Should Your Dog Eat Table Scraps?

It's a familiar sight to every pet owner who has sat down to a meal with their dog in the room: Your furry friend scoots as close to the table as he can get. His big, pitiful eyes stare longingly - first at you, then at your plate. He licks his chops over and over again, hoping to get just one bite of whatever you are eating. As hard as it is not to give in to those sad, soulful eyes, there are many reasons NOT to feed your dog table scraps.

The most obvious reason is because many of the foods that humans eat are just not good for dogs. The best diet for a dog is a consistent diet. Talk to your vet about how much food to give your dog, and then feed the same amount at the same time each day. There are ways to make his meals more interesting, such as adding gravy that is made for dogs, without sacrificing his good health.

Dogs that eat a lot of table scraps tend to be overweight. If you are eating a steak and want to give your dog a treat, what part of the steak does he usually get? The fat. Eating pure fat isn't good for your dog's weight. Dogs that are overweight have less energy and are at greater risk for developing health problems such as cardiovascular diseases.

Some foods are a direct threat to your dog's health. Chocolate is the best example of this. Chocolate contains a substance that is toxic to dogs. While humans love this sweet treat, it can cause great harm, even death, to your dog.

Digestive disorders are another common problem among dogs that eat a lot of table scraps. Again, the healthiest diet for dogs is a consistent diet. You're not doing your dog any favors if you feed him scraps that cause him to vomit or have diarrhea. Even a food that isn't always toxic to a dog can upset his digestive tract enough to cause these unpleasant symptoms.

Table scraps do not provide the nutrition that dogs need. Tossing your dog a scrap of chicken now and then is different than feeding your dog a diet that consists mainly of table scraps. Dogs need different things nutritionally than humans do, and the best way for dogs to get what they need is to eat a food that has been formulated for dogs. Even if you offer him nutritious dog food along with an abundance of table scraps, he is less likely to eat his own food if he is filling up on yours.

In addition to the health problems, there are behavioral problems that can develop as a result of feeding your dog table scraps. You need to ask yourself the following questions.

Do you really want him to beg? You need to ask yourself this question every time you are tempted to give in to your dog. If you start feeding your dogs scraps from the table, he is going to sit there like Old Faithful at every single meal. Do not reward begging at the table unless you WANT him to beg at the table. Rewarding that behavior even one time may make it difficult to train your dog to stay away from the table. Even if it doesn't bother you terribly, you may want to entertain guests in the future who won't appreciate Fido sniffing their plates as they try to eat.

Help your pet be a good dog by NOT rewarding bad behavior such as begging.

Do you want your dog to be a picky eater? Since the healthiest food for you dog is dog food, it's a good idea to make that dog food as appealing as possible. Setting his dry kibble next to a juicy steak probably isn't the most effective way to accomplish that. By feeding your dog a lot of table scraps, you are helping him develop a taste for your food. In some cases, this will cause your dog to become finicky about what he eats, and his dry food will not seem as appealing as it once did.

Do you want a dog who steals? A dog who is allowed to eat human food on a regular basis will begin to assume it is his right to eat the pot of spaghetti you left on the counter. He may also be more apt to rummage through the garbage to get a hold of some of the scraps you neglected to give him. This may cause serious problems as many items found in the trash are very harmful to your pet.

There are many good reasons not to give table scraps to your dog on a regular basis, but there are ways to treat your dog that are not harmful and that will not encourage bad behavior.

If you want to give your pet an occasional treat of leftover meat, just follow a few rules.

o Be sure that small bones are removed. Never give your dog chicken bones. Some dogs have a bad reaction (severe vomiting and diarrhea) to other types of bones, so it's best to remove the meat from the bones completely.

o Do not feed directly from the table. After the meal, when the dog has stopped begging, take the leftovers to his normal eating place and put them in his bowl. Do not let him see you walk directly from the table to his bowl.

o Do not do anything that causes your dog to see a relationship between his begging and you giving him table food. Do not feed him table scraps every day. His main diet should be of a food that contains all the nutrition he needs. In other words: dog food. Only feed hand selected table scraps as an occasional treat.

