Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass, then throws up afterwards? You'll probably feel relieved to know that pets eat grass because their bodies need it.
Dogs and cats have been eating grass for a long time. In fact, grass is so popular among dogs that one species, dog grass, is named after them. Dog grass is also known as couch grass and quackweed, and it grows in all but the southern-most states.
You can think of grass as an herbal medicine. It acts as an internal cleanser, expelling excess mucus, bile, and other impurities. It also cleanses the bowels and expels worms. Cereal grasses contain enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Grass also contains chlorophyll, which was used for relieving pain, treating infections, ulcers, skin diseases, and anemia prior to the use of antibiotics.
Some pet owners grow grass specifically to give to their pets to prevent or treat diarrhea, anemia, cataracts, fleas, tumors excessive shedding, and other pet health problems. Pets that are fed grass on a regular basis are less likely to crave outdoor grass. So, if you don't feel comfortable with your pet eating the grass in your lawn, you may want to grow your own grass for them to eat.
Try growing rye or barley sprouts. These sprouts are preferred over wheat grass because some animals are sensitive to wheat.
Follow these instructions to grow rye or barley grass. Soak one cup organically grown grain in one quart water for 8 to 10 hours. Then drain the container and leave it on its side in a warm place, away from direct sunlight. A tiny white rootlet will sprout from each grain within 24 to 48 hours. Caution: If you don't see these rootlets, your grain isn't viable and should be thrown away.
Next, spread the sprouting grain on one inch of moist potting soil or top soil in a plastic garden tray. For drainage create a one inch channel around the soil.
For two days, cover the tray. Then uncover it, and water thoroughly. Place the tray in direct sunlight or under grow lights. Keep the soil moist by watering when needed.
When the grass is 6-8" tall, cut it with scissors or a sharp knife. Place grasses in a ziploc bag, along with a damp paper towel. Be sure to expel air from the bag before sealing. Then store the grass in the refrigerator.
When feeding the grass to your pet, cut or mince it into tiny pieces, or place a small amount in a blender or food processor with other foods. To be sure your cat or dog will accept the grass, begin feeding just a fraction of a teaspoon. Increase the amount gradually to approximately one tablespoon per 50 lbs. of body weight.
Once your pet is given the amount of grass his body needs, you probably won't be seeing him eating the grass in your lawn. And you can feel relieved knowing that you're feeding him something that he craves and that his body needs.
Read more...
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Positve Benefits of Dog Day Care
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who have busy lives and are not able to socialize and exercise their dogs. Owners benefit from a guilt free day of work or play and can come home to a calm, relaxed pet. Dog day care provides the best of both worlds for dogs and owners alike.
Getting its start in California in 1987, dog day care has exploded to virtually every small town in America. Started by dog enthusiasts, owners apply the same principles of running any business combined with their love of dogs to the create the ultimate day care business.
"The guiding principle behind dog day care is simple ? provide a safe and healthy atmosphere with lots of interaction, both with other dogs and with people. Dogs can participate in group play, gnaw on a favorite toy, hang out with humans in the office, or just lounge on a couch and watch television. The point is that they're not at home by themselves."
Other benefits of dog day care include a social environment where dogs can play together, loads of activity, an excellent release for high energy dogs, year round daycare operation (except for major holidays), attention by trained staff members, and piece of mind for the working owner.
Dog day care centers are mostly held in large, open spaces that have some separation system for both size and temperament. Most dog day care centers have an outdoor exercise area as well. Some day cares provide furniture for dogs to climb on, agility equipment, and lots of toys.
Some things to consider when looking for a dog day care are the professionalism of the staff. Make sure they love dogs, know a lot about dogs behaviors, and interact with those in dog day care each day. Also, note the availability of space and "time-out" areas for dogs who do not get along. Make sure your dog will be comfortable with air condition, heat, and bedding. Also, check affordability and general dog day care policies.
Read more...
Getting its start in California in 1987, dog day care has exploded to virtually every small town in America. Started by dog enthusiasts, owners apply the same principles of running any business combined with their love of dogs to the create the ultimate day care business.
"The guiding principle behind dog day care is simple ? provide a safe and healthy atmosphere with lots of interaction, both with other dogs and with people. Dogs can participate in group play, gnaw on a favorite toy, hang out with humans in the office, or just lounge on a couch and watch television. The point is that they're not at home by themselves."
Other benefits of dog day care include a social environment where dogs can play together, loads of activity, an excellent release for high energy dogs, year round daycare operation (except for major holidays), attention by trained staff members, and piece of mind for the working owner.
