As dogs continue to become a more integral part of families, dog products continue to evolve to address the full range of needs for our four legged family members and the desires of their owners. For example, medical insurance for your pet is becoming more and more accepted for mainstream dog owners while in years past the idea of spending thousands of dollars on medical procedures for pets was not common. Another area where there has been some really interesting development is in the area of dog toys. Once dog toys were more focused on simple entertainment for you and your dog, now they are becoming more advanced addressing not only the physical needs of our pets but also go deeper in addressing the mental needs as well.
While certain dog toys will remain timeless, the ball, the rope toy and various chew toys, new dog toys are constantly being developed for our four legged children. The Treatstik is a perfect example of an innovative and evolutionary toy in this current wave of products for dogs that seeks to address deeper needs.
It is a tough nylon treat dispensing toy that gives your dog hours of mentally stimulating fun as your dog rolls the toy and it randomly dispenses hidden treats. It stimulates your dog’s mind, while relieving boredom and separation anxiety. Plus they get a chance to work for their food instead of it just being handed to them in a bowl. Treatstiks are perfect for those days that you leave your dog at home and can not afford to pay for a dog walker or bring your dog to daycare. They will spend a few hours eating their breakfast instead of gnawing on your furniture or shoes or…
It can be used to feed your dog as well. Instead of having your dog rapidly eat their food in a matter of seconds. My Kona would eat so fast we would often see her food seconds after she had gulped it down. The Treatstik forces your dog to eat slowly throughout a longer period of time. So if you have a dog that eats too fast, Treatstiks might be a good way to control your dog’s eating habits.
Since your dog has to eat slowly the Treatstik may help controlling your dog’s weight. They are made from a heavy nylon material and can stand up to strong chewers. It has a large screw cap opening for easy filling and is dishwasher safe. It is made in America by a small family-owned company in Vermont
It comes in two sizes, small which is 6″ long and is best for dogs 10 – 40 lbs. The small holds about a cup of food and the large which is 9″ long and is best for dogs over 40 lbs. The large holds about a cup and half of dog food.
I have two dogs, Lucy a Great Dane and Kona a Chocolate Lab. They both love their Treatstiks and play with them whenever I give it to them. Kona likes her Treatstik a little more than Lucy, but Kona has a tremendous food drive like most labs. I am pretty sure I could feed her a whole bag of dog food and she would watch me very closely as I ate my dinner. She would weigh more than I do if I did not watch the food that she eats.
As dogs become more family members and less viewed as pets we will continue to see changes in the pet industry to address these issues.
Hans is the owner of http://www.lucysdoghouse.net and is a life long dog owner. Lucy’s Dog House has interactive dog toys and much more to make your dog’s life happier and healthier. At Lucy’s Dog House, a percentage of all sales go to support Great Dane Rescues.
Bringing up a puppy is a big job, but many first time dog owners don’t realize that until after they’ve brought their new puppy home. They get taken over by the heat of the moment when they first locked eyes with their chosen puppy, and reality just fell away, until later…
A huge amount of dogs get returned to breeders and shelters every day. Worse yet, a lot of dogs are abandoned and left to the mercy of the environment, just because they are no longer cute puppies, and as dogs they just proved to be ‘too much’ for their dog owners.
I’m not here to paint a picture of doom and gloom, but one of reality. The point I’m trying to make is that just like with everything else in life, if you invest a little bit of time into researching and planning before you made your decision, you are giving yourself and your chosen pooch a much better chance of long term relationship…
Then when you’ve made sure you are a good match, you can dive into the whole raising a loving dog thing, and your chances of swooping success are tenfold!
So here are my top secret tips on how to ensure that you raise a happy and healthy dog, that will be a pleasure for you and your family.
1. Make sure to consider each dog breed and its characteristics, to allow yyou to pick the one that suits:
Your lifestyle; Your personality type; Your budget capabilities; Your living space; Your time availability.
2. Consider which obedience training method you want to use.
This is important because there are so many out there, and you should try sticking to one method only. Consider each of these, and then decide which ones suit you and your dog most. Avoid flipping between methods as this may confuse your dog.
Clicker Training Dog Whispering Method Ultrasonic Whistle Method Positive Reinforcement Method
I would personally recommend using the Positive Reinforcement Method as it allows you to train your dog, establishing authority, but maintaining a loving healthy relationship that relies on cooperation, rather than fear.
3. Consider what main bits of training you need to take care of to ensure your puppy grows up to be a well balanced dog.
There are some things even I didn’t think of when I first got a dog, so this one is worth a few minutes of research or at least ask your vet about these.
