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10 Table Scraps Dogs Can Eat

Filed under: Dog Health,Dog Life — DoggySpace on August 17th, 2010

When a pet is considered part of the family, it often gets treated with the same amount of love, attention, and affection that a person would receive. This desire to include pets in family activities extends to the dinner table as well. It can be hard to resist your dog’s pleading eyes as you sit and enjoy your meal, but you may worry about what foods are safe to feed your dog. The next time Fido is staring longingly at your plate, go ahead and give him a few of these foods that have been verified as safe for dogs to eat.

1. Rice.

Rice is commonly used as a filler in dog foods, so it is safe to give your dog a few bites of rice off of your plate. You should, however, be careful not to feed your dog rice that contains onion or garlic, as these foods can be dangerous for dogs to consume.

2. Cooked eggs.

Boiled or scrambled eggs are healthy treats for dogs because of their vitamin and protein content. It is important that eggs are fully cooked, because raw eggs contain an enzyme that can reduce the dog’s ability to absorb certain B vitamins. Additionally, they may also make your dog sick due to salmonella.

3. Carrots.

Most dogs love carrots, and they are great snacks for your pet. They are low calorie foods, and are generally safe to feed healthy dogs. Carrots may be raw or cooked, depending on your dog’s individual preference.

4. Cheese.

Cheese is another great source of protein for dogs, and many canines love the texture. However, like humans, some dogs may experience a sensitivity to too much dairy. When feeding your dog cheese, start out with a small amount and monitor your pet for a dairy sensitivity.

5. Peanut butter.

Although many humans have a peanut allergy, dogs do not seem have a similar reaction. It is safe to feed peanut butter to a dog, and most dogs consider it a special treat. Due to the high fat content of peanut butter, dog owners should limit the amount of peanut butter that they feed their dogs to ensure that they eat other foods as a part of a balanced diet.

6. Berries.

As a special treat, many dogs love chilled or frozen berries. From blackberries to raspberries, dogs can safely eat small amounts of these sweet fruits. They are actually healthy for dogs to consume, because just like humans, canines benefit these antioxidant rich foods.

7. Chicken.

Chicken is a great table food treat for dogs, and most dogs will gobble down a serving of chicken faster than they will other treats. This nutritious meat is a great source of protein, and as long as oils and spices are limited, it is safe to give your dog cooked chicken.

8. Green beans.

Just like carrots are good snacks for dogs, green beans are a great option as well. As long as the salt content is limited, some veterinarians actually that recommend dog owners feed their obese dogs green beans because they are filling and relatively low in calories.

9. Seedless watermelon.

A nice, cool slice of watermelon is a favorite summertime treat for people, and your dog can take part in the pleasure as well. Dogs love the sweet taste of a juicy watermelon, and the fruit’s water content can help rehydrate your pet in the hot summer weather. Just be sure that you remove all seeds from the fruit before giving your dog a taste, because they can cause intestinal blockage.

10. Bananas.

The next time you run out of dog food and your pet needs a quick snack, reach for a banana. Bananas are safe for dogs to eat, and just like berries, they will benefit from the nutrients in these fruits.

Although people may be tempted to serve their dogs a helping of whatever is on their dinner plate, some foods should not be offered to dogs because they can cause a variety of health problems. However, when monitored closely, certain table foods are safe to feed your pet and offer a nice break from the standard commercially processed dog food fare.

Photo by bricolage108

Is Your Dog’s Breed Smart?

Filed under: Dog Life — Chantee Hale on July 6th, 2010

Having a smart dog can be the difference between long hard hours spent training and feeling like it was a breeze. While individual dogs’ intelligence may vary, there are ten breeds that are ranked as ‘Smart Dogs.’ Being a smart dog means that these breeds often understand new commands within five or less repetitions, meaning less work training for you. They also tend to obey on first command at least 95% of the time.

