Dog Days of College

People Food for Your Dog

2012-02-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

After posting a few times about what not to feed your dog, I thought it was time to post a bit about which “people foods” are actually good for your dog. Feel free to use any of the items listed here as an occasional treat for your four-legged friend:

1. Raw, unsalted peanut butter is a favorite treat for a lot of dogs. It’s a good source of protein, vitamin B, niacin and vitamin E.

2. Add some cooked chicken or salmon to your dog’s regular food to give him a little extra protein boost. If you ever find that you don’t have any dog food on hand, you can feed your dog chicken instead.

3. Low or reduced fat cheese can make a great treat for your dog if he isn’t lactose intolerant. If you are not sure about this, you should keep an eye on your dog’s reaction the first time you give him some cheese. You also don’t want to over-feed your dog cheese since it can be high in fat and cholesterol. A good choice here is cottage cheese.

4. Vegetables, such as baby carrots and green beans, are great sources of fiber. They also don’t contain a lot of calories. Just make sure that they don’t have any added salt.

5. Fruits, such as pumpkin or apple slices, are also good sources of vitamin A and fiber, which is good for your dog’s digestion. Before you give him an apple, make sure to remove the seeds and the core so he doesn’t choke.

6. Breakfast foods like eggs and oatmeal are also great for fiber and protein. They will help your dog if he has any problems with his bowels. Just make sure you cook them before serving.

7. Yogurt is high in calcium and protein but make sure that it doesn’t contain any sugar or artificial sweetener.

How Often Should I Groom My Dog?

2012-02-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

I get this question a lot from friends who just brought a new dog into their home, but it really should be asked before you decide on which breed you want to get. Some dogs require more work than others. For example, my maltese needs more grooming than my friend’s rat terrier because she has long hair that needs to be brushed and cut. But, a newfoundland would require even more work than my maltese – simply because of its enormous size.

A good rule of thumb is that the longer your dog's hair is, the more often it will need grooming. There are about as many differences in dog hair as there are in human hair, and certain breeds need more extensive grooming than others (again, this is something you should research before getting the dog).

Wanda (my Maltese) has long hair, so she needs daily brushing. When you have a long-haired dog, you need to be really careful not to ever let the hair get knotted (or matted). It can be difficult to remove, and the process can be painful for the dog. On the other hand, dogs with very short hair only need to be brushed once a week or so. For dogs that fall in between, two or three times a week is probably enough. If your dog is the type that sheds a lot, daily brushing will go a long ways towards preventing your floors and furniture from being covered in dog hair.

Most dogs really like to be brushed, so it can be a good time to bond with your dog. Some people even brush their short-haired dogs daily because the dog enjoys it so much.

How often a dog should be bathed also depends on the length and texture of its hair. My dog gets a bath about once a week, but he's outside a lot and loves to play in the dirt.

With a bit of experimentation, you'll discover what works best for your particular dog. And remember, grooming can be a time for you and your dog to bond. Do the things you don’t mind doing, and leave the rest up to a professional. For example, I hate clipping Wanda’s nails – so I bring her to the groomer more often for that. But, if I was learning how to become a nail technician, I might enjoy the practice – and bring her to the groomer more often for ear cleanings.

More Foods NOT to Give Your Dog

2012-01-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

After writing my post last week about people food that you shouldn’t give your dog, I thought it would be helpful to lest a few more. Oh yeah, and I also felt a little bad for condemning those who feed their dog people food – so, I wanted to clarify my position on that. I do think it’s irresponsible to feed your dog random scraps from the table. On the other hand, it can actually be very healthy to feed your dog a diet of the right “people” foods. For example, boiled chicken and rice are recommended for your canine friends, and they both are probably better than the “dog food” you buy at the store. So, for those of you who are trying to do the right thing by feeding your dog “people food,” I wanted to share a few more of those foods you need to avoid.

