http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php This is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ . en Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:18:29 GMT vBulletin 60 http://phinster.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=3 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:05:26 GMT I've heard this one before. :(
Sooner or later, every parent is likely to hear: "Please, can I have a puppy?"

Rather than dodge the question, parents should consider whether their family is ready for a pet, says Sharon Bergen, senior vice president of education and training for Knowledge Learning Corporation, the nation's leading provider of early childhood care and education.

Bergen suggests that parents weigh the pros and cons of adding a pet to the household before agreeing to a child's request. "A pet can teach children responsibility and become a wonderful addition to a family-or it can be a burden," she says. Bergen recommends families consider the following before deciding.

Who will care for the pet? Families should agree beforehand who will be responsible for feeding, walking, bathing and cleaning up after the pet.

Do you have space for a pet? Families living in apartments or townhouses may prefer a cat, a bird or fish, rather than a Labrador retriever. Check the library or Internet to learn more about different types and breeds of pets to determine the one most suitable for your family.

Owning a pet is time consuming and may be expensive. Family members should realize that they may have to give up other activities to properly care for a pet. If the prospect seems too daunting, parents may suggest waiting until the child is old enough to help care for an animal.

Bergen recommends the whole family meet the animal before deciding to take it home. Owning a pet is a long-term commitment, so think carefully before adopting a furry new family member. ]]> phinster http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=3 http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=2 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:21:26 GMT Introduction Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So... Introduction

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you've never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it's worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it's usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we're eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time! ]]> phinster http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=2 http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=1 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:08:37 GMT All you need is love...and dog treats. :) If you have a new puppy and are looking for the secret to training the puppy into the well-behaved dog of... All you need is love...and dog treats. :)
If you have a new puppy and are looking for the secret to training the puppy into the well-behaved dog of your dreams, the secret is simple and easy: dog treats.

All dog owners know the sometimes slow and frustrating process of training, taming and teaching their dog some good behavior and maybe even some fun tricks. The problem for many owners is that they forget about one of the main reasons that any human or dog will act: motivation. Just like you need a little motivation to start exercising more or to get your house cleaned out, dogs need motivating reasons big enough to make them want to stop wetting on your carpet or eating holes into all of your socks. Dog treats can be a sure way to motivate your precious pup to do almost anything you desire.

Dog treats are a great motivator for puppies for the obvious reason that they taste good. Only when dog treats are actually reserved as a special treat will dogs want to do whatever it takes to enjoy the yummy treat. Can't you see how this is true? Imagine these two options in your own life: in the first option, you could eat ice cream as much and as often as you wanted to; in the second option, you could only enjoy ice cream if you had put in a full hour of working out. Now tell me, would you be very motivated to work out under the first option? Of course you wouldn't. Not if ice cream could be a treat whether you exercised or not. I want you to know that your puppies and dogs are no different, and that is why it is vital that dog treats are only given as a reward for performing well.

For you, the dog owner, dog treats are great because they are relatively inexpensive. Before you rush off and spend a lot of money for a puppy obedience school you should try to train your puppy for a considerable amount of time on your own. And use dog treats. Even if the process of training your own puppy is frustrating, it will be better for you and your pup if they received all of their training from you.

Whether you are teaching your pup how to sit down or roll over or how to go potty outside, using dog treats can be an important element of the training. In no time your dog will learn to love the reward of dog treats enough that it will obey every command you give it. Run to a local pet shop, pick up a box of dog treats and let the training process begin! ]]> phinster http://phinster.com/forums/blog.php?b=1