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If you have a diabetic cat you probably feel even more nervous than most owners about taking a trip. With the endless options for pet sitters it's hard to know which way to go with care options, but Happy Paws - PetCare has you covered with our top rated Cat Sitters! Sure, you may be able to employ the high schooler down the street to help with pet care, but in cases where your pet's health is a real concern, its always best to go with a professional. Your mind will be much more at ease knowing that you'll have an experience profession cat sitter who understand the special cat needs of your kitty. When it comes to specific diabetic care needs, it's important for your care provider to not only know how to properly care for your cat, but also know how to recognize if your cat is showing signs of medical issues. Since cats are more easily prone to stress than dogs, noticing signs of distress is something that our sitters are all throughly educated on. Cats are especially prone to changes in appetite related to stressful events or changes in routine, like when you go away on vacation or for a work trip. This is why we closely monitor your cat's stress level by getting a baseline for their normal behavior during your meet and greet, and then continuously noting any behavior changes during your visits. In addition to behavior monitoring, our cat sitters are also trained in the latest AVSAB recommend treatment protocols. These include procedures like giving shots, fluids, and monitoring blood levels. We're also able to properly check for signs of dehydration, poor blood circulation, and hypoglycemia. Knowing the Essentials of Handling Diabetic Cats No matter what company you choose to go with, it's crucial to pick one thats highly educated in caring for animals with health concerns. First and foremost, your care provider should have experience administering shots. While some diabetic cats may become easier to handle over time, others can be extremely difficult to administer medications to, especially when it involves needles. It also can be upsetting for some cats to be held and restrained by a stranger. This is why having a meet and greet with your caregiver prior to your travels is so vital. Your cat is much more likely to be accepting of a new human when your able to introduce them on good terms before any medications need to be given. It's also helpful overall to the kitty to be able to get to know their care provider personally so they can gain trust for the person who will be caring for them while you're away. Above All ELSE... While having a sitter who is experienced in administering your cat's medications is of the utmost importance, it's also extremely important for the sitter to build a good relationship with you and your cat. Cats can be highly sensitive creatures and adding the stress of you being away from home can sometimes be enough to upset their routine. This why is you'll want to be sure that whoever you entrust with the honor of caring for your kitty is trustworthy, kind, and in-tune with your individual cat's needs. Submit a Reservation Request form today to book an excellent Cat Sitter!

When your cat sitter comes by to care for your kitty while you're away, you'll want them to be able to have fun and bond together! That where having some amazing cat toys comes in. Not only will your kitty love playing with their new toys, it'll also give them some positive interactions with their sitter. The Classic Jingle Balls The classics are classics for a good reason. There's just something about a jingle bell inside a rolling ball that gets kitties everywhere all excited! They LOVE the sound, the rolling of the ball, and most of all: chasing after it! You can get a 10 pack of these at any local pet store, Walmart, or amazon for less than ten bucks. They make a great first set of toys for a new kitten or cat and they certainly won't break the bank. Try out different colors, or sizes to see which ones your kitty loves the most. Old Fashion Mice Toys Again, here we have a classic toy that just ranks on the top of all cat lovers lists. These are another affordable toy that are a huge hit with most cats. They typically come with some kind of sound maker inside whether thats a rattler or a jingle bell. Some even come with catnip scent already on them. The only down fall to these babies are that they easily end up lost. Most finding themselves under beds, couches, shelves, etc. Their size makes them a super fun toy to bat around but that's usually how they get wedged somewhere and lost forever so plan to have to keep buying these ones at least once a year. Rolling Ball & Scratcher Cat Toy Definitely grab yourself one of these 2 in 1 scratcher and rolling ball toys! These are more on the expensive side but they're pretty commonly found at thrift shops because older cats tend to get tired with them over the years. But for a kitten, they are pure bliss! They can bat the ball around in circles to keep themselves happily entertained. But the best part of this toy is the scratching piece in the middle. These cardboard pieces are typically replaceable so don't worry if your kitty tears it up! That's the purpose of the center piece, to be a scratching outlet for your cat. They can even keep their own nails groomed this way saving you the time and effort of a nail trim. String Chasing Cat Toys These string chasing toys are most definitely a MUST for the younger kittens! They come with long sticks where you can attach strings, other toys, feathers, etc. This is a great way to start bonding with a new kitty since it requires you to be involved in the playing process. It's also great exercise for your cat so it can be helpful for those who ay be carrying around a few extra pounds. Interactive Cat Toys Lastly, we have our interactive cat toys. These are fantastic additions to your cat's space or play around because they are very much a "set and forget about it" type. These are a hit or miss for some, but the ones that do like them, really love them! These also tend to be a bit pricier but they can be found used for pretty cheap. If you're looking for help with your cat's care don't forget to check out our Cat Sitting service!

