It’s important to understand that each type of protein has its own characteristics. We recommend beef or lamb ingredients for most healthy dogs, though any dog recovering from surgery or illness may benefit from a chicken-based diet. Fish foods are probably not a good idea since they are higher in protein and can make your dog’s kidneys work excessively.

It’s easy to identify the source of protein in your dog food package because it will be one of the first items listed on the label. The law requires that the primary ingredient (that which occurs in the highest quantity) be listed first on the label. In this way, it’s easy to identify whether your dog’s protein is coming from grains or meat, as well as what specific types of meat and plant foods are being used.

One brand of dog food that seems to give good results (at least based on anecdotal accounts) is Muenster Natural Dog Food. Its primary protein ingredient is chicken meal, but it also has a variety of grains including corn and wheat.

Perhaps what is most impressive about this particular type of food is that it contains omega-3 fatty acids which are supposed to be very healthy for both humans and dogs. A friend of ours swears by this food because it has kept a golden retriever quite healthy through 14 years so far.

One thing you may want to consider is that commercial dog food which has been heated may be of lower quality. This is because the protein can change chemically and end up lacking certain amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

Also, keep in mind that your dog’s activity level will play an important role in determining just how much protein he needs. A working or sporting breed may be very active and require more animal protein than a dog who likes to spend all his time on the couch watching television with you. Of course, exercise would still be beneficial even for this dog.

In these cases, an electronic dog fence seemed a good idea to keep your dog inside the yard. However, there are some real disadvantages to this kind of device, so please take them into account before making a decision.

First of all, the equipment is supposed to provide a shock on your dog’s collar when he gets too close to leaving the yard. Some dogs, however, are willing to put up with a little bit of a shock in order to escape the yard and go running after a tempting or some other curiosity. On the way back in, on the other hand, your dog may stay away in order to avoid getting shocked again.

Another real possibility is that a stranger who wishes to do harm to enter your yard at any time and steal your dog or injure him in some way. This is especially a concern with one of the more loving and gentle breeds (like the retrievers) who may give in to a clever stranger.

This is one way for you to lose your precious puppy, especially if he happens to be of a particularly valuable or rare breed. Anyone could simply come onto your yard when you’re not around and take your puppy away.

Your dog is not the only one in danger if you have an electronic fence. Imagine what can happen if an innocent child were to walk on your yard and your aggressive dog decided that the boy or girl was a threat. I’m sure you can think of what would happen next, and it has happened before.

The young child could end up getting bitten and be left with physical (and perhaps more long-lasting emotional) wounds. The dog too would suffer, as he would probably have to be put down in this kind of situation. This is why we believe that having a standard fence is a far better option for most families.

We must caution you however, that dog grooming is unlikely to work miracles when it comes to a dog who does a lot of shedding. The length of the dog’s hair and the amount of shedding should play a considerable role when you choose a dog breed. Some dogs will shed much more than others. For example, if you have a Komondor (or even a Golden retriever), it will be much more demanding than a short haired Chihuahua.

Make sure to consider a dog’s future grooming needs when it comes time to choose your puppy. You have to remember that the dog will have certain characteristics by nature, regardless of how often you brush his hair. With many dog breeds, you need to be comfortable with some level of hair if you plan to keep your dog inside the house.

What kind of equipment will you need for your dog grooming? How much will all this cost? Well, that really depends on your particular goals. If you intend to participate in dog shows and are really serious about winning trophies, you can expect to have all kinds of expensive instruments including scissors, nail clippers, nail files, forceps, and many other items. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars just for a professional pair of scissors!

Of course, most dog owners will not be able to spend this kind of money and will really have no need for this kind of professional grooming supplies. Nevertheless, you want to buy a pretty good piece of equipment that will last a long time and provide some good grooming for your dogs. For example, a good brush will typically have a comfortable handle made of wood with sturdy bristles, and metal combs are also available.

Nail trimming is an important part of your grooming activities, or at least it should be. Many people avoid this because it’s no fun for the dog owner or for the dog itself. However, doing a little bit of nail trimming each week can go a long way toward preventing problems and discomfort for your dog. An electric nail grinder tends to be more comfortable for your dogs as long as they don’t freak out over the noise.

This can save you the expense and inconvenience of having to take your dog to the veterinarian every time he needs his nails clipped. Even worse, many dog owners might simply wait until their next annual appointment which would leave the dog with long nails for quite a while.

A little creativity can make it much more feasible to exercise your dog on a regular basis. Perhaps on a given day you may be too busy to run with your dog, or you may have experienced a recent injury which precludes athletic activity. If you have a well behaved dog, your neighbor or other friend may be willing to bring him along during the jogging session.