Artificial sweeteners: These contain xylitol and can cause low blood sugar, which can result in vomiting and weakness. Large amounts can cause liver failure.
Bones: Don't give your dog bones from your meal. Yes, dogs like bones, but they cann splinter and cause obstructions in or lacerations to a dog’s digestive system.
Grapes, raisins and currants: These contain a toxin that is damaging to a dog’s kidneys.
Macadamia nuts: These contain a toxin that can damage a dog's digestive, nervous and muscular systems.
Milk and dairy products: Large amounts of dairy can give a dog diarrhea or other stomach ailments.
Garlic and onions (raw, cooked or powdered): These can contain sulfoxides and disulfides. These can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
Raw eggs: Raw eggs may contain Salmonella, and they contain an enzyme that decreases the absorption of biotin, which can cause hair and skin problems.
Raw meat: Raw meat may contain bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella.

If your dog has eaten these foods, he or she may appear tired, listless or weak. He or she may also vomit, have diarrhea, or a rapid heart-rate. If your dog exhibits these systems and has recently ingested these foods, it’s a good idea to call the veterinarian.

4 Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat

2012-01-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a dog begging for food at the dinner table. Not only is it rude, but it can also be dangerous to the dog’s health, if you feed it the wrong food. Most people don’t know which foods are safe for dogs and which can be fatal (the list is different than for people), so feeding your dog “people food” scraps is just an all-around bad idea. And too many others take the attitude that they know enough about health not to poison their dog. People health is different than dog health. I just wanted to get that out there. Just because you’re a registered nurse doesn’t mean you know what your dog can and cannot eat.

Chocolate is one of the most dangerous foods for dogs to eat, causing symptoms of toxicity that range from mild to severe. Just how severe the symptoms are depends on the weight of the dog and how much chocolate he ate. Milk chocolate will cause dogs to become sick, but unsweetened chocolate is much worse. It can be 10 times more toxic and can really cause a severe reaction. Chocolate contains a chemical known as Theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. When dogs eat even small amounts of chocolate, they may start vomiting and have diarrhea. If your dog happens to get into a full bag of unsweetened chocolate, she may experience increased urination, irritability, tremors, and seizures – she may even die. So, keep Fido as far away from the chocolate.

Raw fish is another food dogs should never eat. Salmon is especially dangerous because it often contains the Neorickettsia salmincola parasite. Symptoms commonly associated with fish poisoning include diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, dehydration and swelling of the lymph nodes.

Avocados are delicious, but are often responsible for animal poisoning. The fruit and skin contain persin, which is poisonous to dogs. When dogs eat large amounts of avocado, the heart can become damaged, which may lead to heart failure.

Raw bread dough is especially dangerous to dogs because their warm stomachs can cause the dough to expand, causing reduced blood flow to the dog's stomach wall. Yeast also produces alcohol inside the stomach, which can be absorbed into the body. Dogs that have eaten raw bread dough often have distended abdomens, disorientation, vomiting and a loss of coordination. Eating raw bread dough can lead to seizures, coma and even death.

These are a few examples of the worst foods you can feed your dog, but there are plenty others that can hurt your four-legged friend. To be safe, avoid feeding your dog anything that isn’t dog food – or learn what the best foods are for dogs. Remember, only a few are mentioned here; there are many more foods your dog must avoid in order to stay healthy.

How to Find a Dog Among Many at the Shelter

2012-01-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

The single most common mistake that new dog owners make at the shelter is to become emotional. You might feel sorry for one dog who looks sad or take a liking to another who is showing you affection, but neither of those things indicate whether the two of you will be a good match. Remember, you are committing to taking care of this living thing for the duration of its life; this isn’t a decision to be making on a whim.

Before you even get to the shelter, research different breeds to find one that suits you best. If you live in a small apartment, you should only be looking for small breeds. On the other hand, if you want a running partner, small breeds aren’t the best option for you. When you get to the shelter, you’ll find very few actual pure breed dogs, but you can often tell what their parents were.

There are a lot of pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers (the two are different, but the differences are extremely slight) in the shelters – mostly because people didn’t know how to train them or didn’t care to spend the time. These dogs can be amazing companions, but you have to commit to training them properly. If you don’t have the time or money to spend on a trainer, you might be better-suited to find a different breed.

