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Starting Off On The Right Paw: 13 Types of Dog Food

You have found your new forever dog, a puppy or perhaps a mature dog needing a good home.  I would like to encourage a whole new set of supplies just for your new family member.  One of the very first considerations is the type of food you will be feeding your new dog.  A brief look at the grocery store may suggest dry dog food or wet canned food, simple choice right? There are actually thirteen variations of food that you may choose from.  For many, cost may be limiting in which one you end up choosing.  I would like to run through the list from worst to best options. 13.  Table scraps from human food, with no order or consistency.  This can be raw or cooked foods from your meals and can lead to poor nutritional health for your dog. 12.  Semi-wet pouch food.  The preservatives used to keep...
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Starting Off On The Right Paw: Some Essentials Part 2

There are so many options to decide on for accessories, toys and necessities for your new dog. When you walk into the pet store it can be very overwhelming. During the process of writing this article, my wife had the movie Turner and Hooch on one day. Have you seen it? Tom Hanks, has to take care of this massive dog (Dogue de Bordeaux or French mastiff) and there is a section in the movie where he fills an entire grocery cart with products needed for the dog. In the first part of this article posting I started the list of helpful items on my list. I will continue with a few more that I find essential. Your dog should have a bed of its own. Or a place in the home designed for them in mind. If you practice early and consistent training your dog will learn that that...
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Starting Off On The Right Paw: Some Essentials Part 1

Did you bring home a whole pile of doggie toys, treats and accessories along with your new four-legged friend? My wife and I have definitely bought our fair share of doggy products over the years. In Canada, half the households have pets according to an article from The Globe and Mail news site. In 2012 alone Canadians spent 6.5 billion dollars on our pets. I have seen very cool products from one trade show; engraved dog bowls, pet gates, staircases for small or older dogs to get up on the bed. Now there are even tear proof dog beds. I have even seen doggie strollers. It seems there are more dog toys out on the market then children’s toys when I was growing up. What should you bring home as a new dog owner? The simple answer is whatever you can reasonably afford for your new friend. There is excitement...
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Starting Off On The Right Paw: Feeding Tips

You have brought your new little or big friend home and he or she is getting settled in. One of the first things now that you need to do is consider feeding times. There is no set plan that works for all dogs or breeds. You may know friends and family that always leave food out for their dog. The other option is meal time feeding. What is best? There are some considerations when deciding. The terms for the two options are, free-choice feeding and timed feeding. I personally believe in timed feeding, having two times a day and giving a portioned sized meal. This belief and practice comes from our little Beagles, Rocky and Daisey. They are very aggressive eaters which is probably not the best thing. It is like a competition who can eat faster. Free-choice feeding is more suited to a laid back dog or less active...
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Starting Off On The Right Paw: An Adjustable Harness

You have gone and picked out your newest member of your family, congratulations! Now your puppy or mature dog will need some essentials before you pick them up for your journey home. The basics of bringing home a loyal four-legged friend: collar, leash and food bowl. No, I have not forgotten dog food either. That topic alone could have its own series of articles. As a dog owner, I would like to encourage anyone who has a small to medium sized breed to consider a harness in place of or in addition to a collar. There are a number of dog breeds that a collar is sufficient to hold them securely. Then there are some dogs that can slip a collar on occasion when they get excited and start wiggling around. For these dogs, I recommend a harness arrangement. My wife and I have found that our Beagles have adapted...
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Starting Off On The Right Paw

I wanted to share an article by one of our readers Matthew. A great companion and friend, a dog can be these things and more in your life. Think of yourself as a new parent. There are numerous things you will need to learn, organize and buy. A dog is much more than just a thing like a new bike or television set. He/she is a living, breathing creature that you will have as a life companion and friend for as many as 7 to 18 years depending on the breed you have chosen. Let’s start at the beginning: when choosing a dog I strongly recommend doing a little research first. This can be as easy as doing a Google search. Do you want a big or small dog? Things to remember, how big is your home or apartment? If you rent, does the landlord allow dogs? Does your backyard...
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