Animals Evolved

Are you confused about how much to feed your dog? If you have a dog, you want to provide him with the best nutrition possible without overfeeding and increasing his risk for obesity. You can’t count on your dog to send you the signal that he’s full since most dogs will eat well past the point of satiety? So how do you know how much to put into your dog’s bowl and how often to feed?

The decision on how much to your dog can be a confusing one. Many people select food quantity for their dogs based on weight which can be misleading since some dogs are more active than others. Plus, there’s the issue of age. Dogs should be given less food during their senior years than they would need during puppyhood or the peak of their life. In addition, underlying health factors need to be taken into account. If your dog has active health problems, it’s best to speak with your vet to make sure your dog doesn’t need a special diet. For example, dogs with kidney disease may need a low protein dog food. Your vet can help you work out exact quantities of food to give your dog in these special cases.

If your dog is healthy the general formula for how much to feed your dog is 1.5 cups per twenty pounds of weight for small breeds and 1 cup per twenty pounds of body weight for large breeds. Small breed dogs have higher caloric requirements than do larger breeds which is taken into account with this formula. If your dog is currently overweight or has a low activity, you’ll want to adjust food quantities down slightly. If your dog is active, lean, and undergoes brisk walks on a daily basis, food quantities should be adjusted upwards to meet his higher caloric requirements. If you feed your dog twice daily, give half of the suggested quantity at each meal. To make sure you’re feeding your dog appropriately, check a weight every two weeks and make food adjustments based on the results.

With the recent concern regarding dog food ingredients, what type of dog food should you select? The safest and healthiest commercial dog foods are composed of natural ingredients without added fillers such as corn and wheat. Learn to read dog food labels and be aware of potentially dangerous additives and by products found in dog foods. Avoid ones with artificial coloring, flavorings, or preservatives. Look for a high quality protein source and make sure it’s listed as the first ingredient on the label. When switching over to a new food, be sure to mix the new food with the old initially and gradually increase the quantity of the new food as your dog adjusts to his new diet. Sudden dietary changes can promote diarrhea in dogs.

What about people food? Should a dog be offered table scraps? Although most sources will discourage adding table food to a dog’s diet, there are some human “treats” that are healthy for dogs. Small nibbles of fresh fruits and vegetables can be healthy substitutes for commercial dog cookies and should add significantly to your dog’s caloric load. If you choose to give your dog fruits and vegetables, obtain a list of foods that shouldn’t be given to dogs. For example, onions, garlic, and raisins should be strictly avoided. Also be aware of the sugar, fat, and sodium content of any table food you give your dogs. Fatty foods can increase your dog’s risk of pancreatitis, a relatively common and sometimes fatal condition in dogs.

By researching what and how much to feed your dog, you can optimize your dog’s weight and possibly even prolong his life span. Make sure you make the right choices so you can have your best friend around for a long time.

Dogs quickly become members of the family. They fit in there right with the rest of the clan. Before you know it, you are shopping for them as if they are one of your very own children, and in a way, they are.

If you want to do something special for your dog, consider a homemade gift that comes straight from the heart with a bit of artistic skill. If you can knit or crochet, consider making your dog a cozy blanket for his bed. Select a yarn that shows some indication of sturdiness so that it does not fall apart after a few weeks use.

In fact, while you are at it, knit or crochet your dog some traveling gear. How about a blanket for the car? Maybe your dog would prefer a knitted sweater to keep him warm on those long walks the two of you take. In fact, a matching hat would create a picture perfect photo opportunity.

Today’s market includes a wide variety of patterns for making your dog’s own clothes. Although many require knitting or crocheting, a number of them involve old-fashioned hand or machine sewing. One of the best things about making your dog’s clothing is the fact that you retain all control over the colors, styles, and artistic embellishments.

Some of the more popular materials to use when sewing an outfit for your dog include corduroy, tartan, faux fur, and sequin. Equally popular are the quilted and hand embroidered styles of clothing.

Patterns for clothing for the canine world used to include only a few select items such as sweaters, jackets, rain slickers, and hats. Today, dog owners can find patterns for clothing in:
• sleepwear and pajamas
• beachwear including bathing suits, caps, and towels
• casual wear including pants, shirts, blouses, sweaters, and skirts
• eveningwear
• special costumes
• bridal wear

If you are new at this, don’t be discouraged with your first outfit if it does not turn out as well as you would have liked. Your skill should improve with each new outfit that you make for your pet. Just don’t forget to take photographs to put in the family album.

Den Haus designs beautiful dog crates that can easily blend into your house design without spoiling the nicely decorated house.  There are three dog crates available at the moment, which are TownHaus, ZenHaus, and BowHaus.

“Homes for pets.  Designs for people.”

When you bring your furry friend home for the first time, chances are you will not be thinking of obedience training. You are more likely concerned about how cute little Rover is, and where he will sleep. Though it may not be the first thing you think of when deciding to get a puppy, or adopt a dog, obedience training is a necessity if you want a well-behaved, friendly pet and companion.

