(ARA) – No matter how many canine companions you have or what their ages are, every day is a new opportunity to make their lives happier and healthier. Keep a few simple tips in mind and you’re sure to get four paws up.

Food and water
It’s crucial to always keep a bowl of water available for your dog to make sure they stay properly hydrated, but not just any water will do. Fill your dog’s bowl with fresh water every single day and remember to clean the water bowl regularly to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that could sicken your furry friend. For healthier, great-tasting water, use a pitcher filtration system.

Equally important is the dog food in the bowl next to the water dish. Eating poor-quality food on a daily basis can dramatically impact your dog’s health in the same way eating fried foods frequently can negatively affect your overall health. “Do your research and read labels before deciding on which food to feed your dog,” says nationally renowned veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker. “If some of the first ingredients listed are proteins, then you’ve found a quality recipe.”

Nutro Ultra food for dogs features the Ultrassential Superfood Blend. Superfoods are nutrient-dense whole foods containing high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Common superfoods that are beneficial for both humans and canines include tomatoes, spinach, blueberries, carrots and flaxseed. “Some of the benefits of feeding ‘superfoods’ to dogs can include: a healthy skin and coat which comes from essential fatty acids, lean muscle mass from high-quality proteins, strong teeth and bones from calcium and a strong immune system from antioxidant-rich foods,” says Becker.

When it’s time to treat your best buddy, make sure the treats are high-quality and made specifically for dogs. Remember that treats add calories to your dog’s diet so don’t give too many. Human food can be unhealthy for canines (even deadly, in the case of certain foods like chocolate, grapes and raisins), but if you can’t resist a “people” snack, try giving him a few fresh vegetables like a small carrot or green bean. “A good guideline is that treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet,” says Becker.

Playtime
The average dog needs about 20-30 minutes of daily exercise or vigorous activity. Just like humans, inactive dogs can suffer from weight gain, muscle loss and even depression and disease. Take your dog for at least one walk every day (it’s good for you too), run around the yard or at an off-leash dog park and have fun playing fetch or tug of war.

To help keep playtime fun, make sure your dog knows basic commands (sit, stay and drop it, for example) and be consistent in using them. Encourage good behavior with lots of positive attention and correct mistakes immediately by redirecting your dog to the correct behavior. Never physically punish your dog as it can lead to aggression and fear biting.

Health
Most cities require dogs to have their shots and be licensed. Make sure to bring your dog to the veterinarian annually (or as recommended) and keep him up to date on shots and medications. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly (at least once per week) to prevent gum disease, the buildup of plaque and costly canine dental procedures down the line.

For more information, visit UltraHolistic.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Think Twice Before Taking Your Pooch to a Picnic

This scenario plays out everywhere. You’re about to head out to a picnic or other outdoor gathering and you know that dog of yours loves going to the park. It can be difficult to leave a beloved pet at home. However, before you melt and reach for the leash when the dog looks at you with pleading eyes, there are many things to consider.

“Taking your dog with you on a picnic can be a wonderful experience. It can also turn into a nightmare if you are not properly prepared,“ says Paula Lind (CVT, BS) chair of the veterinary technology program at Argosy University, Twin Cities. According to Lind, you should inquire ahead of time whether the picnic location allows pets. Many parks ban dogs altogether, and arriving with your pooch could prohibit you from attending the event.

To help ensure an enjoyable experience for all, Lind recommends that dog owners consider several basic issues before taking a pet to a picnic.

* Vaccinations. The New York Department of Health reports that raccoons present a growing risk for rabies, particularly across the eastern seaboard. Be sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date before exposure to wooded areas and other wild or domestic animals.

* Obedience Training. “A dog must be trained at home with no distractions,” says Lind. “Children running and throwing balls are big distractions that can put stress on a dog. It’s impossible to teach anything when a dog is stressed. If the ‘down’ and ‘stay’ commands are not heeded in the home, it’s not fair to expect that the dog will behave elsewhere. Another consideration is proper off-leash obedience. Do you have reliable recall? Can you get him back if he takes off? If not, it becomes a safety issue.”

* Socialization. “Many unfortunate situations can occur when a dog is not properly socialized. Consider how your dog reacts to children, strangers and other animals” says Lind. A dog that jumps up to say hello can frighten a child and become a nuisance to other guests. One that becomes aggressive toward other dogs should not attend a gathering where another animal could be present.

* Supplies. When a trusted dog with established training accompanies you to a picnic, it’s important to take supplies with you. Lind outlines these basic items: water supply and bowl, food, leash and/or chain, appropriate treats, a toy to keep your pet occupied, and “poop bags” for waste disposal. Lind recommends not allowing guests to feed your pet “people food,” which can cause an upset stomach on the ride home.

