 More Of Jordyalan's Interesting Dog Articles
Some Indoor Activities to Enjoy With Your Dog Have you ever sat inside on a rainy day and wondered what you were going to do with your energetic dog all day long? Almost all puppies require daily exercise and many adult breeds require the same. Without enough stimulation and exercise they may start behaving badly. Some dogs will bark incessantly, others will chew furniture or children’s toys and still others will do their business inside rather than outside. This behavior frustrates both you and your dog so it is best to prevent it from happening. What Can We Do? On the next rainy day consider trying some of these activities with your pet: · Basket of Toys. Keep a basket of dog toys in the room where you spend most of your time. Make sure that the basket has a variety of toys such as animals with a squeaky inside, chew toys, balls and soft Frisbees. When the rain is falling or the weather is cold, show the basket to your dog and allow him to choose a toy to play with. Then sit on the floor with him and play. If you have room to safely throw a ball or toy then do so and let him chase it. If not, then throw it up in the air and let him try and catch it in his mouth. He may not get a lot of physical exercise but his mind will be stimulated and this will help keep him from getting bored and destructive until the weather clears and you can resume normal activities. · Your Children. Your dog will enjoy trying to keep up with your children. The activity can be as simple as letting your kids run around in a circle. Your dog will be happy to join the pack and run with them. The whole family will benefit from playing together. · A New Toy. Dogs enjoy new toys just as much as children. Give your dog a new toy on a gloomy day and watch him carry it around and investigate it. This will brighten his day. · Bones. A new chew bone is a challenge to your dog that is similar to a new toy. If your dog is restless and you need to turn your attention to other things, a bone can be a good diversion and will help prevent your dog from chewing inappropriate things. · Grooming. If all else fails then use the time that you are stuck indoors to take care of brushing and the other grooming needs of your dog. While this isn’t physical exercise, it takes your dog’s concentration to behave appropriately while being groomed and it is a change in the daily routine that will stimulate him. As a bonus, you won’t have to spend time grooming him during the good weather. So, while some of these activities will not get your dog as much physical exercise as he would normally get, they will help stimulate his mind and keep him out of trouble until the weather clears and you can get outside again. In the meantime, you might just have some fun on the next rainy day!
 Pure Breed, Mixed Breed or Designer Breed With hundreds of pure breed dogs, an almost infinite number of mixed breeds and a growing number of designer breed dogs, it is hard to decide which one is a good fit for your family. Some dogs might be good with children and thrive on the noise and commotion of the family home. These same dogs might be badly behaved and horribly sad if they spend most of their days alone without human interaction. Other dogs are just the opposite and are happy with a quiet environment and become over stimulated and badly behaved around children. Pure Breed Dogs One of the biggest advantages of a pure breed dog is that, to some degree, there is predictability when you select your dog as a puppy. Of course, not all adult dogs of a breed act the same way. However, you can make an educated guess as to the dog’s future looks, health problems and behavioral characteristics. If you are looking for a good jogging partner, you can find one. If you are looking for a dog that is likely to be good with kids, you can find that too. In order to have the best chance of getting a dog that is characteristic of the breed, it is important that you get your puppy from a reputable breeder. While most breeders operate for a profit, a reputable breeder also has the dogs’ welfare at heart and treats them well. A breeder that is primarily concerned with profit may feed the dogs less nutritious food and keep the dogs in less than pristine living conditions. The best way to find a reputable breeder is to do a little research and to visit the breeder, if at all possible. Mixed Breed Dogs Many family pets that have been adopted from the pound or obtained when a dog in the neighborhood had puppies are mixed breed dogs. Mixed breed dogs are also known as mutts. Mutts can be wonderful pets. However, it is important that you know as much about their parentage as you can. If you know what breeds the dog descends from, then you will know as much as possible about its potential temperament and health problems. Designer Dogs Designer dogs are gaining in popularity. Unlike mixed breed “mutts” that happen by chance, designer dogs are a purposeful breeding of two specific breeds. Careful research and thought has gone into the combinations of dogs that are being bred. The breeding is meant to result in a dog that has the best characteristics of both its parents. The thought is, for example, to produce a wonderful family dog that does not shed. Sometimes this is successful and sometimes it is not. Designer dogs are expensive and very popular right now and can be wonderful pets if they have the right parents. However, some people who are not in favor of this purposeful cross breeding believe that these dogs are simply expensive mutts. So, before you welcome your new dog into your home be sure to consider to pros and cons of pure breeds, mutts and designer dogs. They all can make a wonderful family pet.
Sharing Food With Your Dog Sometimes we share food with our dogs on purpose; other times it is by accident. Some of the food that we eat is nutritious and good for dogs but, other food is potentially dangerous. So, it is important to understand what your dog should and should not eat. Below are some common foods that are good for dogs and some that are dangerous for dogs; however it is not meant to be a comprehensive list. As always, it is critical that you consult with your veterinarian prior to feeding your dog any new food. Some Good Foods · Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is safe treat for your dog in moderation. If you need to give your dog medication, it is a great way to disguise a pill. · Cheese: Cheese is generally a safe and yummy treat for dogs in moderation. · Popcorn: Popcorn is another good treat so long as it used in moderation. It is high in fiber. Air popped, without preservatives, is the safest kind. · Carrots: Raw carrots are very healthy for dogs. Just be careful that they are thoroughly chewed to prevent choking and that your dog doesn’t fill up too much and refuse a well balanced diet. Some Dangerous Foods · Chocolate: While it might taste good, chocolate contains theo bromine which is potentially fatal for dogs. It is not a good idea to feed your dog chocolate in any amount. Even if it doesn’t kill the dog, chocolate will certainly cause restlessness and stomach problems. · Nuts: Some nuts, such as macadamia nuts can cause severe muscle problems that may lead to paralysis. It is best to avoid nuts and nut products (with the notable exception of peanut butter). · Bones: Cooked bones from roasts or poultry may seem like a good thing to give a dog, however, they can splinter and the sharp edges that splinter off can puncture a dog’s insides and cause significant problems. · Grapes and Raisins: These healthy human foods may seem innocent enough. However, they can cause acute renal failure in dogs. · Onions and garlic: These foods contain thiosulphate which is toxic for dogs. In addition to not purposefully feeding your dog dangerous foods, you must take care not to leave these foods where your dog can get them. That means that children who are snacking on grapes or raisins must be carefully supervised if the family dog is close by and that desserts that are kept on the kitchen counter must be well out of reach. When in doubt, always err on the side of not giving regular human food to your dog. Your dog gets all the nutrition that he or she needs from his dog food. Human food may be supplemented, however it should be done with caution and it should never be substituted for dog food. It is best used as a special treat or when your dog is not feeling well and needs some encouragement to eat. So, before you share your next meal or snack with your dog, be sure that you are giving the dog food that he or she can enjoy safely.
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