Dog day care centers are mostly held in large, open spaces that have some separation system for both size and temperament. Most dog day care centers have an outdoor exercise area as well. Some day cares provide furniture for dogs to climb on, agility equipment, and lots of toys.
Some things to consider when looking for a dog day care are the professionalism of the staff. Make sure they love dogs, know a lot about dogs behaviors, and interact with those in dog day care each day. Also, note the availability of space and "time-out" areas for dogs who do not get along. Make sure your dog will be comfortable with air condition, heat, and bedding. Also, check affordability and general dog day care policies.
Read more...
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Nutrition and Your Dogs Behavior
Proper nutrition is the fundamental basis for every aspect of your dog's life.
It affects their health and longevity by offering an essential balance of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates and the trace nutrients and minerals their bodies need for growth, repair and the mantainance of a sound immunne system.
Nutrition is a complex and integral part of your dog's ability to think clearly, lower stress levels and produce a calmer behavior.
Thinking takes a lot of energy. Dogs invoved in a training program, expend tremendous amounts of mental energy focusing on the tasks presented to them. If your dog starts with minimal nutrition, they become lethargic, edgy or hyper active when asked to perform the simplest of tasks. They cannot focus and loss concentration after a short period of time or become confused. If the dog is continually asked to do something they cannot comprehend, confusion can lead to an aggressive form of acting out.
In training dogs, the first thing I look at is the dog's diet! I work from the inside out. Training becomes ineffective if the underlying caiuse for the behaviors are not changed.
Hyper, unfocused and out of control dogs often eat foods with high levels of cereal compounds such as: wheat, corn and corn meal.
Aggressive dogs eat foods contain higher levels of incomplete protein which produce excessive amounts of energy. These proteins are often incomplete chains, not offering proper building and repair or may be difficult to digest.
Shy or stressed dogs do not digest their foods well at all and can suffer from intestinal complications such as diarrhea. Their coats are often dry, brittle and shed heavily.
One way to test the foods you are feeding is to soak the food in water for about 30 minutes. If it swells in size and becomes mushy, it is primarily cereal.
Are your dog's stool soft and loose or is the dog gassy? If so, they are not digesting the food properly.
By looking at their food, you will do more to help balance their behavior, as well as, contribute to their health and longevity.
Life Abundance offeres the best combination of balanced nutrients for a proper diet.
The proteins are complete chains and digest easily.
The carbohydrates are complex and do not turn into simple sugars producing energy swings of high and low behaviors.
The Probiotics in the food balance the intestinal tract and make the food digest more easily, which is perfect for the nervous or shy dog and ensures all dogs are recieving the nutrients they need from the food.
Read more...
It affects their health and longevity by offering an essential balance of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates and the trace nutrients and minerals their bodies need for growth, repair and the mantainance of a sound immunne system.
Nutrition is a complex and integral part of your dog's ability to think clearly, lower stress levels and produce a calmer behavior.
Thinking takes a lot of energy. Dogs invoved in a training program, expend tremendous amounts of mental energy focusing on the tasks presented to them. If your dog starts with minimal nutrition, they become lethargic, edgy or hyper active when asked to perform the simplest of tasks. They cannot focus and loss concentration after a short period of time or become confused. If the dog is continually asked to do something they cannot comprehend, confusion can lead to an aggressive form of acting out.
In training dogs, the first thing I look at is the dog's diet! I work from the inside out. Training becomes ineffective if the underlying caiuse for the behaviors are not changed.
Hyper, unfocused and out of control dogs often eat foods with high levels of cereal compounds such as: wheat, corn and corn meal.
Aggressive dogs eat foods contain higher levels of incomplete protein which produce excessive amounts of energy. These proteins are often incomplete chains, not offering proper building and repair or may be difficult to digest.
Shy or stressed dogs do not digest their foods well at all and can suffer from intestinal complications such as diarrhea. Their coats are often dry, brittle and shed heavily.
One way to test the foods you are feeding is to soak the food in water for about 30 minutes. If it swells in size and becomes mushy, it is primarily cereal.
Are your dog's stool soft and loose or is the dog gassy? If so, they are not digesting the food properly.
By looking at their food, you will do more to help balance their behavior, as well as, contribute to their health and longevity.
Life Abundance offeres the best combination of balanced nutrients for a proper diet.
The proteins are complete chains and digest easily.
The carbohydrates are complex and do not turn into simple sugars producing energy swings of high and low behaviors.
