Dogs have been our closest companions for over 15 000 years. However, it was not until 150 years ago that someone had the idea to produce a food specifically for dogs. And this early venture into commercializing dog food was hardly a runaway success. It was only after WWII that people really bought into the idea of buying food specifically for their dogs.
So what were dogs fed for the thousands of years before then? The truth is they were pretty much left to scrounge or hunt for their own meals. Occasionally, they may have been thrown a bone from the master’s table or given a treat by a kindly soul.
As dogs became more popular as pets, they would have been fed more regular meals by their human guardians. These meals though would still have been table scraps, perhaps supplemented by some dry or tinned dog food.
With the advent of the information age, there has been an explosion of television programs, websites and magazines about dogs. People have become more informed about dog nutrition, and more concerned about dog health.
There have been volumes written on canine nutrition, as well as the introduction of premium and super premium dog food brands. Add to that things like the raw dog food diet and it's easy to see why the average person can become quite confused about the best food for their dog.
So, what is the best food to feed a dog?
Well, depending on who you listen to, it could be anything from raw meat and vegetables, cooked homemade meals, or a premium, vet-approved brand of kibble.
The important thing is balance. Dogs are omnivores, and they need to be fed a diet that reflects that. Most raw food proponents accept that, premium kibble brands strive for it, and if you’re cooking for your dog you need to take it into account.
Strive for a three way split between meat, veggies and fiber. But if you’re going to err in any direction, feed a higher percentage of meat.
While good canine nutrition is important you obviously have to balance this with your time availability. If time is an issue then the safest route is to opt for a high grade, premium or super premium dog food.
There are many variants available, so be sure to choose the right one from puppy, senior, lite, large breed etc. Some even cater to the nutritional needs of specific breeds.
What you should definitely avoid is the cheap commercial dog food brands, while feeding table scraps is another no-no.
Most of the brands you find on the supermarket shelves fall into this category. They often have grain as their primary component and are therefore lacking in the nutrients needed in a healthy canine diet. There is also evidence to suggest that some of the colorings and preservatives used may be behind a whole catalog of ailments and diseases.
Table scraps are also not ideal for dogs. Generally these will be high in fat and contain things like onions and garlic, which are harmful. If you feed your dog from the table you're also likely to end up with a persistent beggar on your hands.
To learn more about best dog food, dog care, dog training and other interesting dog advice drop by at dogsanddogtraining.com
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Tapeworms, scientific name Dipylidium caninum, are parasites that infest the small intestines of many animals, including dogs and humans. They can grow of to 20 inches in length, with a body that is flat, white and segmented.
They survive by attaching themselves to the intestinal lining and then feeding off the nutrients in the food the dog eats. As they mature the tail segments, containing tapeworm eggs, break off. If the dog has tapeworm you will clearly see these, which resemble grains of rice, in the faeces.Dogs become infected by swallowing a flea that contains tapeworm eggs. The infestation cycle goes something like this. A flea larva eats tapeworm eggs. The larva then grows into a mature flea, living on the dog.
The dog may swallow the flea while biting an itchy spot on his skin. Once the eggs are in the dog's system they hatch, and the worms attach themselves to the intestines and start feeding. Later, as they mature, the tail segments break off and the next batch of tapeworm eggs is excreted by the dog to start the cycle all over again.
Tapeworms are not particularly harmful. They absorb only a small percentage of the nutrients that your dog eats and cause only mild irritation. However, a severe infestation may cause your dog to lose weight, so it is always advisable to treat your dog if he has worms.
The clearest indication is tapeworm eggs in the faeces. A common belief is that a dog that scoots along the ground has tapeworm, but this is not usually the case. The behavior is more commonly due to skin irritation around the anal are, or to blocked anal sacs.
Fortunately, tapeworms are very easy to eradicate, Just give your dog a vet prescribed or commercial de-wormer and the problems will be over in no time. Be advised though that some over-the-counter worm medications contain pesticides, so they can cause health problems if used too often.
If you take your dog to the vet, the treatment will normally be a pill or injection that dissolves the protective outer lining of the tapeworm. This allows the worm to be digested and passed from the body.
While most dogs will suffer a tapeworm infestation at some time, you can reduce the chances of it happening to your dog.
To begin with you can have your dog de-wormed every 3 months or so. Most de-worming medications protect against other parasitic worms too, including hookworms, roundworms and other parasites
It is also important to keep your dog free of fleas, as tapeworms cannot be passed without them. Simply give your dog a monthly flea preventative and keep the dog's bedding and environment free of these pests.
Bear in mind also, that although it is extremely rare, some tapeworm species can be passed from dogs to humans. And as they're so easy to control, why take the risk?
