Chris Smith


Dog food aggression is one of those dog behavior problems that is difficult for us humans to fully understand. It just doesn’t seem to make sense that your dog would consider you a threat to his/her food resource. I mean you gave him the food in the first place, and if you feed your dog’s the same kinds of foods that I do, it’s not all that appealing anyway!

But, what is your dog thinking?

If your dog glares at you, snarls, growls and positions himself between you and the food he is actually saying to you “this is mine, go away, find your own”. He is basically telling you that he considers himself as the leader or alpha dog in your household. Dog food aggression (sometimes called canine possession aggression) is a dominance issue, it is serious and needs to be addressed immediately, it won’t just go away.

We’ve all made the mistake of laughing and even encouraging our feisty little dogs when they first display the “cute” signs of dog food aggression. Don’t fall into this trap! Food or toy aggression in dogs should never be tolerated as you never know when it can escalate into something more dangerous for you or a family member.

Why Does Your Dog Display Dog Food Aggression?

Canine possession aggression can be triggered by any number of factors but in most cases it can be attributed to one of these common causes:

- Your dog is desperate for this food, in his mind he doesn’t know if or when he will get more food. Therefore he protects or guards his food, just like he would have done in a pack situation in the wild.

- Your dog may begin to see you as someone who is always taking good stuff away. He comes to view you more as a threat than a provider (you’ve got to turn this thinking around).

- Dog food aggression can be part of the general confusion regarding who the leader is in your owner - dog relationship. Often it is not an isolated incident, it’s something you need to rectify.

- It’s possible that your dog doesn’t even understand that his dog food aggression is unacceptable behavior. In such cases there is an obvious communication breakdown between human and dog.

General Rules For Correcting Food Aggression In Dogs

- If your dog is directing his aggression towards other dogs the best solution is to simply separate them at meal times. Feed them in different rooms or in their crates.

- Involve all of your family members in this dog food aggression training.

- Take control of feeding time. You control the time and place of dinner time - own the food!

- Make your dog earn any food. Just simple tasks like sit or a down stay is fine.

- Make it clear to your young puppies that it’s good to have people around when they are eating. If you do this from day one you will almost certainly prevent dog food aggression problems.

- If you encounter dog food aggression it is a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family eat. This again is a throwback to your dogs pack mentality where the alpha dog or leader of the pack (which is you) eats first - your dog will understand this technique.

- Don’t let your dog “win” the food through his growling, this would reward the very behavior you are trying to eradicate. Don’t bully or intimidate your dog though, it’s much better to make him actually like having you around at meal time (follow the tips below to achieve this).

- Never respond to canine possession aggression with aggression of your own. In essence what this does is to lock you and your dog into a battle of wills. Your dogs next move will most likely be to step up his level of aggression to counter your action.

Dog Food Aggression Training Techniques

Firstly, be careful. If you believe your dog poses any real physical threat to you or family members I’d advise getting professional help. Speak to a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist.

Below is a list of training techniques which could help your dog overcome his dog food aggression. Remember all of these techniques are designed to work towards reconditioning your dog to enjoy having you around anytime. Mix it up, show your dog who is boss.

- Hand feed your dogs, even stick your hands into your dogs bowl while he is eating.

- Stroke and pet your dog while he is eating and at the same time talk to him in a calming tone. All you are doing at this point is showing your dog that it is a good thing for you to be around.

- Stand at a distance your dog is comfortable with, then gradually reduce this distance over time. You can flick a few treats in (or near) the bowl as you slowly reduce the distance.

- Put your dogs bowl down with nothing in it, your dog will look back at you as though you are crazy. He’ll then literally beg you to come over and fill his bowl.

- Feed your dog as normal but hold back a few pieces of his meal. When he is finished licking the bowl, he’ll look back up at you, then you can come over and give him the remaining food.

- Drop a few of your dogs very favorite treats into his bowl each time you walk past it. After a while of this your dog will welcome the sight of you approaching the bowl.

- When your dog is eating, call him over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it worth his while then let him back to the food bowl.

