Raw Food Dog Diet

In recent times, there have been many incidences of product recall from many commercial dog food companies. There have been numerous cases in which commercial dog food has proved to be detrimental for dog health. This has forced dog owners to look for other alternatives for their pet's diet. Raw food dog diet has emerged has one of the most sought after diets for dogs. Actually, this diet is one of the most primitive diets for dogs, hence the most natural choice for dog food. Earlier, it was called as Bones and Raw Food (BARF), which was later changed to Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF). Let us know more about this type of raw food dog diet.

Advantages of Raw Food Dog Diet

Raw food dog diet includes unprocessed, uncooked and non-refined meat and bones as a part of dog food. Since the ingredients used in raw food are often fresh, the enzymes and proteins do not get altered in any way. Thus, the nutrients remain intact so that dog can benefit the most from this diet. Another advantage of this diet is that you can bring in a lot of variation in raw dog food recipes. In case of commercial dog foods, the choice is limited as most of the products are grain based with little variation in meat and veggies. Since, most of these products taste more or less the same, the dog does not find the food appealing. A BARF diet on the other hand offers a wide range of variety in terms of meat, veggies and fruits used. Proteins form the integral part of this diet form. The risk of food allergies in dogs, or food intolerance and other complications originating from food are minimum in case of a raw food dog diet.

Where to Find Raw Food Dog Diet

Many dog food companies have made available pre-packaged raw dog food in frozen form. Dog owners simply have to dethaw the packaged food before feeding it to their dogs. Alternatively, you can make homemade dog food for your pet. This is actually a safer option as you can yourself monitor what goes into your dog's food. You can choose from variety of meat like pork, chicken, turkey, wild game, beef, fish, lamb, etc. Fresh fruits like pears, oranges, apples also constitute a raw dog food diet. Veggies like broccoli, ground pepper, spinach should also form an integral part of your dog's raw diet. Other healthy dog food sources include raw eggs, dairy products, organ meat (preferably liver), etc. The raw ingredients can be found easily at grocery stores, butcher shops, etc.

Risks with Raw Food Dog Diet

The only risk associated with a raw food dog diet is that of bacterial infection. Hygiene is of prime importance when you are feeding raw foods to your dog. Ensure the raw ingredients are of best quality only. Handle these ingredients with proper care and hygiene. Most healthy dogs can withstand bacterial contamination from salmonella and E.coli. Immune system compromised dogs may not be the candidates for this type of diet plan. Similarly, some dog breeds cannot digest raw food. Hence, check with your vet if it is alright to give raw food to your dog. While feeding bones, it is best to feed raw meat bones ground to hamburger like consistency. This prevents any incidences of choking. Boiling or cooking bones is a bad idea as it makes them brittle and may lead to splinters. Feeding the most hygienic and best raw food dog diet can prevent all the possible risks with this diet plan. Know more on dog food reviews.

You may go through the raw food dog diet reviews to find out which diet is the best for your dog breed. If your dog has any underlying health issues, it is recommended that you consult a vet before putting it on a raw diet.

By Florentyna K

Dog Economics of Feeding

Now for the economics of dog feeding, disregarding for the moment the time and trouble that may be spent in the preparation of some foods, including the cost of feeding a pet.

If you buy a little snore food for the family to feed the dog, as so many do, it will cost you about six times as much as a good dehydrated dog food.

If you feed canned or semi moist food to your pet, it will cost about three times as much as a poorer kibble-type food to which even the cheapest meat is added.

By adding leftover cooking fat to a dehydrated food you will save even more and there is a better way to feed a dog. Such a diet provides three times as many calories per pound as meat so that only one third as much needs to be fed. Of course, the added water in-creases the bulk.

All these methods require only common sense and most dogs can be made to thrive without digestive disorders on combinations of these different types of food.

Dog Feeding Tip

There are some general principles of feeding that are important to the health of every dog regardless of breed.

Nobody should have any difficulty understanding the fundamental rule: In feeding mature pets, the less they eat, compatible with keeping them in sound condition, the healthier they'll be and the longer they'll live. It goes without saying, of course, that they should have a complete and balanced diet. They should not he allowed to get too fat or too thin. If you try to keep them too thin, they may get too little of some essential ingredient; if you permit them to get too fat, you will shorten their lives.

In growing pets, the faster they grow the cheaper it is to raise them.But - will they live longer, be healthier? Probably the best rule for sound health arid longevity is to grow them moderately fast, but not to force them.

Nearly everyone overfeeds his or her pet. And almost every dog will eat zoo percent more than it needs. There are some dog, like some people, that never get fat even though they are chronically overfed. The way to feed your pet the way people who are good feeders do is to find just the amount that will maintain its weight and then give it no more. No rule is as important as this one. Your dog is happier if not burdened with unnecessary fat.

