Can My Dog Really Benefit From Dog Vitamins?

Many dog owners are under the impression that proper diet and enough exercise should be sufficient to keep their dog healthy. While it is certainly true that commercial dog foods have greatly improved digestibility and nutritional value when compared to pet foods of years past, vitamin supplements are an important component of your dog's health. Like humans, dogs can live a longer, happier life as a result of the health benefits that vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provide. 

Vitamins for are a critical measure for dogs, just as they are for people. More veterinarians and dog lovers than ever recognize that the key to pet health is a strong, healthy immune system and the prevention of premature aging and illness. Dog vitamins are a powerful tool that can help your pet lead a longer, happier life. 

Liquid Dog Vitamins

Dog vitamins are beneficial for a number of important reasons. First, certain antioxidants fight against the free radicals that can damage cells to cause cancer. Certain vitamins also aid in bolstering specific body systems to slow the physical deterioration that comes with aging. These effects include diminished eye sight, a compromised immune system, and weakened bones and cartilage. 

Liquid Dog Vitamins

Research suggests that vitamin supplements can have a significant positive impact on a dog's life span. What's more, the data shows that you'll see the greatest results if you start your dog on a vitamin supplementation program while he is still young. Dogs who received vitamins supplements from the time they were puppies have been shown to experience greater health, and suffer fewer illnesses throughout their lives. 

When you're ready to select a vitamin supplement for your dog, it's important to consider his individual needs. For example, puppies have needs that are much different from those of elderly dogs. Likewise, dogs who are active versus those who are not will also have distinct needs. Take some time to discuss your dog's condition with your vet, and explore individual ingredients in the supplement that you are considering. You should also pick a supplement with no fillers or other artificial ingredients; natural is best when it comes to your pet's health. 

Liquid Dog Vitamins

A good supplement will include, at a minimum, vitamin A to fight free radicals; B complex vitamins for a healthy immune system, improved liver function, red blood cell production, antibody formation, and healthy eyes, mouth, skin, and coat; and vitamin C for improved immune function. Other helpful nutrients include glucosamine, chondroitin, and Omega fatty acids. These help rebuild cartilage, keep your dog's skin healthy, and maintain a lustrous, shiny coat. 

Often, pet owners notice an improvement in their dog's health within weeks of beginning supplementation. Some things you may notice are increased energy and a healthier, thicker coat. But, most of the benefits of dog vitamin supplements happen over the long term as you spend less on vet bills, and most importantly, get to spend more quality time with a pet who'll live a long life, as happy and pain free as possible. 

Liquid Dog Vitamins

Improve your dog's health by starting him on a vitamin supplement regimen. It will pay off in fewer visits to the vet, and in the quality time you spend with your pet. Your dog will appreciate it! 

Source: https://ezinearticles.com/?Can-My-Dog-Really-Benefit-From-Dog-Vitamins?&id=2624462

Safety Tips For Kids and Dogs

Children love dogs and dogs usually love children. When children and dogs can interact safely and happily, it's a beautiful thing to watch. Dogs can be wonderful friends and protectors for children while children can learn a great deal about how to be gentle, loving, and responsible dog owners. To reach that level and to gain those benefits, however, you'll need to teach both the animal and the child how to safely interact.

Here are a few tips to make that happen.

Tip #1: Socialize the dog

A well-socialized dog is going to be less nervous and excited around children. You should start taking your dog or puppy to places where children will be present so they can get accustomed to the noise, the fast movements, and the heightened excitement. That can all be a lot for a dog and can cause him to become too excited or too nervous. If he is used to these things, he'll be more likely to be calm when petted and adored by admiring children.

Tip #2: Teach your children

Children, as mentioned above, love dogs and sometimes they love them so much that they act without thinking. A little hand reaching tentatively to touch a dog's head could easily get bitten by an unfriendly or poorly socialized dog. Kids, for this reason, should always be taught to ask the dog's owner before petting the animal. That gives the owner a chance to properly prepare the dog for the attention and to refuse if he or she knows the dog is not a big fan of children. Plus, it means your little one won't be rushing up to dogs and putting themselves in a situation where a startled dog might attack.