Ultimately, you want a dog who shares your energy level. If you’re very active, you want a dog who loves to run and play, and doesn’t tire easily. If you just want a quiet companion, getting an overly-exuberant dog would be a recipe for disaster. One of the best ways to see if you two “click” is to take that dog on a walk. Some shelters won’t allow this, so you have to ask. It’s in this one-on-on time that the two of you will realize whether you’re a match made in heaven or a disaster waiting to happen.

Why You Should Never Spoil Your Dog

2012-01-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

If you ever saw me with my dog, you might think this is a “pot calling the kettle black” kind of post, but bear with me – I’ll explain. I do spoil my dog a little bit, but she’s extremely well behaved to begin with. She’s the kind of dog that gets so upset whenever she does something wrong that I barely need to discipline her. Just knowing she’s done something wrong is enough for her to want to correct her behavior. Yep, she’s my little angel. But, not all of my dogs have been this way. Believe me; I know how hard it is to train an adorable, yet strong-willed little puppy. They look up at you with those puppy-dog eyes (that term was coined for a reason, folks) and you just want to laugh instead of what you know you should do, which is give them some discipline.

But, dogs aren’t like humans. We can’t reason with them. We can’t let things slide one time and choose to make an issue of it the next. This is how dogs get confused and end up misbehaving. It’s not because they’re bad dogs; it’s because they’re confused about how to behave. Well, in some cases it’s also because they know they can get away with the bad thing every other time they do it, so they’re willing to take the risk. You can think of things this way: Just like you, your dog needs a job. It needs to fulfill a purpose, and it looks to you to define that purpose. Just as you would look to your captain for direction if you were a police officer, your dog looks to you for responsibility. You are your dog's captain.

When a dog is young, it’s really important that you step into that leadership role. You can have your cute and cuddly time, but when it’s time for discipline, you have to be strong. Think of yourself as your dog’s leader at all times. He or she is desperately either looking for a leader or looking to lead. That’s how they're programmed. It doesn’t matter how cute they are; it’s all the same. If you don’t step into that role, your dog will walk all over you. It’s that simple.

Tips for Teaching Your Dog to Walk on a Leash

2011-12-30T13:38:00.000-08:00

One of the things I remember vividly about training Wanda was our first walks together. She was only about 2.5 pounds when we got her, so she was a bitty thing; but, boy could she tug! To this day, she is a stubborn little pup, and training was no exception. She’s the sweetest little girl, and she really does aim to please, but when she doesn’t want to do something, that’s it.

She’s really good at walking on the leash now, but it took some growing pains for us to get to that point. I’m glad we’re here though, because it’s no fun going for walks with an unruly dog. It’s even worse when you have a big dog that drags you around the block. In that case, it’s more like the dog is walking you than the other way around.

Here are a few tips that I found helpful when teaching Wanda to walk nicely on the leash:

1. Use a short leash. The more freedom you give them, the less they’re going to understand the concepts you’re trying to teach. Use a short leash at first, and as your dog gets better, you can lengthen it a bit more.

2. Be the leader. This is a rule that most owners don’t know about. In order to show that you’re the leader of the pack, you must walk in front of or beside the dog at all times. Allowing him or her to lead, puts you in the submissive position.

3. Get into a routine. Dogs respond very well to routine. If you walk your dog at a certain time every day, it will better understand and follow the walking routine you’re trying to instill. Also, in the beginning, follow the same exact path every day. After the dog gets used to it, you can venture off to other places.

4. Try to avoid other animals. Don’t take your dog to a popular dog park when you’re first teaching it to walk on the leash. You can’t control whether other animals are around, but you should take the dog somewhere that distraction is inevitable. After you both get the basics down, then you can see how your dog acts around distractions.

Should You Gift a Dog for Christmas?

