Wordless Woof Wednesday

A friend sent me this card!! It was to cute NOT to share!!

Wordless Woof Wednesday

Some of you know that I lost my very handsome Neapolitan and mascot dog, Eros, last year. We had been inseparable for all of his 11yrs. It goes without saying that I miss him desperately. I had some of his ashes made into a diamond pendant and I did this shortly after his passing....

It is his actually paw print. So, my question to you.

How did you, or will you, memorialize your beloved pets?

Fun Answer Friday: Got any good treat recipes?

Sophie asks: Do you have any wheat-free dog cookie recipes?

Awww.... the dog days of summer. Long days of fetch in the park...swimming in the lake...and the smell of liver dehydrating in the kitchen. Oh, that's just my house?

D.I.Y. Dog Delicacies

As more & more people become more educated about what's *really* in dog food & dog treats, they are taking the initiative to make their own. What a great way to ensure that you know exactly what's in your pup's treat!

Jerky Treats

- Chicken, Turkey, Salmon or other choice of meat.

This is a fairly loose recipe. After a batch or two, you'll know what works best for you.

Slice meat into thin strips and place on greased cookie sheet. Place in oven. Turn oven to 180 & leave door to oven slightly ajar and leave them overnight. If needed, turn over in morning & leave in oven for a couple more hours. Treats will resemble jerky when ready.

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We recently saw this next recipe in Modern Dog magazine & we love that you can make them any size you want - great for training treats!

Peanut Butter & Oat Drops

- 4 cups rolled oats

- 2 Tbsp ground flax seed

- 2 medium very ripe bananas

- 1/2 cup natural (no sugar or shortening added) peanut butter

- 1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together oats, flax seed, bananas, and peanut butter in an electric mixer. Add water and mix well. Drop 1/2 teaspoon-sized drops onto greased cookie sheet or roll out and cut with a cookie cutter (let dough stand for a few minutes before rolling; it’s sticky initially). Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. The drops last longer and are delightfully crunchy if they are placed in a dehydrator for several hours after baking to remove all moisture. This can also be done in a low temperature (170 degrees) oven.

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This next recipe is our secret weapon in training treats! Guaranteed your dog will go ga-ga for it!

Sardine Smackaroos

- 1 cup flax seed meal

- 1 can sardines, drained

- 1/3 cup parmesan or romano cheese finely grated

- 1/4 cup filtered/distilled water

Preheat oven to 400.Puree sardines well in a food processor or blender. Pour into mixing bowl & add water, then slowly stir in cheese and finally the flax seed meal. Plop onto greased baking sheet & roll out to no more than a 1/2" thickness. Bake for 10-15min or until the mixture is somewhat firm. Cool briefly and then cut into desired size with a pizza cutter.

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Hope these recipes provide you with some incentive! There is nothing quite like making a healthy, homemade treat for your pup and watching them enjoy it! Have Fun & enjoy your summer!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

I am a Vegetarian..My dog is not.

I had guests over to my house one night, everyone was milling around, chatting when one guest went to the freezer to get more ice. He returned with a perplexed look on his face and said "You said you were a Vegetarian...but your freezer is full of meat!"

I'm a vegetarian...my dog is not.

Dogs are Carnivores

Recently, there seems to be a large spike in vegetarian and even vegan dog foods. This is extremely unsettling to me as a nutritionist and as a trainer. Many pet food companies, veterinarians & canine experts are leading people to believe that dogs are omnivores, and as such, can survive quite well on a vegetarian or vegan diet much like humans who choose to eat this way. This statement is not only wrong, it has the potential to cause long-term harm to your pup. Vegetarian/Vegan dog foods are full of supplements and synthetic vitamins to try and make up for nutrients that are missing from the food itself. I think we all know that the best way to get our vitamins/minerals and essential nutrients is from whole fresh foods...this is just as true for your dog! Fresh, whole food for your dog means feeding a species appropriate raw diet including raw meaty bones & organs.

(Read more about the Myth of Dogs as Omnivores)

I am a Vegetarian

I have been a vegetarian for many years. And even before I excluded meat all together from my diet, I didn't consume much of it. I've never had a rack of ribs, and never eaten a steak. I made this conscious decision for myself. But what about your dog? As your dog's guardian, you make this decision for them. Many vegetarians have chosen this diet because they refuse to support the horrific practice of factory farming and the egregious suffering of animals raised for human consumption. So it would make sense that many vegetarians carry these same values over to their dog food purchases. I applaud the idea.

Thriving? Meh..

I have met many vegetarian & vegan fed dogs. Often the owners are very quick to point out all the benefits they have seen since switching to this diet. I can honestly say that I have never met a vegetarian/vegan fed dog that looked as if they were thriving. Shiny coats, sparkling eyes, spunk in their step? Hardly. Often I see dull coat, skin & eyes, itching, and more. While many owners claim that their dogs do much better on this diet...it begs the question...much better than what? Quite possibly the diet they were on previously, but better than a species appropriate raw diet, no.

You feed what?

While I will always advocate a prey model diet for your dog, I understand that many people cannot make this diet a reality for a variety of reasons. Whatever choice you make for your dog, you have the power to make one you can feel good about! Whether you feed a dry dog food, freeze-dried raw, dehydrated or wet food, take the time to investigate the company. Things to look for:

- Where does the meat come from? Many companies process their treats & food in USA with meat from China. Always check the fine print!