Humming Bird Food

Who said sugar is bad for health? Your hummingbirds would totally disagree this statement! These small and high-energy birds flit from flower to flower looking or nectar (humming bird food). Commonly, humming birds are one of the most popular birds, which people try to attract to their gardens or yards.

The simplest way of attracting humming bird is to add the plants to your garden on which the bird likes to feed. In Nature, humming bird food includes flowering plants such as honeysuckle or trumpet creepers. The next best solution is to mount a humming bird feeder where you can watch it and you can easily fill the bird feeder with humming bird food.

Steps to make a Humming Bird Food

The recipe of humming bird food is derived from the old standard recipe. Please be aware that a lot of research is performed for making the most beneficial source of humming bird food replacement. Following are the steps of recipe for making a humming bird food.

1. The classic formulation is to make a solution of one part sugar to four parts of water. Generally, the experts suggest that you use cane sugar (the white granulated type is fine.) Starting with a one-cup of water and ј cup of sugar would be more than enough to begin with. However, you can also prepare more bird food and store it, if you want. Let the recipe get cool and then store it in the refrigerator. Remember; do not store it for more than a couple of weeks.

Softbill Bird Food

The most important point to remember when feeding softballs is that careful attention should be paid to hygiene. Most of their food is perishable and should be freshly prepared at all times and any leftovers removed before they become tainted.

All softballs require more complicated feeding routines than seedeaters. The diet normally includes the following items. Proprietary brands of both fine grade and coarse grade insectile mixtures for soft bills can be obtained at pet food stores. The mixture should form a basic part of the diet, fine grade for the smaller species, including small insectivorous, omnivorous and frugivorous birds, and coarse grade for larger softballs, such as fruit suckers, jays and starlings. Lnsectile mixtures are not perishable, but should he store in airtight containers to preserve their moisture. These mixtures contain a well-balanced blend of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Nectar mixture is important to all types of softballs and essential for the nectarivorous species. Proprietary brands of nectar powder may be purchased. These mixtures are easy to prepare in the correct strength. They may be mixed with pure clear honey and warm water, instead of sugar, if desired. Honey contains less carbohydrate than sugar, so provides less energy but is not so fattening. A very active bird needs sugar, while a inure lethargic species lives well on honey. As many different types of fruit as possible should be offered. It must be ripe, but not over ripe, and unhruised. Chop all fruit into small cubes. Oranges, however, may sometimes he cut in half and suspended on pieces of string near favorite perching spot.

How Much to Feed a Dog

Once a day is often enough to feed a grown dog, no matter how much it begs between meals. It is all right to let a growing puppy eat all it wants. But an adult house dog on this kind of schedule soon becomes overweight. It is much simpler to keep a dog's weight down than it is to educe it. If a dog seems famished when it has finished its meal, give it a little more. If it doesn't eat it all, it has been given too much. If it is gaining weight, or losing, the owner should provide more or less food appropriately to keep the dog in proper condition.

Feeding Tips for Puppies

The following tips would help you to maintain the health and encourage growth of your puppy effectively.

• For the first 8 weeks of their birth puppies should not be separated from their mother. If they are taken away from their mother they become ill. The mother’s milk provide them nutrition and ability to develop antibodies that would help the puppy grow strong, healthy and disease free. When the puppy would be three to four weeks old you may try out with some solid food as well. Serve your puppy with a watery solid food having one third of water to promote proper digestion. This will help the puppy well with the food when it would get separated from its mother.

Natural High Protein in Dog Food

A second general group of essentials for every diet is proteins. These complex chemicals always have the element nitrogen as a component.All proteins arc composed of amino acids, which contain the nitrogen hydroxide (NH2) group in varying combinations.

There are twenty-two amino acids, each of which has been studied both for its composition and its essentiality. Of these, ten are absolutely essential to life and as far as is known must be part of the diet of all pets. These are: Argentine, histamine, insolvencies, Lucien, lysine, phenyl, threnodies, cryptophytes, va line.

Cosine contain sulphur. The most satisfactory way to feed sulphur is not as the element, because as such it is not absorbed, but as one of these two amino acids from which ample sulphur is available. Wheat, meat, fish, milk, yeast, and egg are excellent sources of both cosine and mentioning.