* Backup Plan. If your pet disrupts an event away from home, you will need to remove the dog to a safe place. What will you do? “Cars become dangerously hot in the summer months, even with the windows down. Unless you’re prepared to leave early and take your pet home, you will need to arrange for the dog’s safekeeping for the duration of your stay at the event,” states Lind.

“It’s all about training, socialization, and common sense,” says Lind. A dog that is well behaved at home, and proven to be a “good canine citizen” in public, can be a welcome addition at a picnic or outdoor gathering. “As a general rule, if the dog can’t walk on a leash properly around the neighborhood, please don’t take him,” Lind says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Natural pet care products for dogs consist mainly of dog food that does not contain any ingredients that may have harmful chemicals. You can say that these are organic since they have not been processed with chemicals and have been grown naturally. These dog foods that are part of a pet care system also have treats that are made from natural ingredients. These treats complement the steps you have taken to provide natural dog food for your pets.

There are also natural pet care products for dogs that focus on grooming and treating ailments. Most shampoos and conditioners that are labeled all natural work well with dogs that have developed allergies to synthetic ingredients or harsh chemicals found in other shampoos. There are also some natural pet care products specifically for dogs’ eye, ear and paw maintenance. Dental hygiene natural pet care systems are also available for dogs.

There are also herbal remedies and dietary supplements for dogs included in many natural products meant for pets. There are also homeopathy and aromatherapy treatments as well as some oil blends.

Advantages Of Using Natural Products

The advantage of using these natural pet care products is the assurance that both the pet owner and the dog are free from exposure to harmful chemicals and ingredients. It is not only the dog or pet that is exposed to all the ingredients and substances in the products but also the owner who cuddles the dog, bathes the dog and takes care of the dog.

Natural pet care products also benefit those who are involved in the manufacture of the products themselves. These workers also have less or no exposure to dangerous chemicals as they manufacture the botanical or natural products.

The use of natural pet care products for pets is advantageous not only for the owners and their animals but also for the environment. This is because the use of natural ingredients or organic ingredients does not abuse the earth and does not expose the soil to harmful chemicals. This is a safeguard that organic farmers have to be able to use the earth without destroying it.

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Usually, smaller dogs adapt more easily to limited or smaller spaces. Getting a German Shepherd or a Great Dane if your home is a single bedroom apartment may pose a big problem in how to take care of a dog.

Obedience Training And Potty Training

How to take care of a dog in a limited space entails obedience training because your neighbors might complain of noise from barking and howling. You can bring your dog to obedience school as early as three to five months of age or you can try to train him yourself. Obedience is vital in how to take care of a dog in limited space because he must learn to be calm and quite when left alone and also not to destroy any of your things while you are gone.

Potty training is another aspect of how to take care of a dog. The limited space of your home will necessitate taking your dog out to do his business. This will require that you to bring out your dog for a walk in the morning. While it is still a puppy, you need to be aware when it wants to defecate. Signs of needing to go may be straining or circling. Different dogs may have different signs so it is best to take note. This usually happens after it has just eaten a full meal so you might want to just take it out after a meal. When the dog is older, it will not defecate as often as a puppy.

Exercise

Exercise is another aspect of how to take care of a dog in your small apartment. Big and small dogs need exercise daily, big dogs more than smaller ones. A walk daily might suffice for smaller dogs but bigger dogs might need to be walked morning and night although, all dogs need to be taken out more than twice for their bathroom needs. A run in a park can also do wonders for your dog and playing around with your dog in the park will improve your relationship.

Knowing how to take care of a dog in a small apartment is essential for the health and well being of your pet.

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Regular Brushing

Before using dog skin care products on an otherwise healthy looking dog just try to maintain your dog’s fur by natural means. Daily brushing can help eliminate old dead hairs and also stimulate the production of oils to help maintain the dog’s coat. There are many dog skin care grooming products that can be used to brush and groom your dog’s coat. Brushes, combs and picks have often been used to keep the dog’s coat free of debris and tangles.

Regular brushing and combing can also prevent tangles in the dog’s coat. Unresolved tangles will often result in hair matting. Matted hair can be painful for a dog as it grows thicker and denser because the matted hair tends to pull on the dog’s skin making any contact or movement painful. Dog skin care products specifically designed to help deal with mats are available. Matted hair can lead to skin disorders.