- How was the meat-raised? Look for specific phrases like cage-free, free-range, organic, minimally-processed, hormone & antibiotic free. Words like 'naural' and 'healthy' don't cut it.

- Where was the food processed & how? A high-quality food should be processed in a high-quality facility to maintain it's integrity. Not sure about where to find this info? The store or boutique you purchase your food from should be able to give you this information. You can also call the pet food company and ask them directly about their manufacturing processes. Questions to ask: Do they outsource the manufacturing? Does the manufacturing plant process any other foods?

Happy Healthy Pup

Choosing a high-quality food that uses humane processes to raise & farm it's animals for your pet's consumption will not only ensure you feel better about the choice you have made on behalf of your carnivore, it will also be a healthier option for them! Here's to making conscious food decisions for a Happy Healthy Pup!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Wordless Woof Wednesday

Meet Graddy the JRT & Sammy the Yorkie.

They have a bit of a..well..barking problem. They bark: in the morning, in the evening, outside, inside, in the hallway, at the doors, at mealtimes, in the windows, at their parents, at all visitors & oh..the Progressive Insurance lady on TV? Yeah, they bark at her too.

They've just signed up for 5 days of Day Training. The bark stops here!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Fun Answer Friday: How can I help my aggressive dog?

Sami asks: My dog is aggressive towards men. It is so embarrassing to even try to walk her, people comment on her behavior all the time. We have just hired a positive dog trainer to help us, but I'm afraid there's no hope. Should we be doing something more? And will my dog always be this way or will training fix her?

Aggression is a hard behavior to deal with. Not only are both the dog and owner frustrated, but there is a liability factor and an overwhelming guilt and/or embarrassment factor on behalf of the owner as well. It seems that society likes to deem owners 'bad' or somehow 'unfit' if they don't have a dog who can romp around a dog park full of inappropriately behaving puppy hooligans & well-meaning, but ill-advised puppy owners (hmmm.. can you tell I'm not a fan of dog parks?).

So first off, let me say this: Good for you! You recognized your dog needed the help of a professional & you hired one.

Why Me?

Many of the aggressive dog owners I meet feel embarrassed. And I'm here to tell you, don't be. Aggression is a natural emotion, and it's used readily in the animal kingdom. Even by human animals! Have you ever gotten road rage...yelled at another driver or maybe even flipped them off?? Have you ever raised your voice to someone when something went wrong...airline made you miss your flight, customer service not so helpful, or a package that arrived broken?? It's completely natural to show aggression...what's not natural is the expectation that your dog is never, ever allowed to show it.

Cool & Collected

Ok great.. aggression is natural, but it's not safe & it's really scary. True. The reason I share this is because I want you to feel differently next time you take your dog out (Your trainer will show you how to manage the situation for now & also set up a behavior modification plan to get you going). When you go out, instead of feeling apologetic or nervous, you should feel confident! Your dog is acting like, well, a dog! And you are already taking action to ensure she becomes a better behaved member of society. There's no shame in crossing a street or turning around to avoid a potential problem. So walk with your shoulders a bit higher & a smile on your face. You are not a bad dog owner...in fact...you are a great dog owner!

Is training enough?

Training is an invaluable tool for any dog, regardless of their background or behavior. And through the help of a positive reinforcement, science-based trainer you can drastically alter behavior and even eliminate the aggression altogether. But this relies very much on behalf of the owner and their dedication. So, is training enough? Sometimes, yes. Is there anything more you can do? Absolutely! There are many alternative therapies that can drastically help a dog with aggression issues!

Supplements: Finding a calming supplement (flower essence, herbs, etc) that can be given before or during training sessions can drastically improve your dog's reactions, comfort level and allow you to work at different thresholds and with more control. I also recommend fish-oil to any dog on a behavior modification plan as it has been shown to improve memory & brain function (opt for a cold-water fish that has been cold-pressed).

Massage: Massage helps create more body awareness for your dog! We use t-touch massage to put 'calm' behavior on cue and also as a nice relaxing bonding session with your dog. For aggressive dog, try this: when alone in a quiet place, take the flat part of two fingertips & rub slow, soft deliberate circles all over your dogs face. Speak in a calm quiet tone and encourage your dog to relax. You might be surprised how much they enjoy it! More about t-touch here.

Aromatherapy: Yes, it smells great, but it helps alter behavior as well! Try a calming blend with oils like Lavender, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile or (our favorite) Neroli. We have our own calming blend that we make or you can find one at a local holistic store (make sure to ask if it is safe for pets). Spritz on beds, collars, or even a bandanna your dog can wear when training, just make sure to let it dry before placing it on your dog. You can also use oils like Clary Sage which can help calm but can also help improve memory for learning dogs!

Food: Last, but certainly not least, food. Make sure your carnivore is on an appropriate diet. The less processed, the better! Inappropriate foods can cause gastrointestinal upset and food-related allergy symptoms (hair loss, scratching, etc), which can all make your dog uncomfortable and add to the aggressive behavior. We will always recommend a species-appropriate raw diet. But if you're not ready to make that leap, look into freeze-dried, frozen & dehydrated foods that are considerably less processed than kibble.

You are your dog's advocate.

Remember: There's a lot of help available to you and ultimately, you know what's best for your dog. Don't feel embarrassed, do feel empowered! Happy Training!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Wordless Woof Wednesday