Tip #3: Teach the dog good manners

Just as children need to learn to ask before petting a strange dog, dogs should be taught good manners in public. If someone approaches him, the appropriate way to handle the attention is for him to sit or to lie down. This keeps the dog in a more controllable position for you and makes him see very well-behaved. Plus, if you take the time to sit the dog, the children can have time to calm down and the situation can be easier to manage. Also, you must teach your dogs, especially the larger ones, not to jump up on people as a greeting. This can be cute, but it is also very dangerous for children who can easily be knocked over by the weight of the dog.

Tip #4: Help children learn not to hurt animals

Sometimes children don't understand the proper way to treat animals, including dogs. Kids may grab their tails or try to climb onto of them without thinking about the discomfort this could cause the dog. Small dogs can be injured, placed in toy boxes, or more. For the dog, these are negative experiences that make them dislike being around the child. As a parent, you should stop your children from engaging in these activities at the earliest sign of them. Teach your kids from day one how to treat the dogs appropriately. Also, be a good role model. If you hit your dog to punish him or her, you are sending a very dangerous message to your child.

The bottom line is that both dogs and children need a little bit of training in this area. They need to be socialized so they can get along with one another, and they need to learn the appropriate ways to respond to one another. With a little help, they can have a great relationship that is safe and loving.

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My Dog Doesn't Need To Go For Walks

I hear this a bunch. Unfortunately, a lot of dog owners think because they have a BIG yard their dog does not need to go for walks. They are sure wrong in their thinking. In this article I am going to try to dispel that myth and give you some answers and the reasons why it is a myth.

Having a large backyard is great for an active dog. It can allow you to play retrieve games, Frisbee and even some agility if that yard is big enough for all the equipment. However those games are great exercise which your dog definitely needs but it is in no way a substitute for going on walks.

Wild dogs walk a bunch all day long. Why? Well they are looking for food and water. I realize that your dog doesn't need to hunt for food but the walking is still something that it needs to do make it feel good and satisfied.

You may not realize this but walking builds serotonin in the brain not only for your dog but you as well. Serotonin is a must if you want a well-balanced happy dog. Since you are walking as well, you will get all the great benefits including building serotonin in your brain as well.

Walking with your dog builds a bond. A bond that makes your dog realize that you are the pack leader. Being your dog's pack leader actually will make him happier because he realizes that you are taking responsibility and it relieves him from having to assume that responsibility.

Remember that taking your dog for walks allows it to discover all the great things that are out there to see and experience.

One thing that you may not know is that small dogs need walks as well as their bigger brothers. Small dogs may not need or even to be able to walk as far as a larger breed however they do need to get out on a walk.

Now here is a challenge for those of you that do not currently walk your dogs. Make a pledge to give your dog a walk every day for 10 days. Watch your dog's enthusiasm, look how happy it appears. That is because it is feeling better not only physically but mentally as well.

If you accept my challenge I think that the results will be so good that you will want to continue. The best part about this challenge is that you will feel better as well so give it a try!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?My-Dog-Doesnt-Need-To-Go-For-Walks&id=9137337

Fun Sports Activities You Can Do With Your Dog

Staying fit is more fun when it is done with family members, dog included. Your dog needs his fair share of fun and should be encouraged to stay fit. What better way to help your dog stay healthy and fit than to take him out for a fun day of activities in the park. Here are some of the activities you and your dog can enjoy doing in an open space.

Frisbee

It may be a childish game, but it is enjoyed by both the young and old. Throwing a Frisbee is a fun activity that also tests our agility and coordination, and it will do the same for your dog. You dog will just go crazy with loads of fun as he runs after the Frisbee as it flies and then leaps up in the air to snag the disc. This is more of a catch and retrieve game you will also enjoy playing.

Swimming

You should consider getting your dog accustomed to water before thinking of taking him along with you for a swim. The public pool will be off limits for the dog, but the lake at the park or the river will be a nice place to take your dog if he loves water. The beach is also a beautiful place to take him; you can go there and toss a Frisbee as you also enjoy a swim with him.

Agility

Agility events are now a common thing for many dog owners. They all strive to teach their dog a thing or two that sharpness the dog's body and mind. The dog will need to learn how to move over, across, and through various obstacles with or without your help. This will be a fun thing to do especially in a park where both of you visit frequently.