The proteins found in various foods have unequal properties. Milk proteins possess all of the essential amino acids, and all are digestible.But corn, with its protein called zen, is not complete and is less val u-able to feed to pets. Here, taking milk as a standard, are the relative values of the proteins found in some common dog foods:

Most proteins contain more than one amino acid. Some protein shave one complete amino acid and others incomplete ones. Proteins,with different assortments of amino acids, can be mixed to pro-since complete rations of amino acids. Cornmeal and horsemeat, milk and cereals, alfalfa with wheat or oat flour all are compatible mix-tues. Even meat protein can be supplemented to advantage. It is the mixtures of proteins that produce the almost limitless variety in diets,varying flavors, aromas, and appearances.

Protein Requirements. If you could feed just the minimum of compete proteins, the average adult dog of any breed could probably get along on a diet that included 4 to 6 percent of available protein, and the growing dog on 15 percent. Nearly all pet foods and rations contain over 20 percent of protein mixtures, some complete, some incomplete, some supplementing others so the results are excellent. Protein is used primarily in building the body. Some is burned as energy, the nitrogen passing out in the urine, but protein foods, such as meat, are not primarily energy foods. Hunters mistakenly think they most feed their dogs great quantities of meat while the dogs are hunting but all species get their energy best from fats and carbohydrates.

Too many pet owners feel that since they prefer to have their veterinarian deal with all serious pct problems, there is no necessity for them to be able to handle difficult or unpleasant situations themselves. People who feel this way should remember, however, that emergencies have a way of happening at inconvenient moments. Even in metropolitan areas there often are times when a veterinarian is not immediately available, and in most regions of the country it may well take several hours to reach a veterinarian. As long as that is true, the owner who doesn't take the trouble to find out what he or she can do to help a pectin an emergency is risking the dog's life foolishly.

Any owner can be and should be prepared to administer first aid to an injured pet. He or she should know how to restrain an dog that is frightened or in pain so that it will not harm itself or others. An owner should know how to stop the flow of blood from a wound, how to relieve the pain as much as possible, how to protect the pet until the veterinarian is available. He or she should know what not to do. The skills and techniques are not difficult to learn or to apply. They are available to everyone the cheapest and best insurance a person can get against the loss of a pet.

Bird Pet Feeding

Correct bird feed with proper nutrition is one of the most important factors for healthy and contented birds. In the case of seedeaters, the seed diet is straightforward. The soft bill fancier must take extra care, since the requirements of the many species of soft bill are more exacting than those of seed eaters.

It is always worth while to make a little extra effort to provide as wide a variety of food as possible. Additional nutrition and favored tit-bits make the difference between the average healthy bird and the specimen with excellent show potential eager to breed. In general, hot weather causes the problems with regard to following hygienic feeding routines. With nectar feeding soft bills, however, cold weather is a nuisance if severe enough to freeze the nectar mixture in its plastic tubes.

All birds require the following:

• Vitamin A promotes healthy skin and feathers and is essential for young birds.


• Vitamin B is needed for the central nervous system and vitality.


• Vitamin C prevents skin disease. Vitamin D aids formation of bones.


• Vitamin E prevents sterility and aids fertility.

Egg Shells – Birds especially female birds need good amount of calcium for strong and tough bones. To prepare egg shells as bird feed you have to first wash few egg shells and when they dry up. Bake the egg shell at about 200 degree to 300 degree celsius just before the egg becomes brown. Then grind the egg shells into powder before offering them to eat.

Fruits – Oranges, grape fruits, chopped raisins soaked in water and apples. Provide them fresh fruits to eat and clear the left over every day in order to avoid growth of bacteria. Birds like orioles, jay, tanagers love to feed themselves with orange segments and grape halves.

Mealworms – Several species of birdss love to have worms as their diet food. Birds like blue birds mostly prefer meal worms.

Seeds – Many of the species are of seed eating breeds. There are many seeds like milo that may not be popular among few bird breeds. So, it would be always wise enough to buy mixed seeds. While buying a bag of mixed seeds you should be careful that the mixture should not have large amount of milo seeds as one of the constituents.

The sunflower seed is a popular bird feed. The black oil sunflower seeds are highly preferred by birds. It is also quite easy to open and so it is ideal food for soft billed birds.

Suet – Suet is dense form of fat that is found around the beef kidney and loin regions. The suet mixed with sunflower seeds, peanut butter and chopped peanuts. Birds like woodpeckers enjoy having suets. Suets are ideal for birds of cold climatic regions. In the warm regions the suet has to be rendered with a hard substance so that it does not melt.

Provide your pet bird with fresh and clean water to drink. The water has to be changed regularly in order to avoid contamination.

Prepare Home Cooked Dog Food

Making home cooked dog food is a healthy and economical way to feed your pet. After the pet food scare a few years ago, many owners have begun cooking for their animals as a way to avoid harmful additives. Other owners need to cook for their dogs because of a health related issue. Whatever the reason, you can prepare your dog's food easily.