The Probiotics in the food balance the intestinal tract and make the food digest more easily, which is perfect for the nervous or shy dog and ensures all dogs are recieving the nutrients they need from the food.
Read more...
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Do You Know About Boxer Dogs?
Boxer Dogs Information - What Are Boxer Dogs?
Boxer dogs are great all around dog breeds, distinguished
canine and the coolest, most lovable dog out there!
Boxer Dogs are medium-built and strong breed that are
so named because of its habit of standing on the hind legs
to begin a fight and boxing with the front paws.
By nature, Boxer dogs are working dogs. Throughout
history it has been trained as:
- hunting dog
- police dog
- seeing-eye dog for the blind
- guard dog
- circus dog
- courier dog on the battlefields during World War
I and World War II
- fighting dog in the once popular sport of dog fighting.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) categorizes dogs into
7 groups of herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting,
terrier, toy and working. And the largest breed registered
in the working dog category is the Boxer.
No doubt the Boxer Dogs make for great utility dog but
the greatest advantage to owning one is that Boxer Dogs
can be your most outstanding companion on four legs
and great source of personal fulfillment.
By the way, the AKC registered over 150 different breeds
totaling nearly one million dogs in 2003. To put that in
perspective, the animal shelters in America rescue up to
12 million homeless dogs and cats every year and 25%
of these are purebreds.
Devoted and glad owners of Boxer Dogs have come up
with a long list of attributes and traits of their favorite
pet that include:
Alert
Boisterous
Boundless energy
Brave
Canine clown
Courageous
Devil dog
Devoted
Dignified
Exuberance
Family dog
Fearless
Friendly
Hearing dog
Highly trainable
Intelligent
Intuitive
Keen judge of character
Loving
Loyal
Patient with children
People dog
Poor swimmer
Playful
Quick learner
Self-assured
Smart
Soulful
Spirited
Stoical
Vigilant
Working dog
Wonderful pet
And you can add to the list?
The Boxer Dog's history could be traced back to
feudal Germany, where it was a small hunting dog that
could tenaciously hold onto a bull, boar, or bear till
the master arrived. It was also a utility dog for peasants
and shop owners, and even a performing dog in circus.
The Boxer Dogs as we know it today is a bigger breed ?
a mixture of the German Boxer with a taller, more
elegant English import. The era of this modern Boxer
began in the 1880s and became really popular in the
United States in the late 1930s-1940s.
Handsome dog: Within the canine world, Boxer Dogs
are medium-sized dog standing at 21 to 25 inches at
the shoulder for a full-grown female, and weighs some
50 to 65 pounds. The male can be taller and 15 pounds
heavier.
It has a striking good look with chiseled head, square
jaw and muscled body that make for a very handsome
silhouette.
The ears are cropped and erect that enhance its hearing ?
the Boxer most developed sense. It is always alert and
vigilant, an instinctive guard dog.
The shortened muzzle makes hot and humid weather
uncomfortable for the Boxer Dogs.
The coat is short, hard and smooth, and possesses
a natural sheen that can be enhanced with rubdowns
with a chamois cloth (especially after a bath).
The short coat cannot protect him well from extreme
elements of the weather and thus Boxer Dogs should
definitely not be kept outdoors. It is a housedog,
sensitive to temperature extremes, does not enjoy
the draft, summer heat or cold.
Boxer Dogs come in attractive basic colors of fawn
and brindle. The fawn varies from a tawny tan to
an especially beautiful stag red. The brindle (clearly
defined black stripes on a fawn background) can be
sparse, in between or dense.
A beauty standard for Boxer Dogs is that their white
markings or "flash" should add to their look and may
not cover more than one-third of the entire body. Some
predominantly or all-white puppies (known as "check")
may be born in a litter.
In the US, however, the American Boxer Club members
are pledged not to register, sell or use these "whites"
for breeding so as to retain the beauty of the true fawn
and brindle colors in the breed.
Personality-wise, Boxer is a cool dog that will not bark
without cause. Its expressive face ? the furrowed
forehead and dark, soulful eyes - is a charming quality
that sets the Boxer apart from other breeds.
It can mimic the moods of its master and adopting one
could bring you 9 to 11 years of joyful companionship.
In exceptional cases the Boxer can live up to 15 years.
Boxer Dogs As Pet
Pet Boxer Dogs, although low-maintenance, require
your consistent attention, exercise, human interaction,
consistent obedience training and lots of love. You
cannot leave them to their own design for too long or
they get lonely, bored and into trouble.
Being a big and strong dog as well as a highly
intelligent one, Boxer Dogs need both physical and
mental stimulations to keep them even-tempered and
dignified while still keeping their impish spirit and
fearless courage in tact.
