A Dog's Simple Needs

I saw this post on FoxNews, and wanted to share it.





Dogs are simple creatures with simple needs. And what they share in return is enormous for humans.

What Dogs Want:
1 - Love
2 - A Pack Leader
3 - Food
4 - Fun
5 - Exercise

Does it get any simpler? The unconditional love your dog gives back to you is priceless.
You can be mad and yell at them - they still love you.
You can get busy and ignore them - they still love you.
Everyone in the world can be mad at you - they still love you!!!!
And really ask for so little in return.

Go give your dog some love right now! Then take them outside for a nice walk or a game of fetch. You will be more relaxed and happier, and so will your dog.


Source: FoxNews

Hypoallergenic Dog Food – The Best Way to Tackle Dog Food Allergies

While my dogs don't have any food allergies, my friend's dog has a 'very sensitive' stomach. By this I mean the dog, Roxy, has diarrhea often and lots of gas. When I asked my friend what she fed her dog, I found out it was a rather low grade supermarket dog food.

Of course I extolled on the praises of making your own dog food, to which she balked. So I then asked her to take a look at a hypoallergenic dog food. She didn't realize that the diarrhea and gas are symptoms of food sensitivities, and sometimes even dog food allergies.

So we took a look online at some hypoallergenic dog foods that she could try. And she bought a bag of Sojo's Complete cause she liked the ingredients and the company as a whole.

Well, she fed it for a month and couldn't believe the difference it made. At first, she was a little upset that everything didn't change in just a few days. Honestly, it took over a week before she noticed that there was less dog gas. After a month of absolutely no diarrhea, she was hooked. And Roxy looks so much healthier - she has more energy and her coat looks fantastic.

If your dog is showing signs of dog allergies, definitely try a hypoallergenic dog food. It not only helps with food allergies/sensitivities, but also makes your dog healthier by using quality ingredients, enabling your dog to better fight off whatever allergens are bothering them.

Commercial Dog Food Comparisons

Wow, I can't believe my kids' summer vacation is over! The dogs have loved having more attention throughout the day and chasing the kids and soccer balls in the back yard.

The one thing the dogs didn't love about summer was when they had to be boarded while we were away. I found a great place and they allowed you to bring your own food - HOWEVER, they said my feeding process had too many parts (I keep all my ingredients separated to keep it all from just becoming a "mush".)

So began my mission in commercial dog food comparisons! The good news is there are many more healthy pet foods to choose from since the dog food contamination from a couple of years ago (where people's dogs were dying due to a component that was added to dog food to artificially boost the protein rate.)

I started online, going to different companies and looking at the ingredient list for each dog food. To say it got a little overwhelming would be an understatement!!! Trying to remember which preservatives are bad, and what order the ingredients should be in, etc.

Then I found a cool website that already had bunches of dog food comparisons. It red flags any foods that have harmful preservatives or questionable ingredients. It also tells you where the food is manufactured - different countries have different standards. I was able to narrow down my choices very quickly and finally found a dog food within my budget and nutritional requirements.

I started giving the dog food to my dogs a good two weeks before we left so they would be used to it when they were boarded - after all, being left for a week is traumatic enough for the dogs, you don't want to add completely new food to the mix.

And they liked the commercial dog food well enough - they lost a few pounds, but both could afford it. It served its purpose and I am glad that there are now healthy commercial dog foods out there for the public to choose from. As for me, I'll stick with making homemade, healthy dog food for my dogs. I just think it is best for them.

Homemade Dog Food Results in a Beautiful Coat

So it's been a little over six months since I started my quest on making homemade, healthy dog food for our two dogs. I've really got it down to a pattern now and it does not take very long.

Besides the health benefits for my dogs, the one thing I really love about the homemade dog food is what it does for their coats. I love petting my dogs because they now have such beautiful, soft, luxurious coats. The dogs also love the food for what it does for their skin, that is, the fact that they don't spend all day and night itching and scratching anymore. I think the biggest contributor to their coats is the raw eggs I feed them every morning.

Now, I have a friend whose dog's coat is absolutely terrible, and has been for years. She feeds him a commercial dog food. I had tried and tried to get her to at least try some homemade dog food, but she wouldn't budge. My only hope was that she loved my dogs' beautiful coats. So I recommended an all-natural supplement for her dog's coat - something she could just add to the dog food she already uses.

She's been using the supplement, which contains essential fatty acids (EFAs), for about 2 weeks now and you can already tell a difference in her dog. Jack's (the dog) coat is already noticeably less coarse and looks fuller and healthier.

Hopefully, in another couple of weeks Jack's coat will become as beautiful and soft as my dogs. But I'm actually happier that I know Jack's body will finally be getting some of the nutrients it has been starving for - Jack will be healthier because of this supplement, not just have a soft coat.

My ultimate goal is to just educate my friend on what she is actually feeding her beloved pet and how it is affecting his body and his health. Even if she stays with commercial dog foods, perhaps she'll be a little more discriminating in her choices.

It all started with constant dog itchy skin for me. From there I tried supplements, and now I'm feeding my dogs homemade, healthy dog food. Just one step at a time, and as long as the dogs get healthier, that's all anyone really wants. Right?