Canine training isn’t really all that difficult. One thing to remember is that many dogs simply want to make their owner happy. The problem is communication. Of course dogs and humans can’t talk to each other, and you need to get your dog to figure out what you want.

Canine training can be summed up with just a few tips. Lets take a look at some of the methods that I have used in order to train my dog, making both he and I happier.

Try to avoid the negatives that often come with training. Hitting or striking your dog, either by hand or with an object will only teach the dog to fear you. A stern verbal NO, is OK, but don’t go any further than that, or you risk alienating the animal. Focusing on praise and rewards when your dog acts as it should is the better way to go.

Praising your dog will reinforce the correct behavior. Loving or petting your dog for acting positive behaviors is of course nice, but experience has shown even better results occur when food treats are distributed at the time the behaviors observed. When you really think about it, food motivates almost every animal, so to it works with our four legged friends.

Body language can also influence your pet’s behavior. Many canines can actually can actually sense and read your body language before any verbal communication is given. A method that works well in doing this is to match an audible command with a particular movement of either the hand, arm, or even leg.

Never giving up is the final key to successful dog training. Sure at times it is frustrating. It would certainly be easier to give up, go sit on the couch and watch your Direct TV, but you need to be consistent in your training. Your dog is not going to train himself, and training usually takes longer than you would like. It is so important to keep this in mind when things are tough with your dog. Things won’t always fall into place, so don’t give up at the first sign of trouble.

Training your dog can be both a difficult and rewarding experience. Keeping these brief tips in mind will help you keep on track in your natural dog training efforts.

Dog Food for Life

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If you have ever owned a dog before, you probably know about the joy that a furry pal can inflict on your life. The best way that you can repay your pooch for his loyalty and companionship is to ensure that he leads a healthy way of life.

It is very important that you understand the number one most important factor in keeping your dog healthy—his diet! Most commercial dog foods are adequate to support life, but that’s about it. They are not adequate to guarantee health.

Some symptoms of ill health can be traced back to the not-so-nutritious food a dog is being fed. These symptoms include large and foul-smelling poo, increase in flatulence or burping, shedding that doesn’t seem to stop, a proneness to ear and skin infection, as well as energy loss or hyperactivity.

So, what does a dog need in his diet? Your dog needs 45 nutrients to function properly. Major groups for these nutrients are protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, as well as water. These nutrients have to be in the right amounts so that they are properly digested and absorbed by the body.

However, not all brands of dog food provide all of these nutrients. Even expensive, premium commercial dog foods often contain ingredients that are simply not good for your dog. For example, the first ingredient in a dog food may be “meat,” but what kind of meat is it? If the species isn’t specified, it could be just about anything: Animals that were dead or dying when they reached the slaughterhouse. Animals that were diseased. Cancerous tumors. In some cases, plants that supply pet food companies use road-kill and dead pets from animal shelters and veterinarians’ offices. You can read more about this by checking out the Confidential Dog Food Report.

If you want to be sure that your dog food is up to scratch, the best way is to learn how to read dog food labels. If you find that your current brand of dog food is unsatisfactory, hunt around by reading labels until you find one that meets your dog’s needs. The greatest gift you can give your dog is a chance at a long and healthy life.

To learn more about dog food company cover-ups and how to find a healthy dog food, visit Dog Food for Life.

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Caring for a puppy can be an overwhelming experience in the beginning. You are probably wondering how you’re ever going to make it through the house-breaking stage! You may also be concerned about the nutritional needs of your puppy. Like children, puppies have precise needs when it comes to food.

There are many dog foods available on the market that are supposed to cater to the needs of a puppy, but many of them are not nearly as healthy as they appear. That’s why we’ve put together this article to encourage you to give homemade puppy chow/treats a try. By making your dog’s food yourself, you can rest assured knowing that your dog is only eating healthy, natural foods.

This article includes two puppy formula recipes as well as two recipes for everyday chow for when your pup gets a little older.

Formula Recipe 1:
2/3 cup goat milk canned (or just regular canned milk)
1/3 cup water or Pedialyte
1 teaspoon Karo Syrup
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon Dyne or pediatric vitamin

Strain a couple of times to make sure there is no albumin in the mixture, although it has been used successfully without egg at all.

Variation: 1 can of Condensed Milk rather than goat’s milk (it may be too high in protein and put a strain on the puppy’s kidneys) and 1 envelope of Knox unflavored gelatin in addition to other ingredients (helps keep stools solid).

Formula Recipe 2:
2 cups hot water
1 can Evaporated milk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons Karo syrup
2 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin

Mix thoroughly to get the gelatin working.

