Understanding your Dog’s Psychology to Understand your Dog Better

Welcome to this newsletter. In this newsletter we are going to explore some of the basics of dog psychology. Taking the time to understand your dog’s psyche a bit better will prove to be quite helpful in understanding your dog and in applying it when you train your dog.

The Basics of Dog Psychology

Dog psychology is learning to understand why a dog behaves and acts in the way that he does. It is truly fascinating to think about how the dog (a descendant of the wolf) has adapted itself to the human social organization.

Dogs have learned to live with and obey humans through successful training. When you and your dog build a trusting bond, there is a cooperation that is established: the dog behaves well and he will be rewarded.

A Wolf Descendant

To better understand dog psychology it is important to understand how wolves live.

Wolves live in the wild in packs of two or more. They use a strictly defined dictatorship system of males and females.

The leader or “alpha leader” of this system is almost always the biggest male in the pack. All of the other wolves in the pack follow the alpha leader eagerly and with the utmost respect.

Wolf Instincts

Wolves were able to adapt domestically with man thousands of years ago because of the similar social organization and instinctive mental or psychological structure. Wolves are accustomed to dividing duties, particularly when it comes to feeding: one determines the track, one stands on guard, one makes the attack, etc. The alpha leader is always the first to feed and when he is satisfied, he allows the other members of the pack to finish his “leftovers.”

Part of the Pack – The Hierarchal System

When you introduce a dog to your household, he sees the family as a pack and all the members contribute to the hierarchal system. Your dog will be watching everyone closely until he can figure out who the alpha leader is and exactly where he fits into this new system.

He will be watching for clues such as the physical size of each family member as well as the tone of voice that each person speaks with. He will also notice how everyone interacts with one another throughout the day.

Establishing the Alpha Role

It is essential to establish yourself (or else another responsible adult in your household) as the alpha leader. The sooner this is established, the fewer behavioral problems you will see.

You need to not only establish yourself or someone else as the alpha, but you must also have a clear understanding that your dog is at the bottom of your family’s hierarchal system.

If your dog sees that no hierarchal system is in place, he will create one and put himself in charge. This is when a lot of dogs can become overly dominant and destructive. It needs to be very obvious to your dog that he is subordinate to everyone-including children.

It is sometimes difficult for a dog to understand that he is lower ranked than children, because of their small size and their dependency on adults. For this reason, dogs can sometimes become very aggressive towards children, and they might even bite on occasion.

Through disciplined training, you can help your dog realize that his position is subordinate to every other family member. Good quality dog training resources can help you with this process.

Until the next installment of our newsletter, all the best with the process of training your dog.

Remember, training does take time and effort, but it is definitely worth it!

Sharda Baker

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios. Click here for more dog training help and advice on dog psychology.

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Coping with Separation Anxiety

Welcome! Do you have problems with your dog missing you too much when you must be away due to work or other activities? It is actually not that uncommon of a problem, although it can certainly be distressing for both dogs as well as their owners.

This issue is known as separation anxiety and there are ways to effectively cope with it and make it easier for your dog to deal with those times when you must be away.

Signs of Separation Anxiety

There are many signs of separation anxiety including: barking, chewing, defecating, digging, excessive salivating, scratching, and urinating. Chewing, digging, and scratching are signs of your dog trying to “escape.” Barking, defecating, excessive salivating, and urinating are signs of anxiety and fear.

Causes of Separation Anxiety

Such causes of separation anxiety include genetics, lack of socialization, lack of training, lack of confidence, mistreatment by a previous owner, extensive confinement, and too much bonding with the owner. As you can see, most of these are the owner’s responsibility.

Treatment of Separation Anxiety

There are things that you can do to prevent separation anxiety. When you put your dog in his crate, don’t have a long, emotional good-bye. Simply, walk away. It is even a good idea to ignore your dog 5 minutes before you leave. If you draw attention to your departure, your dog will worry when the love and emotion is suddenly stopped.

Also try and teach your dog not to associate certain behaviors of yours with your leaving the house and being away for hours. Dogs, as we have learnt in Chapter 1 are good at associating certain actions with certain outcomes. You may have noticed for example that as dress for work, or pick up your car keys, your dogs begins to get anxious.

