You are viewing entries tagged 'feeding'.
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Yes, yes, we all know dogs can’t eat chocolate. But picture this scenario: Dressed-up children lugging bags of candy snack on chocolate bars while trick-or-treating. Naturally, some of the candy drops and the children reach into the bags for a replacement. Nobody cleans up the dropped candy because nobody would pick up dirty candy off the ground. Right? Nobody but a dog, that is.
Dog walkers, please be watchful the week following Halloween. While dogs are never allowed chocolate, they are mysteriously drawn to it and some doggies can spot and swallow a chocolate bar wrapper, dirt and all, in seconds.
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
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These are a great way to beat the heat, but can also help with separation anxiety. Just fill a Kong with peanut butter (or yogurt and anything else your dog might like) and then freeze it. If your dog loves peanut butter, but hates it when you leave, save this treat for ONLY when you leave. This way the dog will associate your leaving with something fun. And the fact that it is frozen will keep them occupied for awhile. |
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Of all the places dogs love to sniff, the snout of another dog is by far the least offensive. Just the thought of it makes their mouths water. That’s because dogs pick up more than halitosis in single sniff.
A new study in the journal Animal Behaviour suggests that by smelling the breath of other dogs, canines learn where to find food. And as it turns out, dogs aren’t the only mammals that use scents or sounds to direct others to food. Chimpanzees tap fellow monkeys on the shoulder or shoot them the evil eye to lead them to goodies (or away, if they don’t want to share). Even rats, chickens, gerbils and honeybees spread the word when chow’s on. Read details about the study at New Scientist.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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Your dog can’t help it. He’s genetically programmed to chew stuff. So to spare your shoes the slobber, you do what any self-respecting pet parent can – you serve up the rawhide bones and chews. And just like that, hours pass and your dog happily munches away, cleaning his teeth while he’s at it. So there you have it, rawhide rules. It would be criminal to take it away. Or would it?
Thanks to a great article by veterinarian Lorie Huston, we got a close look at the pros and cons to consider with our vets. Read on for details to share with yours, and ideas to help minimize the risks if you choose to give your dog rawhide chews and bones.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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There is really nothing cuter than watching a dog lick from a cup between his paws. It’s one of life’s great pleasures. Instead of sending you off for pre-made treats, we invite you whip up a batch of Frosty Paws at home. It’s so easy, even your dog could do it.
Here’s all you need: 1 quart vanilla yogurt (preferably nonfat), 1 ripe banana, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 2 tablespoons honey. First, puree the banana in a blender. Add the peanut butter and honey and continue processing until smooth. Then, add yogurt and process until all ingredients are blended together. Pour the mix into small containers like Glad reusable mini containers or Dixie 3-ounce mini cups. Freeze until solid and you’ll make about 10 per batch.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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While you should be aware of
which plants and vegetables are toxic to dogs, some dogs like to chew on veggies. I bring some to the park as treats. My Labradoodle, Benny, will do almost anything for a string bean! Try different safe vegetables to see which ones your dog likes. Steam a bunch and keep them in the fridge.
And remember – no free treats! Treats are rewards. Have your pup work a little for them.
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Always carry treats when you’re with your dog. If you need to divert your dog’s attention from something he’s about to eat on the street, or you need to get him to come back to you when off-leash, having VERY tasty treats in your pocket helps a lot. And they should always be ones your dog really, really likes.
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A dog’s sense of smell is dramatically more sensitive than our own. Help your dog sharpen their sniffer by playing scent discrimination games at home! One such game involves two empty and clean plastic containers – sour cream or margarine containers work great. Punch a couple holes in the lids and place a couple of stinky treats in one of the containers. Put your dog in a “stay” and place the containers side by side a couple of feet in front of your dog. Release your dog and encourage him to nose at the containers. Open whichever container he goes to and show the contents to the dog. If there are treats in side, HOORAY! If he chooses the empty container, close it up again and reset the game. As he gains skills in this game, you can start adding more empty containers. |
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Outside of dire circumstances, like the recent peanut butter/salmonella issue or the dog food of Chinese production of a year or two ago, you should not change your dog’s food immediately from one type or brand to another. A perfect example of when this tactic will come in handy is the transition from puppy food to adult food. When you have about three day’s worth of the old food left, mix a small amount of the new food with the old food at your dog’s next feeding. Over the course of the next week or so, gradually increase the amount of the new food as you decrease the amount of old food.
Though many dog foods are similar, you do not want to shock your dog’s system with an immediate and drastic change from one food to another. Trust me, both you and your dog will appreciate the extra care you take to transition from one food to another. |
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Want to speed up your training sessions, allow your dog more successes in less time, and keep the training momentum going? It could be as simple as switching to soft training treats! If you do your training with hard treats or kibbles, your dog needs to stop and chew between each repetition. This can break their focus and you both lose momentum. Soft treats allow the dog to receive their reward on the go and move on to another repetition or a new task without slowing either of you down. Some great soft treat ideas include cheese, hot dogs, boiled chicken, or home-made soft dog treats. |