Click here to learn more about tapeworms in dogs, dog care, dog walking and other useful dog advice at www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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The problem with trying to find female dog names is not so much where to find them, but which one to choose. There are great ideas everywhere.
Don’t believe me? Okay then, here are some ideas to get you started…
But first let’s narrow the field down a bit first. Let's talk about your dog. Describe her to me. What's her color, size, and personality? Is she a Great Dane or a Chihuahua?
All of these factors will, of course, influence the name you choose. You want a name that works, right?
Right, let’s be a bit counter intuitive and come up with some tough girl dog names. When people think girl dogs, they generally think of cute, fluffy, lap dogs, with names to match, but what if you have a female Rottie or Doberman?
Good tough names girl include; Mayday, a female baddie from the James Bond movies, Xena, warrior princess from the TV series, and Sabbath, after the legendary Heavy Metal band, Black Sabbath.
Let’s offset that with some of the cute and cuddly names we mentioned earlier, like Bambo, Chiquita, Dixie, Flea, Google, Hootie, Iggy, Kylie, Lexie, Margo, Newbie, Pinky, Punkin, Squidoo, Sonic, Titch, Yoda, and Ziggy. As you can see there is definitely no shortfall in the cute female dog names department.
But let’s say you’re after something a little different, something truly unique. Abraxsas, Io, or Quarterflash do it for you? No? Then how about Isis, Nonotchka or Souixsie?You see there are female dog names to suit just about any dog. All you have to do is think of something that you (or your dog) is interested in and the ideas literally drop into your lap.
Is your dog a fashion hound?…Gucci, Dolce, Prada. Like music?…Joplin, Joan Jett, Latoya. Movies?…Hepburn, Garbo, Harlow. Television?…How about Oprah, Murphy (Brown) or Ally (McBeal)?
See how easy it is to come up with a great dog name? Need some more inspiration? No problem! What about first ladies?…Martha (Washington), Dolley (Madison), Pat (Nixon). How about royalty?…Diana, Lilibet, Maud.
You could even famous your dog in honor of a great female historical figure. Maybe Golda (Meir), Isadora (Duncan), or Agatha (Christie).
See how easy it is? Now that you know the drill pick a subject you’re interested in, then write down as many names as you can think of (use Wikipedia if you must). Now narrow that down to your favorites and pick the one that really suits your dog to a tee.
Or you could save yourself the trouble and head on over to Puppy names HQ, where we have thousands of great female dog names just waiting on your approval.
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It’s hard to think of the Cairn Terrier without mentioning Toto, Dorothy’s dog from The Wizard of Oz. Like Toto, Cairns are feisty, intelligent and loyal little dogs who may be small, but are not lacking in bravery.
The Cairn is a native of Scotland and has been around since the 1500’s. They were originally bred for fox hunting and rodent control. The name "Cairn" refers to narrow gaps between rocks, and the breed was particularly adept at squeezing through these gaps to kill rats. These days Cairns are more commonly seen as companion dogs.
Standing just 10 to 13 inches at the withers, and weighing just 18 pounds, the Cairn Terrier is a strong, compact little dog. The face is sharp and fox-like, and the ears small an erect. The coat can be brindle, cream, gray, red, sandy, or wheaten, and is rough and shaggy.
These alert, clever and mischievous dogs have bags of character. They are confident, affectionate and friendly and ideally suited to the role of companion dog. They do well with children, although are not best suited to young kids. You'll also have to supervise them around non-canine pets, particularly rodents, as they still possess a strong prey drive.
Training a Cairn is usually easy. They are eager to please and keen to learn, with a special talent for learning tricks. Males tend to be easier to train than females, but both genders respond well to positive training methods. Shouting or any form of punishment will be ineffective, because they are quite sensitive.
They are also very quick and agile, meaning that they are keen competitors in various canine sports. Cairns do exceptionally well at flyball, agility and obedience trials.
With an average lifespan of between 12 and 15 years, the Cairn is a healthy, robust dog. However, they are not immune to genetic diseases and are known to suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and entropion. These dogs are also very sensitive to flea bites, so you'll need to take steps to control these pests.
Grooming a Cairn Terrier is fairly easy. They shed very little and require only a good brush down every other day to keep the coat looking its best. The undercoat tends to be quite sensitive so be careful to brush gently. The dog can be bathed monthly and you should also take care to trim the hair around the eyes.
Because of their small size, Cairns can live most anywhere and do well in an apartment. They are however, highly active dogs requiring daily exercise. This should include a walk plus games, as Cairns love to play and are particularly fond of chasing a ball.
Finding good puppy names, for a Cairn Terrier can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of cool dog names.
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