Try changing your dog’s negative associations to your behaviors to positive ones.
For example, on a weekend, dress for work, pick up the car keys and go outside for a few minutes only, then come back inside and give your dog a treat. You dog will eventually begin to associate you getting ready for work as a positive association rather than a negative one.

Make sure you have plenty of treats and toys in your dog’s crate to keep him entertained while you are away. If your dog always knows that he’ll have treats when you leave, it won’t be as traumatic for him.

Before you leave, turn on a radio or television so your dog has some noise. A talk station is more effective than music, because the sound of human voices could comfort him. You could even tape your own voice.

When you return home, don’t give your dog any emotion or attention when you let him out of his crate. This will reinforce that being outside of the crate is better than being inside the crate. Let him outside to eliminate immediately.

In extreme causes a calmative type medication may be prescribed for you dog by your Vet.

Separation anxiety is something that should improve over time. However, if it does not, or if your dog shows signs of extreme aggression when he is let out, seek a professional trainer and/or see your Vet for further assistance.

When you pay close attention to your dog’s behavior, you are better able to identify his bad behaviors and correct them through training exercises. Your dog wants your attention and love, so when use this to your advantage when you are training. Keep in mind that good quality dog training resources can help with this issue.

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Clipping your dogs nails properly is very important. If your dog needs their nails clipped, here is a video and some tips. So you can be well informed on what to do if they start bleeding, as well as a material list of what you need before you get started.

How To Trim Your Dog’s Nails

Pedicures aren’t just for pampered pooches—your dog is descended from wolves, but her nails don’t have the chance to wear down as they would in the wild. A regular clipping every three or four weeks will save her from painful ingrown nails and sore paws.

Clipping Dog Nails – Tips For Keeping Your Dog’s Nail in Good Order

The first thing you are going to want to do when you are clipping dog nails is to make sure the nails are pliable. The easiest way to do this is to clip the dog nails after your dog has had a bath. You should give your dog a bath each month, after which time, you should commence clipping his nails.

Just like a human, dog nails grow until they are cut or break off. Dog nails can dig into furniture, your skin and even the skin of your dog. They can also, if uncut, become ingrown and infected. This would entail the nail actually growing so long that it grows back into the skin.

You need to have good dog nail clippers in order to do a proper job. This is not the time to skimp. You can get good clippers by looking at a variety of different places online. Take a look at what is available and get a decent pair of dog nail clippers made for the breed of your dog. One option is to ask your vet as to the best type of clippers for your dog.

If you get cheap dog nail clippers, chances are that they will not last a long time and you will be stuck paying for better quality again. Instead of throwing good money after bad, why not get the best quality dog nail clippers you can get from the beginning?

You are going to have to hold the dog still when you clip his nails or else you can hurt him. Take his paw firmly in your hand while you have him on your lap. If he is a big dog, it might be necessary to have someone else hold him the first few times. Hold the paw with one hand and use the other hand to clip the nails. Do not clip too far, just take off the very tips. This should only take a few minutes.

It will be easier to clip the front paws than the back and as those are more important when it comes to your furniture and even yourself, those are the first you should clip. If your dog runs from you, do not make a big deal out of the clipping. Try to do a little more each time. Be firm, but do not yell or frighten the dog or else he will run every single time you take out the clippers.

Most dogs will begrudgingly put up with having their nails clipped. A few dogs like it but most dislike it. If you talk in a soothing tone to him while you are clipping his nails, he will most likely be more cooperative when it comes to nail clipping time. Again, if you embark on this task after the bath, you should have a much more positive results.

Clipping dog nails takes practice. The more you do this task, however, the better you will get at clipping the nails of your dog and the easier it will get for your dog as well.

To learn more great tips about clipping dog nails and other great puppy related information take a look at http://www.takingcareofapuppy.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daithi_Bailey

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Nail clipping has to be one of the most feared elements of grooming around. Neither owners nor dogs particularly like doing it or having it done but this is for very different reasons.

Dogs do not like having their nails

clipped because it feels strange. If you think about having your own nails cut, the sensation is more than a little odd. However, owners do not like clipping their dogs’ nails purely and simply because they know the risks.

If you know what they are though and find out exactly how to clip nails then you will find that it becomes second nature within just a few grooming sessions.

