Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Must-Know Facts On Dog Food

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Many dog owners pay scant attention to what they feed their dogs. Often, they base their decision solely on price, rather than taking the time to find out what the food actually contains. If they did they’d be shocked to find that these cheap dog food products often contain ingredients that are harmful to their dogs.

Not only that, but cheap dog food may not be the bargain it appears to be (more on this later).For now, let’s focus on some simple tips to help you choose a healthy kibble for your dog.

Dogs need an omnivorous diet, with both meat and vegetables at a ratio of about 50/50. What is not needed is the grain based fillers in most commercial dog chow. Want to know if your favorite dog food brand meets this requirement? Simple, just read the label.

Unfortunately, labels sometimes appear to be written in a foreign language, so here’s a short-cut to finding out what you need to know. Just look at the first five listed ingredients, and if they are meat based products, the food will probably meet your dog’s nutritional needs.

It’s not that grains are bad for your dog, just that they are better fed whole. Grains like rice, millet, oats and barley are actually a rich source of fiber, but the grains contained in dry dog food are primarily there as filler, and contain minimal nutritional value.

You should also take note of artificial colorings, flavorings and preservaties. Many of these are chemical based and may be harmful to your dog. In fact, some chemical preservatives have been shown to be a contributing factor to various cancers. Preferably, you should choose a product that uses natural preservatives, like Vitamin C and E.

All this checking of labels can be a bit of a bind after a while though, so why not just cut to the chase. Buy a premium or super premium dog food brand and you can be almost certain that it will give your dog the optimum level of nutrition he needs.

Now you’ll probably look at the price of these products and wince. They do seem very expensive but as with most things in life, quality costs more. You may recall that at the beginning of the article I suggested that buying cheap was not the way to go. Here’s why that is.

Cheap dog food brands use sub-standard ingredients that are low in nutritional value. This means you have to give your dog more food to meet his nutritional needs. Feeding more inevitably leads to obesity, obesity leads to disease, disease leads to expensive visits to the vet, and your dog living a shorter, less fulfilling life.

A premium brand which optimizes nutrition means you’ll have to feed less, the “expensive” bag of kibble will last longer, and your dog will also be healthier, which means no expensive trips to the vet. Your dog also won’t pass as much waste, so there’s less for you to pick up – a benefit all of it’s own!

Hopefully this article has illustrated why you should always feed your dog the best dog food you can afford. But quite aside from the health benefits, your dog deserves it.

There’s lots more about dog food tips, dog care, facts about dogs and other interesting dog info at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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History of The Chesapeake Bay Retriever:

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is of the British origin and was perfected in 19th century Maryland.  This breed filled the need for a dog that could retrieve ducks all day in the cold, turbulent waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  His greater size and strength gave him an edge over the Labrador Retriever.

Description:
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever stands approximately 21 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 60 and 90 pounds.  He has a powerful medium- to large-boned structure.  His shedding, water-resistant wavy coat, which is relatively short and easy to maintain, does an excellent job of insulating the dog against cold water.  Regular brushing should keep the coat in good condition.  The color may be brown or tan.

About The Chesapeake Bay Retriever:

This is an intelligent, hardy breed who is an excellent retriever and devoted to his owner.  He is a big, strong dog with great courage and stamina.  He is also an extremely dominant, obstinate dog that requires a strong, no-nonsense leadership.  He is very stubborn and territorial and can be dog-aggressive.  Chesapeakes are not recommended for families with young children because of their physical, controlling demeanor.  They are very suspicious of strangers and are excellent watchdogs.  The owner of a Chessie should start obedience training and socialization as early as possible.  Those who wish to avoid some of the breed’s inherent dominant aggressive behavior would do well choosing a female.  They can suffer from hip dysplasia and bloat.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
The owner of this breed must be a strong, consistent leader from day one. These dogs will quickly fill any lack of leadership, and a spoiling, nurturing owner may be overwhelmed by the time the dog is six months old.  This is not a dog for the elderly or the disabled.  Chessies quickly perceive physical weakness or lack of confidence in an owner and will soon take over.  A house with a fenced yard is mandatory.  If left alone too long, this breed may bark excessively and be very destructive.  Obedience training and socialization with people and dogs should start from the time the puppy arrives home.  If you want a good watchdog that will be affectionate, intelligent, and athletic, and if you have great leadership skills and time to socialize the dog, then you may wish to consider the  Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

The Briard

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The Briard History and origin:

The Briard has been known since the 12th century and comes from the Brie area of France, where the dog is also known as the “Berger de Brie” or “Chien de Brie.”  He was first used to guard herds against wolves and poachers.  This breed was bred with good size and a protective weather-proof coat.