The smartest of the smart dogs is the Collie. Obedient, agile, and very active, Border Collies are a wonderful breed. Their only downside is that their energy needs an outlet, so a Border Collie left alone for a day can be a whirlwind of terror.

The standard Poodle is the next in line for the Smart Dog title. Friendly, happy, and intelligent, Poodles are easy to train. Their love of human companionship makes it hard for a Poodle to be alone, though.

German Shepherds come in at number three. These protective, courageous, and intelligent dogs are often chosen as police dogs. Like most smart dogs they need to be kept busy with a task to remain happy in life, but need a firm grounding in obedience training.

It would be hard to make a list that didn’t rank the Golden Retriever somewhere among it. They come in as #4 in the world’s smartest dogs. Golden Retrievers are known for their loyalty, loving demeanor, and eagerness to please.

Doberman Pinschers take the last of the top five. As dominant, loyal, fearless dogs one may be surprised to find that the Dobermans temperament vary greatly, some being quite docile. One thing is certain, no matter the dog’s temperament, when their master is in danger they will come to the defense.

The Shetland Sheepdog ranks 6th among smart dogs. Known for their loyalty, intelligence, and love of their family Shetlands make great family pets. The breed is also known to be a little wary of strangers but craves human companionship.
#7 on the list is the Labrador Retriever. Loving, affectionate, and patient these dogs are very popular family dogs. The only downside to a Labrador is that, without proper exercise, obesity can quickly become a problem for them.

The Papillion ranks #8 among smart dogs. They’re affectionate, intelligent, and possessive. These guys can be tougher than they look and very protective of their family and home.

Reliable, intelligent, and courageous, the Rottweiler ranks number 9. They make excellent guard dogs. Rottweilers are also very loving and devoted to their families.

Last on the list is the Austrailian Cattle Dog. They’re a resourceful, active, and freethinking breed of dog. They’re very protective of their family and home, but need a lot of exercise to keep happy and out of trouble.

Photo credit kiwikewlio

Puppy Socialization

Filed under: Ages & Stages,Dog Life,Dog Training — Chantee Hale on June 10th, 2010

Puppy socialization is the foundation for a lifetime of good dog behavior. A properly socialized puppy will respond to new situations, people, and environments without the fear and aggression that often develops in dogs that are under emotional stress. While the most important period in your puppy’s socialization occurs between 8 and 12 weeks, when the puppy’s mind is going through a fear imprinting stage, good socialization should not end after 12 weeks.

In order to properly socialize your puppy you must make sure to expose him or her to as many healthy new environments and people as you can. Since the point of exposing your puppy is to teach him or her how to handle and react to potentially stressful situations, it is important that you remain in control of the situation, as well as your own reactions and emotions. Even young puppies can sense your emotional responses to stimuli and, like human infants, will react according to the impressions they get from you. Happily greeting strangers as you take your dog for walks, or settling in comfortably with a large group of human friends show your dog how he or she should respond to these new situations as well.

Because of health concerns it may not be safe to socialize your dog through visits to the dog park, or places where other animal’s poop is likely to be found. Instead, substitute controlled play dates with other pups, training and socialization classes, and frequent walks for potentially health-effecting socialization. Taking your pup for frequent car rides and to visit the homes of friends will also help him or her to adapt easier to new environments.

Besides new environments it is essential to familiarize your dog with objects he or she may perceive as threatening or strange. These things may include tall men, hats, umbrellas, loud noises, children, and wheelchairs. Having the individuals possessing potentially frightening characteristics or objects interact positively with your dog, even offering them treats and affection, will help your dog come to love these strange characteristics.

As your puppy grows remember to encourage him or her to enjoy new things, and seek out new experiences and stimuli to expose him or her to. By taking the time to socialize your dog with intention and control you will ensure a happier outlook for your pet and minimize stress and aggressive reactions. Properly socialized puppies often turn into better behaved adult dogs, and will make your dog ownership a joy instead of a headache.

Photo credit manyfires

Is Your Dog’s Food Causing Agression?

