Foods that Can Help Improve Dog Nutrition

Dog nutrition is not just about buying the most expensive dog food out there. It has many facets that you have to concern yourself with to make sure that you don’t make your dog sick. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel that it’s an unnecessary expense so they don’t really take care of it, only to spend more later on as their dogs become sick and their vet’s bill skyrockets. Of course, you wouldn’t want your dog to get sick, right?

The First Thing that You Should Learn

First of all, you have to know that dog nutrition is different from people nutrition. This is why you shouldn’t be feeding your dog too much “people food”. In addition to potentially making your dog sick, these foods can also make your dog overweight.

Also, there are certain foods that you shouldn’t feed your dog. Feeding them to your dog almost ensures a trip to the vet. Here are foods that you shouldn’t feed to your dog:

  1. Chocolate
  2. Avocado
  3. Onion
  4. Garlic
  5. Grapes or raisin
  6. Dairy products like milk and ice cream
  7. Macadamia nuts
  8. Candy
  9. Bones
  10. Peaches

There are other foods that can be fatal to your dog, so make sure to check first before giving it to them.

The General Rule

Dog NutritionHere’s the general rule – people foods are for people and dog foods are for dogs. Sounds simple enough? Of course, this rule is not written in stone, since you can feed select people food to dogs as well. However, this doesn’t mean that you can simply slip in a slice of whatever you’re having for dinner to your dog at the dinner table.

You shouldn’t encourage your dog to beg at your dinner table since you are eating people food. What if what you’re eating is bad for dogs? You should be in control of dog nutrition so don’t let your pet dictate to you what it wants to eat.

Stick to dog food for the most part. This is because dog food is well, designed for dogs. Dog foods are formulated to be friendly with the dog’s digestive system. On the other hand, a lot of our foods cannot be handled by the digestive system of dogs.

Foods that are Okay for Dogs

Better yet, just focus on foods that are proven to be good for dog nutrition. These are foods that can be consumed by your dog in moderation. Add them to your dog’s foods and treats to inject variety into your dog’s daily diet.

Tip: Make sure to use these foods as snacks and/or treats, and not main meals. This means don’t let your dog get used to it, so just serve these foods in moderation.

Here is a list of foods that you can give to your dog:

  1. Cooked chicken

Dogs need protein as well, and cooked chicken is a good option to add extra protein to your dog’s diet. It’s also a good way to add another flavor to your dog’s bowl of dog food. Mix cooked chicken with dog food for a good burst of flavor for your dog.

It can even serve as a meal replacement just in case you ran out of dog food. If you have a lot of turkey leftover after Thanksgiving, turkey will work fine as well.

  1. Baby carrots

They’re delicious and good for dog nutrition as well. They can provide your dog with a boost of fiber, vitamin A, and beta carotene. It’s also good for your dog’s teeth. You can feed baby carrots to your dog as treats.

  1. Salmon

Salmon is not called a “super food” for nothing. It can help improve your dog’s immune system so go ahead and feed cooked salmon to your dog every now and then. Just make sure to remove all bones. You can also use salmon oil by adding it to your dog’s food. If you’re not a fan of salmon skin, go ahead and give it to your dog.

As an added bonus, the omega 3 fatty acids found in salmon can make your dog’s coat shinier and healthier.

  1. Flax seed

In addition to salmon, you can also serve flax seed or oil since it’s packed with omega 3 fatty acids as well. Buy whole flax seeds and just grind them up right before serving them.

  1. Eggs

Just like cooked chicken, eggs provide a good protein boost for dogs which is important for dog nutrition. Just make sure that the eggs are cooked. Scramble them for a healthy meal for your dog, giving your buddy a dose of selenium and riboflavin.

  1. Cheese

Looking for a new treat that you can give to your lactose tolerant dog? Cheese is the answer! Start by giving a couple of small cubes first just to check for any negative reaction. Also, opt for the low-fat varieties as some cheeses are very high in fat. You can start with cream cheese and take it from there. On that note, don’t feed a lot of cheese to your dog as it can lead to obesity.

Here’s a good tip – make a cheese omelet for your dog!

  1. Apple slices

Is your dog’s breath bad enough to knock you out? Have your dog munch on some apple slices. This can help your dog get rid of some residues in its teeth, so it can help lessen bad breath. In addition, apples are packed with vitamins A and C. It’s also packed with fiber.

Just make sure to take out the apple’s core and seeds before feeding the slices to your dog.

  1. Peanut butter

You’ll be surprised to know that a lot of dogs love peanut butter. In addition to the healthy fats found in peanut butter, your dog can also benefit from the niacin and vitamins B and E found in peanut butter. Fill up a Kong with peanut butter and that should keep your dog busy and satisfied for hours.