Running

Most sports will have your dog on his feet run and jumping. However, you can still engage him in running as an independent sport. Most dogs love the outdoors and will enjoy running around in the park. You can opt to go for a bicycle ride in the park or a jog and let your dog accompany you.

Other fun activities that may or may not be a form of sport and you and your dog can enjoy include dancing, fly ball, hide and seek, hiking, carting, hunting and high jumping among others.

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Why Isn't Punishment An Effective Training Method For Puppies

Have you recently received a new puppy? For many people, this is a very joyous time in their life. Unfortunately, it's not always fun when you are raising a puppy simply because they can become very unruly and are also hard to train. It could be simple things like teaching them not to chew on literally everything that is in your household, or teaching them how to not go to the bathroom on your carpet or floor. It can push you to your emotional limits, causing you to want to punish them every time that they make a bad choice, but this might not be the best way to train your puppy. Here are a few reasons why punishment is not an effective training method for puppies, and what alternatives exist that may prove to be much more beneficial.

Why Punishing Your Puppy Is Not The Best Choice

Starting with a simple example of a puppy that is chewing on a piece of furniture in your home, your first inclination would be to use a rolled up newspaper, smacked them on the nose, and tell them in a very affirmative tone that they have done something wrong. Obviously, the dog is not going to understand the words that you are using, but your tone will speak volumes. However, is smacking them on the nose, or swatting them with your hand, actually the best choice that you can make?

Alternatives To Punishment

There are a couple different alternatives to actually physically striking the dog in order to get your point across. We have already mentioned that the tone that you use is very important when you are trying to train your puppy. This applies to any problem that they may be having which could be biting, scratching, digging, or not waiting to go outside in order to relieve themselves. In conjunction with your negative tone, the alternatives that you will want to use will include removing them from the situation, all the while telling them in a strong condescending tone that they have made the wrong choice. It doesn't matter what words you use, but your actions need to be fast, quickly addressing the issue and removing them from the situation. You could take them to a different area of the home, or if it is a problem with potty training, take them outside and then begin the second stage of the process.

Rewards For Improving Behavior

Once you have removed them from the situation, you will want to immediately reinforce the bad behavior with presenting them with the option to do something good. Once they are in the new location, you can ask them to set, or lie down, something that they already know how to do, and when this is accomplished, you can reward them with a positive tone and some form of treat. By doing this quickly, transitioning them from the bad situation to a good one, and then following that up with a reward, they will become aware that making good decisions leads to rewards and praise from their owner, and theoretically through this process, the need to be praised and receive rewards will carry over to the problematic area. This can inspire them to avoid doing the bad things, hoping to do good things in order to receive positive input from you. Once done several times, and done on a consistent basis, you should start to notice a definite change in their bad behavior, transitioning them into something good.

The reason that this particular strategy does not work all of the time has to do with the lack of consistency on the part of the owner. The transition needs to be immediate, which is why in the early stages of raising your puppy, you need to be there as much as possible. By giving them an appropriate toy to chew on, or placing them outside where they can actually relieve themselves, and rewarding them once the good behavior has been accomplished, they will begin to understand. As long as this form of positive conditioning is used on a consistent basis, you can avoid the need for punishing your puppy in order to train them, it's a philosophy that many dog owners are adopting today.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Isnt-Punishment-An-Effective-Training-Method-For-Puppies&id=9037837

Keeping Your Dog Safe At The Park

Today you will find dog parks in almost every area of the country. Dogs need exercise and socialization which helps them feel good both physically and mentally. Plus it gives dog owners a chance to meet other people too, so there are many benefits for everyone involved when you take them to the park.

What people are concerned about is whether or not dog parks are safe. That is a difficult question to answer because it really depends a lot on the owners. Dog owners need to be responsible and know their dogs disposition and how they get along with others. Dog parks are for the most part very safe, but you still need to keep an eye on your pooch in case an irresponsible owner is not paying attention to their overly aggressive dog.