Description:
The Briard stands 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 and 90 pounds.  He has a large, strong, lanky body and a shedding coat that is long and straight or slightly wavy, with a finer undercoat.  The head is well coated, with a beard, long, arched, expressive eyebrows, and cropped or uncropped ears.  The eyes are almost covered with hair.  This breed requires  daily brushing and combing to prevent mats.  A shorter clip will reduce the maintenance requirements.  The color may be black, gray, or tawny or a combination of two of these colors.

About The Briard

The Briard is a great family pet, a farm worker, a good guard dog, and a successful show dog.  He is loyal, easy to train, and has a gentle nature.  This active, lively, independent breed is affectionate with his family and reserved with strangers.  Alert and territorial, he may be initially resistant to training.  A firm, consistent technique combined with early socialization will be needed to reduce pushy, suspicious behavior.  Giving this breed a job such as herding, competition obedience, or agility work will help focus his energy and increase his confidence.  The Briard may chase cars, bikes, and joggers and may not tolerate the hectic activity of young children, perhaps nipping at them in an effort to herd them.  Roughhousing and chasing should not be allowed.  This breed can also be dog-aggressive.  The Briard may be susceptible to hip dysplasia and eye problems.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for the Briard is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of a high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
The Briard needs a house with a fenced yard. The owner of a Briard should be an active, firm leader, who desires an athletic, lively, intelligent breed. Daily exercise is mandatory; competition obedience or herding would help focus this breed and build his confidence.  Sedentary people should avoid this breed. Spoilers and nervous types may encourage a pushy, nippy, timid attitude.  Older children who will not roughhouse or play chase games are okay.  The elderly and the disabled may have trouble controlling this active breed.  The Briard does better in a dry clim

The American Foxhound

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History and origin of the American Foxhound

This breed is said to have been derived from a pack of Foxhounds taken from Britain to the United States in 1650. This scent hound was used in packs or individually for fox hunts. He is now mostly used as a competitive field trial dog and a showdog.

Description: The American Foxhound stands 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 and 75 pounds. He has a large, strong, athletic body and a short, dense, shedding coat that is stiff to the touch and requires regular brushing with a hound glove. The coat color is black, white, and tan.

About the American Foxhound:

This breed is friendly, lively, and full of stamina. He is a first-rate hunter and does not usually make a great house pet. His high-energy level can drive you nuts. He can be very stubborn and is easily distracted by a scent. He is happiest when doing a task such as tracking, hunting, or doing some other type of field work. The American Foxhound is suspicious of strangers and makes a good watchdog, but he can be dog-aggressive. He is good with your children, but he may knock them down and hurt them while playing. He does not normally exhibit the type of non-thinking aggression common to Bloodhounds and Coonhounds. If left alone, he can be very noisy, restless and destructive. Training and socialization should begin early. As with all hounds, the “Come” command is hard to teach this breed. He is also inclined to be disobedient.

Feeding:

Traditionally, pack members were trenched-fed with horse meat and an oatmeal mash called a “pudding.” They are not fed the day before a hunt. Present day feeding include about 1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home for the American Foxhound

The English Foxhound is the perfect breed for a hunter or a very active person. A house in the country with a fenced yard or kennel is important. Children are fine as long as no roughhousing and teasing is allowed. Plenty of directed exercise is needed to avoid restlessness, barking, and digging. The owner must be a firm no-nonsense leader who has time to train, socialize, and exercise the dog. The American Foxhound is not a lap-dog and will not do well with an easygoing, elderly, or disabled owner.

Medical Conditions And Diet For Your Dalmatian

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When feeding your Dalmatian, it is important to keep in mind that dietary choices can affect the development of orthopedic diseases such as hip dysplasia and osteochondrosis.  When feeding a puppy at risk, avoid high-calorie diets and try to feed him several times a day.  Sudden growth spurts are to be avoided because they result in joint instability.  Recent research has also suggested that the electrolyte balance of the diet may also play a role in the development of hip dysplasia.  Rations that had more balance between the positively and negatively charged elements in the diet were less likely to promote hip dysplasia in susceptible dogs.

