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Caring for your dog
What should he eat?
Years ago most dogs lived outdoors and ate whatever scraps the family had left after
a meal - or whatever they could find outdoors. That included mice and squirrels,
and things I'd rather not think about.
Now our veterinarians tell us that
dogs shouldn't eat "people food" because it has too much salt and spices and other
things that aren't good for them. So we buy dog food and hope we're making the right
choice.
It's a little scary, considering that a long list of major brands have
been recalled for causing kidney damage in both dogs and cats. So what is a loving
pet owner to do? You could consider making your own dog food.
John Miller, a professional dog-fancier, has created an entire cookbook filled with
recipes for feeding healthy dogs. In addition, his collection includes recipes to:
-
Make your own dog shampoo
- Eliminate dogs bad breath
- Make dog safe Insecticides
- Make dog safe Fertilizers
- Remove Skunk Odor
John offers 245 recipes in all, and you can try them out for 60 days risk free when you
order through Clickbank.
Click Here to
read how John developed his collection.
Of course all dogs need a
constant supply of fresh water, so if your dog is outdoors a lot in winter, you do
need a heated bowl. Dogs are pretty good at spilling things, so look for a no-tip
bowl. Then when he pushes it across the floor with his nose it will splash rather
than empty all over the floor.
By the way, what you don't feed could be as important
as what you do feed. Always avoid chocolate, raisins, and grapes - all of which can
be deadly to your dog.
Shelter
While I prefer my dogs in the house with me, not everyone agrees, and some dogs actually
prefer to stay outside. So make sure your friend has adequate shelter. In summer that
means a cool place to get out of the sun and in winter it means an insulated spot where
he can curl up and sleep out of the wind, snow, and ice. A heated pad in his dog house
is a good idea if the dog is very young or very old. Short haired dogs should not be
left outdoors in cold climates.
If your dog will live outdoors, be sure to give him
an adequate supply of fresh water.
Obedience TrainingWell-trained dogs
are happy dogs, because they know how to please you - and that's what they want to do. Dogs
with no training are like children with no training. They're disruptive and unruly and
generally unpleasant to be around. It's not because they want to make you mad - its just
because they've never been shown the rules.
So do your dog a favor and teach him how to please you.
The easiest way is to take dog obedience classes. Many say the classes
are more for the human than the dog, and they're probably right. We humans
assume that dogs communicate the same way we do, but it isn't so. The result
is that often our voices are telling our dog one thing while our body language
is telling him another - so he doesn't know how to respond. Dog obedience classes
will teach you how to communicate.
I know that not everyone can take their
dog to obedience classes. They might be held at a time when you have to be at work -
or there might not even be classes offered in your vicinity. So if you want to train
your dog at home, then get a good book or take an on-line class. Dog training videos
might be just the thing for you, because you can see what to do instead of just reading
about it. Dove Cresswell, a Professional Hollywood North Dog Trainer has just such videos.
Click Here to see a
FREE sample.
Grooming
All dogs need to be brushed occasionally, even
if they have short hair. They also need their ears cleaned and their toenails clipped,
unless they get to run and play on surfaces that wear them down. If they live in the house,
they'll also need a bath on occasion. Think how you'd smell if you never bathed!
Veterinarians recommend using only shampoos that are specially formulated for dogs so that you don't dry out their hair and skin. Those shampoos are often very thick and thus difficult to rinse out of a thick coat. I solve that by pouring half the shampoo into a different container and filling the original with water. It lathers just as well and is ten times easier to get rinsed out.
Still, some dogs have sensitive skin and can develop many of the same kinds of problems that humans have. Itching is a particularly troublesome problem for dogs and can cause them to chew holes in their feet, legs, or tail. To alleviate many other common skin problems, read Linda Kajda's book: .
Dog Skin Solutions. You'll find remedies that will save you hundreds of dollars in vet bills and keep your dog happy at the same time.
Note:
If your dog is older, or if he's had a joint injury that's making him sore, try this product. I use it for Ralph, and it really works!
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