- While you are preparing your dogs meal put him in a down-stay or sit position, only release him from your command once you have put his bowl down. By doing this you are controlling meal time and establishing (or re-establishing) your role as your dogs leader.

- Work with another family member on this technique. Put your dog in his collar and leash and have him sit with your helper while you prepare the food. When you are ready release your dog and allow him his food. Again you are controlling the situation.

- Try the “Trade Up Method”. What you do is take away the food or toy your dog is guarding, and replace it with something better. You can use an obedience command such as “give” or “leave it” to encourage your dog to release the precious resource he is guarding. You then take this resource (the food or toy) and give the trade up item to your dog. Once your dog has finished with the new item, you can then give back the resource you took away. This technique proves to your dog that he will receive something great for giving something up, it will recondition his thinking.

- Every time you are with your dog have him in a pinch or prong collar with a leash attached. Whenever he displays any signs of dog food aggression you immediately administer a correction to your dog by snapping on the leash. What this does to your dog is build a negative association to the act of his food guarding antics.

Good luck with your training efforts.



Judy

Jane Dinunzio


there was only one simple choice when it came to feeding our dogs, we now have a confusing amount of choices. More of us are looking for the best for our dogs. As we become more and more educated about the commercial dog food industry a bigger number of consumers are turning away from the easy choice of grabbing kibble from the grocery store shelf. Recent recalls causing deaths in many of our beloved dogs has brought to the forefront how unhealthy and dangerous these foods really are. Dog food has gone through several stages starting with the pre commercial days when dogs were feed whatever we ate. Dogs ate what we ate at the time before store bought kibble was available, as in leftovers and scraps. People didn’t worry about dog nutrition, or even consider it as something that could increase the pet’s life. With the advent of commercial dog kibble, this new generation of pet owners were told and assured this was the best way to feed your pet. Table scraps were not good for your dog (as we all now know), and this new, important revolutionary way of convenient healthy food was available at the local grocers. This became and still is to a lot of consumers the one and only acceptable way to nourish your dog. Feeding “people food” was drilled into our heads as being so bad for our dogs, that it actually seemed to be a true fact. It was dangerous, fool hardy and deficient in the proper mix of necessary and essential daily dietary intake. With the ease and assurance from the big companies that we were making the best choice for our dogs we all became brainwashed into believing everything we were told. That is until the recently. After the recalls of toxic and tainted dog foods, more and more information became available and this was shocking. An elite few had already started producing highly nutritious, organic or all natural dog food years before. Dog’s health was suddenly the main concern of several small independant dog food companies. There has been a quick increase in choices available for feeding your dog. More and more companies started to manufacture organic dog food, devoid of chemicals, preservatives, deadly additives, and disgusting mystery ingredients. These premium organic dog foods are slowly now becoming the new, easy and extremely nutritious way to feed our pampered dogs. They promote and increase the health of our dogs and are proud of their production processes. One other way of feeding our dogs has now gone back to the “people food” way of thinking. Although this is not the “table scrap” method of feeding. This is a safe and hightly nutritious diet for your dog as long as you research and learn your dogs essential nutritional needs. That is homemade dog food, using the same foods we eat. The only way you will ultimately know what your dog is eating for sure is making the homemade dog food with the proper ingredients that meet your standards. You can easily find excellent nutritious homemade dog food recipes for free on the internet, or through books written by animal nutritionists and vets, that this choice is now becoming mainstream. Educating yourself for the sake of your pet is a small way to pay back all the unconditional love they give you, and in the end you will ultimately have your dog around for many extra years when they receive a proper nutritious and healthier diet

Bruce

Thomas Henricks


Walking the isles, you will find a wide choice of dog food available in supermarkets and pet supplies today. This can make it difficult to decide which is the best dog food for your best friend. This may be one of the most commonly asked questions by pet owners when they take their dogs to their veterinarian. The answer really is not definitive.

There really is not one “best” that is suitable for all gogs across the board. The answer can be narrowed down by looking at each dog. Dogs are very much like people. Some dogs are extremely active to the point that they are often labelled hyper. Some dogs are built big and tough and some small and delicate. Each will need a diet tailored specifally to that dog’s physical needs. However, understanding what determines those needs will help you to determine what the best dog food is for your pet.

