Do Dogs Have Accents

According to a study  in England dogs develop a bark similar to the sound of their owners regional accent.
It was discovered that dogs in Liverpool have a higher pitch than dogs from other regions.
Scottish dogs have a lighter tone to their bark.
It was noted that there was a difference in the tone and pitch of the dogs bark throughout England.

The pitch, tone, volume and length of the dog sounds were measured.

Different breeds of dog may have different kinds of bark.

The closer the bond between a dog and its owner the more likely it is to have a similar accent to the owner.

Dogs can have posh accents like their owners or rough accents like their owners.

Its possible to recognise an individual dogs bark just like an individual persons voice.

Dog Quote

The dog is the virtue which not being able to become a man became an animal

{Victor Hugo}

Dog Quotes

Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark our coming and look brighter when we come. {Lord Byron}

Homemade Raw Dog Food

 

If you are worried about the preservatives and additives that are in your commercial dog food you should consider a raw homemade diet for your pet. Raw dog food diets are controversial but they are becoming more popular.

A lack of red meat in a dogs diet can cause health problems. Wolves in the wild do not have as many health problems as our domesticated pets.

There can be risks for humans and dogs with  bacteria in the raw diet.

Many pets have depressed immune systems and health problems which are linked to improper nutrition.

This method of feeding is often called Raw feeding. Raw feeding is the practise of feeding your dog a diet primarily of uncooked meat, bones and organs.

Supporters  of the raw diet claim that the dogs health vastly improves when eating raw, their coat becomes thicker and glossier ,their eyes brighter, teeth and breath problems are eliminated, their behaviour problems reduced and an increase in energy and alertness.
The critics of the raw food diet say that there are too many risks with the raw food diet such as foodbourne illnesses, nutritional imbalances and intestinal perforations.

 

With raw dog food you can hope to give your dog healthy and dog palate pleasing meals.
A dogs raw meal should consist mostly of raw meat with extras such as dairy products and vegetables.
You can supplement your dogs diet with dog  vitamins to ensure they get everything they need especially while growing.
There are commercial raw food diets available such as Nature Variety's Instint Raw Frozen Formula's
http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog

You need to study what nutrients your dog needs before you attempt the crossover from shop bought dog food to home made raw dog food.
A dog should have a large portion of its diet consisting of protein at least 50%.
This protein can be sourced from beef,chicken,lamb and turkey. Vegetables and eggs can also be a source of protein but not a large portion.
Your dog can eat grains and vegetables but they need to be cooked before the dog is fed them.
Dogs are carnivores and are not as efficient in breaking down vegetables as they are meat.
A dog will not thrive if it is fed a diet heavy in grains.
With the raw food diet the dog is less likely to suffer from obesity and obesity related diseases.

The homemade raw dog food includes the raw meaty bone. One must note that a raw bone is not harmful to a dog but a cooked bone is. Don't give your dog a cooked bone as it can splinter and be a health hazard for your dog.
The raw meaty bones that are suited for dogs are chicken necks backs and legs, lamb breast and neck and  pork breast and necks. The raw meaty bone can make up 20% to 30% of the dogs diet. Too much bone can cause  constipation. If your dog is straining when going to poop or if the poop comes out white and crumbly then reduce the amount of bone in their diet.
Your dogs meals should never be spicy or greasy.
Some small dogs may not be suitable for the raw meaty bone as it may be a choking hazard.
You can also serve the raw meaty bone ground up, it still has all the health benefit's but  is easier for your dog to eat and safer.

When you are changing over to a homemade raw dog food your pet may have a change in their poop. Your dogs digestive system needs to adjust to the change.


Organ meats are important in your raw food dog food. They should make up around 5% of your dogs meal. The liver and kidneys provide alot of nutrients. You can also include heart and other organs in your dogs diet.

Muscle meat needs to be included in the raw dogfood plan. Its recommend that it is 70% to 80% of the diet. Use lean meat not too fatty. You can use beef, chicken, turkey or lamb.

There should be a variety in what food you use for your raw dog food diet. Don't feed your dog only on beef. You should never feed one kind of food as more than half the diet.

