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The Benefits of Raw Feeding

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The Benefits of Raw FeedingToday many pets suffer from health conditions that were rare or didn’t even exist before kibble became popular. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, food allergies and obesity are some of the most common health issues in dogs fed commercial or human food. Numerous researches have shown a strong connection between the health problems in dogs and the food they eat.

For this reason there’s a huge shift in the manner dog owners are feeding their pets. The overwhelming trend is moving towards different variations of fresh and healthy homemade meals, as well as raw food, based strictly on meat or a combination of raw meat and vegetables, fruits, eggs and other nutrients suitable for dogs.

It seems that the dogs like the change, especially raw diet which seems to help them overwhelm health issues such as bad breath and gum diseases, skin problems, kidney and liver failures. It seems that balanced diet consisted largely of homemade broth, various combinations of meat, bones, and organs with or without a healthy complement of vegetables, fruits, and dairy prevent illnesses that come with a diet heavy in fillers, flavors, artificial colors and preservatives.

What are the other benefits of raw feeding? If you ask the owners, they will assure you that their pets have clean, shiny and white teeth, fresh breath, and almost no body odor. Raw fed dogs have more energy but, at the same time, are less hyperactive which means that they can be easily controlled. According to some, raw meat makes dogs aggressive but that is not true. The only change is that dogs really love their raw and they will probably try to guard this type of food better than kibble.

What else can forty to sixty per cent of raw meaty bones bring to your dog? Chicken necks, legs, and backs, together with rabbit, duck, pheasant, and occasionally whole fish will give your canine friend a firm and muscled body and stronger immune system. If your dog is old and his teeth are missing so he finds it hard to chew bones or you are afraid of him choking – grind them up. Even the old dogs with arthritis show more mobility and energy when they eat the way their ancestors did.

We all know that vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are destroyed by cooking and that intense heat reduces the nutritional value of food. But did you know that cooked food also affects your dog’s stool? Not to mention the kibbles. When dogs are fed raw the poop is small, almost odorless, firm and easily decomposed. The only difference can be noticed during the period of adaptation to raw after commercial food.

Although there are many benefits of raw food, the fact is that this kind of feeding is still relatively unexplored. This means that some of the benefits mentioned above are not scientifically proved, but information provided by the dog owners. We hope that this will change in the future and that we’ll be able to give you more tips on how to feed your dog.

What To Look For When Choosing A Dog School

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Dealing with problematic dog behavior is a team work in which the owner and the dog behavior consultants participate, and, if necessary, so do veterinarians and other therapists. The ultimate success, visible as a change in the dog’s behavior, is only possible with the maximum commitment and effort which is the reason why it is crucial to know what to look for when choosing a dog school.

The suitability of the person who is giving the professional help is the first of many steps on the road to a better and happier coexistence with your dog.

What to look for when choosing Dog School

It is important to stress out that there is a difference between teaching a dog certain commands, such as heal and fetch, and solving problematic behaviors like aggression, destruction, urinating inside and barking too much. Accordingly there is a difference in the level of qualifications and knowledge among persons conducting obedience classes (course leaders, instructors) and those engaged in counseling when dealing with problematic dog behavior (dog behavior consultants).

With this in mind, when looking for a dog schools and someone who will help you with your dog, look for a person who has completed their educations in the field of animal behavior and works using only positive methods and new concepts. A positive and all-inclusive approach based on scientific findings is far more effective than the traditional ones based on wrong assumptions about dog behavior, such as dominance, alpha status, and the use of violent and rough techniques which will only result in bigger problems and the destruction of the dog-owner bond.

Make sure they treat dogs with love and respect – even though this should be a main condition for this type of job that’s not always the case. A person who doesn’t show empathy for dogs, their needs and feelings but considers them to be mindless beings who only act upon their urges is in fact a person who has very little knowledge about dogs and therefore can’t give your dog the help he needs.

One of the most important things you should pay attention to when picking a school for your dog is whether they use devices which cause dogs discomfort and pain. If that is the case stay away from them! No matter the “weight” of the problem, there isn’t a single reason or excuse for hurting a dog. Devices such as chokers, spiked training collars and dog shock collars in anyone’s hands leave adverse effects on the dog’s health (spine, thyroid, heart) as well as the dog’s behavior.

Don’t go to a school which doesn’t even want to meet you or your dog. Just like a veterinarian can’t know what your dog’s sickness is without examining him first, a dog trainer shouldn’t draw conclusions about the dog’s behavior without previously seeing the dog, meeting the family he lives with and gathering enough information to see if the dog needs a dog school or just obedience classes.

In conclusion you should look for a dog school whose only object is to find the cause of the problematic behavior; the reason why the dog acts the way he acts in certain conditions and situations.

facts about cats

10 Interesting Facts About Cats

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What are the 10 Interesting Facts About Cats?

10 Interesting Facts about catsEvery ailurophile – person who likes cats, a cat fancier – enjoys every moment spent in company of these surprising and cute creatures. Having a cat as your beloved pet can be rewarding, but cats can be unforeseeable, so it is very important to educate yourself about the habits and nature of your cat. Here are some interesting facts you probably don’t know about one of, if not the most, popular pet in the world.

1. Which pet is more popular – cat or dog? According to the APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) there are over 73 million cats living in the U.S. homes, while the number of dogs reaches 68 million. This interesting information shows that cats won not by a hair’s breadth – but 5 million hairs.

2. We all know the fact about cat’s skillfulness and their ability to always land on their feet, daring to spit into the face of the natural laws of physics. A research undertaken by the American Medical Veterinary Association showed incredible facts. A survival rate of the cats falling from heights ranging from 2 to 32 stories is 90%, which is unbelievable. Even more interesting is that cats falling from 20 or 30-story building will suffer fewer injuries than those falling from the lower heights.

3. Cats sleep two thirds of the day – lazy maggots! Basic mathematics shows that 12 years old cat spent 8 years sleeping. Almost every cat has a special napping place. Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day. As a matter of fact, only bats and opossums are greater sleepers.
4. Amusing fact about meowing is that only little kitten meows at its mother, while adult cat only meows at humans. You’ll never hear it meowing at other cats or animals. Meowing is a privilege reserved exclusively for humans.

5. One of the many reasons for having cats is a fact that cat owners are less likely to have a heart attack than other people. Also, kids have fewer chances of developing asthma when cat is around.

6. Don’t be surprised or disgusted if your cat brings dead pray to your house. Scientists agree that this cat’s gesture is their basic instinct to bring food for kittens. If you see a dead bird or mouse in your home, consider it a gift.

7. Many studies confirmed that cats have emotions similar to human such as happiness, sadness, frustration, jealousy, excitement, anxiety, affection, fear and contentment. Cats are even capable to pick up your mood.

8. In a period of just seven years a pair of breeding cats, along with their kittens, can produce more than 400,000 offspring. They are true baby machines!

9. Cat bites can be dangerous and toxic. Estimated number of people bitten by these animals in the United States is 40,000 every year. A wound from a cat bite can cause major bacterial infection.

10. Cats can be trained to use the toilet and even to flush when they are finished. That is good news for cat owners who find it hard to get rid of cat litter.