Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘dog health’

Dogs can get fat in much the same way that humans can.  But, unlike us humans, dogs don’t generally have a whole lot of control over the situation. Simply put, if you feed your dog a lot and let them lay around the house all day, they are going to get fat. As your dog gets older, the situation can escalate even more quickly; your dog will lose energy and seek food more often.

If you want your dog to live a long, healthy life, all that excess weight he’s carrying needs to go. The risk of cancer, diabetes, or organ failure increases dramatically in obese dogs versus those with a healthy weight.  Attend to this issue early, and you can reduce the chance of health problems many times over.

The First Step

The very first thing to do for your dog is to make sure that their diet is appropriate. An obese dog usually ends up that way as a result of too much daily food intake. The exact amount your dog is fed is probably going to vary slightly from one day to the next, but here are some general recommended guidelines that have been offered by Veterinarians:

Less than 10 Pounds – 1/3 to 1 cup a day

10-25 Pounds – 1 to 2-1/4 cups a day 

25-50 Pounds – 2 Cups to 3 Cups a day

50-75 Pounds – 3 Cups to 5 Cups a day

Over 5 Pounds – 5 to 8 Cups a Day

Keep in mind, the above figures are for dry food and the weights listed assume a healthy-weight dog. This means that, if your dog is already obese, you will want to consider what a healthy dog for their breed would approximately weigh.  Here is an example: a Labrador Retriever that weighs 105 pounds is likely over weight (their average size is around 60 pounds). So food quantities should be based on a 60 pound weight, not 105. 

Once you’ve figured out the proper portion size, you’ll need to cut out the extra food.  To do this, start by feeding your dog only twice a day. Split the total amount of daily food in half and feed the dog in two sittings.  What tends to happen in many households is that people will just put food down and keep the dog’s bowl filled throughout the day.  This is the easiest way to make your dog obese.

Additionally, you should try to cut out any excess doggie treats, as well as all table scraps. Treats are a good training tool, but they should not be given to your dog constantly throughout the day (which undercuts their training value anyway). One or two treats a day are not going to cause a problem, but treats throughout the day for no particular reason can be dangerous. Table scraps are almost always bad as well.

Adding in Some Exercise

Much like humans, dogs will not lose much weight by dietary changes alone.  Any good weight loss routine should be a combination of diet and exercise, and this is no different for dogs. Luckily, most dogs tend to be perfectly happy to exercise.

Unless your dog is already old and is no longer as energetic as it once was, it should generally be excited to get out and go for a walk or run. The important thing is to give your dog the opportunity to do these things. Don’t assume, just because your dog sits around all day, that it does not want to go outside.

If your living arrangements or schedule don’t allow you the opportunity to go outside for a walk or run, try to at least play indoors to keep your dog active. Play fetch, wrestle with your dog, and teach them to chase down toys throughout the house. Playing indoors is even easier if you own a small dog. You really don’t even have to get up to play fetch with them – you can do it from a chair or sofa.

Even with lethargic dogs, what you will find more often than not is the shift in diet will have an immediate impact on their energy levels.  Start taking your dog outside in conjunction with shifting their diet, and you’ll see them start to have a greater desire to become physically engaged.

Finally, if your dog is extremely obese or unhealthy, make sure you see a vet before making any dramatic changes to their lifestyle. In these very extreme cases you may need a gradual approach – so as not to put undue stress on their bodies too quickly.

For more insight on handling and preventing dog obesity, as well as many other potential health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health

What Your Canine Is Saying With His Eyes

Your dog has emotions and feelings just like you. At any given time, he’ll try to communicate them with his body language and expressions. Most owners never learn to identify these signs; the fact that their pooch is sad, anxious, mad, or happy completely escapes them. As a result, they often fail to give the attention their pets need or crave.

The good news is that you can easily recognize the emotions your canine is feeling by watching his eyes. If you know what to look for, not only will you be able to recognize signals, but you’ll also be able to interpret them accurately. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on how to read and decipher what your pooch is trying to tell you with his looks.

Looking For Signals

Most of us are accustomed to inferring intention and meaning from watching the faces of our friends and family. The slightest change or nuance can alert you to specific feelings. For the most part, this is a learned trait. Since he can’t talk, you can learn to do the same by identifying the signals he uses to express his feelings.

In the same way people can open their eyes wide and shut them, so too, can your canine. Also, keep in mind that shape varies between breeds. If your dog opens his eyes wide, it is usually a sign that he feels vulnerable. That can include feeling stressed or scared regarding something he finds threatening. He might express these same emotions by squinting a bit, though this might also suggest that he is being submissive to you.

The manner in which he is looking at – or away – from you will also suggest emotions and intent. If a canine stares at you with an anxious, intense look, it usually means he considers you a threat. This should not be mistaken for a friendly dog that is looking at his owner and craves his attention. If a canine looks away from you, that usually signals he wants to be submissive.

If he is looking at you from the corners of his eyes and you notice a large amount of white, be wary. He might perceive you as a threat, or be highly agitated. In both cases, he might respond aggressively. It’s common for dogs to do this when you approach them while they’re eating or playing with their favorite toy. This is another signal that is often misinterpreted. If your canine is looking up at you or from the side, seeing the sclera (the white area) of his eyes may not connote aggression. You’ll know the difference because his body will seem relaxed rather than tense.