You can include natural yogurt and cottage cheese in your dogs diet.
Eggs can be fed cooked or uncooked with the yolk or without. Some believe its best to serve the whole egg with shell  to get the most nutrition out of it.

Puppies can also benefit from the raw food diet. When dealing with puppies you need to be extra precise in your portions. You can add goats milk to their meal. Don't over feed  with bone ensure that there is enough meat on the bone so that they don't  have problems with over exposure to calcium. You should include puppy supplements to their diet.

 

 

Vegetables, Fruits ,Grains

Dogs do not require carbohydrates in their diet.
In the wild carbohydrates would only be a small percentage of their natural diet.
Vegetables should not be a large percentage of the dogs diet. Dogs digestive systems are not able to break down whole uncooked vegetables so its best to cook the vegetables before you feed them to your pet. Dogs do not have the digestive enzymes to break down the cellulose walls that are found in the outer layers of fruits and vegetables. The cooking and steaming of the vegetables help break down the cellulose walls. Some vegetables will be sufficient when they are put through the blender. If some types of vegetables are not cooked they will have little nutritional value for your pet.
One should aim to provide their dog with organic produce  as the less additives and preservatives your dog is exposed to the better.
Vegetables that are dog friendly are carrots, broccoli but don't feed broccoli in large amounts as it can depress the thyroid function, kale, green beans, pumpkin which is great for your pet if they are prone to constipation or diarrhoea only one or two tablespoons in your pets diet make a great difference, sweet potatoes, cucumber and celery.
Some dogs really turn their noses up at vegetables if this is the case you could try to use fresh food supplements that are catered for dogs.

Most fruits just need a spin in the blender then they are ready to serve for  your pet.
There is a long list of fruits that are viable for your pets diet.
Cantaloupe, apples, papaya watermelon, blueberries, cranberries, pears, bananas and mangoes to name but a few.

But you must be aware of the fruits and vegetables that need to be avoided for the health of your dog.
Avoid onions, onions can cause a severe reaction in some dogs.
Avoid grapes and raisins, grapes and raisins are extremely toxic to dogs and can lead to acute renal failure.
Spinach can affect calcium absorption in dogs.
Peppers can aggravate arthritis in dogs tomatoes and eggplant can also be problematic. Use sweet potatoes instead of potatoes as potatoes can aggravate arthritis in dogs.

Grains can cause many health problems in dogs. Grains may be less expensive but a dogs health will be improved with the reduction of grains in his diet and an increase in animal based foods. This is the problem with many cheap shop bought dog foods. There is a high grain content and a small amount of meat content.
Over feeding of grains can cause IBD, arthritis, allergies, incontinence, digestive disorders and chronic ear infections.
A dog on a high grain diet will be over weight and have a poor muscle mass.

Raw Dog Food Recipe              

175g Raw meaty bones             

225g Lean muscle meat           

60g   Liver or Kidney                

1       Egg                                   

100g Carrots

 

Puppy Chow 8-12 Weeks
 

1/2 lb      Ground Beef

1/2 tsp    Bone Meal

1/2 cup   Blended 

1/2 tsp    Flax Seed Oil

 

1 lb          Beef

1-1/2      Cups Greens and Carrots

1 tsp       Kelp Flakes

1 tsp       Flaxseed Oil

Half Cup Cottage cheese
Half Cup Grated carrot
5             Chicken Wings
1tsp        Flaxseed oil



The amount of ingredients in your raw dog food depends on the weight of your dog.
You should be feeding the dog 2% to 3% of the dog body weight or 1/2lb of food to 25lb of body weight.
Puppies should be feed 10% of their body weight.

Suggested in the preparation of raw feed diet.
80% of muscle meat
10% of organ meet
10% of raw meaty bone

If there is a good amount of meat on the raw meaty bone it can take a higher percentage in the diet.

1 egg, some think that an egg a day is too much.
Green tripe can make up to 15% of the overall diet.

Your dog will go through a detox when changing to organic raw homemade dog food.

