Homemade Treats for a Happy and Healthy Dog


Baking your own dog treats
Are you aware of the ingredients on a box of dog treats? Do you choose the ones with orange color for that cheese flavor? Or the ones with red because it’s reputed to taste like liver? Have you seen an expiration date for dog-food products? It's like these foods can last forever. You'll never how long these dog treats have been sitting on the shelf.

The things to avoid when buying your dog treats are the ones with the words containing "by-products" and "meal" on the label. Chances are these are food-processing by-products that humans will not consume. Ingredients including chemicals, preservatives, artificial flavorings and artificial colorings are some unsuitable or sometimes potentially harmful contents of these treats.

Proper nutrition and regular veterinary care are the two key ingredients for a healthy, happy dog. If people only knew the quality of ingredients in dog treats that are readily available in the store, people would cook for their pets. Making homemade, all natural dog treats is one step to take control of your dog's health, and do something special for your best friend.

Alternative to baked treats
When you don't have time to bake for your dog, there are many other healthful foods you can offer as treats. Choose dried dates and dried apricots, both must be without sugar, baby carrots, seedless grapes and apple slices. Be sure to remove any seeds, and wash fruits and vegetables well to remove pesticides and preservatives before feeding these foods to your dog. Keep portions small. And remember, anytime you give your dog new foods, watch for allergic reactions.


When do you buy commercial products?
Not everyone has the time nor the desire to cook for their pets. When buying dog treats or dog food, make sure you choose the ones whose primary products, the first few that are listed in the label, are whole foods like beef, lamb, chicken, brown rice, whole wheat, barley and oats. By-products such as meal, corn, and other weird ingredients that you can barely pronounce should be at the end of the list. The best treats have a short and simple list of ingredients.

A lot of pet owners today are concerned about their pet's diet, which has led to the development of more healthful and all-natural products. There are several pet specialty stores and Internet resources that offer a huge selection of dog treats and dog foods. Don't just go for the price or get fooled by the packaging, always read the ingredients and make educated choices.

© 2010 Athena Goodlight

Housebreaking Your New Puppy


The more time you spend with your new pup or dog, the faster she will learn not to urinate or defecate in the house. A puppy is just a baby and must learn what you expect of her. An older dog may have to learn new habits, depending upon how she was housed and trained before.

How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With
What Doesn’t Work
You have probably heard someone say, "If the puppy makes a mistake, rub his nose in it," or "Drag him to the site of disaster, point at the puddle or pile, and scold him." Don’t use either of those methods. They don’t work. All you’ll do is frighten the pup and make a mess for yourself to clean up. A dog is so upset when he is being scolded that he can’t even begin to understand exactly what you are angry about.

What Does Work: 6 Easy Steps
1. Watch out for the signs. Be with your puppy as much as possible so that you can learn his different noise and behaviors. You will soon detect that the puppy behaves in a certain way immediately before he begins to relieve himself like when you see your pup start to circle and sniff the floor, he’s almost certainly looking for a place to potty. Watch for this cue and use it to your advantage. You will only have a few seconds to get the puppy out to the place you want him to use. Don’t scold him if you are not fast enough.
2. Pick out your potty area. Pick a spot that you want your puppy to use as his potty area. Place a piece or two of his stool in that spot. This will be a cue to the pup. Take him to that spot immediately after eating. Praise him gently the instant he starts to relieve himself. The praise must be quiet and calm so that you won’t excite him to a point that he forgets what he started to do. When finished, shower him with praises and let him play in another area.
3. Be patient. Don’t play with your pup until he relieves himself. If he does not relieve himself within 10 minutes, put him in his crate and try the whole thing again in about 20 minutes.
4. Keep the potty area clean. Clean up the area everyday, leaving a small piece behind as a reminder for a few days. Once you are sure that the pup understands what the potty area is for, clean up the area completely each day
5. Maintain control. If your puppy is very small, you may have to carry him to the potty spot. Or take him out wearing a collar and leash. Never let the puppy follow you without any type of restraint. Keep a leash and collar by the door.
6. Introduce the puppy to the house in small steps. Confine the pup to a single room at first, preferably one with a tiled floor. Put a baby gate across the entrance when possible. You must be able to observe the puppy when he is out of the crate, so don’t lock him in the bathroom. The best time to allow the puppy freedom in his room is after he has relieved himself outdoors. When you are confident with his behavior, gradually allow him freedom to the rest of the house. Too much too soon may allow him to spot a nook or cranny as a perfect spot to relieve himself. Just take it slow and you will have a reliable puppy.

PuppyPerfect: The user-friendly guide to puppy parenting (Howell Dog Book of Distinction)Housebreaking & Training Your Puppy (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-242)Puppy Care & Training

© 10/19/2010 Athena Goodlight

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