Bicycling with a dog has become more popular in recent years as new products have come on the market that make this activity safer and easier for both you and your dog. These products are designed to attach your dog’s leash to the bicycle while allowing you to use both of your hands to control the bike’s handlebars.

The amount of exercise needed will vary significantly depending on your dog’s breed, age, and personality. All dogs, however, will need some regular exercise even if it is simply a comfortable walk two or three times a week.

We can make some general recommendations based on your dog’s breed. The sporting group of dogs, for example, includes retrievers, spaniels, and setters. These dogs were bred to be active, and they will require a high amount of exercise to remain healthy and well behaved. You should provide them at the very least with three 30 minute aerobic sessions each week, but they might be happier exercising every day for 30 minutes (or even an hour every day).

On the other side of the spectrum would be the toy group of dogs which, because of their miniature size, are much easier to exercise. A brisk walk or a game of fetch in the hallway may be all you need to provide these small canine friends with a good aerobic workout.

Remember that your dog may have specific needs depending on his health issues, breed, and temperament. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian for more specific advice. In most cases, however, you owe it to your dog to provide adequate physical activity.

Fortunately, you can minimize these accidents by properly housetraining your dog as soon as you bring him home. You will, of course, want to keep some cleaning supplies available just in case. Cleaning a mess as soon as possible will help keep it from penetrating into your carpet and becoming much more difficult to remove.

One problem in particular which seems to confuse or even anger a dog owner is known as submissive urination. In this situation, your dog goes right up to you and pees right in front of you! What could possibly have possessed your dog to do this?

You might be assuming that the dog is doing this on purpose in order to challenge your authority, but if you pay closer attention to your dog’s behavior and personality (especially at the moment of urination), you may be surprised to learn that this behavior has nothing to do with defying authority.

On the contrary, a dog may be urinating out of fear or in order to show respect to you as a leader of the pack. This often happens with the father of the family who is usually the biggest person and has the deepest voice in the house, thereby making your dog a little bit extra nervous.

You may be tempted to punish your puppy for this behavior, but you could actually be making things much worse by reinforcing your dog’s fear and causing him to continue making his accidents inside the house (or to start exhibiting some other unwanted behavior). If submissive urination seems to be the problem, then you are dealing more with a relationship issue and not a dog training or house training problem.

Your new dog will likely need your encouragement and some gentle training along the way until he realizes that you are a kind master, even though you are in charge. Be patient with your puppy, and try to keep your temper under control especially when dealing with submissive urination.

You may need to try a few different methods to reduce dog separation anxiety, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Try to change your routine each morning. Do you remember the story of Pavlov’s dog in psychology class? Dogs are very good at making connections between events, so they might know that you are getting ready to leave every time your alarm goes off or every time your car keys are jingling (or the coffee is brewing or whatever else is part of your routine).

Simply changing your routine can help. Decide to get dressed a little bit earlier or leave at a little bit different time. This can be enough to disrupt your routine and reduce the anxiety that your dog feels when you’re about to take off.

Try not to reinforce your dog’s undesirable behavior. Admittedly, it is difficult not to pour attention on them when you’re about to leave or when you first arrive home. Unfortunately, this only encourages your dogs to make an association between your departure or arrival and their need for attention. Try not to give in to them as soon as they start making whining noises, and try to wait until 10 or 15 minutes after you get home before you start petting them and giving them attention. 

You can also try to use a crate as part of your training for dog separation anxiety. You may also need to gradually accustom your dog to being by himself for longer periods. You can leave for a very short time (like a minute or so), and then come back immediately. You can gradually leave for longer and longer periods until your dog becomes accustomed to this.

You may feel that some of these solutions to anxiety are a little too cruel to your dog. That’s understandable, especially if your dog is still a puppy (or if you only obtained the dog recently). It can be difficult not to give in to your puppy’s whining or to refrain from giving your dog love and attention immediately upon your arrival. Nevertheless, these simple steps are actually helping your dog to learn not to become anxious when you leave.

A good idea is to look into products that are specially made to clean up a doggy mess. These kinds of products can neutralize the odor and break down the nasty stuff that your dog has left on the rug.

You might also consider making a homemade cleaner out of a few simple ingredients like water, white vinegar, and Ivory soap or another kind of gentle soap. No matter what kind of cleaner you end up using, you’ll probably want to have the carpets professionally cleaned once your dog has been housetrained.

Unfortunately, if your dog lives inside you will likely have accidents from time to time even after house training is complete. After all, your dog may become ill or simply have an embarrassing moment at some point throughout the years.

This is why it’s a good idea to keep some cleaning supplies on hand. You can also purchase a special kind of blacklight that will help you identify messes that you thought had disappeared. This will help you get rid of those stubborn odors that act like siren songs for your dog.