The First Component

The first primary difference in dog food relates to the raw materials that are used to provide the nutritional value. You will notice that commercial dog foods are either grain-based or meat-based. Most experts will agree that the best dog food to maintain healthy dogs (who don’t have heart or kidney problems) is a meat-based food.

Meat-based dog foods are considered the option due to the fact that their digestive system more easily extracts the nutrient value from the food source. It is common knowledge that protein is a necessary component in the diet of all dogs. Meat based dog foods typically are very high in protein. While meat based dog foods are produced from lamb, turkey, fish, beef and venison, many professionals in the field feel that chicken-based dog foods are the best choice.

Basic Guide

As notednpreviously, no single dog food can be rated the best for all dogs. There are a few things to specifically look for when selecting your dog’s food. These components found in the appropriate ratio will ensure that your pet is getting the required source of nutrition from their food. As with people food, dog food will display nutrition labels that provide information about the nutrient value that can be expected from that product. These labels will provide the information you need to dtermine which is the best dog food for your pet.

When reading the nutritional value analysis, pay attention to the amount of protein contained in the dog food. For most dogs this value should be at least 30 per cent. In addition be sure to look at the fat percentage as well. The food should contain at least 18 per cent fat. This number may vary according to several factors. Older dogs or overweight dogs may require food that provides lower fat levels. These issues can be manged simply by selecting a product with lower fat in the source. Other components you should look for would include Vitamin E, the presence of Vitamin C, and the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Food for Health and Happiness

The best dog food for your dog ultimately rests on the evaluation of your particular dog’s needs. The key thing to consider is that you ensure that your dog is getting the appropriate amount of nutrients. You may want to consult with your veterinarian for more professional advice about a healthy choice for your dog. That will help you determine what is the best dog food to meet your needs.



Brendon

sidana.abhi


Most of the dog owners have a common question in their mind. What is the best quality dog food? Every dog owners are tried to ensure best possible care to their dog. Many commercial foods are available in the market. But almost everyone suggest homemade food is better for dog’s perfect growth. So owners need to be knowledgeable about dog’s diet.

Two categories of dog foods are very much popular: Raw dog food and dry dog food. Many experts believe raw dog food is the best choice for selecting dog’s diet. Raw dog food provides the necessary energy in dog’s health and help in their proper growth. The ingredients in raw dog food are natural and uncompressed. A proper raw dog food is a mixture of meat, fiber and starch. Dogs love meats. Sometime owners give too much meat to their dogs. But they should keep in mind that vegetables are also very much essential for their perfect growth and prevent from diseases. So while preparing food mix some sort of vegetable along with the meats. Carrots, broccoli, yams are good source of fibers.

Feeding dry food to the dogs is most common and popular choice among the dog owners today. Most of the people at metro cities live a fast pace life today. Dry dog food is more convenient for them. But it’s important to realize not all commercial food contain high quality natural ingredients. So if you decide to feed dry dog food to pets, you have to be very careful. Check the ingredients in the food by reading the label. Make sure there is no preservative or artificial color in the food. These things may be harmful for dogs in the future.

Proper diet is the most important factor in dogs care. Homemade dog food is considered as best quality dog food. For some other reason commercial food is gaining popularity. But we should not compromise with dogs’ health.



Ruth

Jennifer McVey


Have you ever considered whether or not the dog food you are feeding your dog is actually good for his health? In light of recent tragic events, where thousands of family pets died or suffered serious health issues due to tainted pet foods, it’s something that’s been on many people’s minds.

Fortunately, there’s a resource available to help you answer that question. The e-book, “Dog Food Secrets,” goes into great detail explaining everything included in store-bought dog food products, and even suggests alternatives for feeding your dog a diet he needs to live a long and healthy life. It is an excellent reference for almost any dog owner, since it actually tells the truth about the practices dog food manufacturers are trying to hide.

Inside “Dog Food Secrets,” you’ll learn why store-bought pet foods are sold so inexpensively. While you think you’re getting a great deal on a huge bag of food, the fact is that most dog foods are made up cheap fillers, like rice and grains.