These are the Best Options to Give Your Pet Sitter for Your Dog While You're Away Why do this? When you go on a trip, it's SO important to leave your pup with some high quality chew toys. Chewing help reduce stress and anxiety. It also significantly decreases the likelihood of your dog causing damage to your home while you're away on your trip. Not sure which ones are the best to pick? We'll go over which are the best options below! The Do's and Do Not's of Bones Whenever considering a new chew toy for your dog, you should first educate yourself on the difference of the current choices on the market. High prices do not always indicate better products, especially in today's economy. It's easy to go to any pet store and pick out a chew toy sure. But keeping these do's and do not's in mind when shopping will help you make a better choice: Will it be safe for your puppy or dog? Will it be worth the money you spend? Will it last long enough to keep your pup happily entertained? These are the questions you should ask first before purchasing anything. Durability and Strength for Your Dog Durability goes hand in hand with the quality of the chew you're buying. This is primarily because the cheaper chews are going to break or disintegrate much faster than a high quality chew. There are a few brands you can trust to provide you with good products: Nylabone and Kong. These brands have been around for a long time and have had the time to test and perfect the products you see currently on the market. They specifically test for safety and durability with their products. When going with either of these companies you can be sure you're going to get your money's worth. These brands make a variety of different chews including imitation bones, antlers, and tree branches. The reason they use imitation products is because they've perfected the formulas to replicate what it is your dog loves about these items, while making them long-lasting and durable at the same time. A regular bone or tree branch can easily be broken and splitter becoming a danger to your dog and a potentially costly vet bill. But they've found a way to make these products with materials that are safe for your dog and can withstand even the most aggressive chewers. Overall Best Practices with Your Puppy or Dog There are some overshadowing best practices to follow when picking out a new chew. Look for something that will not be easily chewed or potentially digested. Look for something thats marked with the words "for aggressive chewers" or "extreme chewers." You also want to look for the two brands previously mentioned: Nylabone and Kong. In addition, looking for products that you can see are well made overall is going to give you the best bang for your buck. When it comes to chews, it's always better to spring for the more expensive, well-made type. This is because your pup will go through the cheaper ones so much faster and they're much more likely to be the kind that can be accidentally ingested. In the past, pet care professionals had recommended items like rawhide to many of their clients. We've now come to know that rawhide can be a huge veterinary nightmare. It can cause blockages in your dog's digestive track leading to expensive surgeries. This is why it's so important to research the types of chews you buy before you go out shopping. Or if you're shopping online, take some time to read the reviews and see what kinds of experiences their other customers are having.