Meat and Potato Meal:
12 ½ cups of potatoes, chunked
3 pounds beef heart, cut into chunks
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup zucchini, squash, carrots or peas
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label, it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)

In a large pot, boil the potatoes until they become soft. If you choose to cook the meat, pour out half the water and add the beef heart chunks. Then simmer until they are no longer pink. Add the remaining ingredients. If you are feeding raw, pour off all of the water after you cook the potatoes, and just add the beef heart with the remaining ingredients.

Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day

Chicken and Barley Delight:
2 ½  cups barley
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
¼ cup dog oil supplement
1 cup peas, cooked celery, or squash
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label; it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)

Heat 7 ½ cups of water in a large pot until it comes to a boil. Add the barley and cook until it softens. If you choose to cook the meat, add it now and boil it just until the pink color disappears. Then, take the pot off the heat and add the remaining ingredients.

Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day

The Dog Food for Life eBook has plenty of other great recipes, as well as vital information regarding diet, health, and hygiene that are a must-know for any dog owner. Visit Dog Food for Life Here

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Some pet owners firmly believe that standard dry dog food provides all of the essential nutrients that a dog needs to maintain a healthy body. However, they may not be aware of how harsh the cooking process can be for dry food. First we will give you some general background information on the dog food production process to help you understand why supplements may be necessary to keep your dog in optimum health.

There are two main ways in which dry dog food is produced. The first consists of blending ingredients and feeding them through an extruder. The typical “main ingredient” is usually meat by-products (such as meat and bone meal), flour, or grains. Not the healthiest choice for a base ingredient, eh? A dough is created and fed and fed through the screws of the extruder, which will use steam and pressure to help it take shape. After the dough has been cut into bit-sized pieces and given time to harden, it is sprayed with fat or other composites to make it tasty. After the kibble has cooled it is bagged and shipped off. The other common way to product dog food is to subject the food to high temperatures and then broken up into edible pieces. This production style usually does not require that additional fats be sprayed on.

As you can see, high pressure steaming and baking at high temperatures doesn’t seem like the best way to retain nutrients in food, right? Besides, it isn’t as if meat by-products, this sometimes including animals that have been put down in shelters and veterinary offices, provide the best quality of nutrients in the first place! Dry food does still provide some vitamins, but how can you be sure that it’s enough to help your dog keep up a healthy immune system?

Not only are vitamins an important dietary aspect that your dog may be lacking, but he is most likely missing out on minerals, as well. That’s right, just like us, dogs also need calcium, small amounts of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

When we mention supplementing your dog’s food with vitamins and minerals, we’re not talking about feeding him a pill or an injection. We mean that you should start adding certain foods to your pet’s diet to make sure he is getting enough vitamins. This could mean adding a variety of chopped or pureed vegetables to his food (make sure they are raw, as cooking vegetables causes them to lose vitamins and minerals). We recommend you consider switching your dog to the BARF diet (also known as the Raw Food Diet), as mentioned in Dog Food for Life.

There are signs which may suggest that your dog is suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Fur loss, lesions on his skin, and excessive weight loss could mean that your dog lacks Vitamin A. A Vitamin D deficiency is possible if your dog seems to be suffering from muscle loss. If you suspect any vitamin deficiency at all, schedule an appointment with your vet to determine whether your dog is indeed suffering from lack of essential vitamins. Most likely your vet will suggest that you change your dog’s food or add vegetables to his diet.

For more information about what nutrients should be part of a dog’s diet and what brands of food might not be providing them, visit Dog Food for Life.

Dog Food for Life

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If your dog hasn’t been in the pinnacle of health lately, you might consider taking a look at his diet. Have you switched dog food brands lately? You might be surprised to learn that many commercial dog food brands are not supplying the nutrients that your dog needs to function in top health.

Even if your dog appears to be healthy, it is worthwhile to educate yourself on the nutrients that every dog’s diet should include, as well as the common dog food ingredients that can cause a decline in your pet’s health. Read on to learn about the items that should be in a well-balanced dog food, as well as items that you should avoid at all costs.

The most common nutrients your dog needs are protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, as well as water. These nutrients have to be supplied in the right amounts so that they are properly digested and absorbed by the body. Remember that your dog, or any dog for that matter, is a carnivore, meaning his body mainly uses meat. Many dog foods on the market today contain large amounts of grains or vegetables, which are not nearly as beneficial to your dog as the protein found in meat. Any dog food you purchase (or make yourself) should contain, at the very least, forty percent meat. However, there are other sources, aside from meats, that dog food companies can derive the necessary protein from, such as plants and grains like corn, wheat, and soy.