As much as you might want to give in to his begging, you must keep his best interest in mind. Dogs don't know what is good for them. It's your job to help keep them healthy and to help them behave, not give in to their every whim.

Cody Golden Retriever playing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsU3ltA-Uk&hl=en

Effective Training For Your Golden Retriever Dog

Some people think of dogs as if they where humans, but they are not, they need to be taught different things in different ways. Since dogs lack human form of judgment, being able to tell right from wrong escapes them. Instead, they operate on a principle of response, guided by the actions you give them. Most pet owners train their dogs in such a way that they don't do certain things out of fear, afraid of what their owner might do to them, not because they are aware of their wrong doing.

There is another way of training, coming from a completely opposite direction. The use of praise when your dog does something right is a positive method of training, and one which your dog will appreciate a lot more. This method of training simply requires that you pay attention to your dog's behavior, and whenever he is caught doing something right, quickly move to praise him for his good action. Letting your dog know that he did something right, will encourage the dog to do the right thing again and again. However, if you happen to be the owner of a naughty dog, which needs to be reminded of his wrong doing, a simple no, in a sober yet affirming voice with suffice.

During your dog training efforts, you will find that timing is the most important factor. The minute your dog steps out of bounds, you should quickly correct. Doing the potty in the rug is a good example of wrongdoing, where you should jump in the act, pick him up and take him to the assigned spot. In case of mischief, like scratching the sofa, you should reprimand with authority without raising your voice too much.

In general, to stop your dog from doing some activity you would rather see him not do, be firm and consistent precisely at the moment he is caught in the act of performing such activity. Understand that it will take some time and quite of bit of patience before you can successfully convey your message to the animal.

On the positive side, make sure to provide your dog with lots of praise in the event he actually did something right. Praise can be magnified by adding a snack, then your dog will be really happy and probably add power to your message. If your timing is wrong and fails to come at the moment he did the good deed, there is a chance you will loose your opportunity and the message will be lost. Generally, if you follow the instructions and provide praise and reprimands with proper timing you should start seeing results in as little as two weeks.

Remember patience is crucial for the success of the exercise; the same process will need to be repeated several times before he gets it. Training is essential at a young age, and will allow you to enjoy the company of your dog even more as he grows. Training should bring you and your Golden Retriever closer, not the other way around. Don't spend all the time at training, which can be too stressful, spend some time playing dog games just to break the ice before you get on to business.

sleeping puppy...TOO CUTE!!!

6 WEEK OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPY HUNTER FALLS ASLEEP IN A BOWL OF WATER AND WAKES ITSELF UP BEFORE HE DROWNS...THEN REPEATS EXERCISE...HE IS THE GREAT GRAND NEPHEW OF RAJ FROM MY DOG AND THE ROCK VIDEOAND DOG IN WATER VIDEOS!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrNXUbD53Mg&hl=en

Staying Healthy in College Dorms - 9 Steps That Work

Increased exposure to a greater number of people puts college coeds at greater risk for contracting contagious diseases. And the most recent step by college officials to quarantine students on campus because of a Swine Flu outbreak is a scary example of how fast an airborne or contact disease can spread. Here are a few effective tips towards staying healthy, yet still being able to enjoy college dorm life.

1. Disinfect frequently used surfaces regularly. This should include door knobs, draw pulls, TV remotes, computer keyboard and mouse, phone, iPod, Blackberry, laptop, and other hand held devices.

Your normal routine of opening and closing doors, books, desks, chairs collects a ton of germs on your hands. If you then talk on you phone while using your hands to eat a snack, you've just transferred a lot of potential harm from outside to inside your body.

2. Avoid those who are coughing or sneezing.  This is particularly good advice for you if they are not covering their mouths. One of the ways the Swine Flu virus spreads is when droplets from the infected host are inhaled by others; and these droplets can travel as far as 6 feet.

3. Be fussy about who you allow in your room. If you have a sick friend, invite them back when they are well rather than let them come into your area while they are obviously still contagious.