The "Why" Always Matters for Your Puppy Training Understanding why you're struggling with crate training your puppy matters. This is mainly because understanding the root of the issue can help you get to a solution faster. For example, certain puppies who come from breeders may not have ever experience a crate before and in their case, exposure may be the key to success. In other situations, the issue may be that the puppy was exposed to a crate but had a traumatic experience with it, like being kept in there too long resulting in negative associations that you'll have to combat. Take some time to try and figure out why it is that your puppy is having trouble. What YOU Can do to Make it Better Immediately The good news is, you start working on this problem immediately! You'll want to start by building up the positive associations your pup has with the crate from day one. If you've already had your puppy for a while now and having started yet, that's ok! Just start right away with these tips. First, start by feeding all meals inside of the crate. This can be by bowls, feeding toys, or food stuffed Kongs. You'll also want to give fun and exciting new toys in the crate. This is a great time to invest in some durable puzzle toys that will kept your puppy happily entertained for hours. What to do for Your Puppy Continuously After you've set up you're original positive associations with the crate, you'll want to be sure to do the following steps to ensure the crate remains a happy place to be. Make sure that your pup is well exercised before going in the crate. This gives them a much better chance of being able to settle in there. You'll also want to make sure they've always done their business before going inside their crate. This both prevents accidents from happening and prevents the dog from developing a bad association about the crate. How to Plan For Long Term Benefits Even if it's tough in the beginning, remember that you're training for something thats going to be a HUGE benefit to you and your dog in the long run. Crates help keep your puppy safe when you're not able to directly supervise, they help aid in potty training, and they help to keep your home safe from destruction during their younger stages of life. You can also use them as a tool when transporting your dog and it'll come in handy for them to be comfortable being crated whenever they go to the vet or groomers because they'll likely be crated there as well. Alternatives for Your Dog If you've gone through of all these preventative measures and still are not having success with crate training, don't worry! There are some wonderful alternatives you can use. Our most recommended alternative is a gated area. The gated area works exactly like a crate, keeping your pup safely contained but most dogs find it easier to manage. Next up, you could switch to a "puppy-proofed" room. Usually a bathroom is great for this. Lastly, you can use a doggy daycare in cases where dog's are not comfortable being left alone in any scenario. Always remember to reach out to a puppy training company if you're struggling!

Knowing Whats Normal... Does your puppy have you at wits end with all their craziness? Puppies are naturally energetic, playful, and mischievous. It's important to have done research on how to best raise a puppy before ever bringing one home because the amount of work they can be is most definitely too much for some people. Not only do you have to expert some amount of hyperactive behavior in most pups, but there are some breeds who have an even greater chance of being extra hyper, especially as young ones. If you have a herding breed like a Shepard for example, or a Retriever, these breeds are known for being high energy dogs. So during their puppy years they can be a handful to deal with. Just like with small children they go through this phase where they'll be extra hyper and then crash hard and take a nice long snooze. This is generally true to all dogs no matter the breed you go with. How To Make Your Puppy Training Better If you're dealing with an overly energized pup, the best thing to do is start training early and be consistent. Having boundaries and rules is especially important with dogs who move and act quickly. Teaching the basic command is of course crucial but you'll also want to devote time to teaching proper ways to use their mouth while playing and how to greet others without jumping all over them, as these are things you'll usually see in high energy dogs. Keep in mind that YOU have the greatest control over your puppy's stimulation level. This is mainly because you are the main provider of stimulation, so if they are not receiving enough from you, it's likely you'll see them start expressing this in other ways. These ways may include: jumping, biting, destroying furniture, etc. However, you can counteract this with two types of activities, mental and physical stimulation. Physical stimulation or exercise is without a doubt the biggest contributor to energy levels. Mental stimulation or "brain games" are a close second. Making sure your pup has plenty of exercise will be key to having a well-behaved dog. Also providing them with puzzle toys or enrichment games is going to help work their brain and tire them out. How to Best Set Your Expectations Owners who regularly provide mental and physical exercise for their dogs during their early years see HUGE improvements in behavior overall. After all, these are the years they'll be learning how to go about living their doggy life and you want to make sure they have a good routine to follow. Starting them with a dog training service as soon as they're old enough is going to be an enormous contributing factor as well. Do right by your pup and make sure you're giving them the best possible start in life!