Dog Nutrition

Many people think dogs should eat only protein. This is incorrect. Dogs, like humans, require a variety of meat, starches and vegetables to meet their basic nutritional requirements. If dogs eat only protein, they will lack important vitamins, and this can lead to deficiencies and even thyroid problems. If they do not receive enough protein, they may suffer from poor immune function, muscle deterioration and blood disorders. So, a balanced diet is essential. Many vets recommend a ratio of 40 percent protein, 50 percent vegetables and 10 percent starch.

Ingredients to Use

Each of the food categories has a wide variety of ingredients from which to choose. The most important aspect is that the ingredients be fresh and contain no additives.

Best Dog Food Choices

Pet store aisles are lined with dozens of brands of dog food. There’s dry food, canned food, and semi-moist food. Then there are all the labels: natural, holistic, super-premium, organic. How do you know which one is right for your dog?

To help you find the best food for your furry companion, PHT (Pet Health Tips) went to the experts to get answers to eight common questions about dog food.

1. If a dog food is more expensive, does that mean it’s better?

Many dog owners these days splurge on expensive dog foods, thinking they are buying the best for their dog. But when it comes to quality, price isn’t a good guideline, says Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I’ve seen ‘all-natural, holistic’ dog foods that perform really poorly in dogs, and I’ve seen some dog foods that you might not want to feed your dog, that perform better,” Wakshlag says. “I don’t think you get what you pay for.”

Overweight Dogs and Canine Weight Loss Diets ( 2 )

Don't Give In to Begging

If your overweight dog whines and cries for more food, hold firm. “That causes a lot of owners to buckle,” Tams says. Murray says: “Your dog will certainly whine if he knows that will get him more treats and snacks.” If you're serving the correct portion, more food will only contribute to weight issues.

Diet Dog Food: Making the Switch

If that doesn't do the trick, it may be time for diet dog food. Gimeno attributes certain brands of chow and lack of exercise to Lolita's weight problem. And because smaller breeds are more susceptible to heart failure, she decided to visit her veterinarian and take action. With a diet of organic brands such as Newman's Own and AvoDerm, and more walks in the park, Lolita shed her excess weight. Both Murray and Tams advocate this type of dog diet. Consult with your vet on the right food for your canine. Factors such as size, age and overall health dictate the type and/or brand. Your vet may even suggest a prescription dog food. “Some diet foods that are higher in certain types of fiber can help a dog feel fuller, while ingesting fewer calories,” Murray says. If you do decide to switch to diet dog food, do so slowly, each day mixing in more and more of the healthier fare.

Get Your Overweight Dog Exercising

Exercise is as important for pets as it is for humans. If you don't have the time, hire a dog walker or a teenager looking for some extra cash. “Doggy day care centers are a great option if everyone is gone during the day,” Tams says. “Your dog can run and play all day long.” Tams advocates 10-15 minutes of activity several times per day. If you live in a hot area, exercise early in the morning or late at night. For heavier dogs with joint problems or those that overheat easily, swimming is a great alternative.

When to Try an Rx for Your Overweight Dog

If  diet and exercise just aren't working, medication could help, but only as a last resort. Tams recommends Pfizer Animal Health's prescription drug Slentrol. “We always try exercise and diet modification first,” he says. “But some animals have seen weight loss with Slentrol, which helps to decrease appetite and fat absorption.”

Still Not Losing? Maybe it's Medical

If cutting out unhealthy snacks and table scraps, serving diet dog food, increasing physical activity, and/or medication don't do the trick, an underlying health condition likely triggered the weight gain. “That's why consultation with a vet who can perform blood work is so important,” Tams says. Your vet will check for:

• Low thyroid level


• Hormonal imbalances, such as Cushing's disease, an excess of adrenal hormones

Just like people, overweight dogs can face a litany of health issues, so a diet may save your pet's life. Among the potentially devastating consequences of obesity:

• Trouble breathing


• Greater risk for heat stroke


• Pancreatitis


• Diabetes


• Orthopedic concerns


• Comprised immune system


• Reduction in lifespan


• Mammary tumors (particularly in un-spayed females)


• Skin conditions

How Long Will It Take to See Results?

As with people, aim for gradual weight loss and expect significant improvement to take several months. “The ideal would be a loss of 1% to 2% of the initial weight per week,” Tams says.

Once you've achieved success, maintain the weight loss by sticking to what you know. “Hopefully while achieving your dog's weight loss goals, you both developed some healthier habits,” Murray says. “Stick to these: avoiding between-meal snacks and treats, regular exercise, and controlled food portions. Getting the whole family into healthy-dog habits is essential for long-term weight management.”