Remember to always clean up the mess as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can soak through into the padding of your carpet and make it much more difficult to eliminate the smell.

Having to clean up these messes is one of those unfortunate byproducts of dog ownership, but with some patience and alertness you can get through the house training while still keeping your sanity. After that, you will hopefully not have to deal with these messes very often. But always keep your cleaning supplies on hand just in case.

In order to prevent serious health problems from developing, the best bet is to take your dog to regular veterinarian checkups. This way you can catch health problems early on when they are more likely to be cured or at least controlled.

It is also very important for you to pay attention to your dog on a daily basis. Grooming time is a convenient way for you to check your dog’s body and look for any skin abnormalities or possible infections. Remember to look at your dog’s ears and look for any swelling, redness, or excess moisture. These can be signs of a developing your infection.

Just like human beings, dogs can have allergies. One of the most common allergies is a reaction to fleas which can lead to infections or hotspots. Once again, a regular veterinarian examination can help you in this regard, as can your monthly flea medication.

If you’re dog continues to have problems like inflammation or ear infections, there may be something else at the root of the problem but a food allergy. Your vet can help you determine this and can help describe a special diet regimen if necessary.

Unfortunately, dogs tend to have many of the same conditions that human beings struggle with, including infections, allergies, diabetes, arthritis, and obesity. Diabetes is a particular concern and is probably becoming more common (along with obesity) because of diets rich in sugar and fat combine with sedentary lifestyles.

These are just a few of the problems that your dog can have throughout his life. Obviously, no one wants to see their dogs suffer with health problems, but the good news is that you can take a lot of steps to minimize the risks, especially when we’re talking about conditions like obesity and diabetes.

In the case of human beings, adult onset of type II diabetes has been heavily linked to our lifestyles, and there is likely much we can do in the way of prevention for our dogs as well.

Think about the step-by-step process of breeding high quality dogs that people would want to purchase, and you can see how incredibly expensive it can all be. You have to buy extra dog food (both for the pregnant mom and for the first few weeks of puppy life), veterinarian examinations for the pregnant mom, vaccinations, certification that rules out congenital defects, and much, much more.

If you want to make this business profitable, you have to know what you’re doing. It requires a great deal of experience. More importantly, if you want to breed healthy dogs, you need to have the training and experience over a number of years. Inexperience can lead to tragic health issues and unwanted dogs.

So many people decide to enter the breeding business without adequate knowledge and without considering what this can do to their dogs. We have far too many dogs who end up being euthanized in a shelter because no one wants to adopt them. There are simply too many dogs being bred for the wrong reasons.

By the way, it isn’t just mixed breeds being put down either. There are plenty of purebred dogs who end up dying because they can’t find a home. Please consider this carefully when deciding whether to get your dog spayed or neutered.

In addition, many dogs end up with congenital health problems as a result of irresponsible breeding methods. These kinds of health problems can often be eliminated by more experienced breeding. This process, after all, was meant to bring out desirable characteristics in a dog and eliminate unwanted attributes.

Dogs can end up having unwanted temperaments, like aggression or extreme shyness and nervousness. As a result of poor and irresponsible methods, even a breed which has an excellent reputation can end up being ruined.

The dog may simply have been lost and brought to the shelter, or the owners may have passed away unexpectedly. A dog may also be given away in case of a divorce or other serious life change that occurs in the family, and a dog with this kind of background did not do anything to deserve losing his home.

On the other hand, the dog may have given the family plenty of problems by biting the children or ruining the furniture despite numerous attempts at training. These kinds of behavioral problems can often be fixed, but you need to know what you’re getting into. If a dog has displayed aggression, you need to be particularly careful, especially if you lack the experience and training necessary to correct this kind of behavior.

Less serious behavioral problems like pulling on the leash during a walk or trying to escape from the yard can probably be corrected by proper obedience training, putting up a good fence, and possibly spaying or neutering your dog in order to take away the distraction of the opposite sex.

You will want to know how the dog has behaved around children in the past. This is obviously crucial if you have children, but even if you don’t have any kids your dog will probably run into children eventually. Also, if you are one of those unfortunate and confused souls who also has a cat in your house, you will want to pay particular attention to your dog’s attitude toward other animals.

Lastly, you need to know what your options are in case this dog does not work out for your family. If you took the dog from a family who has just moved away, then your options are limited. On the other hand, you may have the option of returning your dog to the family or shelter within a given timeframe. You’ll also want to know whether any payments or adoption fees are refundable.

Taking the time to ask these simple questions regarding your prospective dog can save you lots of headaches (and certainly heartache) down the line for you and your family.