Many dog parks are designed to separate the big ones from the little ones. Since big dogs by their sheer size can easily hurt a smaller dog, you won't have to worry about that at the park. If you have a big dog it is important to keep an eye on which dogs are friendly and which ones have shown a tendency to be more aggressive. For the most part, people who bring their pooch to the park have a well-behaved pet. But of course there is always that one who is out of control. Keep an eye on him and you should be fine.

If you have a dog that likes to run and chase balls make sure you look around the park for any potholes or areas where your pet can get injured. Mostly these parks are big grassy areas, but take a walk around the entire park to see if there are any potential trouble spots.

Dog parks are a lot of fun for both your pet and you because it is such a joy to watch them off the leash romping around. It's even better afterwards because they have so much fun that it tires them out. After the park comes a nice long nap, with a smile on their face of course.

You want to keep your dog happy and that is why you take him to the park. At first he may be a little bit shy and not want to socialize with the others, but after awhile your dog will adjust. A dog park can be safe, but always remember that accidents can happen. It is no different than taking a child to a park. Just keep an eye them at all times.

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Only Give A Command One Time

There is one very important thing that dog owners should always remember. Let me share this one thing with you. This is really important in training and conditioning your dog.

Only give a command one time and then make it happen if your dog does not respond.

I always tell dog owners to never repeat a command. Doing that simply conditions the dog that you will say it multiple times and there is no need to do it on the first command. This should start when your dog is a puppy to teach it what you expect and that you will only tell it once.

If you are a parent you know what a problem this can be. Perhaps you have a child that simply will not clean his or her room when asked. You have to say it multiple times without results. I solved that problem when my daughter was young. I simply asked her to clean her room one time and if she did not do it then I took something that was valuable to her away. In her case it was a music or singing lesson. I only had to do that one time, she learned that I was serious. The same can be true for your dog.

Now here is the next thing to consider. Most people have a habit of training their dog in one particular place. Perhaps you do it in the family room or even the kitchen and the dog learns to preform your command flawlessly in that location. Now here is the problem that I see daily. The dog has been conditioned to work well in these locations but will not work well in other locations.

I tell dog owners that training your dog for 15 minutes a day, and training in at least 6 different locations will give you the best behaved dog in the neighborhood. Yes you need to take your dog to different places. Get your dog out of the house and train in the front yard. When the dog is doing well there then move to the street.

So now that you have a dog that looks great in and around the house let's take the training to the park. There are a lot of new distractions there that your dog will need to work around. We call this "PROOFING" your dog. Teaching it to work around all kinds of distractions and it does just as well there as it does at home.

With a very small effort on your part you can have that dog that you always wanted and can be proud of wherever you go!

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Statistics Vs Circumstance: Why Mutts Tend To Be Healthier

The choice between purebred dogs and mutts is a difficult one for a lot of owners to make. Good and bad experiences with individual dogs tend to give owners strong preferences. Not all aspects of this debate are subjective, though. When it comes to health and longevity, mutts have some undeniable advantages over their purebred compatriots.

The Stakes And The Biases

When it comes to dog health, people who prefer purebreds to mutts have definite opinions. So do dog owners with the opposite preference, though. Veterinarians are often called on to be the tiebreakers in this debate, and they come down over and over on the side of the mutts. This is nothing that purebred fanciers like to hear, but it appears to be the truth: Since their genetic backgrounds are much more varied, mutts tend to suffer fewer severe health effects over the full course of their lives. Some important caveats have to be made in order to justify this point of view, though.

The Facts About Adoption

Dog owners who are down on mutts have no difficulty in summoning up anecdotal stories about those shelter adoptions that saddle new owners with thousands of dollars in veterinary costs. It's true, many rescued dogs have health problems ranging from the incidental to the severe. The thing that's often glossed over by the pro-purebred side of the

debate, though, is that dogs coming out of breeders' puppy mills often have significant health problems of their own. There is one significant truth here: mutts adopted from shelters do have a high rate of infection with communicable diseases. Bear in mind, this is really all about the shelters, though, not the mutts themselves!

The Drawbacks Of Genetics

Where mutts have the true advantage over purebred dogs is in their much more varied, robust genetic background. Keeping a particular breed pure inevitably involves a lot of inbreeding and a lot of other measures that reduce genetic diversity. This doesn't just mean that certain breeds are predisposed to certain problems, (although that's certainly the case - hip dysplasia, for example, is chronic in purebred Bulldogs) it means that purebreds are, across the board, statistically more likely to suffer from hereditary health problems.

