MyDogGoneNatural

As your furry friend grows older, be on the lookout for symptoms that might be indicative of a health issue and consider creative and gentle ways in which to maintain the health and happiness of your canine companion that has stood by you for years of happiness.

Stay alert to any problems that you dog begins to have with mobility, even rising from a sitting position or morning aches and pains.  This is not difficult to relieve with an orthopedic dog bed and being sure that your dog does not jump from high places repeatedly.

Everyone can have one…it’s really NOT impossible

Simply because dog training is a straight forward process, basically of reward and ignoring inappropriate behaviors, it does not necessarily equate to a simple task.  Ask any dog guardian who is in the throes of trying to “make” their dog listen and behave the way they “should.”

Recall the times you learned most quickly.  It was probably when you were having fun and didn’t even realize that in the process, you had learned something.  Guess what?  The same theory applies to our furry friend.  Use something that has high value for rewarding the behaviors that you wish to encourage in the dog.  For instance, most dogs will do anything for a treat.  Get some training sized treats to carry around and offer them at just the right time.

The Truth about Shedding

Did you realize that dogs shed more when they get nervous?  In fact, the shedding is a response to the protective instinct.  It has been shown that a dog will shed to make himself more “slippery” for an easy escape if he believes that he is in danger.

Now we all know that dogs shed their coats when they are preparing for winter, to grow new and heavier coats.  In the spring the dog will prepare for the warmer weather by losing the excess fur that has protected them during the chilly winter months.

What’s this about Prebiotics?

We wonder about the food that we buy for our dogs, and at best, we hope that what we’re offering is really what it say it is. 

But, simply because we put the food in the dish and our beloved canine pal eats it, it does not necessarily mean that he’s getting all of the nutrients that are required to keep him at the top of his game, and in the best of health.  Even premium dog foods sometimes fall slightly short of what they “should” be, for any number of reasons.

How do you Know when your Dog is Really Old?You are probably already aware that our beloved dogs age far more rapidly than we do.  And ultimately the life expectancy of a dog is highly dependent upon the breed and size of the dog in question.

Generally, the larger the breed or size, the shorter the life span, but not necessarily.  However, there was a study showing that a mere 13% of giant breeds lived past the age of 10 years, while smaller breed dogs live well past that.

It is always better to err on the side of safety when it comes to sharing your space with a family fur member.  Just like you would want your child to be safe, think of the furry family member as a four legged child and think about things that might be harmful if viewed by your dog child.

Often we don’t even think that the everyday items in our homes and even outdoors can be dangerous for our dogs.  You can prevent accidents in your home with some very simple pet-proofing techniques that also apply to small children.  Keep all household poisons, toxins and plants that are unsafe, out of reach of your dog’s mouth.  Some of these household chemicals taste and smell irresistable to our furry friends.

It is easy to become overwhelmed by the glut of supplements for our dogs that are more readily available each day!  And, it is important to remember that supplements are an enhacement, not a substitute for a wholesome, nutritious diet.

Here is a list of some of the common ingredients in canine supplements and a brief description of their function.

Antioxidants:  Vitamins A, C, and E are the most common and they function to slow down the oxidative damage of aging in the dog’s cells.

Chondroitin/Glucosamine:  Promotes joint health by anti-inflammatory effects and also promotes cartilage repair.

Soothe the Urge to Chew

Probably at one time or another, we have learned one of the most difficult lessons with our dogs:  Give them their own things to chew, or they will take ours.  Recognizing that a dog’s natural inclination is to chew, the things that are acceptable should be those that we offer and preferably not our furniture, clothing, shoes, or dangerous household things, such as wires or plastic bottles that contain toxic chemicals.

Make sure that chewing is not destructive in any way.  It is not difficult to train your dog to abide the rules of the chew.

WOW! Some do come with directions

Learning that some of the identical parent principles applied to children also hold true for our furry friends, is oftentimes quite a relief to those who may be a bit apprehensive about how to ensure that they have a friendly, courteous and well mannered canine who participates regularly with the family and those who visit your home.

Almost like judging a book by its cover, except completely different

With all of the focus and fuss on health, nutrition, and dietary concerns for both dogs and their humans, we have all become far more aware of what we’re doing before making a food purchase.

Whether we’re buying a snack or a dog treat, a roast or a bag of organic dog biscuits, it is in our best interest to read the label.  However, there are times when we are confused since not all of the words are used in their strictest sense and often the definitions are blurred deliberately to steer us in the direction of a purchase.  Not always intentionally misleading, the terms used for labeling in pet foods and treats are not always clear to us, as consumers nor are they even crystal clear to those in the industry!