Just remember to choose the raw and unsalted variety since it’s healthier.

  1. Yogurt

The live bacteria found in yogurt are good for dog nutrition since it serves as a probiotic which can clean up your dog’s digestive system. As a bonus, it’s also packed with protein and calcium. Just make sure to stick to yogurt that doesn’t have additional sugars and artificial sweeteners.

  1. Green beans

Green beans are great because they’re very filling so a little goes a long way. Best of all, they’re very low in calories so they’re not going to cause obesity. Of course, this is provided that you choose green beans that have no added salt.

  1. Oatmeal

Men’s breakfast of champions can be a great source of fiber for dogs. This is why owners of older dogs that have bowel problems feed oatmeal to their dog. Just make sure that it’s cooked. Also, don’t add any sugars or additives in order to add flavor.

  1. Pumpkin

Just like baby carrots, pumpkins are packed with vitamin A and beta carotene. In addition, it also has a lot of fiber that can help improve a dog’s digestive system.

  1. Melon

Out with your dog on a hot day? Have him munch on some cooled melon once you get home. It’s refreshing and healthy as well.

  1. Sweet potatoes

Here’s another food that’s packed with nutrients namely beta carotene, vitamins B6 and C, manganese and fiber. You can also turn them into treats. Just slice them up and dehydrate them and you’ll turn them into chewy treats that your dog will surely love.

Dog Nutrition

Feed Your Dog Safe and Delicious Foods

As mentioned, it’s best to stick to dog food for the majority of your dog’s diet. But for the purpose of dog nutrition, you can also give you dog these foods in moderation. They can give your pet the boost that they need. This is important because most dog foods don’t have the nutrition found in these people foods.

They also provide your dog with variety which is almost as important as dog nutrition. Can you eat the same foods for the rest of your life? It’s the same thing with dogs. They wouldn’t want to eat dog food for the rest of their life, so inject a few varieties to their diet every now and then.

Make Sure that your Pet is Well-Fed

At the end of the day, you simply have to make sure that your dog is well-fed. This is important for dog nutrition. Make sure that you have a stock of dog food for your pet, and you can feed your pet any of these foods just in case you run out of dog food.

By making sure that your pet is well-fed, it wouldn’t go out rummaging through the trash. You’ll be exposing your dog to foods that are bad for dog nutrition if you don’t do so. Feed your pet the required amount of dog food per day, and use any of these foods as treats and/or snacks to make sure that your pet is well-fed all throughout the day.

Crate Training

A Complete Guide on Proper, Safe and Effective Puppy Crate Training

Having a puppy often brings joys to families. That is, before the puppy starts wreaking havoc in your home. This is why it’s a good idea to train your puppy as early as possible. There are a lot of training methods out there, and we’ll tell you why crate training is one of the first things that you should do.

What is this Method?

Simply put, it’s training your puppy to love the crate and feel comfortable inside of it. This type of training can serve as a tool to protect yourself, your home, and your puppy.

The Benefits of this Method

Why even bother to train your puppy to go into the crate on command? It’s because there are a lot of benefits to crate training. Here are some of them:

A Crate Is A Good Place To Confine Your Puppy When Needed

  • Let’s say that you have company coming over. Surely, you wouldn’t want your puppy “welcoming” your guests with barks, whines, pee and poop? Of course, putting your pet in your backyard is not an option for a lot of pet owners especially if the weather is not cooperating. If not properly trained, your puppy will be barking and whining the whole time while inside the crate.
  • With proper crate training, your puppy will be more than happy to go inside the crate as you play host to the party of the year.

You Can Move Your Pet Around When Needed

  • A good crate is very portable. This means that you can move your pet from one room to another with little to no trouble. How is this helpful? Let’s say that you’re cleaning your home and of course, you don’t want your puppy running around. You can place your puppy in one room and move the crate to another when you have to clean that room.
  • This is also helpful if you have company over.

It Prevents Your Puppy From Chewing On Your Favorite Slippers

  • Let’s face it. Puppies will chew anything they can get their paws on. You can’t really stop them from doing that unless you have your eyes on them 24/7, which of course is impossible.
  • With proper crate training, you can save your slippers, shoes, furniture and sanity by establishing some “ground rules” when it comes to chewing. You can train your puppy to only chew on things that you provide for them inside the crate. This is a good compromise since puppies need to chew on things anyway. But in the process, you’re establishing good behavior and not encouraging your pet to be Sir Chew-A-Lot whenever it wants to.

Crate Training Can Help Protect Your Puppy

  • Speaking of chewing, electrocution is one of the leading causes of deaths in puppies. This is because they chew on wires and they get electrocuted in the process. This usually happens around Christmas time when puppies couldn’t resist chewing on Christmas lights.
  • You can also stop your puppy from accidentally ingesting poison which happens a lot too. This is because puppies are very curious animals.
  • While inside the crate, you can also protect your pet from your bigger pets. This is important if you’re just introducing your new puppy to the family.