Knowing exactly how to cut your dog’s nails is an absolute must and getting the technique right is incredibly important. This is why a complete step by step guide must be adhered to at all times. However, you might want to know a little more about the nails before you clip them. Not only will this knowledge help you to understand how to clip nails but it will also reinforce why you should because there are serious consequences if you do not do so.

Much like our nails, a dog’s nails grow constantly and so will keep on growing until they are brought under control. If you leave them and expect granite sidewalks to wear them down naturally then this will happen to a degree but not to enough of an extent that your dog’s nails will not be a problem. If your dog does walk on such surfaces often then it may reduce the regularity at which you need to cut the nails but it will not eliminate the need completely. Think of it as a nail file – it can only go so far in wearing the down and the rest is up to you!

Failing to clip a dog’s nails can actually cause crippling, arthritic type pains in your dog’s paws, which in turn can actually lead to malformation of the paws and thus permanent damage and pain. This can occur naturally anyway in certain breeds but you do not want the nails to add to it at all.

Finally, just one last tip to help you during grooming. Always check your dog’s paws out thoroughly when you are cutting the nails. You need to check the pads to make sure that they are intact and not stuck with thorns, glass or other foreign objects. Make sure that your dog has healthy paws and then you will happily be able to leave them alone until trim time rolls around again.

If all else fails then you could always ask a vet or professional dog groomer to do it because they will have extensive experience and know full well how to do it without causing any harm at all to your dog. However, you should try to do it first as a part of the grooming process.

In the next article, we will cover HOW to clip your dog’s nails.

For more information on grooming your dog plus access to the popular FREE Dog Grooming newsletter – Please visit Dog Grooming Secrets Website.

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There are several staple elements of the grooming of all dogs and all of them can help to boost the health of your dog’s skin and coat. Brushing is undoubtedly one of them and is actually one of the most important elements because of all of the benefits it brings. For example, you can see the improvement in the health of your dog’s coat but it also boosts the skin and the supply of nutrients to it because it encourages the flow of blood underneath the skin.

Your reaction and enthusiasm towards brushing may be along the lines of “Great” I’ll go and grab the brush then!” However, your dog will probably not see it that way to start with, especially when it is dealing with knots and tangles. In fact, unless you go about it the right way you will have to pin your dog down to be able to do it again after the first time. There are many elements of brushing to consider and much depends on the coat of your dog.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BRUSH

You cannot brush your dog without a brush so the first thing that you need to do is take the time to make sure that you choose the right one. You have to take a lot of factors into account when trying to choose the right ones. For example, the coat plays a big part because longer and coarser quotes will be more prone to matting and tangling than shorter coats. Similarly, harsh brushes are likely to damage the skin on shorter coats because they is no real furry protection available. As such, brush selection is a little difficult but it is an important decision to make so it is essential to ensure that you take your time and make the right choice.

There are numerous brushes that you can choose from. To recap though, there are perhaps five that you have to choose from:

• Bristle Brush – The most common of brush types, natural bristles are designed to work in harmony with the skin and the coat in order to get the best possible results. There are various sizes available so you should choose one that suits your dog size and not focus on the coat. The larger the dog, the larger the bristle brush should be. However, there are certain bristles that suit certain coats as well. If your dog has a long coat then wide spaced and longer bristles would suit it best. Tighter bristles are better for short haired coats.
• Wire Pin Brush – Pin brushes and wire brushes are ideal for longer coats as well as coats that are curly because they tend to be much stronger than bristle brushes and push through tangles really well. However, they will hurt smooth coated dogs and thus damage the skin so they are best avoided for those dogs.
• Slicker Brush – A slicker brush should be used in conjunction with a wire pin brush because it should be used afterwards to smooth the coats of longer haired dogs. Slicker brushes are renowned for removing mats and tangles and so are ideal for double coated dogs but again should be avoided on single coated dogs.
• Undercoat Rake – The undercoat rake is pretty self explanatory. If your dog has a double coat then you should use one to remove any dead and loose hairs from the undercoat of double coated dogs. It may be that you have a medium or long haired dog, a small or large dog.. It really does not matter what they look like or what breed they are. If you have a double coated dog then you need this brush.
• Dog Comb – Every single breed needs a comb because it is essential for getting out tangles, smoothing the fur down after a bath and even to take care of fleas as well. It is the one piece of equipment that is not dependent on coat at all so invest in a god brush.