While mutts do have the odds stacked in their favor when it comes to hereditary issues, it's important for owners to remember that this is all about statistics across very large populations. Although fewer mutts have these problems, that's a long way from saying that mutts are immune to them. As always, responsible owners need to focus on the particular needs of their own pets and make sure their health is safeguarded as much as possible.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Statistics-Vs-Circumstance:-Why-Mutts-Tend-To-Be-Healthier&id=8912006

Tennis Balls Can Be Dangerous For Dogs

I always tell dog owners and new trainers that "tennis balls kill dogs". Of course I always get a weird look and somebody that says "I have used tennis balls with my dog forever without a problem". If used properly and with supervision it can be okay however in certain situations they can kill. Let me tell you what I mean.

Let me paint this picture. Your dog picks up a tennis ball in the backyard or the one that is left with it in the crate. Your dog uses it to do some big time chewing and with his powerful jaws he pops the ball and a piece of the broken ball blocks your dog's airway and it chokes to death. Far fetched idea you say, then ask Oprah Winfrey. Yes one of her dogs died just like in the picture I just painted for you.

Here is another problem and I know the police officer that this happened to her police dog. He picked up one of many tennis balls that were always lying in the backyard. He popped it like I mentioned before and was able to tear off a piece and swallow it. No he didn't choke. However after a while the officer realized that something was wrong with her dog and took it to the vet.

The piece was blocking the gut. It was a very serious life threatening situation. After surgery the dog did survive but only because the officer was so very much aware that something was not right with her dog. If she had not realized something was wrong she may have woken the next morning to a dead dog.

I think you get the idea now about the dangers of a tennis ball but that doesn't mean that you should never use them. It simply means that they should only be used under supervision and they should never be left in your dog's crate.

So here are a few rules to follow when it comes to tennis balls:

1. Your dog should always be supervised when it has a tennis ball

2. Never leave them lying around. They should be out of your dogs reach.

3. Only use one at a time. When they get 2 in their mouth they can get stuck in the back of the mouth.

4. Say to heck with tennis balls and switch to a black "Kong" toy.

I never use them; my toy of choice is a black Kong when I am dealing with a large dog. Why the black Kong, because it is the strongest rubber. In fact the Kong Company will actually replace it if your dog breaks it.

I hope this article will make you think next time you grab that tennis ball. It may just save your dog's life.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Tennis-Balls-Can-Be-Dangerous-For-Dogs&id=8538851

The Correct Way To Walk Your Dog

One thing that dog owners complain most about is the fact that their dog is dragging them down the street when they go for a walk. It's not only uncomfortable but it can actually be dangerous. Over the years I've seen people with hurt arms and shoulders as well as people that have been knocked to the ground. 

Now if you have a 3 pound Chihuahua that you take for walks this article probably doesn't have anything for you. However if you have a larger dog that is dragging you and making your walks uncomfortable then this article is for you. 

Let's start off by saying that you need to start training your dog when it's young and teach it to walk at your side on a loose leash. If you allow your dog to be out in front of you and pulling you down the street when it's young it will want to keep doing that same thing as it gets older. So teaching your dog the right way to walk on leash from the beginning is very important. 

Let's start off by talking about your leash. I always tell my clients if you have one of those retractable leashes go get it and let's throw it in the trash can. In fact I just spoke to a lady today whose dog got loose from her on a busy street because it broke the retractable leash. So go out and get yourself a good leash. Ideally you'd like a 6 foot leather leash because once it's broken in a leather leash is nice on your hands compared to the nylon leashes for example. If you have a leash it's made of chain that's something else for the trash can. Chain leashes can really hurt your hands and be very uncomfortable. 

So let's talk about where and how your dog should be walking. Your dog should be walking on your left-hand side and its legs should roughly lined up with your legs and there should be a small amount of slack in the leash so that it's not pulling you. A dog that walks in front of his master is a dog who thinks he's in charge. In order for you to be the alpha and the pack leader your dog should be walking on your side and not pulling. 