4. Wash your hands frequently. With all the modern technology, this old-fashioned, low tech piece of advice still works to combat germs. Lather up well, and sing the Happy Birthday song to make sure you've washed long enough to kill the germs.

5. Invest in hand sanitizer. For those times when hand washing is not possible, keep some in your back pack, car, your friends' car, and your room. Offer it freely to help those you come in closest contact with to stay healthy. Always use it before using your hands to eat, after sneezing, or blowing your nose.

6. When you are ill stay put. Pampering yourself with plenty of rest and fluids, and limiting your exposure to others will get you back on track faster than toughing it out which will lower your resistance even more. If you are not better pretty quickly, and are experiencing symptoms that seem out of the ordinary, seek professional help fast.

7. Carry a small pack of tissues with you. Use them to cover your mouth when sneezing and coughing. This will keep your hands cleaner, making you less contagious. Dispose of the tissues immediately. Empty the trash can frequently and avoid touching them again when you dispose of them.

8. Change the air in your room. Air can easily become stale, and letting new air in and the old air out can keep airborne pollutants from accumulating. This is only an option

9. Invest in a dorm room air purifier. A small, portable, light weight, but heavy duty air purifier in your dorm room can work 24 hours a day to remove airborne pollutants. Bacteria and viruses as small as .3 microns as well as odors, and particulates can be constantly eliminated whether anyone is there or not. Keeping the air clean keeps resistance high, and if you do encounter a brush with the flu, your body will be more able to fight it off.

Top Dog Seizure Symptoms

This short guide is to help, symptoms seized the dog, to save the life of your dog in an emergency.

A body in shape can experience muscle twitching and shaking uncontrollably aggressive and defined. The cause of the crisis is often unknown. Your best defense is to be able to recognize the dog seizure symptoms listed below. Knowing your dog, you should be able to identify normal and abnormal behavior.

4 Common Dog SeizureSymptoms

If something in the brain causes the neurological system, a dog attack experience, which is a disorder of the brain. The attachment can be anywhere from a few minutes to several minutes. Viruses and diseases do not cause seizures. dog attacks occur frequently due to epilepsy. Here are some symptoms that are common to dog attacks. Your dog may have one or more of the following symptoms:

Before your dog begins to urinate defecate, or saliva control.
According to YourDog begins to have hallucinations.
Third Your dog starts barking too much and eat away at his legs or paws.
My fourth dog no longer responds to commands.
Fifth Your dog is suffering from involuntary muscle contractions, is isolated or affecting the entire body.

Is your dog in danger during a crisis? He should be fine until he lay on the ground. Although his body in convulsions, his tongue will not block so it will be able to breathe his breath. Do not worry about putting yourhand to try to clear their throat and airways. The dog may bite if you accidentally do.

What should I do? Immediately call your local vet and try not to diagnose the problem yourself. Your dog needs immediate attention from a veterinarian who knows how to deal with the attacks. Recognizing the symptoms of seizure dog, you can save the life of your dog, but we still need to take care of a veterinarian, it held as soon as possible.

Try to have the phone numbers for more than a veterinarianif you can. Identify one or two emergency care for local animals in your area and keep these numbers handy. You can find these numbers next to the phone number and address of the veterinarian or glue them to the refrigerator door. If you have free time, there is always a good idea to check the local animal hospital, so we know how to get in an emergency or if your dog experiences an adaptation to driving.

Once you take the dog to the vet, he or she usually require somemedications to help keep your dog relaxed and stable. The prescribed treatment can be anywhere from one to two weeks for the rest of your dog's life. This type of drug is usually taken regularly, and most veterinarians avoid drugs for the life of a dog when he experiences seizures on a regular basis.

Dancing Dog - Linda Farr's Tango Partner

You've never seen a dog tango - until you've seen this video. It's a 2002 Iowa Public Television story about a golden retriever named "Keeper" and Linda Farr, his dance partner. They are national champions in several dance styles in the World Canine Freestyle competitions.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBsl4ARriQo&hl=en