Potty training House training Crate training Proper socialization Training in basic obedience commands right from day 1 – like SIT, GO POTTY, NO, OK, COME. Creating special feeding times, nap times, potty times, and play times – all part of your dog’s routine, and all very important for his mental and physical health. Training him right from the start not to jump on you, nip or bite you, bark excessively, chew or dig in unwanted places.
4. Plan ahead for your puppy’s health care.
I don’t need to tell you that your puppy’s health is very important. What you may not have considered is the different parts of his health care you need to provide for. So t make it easier, here is another brief list for you:
His first vet appointment His required vaccinations His routine treatments like flea, worm, and tic prevention pills Any other vaccinations you may want to consider His daily health and care (grooming) – like brushing his teeth, grooming his coat, baths, and monitoring his overall well being Accident and emergency treatments if needed Taking care of chronic illnesses
I’ve listed everything very briefly above, so that you can use this a checklist when you are looking after your puppy or dog. Go though the list and dig deeper into the items you feel you’re unsure of. You can always research on the internet – there are many excellent puppy and dog training sites. And when you’re unsure of something, or you need specialized advice – ask your vet for direction and advice.
Just remember that a puppy can be with you for up to 20 years of your life, so you owe it to him and yourself to make sure as much as possible that you and him are a good match – the rest is up to loving and caring, and fun…
Anita Watson is passionate dog owner with years of experience in helping people raise and train their dogs, using real methods that work fast. She owns and maintains Raise A Loving Dog, an indispensable resource for dog owners.
The My Perfect pet nutrition team explains pet nutrition and educates the public about the benefits of fresh, restaurant quality pet food at the Dog Days of SUmmer event in Cardiff by the Sea.
PetSmart is excited to start carrying Wellness natural food for pets. Learn more about the natural nutrition that Wellness provides your pet, and trust it to become the foundation of your pet’s wellbeing.
In THE COMPLETE healthy dog HANDBOOK, top veterinarian Betsy Brevitz helps dog owners choose the most healthful food and nutritional aids for their canine loved ones.
Use a scratching post to maintain a healthy and happy cat lifestyle in thisfree video. Expert: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan Bio: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan started her life-long dream to be a veterinarian at Oakridge High School in Oakridge, Tennessee. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler
As more companies jump into the competitive market of pet nutrition, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the average consumer to tell which one is the best for their pet. Many considerations must be taken into account when you choose a dog food, in particular any allergies that your dog may have. For example, many dogs cannot tolerate beef products, while others have a sensitivity to lamb. Through a process of trial and error you can usually find a dog food that your pet will eat, but is it good for them?
Natural products are making great inroads and although they are expensive, many dog owners are making the switch. You’ll find everything from macrobiotic pet food, to natural meals that require more preparation than your own.
If you are looking to find a natural dog food, the choices are numerous, but one company, NutroPro, has done a very good job of providing an easy to use dog food that is comparable in price to Science or Iams. If you have the time to prepare your dog’s food, you may want to consider the gourmet dog food preparations, but in many cases, bagged or canned dog food can be just as beneficial.
Each type of food will come with a recommended serving amount based on a dog’s weight. Puppies obviously need to be fed more at first, but you will need to scale back as they get older. Since every dog has a different metabolism, you may need to experiment a little to see what amount of food they really need.
You can use body condition to determine how well they are doing on their current amounts. The rib test is one of the easiest ways to determine a dog’s weight condition. Have your dog stand straight and place your hand on their rib cage. If you can feel their ribs, but not see them, they are in good condition. If you feel mushy or lumpy deposits between the ribs, or if you can’t feel the ribs at all, your dog may be overweight. Obviously, if you can see your dog’s ribcage, they are not getting enough to eat.
Treats are a large area of concern, since most dog owner’s overdo. The average dog will never tell you when they’ve had enough, it isn’t in their nature. Most dog treats will have serving guides to help you know how many you should give your pet, but you may want to halve this amount, particularly if you are feeding a high quality dog food.
Try to avoid giving your dog table scraps, even though it is tempting. Once in awhile, it is fine to treat your dog, but don’t make a habit of it. Our foods are usually higher in fat content, and when coupled with a good dog food, you’re dog will be ingesting too many calories, which can lead to obesity.
One treat you must always avoid is chocolate in any form. There has been a lot of controversy over this in recent years, but the bottom line is that certain chemicals in chocolate can cause seizures in a dog. Even if you’ve fed them chocolate for years, you are still running the risk that a seizure could occur. There is a no way for a dog to be “immune” to these chemicals and it is much smarter to avoid giving them chocolate.
With proper nutrition, feeding and care, you can add years to the life of your pet.