2011-12-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

It’s not uncommon for people to buy pets as holiday gifts, but this holiday season, I found myself wondering if that’s a good idea. You see, I know my friend has been asking everyone she knows to get her a dog for Christmas. She’s really an animal lover and I know she would be good to the dog, but is she responsible enough to care for the dog on her own?

She’s in her twenties, so she is certainly old enough to own a pet, but she’s been unemployed for about a year now. She lives with her mom, so rent isn’t an issue, but then there’s food, water and vet bills to worry about. Having fallen on hard times myself and having to care for three animals, I know how rough that can be. It’s certainly not my business, so I’m not going to get involved. I’m just left hoping that anyone who would gift an animal would be responsible enough to think through the person’s situation first. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just love an animal; you really have to be able to provide for it for the entire length of its life.

Another reason this friend’s situation got me thinking about gifting animals is that she’s likely to get a large breed. I don’t have anything against large breeds, but landlords often do. Within that dog’s lifetime, she’s going to be moving out of her mother’s house (I assume). Given her situation, I know she’s not likely to be buying a house right away, so she’ll end up renting. For her, that just means she’ll have trouble finding a place, but for some others it might mean giving up the dog. It’s not easy to find a home for a large breed adult dog.

I know it might sound like I’m being hard on my friend, but that’s actually not the case. If she does get the dog for Christmas, I know she’ll be committed to taking care of it for its entire life. Plus, she's a paralegal, and we're expecting the job market to turn around soon. At least then she'll have a steady income. The reason her situation got me thinking about this is because it’s not an ideal environment for a pet. She would do what it takes to make it work, but not everyone could or would. It might seem like a nice idea to get a puppy or kitten for someone for the holidays, but you really have to evaluate their situation first. A puppy should never be an impulse buy.

How to Keep Your Dog from Misbehaving While You’re Away

2011-12-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

Some people get confused because of how devoted dogs can become to one person, but make no mistake about it – dogs are social animals. That’s why you should consider this when you’re deciding whether or not to get a puppy. If your dog spends too much time alone, it will become anxious and act out. Your dog may bark incessantly all day and bother the neighbors, leave little “surprises” for you on the carpet, or chew holes through your best shoes. But, how can you discipline your dog, if you’re not there when the deeds are being done? The answer is to keep your dog occupied, so it doesn’t have too much pent up energy.

1. Exercise. All dogs need exercise, but large breeds especially do. Before you leave for work in the morning, take your dog for a brisk walk or go to the park for a vigorous game of fetch. Afterwards, your dog will likely be tired and sleep through much of the day.

2. Entertainment. Leave your dog with some of its favorite toys, so your shoes don’t look so tempting when the urge to chew comes on. If your dog is resistant to playing with toys, get the kind that holds a treat inside; at least then there is some incentive.

3. Potty-Breaks. Consider hiring a dog walker or a neighbor to come take Fido for a mid afternoon potty-break. It’ll be a chance for your dog to get some exercise and give it somewhere else to release those “surprises.” This is especially important if you work long hours, so you should plan ahead if you know you won't be home much. For example, if you're a tax accountant, you might work 12-hour days leading up to April 15th, but not so much the rest of the year. Plan to have someone come walk your dog during the busy season.

4. Friendship. Some recommend that you get a second dog, if you don’t spend a lot of time at home. Sometimes this works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. For one, the dogs might not get along. Even if they get along, they are spending more time with each other than you, so bad habits can easily be passed along from one dog to another. So, instead of one barker annoying the neighbors, you now have two. It usually works best when you get the second dog before there is a behavioral problem.

Bonding with Your New Puppy

2011-12-08T12:22:00.001-08:00

My Wanda when she was an adorable pup :)

Once you have made the decision to get a new pup, there’s a ton of work to do. First and foremost, hide your shoes. Puppies like to chew and shoes seem to make good chew toys. Expect to put in a lot of time training your new four-legged friend. But, what I wanted to talk about today isn’t training. It’s that bond that forms between you and your pup. If you’ve had a dog before, you know there’s nothing like it. Sure, cats are ok. I have two of them, myself. But I’ve never seen the level of devotion from a cat that I have from my dogs. Maybe that’s because cats are more independent, but what results is them mostly being affectionate when they need something.