You’ll also discover that most commercial dogs food contain six deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods because they cause such diseases as various cancers, liver dysfunction, diarrhea, hair loss and behavior problems.

Besides exposing the dirty little secrets dog food manufacturers don’t want you to know about, “Dog Food Secrets” also explains exactly what your pet needs to live a long a healthy life. With everything from lean meats to vegetables packed full of nutrients, your dog should be eating a well-balanced diet just like a human.

Inside you’ll learn how to supplement your pet’s commercial-food diet with better homemade choices. You’ll also find out how to read pet food labels and decipher the “double talk” most food manufacturers use. Because the author realizes that it’s unreasonable to expect pet owners to only provide a homemade diet for their dogs, he also shares the Top 9 best, nutritious commercial dog foods currently available.

And if all that isn’t enough, also included in the ebook are actual recipes for homemade, nutritious dog food. These tasty recipes contain many choices your dog needs to stay healthy and more, and you can even save a great deal of money doing it this way. Provide your pet with a diet full of only fresh ingredients, and you will no longer have to worry about spending money on a bag full of grains and fillers that provide your pet no nutritional value.

Unfortunately, “Dog Food Secrets” isn’t free. You must purchase the ebook in order to have access to all the useful information. However, it is worth every penny to have access to this useful guide. Not only does it expose you to the harm that store-bought pet food can cause, but it offers alternatives for keeping your pet healthy for a long time to come.

While making a decision to provide your pet with a natural diet seems like a big decision, there really is no need to complicate things. The most important thing to remember is to combine animal proteins with vegetables, pasta, cereals and other foods to give your animal all the nutritional benefit he needs to have a healthy, long life.



Carlos

Dave Green


Like humans, dogs too get diabetes. When a dog has diabetes, the best way to keep it in control is by giving it diabetic dog food, which is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Apart from controlling the amount of sugar in a diabetic dog’s food, the amount of food and the frequency in which they are fed also needs to be monitored. The general recommendation is that your diabetic dog should be fed smaller meals twice or thrice a day instead of a single large meal. This is because blood sugar levels can be stabilized by smaller meals, whereas a single large meal results in a high insulin spike, and then for it to drop down in 12 hours. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a series condition.

So what diabetic dog food should you give your dog? Here are a few recommendations that will assist in controlling the diabetic condition of your dog:

Shun Foods That Have Sugar

Most dog owners have very little idea about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because they are metabolized into glucose by the body. Both soft-moist dog food and dry dog food are considered culprits. If you must feed your dog commercially manufactured dog food, it is better to give them a good quality canned food. It is important to check the ingredients, which are printed on the label.

Homemade Diabetic Dog Food

The best solution is to feed your dog homemade dog foods and raw foods. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. Putting your dog on a homemade diabetic dog food diet need not be expensive or hard work. There are plenty of websites on the Internet that have lots of advice and recipes that are nutritious and tasty.

Cut Down On The Fat

Apart from regulating blood sugar and insulin levels in the body, the pancreas also produces enzymes that break down fats. Since it is essential not to put too much stress on the pancreas of a diabetic dog, it is important to choose low-fat meats. Ground beef should not be given, and the extra fat in turkey and chicken should be removed. While some fat is required for good health, according to nutritionists, it is best to minimize the amount as much as possible.

Some Grains Are Good

While you do have to be careful about the quantity of grain you feed your dog, since animals cannot digest grains as easily as humans because their digestive track is shorter, certain grains are beneficial for diabetic dogs. Millet, oats and brown rice provide fiber and also help to control the levels of insulin. Some nutritionists also advise cornmeal, but sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to wheat and corn. But it is best to use grains sparingly, because being carbohydrates they are turned into glucose by the body.

Adding fresh vegetables and raw fruits, which are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugars (which do not have the detrimental effects on insulin levels that processed sugar does), brewer’s yeast which contains a substance known as ‘glucose tolerance factor’ which helps the body to use blood sugar more efficaciously, and Vitamin E which aids in reducing the requirement for insulin, are some of the other recommendations.

Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well. But, as a thumb rule, avoid giving baked foods that contain sugar and flour.



Julian