of pleasure.

Two more important things to consider when making your home
a safe and pleasurable place for your dog are, not to leave
doors or gates open, so as your dog can escape and be left
unattended, as this could be disastrous. If your new dog is
going to be left alone for some time during the day, you
may consider it wise to train him to spend time in a dog
crate. However, do keep in mind due to your dog not being
able to hear he may become restless, or even frightened at
being left alone in his crate. Deaf dogs can also be
particularly prone to separation anxiety, so do make sure
your dog has plenty to occupy himself with during the time
he spends alone.

The biggest dangers posed to your deaf dog will be when you
are out and about, especially if you live in a town or
city, where there is a lot of traffic. Keep your dog on his
leash, at least until you are in a place where it is safe
to manage him off leash. However, it is important to do
this only when your dog is performing a consistent recall.

Working on building a way of communication that both you
and your dog are familiar with is vitally important to
sharing your life with a deaf dog. As your dog will not be
able to hear you, only hand signals will do. In fact dogs
are well ahead of us in terms of being able to read body
language. You can use hand signals taken from sign language
designed for humans, for example, British or American sign
language, or use signs from these languages that have been
adapted especially for using with dogs, or alternatively
you can design your own signs. smiling and speaking your
commands, although the dog will not hear you, will also
help to reinforce your new hand signals, however, the key
is keep your hand signals consistent and simple, so as not
to cause your dog to become confused.

When it comes down to it owning a deaf dog is not
dissimilar to owning a dog that can hear. All that is
needed is a little extra patience, understanding, love some
consistent work on your part and, you will come to develop
a relationship with your dog that is difficult to compare.

About the Author:

I have been interested in dogs, training and their
behaviour since the 1980's. I have studied canine
psychology and, dog training and behaviour, to degree
level. I live in France with my French Bulldog Hilton. For
free information please visit my blog
http://www.toptrainingtips.com

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