The ideal combinations for all coat types vary from dog to dog but most owners will only need a bristle brush and a comb. However, you may want to consider having a wire pin brush as well if you have a long coated breed. After all, you can chop and change as and when required.

For more information on grooming your dog plus access to the popular FREE Dog Grooming newsletter – Please visit Dog Grooming Secrets Website.

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Believe it or not, even in this day and age, there are dog owners asking this question each and every single day. They do not believe that taking the time to groom their dog properly on a regular basis is necessary, despite all of the evidence to the contrary. After all, your dog cannot just stay clean on his or her own. In fact, although they are capable of cleaning themselves to a certain degree, they need more help than many owners often believe.

Here are 6 of the 8 main reasons why you should take the time to groom your dog outlined below that highlight the benefits for both you and your dog. As such, they should give you an idea of the importance that should be placed on grooming by all dog owners today:

• It encourages the health of your dog’s skin and coat. Regular brushing and grooming of your dog’s coat can encourage the health and vitality of your dog’s skin because it boosts the blood flow underneath the coat. This in turn ensures that the cells get everything they need via the bloodstream. Similarly, dogs need to wash much the same as humans do in order to keep toxins that may get caught in the fur at bay because they can also cause problems with the coat and skin.
• It enhances your dog’s overall health. Grooming enhances your dog’s overall health in a number of ways. It can ensure that your dog is mentally and physically in top condition as a result of the attention. Furthermore, it can improve the circulation, boost muscle mass and reduce the possibility of infection. By pairing grooming with a good diet, you can also boost your dog’s immune system, meaning that he or she will be less likely to become ill anyway.
• It eliminates the smell associated with dogs. This point applies to both your dog and your home. Everyone knows that there is nothing worse than walking into a house and having your senses assaulted with the pungent odor of stale dog but you do not have to worry about that if you regularly groom your dog because it minimizes the smell. This applies to all breeds of dog, even those that have particularly long and thick coats.
• It highlights any problems as and when they arise. This is not one of the more obvious reasons but it is a reason nevertheless because regular grooming enables you to notice changes in your dog’s body, which can be important in the diagnosis of many illnesses. For example, you will notice any cuts, grazes, lumps, swelling and even heat that occur. You may also notice slight differences in your dog’s general demeanor that may hint at depression or pain in some way. As such, if you notice these symptoms then you can seek help for your dog much quicker than would otherwise be possible.
• It can cut down on the overall cost of grooming. If you pay for someone else to groom your dog, whether on a regular basis or for a six monthly coat trim. By regularly grooming your dog, you may not need to hire anyone else to provide personal attention for your dog in the first place. This will save you money and enhance the relationship between you and your dog.
  
• Finally, and most importantly, it enhances the bond between you and your dog. As hinted at under the last point, grooming enhances the relationship between man and dog because it gives you a shared experience and one that is pleasurable for your canine companion. Dogs do enjoy grooming because it means that they get attention from their owners. All dogs absolutely love the attention. As such, it is an activity that you will be able to laugh at and your dog will be able to enjoy.

All of the above reasons should be more than enough to give you a push in the right direction because now you can see exactly why you and your dog can benefit from the process. Grooming is an essential part of owning a dog so the sooner you integrate it into your routine the better. The information in the ensuing chapters will most definitely be able to give you an idea as to where to start.

For more information on grooming your dog plus access to the popular FREE Dog Grooming newsletter – Please visit Dog Grooming Secrets Website.

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Is It Time to Scrap the Table Scraps?

You love your dog, and you hate to waste food. Now there’s a dilemma. What to do with those table scraps when there’s still some nice meat on that bone, or the macaroni-and-cheese leftovers aren’t enough to make another meal? Fido’s one of the family, and certainly would appreciate a taste of what was on the dinner table. So what’s the harm in letting doggie, and not the garbage disposal, dispose of the table scraps rather than eat ‘traditional’ dog food?

Table scraps should not be the main source of dietary intake for your dog but may be fed as small treats here and there. Harmful table scraps like chocolate and bones, however, can cause extensive harm and even death to your pet. Digestive problems do occur when dogs eat table scraps that are too rich or that simply do not agree with their stomachs. Be wary of what table scraps you allow your dog to have and never overdo it.