Consider The Causes It's always important to first rule out any health concerns that may be attributing to your puppy or dog's lack or food motivation. Health issues like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), pancreatitis, and even anxiety can contribute to your pups poor appetite. These issues can be ruled out at your veterinarians office. If you notice any physical signs of illness like vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, it's a good idea to contact your vet asap as these issues are not likely to be resolved on their own. Sometime it may be an allergy that's causing your dog to have adverse reactions and feelings towards food. In these cases, it may be as simple as switching food proteins to resolve the problem. For example, if your dog's eating chicken flavored food, switching to beef or lamb may be an easy quick fix for them. If you've already tried switching different food proteins and are still having issues, then even if you're not seeing psychical symptoms, it's best practice to make a vet visit to rule out any potentially harmful illnesses. You vet may also prescribe a special diet that can help your fur baby to get back on track. Are You Using Food in The Best Way? The next major factor to consider is if you are using food in the best possible way. If for example, your puppy is allow to "free feed" meaning they have unlimited access to food at all times, then you can see how food but not have as great of a value. There's a simple solution to this as well, having set feeding times and limited portions of food at these times. This will make food hold more value for your dog. You may also be using food in a way that's not valuable to your puppy, by choosing a food they don't like. Most dog's will not find kibble nearly as valuable as wet food, real meat, or even cheese. These foods are much higher in flavor and tend to be more popular around pickier dogs. They usually will gravitate toward foods or treats that are moist as well. Trying to use your puppy's kibble as treat rewards may be a convenient solution, but it may also be why your puppy is not eager to work hard for you. Try adding in some different flavors, textures, and foods that are more moist. Think About Alternatives for Puppy Training Success! It's important to keep in mind that there are alternatives to using food as a reward. During training it's usually easiest to use food as your reward, but this is not always an option so it's good to think abut alternatives that may work better for your pup. For example, praise is a huge reinforcer to most dogs. Don't underestimate the power of a "GOOD BOY!!." In addition, some dogs prefer play as their rewards. You can use games like tug or fetch as their reward for doing a behavior correctly. This is a common staple in dog training for service dogs, search and rescue dogs, and police dogs. Because you won't always have easy access to food rewards, it's good practice to use alternative forms of rewards.

Puppy Enrichment is Vital to Healthy Development When you get a puppy you may do some research on what's most important to have a happy healthy pup. You'll likely come across a lot of information telling you how crucial enrichment or enrichment activities are. Giving your pup enrichment is fairly easy to do, it's simply giving your puppy activities to keep their minds and bodies active and engaged. Some enrichment activities can take hours to complete while others take just a few moments. Giving them activities to do that use their natural instincts helps to develop their problem solving skills and build their ability to self-entertain making your life much easier. The best activities for young dogs include chewing, licking, or seeking. These behaviors are natural to your dog and give them a healthy way to use their energy. Movement is Your Best Friend Enrichment activities like moving food dispensing toys are a fantastic choice for new dog owners. These can easily be filled with your dog's kibble or treats and then meal time is instantly transformed into a game that can take some dogs a half hour to an hour to finish. The best thing about these types of enrichment toys is that they not only engage the mind, but they also engage the body. They have to move around to get the little pieces of food to fall out which not only takes brain power to figure out, but also gets them tired from all the moving around at the same time. If you identify with the saying "a happy dog is a good dog" then you can probably relate to how life changing a feeding toy like this can be. These come in numerous shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels. They can even be used for every meal if you'd like! Puzzle Toys Help You and Your Puppy Puzzle toys are another form of enrichment for your pup that not only benefit them, but also benefit you. These toys are designed to give your dog a puzzle to solve. While they usually don't require as much movement as a food dispensing toy, they do require much more brain power to figure out. Just like us humans after figuring out a really difficult problem, your puppy will be tired from this experience. Most puppies will be ready for a nap after solving one of these difficult puzzle toys. This gives you a chance to have a break from your constant supervision and entertaining which can truly be exhausting when their young. It's also important to note that you'll need to select the right difficulty level for your dog when choosing one of these toys.If it's too easy it'll be finished too quick. While there's no replacement for good training, there's still an enormous amount if benefits you will be able to noticeably see when using toys like these. Just like food dispensing toys, these can be filled with treats or kibble, making them a fun exciting way to feed your dog their meal every day. We recommend that every new dog parent should stock up on a variety of puzzle toys for their new pup!