You may agree or disagree about the bond between a man and his cat, but that doesn’t change the fact that dogs are man’s best friend. I’m so used to having a dog in my life that I’ve taken that bond for granted. I realized this when I got a new puppy. She was just so darn cute; I wanted her to be my instant BFF. But, we have to remember that when a puppy comes into your home, it’s a completely new environment, you’re a stranger and they are scared. Every pup warms up at their own rate. It took Wanda quite some time compared to other dogs I’ve had in my life, but now she doesn’t leave my side. She’s sleeping by my feet as I write this.

Here are some tips to avoid overwhelming your puppy in its new surroundings:

1. If you have another dog, introduce them outside the home to avoid any potential aggression. This day is scary enough for your new friend; she doesn’t need a bully making it worse.

2. Give him some space. I know, it’s tempting to want to hold the new pup constantly, but it’s important that you let him explore his new digs on his own terms. He might even hide at first. If that happens, just let him be. He’ll come out when he’s ready.

3. Designate a spot that is all her own. It might be a crate or just some simple dog bedding, but she needs a place she can go to feel safe while she’s getting used to the new place.

4. Give him a day or two to get used to the new place before you start any intense training. In the meantime, keep an eye out when he roams around the house and send him to the wee-wee pads when he has to do his business. This getting-to-know-you phase is also a great time to research the top online schools for dog training techniques. It’s almost time to get into the more serious training, so you want to be prepared.

How to Decide if You Should Get a Dog

2011-12-02T12:08:00.001-08:00

Any responsible dog owner will tell you that the decision to adopt or purchase a dog is not one you should take lightly. I’ve had a dog in my life pretty much since I was about 6 years old, and I can’t imagine living without a four-legged friend. There are so many advantages of inviting a canine into your world, but you have to be willing and able to take care of it for the duration of its life.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself if you’re thinking about getting a dog for the first time:

1. Am I consistently home enough hours daily? You shouldn’t plan to leave the dog on its own for more than six to eight hours daily. Not only are dogs social animals (so they need companionship), but they also need to go outside to do their business. Imagine if someone told you that you couldn’t go to the bathroom for 12 hours straight and then punished you for having an accident. Make sure you can meet the dog’s needs before you bring one into your life.

2. Am I financially capable of caring for a dog? The average cost of owning a dog is estimated between $90 and $290 per month. If you can’t afford that, you aren’t ready to care for a dog. Your actual cost may be slightly more or slightly less, but you need to be prepared to spend money on food and vet bills, at the very least.

3. Am I committed to this long term? Dogs can live up to 18+ years and you’ll be responsible for this dog for the duration of its life. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to have to give your dog to someone else to care for. They become like members of your family. On average, large breeds don’t live as long as small breeds, but you should check the average life span for the breed you want before you commit. Westhighland White Terriers and other small breeds tend to live into the late teens while the average life span for a Great Dane is only seven years.

If you haven't had a dog growing up, you may want to dog-sit for someone else's so you can get the hang of it. Of course, everyone thinks puppies are cute, but that doesn't mean everyone should have one. Dog ownership is not something to be taken lightly. In lieu of owning a dog yourself, you might have work experience that could let you know you're qualified to own a dog. For example, if you've spent a great deal of time volunteering at an animal shelter, or if you're learning how to become a vet tech, you'll be intimately familiar with the needs of your soon-to-be pet.

Bringing Exotic Animals Right Into Your Own Living Room

2011-11-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

Remember the years when you were young and you were desperate to convince your parents to buy you a dog? You kept making promises you knew you wouldn’t keep. You showed them books, telling them that raising a dog is no rocket science. You gave them a list of the most family-friendly dogs. You were quite the dog advocate; your speeches about the many ways in which a dog would make the family bond stronger were impressive, but eventually, useless. Your parents did not buy you a dog after all and you kept going on with your normal life – without a dog in it.