Depending on the age of your dog, beginning obedience training will differ. For instance, if you bring home a 6 week old puppy, you will need to deal with sleeping and house training habits. If the dog is an adult, and you want to take the next steps in obedience training, you may want to consider taking him to an obedience class at a local school or pet store. Always start small and work your way into more complicated training. It takes time for a dog to become obedience trained.

When you start training, be sure you start with the basics. Sit, come, and shake are good commands to start with. Your voice should be firm when speaking the command, and joyful when encouraging your dog when he has done it correctly. Limit training sessions to short, ten minute sessions a few times a day so you don’t lose his attention. Young puppies have an especially short attention span. In the beginning stages of training, you will want to have small tidbits of food for rewards along with words of praise. Once you have established a routine, you can substitute words of praise and lessen the food rewards.

For more advanced training, different steps will need to be taken. For example, once you have the basic commands down, you will want to move on to more complicated intermediate commands such as “stay” or “roll-over.” These commands are a little more difficult to master for dogs, so you will need to spend more time on them. Again, be sure you do not have long hours of training, because your dog will tire quickly. For as much training as you do, have adequate play time where there is nothing expected of the dog except for fun. This will make him more willing to concentrate in training sessions.

Dogs are highly intelligent and are capable of becoming extremely obedient no matter what the circumstances. Once your dog has mastered simple and intermediate commands, you can begin focusing on harder commands. Be sure not to start too early, as it can confuse your dog and make it harder to learn the simpler commands. If you work long enough with your dog, he will be able to follow your commands with just the motion of your hand, even in a crowded atmosphere.

The most important thing when training your dog is patience. Just like when you are training a child, you have to be patient and loving, and not just scolding during obedience training. Be sure to reward even the smallest bit of progress. This will make the dog want to obey you because he wants your approval. When a dog is disobedient, correct him, but do not dwell on all of his mistakes, especially if he is just learning. If you are willing to put the time and effort into molding your dog into the well-behaved companion he can be, you are sure to be rewarded with a friend for the remainder of his life.

A watch dog’s purpose is to alert the family that a stranger is approaching or that something unusual is happening. As opposed to guard dogs or protection dogs, a watch dog is not trained to act aggressively toward an intruder, although he may choose to do so on his own if he feels the situation calls for action.

When choosing a watch dog for your family, carefully research the individual breeds to find the best fit for your family. Watch dogs don’t need to be huge and intimidating; they only need to be willing to bark when necessary! Almost any dog who is loved and treated well by his family will have the instinct to protect his “pack” family and alert them when something is amiss.

The dog that is the best fit for your family may not be on this list. The dogs in this list were chosen for their protective instincts, intelligence, and affection for people. Realize that while a breed may generally possess certain characteristics, there may be individual variations within the breed.

1. German Shepherd

This breed has a reputation for being a mean, aggressive killer, and their intimidating reputation will make an intruder think twice about entering your home. German Shepherds are excellent watch dogs for families with children. The breed is alert and intelligent, and when properly socialized and raised around children they can be quite fond and protective of them.

2. Chow Chow

Chows are often “one-person” dogs, but if raised around children and other household pets from an early age they can get along with them quite well. Reputable breeders are breeding Chows with less aggressive tendencies than in the past, resulting in well-mannered dogs with strong protective instincts. They can have willful and stubborn personalities, but early obedience training can make Chows a great family pet.

3. Great Dane

The Great Dane’s sheer size will intimidate intruders, but they are truly one of the gentlest, most affectionate dog breeds. They are seldom aggressive unless the situation calls for it, but will bark when necessary. They are patient and playful with children, but need early obedience training so the owner will be able to control this giant dog when it is full grown! Their huge size makes them a better choice for families with older children.

4. Boxer

Boxers are clownish, playful dogs who love people and are fond of children. They seem to have the ability to know whether a visitor is welcome or is an intruder. Their high spirits and rowdy play make them great pets for families with older children who won’t be knocked down as easily!

5. American Pit Bull Terrier

Pit bulls have an undeserved reputation as mean, vicious dogs due to their popular use among heartless dog owners as fighting dogs. Their breeding does give them a natural tendency toward aggressive behavior, but when raised with a loving, responsible family they are not a threat to people or other pets. A properly socialized pit bull can be a courageous, loyal and affectionate family pet when he has obedience training from an early age. Buy a pit bull from a reputable breeder, who breeds for even temperament as well as physical appearance.

6. English Bulldog

Although these dogs are small in stature, they have an intimidating appearance. Bulldogs are persistent and often strong-willed, but are gentle and affectionate with children. They will be determined to chase away unwelcome visitors, and who will argue with a dog who is brave enough to bait bulls?