There are dog supplements available. If your dog is getting a well balanced diet they may not need these. But adding them into the diet could add extra health benefits.

Keep an eye on your dogs weight ensure that its appropriate for their breed and age.

Consider adding  kelp, chia seeds or  flax oil to your dogs meals.

You should fast your dog for 24 hours before introducing the raw food diet. But ensure that your pet has access to water.

You can give your dog raw honey for its antibacterial benefits.

Do not mix kibble and raw as it takes longer for the dog to digest the kibble and this can cause stomach upset.

You can buy readymade raw dog food http://dogsfirst.ie/raw-dog-food/

Remember meat not grain for a healthy, happy hound.

Dog Quotes

A man's soul can be judged by the way he treats his dog.
{Charles Doran}

Can A Dog Catch A Cold

Just like humans dogs can catch a cold . Even though there is a difference in the type of viruses that cause human colds and dog colds, they suffer from the symptoms just as much as us.

The symptoms of a dogs cold are some or all of the following watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, stuffy noses or a runny nose and a general feeling of unwellness. These can also be signs of other problems such as allergies and infections.

One good thing is that that you can not catch your dogs cold and your dog can not catch yours.

You must be able to differentiate between the dog cold and other more life threatening conditions that a dog could contract. Such as kennel cough and canine distemper.

A parasite infection can also mimic the symptoms of a dog cold with coughing and breathing problems.

Dog asthma and allergies can cause coughing and sneezing fits in dogs.

You can help prevent your dog from catching a cold by keeping the dog inside during cold and wet weather.

Ensure that your pet lives clean with a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise.

If your dog gets wet while out in the rain ensure that you dry your pet off well when you return home.

 

How To Treat Your Dog's Cold

 

• If your dog is having mild symptoms and is not very ill you can treat the cold with lots of liquids.
 
• You should keep your dog warm and comfortable.
 
• Check their temperature.
 
• You could give your pet access to a humidifier.
 
• When your pet is sick you will need to clean his bedding, area and bowls more often. 

• If you are unsure about anything its always best to contact your vet so that something more serious does not go uncovered

• You can make a nice chicken broth for your dog leaving out the dog unfriendly ingredients
 
• A course of antibiotics may be needed in some cases
 
• The cold should clear up within a week
 
• Like humans the very old and young suffer more and may need more care and attention with vet intervention to clear the cold
 
• Keep your sick dog away form your other dogs so that they don't catch the cold

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need

The right amount of exercise will improve their health and behaviour.
Dogs have lots of energy and they will release this energy constructivly through exercise and active play or distructivly through barking, digging, ripping up furniture etc.

The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on the age, size breed and general health. All dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Active dog breeds will need at least one hour of hard aerobic exercise a day.
You should aim to exercise your dog physicaly and mentaly. Have variety in your exercise routine. Go hiking in new areas, try different streets to walk on, use different toys find a dog buddy for your dog to exercise with.

Inactive dogs are usually overweight. Overweight dogs are prone to many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, worsening arthritus and respiratory diseases. The dogs joints and musels are stressed when they are overweight also. An overweight dog is a miserable dog.

Dog parks are a great place to exercise your dog, ensure that your dog is fully inoculated before you bring him/her to the dog park.
Dont exercise your dog outside if the weather conditions are extreme.

Puppies have lots of energy but they need to have frequent but short exercise sessions.
Puppies need rest for their bodies to grow. Exercising your puppy is a great bonding experience.

Like humans there are many different ways your dog can be exercised they can go hiking, swimming, play catch or frisbee, do  agility courses, go jogging or running with you etc.
Trying different activities this will make it more exciting for you and your dog.

Dont over do the exercise with your dog, learn your dogs limits and know when he/she is overtired. If your dog is panting heavily or falling behind let the dog rest for a little and then resume the fun.

Keep your dog hydrated while exercising. Older dogs prefer shorter but more frequent exercise sessions.

When your dog is getting enough exercise they will sleep well,  have a good appetite, a relaxed apperance and will look great.

When you are exercising your pet in different terrain keep an eye on their paws. Check their paws for injuries such as foregin objects.