You’re a student at one of the top 20 online colleges – Western Governors University, that is and you have big plans of getting an online accounting degree. So, you’re kind of busy, aren’t you? Being a student definitely takes more of your precious time, yet you still think you could handle taking care of an animal in the meantime. However, now that you have less time for yourself, you know you’ll have even less time for an animal, so you pretty much gave up on the idea of buying a dog, at least for the time being. You just need too many hours to go with him for a walk and you are sure you would eventually end up neglecting him and his needs, so you better just buy an exotic animal which doesn’t need too much attention. There are many cute, cuddly or not-so-cuddly animals to choose from, depending on what you expect from them.

If you’re the snuggling type, don’t even think of buying a chameleon. The chameleon is the kind of animal cool to look at, but not really cool to play with. Apart from the difficulty you have in taking care of him, especially because of his natural habitat which needs to be taken into consideration when buying his new ‘home’, the chameleon is an animal that easily gets stressed out. And I mean easily. A bit of noise is enough to make him go all red. If you’re not really the calmest person on earth, stay away from chameleons.

Iguanas are becoming more and more popular among animal lovers. The idea of having an iguana in your living room doesn’t sound bad at all. However, don’t forget that just like in the case of the chameleon, we are talking here about a reptile which needs a cage able to be a small scale replica of their natural habitat. Also, iguanas get really big and they can be aggressive, attacking you with their teeth, tail or claws if you have an approach to them which they don’t like. It does take a bit of patience raising an iguana – you have to speak often to them, since they can learn their names and also be gentle when touching them or getting them out of their cage.

Ferrets are just what you need, especially if you considered buying a dog in the past. These are social animals, which are very playful and cute and they would definitely make you smile whenever you need something to be happy about. The only negative thing about them is that they like to sleep a lot – more than 14 hours and they usually sleep during the day, but they can adapt themselves to their owner’s schedule.

I mean, look at this cutie. You can’t say no to him!

Fortunately, there are many animals you can bring to your living room, without having too many headaches. What’s important is to choose your animal well, to know what do you expect from him and see if he matches your expectations.

Are dogs still our best friend?

2011-11-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

From our early childhood education, we know that we can always count on a dog to be a loyal companion. He loves us unconditionally and once we form that special bond with him, he’ll probably become the only

one who never gets tired of us, indulging our presence for as long as we want to stay with him. He never refuses a hug; he’ll never cease to listen to you, even if he doesn’t quite understand everything you say and even if he doesn’t speak your language. Also, if needed, he can take the role of a police officer, by stopping burglars from entering your property. If he could, he would even take a bullet for you – that’s how much you he loves you.

Dogs’ special relationships with humans have a long history and that’s why dogs instinctively consider humans as their friends. The question is whether or not we appreciate them the way they deserve. Unfortunately, apart from the long history of our friendship, there is also a long history of mistreatment of dogs. Some of them are abandoned on the streets, others are being left to starve to death, while others are actually…I really don’t want to write it, but it is related to the very unorthodox practices in China. The people are the only ones responsible for the miserable life that some dogs have. It’s heartbreaking to see them on the streets, looking at you with those sad eyes and reading your soul and the only way we can avoid that is by building centers with the aim of picking dogs up from the streets and giving them a place to stay. These centers, together with all the food and the personnel meant to take care of the dogs could get very expensive, but the dogs are worth every dollar.

Apart from these sad facts, dogs still have their place in our hearts. Despite the increasing popularity of the exotic animals in our own apartments/houses, dogs will always be dogs and our children will do the same thing we did with our parents – ask for this loyal friend. It’s up to us to decide which breed would be the best for our family, although there is no such thing as a bad dog – only a badly trained dog, so there are a lot of options available.

We can’t be indifferent to the love and respect they show us. Even though they don’t actually tell us how much we mean to them, you don’t need to be told – you just feel it! You hear them barking happily or waging their tail when they see us and that’s enough.

Or maybe they could make an effort and tell us what their feelings are…