SOURCES:

Todd R. Tams, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM and chief medical officer of VCA Antech.

Louise Murray, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM and director of medicine for the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

Marissa Gimeno, dog owner.

© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Source: WebMD.com
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/overweight-dogs-and-canine-weight-loss-diets

Overweight Dogs and Canine Weight Loss Diets

For stylist Marissa Gimeno, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., it didn't take a rocket scientist -- or even a veterinarian -- for her to realize that her 8-year-old dog, Lolita, needed to slim down. “She was about two pounds overweight,” she says. “For a Chihuahua, that's hard to miss.”

Is Your Dog Overweight?

To tell if your pet could shed a few, feel around his ribs and spine. You should be able to locate both, with only a thin layer of fat separating the skin from the bones. If you can't find the ribcage, you have an overweight dog.

Ask your veterinarian to evaluate your pooch's size at every check-up. Once your canine reaches maturity, ask for his optimal weight. As a rule of thumb, 15% above that weight is obese; zero to 15% is overweight. If your dog falls into either category, he is not alone. Among industrialized nations, 20% of dogs are overweight or obese.

Tips for Weighing Your Dog

Hit the scales periodically (weekly or monthly) to make sure you're on track. “Your vet will be happy to let you use the scale at the office,” says Louise Murray, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM and director of medicine for the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. If that's not convenient, step on a scale at home. Then step on again, this time holding your pet. Subtract the difference for your dog's weight. For small breeds, invest in a baby scale. “Regardless of the method, it's imperative that your pet is weighed on the same scale consistently,” says Todd R. Tams, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM and chief medical officer of VCA Antech.

Overweight Dogs: Blame the Breed

Some breeds are prone to obesity, while others (Greyhounds, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers), are typically slim. Small breeds with a propensity for heftiness include:

• Cairn Terriers


• Dachshunds


• Scottish Terriers


• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Medium breeds:

• Beagles


• Cocker Spaniels


• Basset Hounds

Large breeds:

• Labs


• Golden Retrievers


• Rottweilers

Giant breeds:

• Bernese Mountain Dogs


• Newfoundlands


• Saint Bernards

Are You Making Your Dog Fat?

Another, non-genetic reason for an overweight dog is more obvious: YOU, the owner, may be over-indulging your pet, most likely with treats or people food. “Food is love, and people want to make their pets happy,” Tams says. “Very often, it is not the dog's official food that is causing the weight problem, it is all the additional treats and/or snacks between meals,” Murray says.

Portion Control is Key

Knowing the correct serving size of food for your overweight dog is imperative for success. Companies often place information on labels or include charts on their web sites. But because many variables, such as size, are factored into the equation, get advice from your veterinarian on how often and how much to feed your dog.

Putting Your Dog on a Diet

After you've verified that your furry friend needs to slim down, consider everything he eats on a daily basis. “Do an honest assessment, covering all treats/snacks, including those given by other family members, neighbors, dog sitters, and dog walkers,” Murray says. “You may find all you need to do is cut these out.”

You don't necessarily have to nix treats altogether. “Be realistic -- if you or your family likes to give them, it's unlikely that a no-treat policy will succeed,” Murray says. “Choose healthy alternatives, such as veggies or rice cakes, and decide at the beginning of each day exactly how many the dog is allowed; put this amount in a bowl, and when they're gone, they're gone.”

Another tactic to try is reducing portions. Murray recommends immediately cutting daily food intake by 15% to 20% for a six- to eight-week period, then analyzing the results. Additionally, your veterinarian can calculate the exact amount of calories your pet needs per day to lose weight based on his current size, ideal body weight, energy level, and general health.

...to be continued

Exercising With Your Dog

Dogs are born to work for a living. They've worked alongside us for thousands of years, and most are bred for a particular purpose, like hunting, herding livestock or providing protection. Dogs' wild relatives spend most of their waking hours scavenging and hunting for food, caring for offspring, defending territory and playing with each other. They lead busy, complex lives, interacting socially and solving simple problems necessary for their survival.

The most common job for our companion dogs today, however, is Couch Potato! They no longer have to earn their keep and instead have to adjust to our more sedentary lifestyles. They get their food for free in a bowl and are often confined, alone and inactive, for most of the day. This lack of purpose leaves dogs no outlet for their naturally active tendencies-physical and mental-and it contributes to the development of behavior problems.

Another problem modern dogs face because they rarely work anymore is a lack of opportunities to exercise. Some pet parents make the mistake of assuming that if a dog has access to a yard, she's getting exercise. But your dog doesn't run laps by herself in your yard-or do much of anything besides waiting for you to come outside or let her back inside. It's the interaction with you that counts!