Filed under: Dog Behavior,Dog Life — Chantee Hale on May 26th, 2010

Ever wonder why your dog has become more aggressive after eating a piece of meat or high protein dog food? While protein is important for dogs, studies show that some dogs are fed too much protein, causing them to become aggressive. Unless your dog is under a year old, pregnant, nursing, or an actively working dog such as a herding, sled, or hunting dog, a high protein diet is unnecessary and can cause dominance and territorial aggression. While studies have shown that puppies under a year old need a diet with 28% protein content and working dogs require a diet with a protein content of 32%, chances are your dog needs less.

Medical studies have determined that feeding dogs lower protein diets can help curb both dominance and territorial aggression problems. In some studies, besides switching to a lower protein diet, tryptophan was given as a supplement. Additives and fillers have also been shown to have a negative impact on dog aggression. If your dog is displaying aggression consider changing your dog to a lower protein diet, many veterinarians recommend about 18% protein, and choosing premium dog foods with little or no additives and fillers.

Photo credit Brian Ford

The Well Socialized Dog

Filed under: Dog Behavior,Dog Life,Dog Training — Chantee Hale on April 13th, 2010

Some dog experts say that a socializing your dog is just as important as how you feed and shelter him or her. But what does “dog socialization” and being a “well socialized” dog mean, anyways?

Dog socializing is a form of training your dog. When you socialize your dog you teach him or her how to react to external stimuli, from new places, large groups, or an unusual characteristic such as wheelchairs or mustaches on men. While socialization is extremely important during the first year of a puppy’s life, it in no way ends at 12 months of age, and good socialization tactics continue throughout your dog’s lifetime.

While socialization classes can be found, the best kind of socialization training is found in daily life. As you walk your dog, take him or her to the dog park, meet strange people or dogs while on a walk, or host a party, you are providing your dog with the best kind of socialization. But, for socialization to be good and your dog to become “well socialized” you must be in control of the situation, endeavoring to make sure that he or she enjoys the new experience and gets past any initial fearful reactions he or she has, and making sure that your own reactions to the situation show that your are in control, worry free, enjoying yourself, and you feel your pet is safe.

Poorly socialized dogs often react to stimuli by growling, cowering, trying to bite, or other fear-induced behaviors. Not only are these signs that your dog is frightened, but they can be difficult or embarrassing to deal with, or even cause harm. No matter what age your dog is intentional socialization should be as much a part of his or her daily routine as meals and taking walks.

Photo by lleugh

Dog Party Hosting Tips for Success

Filed under: Dog Life — Chantee Hale on March 12th, 2010

Hosting a dog party is a wonderful way to not only express your love for your pet, but to share your happiness with others. Like any party, parties for dogs require a lot of planning to go smoothly. Here are some tips for perfect party success:

The first step to party success is location. Finding the right location for the number of dogs and time of year, as well as for your party’s theme is imperative to hosting the perfect party. Consider the time of year, sizes and age of dogs you’re inviting, as well as potential safety concerns, and weather. Some great dog party locations include your own backyard, dog friendly swimming area such as a beach or lake, and doggy parks. Every location offers its own set of entertainment opportunities and challenges.

Now that you have your perfect location it’s time to send out invitations. Before you start inviting all your pup’s DoggySpace pals here are some things to consider:
Size: smaller dogs might not mix well with their bigger pals. For easy celebrations it may be a good idea to stick to doggy pals that are your pet’s size.
Personality: some dogs just aren’t party animals. Excluding dogs you know have social anxiety will save them from an uncomfortable situation.
Manageability: Even though the canine guests will have their own moms and dads there to watch them, as the host you are ultimately responsible for your guests. Don’t invite more dogs than you can handle keeping an eye on, and still have a good time. Between 3 and 8 guests should be plenty for dog-gone good fun.
Special needs: some dogs have special dietary needs or other concerns. Make sure to put a note in the invitation reminding the doggy parents to contact you if they have special dietary needs.