Eliminating Fleas And Ticks

Flea and ticks can cause irritation to the skin due to the dog always scratching and biting its fur. Dog skin care for a dog with fleas may need several applications of a flea and tick solution. Dipping is a dog grooming service by many doggy salons and veterinary clinics. These parasites may also carry diseases, which are dangerous for people and cause certain allergies in dogs. At the first sign of an infestation, you must act because these parasites multiply fast and can lay eggs all over your home.

Bathing

Some dogs will need a bath for their regular dog skin care regimen. Not all dogs need regular baths since bathing can diminish the natural oils needed to maintain their coats. Bathing should be done to get rid of dirt, grime and foul odor but some pet owners prefer to bathe their dogs weekly even without any indication that they need one. There are many dog skin care products specifically for bathing dogs that does not strip away the natural oils needed for a healthy coat.

Maintaining your dog’s healthy coat is one way of keeping your pet healthy and happy. Dog skin care is an integral part of taking care of your dog.

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However, services provided by animal sitters differ from one another. Some provide good services while others provide not-so-good services. So what really is the benchmark of a good dog sitting service? Here is a guide.

Feedback

Feedback is one of the benchmarks you may want to consider to look into when assessing a service. Old clients have something to say about their experience with a certain dog sitting service. Their feedbacks, as well their opinions, are good sources of information on whether a certain service is of good quality or not.

Opinions may very from people to people, but combined, they will eventually form a general opinion that can somehow sum up the kind of service a dog sitter provides.

Training And Affiliation

Animal sitters, if you have not known, can undergo training if they want to. Training will provide them formal knowledge they need to be able to give better services to their clients. Aside from the knowledge, training will also provide them techniques that they can use in taking care of dogs.

Affiliation, even though not a requirement, may also come in handy when assessing a certain animal sitting service. Being an affiliate means a dog sitter has complied with the needed requirements, which is a good indication that he or she provides good service.

Extra Services

There are certain dog sitters who provide their services not just to the dogs but also for other things as well such as your house. Since you are also leaving your house without anyone taking care of it, animal sitters also provide extra services such as taking care of your house.  This is a good extra service that some provide since you will be able to save on money as well as time from looking for another person who will take care of your house.

Insurance

This one is a must-have for all dog sitters. This is just to make sure that your dog will really be indeed in good hands. The insurance will act as some kind of a safety net not just for you and your dog but for the dog sitter as well.

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What Is In A Name?

Provide your dog a collar and attached with it an ID with the name of the dog. It would also be good to include your own name, address and other contact information. This is for the security of your dog in case it gets lost. Anyone who finds him or her will be able to notify you right away.

Sickness Away

Dogs, just like humans, can get sick. Rabies can also be a threat to their health as well as the humans around them. So another basic dog pet care is to vaccinate your dog against rabies and from other illnesses that it may contract.

Keeping Your Dog On A Leash

Even if your dog has already been vaccinated against rabies and other dog illnesses, you still can’t let it roam around freely anywhere. For the sake of your dog and for the sake of other people, you always need to keep him or her on a leash.

Home Sweet Home

Another basic dog pet care requirement is to provide your dog with his or her own home. You can purchase or even create by yourself a doghouse in your background. However, if your dog has been properly trained, he or she may sleep inside the house.

Regular Check-Ups

Again, just like humans, dog will need regular visits to the vet. Even if it does not have any illnesses, it would still be good to go for a general check-up as part of a proper dog pet care routine. This will make sure that your dog stays healthy.

Regular Exercise

This is beneficial for both the owner and the dog. You can walk your dog at least once a day to keep yourself and your dog physically fit. If you have enough time, you can do this twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening. However, you should know the limits of your dog since different breeds of dogs have different capabilities when it comes to exercise.

Proper Nutrition

Another basic in dog pet care is to provide him or her with a nutritionally balanced diet. This does not only pertain to food. You should also regularly provide your pet with fresh and clean water.

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Dog health care is an important issue for anyone who keeps dogs as pets. It keeps the dog in good health, cutting vet costs that one might otherwise pay for treating dog infections and diseases. Diet, exercise and grooming are the main ingredients of basic dog health care. However, becoming well informed about possible health risks to dogs and disease prevention is the most fundamental need of caring dog owners. Educational material like books, magazines and DVDs related to dog health care should be consulted in order to better manage dog heath issues.

Dog Health And Food

Proper diet is the key factor in maintaining a dog’s health. Junk foods do the dog the same kind of health damage that they do to humans, as it makes them listless and overweight. Healthy natural foods for dogs boost the dog’s immunity and prevent diseases related to digestion and other body functions. Some dogs are allergic to particular foods or nutritional components especially in commercially available dog foods. While buying commercial foods, try to avoid those like corn, wheat, soy, beef and foods containing synthetic colors and preservatives. Dehydrated raw food prepared for dogs is getting popular now as a healthy diet for most dogs.