Dogs are born to work for a living. They've worked alongside us for thousands of years, and most are bred for a particular purpose, like hunting, herding livestock or providing protection. Dogs' wild relatives spend most of their waking hours scavenging and hunting for food, caring for offspring, defending territory and playing with each other. They lead busy, complex lives, interacting socially and solving simple problems necessary for their survival.

The most common job for our companion dogs today, however, is Couch Potato! They no longer have to earn their keep and instead have to adjust to our more sedentary lifestyles. They get their food for free in a bowl and are often confined, alone and inactive, for most of the day. This lack of purpose leaves dogs no outlet for their naturally active tendencies-physical and mental-and it contributes to the development of behavior problems.

Another problem modern dogs face because they rarely work anymore is a lack of opportunities to exercise. Some pet parents make the mistake of assuming that if a dog has access to a yard, she's getting exercise. But your dog doesn't run laps by herself in your yard-or do much of anything besides waiting for you to come outside or let her back inside. It's the interaction with you that counts!

Problems That Result from Lack of Exercise and Play

Dogs can be like young children. If you don't give them something constructive to do with their energy, they'll find something to do on their own-and you may not like it! Some of the most common behavior problems seen in dogs who don't get enough exercise and play are:

• Destructive chewing, digging or scratching


• Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding


• Hyperactivity, excitability and night-time activity


• Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people


• Excessive predatory and social play


• Play biting and rough play


• Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining

Benefits of Exercise and Play

The good news is that keeping your dog healthy, happy and out of trouble with daily exercise is a lot of fun and provides many benefits, including:

• Helps to reduce or eliminate the common behavior problems listed above, such as digging, excessive barking, chewing and hyperactivity


• Helps to keep dogs healthy, agile and limber


• Helps to reduce digestive problems and constipation


• Helps timid or fearful dogs build confidence and trust


• Helps dogs feel sleepy, rather than restless, at bedtime or when you're relaxing


• Helps to keep dogs' weight under control

Before You Start Your Dog's Exercise Program

Check with your dog's veterinarian before starting an exercise program. He or she can check your dog for any health issues that may be aggravated by exercise and suggest safe activities. Some size, breed and age considerations are:

• Breeds that are prone to bloat that is, deep-chested, narrow-bodied breeds, such as German shepherd dogs, Doberman pinschers and Great Danes should not be exercised right after meals.


• Small or short-legged dogs usually don't need as much walking as larger dogs.


• Breeds with short or flat noses (brachycephalic breeds) can have trouble breathing when exercised vigorously.


• Sustained jogging or running is not recommended for young dogs whose bones haven't finished growing. Because large dogs are more prone to cruciate ligament injuries, arthritis and hip dysplasia, sustained jogging can be hard on their joints and bones, too.


• Sighthounds, like greyhounds and whippets, are built for short-distance sprinting, not long-distance runs.

With today's more sedentary lifestyles, dog parents are often challenged to find enough outlets for their pets' considerable natural energy. Dogs are more athletic than us. But take heart-there are a variety of ways to exercise your dog, from activities that don't demand much energy on your part to activities that exercise both you and your dog. Dogs' need for exercise varies depending on their age, size, breed and individual traits. Most dogs benefit enormously from daily aerobic exercise (exercise that makes them pant, like fetch, tug, running and swimming), as well as at least one half-hour walk. Choose activities that suit your dog's individual personality and natural interests. Experiment with the ideas below to see what's most practical and enjoyable for her and for you.

Exercise That's Easy on You

Giving your dog enough exercise doesn't mean you have to be athletic yourself. If you'd rather not run around or take long, brisk walks, consider two approaches to exercising your dog:

1. Focus on brain, not brawn. Exercise your dog's brain with food puzzle toys, hunting for dinner, obedience and trick training, and chew toys instead of excessive physical exercise. Please see our articles, Enriching Your Dog's Life and How to Stuff a KONG^® Toy, to learn more about providing mental exercise for your dog. To learn more about training, please see our articles, Training Your Dog and Clicker Training Your Pet.


2. Focus on games that make your dog run around while you mostly stand or sit still. Games that fit the bill include fetch with balls, Frisbees or sticks, Find It, Hide-and-Seek, catching bubbles (using a special bubble-blower toy made for dogs, such as the Bubble Buddy™), chase (a toy on a rope or stick), and round-robin recalls for the whole family. (Please see our articles, Teaching Your Dog to Play Fetch and Enriching Your Dog's Life, to learn more about these games.) If your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, other easy options include taking her to the dog park, organizing play groups with friends or neighbors who have dogs or signing her up for dog daycare a few days a week. These options give your dog a chance to experience invigorating social play with other dogs.