7. Collie

Highly intelligent, friendly, and energetic dogs, Collies are gentle with children and protective of their families. They are inclined to be highly vocal when strangers approach, although they are seldom aggressive. Collies are a herding dog breed, and may tend to nip playfully at your children’s heels when playing with them. Maybe they’ll even herd the kids into their bedroom for you when they misbehave!

8. Irish Setter

These elegant, good-humored dogs will bark at strangers but seldom act aggressively toward them. They love adults and children, and will get along well with other pets. Irish Setters enjoy rough play and may not be suitable for families with very young children. They need lots of exercise to use up their excess energy, and do best in a home with a large yard or woods to run in.

9. Airedale

This largest of the terrier breeds looks intimidating, and his strong protective instincts often make him wary of strangers, but he is a devoted and loving companion to his family. Airedales are exceptionally intelligent, and learn new tricks easily, making them great fun for kids to teach. They are also one of the healthiest breeds, with few inherited genetic conditions.

10. Chihuahua

Often called the little dog with a big bark, the chihuahua’s vigorous barking will be sure to let you know when someone’s at the door! Chihuahuas need to be well-socialized so they don’t become snappish, since they are very distrustful of strangers. They will also snap at teasing children in self-defense, so this dog is best in a home with older children who will treat their dog well.

Before You Choose Your Dog:
Responsible pet owners understand that when they bring a dog into their home, it is a commitment for the lifetime of the dog. Too many dogs end up in shelters with “behavior problems” when the real problem is that the owner didn’t take time to properly socialize and train his dog.

Begin early obedience training with your dog, and treat your dog as a member of the family. You don’t chain your children in the yard for hours on end (at least, I hope not) so don’t treat your dog that way either. Dogs who are kept close to their families will have stronger protective instincts.

The children in the home should not be allowed to tease the dog or you’ll end up with a dog who is distrustful of children. Although dogs often nip while playing, encouraging this sort of behavior can result in a dog who bites in self-defense. Always supervise your dog and children when they are together. Protect smaller dogs from rough play, and remember that even the gentlest dog may accidentally harm your child in play.

Teach your dog that biting is unacceptable behavior; his instincts will take over if protective measures call for it. Consider the temperaments of your children, and whether they are capable of treating a dog with respect. In some cases, the children are the ones who could use obedience training!

In light of recent events surrounding Michael Vick, people are once again considering whether some breeds of dogs are born to fight, or if it is simply how the dog itself is raised and treated. When you think of dog fighting, you automatically think of a pit bull or a chow or some other similar breed. Does this necessarily mean that all pit bulls only want blood? No. However, when the only publicity these animals ever receive is negative, how else are people supposed to think.

Not too long ago, California legislation brought up the possibility of banning all pit bulls. This was supposedly for safety reasons. Ask decent pet owners why they purchase or adopt this type of dog and they will tell you first and foremost it is for protection. Think of all the movies you have seen. You do not see a cute poodle guarding the junk yard. How many people have been saved by large dogs? How many robberies have been prevented by a simple snarl? No one wants to take on a dog that looks like it could take your head off in one bite.

If raised incorrectly, any dog will grow up to be vicious. Small dogs will snap and bite if you allow them or treat them badly. Think about the people around you. Abusive adults were normally abused in some form or fashion as children. You grow based upon how you are raised. The same goes with a dog. Some breeds do have a tendency towards violent behavior; however, with plenty of tender loving care, these same breeds will be as sweet as a puppy.

Many places are available to train dogs. Some are focused on specific breeds. You can check with your local veterinarian for more information. The trainers can teach you how to prevent undesirable behavior while still being protected by your dog. After being raised incorrectly, large dogs can be especially hard to change. However, they deserve the chance. To touch back on the topic of dog fighting, when you are trained to kill and tormented day after day, you will believe that is the only way to survive. So many dogs have been euthanized because of improper treatment. People judge the entire breed by a few dogs. No one looks to the owner. If adults were not the same way, we would not need prisons. We could magically change the person and erase everything that went wrong in their lives. Trusting others will be difficult if not impossible. Trust is the main component to a dog becoming your friend over your enemy.

Be patient and don’t judge without due reason. As with a child, you must teach your dog right from wrong and break them from instincts that are bred from years of being used and abused. Whether it be a pit bull or a poodle, they are all the same. Dogs need the same treatment as a human. Raise them wrong and they turn to violence. Some turn for attention, others as a defense mechanism. Condemning an entire breed of dog for the actions of a few is the same as condemning a race for the misdeeds of a couple people. This is unfair to the whole. Blame owners and situations, but not the breed. Train your dog right and you have nothing to worry about.

There are no bad breeds, only bad dogs and owners. No one breed deserves to be wiped out. With a joint effort from all owners, perhaps the reputation of these particular breeds can be changed to friend and protector instead of attacker and enemy. Every dog deserves the opportunity to be loved no matter what their breed.