Dog owners will benefit from taking the time to learn how to read their dogs’ eyes. Remember, the only way your pooch can communicate with you is through nonverbal means. Learning how to identify them will strengthen the friendship you share. Remember to give your dog health dog treats and dog chews

It’s easy to spend money on our dogs for items they don’t truly need. After all, a little pampering never hurt. Unfortunately, while millions of owners purchase trinkets and luxuries for their canines, they often fail to invest the same attention into their dogs’ health. That can lead to large veterinarian bills later. Even worse, the thought of an expensive trip to the vet causes many owners to delay necessary treatment for their pooches.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the things you can do to maintain your canine companion’s health. By spending a little time and money upfront, you can avoid costly emergency bills in the future.

Throughly Inspect Your Pet Weekly

Canines deal with plenty of problems, including ear and eye infections, odd discharges, gum disease, and more. Making matters worse, being outside can result in fleas, scratches, and other issues. Take the time to give your dog a self inspection once a week. That includes brushing his teeth, checking his eyes and ears, and even smelling his breath. Otherwise, that small issue can develop into a larger problem extremely fast.

Enroll In Training Classes

Obedience training will result in a more friendly experience with your pets, but could also save you money on otherwise accidental emergency bills. A trained canine is less likely to dart from you into traffic while you’re walking him. Also, training will prevent his snapping or biting a stranger or another pet.

Don’t Neglect Spaying Or Neutering

You should spay or neuter your dog unless you’re planning to professionally breed her or him. Beside the Birth Control options, spaying and neutering has substantial health benefits for your dogs. In female canines, there is a much lower chance of developing breast cancer. And the likelihood of developing cancer in the ovaries or uterus is eliminated. For males, the procedure significantly lowers the likelihood of developing testicular cancer.

Set Aside An Emergency Fund

Sometimes, emergencies are unavoidable. You can provide the best care possible for your dog and still end up worried in the veterinarian’s waiting room. Start saving money so that a large medical emergency bill can be paid off. That way, you’ll have the funds to make sure your pooch receives the treatment he needs.

Too often, owners make the tragic decision of sacrificing their canines’ health because they are unable to afford the required treatment. Avoid that situation entirely by creating an emergency fund for your dog.

One last note: make an appointment with the veterinarian to give your pooch a routine check-up every six months. Even if you’re inspecting his coat, eyes, ears, and teeth once a week at home, problems can escape your notice. Plus, your canine may be coping with an internal issue. The veterinarian can perform an examination that uncovers medical problems before they become serious. Treating them early can prevent emergencies later.

A little preventative care – and a lot of love – can keep your dog healthy and happy while preserving your bank account.

We have all done it. Our cute, little furry friend is practically grinning at us from below the kitchen table. Their ears are perked and their tail is wagging. We know what our dog wants. Just a tiny choice morsel from dinner would be delicious, right? What could it hurt? It is just a snack or two after all.

Hold Fido’s ears he will not want to hear this. A dogs diet actually should not contain table scraps. Our food is just that…for people. A dogs nutritional demands are not the same as a humans. For certain, we eat some of the same things, but giving your pet food from the table is one of the biggest mistakes for your pet. A dogs diet does not need all the added goodies we add into our meals.

Individuals have problems with obesity. A dog can have this trouble, as well. If your dogs diet comprises mostly of scraps from the dinner table, chances are high that your dog will have trouble keeping a healthy weight. Even a few pounds over weight can truly make a difference in the quality and length of your pets life. Curb the begging and stick to your guns.

When you have a dog who is not a picky eater, it can be tempting to let your pet be the garbage disposal in your home, but actually, this is not a good idea. Particular people foods can harm your dog and should never be a part of your dogs diet. Grapes, for example, have been known to cause serious problems for dogs, even death. Chicken bones and popcorn can also be a problem for your dog. Permitting large amounts of chocolate can be dangerous in a dogs diet.

When your dogs diet is not the best you can give it, then your pets outputs will be larger in size, smell, and mess. You will see the benefits of choosing a healthy diet for your dog, as you will notice that your pet is healthier and happier.

There are a few occasions when a supplement or treat from the kitchen may be okay, but never in excess. Speak to your veterinary about healthy snacks for your dogs diet. If you simply must continue feeding Fido at the table, many veterinaries recommend you give your pet ice cubes or pieces of carrot to munch on between scheduled feeding times. Providing your pet these healthy options to pizza and cupcakes gives you the freedom to choose a healthy and nutritious snack for your dogs diet.

So, the next time your beloved pet starts eyeing your food, redirect his or her attention. Do not reach for your fatty steak or chicken leg. Instead, toss your buddy a cool, refreshing ice cube to bat around and munch on.  A couple of baby carrots will keep Fido happy and leave you feeling good about your choices for the nutritional value of your dogs diet. You will know that you are doing your best to keep a high quality diet for your pet.

For further Free information on Glucosamine In A Dogs Diet be sure to visit Free Dog Diet Tips….