Exercise for Extra Playful or Active Guardians

On-leash walks Did you know that dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week, whereas people without dogs walk only about 168 minutes? Apparently, our dogs motivate us to stay active! On-leash walks give dogs lots of interesting sights and smells to investigate. They may provide enough exercise for some toy breeds, senior dogs and other inveterate couch potatoes. Use an extendable leash, like the Flexi retractable leash or the WalkAbout^™, to give your dog more freedom to explore, and walk briskly for 30 minutes. To spice up your walks, vary your route once in a while to give your dog new smells and sights to enjoy. If your dog is old, not accustomed to exercise, overweight or has a health problems, start with a 10-minute walk each day and gradually increase the duration. For healthy young or middle-aged dogs, leashed walks alone probably won't provide enough exercise. Keep reading for more suggestions for adding vigorous activities to your dog's routine.

On-leash running, inline skating or bicycling These are great ways to exercise a healthy dog and keep yourself fit, too. Teaching your dog how to walk without pulling on her leash is the first essential step to creating a safe and enjoyable on-leash jogging, inline skating or bicycling companion. If your dog forges ahead, pulls to the side or lags behind you when you walk, imagine the problems that could result when you're moving faster! Constantly pulling on the leash can damage your dog's throat, and it's no fun for you either. (Please see our article, Teaching Your Dog Not to Pull on Leash, for more information.)

Here are some tips and things to consider when you and your dog try life in the fast lane:

• People are actually better suited for jogging or long-distance running than dogs are. Even when hunting or herding, dogs tend to move in short, intense bursts of speed with intermittent stops. Playing dogs do this as well, stopping to sniff around, eliminate and enjoy the scenery. If you jog with your dog on leash, be careful not to overestimate her abilities and go too far. If she seems stiff, sore and exhausted for hours afterward, scale back next time. Also, be careful to check your dog's paws after a run. Dogs get blisters on their pads, just like people get blisters on their feet. Dogs with white or light-colored footpads and some breeds, such as border collies, can be prone to this problem. If you usually run, cycle or inline skate on paved roads, avoid doing so on very hot days. Instead, you can find some soft surfaces that won't injure your dog's footpads, such as dirt and grass. Or if your dog's footpads seem especially sensitive, you can purchase special shoes made for dogs, like Muttluks^® dog boots (www.muttluks.com).


• If your dog normally gets to sniff around on your daily walks, she'll probably try to do the same when the two of you are running, skating or cycling. You'll have to teach her to pay attention to you during your outings. The best way to do this is by regularly rewarding her with small treats for not pulling. Pick the position you want her to run in and give her treats when she's in that spot. Before you set off, give your dog ample time to relieve herself and sniff around. And after you finish your outing, you can give her another chance to eliminate and sniff before bringing her inside.


• Again, sustained jogging or running is not recommended for young dogs whose bones haven't finished growing. It can also be hard on large dogs' joints and bones. If you have a young dog, check with her veterinarian to find out when it's safe for her to start running. If you have a large dog, ask her veterinarian if it's safe for her to run with you.


• Because teaching a dog not to pull on leash can be challenging, don't hesitate to enlist the help of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) in your area. A professional trainer will offer group or private classes that can give you and your dog lots of help with leash walking. Please see our article, Finding Professional Help, to locate a CPDT near you.

Additional tips for on-leash inline skating and bicycling Being on wheels when attached to a galloping dog can be a bit dangerous. Squirrels, bouncing balls, the neighbor's cat and other things that might distract your dog aren't just slight diversions. They could have you suddenly traveling at light-speed and spilling onto your face-or worse, spinning into the path of a passing car. So, just like with running on-leash, the first step to rollerblading or bicycling with your dog is teaching her how to run beside you without pulling. Dogs often get more excited when running than they do when walking, so it will take extra training to teach your dog to stay in position at a run. If possible, first teach her this skill while running yourself, as described above, instead of skating or cycling. If you plan to cycle with your dog, it can be helpful to attach a Springer to your bike, a device that lets you attach your dog's leash to the bike. The Springer has a coil spring designed to absorb and reduce the force of your dog's sudden tugs if she lunges to the side, which will help you keep your balance and prevent your dog from pulling the bike over.

It's important that you monitor your dog's physical exertion while you're on a bike or inline skates. It's easy to over-exert your dog when you're on wheels while she's running. To avoid this, start with short distances at first and gradually increase them as your dog's endurance increases. If your dog starts to lag behind a lot, you may be pushing her too hard or she might not be enjoying your outings. Slow down or consider taking your dog with you only when you plan to skate or cycle for short distances.