Finding the right doggy treats for your pup guest is easier than it might seem. From ice cream formulated for pets, often available through pet stores or local health food stores, to cookies and cakes baked just for them (available through local canine or pet bakeries) the options are endless. Make sure to order your cake or cookies at least a week beforehand to ensure timely delivery.

Other things you’ll want for your party include:
Plenty of water dishes and food bowls for your canine pets. They’ll get mighty thirsty and hungry with all that playing.
Goodie bags. These should include dog treats, a doggie toy, and baggies for cleaning up after the four legged guests.
Games to entertain your pets friends. Good games for canine parties will get the guests moving, but won’t cause arguments. Agility games are great, indoors or out. If you think your guest dogs can handle the challenge hide-and-seek treat games can also be a big hit. If you choose simpler games like fetch, make sure to provide enough discs or balls for every dog.
Decorations. Decorations can be found at pet supply stores, online, or even at party stores. The best decorations have a dog theme, like Scooby Doo or SuperDog, and are placed in areas where dogs can mouth or choke on them.

Before your party, make sure you remove any valuable items, or dangerous ones (like balloons that can be reached by a jumping dog). Close all gates and doors that might lead to trouble. When your guests arrive hand the mommies and daddies a goodie bag and make sure to point out that it includes clean-up bags as a subtle reminder that your guests need to clean up after themselves.

Manners for Dog Party Guests

Filed under: Dog Behavior,Dog Life — Chantee Hale on February 16th, 2010

Your pooch has finally received his or her first invitation to a dog party. While he or she is looking forward to playing with his or her doggy pals you’re fretting about embarrassing yourself with your dog’s behavior. Worry no more; these tips will help you and your pet shine. The key to a successful evening is being prepared. Don’t assume that your host will think about your dog’s specific needs. If your dog has a health condition, particularly relating to food, make sure to tell them in advance.

Prepare and bring a ‘doggy diaper bag.’ This should have: gifts for the hosting dogs, a couple of treats, food if your dog’s on a special diet, water, bowls for your dog to eat and drink from, a leash, a special treat for the car ride home, and – most importantly – bags to pick up your dog’s poop. Even though Fido will undoubtedly make his or her mess outside, no one wants to spend the day after a party picking up after a houseful of hounds. Picking up your dog’s poop will set you and your pet above the rest of the “party poopers.”

When you’re at the party, make sure to keep a close eye on your pooch. Besides introducing him or her to new playmates and party attendees make sure to keep an eye on where your dog is playing and what he or she is eating. With a lot of other doggy mommies and daddies around, things may get a little out of hand, and the only way to not be caught by surprised is to be aware of your pup’s whereabouts.

Leaving can be the hardest part of a good dog party. You’re tired and want to go, but your dog is still busy enjoying him or her self. How you leave can make or break a party. During the party, make sure to interrupt your dog’s play, calling him or her to your side and rewarding his or her obedience with a treat. If your dog doesn’t respond, calmly go over and lead them back to where you were standing, then praise them for their obedience. Repeat this all throughout the party, until your pooch comes running whenever you call. This way, when it’s time to go he or she will gladly come to your side and you can snap on the leash and walk away without a fuss.

How to Choose a Dog Sitter

Filed under: Dog Life — Chantee Hale on February 14th, 2010

If you’ve decided you’re lonely dog needs a sitter, you may be wondering how and where to find one that’s worthy of watching your pet. While searching the newspapers or Craigslist for position wanted ads may turn up quite capable dog sitters, a better idea would be to check with the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters for members in your area.

Once you’ve narrowed your selection to a few sitters that offers the services you’re looking for, call them and ask detailed questions regarding their experience, certification, pricing, availability on short notice, and how they handle emergencies or pet health issues. Ask how many clients they currently serve, and if they are a storefront business ask how many employees they have and what their turn over rate is. This will help you know how satisfied your sitter may be with his or her employer, and how often you and your dog will have to experience a change of sitter.