It's so important to understand that training your puppy starts from the first moment you meet them. The way you interact with them and how you react to their behavior will shape the way the act for the next weeks, months, and even years. Training is not just teaching certain skills like sit and stay. It's also about teaching your dog about your expectations and what is and is not allowed. It's crucial to spend some time researching your dogs breed traits so that you're well prepared for their temperament when they arrive. For certain breeds, like shepards and retrievers, it's common for them to be very mouthy as puppies. This is one example of a behavior you'll want to start training with right away. Training your puppy in the beginning should look like teaching them basic manners like how to interact without biting, how to greet you without jumping, and how to manage their energy appropriately. These things can all be taught by doing whats called "disengaging." The way this works is by simply disengaging with your puppy any time they do a behavior like these that you'd like to discourage. For instance, if your puppy is playing with a tug toy and bites onto your hand, you immediately turn away and end the game. This teaches your puppy that certain behaviors will loose them what they find most valuable of all, your attention. You can also use this with unwanted behaviors like jumping which is why it's so important to make sure you never give your puppy attention or affection when they jump up on you. Doing this actually teaches them that this is a great behavior to repeat because it gets them more attention which makes them want to do it more and more. While teaching the basic of manners and appropriate interactions, you'll want to start teaching them the rules of the house, primarily: how to go to the bathroom outside only and what is and is not okay to chew on or play with. Potty training should begin the first day you bring your pup home and keep in mind that the fewer number of accidents they have, the faster the potty training will go, so putting in the extra effort in the beginning really does pay off here. Potty training is easiest to do when you have at least a few days where you can be home with your puppy to give them frequent potty breaks and complete supervision. If you're not able. to be home with your puppy during their first week home then you'll want to plan to have a friend or pet sitter come by often to help with this process. While teaching manners and potty training, you'll simultaneously want to be training them how to engage appropriately with their environment. All puppies, no matter the breed, are likely to chew, tear, and destroy objects. This is why we need to be sure we're giving them a good alternative outlet for these behaviors so that our furniture, clothes, and shoes stay safe! We can encourage them to chew on appropriate items like bones, stuffed toys, and kong toys. While at the same time discourage them from the wrong things to chew on by immediately interrupting the behavior and redirecting them to another activity instead. Once you've got a handle on manners and rules of the house, you can move onto more skills based training like sit, stay, and lay down. These skills are all extremely useful but they're not nearly as important as teaching your puppy how to be a good member of your family. These things are often passively taught over the course of your first few months together and putting in the extra effort here is where you'll truly see a huge difference.

So you got a new puppy for Christmas... what's next? Well if you've got an adorable little pup running around your house right now there's definitely some new dog owner tips and tricks you'll want to be aware of. Even if this isn't your first puppy ever, things have likely changed a LOT since the last pup you raised. One of the biggest changes to the world of puppyhood being how you should train them. See back in the early 2000s, it was common practice to use harsh and fear inducing training methods. Since this was the most commonly recommended course of training, this is how the majority of the population raised their dogs. Thank goodness for all the incredible new training methods that have been discovered! The new ways are focused primarily on positive reinforcement training which is proven to be the most effective, least intrusive way to train your puppy. Positive reinforcement training has been around for decades, but it hasn't become popular until the last ten years or so when it became more main stream. The reason for this mostly being that the popular televised versions of fear-based training had been being spread everywhere. Most people think that if someone on a tv show is giving you advise on your dog, that they are a good source to listen to, but this sadly has not been the case. Popular tv shows were showing harsh corrections, using pain to train, and how to get the "quick-fix" result without ever showing how these methods effect the dogs long term. What we now know is that using fear or pain to train a dog can actually cause serious negative long term effects like anxiety and aggression. These methods usually include using shock collars, choke chains, and prong collars. When raising a pup it's completely normal behavior for them to be destructive, have accidents, and misbehave. Just like children, they have to be taught the right way to behave, it does not come naturally. As their owners, it's our responsibility to guide them through this early stage of their life and teach them right from wrong. The way we do this though, has huge effects of their overall demeanor and behavior. For instance, it was common practice to yell and shove your dogs nose in their own poo if they had an accident. But now we know that using fear and intimidation methods like this actually end up causing the dog to be more afraid of you. This results in them hiding their accidents from you making the potty training process so much harder than it needs to be. Now just because it's normal for puppies to do these behaviors we don't like, does not mean we just let them happen. We just take a different approach to finding the solution now which has better more long lasting effects. We focus on solution, NOT the problem. We take the precautions to set up puppies up for success so that they are less likely to make the mistake in the first place. In the example of potty training for instance, we focus on making sure the dog is getting out on a regular basis, we make sure they're not left unattended, and we pay close attention to signs that they need to go out so that we can prevent the accident from happening in the first place. In a case of destruction, like say your pillows or couch, we set the puppy up to succeed by limiting their access to these items and closely supervising them when they are around things they're likely to chew. When you start off on the right paw training your puppy, you'll see how your relationship grows and your bond strengthens. With positive reinforcement training you'll be one step ahead of every mistake so that you can combat the bad choices before they even occur. You'll also have the added benefits of never having to use painful metal prongs or electric shocks to control your dog's behavior. If you're looking to get started with puppy training that will improve your life and your dog's life, contact us today!