It Makes Traveling Stress-free

  • Have you ever traveled with a pet that hasn’t undergone crate training? There’s a good chance that your pet hated it since it’s not used to being in a crate. This is why you should train your puppy as early as possible so when the time comes that you need to travel with your pet, your pet will be safe and comfortable inside the crate.
  • The feeling of comfort is very important when you’re taking your pet to the vet. The last thing that you need is to have a more agitated pet by the time you arrive at the vet.

You Can Use The Crate To House-train Your Puppy

  • By instinct, dogs wouldn’t soil the area where they sleep in. You can use crate training to encourage your pet to “hold it in” until you allow it to go outside your home.

It Can Be The Start Of More Complex Obedience Training

  • Once your pet is trained to go inside the crate on command, obedience training will be easier. This is because your pet will have a comfortable and familiar place to rest in and recharge in between sessions. This is also important later on if you plan to enter your pet in competitions.

NOTE: It’s important that you don’t use the crate to punish your pet. If you do this, your pet won’t feel safe and comfortable inside the crate.

Things To Consider When Buying A Crate

Now that you know the benefits of crate training, it’s time for you to buy one. Of course, don’t buy the first one that you see. Make sure that you consider these things before buying one:

  • The Type

You generally have two options – a plastic crate and an all-wire crate. The plastic crate generally has just a few holes on the sides, with a wire mesh serving as the door. On the other hand, an all-wire crate is often of the mesh type so you can see everything inside and your pet can see everything outside.

Which one’s better? It’s a matter of personal preference, really. But obviously, an all-wire mesh type crate provides more ventilation, so keep that in mind if you live in a hot and humid place.

  • The Size

Make sure that you buy one that will fit your puppy’s adult size even while you’re still crate training your puppy. Do research on the average height, width and length of your puppy’s breed when it reaches adulthood and base your decision on that. Make sure that there’s extra room for your puppy to move around once it becomes a full-grown dog.

  • Accessories

In order to succeed with crate training, you need to buy additional accessories like bedding, chew toys and water bowls.

How To Start Crate Training

It’s important that you don’t overwhelm your puppy so you have to introduce the crate to it first. Here’s a step by step guide on how to do it:

  1. Place the crate inside the room with you and your puppy. Make sure that the door is open. Give your puppy a few minutes to be comfortable in the fact that it’s inside the room.
  2. Place a trail of his favorite treats that lead to inside of the crate. Allow your puppy to consume the treats in and around of the crate.
  3. Make the crate as comfortable as possible. Place your puppy’s favorite bedding inside of it. You can also place your puppy’s favorite toys inside the crate.
  4. Place your pet’s food and water bowls inside the crate. Don’t close the crate just yet while your pet is eating and drinking inside.
  5. Once you feel that your pet is comfortable inside, close the door and feed your pet with some treats. Afterwards, open the door again. Start with closing the door for about 10 seconds and increase the time as your pet’s level of comfort also increases.
  6. Once your pet is really comfortable inside, it’s time to up the ante on your crate training by leaving the room. Listen to whines and barks. Again, start with just a few seconds and take it from there.
  7. Come up with a command like “crate”, “inside the crate”, “bed time” and the likes. Reinforce the command as soon as your pet is entering the crate. With repetition, your pet will understand the command.

Tips to Improve Crate Training

In most cases, the steps above are enough to train your puppy to be comfortable inside the crate. But if it’s not working, do the following in order to encourage your puppy to love the crate:

  • Give praise and/or treats by “levels”. For example, give praise when your puppy looks at it. Later on, only issue the praise when your puppy approaches it. You can then level it up by only giving praise or treats if your pet enters the crate.
  • Once your puppy starts entering the crate expecting a treat, wait until your puppy sits down inside and feel comfortable before giving the treat. You can then start closing the door and giving your pet some treats through the wire mesh.
  • Soon enough, your puppy will see the crate as the praise and/or treat itself. You may need to repeat this process several times until your puppy sees the crate as a comfortable place that it wants to be in.

Some Rules

Here are some rules to protect your puppy during and after crate training:

  • Remove your puppy’s collar.
  • Don’t place your pet inside the crate for more than 5 hours except during bed time.
  • Be the boss. Once trained, don’t take out your pet when it starts to whine or bark unless you see that there’s something wrong.
  • Don’t go into the habit of crating your pet and then leaving. Don’t allow your pet to associate the crate with you leaving.

Follow these tips and rules and crate training will be a success. You and your puppy will be thankful that you did.