Dog Nutrition, Exercise,Grooming,Training

Nutrition
Dogs require a properly balanced diet for health. This diet should contain:

?    Protein: to build the body;

?    Fats: for skin and coat health;

?    Carbohydrates: for energy;

?    Minerals and vitamins: for good bone development and healthy tissues.

Roughage is essential for bowel function.

When it comes to Feeding Your Dog, we are very passionate about a “Raw Diet”. What we’ve learned from years of our own research is basically this: (Our Naturpath agrees)

1)To limit Commercial Dry Food & some of the commercial treats as well.
Liver treats are ok,  look for things with only 1 or 2 ingredients MAX.  

 2)Feed dogs 50% to 65% Meat & Raw Meaty Bones
3)And 50% Veges. Feed lots of carrots, sweet potato(yellow), pumpkin,
zuccini, sqash, brocolli, Beetroot, spinach.   No onion.
4)Add 5ml of fish oil or coconut oil daily for joints & arthritis & aids in digestion

5)CanAdd glucosamine daily for joints & prevention of arthritis

6)Add a Probiotic into the diet (a teaspoon daily of good quality Yoghurt
that has probiotics in it. Jalna, Valia or Natural greek yoghurts are best.
But as a lot of dogs are Lactose-Intolerant, you can buy a Probiotic Powder)

 

Also, ALL FRUITS are great, no exceptions…. esp tropical fruits, apples, blueberrys etc. Lately we’ve been making up our own Fruit Cubes, which we use as Treats. Our dogs LOVE them!!   In a blender we put chopped apple, banana, OJ, Pomegranite Juice, Yoghurt & Honey & then blend the lot & pour into icecubes & Freeze.        We give them 2 – 4 cubes a day.

Dogs should have ready access to a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water, particularly when dry foods are used. Containers must be kept clean and placed in the shade. In hot weather water may need replenishing several times a day.

 

Exercise and Play
Digging holes in the garden, wrecking plants and pulling washing off the line are all symptoms of frustrated and bored dogs. Dogs need an outlet for their energy and this comes via exercise.

Dogs need regular exercise – for most dogs this means at least once a day. Forms of exercise can include walks, off leash runs and structured play. Ideally, dogs should be taken to council designated areas where they can be safely let off the leash to run free with no risk from motor traffic and no threat to farm livestock or wildlife. All exercise, even that taken off the leash, should be supervised and the dog kept within calling distance. Dogs should always be under the control of the owner, either physically via a lead or by voice control.

A large back-yard will offer the opportunity of some exercise, but under no circumstance should this be a substitute for regularly scheduled walks where the dog has the opportunity to socialize with other dogs and with humans.
Bathing and Grooming
Combing and brushing dogs regularly is essential, particularly for long-haired breeds. It is best to establish this habit early in a dog’s life, so that daily grooming becomes part of its routine.

Grooming removes dust, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds and tangles. It also assists to shorten the coat moult, which occurs each autumn and spring.

Dogs should be bathed when necessary using a shampoo specifically prepared for dogs. Using a flea control shampoo and a flea rinse, particularly in the summer, will also help control fleas although there are now a number of options for this problem. When bathing a dog in cooler weather

Desexing
Bitches are desexed for a number of reasons:

?    to prevent the season cycle which occurs twice a year for 3 weeks (This may attract many male dogs to property where the bitch is housed resulting in fighting and destruction of gardens, or the escape of inseson bitches);

?    to prevent unwanted pregnancies with the associated problems of rearing puppies and finding proper homes for them;

?    to prevent breast cancer and uterine problems frequently found in entire (undesexed) bitches that have not had puppies.

Male dogs are predominately desexed to prevent fighting and straying.

The preferred age for desexing dogs is usually between two and six months. Your veterinary surgeon will advise.
THE STAND:
For many dogs, the STAND seems to be a difficult exercise to understand: perhaps its because they dont think its doing anyting, but its still very useful to teach for:
*Showing your dog
*Stand quietly for a vet or groomer

PROCESS:
Start with your dog in a SIT
Put a treat at the end of his nose and slowly bring it slightly down & forward so that he has to lift his bottom up to follow it.
Whe his bottom comes up, say STAND and give the reward.
repeat often
ONce hes got the idea, lose the treat and keep the same hand gesture (imagine a bit of string on the end of his nose that your pulling forward)
Remember to say STAND as his bottom is lifting off the ground.
Reward as soon as he stands
Practice, Practice,Practice
Start with doing it from a SIT and then try doing it from a DROP

HARDER
Now build up the time he’ll stand for
Slowly build up the time to 2mins – long enought for a vet to check him over.

EQUIPMENT / TOOLS:  (Suitable for most dogs over 5months).
Head Halter: is similar to a horses bridal. Its a training device that fits around the dogs neck and around its muzzle. The dogs lead then clips to the halter under the dogs chin. The dog is guided by the head, rather than the neck.

*Gives more control over dogs than other equipment, through controlling the head.
*Easy to use.
*Requires less strength from the handler.
*Great tool for establishing leadership.
*often get big behavioural changes very quickly.
Barking Crying (look at vid notes)
Suggestions for desensitization:
*Try feeding your dog in its head halter. This will create a positive association.
*Reward for not reacting to the head halter.
*Put the head halter on the dog whenever you play.
*Have the head halter on for a while before connecting the lead.
*Redirect. Luring with toys/games is an effective way to redirect his attention.

Gentle Leader: similar to Head Halter.
*Sizes are more flexible than the Head Halter, so its easier to get the correct size
for the dog.
*Offers ‘in between’ step to convert to collar by taking the nose strap off.
*Offers bigger variety of colours.

 

Leah & Angela OMeara (Houndog -specialists in Dog Minding Brisbane, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Dog Daycare Brisbane.