How to Know if The Dog Parks Right for Your Dog The first thing to consider when wondering if the dog park is a good choice is will this be good for my dog. Not all dogs are dog park dogs, just like not all people are park people or social people. When you're trying to figure this out, there are some major questions to answer. One, does my dog enjoy playing with other dogs? Two, will this be a safe experience for my dog? Three, will the benefits out-weight the cons? Keep in mind when answering these questions that every dog is an individual and its completely fine if they're not the social type, this isn't something we ever want to force on a dog. Forcing a dog whose fearful or aggressive to socialize can actually make the problem much worse. If you do have a social dog or puppy, then think about the area they will be in and the dogs they will be interacting with. Depending on the size of the area and the amount of dogs there, it's possible that the situation could still be overwhelming even to the most social dog. The pros of dog parks are huge: there's a great deal of socializing that helps your dog become well mannered, your pup can get mental and physical exercise, and you can monitor the interactions and adjust the situation if needed. The cons though, can also be pretty big: dogs can spread diseases, viruses, fleas, ticks, etc all through close interaction with each other. There's also the possibility that your dog gets hurt by another dog there. How to Make Your Experience Great In order to give yourself the best experience possible, theres a few key things to do. First, make sure your dog is up to date on all their vaccinations, flea and tick medications, and that they are generally able to handle other dog's in their personal space. It's especially important to think about thing with puppies as their immune systems are not as developed as adults and they have a greater risk of catching something from another dog. It's really crucial to pay attention during your visit to the park. This means full eyes on attention, not multitasking with phone calls or texting. It only takes a second for an interaction between dogs to become violent and dangerous. This is why you'll want to be vigilant about who your dog interacts with and what their owners are doing as well. Are they also watching their dog? Or are they busy writing an email on their phone? This can make an enormous difference if two pups were to get into an altercation. What to Watch Out for at the Dog Park Some of the hazards of the dog park have the potential to leave life-long scars on your dog. Not just in the physical sense, but in the sense that they will be observing and mimicking the behavior that they see. This holds true especially with younger puppies. They will learn both good and bad manners from the others they interact with so it's important to choose their playmates wisely. Young dogs who have been attacked at a park tend to carry that experience with them throughout their life and this can create issues with anxiety and aggression down the road. Even simple behaviors like barking or whining will be picked up by certain dogs. The way they act with others during these experiences will shape the way they respond to other dogs in the future.