Read more...
Boxer dogs are great all around dog breeds, distinguished
canine and the coolest, most lovable dog out there!
Boxer Dogs are medium-built and strong breed that are
so named because of its habit of standing on the hind legs
to begin a fight and boxing with the front paws.
By nature, Boxer dogs are working dogs. Throughout
history it has been trained as:
- hunting dog
- police dog
- seeing-eye dog for the blind
- guard dog
- circus dog
- courier dog on the battlefields during World War
I and World War II
- fighting dog in the once popular sport of dog fighting.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) categorizes dogs into
7 groups of herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting,
terrier, toy and working. And the largest breed registered
in the working dog category is the Boxer.
No doubt the Boxer Dogs make for great utility dog but
the greatest advantage to owning one is that Boxer Dogs
can be your most outstanding companion on four legs
and great source of personal fulfillment.
By the way, the AKC registered over 150 different breeds
totaling nearly one million dogs in 2003. To put that in
perspective, the animal shelters in America rescue up to
12 million homeless dogs and cats every year and 25%
of these are purebreds.
Devoted and glad owners of Boxer Dogs have come up
with a long list of attributes and traits of their favorite
pet that include:
Alert
Boisterous
Boundless energy
Brave
Canine clown
Courageous
Devil dog
Devoted
Dignified
Exuberance
Family dog
Fearless
Friendly
Hearing dog
Highly trainable
Intelligent
Intuitive
Keen judge of character
Loving
Loyal
Patient with children
People dog
Poor swimmer
Playful
Quick learner
Self-assured
Smart
Soulful
Spirited
Stoical
Vigilant
Working dog
Wonderful pet
And you can add to the list?
The Boxer Dog's history could be traced back to
feudal Germany, where it was a small hunting dog that
could tenaciously hold onto a bull, boar, or bear till
the master arrived. It was also a utility dog for peasants
and shop owners, and even a performing dog in circus.
The Boxer Dogs as we know it today is a bigger breed ?
a mixture of the German Boxer with a taller, more
elegant English import. The era of this modern Boxer
began in the 1880s and became really popular in the
United States in the late 1930s-1940s.
Handsome dog: Within the canine world, Boxer Dogs
are medium-sized dog standing at 21 to 25 inches at
the shoulder for a full-grown female, and weighs some
50 to 65 pounds. The male can be taller and 15 pounds
heavier.
It has a striking good look with chiseled head, square
jaw and muscled body that make for a very handsome
silhouette.
The ears are cropped and erect that enhance its hearing ?
the Boxer most developed sense. It is always alert and
vigilant, an instinctive guard dog.
The shortened muzzle makes hot and humid weather
uncomfortable for the Boxer Dogs.
The coat is short, hard and smooth, and possesses
a natural sheen that can be enhanced with rubdowns
with a chamois cloth (especially after a bath).
The short coat cannot protect him well from extreme
elements of the weather and thus Boxer Dogs should
definitely not be kept outdoors. It is a housedog,
sensitive to temperature extremes, does not enjoy
the draft, summer heat or cold.
Boxer Dogs come in attractive basic colors of fawn
and brindle. The fawn varies from a tawny tan to
an especially beautiful stag red. The brindle (clearly
defined black stripes on a fawn background) can be
sparse, in between or dense.
A beauty standard for Boxer Dogs is that their white
markings or "flash" should add to their look and may
not cover more than one-third of the entire body. Some
predominantly or all-white puppies (known as "check")
may be born in a litter.
In the US, however, the American Boxer Club members
are pledged not to register, sell or use these "whites"
for breeding so as to retain the beauty of the true fawn
and brindle colors in the breed.
Personality-wise, Boxer is a cool dog that will not bark
without cause. Its expressive face ? the furrowed
forehead and dark, soulful eyes - is a charming quality
that sets the Boxer apart from other breeds.
It can mimic the moods of its master and adopting one
could bring you 9 to 11 years of joyful companionship.
In exceptional cases the Boxer can live up to 15 years.
Boxer Dogs As Pet
Pet Boxer Dogs, although low-maintenance, require
your consistent attention, exercise, human interaction,
consistent obedience training and lots of love. You
cannot leave them to their own design for too long or
they get lonely, bored and into trouble.
Being a big and strong dog as well as a highly
intelligent one, Boxer Dogs need both physical and
mental stimulations to keep them even-tempered and
dignified while still keeping their impish spirit and
fearless courage in tact.
Read more...
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