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 The Traveling Dog
Travel with your canine companion requires some thought on behalf of your dog. You want to make sure you don't forget anything. Just like you do for yourself, make a list of things you will need on the trip. Food, water and a couple travel bowls should be first on the list followed by a manual can opener and spoon. A few rags or paper towels will certainly come in handy.
A portable crate or other type carrier with a comfortable mat will make the trip go so much better than it would if you don't have one. Rounding out the list would be the leash, collar, medications, toys and grooming supplies.
Please read the complete article about traveling with your dog.
 Crate Training Tips
Crate training your dog takes a lot of patience commitment and planning. Before you purchase a dog crate figure out whether you need a portable dog crate or one you won't have to move often. Next, think about where you are going to place it. You do not want to put the crate in direct sunlight or close to a vent where the heat or air will be blowing right on the dog. If the crate is too large, your dog will potty in one end and sleep in the other. Make sure the crate will be large enough for your dog when he reaches maturity. If you are training a puppy, block off an area leaving just enough room for him to stand and turn around.
Don’t make a big deal out of the crate at first. In fact, let your dog find it naturally. Allow your dog time to get acquainted with the crate. Maybe you could put your dog’s favorite food snack or toy in the crate to encourage him to explore. Do not close the door the first couple of times the dog enters the crate. When you do close the door, only leave it closed for a very short time, maybe ten or twelve seconds while you are praising the dog. Now you can make a big deal out of it and reward your dog with love and more praise. Slowly develop a daily training routine and increase the time with the door closed in increments of five to ten seconds always praising the dog before and after you open the door. Very slowly you can begin to increase the time the door remains shut. Never use the crate as punishment and never let the dog out of the crate because of crying.
Eliminate your dog’s water bowl at least three hours before retiring and always allow him to go outside and do his business before crating him for the night. If you can, develope a hardy play routine before bedding down for the night. To avoid accidents, let your dog outside first thing in the morning.
 What Is A Natural Dog Toy
Running across the term several times makes one wonder, what exactly is a natural dog toy? Would it be something a dog plays with naturally or a dog toy made from natural materials? Gosh, dogs play with lots of things naturally. Sticks, rocks, dead animal carcasses and don’t forget their tails. It never fails to be amusing when you watch a dog chase their tail. The list of things a dog will play with is endless.
Most references to the term “natural dog toy” are for the dog toy made from natural materials. This type of dog toy would not have added chemicals in any part of the toy. It would be well constructed with built in safety for the dog. You would not want small parts that might break off and cause a choking hazard. If the dog toy is stuffed with things to make it rattle or shake or make any kind of sound, the stuffing must be a natural material just like the cover. Some toys have healthful benefits. Rope for example. A good quality rope with no chemical additives of course. Using a rope for Tug-O-War with your dog helps to keep their teeth clean. Even if the dog merely chews on the rope it will help with cleaning the teeth and gums.
A dog toy could be anything you can throw and have the dog fetch. Dogs love to play fetch. This is where a good sturdy stick comes into play. It does not get anymore natural than that. Look around the house, the yard and garage and chances are you’ll find several items that would qualify as a natural dog toy but make sure it is safe for the dog. If you just have to have something new and shiny for your dog, you can find almost anything you are looking for. One thing you will never find is a toy that is indestructible, natural or man made.
 Do I Look Fat In This Collar
Dogs have individual metabolic rates that regulate whether they gain weight or stay trim. Some dog breeds are naturally heftier than others while some dogs enjoy a slimmer trimmer body. Dogs have the same problems of gaining weight that people do. Overfeeding and lack of exercise are the main causes of obese dogs. Dogs store fat much like humans. When a dog has the opportunity to eat as much as possible, many dogs will eat the food like they were out in the wild and storing up food for lean times. Feed the dog the correct amount of food each day and see to it that they get some form of exercise be it a daily walk or a rigorous play routine. This will keep your dog from putting on excess weight.
More times than not, a dogs weight or other health issues mirror the health and lifestyle choices of their owners. Folks who exercise regularly and are sports oriented usually have trim and fit dogs due to the fact that they include the dog in their daily exercise routine.
When a dog puts on weight it can lead to larger health issues down the road, diabetes and heart disease just to name a few. Excess weight can also lead to or worsen existing health issues like arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases. These health issues will most likely lead to a shorter life span and lower quality of life for the dog.
If your dog is overweight, the best thing to do to is visit your veterinarian. Your vet can give the dog a physical complete with blood tests to determine the cause of the obesity. There is a scoring system they use to gauge your dog’s body condition from 1-9 or 1-5. This system is called the “BCS” or body condition score. A score of 6-9 or 4-5 means your dog is carrying to much weight for their frame. When your vet has determined the cause of your dog’s weight problem they will suggest a diet plan that will help your dog lose the pounds safely. Chances are, exercise will play a big role in the diet plan your vet creates. Depending on exactly what you are after, the vet might offer a specific kind of diet regimen.
- A weight loss diet strictly regulates your dog’s food and caloric intake to keep him healthy and happy while he’s losing weight.
- The maintenance diet will help your dog stay at the desired weight once he has reached his goal.
- A therapeutic diet will give your dog a better quality of life by including a balance of nutritional supplements to help alleviate health issues.
With any diet you will have to be consistent with the feeding times and amount of food. Do not get discouraged as the weight will probably come off very slowly. Remember, it is not only about losing weight but helping your dog live longer and better.
 Other Resources
We invite you to check out our links page for other helpful information.
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 Natural Remedies
There are many who trumpet the Bugle for natural remedies. There are substances that can alleviate pain, clear up infections, calm your dog and a number of other things. How about Yogurt for ear infections?
 Take the Dog to a Shelter
I cannot understand for the life of me why some people, for whatever reason, drop their dog off in a strange neighborhood expecting the dog to take care of itself or that someone will take it in. Neither scenario is likely to happen. Don't they realize the dog has a lower chance of survival when left to the elements?
Someone dropped off two pit bulls in our neighborhood recently. A male and a female. The male wore a collar and the female looked as tho she may have given birth to a litter in the past six weeks.
If they had only driven a few more miles to the Animal Shelter, the dogs would have had food, water and a dry warm place to lay. We called the County Animal Control but do not know whether or not they picked the dogs up.
These type people do not care about their dogs or their fellow human beings. It is the same type people who discard their garbage on the side of a rural road, too lazy to find a recycle center. The same mentality. There ought to be a law!
If you can no longer care for your dog please take it to an animal shelter where it will get the attention it needs and possibly find a new home.
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