Raw Dog Food Diets are the Healthiest Option If you're wondering what the best possible food you can feed your dog is, the answer is a raw diet. Raw diets have become more popular over the past several years and they truly are the optimal option if your main goal is finding the healthiest food. However, they do have some major downfalls including food contamination, high cost, and their inconvenient nature. On the upside, feeding your dog a raw diet if possible will give them the best nutrition which has been proven to improve overall heath in many different areas and can lead to a longer, happier life for your pup. The main thing to consider when considering a raw diet are weighing the pros and cons for your and your dog's particular life style. If you're able to afford a significantly higher price point and have the ability to prepare and feed the raw diet, then you are good as gold. If on the other hand you're worried about the downfalls here are some things to keep in mind. First, handling raw meat can be dangerous if you have young ones in the household. Second, preparing these meals does take a good amount of time and effort. Third, it's crucial to make sure that the diet you feed them contains all of the vitamins and nutrients they need to be healthy. You can do this by researching raw diets or by contacting a pet nutritionist. Dehydrated Dog Food is The Next Best for Your Pup If you're thinking well I'd like to feed raw, but it's just not possible for me at this time, then your second best option is dehydrated diets. These are raw diets that have been pre-made and packaged so that you just have to add water and feed. They take the hard work out of gathering all the correct ingredients and prepping the food for your pup. In general, these are very healthy dog foods and they will give your food exactly what they need without the extra inconvenience of raw feeding. The only major downfall to these foods is their high price tag. In some cases, a months worth of food can cost upwards of $150. However, if you have a small breed dog who eats much less than say a labrador, then this could be much more affordable for you! Typically they come in small nuggets or patties and your only prep needed is the adding of the water. But some of these foods do need to be first defrosted, depending on how you have to store them. They are great for dogs with special dietary needs or dogs who have allergies because most of them are high in quality ingredients and will provide your pup with all the essential nutrients. If you Must Choose Kibble for your Dog, Choose Wisely Over the last decade or so, the public has been exposing the big brand name pet food companies and educating the owner on how awful dog kibble can really be. We have seen a huge uptick in the amount of information that's now available to the public and there are some significant conclusions we've been able to make now. First, most kibbles are not healthy diets for dogs. Even the best kibble on the market is likely to have way too many carbohydrates and not enough protein for your dog. This is because as consumers we want a low price point and the convenience of food that will stay preserved for weeks. In order to get those things, we have to compromise on the quality of the food we feed. If you do have to go with kibble, make sure to read the ingredients and do your research before buying. Always pay attention to the wording on the bag as well because there are some loop holes the pet food companies use to trick the consumer. A good example of this is using the word "beef flavor" instead of "beef diet." In these cases, the companies who put "beef and rice flavor" do not actually have to put any beef in their food. If on the other hand you see "beef and rice" diet, then you know that these two ingredients must make up at least 25% of the food. Be sure to pay close attention to the first five ingredients and also choose one with a meat as the first ingredient. Wellness is a great example of a balanced, nutritious kibble for dogs.

Time is KEY to training fearful dogs Whenever training a puppy or dog who is fearful or anxious, you must go about your training in a different way and understand that giving them time is crucial. Giving them extra time to adapt to their environment and to you must happen before you begin any training. Using typical training methods could actually harm your relationship with the dog which creates an even bigger challenge when it comes to training skills. Once your dog has had time to adjust to having you in their environment, you can start to build trust between you and your dog. The first step is bringing something they find enjoyable so that they can make a positive association between you and the item. People most commonly use treats or the dogs favorite toy for this. You'll first want to read the dog's body language before moving forward with this first step. This again may take some time. Your Approach with the Dog is Important The best way to approach a nervous puppy or dog is to make yourself look less intimidating. You can do this by crouching down or sitting down on the ground. Take off any items that may make the dog scared like hats, big jackets, large boots, and so on. You also want to avoid making direct eye contact with the dog at first, this can be perceived as a treat by the dog. Your approach should be calm and gentle. Think about your voice tone and your body language as you begin to work with the dog. Remember that this is a process and it can take some dogs weeks or even months to trust a person. It's common for puppies to go through fear periods where they may be more easily startled, this is a short few months time period they will likely grow out of. However, if it's something that last longer then this is a more serious concern. Dog's who are adopted from shelters can sometimes have these types of behaviors. Depending on their history and genetics, any puppy can turn into a dog who is fearful or anxious. This is why it's so crucial to prepare with good dog training whenever getting a new dog. Once Trust is Built, Dog Training Can Begin. It's crucial to have a solid relationship based on trust before any dog training begins. Once that is established, you can start working on your training. It's best to start with easier obedience skills like sit and down. Starting with something complex like leash walking for example, could make things much more difficult for you. Once you've got reliable basic commands you can move on to more challenging tasks. Always keep in mind that no task is more important than the relationship you've built with your dog. If you push them too far too fast, you may end up setting back your training. Never force your puppy or dog into situations where they're fearful because that can translate into you not being a trustworthy person. Instead, build slow gradual progress with them and see how their desire to learn and please you begins to grow. This is without a doubt the best way to train fearful or anxious dogs.