Off-leash exercise Off-leash walking, running, hiking or bicycling in a large, safe fenced property or park or in a forest are ideal activities. Your dog can set her own pace, sniff and investigate to her heart's content, stop when she's tired and burst into running whenever she likes. Be sure to have your dog well-trained to reliably come when called before you give her off-leash privileges. Please see our article, Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called, for training information. Dogs should be allowed off leash only in safe areas where regulations permit. As you would during on-leash activities, be careful not to overestimate your dog's abilities. If she seems stiff, sore and exhausted for hours after exercising, you'll want to scale back next time

Swimming Some breeds are natural water dogs and require no training or acclimation to water, but even dogs who aren't bred for water activities can learn to enjoy a swim now and then. Here are some tips for fun and safe swimming with your dog:

• Introduce your dog to water as early as possible, preferably when she's still a puppy. If you do, she'll probably be more confident about swimming as an adult.


• Regardless of your dog's age, make sure her first experiences with water are pleasant ones. Look for a quiet place with shallow water. With your dog on a long leash (about 15 to 20 feet long), start your dog at the water's edge. Wade in with her and encourage her with play and praise.


• Never force your dog into the water, and don't let her get in deep water over her head until you're confident about her swimming abilities. Belly-deep is deep enough at first. As she becomes more comfortable, you can toss a ball a couple of feet to encourage her to venture in a little deeper.


• If you swim with your dog, be careful that the two of you don't get over your heads. Many dogs will try to climb on their guardian's head or shoulders when they tire.


• Bring fresh water for your dog to drink. Even freshwater streams and lakes can contain parasites and unhealthy bacteria.


• Don't let your dog swim into currents.


• Don't allow your dog to jump into deep water in a pool or lake. A dog can panic and possibly drown. Without an easily accessible ramp, she may not be able to get out of a swimming pool or climb back onto a dock.


• For boating or swimming in lakes, get your dog a well-fitted canine life vest. You can use a long nylon lead to prevent your dog from swimming too far away or running off when she gets out of the water. Keep a close watch to make sure your dog doesn't get tangled in the lead.


• Dog guardians who fish should take steps to make sure their dogs can't access fishing lines, lures, hooks or bait. Keep your dog away from feces, dead fish and shellfish washed up on the shore, which can contain toxins and parasites.


• Make sure your dog has access to shade. Too much sun can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If you have a hairless or light-colored dog, ask her veterinarian about using sun block on her exposed areas like her nose, ear tips and stomach.


• Rinse your dog's paws after visiting the beach to wash off irritating sand and salt water.


• Dry out your dog's ears after playing in the water to prevent ear infections. Please contact your veterinarian to determine which product is best for your dog.


• If your dog has a heavy or soft coat-as do, for example, retrievers, collies and shepherds-be sure to brush her thoroughly after she's dried following a swim. Soft coats can mat when wet and trap bacteria that can create local areas of infection called “hot spots.”


• If you have a swimming pool, keep it securely fenced off or covered with a sturdy pool cover when not in use. Never leave your dog unsupervised around an uncovered pool. Your pool should have graded steps, to give dogs and children a way out of the water. Dogs and toddlers cannot climb ladders. If your dog can't get out of the water, she will soon tire and drown. Also, don't assume that your dog will automatically know where the steps are and how to exit the pool. You need to show her and teach her several times.

Jumping Most dogs love to jump. You can make your own jumps from materials you have around the house, like cardboard boxes or a broomstick laid across two low pieces of furniture. At first, try using treats to lure your dog over jumps that are just a few inches high. As your dog catches on, you can gradually raise the jumps a little higher. However, keep jump heights at or below the level of your dog's elbows to avoid stressing her bones and joints. Also, avoid encouraging your dog to keep jumping if she hesitates or seems tired after a few minutes. She might be a little sore, especially if she's over six years of age, and continued exertion could cause injury.

Dog exercise balls Dog exercise balls, such as the Boomer Ball^® and the Best Ball, are made for soccer-style play. They come in different sizes and are made of hard plastic. Many dogs love to play with these, using their paws and nose to play soccer-with you, of course! You can also play soccer with your dog using KONG toys, which bounce in unpredictable directions because of their shape, or soccer balls made for dogs or humans.

Dog sports Sports like agility, flyball, obedience, rally obedience, musical freestyle and tracking can give you and your dog a whole new world of fun exercise and competition to explore. Activities for specific breed groups include herding, lure coursing, hunt tests and go-to-ground trials. For more information on these and other sports, please see our article Enriching Your Dog's Life

© 2009 ASPCA. All Rights Reserved.

Source: WebMD.com
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/exercise-dogs