Make sure to obtain at least three references from current and former clients. The more references you check, the better your ability gauge the quality of the services provided. By calling these references you’ll be able to feel out how well the job was performed, and if the sitter’s on the job performance meets up with your expectations.

Researching your sitter will help you to select a sitter that not only offers a wide range of services but that makes you and your dog to feel like star clients as well.

Choosing a Doggy Day Care

Filed under: Dog Life — Chantee Hale on February 12th, 2010

You’ve decided to put your dog in day care but, when you open the phone book, the number of care centers to choose from leaves you worrying about how to know which one’s best. Here are some tips to help you decipher which doggy day care center is worth investing in.
· Ask Questions
Even if you’ve seen their amazing web site or heard some positive word of mouth, before you settle on a care center it is important to call and ask some very specific questions. These should include:
What does my dog do all day? Obviously, the more they have planned, the better for your pup. Too much “free play” time means they aren’t actively trying to engage your dog. A good center should include some sort of agility or discipline training into their day.
How many employees do you have? This will help you to determine the dog-care giver ratio. The more humans there are, the better, as long as your pet will have a canine to play with as well.
How recently were the caregivers hired? This helps you determine ‘turn-over,’ or employee dissatisfaction. Having caregivers who come and go could have a negative impact on your pup emotionally and could cause undue stress or anxiety. Some employers may not willingly provide this information, either because they feel it is a violation of their employee’s privacy or because they know the answer could have a negative impact on your decision. If you can’t get a straight answer, whatever their reasoning, go elsewhere.
What is the maximum amount of dogs you can have per caregiver? This also helps to determine the dog-caregiver ratio. The maximum is probably not what they currently have, so also ask how many dogs they have enrolled, but asking for the maximum will give you a feeling for the company’s goals. If their business model aims at having 15 dogs to a caregiver, you may find yourself dissatisfied with their service in the long run.
· Get References
From your friends who have dogs or your pooches’ vet to customer references from the care center itself or local DoggySpace buddies, references are an invaluable tool in discerning which care center is right for you and your dog. A center may have the right ratios, employee longevity, and sound like it offers your dog everything you need but, if other clients are walking away unhappy or feeling devalued, your experience there may be doomed from the start. References are an invaluable way to ensure that reality meets with the business hype.
· Seeing Is Believing
Before you enroll your dog in any activity or center go it should be standard practice to visit the business, with your dog in tow, to check it out. Cleanliness, adequate space, employee personality and attentiveness should be on the forefront of your mind.

While choosing a good dog day care takes some investigation, your efforts will result a happy pup and the confidence of knowing that your dog is getting the love and attention he or she deserves.

Dog Park Manners for Newbies

Filed under: Dog Life — Chantee Hale on February 4th, 2010

If you’re thinking about taking your dog to the local dog park for the first time, you may be wondering what to expect. While dog parks may be a great place to socialize for pent up and lonely dogs they can also be a social challenge for both owners and pets alike. Knowing how to have your dog behave before you go can save you and your pet a lot of embarrassment.

The most important aspect of any social outing with your dog is respect. Make sure to follow the rules of the dog park, in particular being prepared to pick up after your pet when he or she potties and keeping a close eye on his or her behavior while playing. If your dog is new to socializing with others he or she may not be aware of the “rules.” By keeping a close eye on your pet you can redirect him or her before he or she gets out of hand.

If you see your dog approaching another pup that doesn’t seem to be interested in playing with the pack, or that is on his or her leash, rein your dog in. It’s likely that this pet is less comfortable with doggy social interaction. By keeping your pet away from the shy fellow you’ll be able to give the other dog time to warm up to the situation and handle the social interaction in a positive manner.

Leaving the dog park with your grace in tact may be the hardest challenge. Get your dog used to coming to your beck and call by interacting with him or her while he or she plays. Calling your pet back to you frequently during playtime, and rewarding your dog for its obedience, will help to make the transition away from the dog park easier.

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