But, you say, Buster won’t eat dog food. Oh really? Then what does Buster eat? You got it, table scraps and anything else it wants. Has the dog really succeeded in training YOU to give it what IT wants? And has its success meant that the dog is paying a physical price for its “victory?” Hard not to overeat when you’re getting the “select” goodies isn’t it? Remember this, it is NOT up to the DOG to choose what it eats in your house – it is up to YOU – the owner.

Table scraps, fed in small amounts, DO have their good points. There is an enormous difference between good quality leftovers and “scraps”. The quality leftovers are the pieces of steak (trimmed of fat), roast beef, chicken or turkey. Adding this to your dog’s bowl is fine, only when done IN MODERATION. In addition leftover both pasta and rice are good, so long as they are minus the butter or other fatty sauces and are plainly cooked.

Don’t overfeed scraps on a continuous basis. Your doing so will expose your pet to a diet loaded with fat and you’ll end up with a pet prone to stomach upsets, diarrhea and other potentially serious gastrointestinal disorders such as pancreatitis, which is life threatening. Even if your dog’s digestive tract can handle a diet full of table scraps, the chances of him or her gaining weight will increase enormously in proportion to the amount of scraps you’re feeding.

Now, there are many people who will claim that table scraps are deadly to your pet and should not be given as snacks. These people are only partially correct. While commercial snacks are formulated for the needs of your pet, there is no harm in allowing your dog some table scraps as long as it is not harmful to the dog and is not in excess. There are human foods that are harmful and deadly to your dog, but most human food is perfectly acceptable for dogs. The trick is research.

You should forget, for example, about serving your dog the leftover macaroni and cheese, even though pasta is OK and the cheese is low-fat. Dogs do not have the needed lactase to break up the lactose the result can be diarrhea.

Turkey, chicken, steak, or any other kind of cooked bones are no-nos, because they can splinter and pierce or obstruct the dog’s digestive tract.. Bones can also cut the roof of the mouth.

Leftover stew is OK, as long as you first discard the onions, and if your family loves sushi, Fido will have to pass Raw fish can create a thiamine deficiency in dogs. As a result the dog will suffer from seizures and possibly death.

Easily digestible foods such as cooked rice or chicken and turkey (boneless) will be fine to feed your dog. Even some fruits and vegetables are well received by dogs, though there are some types to avoid such as grapes. Feeding your dog grapes causes severe kidney damage. While some fruits are acceptable to feed your pet, avoid grapes at all times.

Fido, or Buster, or Sport knows all the moves when if comes to finagling you out of those scraps. So don’t let mealtime degenerate into a battle of wills. Know what are acceptable table scraps, and feed them in acceptable amounts, but never decide to save money and avoid wasting food by making then the main ingredients in your pet’s diet!

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling “Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Nutrition”.

Visit the link below now for Sharda’s Special Free Dog Food Report.

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When Doggie Hates the Menu

You may well know the feeling of staring at your dog while he or she stares at the food dish, sighs, and looks at you with an expression which clearly says “You expect ME to eat THAT?” At those moments, you may even be wondering why you simply don’t just get a cat, which would at least be coming to you with the reputation of being a picky eater.

There aren’t too many dog owners that have not found themselves in the same situation. And because you are a kind-hearted sort, your dog knows that if it waits long enough, sure enough, something really tasty shows up. Mission accomplished. Owner happy, dog happy and dog just won round one. Many owners are fixated on their dog’s eating habits. That only makes things get worse and worse.

Once your dog knows it can wrangle something else out of you, it will keep on keeping on until it gets right out of hand. And if you think feeding him later will be easier, think again. It only gets worse. This type of behavior needs to be nipped in the bud immediately. Besides, who is the Alpha dog here anyhow – YOU or the dog?

Owners of finicky eaters are constantly changing their diet to get them to eat. This only makes your dog hold out to see if anything better is being offered. But these ongoing switches bring their own set of problems.

If you make sudden dog diet changes, this causes digestive upsets for your dog. Any diet changes need to be done slowly. Add a small amount of new food to your pet’s current food and gradually increase that amount while decreasing the amount of the current food over a seven to ten day period.