So how do you keep your dog from pulling? There are a bunch of different apparatus including special collars and harnesses that are supposed to keep your dog from pulling. However I say to heck with those contraptions and teach your dog to walk nicely at your side. 

Working with a good obedience trainer is an easy way to teach your dog to walk without pulling. So give your trainer a call and get him out there to help you train your dog to walk on a nice loose leash.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Correct-Way-To-Walk-Your-Dog&id=8489508

Training Your Dog Off Leash

A question I get quite often from new dog owners is, will this basic training have my dog doing everything off leash. And of course my answer is no because basic training is exactly that, it's teaching the dog the basics.

Is having your dog perform all the exercises off leash realistic? Absolutely with the proper training your dog can easily be off leash trained. I always tell people we need to start off with basic training so the dog can perform all the basic exercises without having any type of leash correction.

After we have completed the training stage and the dog is performing well in your home then we continue on to the proofing stage. The proofing stage is where we now start introducing your dog to distractions. The backyard with the leaves, the butterflies and the birds can provide some distraction. The front yard with the leaves, the butterflies and the birds plus cars and people can create more distraction.

The goal for a nicely trained dog that performs all its exercises off leash is that it will perform these exercises no matter what its surroundings are. One of the biggest problems with dog owners however is that they are impatient and they feel that this should all happen in just a matter of days or a couple of weeks and that's not true.

Whether you want to compete in A.K.C. obedience competition or just have a nicely trained dog, training at this level requires time and patients.

Keep in mind that repetition is the number one principle of dog training so to accomplish your goal you should be willing to work with your dog 2 or 3 times daily with short 15 minute sessions.

Over the years I have seen many new dog owners put in the repetitions but their dog does not seem to improve and there is a reason. It is up to the owner to make sure that each training session has a goal. What I mean is that the dog should get just a tiny bit better at an exercise or two with each training session. Remember what I just said not a bunch better, just a tiny bit better with each training session.

The majority of dog owners never reach the off-leash level with their dogs because they stop training when their dog quits jumping on them or maybe quits pulling them when they go for a walk. If that was their goal then that is okay because everybody has a different goal for their dog.

So if off leash is your goal be sure to tell the trainer that you are working with so that he/she can help you reach that level with your dog.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Training-Your-Dog-Off-Leash&id=8479819

Answering The Question: How Old Should Your Dogs Be Before They Breed?

One common question among dog owners, and even those people interesting in breeding is how old should their dog be before they breed? How old is too old? How young is too young? It's important to understand that when a dog breeds it has a huge effect on the overall health and well being of the puppies who are born.

The numbers vary from one dog breed to another, and it's always important to know more about the specific breed before taking any advice. What works best for a Labrador, a Dalmatian, a German shepherd, and a Great Dane are all going to be different.

When deciding how old your dogs should be before they breed starts out with the general rule of thumb that the female dog (the dam) should be at least 2 years of age and should be no more than 5 years of age. Once again, however, this is a general rule of thumb and it is not a hard and fast rule that applies to every single dog.

The male dog (also often referred to as the sire) can be older than the dam but should still not be more than seven years of age in most cases. This again is an issue that gets tackled on a case by case basis.

Generally speaking the best dogs for breeding are in the prime of youthful breeding age. Depending on what your intent is, such as breeding pure breeds, there might even be "rules" from breeding organizations on what the rules are for mating dogs and still considering them pure bred. The key here, if you're working with an organization or going by their rules, is to contact their professionals about your breed and see what they have to say.

There are very particular reasons for breeding dogs at a certain age. Breeding a dam over 5 years old can be unhealthy and dangerous for both the puppies and for the mother dog. Most professionals agree that a female dog should not be bred during their first cycle. Many of those dogs are still too immature and there can be complications.

Skipping the first cycle and waiting until the second cycle, which should take place after they are two years old or older, will help make sure that there are less complications and the puppies are more likely to be healthy.

Another important aspect is to make sure that females aren't bred every year. Once they're old enough to breed, it's still best to breed them every other year to allow them the recovery time that they need and to insure the health of not only the dam but also the pups themselves.

If you ever have a question on a specific breed, look for local breeders or clubs who might be able to give you more detailed points and information based on the very specific breeds that are involved.

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