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Dog Food Secrets You Need To Know!

“In This Shocking FREE Video Report You Discover Why 87% of Dogs Die Too Early & 3 Easy Things You Can Do Today To Stop It Happening to Your Dog”

Dog Food Secrets

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Avoid supplements of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D because they can interfere with normal bone and cartilage development.  The fact is that calcium levels in the body are carefully regulated by hormones as well as vitamin D. Supplementation disturbs this normal regulation and can cause many problems. It has also been shown that calcium supplementation can interfere with the proper absorption of zinc from the intestines.

Diet cannot prevent bloat but changing feeding habits can make a difference.  Initially, the bloat occurs when the stomach becomes distended with swallowed air.  This air is swallowed as a consequence of gulping food or water, stress and exercising too close to mealtime. This is where dog owners can make a difference.  Divide meals and feed them three times daily rather than all at once.  Soak dry dog food in water before feeding to decrease the tendency to gulp the food.  If you want to feed dry food only, add some large clean chew toys to the feed bowl so that the dog has to “pick” to get at the food and cannot gulp it.  Putting the food bowl on a step-stool so that your Dalmatian does not have to stretch to get the food may also be helpful.  Finally, do not allow your Dalmatian any exercise for at least one hour before and after feeding.

Fat supplements are probably the most common supplements purchased from pet supply stores.  They frequently promise to add luster, gloss, and sheen to the coat, and consequently make dogs look healthy.  The only fatty acid that is essential for this purpose is cislinoleic acid, which is found in flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil, and safflower oil.  Corn oil is a suitable but less effective alternative.  Most of the other oils found in retail supplements are high in saturated and monounsaturated fats and are not beneficial for shiny fur or healthy skin.  For a Dalmatian with allergies, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and some heart ailments, other fatty acids may be prescribed by a vet.

Dog Food & Supplements: An In Depth Look At Nutrition For Your Pet (7)

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Dog Food & Supplements

According to the canine nutritional experts, a ninety pound adult German Shepherd can require up to seven cans of dog food per day. A sixty pound Collie can require five cans per day.

For the average household, this can become an expensive choice.

Dry dog foods, on the other hand, contain only about ten percent moisture – the other sixty five percent having been removed intentionally during the dehydration process.

The dog owner is expected to replace the moisture either by providing the dog with ample amounts of water alongside the feeding dish, or by adding it directly to the dry food. Feeding directions on labels of dry dog food are very explicit about this.

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Dog Food Secrets You Need To Know!

“In This Shocking FREE Video Report You Discover Why 87% of Dogs Die Too Early & 3 Easy Things You Can Do Today To Stop It Happening to Your Dog”

Dog Food Secrets

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The drawback in feeding dry dog food usually has been caused by the dog owner having allowed the family pooch to enjoy table scraps. Eating people-food accomplishes absolutely nothing for Sparky’s nutritional needs, and simply creates the problem of the finicky eater.

Under the mistaken belief that he’s doing the dog a favor, the dog owner is really robbing the animal of nutrients that are rightfully his – taking food right out of his mouth, so to speak.

In the middle of the scale are the “soft-moist” products which contain more moisture content than dry foods, but considerably less than the canned foods. They are the easiest of all three types to prepare, but are far and away the most expensive. Probably, they are economically most suitable for the small dog.

A compromise solution for the family with the finicky eater as well as the family with a limited dog food budget might be a combination of both canned and dry. Mixing two types – each balanced nutritionally – does nothing to upset the interrelationships of the nutrients.

It’s much easier to control the weight of the family dog when this combination is used. Rather than cut down on the volume intake of the obese dog, a decrease in the amount of dry food, with corresponding increase in canned food will accomplish this without having a constantly hungry dog begging for handouts.

On the other hand, increasing the amount of dry food, with a corresponding decrease in canned, may help to bring the weight up on the dog that has a tendency to be skinny.

The diet of today’s pet dog has come quite a long way from the old days of being fed whale blubber, potatoes and cornbread. Now if manufacturers would take just as much interest in human foods… but for now, if your dog’s choice between caviar or a commercially prepared, balanced dog food, he’d be wise to select the dog food.

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