But right now what we are discussing is NOT catering to a fusspot – so changing foods constantly isn’t going to help matters any.

You have likely also been in the situation where you have purchased a whole swack of types of dog food (canned and dry) to let your dog figure out what he likes. Not a good idea, because if he doesn’t like anything, three guesses who will be running out and trying to find something better. Right – you! Chances are also that your dog loves people food. Uh-huh! This also isn’t a good idea either. Really, if you were a dog wouldn’t YOU want to have the steak on the table rather than the kibble in the bowl?

What can you do?

The basic rule of thumb is if that any dog which gets hungry enough WILL eat no matter what is in the bowl. Have patience and ye shall be rewarded. Don’t hover, plead, cajole, hand feed, or change the food. Just leave it in the bowl and ——- WAIT!

Establish Regular Feeding Times and Stick with Them

The value of having your dog on a timetable and on a regular dog diet can’t be over emphasized. Dogs thrive on routine, and besides, if you don’t establish a routine and stick to it, your dog will implement one himself. Dogs without routines and a “pack leader” take over the roles themselves and you won’t like the consequences.

If you feed regularly at the same time (or close to it) daily then when the food hits the floor then your dog will be there to eat it – and will in fact learn to anticipate being fed. If you never thought dogs (or other animals) could tell time, try missing your regular feeding time one day.

Here is the most effective thing to do when you feed a finicky dog. Feed at the regular time and if they do not eat the food within 15 minutes, you take the bowl up and put the food back in the fridge. The next time that bowl comes out and goes down on the floor is the second feeding of the day. Period! Watch how fast your dog catches on to the fact if he doesn’t eat when the food is there, it’s GONE.

If your pal is getting adequate amounts of a palatable and nutritious food two times a day, you have fulfilled your responsibilities as far as feeding is concerned. Don’t let doggie involve you in a battle of wills like a spoiled child who won’t go to bed without first having ice cream. That food dish is YOUR domain!

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling “Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Nutrition”.

Visit the link below now for Sharda’s Special Free Dog Food Report.

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Why BARF Can Be Good for Your Dog

Although its rather unappealing name may certainly have you thinking other wise, putting your dog on the BARF diet may be exactly what’s required to maximize his or her health and longevity. The BARF diet is formulated to resemble as closely as possible the diets of dogs in the wild, where food is fresh, and often freshly killed.

Why is feeding your dog BARF so important for his or her health? It has to do with the digestive organs which secrete enzymes to break down food so that it’s used properly by the body. For instance, when carbohydrates and proteins are eaten at the same time, the protein enzymes start working first. The carbs wait, and while they wait, they ferment and release toxins in the body.

Meats are only to be given at one meal, along with other heavy proteins like eggs or milk. Do not mix this with grains. At the other meal, give the carbs – the fruits and grains, if you choose to use them. Veggies can be given with either grains or proteins. Fruits, except apples, should be fed alone and at least twenty minutes before or after anything else.

Feeding grains at all in a BARF diet is still highly controversial for the same reasons you already read. Dogs are not cows and don’t need grains to survive and thrive. That’s not to say you can’t feed them, it’s just to say it’s not a good idea as it really does them no good.

Supplements and the BARF Diet

Supplementing the BARF diet may be necessary simply because you are not providing your dog with everything he or she would get by killing and eating fresh game. The biggest thing is to avoid over supplementation.

Since BARFers don’t feed the WHOLE animals including eyes, brains, stomach and intestines, adding essential fatty acids like fish oil or flaxseed oil is good. Yogurt also has good bacteria and can be fed as well. Consider kelp now and then for its trace elements and vitamins C and E for their antioxidant properties.

We’re not talking about adding these every day as a normal part of the diet, unless there is good and sufficient reason to do so, such as illness or chronic stress. The question then becomes what do you use and why or what is in it that makes it a good supplement for your dog.

In general, vitamins and minerals at the right levels promote the health of your dog. They help boost their stamina, help with fertility, increase their disease resistance, and promote a longer life. Not a bad list of recommendations, is it? This is pretty much in a nutshell what we would all like for our dogs.

A properly formulated BARF diet will contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, delivered in the right form for your dog, and honestly, they shouldn’t need a supplement.