Exercise For Dogs

Exercise is an essential component of dog health care just like it is for human health. Daily exercise keeps the dog’s weight in control, maintains muscular health and keeps the breathing system in good condition. In addition, regular exercise also keeps the dog mentally active and happy. For dogs, exercise means both health and entertainment. Dogs certainly cannot take exercise like humans. Dog exercise consists mainly of walking and running. They should be stimulated to do this about three to four times daily. Jumping and swimming are also good exercises for dogs. The dog gladly, while imitating or playing with the owner, usually joins all these activities.

Grooming

Grooming is another essential component of dog health care. It includes trimming and brushing the dog’s hair, clipping nails, giving the dog a bath and cleaning the dog’s eyes, ears and teeth etc. Regular grooming keeps a dog in good shape, preventing germs and parasites from infesting the animal. Grooming may be done at home or by a professional groomer. It is recommended to groom a dog well at least once a week. The dental care of a dog is usually the tough part of dog health care. The dog may be taken to a vet to get its teeth cleaned or one may use special dog biscuits that clean the teeth.

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Weather Effects And The Material Of Dog Kennel Covers 

Wind, rain and snow are harmful to the dog’s health as well as to the Kennel’s material. Dog kennel covers shelter the kennel and its resident pet from these as well as from heat, cold and solar radiation like the ultraviolet (UV) rays. The material of the kennel cover needs to be selected carefully in order to get maximum comfort. A steel frame made of heavy duty steel is so far the most effective material used in making dog kennel covers against all kinds of weather, and to some degree, radiation contamination. For outdoor kennels, chain link covers are best recommended while one may always choose to get a custom kennel cover upon request. This may cost a bit more but you get an ideal cover according to the specific needs of your dog kennel.

Durability Of Dog Kennel Covers

Durability is one of the most important factors in choosing the best type of dog kennel cover. This is where steel covers take the lead over other materials, steel being the most durable substance so far used in making dog kennel covers. Plastic kennel covers are moderately durable and hence not a very good choice, though they cost less and are lighter to move.

Insulated And Non-Insulated Kennel Covers  

Insulated dog kennel covers are those made of special materials like Polypropylene, which is thoroughly treated for UV radiation and hence these covers do not allow the passage of heat into or out of the kennel. Non-insulated covers lack this quality and as a result the insulated kennel covers cost more due to their superiority of offering greater comfort and protection from weather. Kennels with insulated covers remain cool in summer and warmer in cold weather.

Other Considerations

While the material of the cover is the primary factor to consider before buying dog kennel covers, it is important to consider a few other things as well. For example, it is important to choose dog kennel covers that fit perfectly over the kennel, not leaving any portion uncovered. The prices vary from one item to another depending on the cover’s material, size and other features. A good cover usually costs about one hundred dollars. After fixing the cover over the kennel, the inside surface of the cover should be regularly examined to make sure it is not infested with insects.

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Commercial Dog Kennels

Commercial dog kennels are good for people who do not find enough time or lack the skills required for making a dog kennel. Thus they come ready to use and only need bit of maintenance. Commercial dog kennels, however, have a few disadvantages. First, they require you to pay more than you need to spend if making the dog kennel yourself at home. Secondly, a commercial kennel comes with a predetermined size and other features that may not fit the specific needs of your dog. Adjusting these would then require additional costs. For many dog owners, especially for those who travel more often or frequently have to change houses, commercially available portable dog kennels are a good option. These are smaller and relatively inexpensive kennels that are collapsible and hence easy to carry along. However, these kennels are not a good choice for very strong or aggressive dogs.

Homemade Dog Kennels

If you have the time and basic building skills or if you want to cut some of the cost of a commercial kennel, you may choose to build a kennel for your dog yourself. Building a dog kennel at home is also an enjoyable activity for many people, including kids. While building your own dog kennel, it is important to first consider the zoning and building codes of your locality so to avoid inadvertently transgressing any rules regarding the size of the kennel on your property. Next, carefully select the construction material for the kennel. Steel wires for flooring have fewer chances of hosting infectious microbes or getting splintered (as do wood and plastic) and concrete is known for it strength and facile cleaning, though it may develop cracks and host insects and parasites. Heavy duty fencing material provides extra security against possible threats to the dog in case of any accidents and also prevents the dog from digging all around the place. It is recommended to build the dog kennel on high ground so as to minimize the damage resulting from rain and snow. Finally, remember to provide a little shaded area in the open in front of the kennel. This can be accomplished using a lightweight material.

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