The Dog Food for Life eBook contains tons of great DIY recipes for treats, everyday food, and even desserts for your dog!

If you were to look on your dog food label to find that it simply states “meat,” you may not think much about it. However, you should be wary of any product which does not specify the source of the “meat.” Unfortunately, some companies find it much cheaper to produce dog food in which the meat is derived from road kill or pets that have been put down in shelters or veterinary offices. While dogs in the wild may get by on a diet of road kill, we certainly don’t want to feed it to our pets, whom many of us consider to be a member of the family. You’ll want to keep your eye out for the following harmful ingredients and steer clear of any foods that contain them: Unidentified fats, BHA and BHT, artificial colors, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate, Propylene Glycol, Brewers Rice, Cellulose, Ethoxyquin, Propyl Gallate, and Gluten.

To find out what the main ingredient is in your dog’s food, look at the order in which the ingredients are listed on the package. By law, the largest amount of ingredient used is listed first and others follow in decreasing amounts.

Now that you know what your dog’s food should consist of, take a look at the package to determine whether your dog’s diet is in need of change. If you are afraid your pet may be in poor health due to his/her diet, consult with a veterinarian immediately.

If you would like to learn more about dog food ingredients and which brands to avoid/pursue, go to Dog Food for Life.

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You may or may not be aware, but in February 2007, there was a dog food recall that included many of the top brands of dog food. These foods had been laced with melamine, an industrial chemical used to make low-quality wheat gluten and rice concentrate appear more nutritious. More than 5,300 pet food products were taken off the shelves after pets began dying all over the country.

You should be aware that there are other ingredients in dog food that are not entirely nutritious for your pet. While they will satisfy your dog’s basic needs—barely—they do not provide a nutritional and healthy diet. You can obtain a complete list by going to the Dog Food for Life Website.

The best way to ensure that you are not feeding your pooch a less-than healthy dog food is to make his food yourself. We’re going to talk about a few dog food and treat recipes that you can whip up for your dog in no time. The Dog Food for Life eBook has tons of great recipes that are easy to follow, so if you find that you prefer to make your own dog food, you would do well to get this eBook!

The first set of recipes provide nutritionally balanced meals that your dog is sure to enjoy!

Meat and Potato Meal
12 ½ cups of potatoes, chunked
3 pounds beef heart, cut into chunks
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup zucchini, squash, carrots or peas
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label, it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)

In a large pot, boil the potatoes until they become soft. If you choose to cook the meat, pour out half the water and add the beef heart chunks. Then simmer until they are no longer pink. Add the remaining ingredients. If you are feeding raw, pour off all of the water after you cook the potatoes, and just add the beef heart with the remaining ingredients.

Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day

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Beefy Rice
2 ½ cups brown rice
3 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
¼ cup dog oil supplement
1 cup zucchini, peas, pumpkin or wheatgrass sprouts (switch them out from time to time)
6 tablespoons dog powder
4 teaspoons bone meal (Check the label; it should have 1300-1500 mg of calcium per tablespoon. If it doesn’t, adjust the amount you use accordingly.)

Heat 5 cups of water in a large pot until it comes to a boil. Add the rice, turn the pot down to a simmer, and cover it. If you choose to cook the meat, add it now and cook it with the rice. Once the rice is cooked, add the remaining ingredients. If you are feeding raw, you’ll add your meat at this time as well.

Servings: Toy dogs: 1-2 cups, Small dogs: 3-4 cups, Medium dogs: 6-7 cups, Large dogs: 8-9 cups per day, Giant dogs: 9 cups per day

The next couple of recipes make great treats for your dog!

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Barking Barley Brownies

1 ¼ pounds beef liver or chicken liver
2 cups wheat germ
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 cup cooked barley
2 whole eggs
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt – optional

Pre heat oven to 350. Liquefy liver and garlic clove in a blender; when it’s smooth, add eggs and peanut butter. Blend till smooth. In separate mixing bowl, combine wheat germ, whole wheat flour, and cooked barley. Add processed liver mixture, olive oil and salt. Mix well.

Spread mixture in a greased 9×9 baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until done. When cool, cut into pieces that accommodate your dog’s size. Store in refrigerator. or freezer.

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Yogurt Pups
16 ounces plain non-fat yogurt
¾ cup water
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
Dissolve bouillon in water, Combine water and yogurt in blender and blend thoroughly, Pour into small containers for freezing, cover and freeze.