However, having said that, there are many factors in the food chain that you can’t really control – e.g. food grown on poor quality soils, harvested before ripening and transported long distances, food left on the shelf longer that it should be, etc. These factors may lower levels of vitamins and minerals in the food you are feeding.

Also, since BARF is so individual in nature, you may have a dog that is older or younger or has a special need for extra supplements in the form of vitamins or minerals. If you are going to supplement, most BARFers recommend you use organic supplements whenever you can for optimal quality and nutrition.

Feeding the BARF diet is not for every dog owner, and eating the BARF diet is not for every dog. The important thing is that you keep mealtime enjoyable for your pet, while at the same time keeping the food bowl full of all the nutrients your pet needs to remain healthy and active. If you have questions about specific supplements for you dog, speak to your veterinarian.

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling “Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Nutrition”.

Visit the link below now for Sharda’s Special Free Dog Food Report.

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Persuading Doggie That the New Food Really Tastes Better

If you’ve learned enough about dog food to have decided that it’s time to change what your dog has been eating to a more healthy dog food, you need to develop a plan of action. Your dog may have both physical and emotional difficulty in switching to a new food, because just like us, dogs do have comfort foods. So you should do your switching gradually, to spare your pet any digestive problems or stress.

Although we see many dogs as hardy creatures and marvel at what they manage to eat, the fact is that a dog’s digestive system if very sensitive. It is important to gradually change a dog’s diet slowly and over time. Be on the look out for any adverse effects caused by the change, and consult a veterinarian if any symptoms persist for more than a few days.

By not changing a dog’s diet slowly, you may subject your pet to:

• Stomach cramps
• Excess Gas
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Refusal to Eat

Even though you have found a healthier alternative to the current dog food, you dog may not know that and as a creature of habit, would prefer the old to the new. With this in mind, the first few tries may be difficult. However, with a few simple tricks and tips, the transition should be easy.

Gradual change to a more healthy dog food is the key, so start by mixing the old and new food together in a 25% to 75% ratio of new to old. Over the next few days, slowly increase the ratio of new food while decreasing the old food. At the end of this process, the new food will make up 100% of the food bowl.

The Kibble to BARF Transition

The switch from dry kibble to the BARF diet needs to be done with a few considerations in mind and a more watchful eye, as some dogs will have problems switching. There are two methods used when switching dogs over to the BARF diet.

The Quick Switch

This is the popular choice as it is easy, fast, and hassle free. You simply make the switch with the next meal. Considerations to keep in mind when making the Rapid Switch whether or not you believe your dog can handle such a change. Usually, younger dogs and those dogs that have a healthy, normal gastrointestinal system are the ones able to handle such a switch.

Dogs that are older or that have problems with their digestive system may have issues, as they can not tolerate kibble and raw food in their digestive tract at the same time. This can result in vomiting and diarrhea. This also means that owners have no choice but to hold off the rapid switch food.

The Slow Switch:

This method takes time, sometimes a significant amount of time, to fully switch from kibble to the BARF diet. It is not recommended to continue feeding the dog both kibble and BARF as this will lead to digestion problems. It needs to be one or the other.

There are three ways to go about the Slow Switch.

The first is simple enough; you feed the dog a meal of the BARF diet and a meal of the old food. Each day decrease the amount of meals of the old food until your dog’s meals are nothing but the BARF diet.

The second way is mixing the old food in with the BARF diet and gradually decrease the amount of old food until the dog is eating nothing but the BARF diet. A problem with this way comes in when the dog can not keep both kibble and BARF diet in its systems at the same time. If this is the case, you will have to follow the Rapid Switch method.

The last way is for owners who were already feeding their dog home cooked foods. Slowly introduce the dog to rawer states of those foods until he is eating nothing but the raw food. However, if the dog suffers from an immune deficiency and can not eat raw food, owners can cook the BARF diet, though this is not recommended for healthy dogs.

If you realize that your dog is not eating a healthy diet, then by all means make whatever changes are necessary to rectify the situation. Just do it in a way which eases the transition for you pal so that meal times still remain the high points of his or her day!

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling “Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Nutrition“.

Visit the link below now for Sharda’s Special Free Dog Food Report.

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