The Dog Bowl Pet Supply and BARF Raw Food Blog

Size:  Available in 8oz  &  Limited Quantities Available in stock:  Currently 5 left!  

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat, Energy and Environment, Traveling with your dog

Want something yummy for your new pup's stocking?

The Dog Bowl offers something new, healthy, and fun - "T" BONE treats hot out of the oven from the Polka Dog Bakery!

A favorite amongst dog biscuit aficionados.

These organic, homemade, liver biscuits were created specifically for The Dog Bowl.com in an easy to break apart "T" shape. Our pups love them and your dogs will too!

One Bag contains 15 large 3" x 3" biscuits. YUM!

Labels: Behavior and Training, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Style, Dog Treat, Traveling with your dog

“NO WONDER THEY CALL ME A BITCH” by ANN HODGMAN

Ann Hodgman is a food critic for Eating Well magazine. Besides playing goalie on a women's hockey team, she is the author of more than forty children's books, including My Babysitter Is a Vampire, and several cook­books. For reasons soon to be apparent, however, the following "taste­less" essay did not appear in Hodgman's food column, "Sweet and Sour," but in the satiric magazine Spy, for which Hodgman was a contributing editor. A spoof on taste testing, it takes a blue ribbon for disgusting description that appeals to the grosser senses.
______________________________________________________________________________

I've always wondered about dog food. Is a Gaines-burger really like a hamburger? Can you fry it? Does dog food "cheese" taste like real cheese? Does Gravy Train actually make gravy in the dog's bowl, or is that brown liquid just dissolved crumbs? And exactly what are by­products?
Having spent the better part of a week eating dog food, I'm sorry to say that I now know the answers to these questions. While my dachs­hund, Shortie, watched in agonies of yearning, I gagged my way through can after can of stinky, white-flecked mush and bag after bag of stinky, fat-drenched nuggets. And now I understand exactly why Shortie's breath is so bad.

Of course, Gaines-burgers are neither mush nor nuggets. They are, rather, a miracle of beauty and packaging-or at least that's what I thought when I was little. I used to beg my mother to get them for our dogs, but she always said they were too expensive. When I finally bought a box of cheese—flavored Gaines-burgers-after twenty years of longing—I felt deliciously wicked.

"Dogs love real beef," the back of the box proclaimed proudly. "That's why Gaines—burgers is the only beef burger for dogs with real beef and no meat by-products!" The copy was accurate: meat by­products did not appear in the list of ingredients. Poultry by-products did, though—right there next to preserved animal fat.

One Purina spokesman told me that poultry by-products consist of necks, intestines, undeveloped eggs and other "carcass remnants," but not feathers, heads, or feet. When I told him 1'd been eating dog food, he said, "Oh, you're kidding! Oh, no!" (I came to share his alarm when, weeks later, a second Purina spokesman said that Gaines-burgers do con­tain poultry heads and feet-but not undeveloped eggs.)

Up close my Gaines-burger didn't much resemble chopped beef. Rather, it looked-and felt-like a single long, extruded piece of redness that had been chopped into segments and formed into a patty. You could make one at home if you had a Play-Doh Fun Factory.

I turned on the skillet. While I waited for it to heat up I pulled out a shred of cheese-colored material and palpated it. Again, like Play-Doh, it was quite malleable. I made a little cheese bird out of it; then I counted to three and ate the bird.

There was a horrifying rush of cheddar taste, followed immediately by the dull tang of soybean flour-the main ingredient in Gaines­burgers. Next I tried a piece of red extrusion. The main difference between the meat-flavored and cheese-flavored extrusions is one of tex­ture. The "cheese" chews like fresh Play-Doh, whereas the "meat" chews like Play-Doh that's been sitting out on a rug for a couple of hours.

Frying only turned the Gaines-burger black. There was no melting, no sizzling, no warm meat smells. A cherished childhood illusion was gone. I flipped the patty into the sink, where it immediately began leaking rivulets of red dye.

As alarming as the Gaines-burgers were, their soy meal began to seem like an old friend when the time came to try some canned dog foods. I decided to try the Cycle foods first. When I opened them, I thought about how rarely I use can openers these days, and I was suddenly visited by a long-forgotten sensation of can-opener distaste. This is the kind of unsavory place can openers spend their time when you're not watching! Every time you open a can of, say, Italian plum tomatoes, you infect them with invisible particles of by-product.

I had been expecting to see the usual homogeneous scrapple inside, but each can of Cycle was packed with smooth, round, oily nuggets. As if someone at Gaines had been tipped off that a human would be tasting the stuff, the four Cycles really were different from one another. Cycle­1, for puppies, is wet and soyish. Cycle-2, for adults, glistens nastily with fat, but it's passably edible-a lot like some canned Swedish meatballs I once got in a Care package at college. Cycle-3, the "lite" one, for fatties, had no specific flavor; it just tasted like dog food. But at least it didn't make me fat.

Cycle-4, for senior dogs, had the smallest nuggets. Maybe old dogs can't open their mouths as wide. This kind was far sweeter than the other three Cycles-almost like baked beans. It was also the only one to contain "dried beef digest," a mysterious substance that the Purina spokesman defined as "enzymes" and my dictionary defined as "the products of digestion."

Next on the menu was a can of Kal Kan Pedigree with Chunky Chicken. Chunky chicken? There were chunks in the can, certainly-big, purplish-brown chunks. I forked one chunk out (by now I was becoming more callous) and found that while it had no discernible chicken flavor, it wasn't bad except for its texture-like meat loaf with ground-up chicken bones.

In the world of canned dog food, a smooth consistency is a sign of low quality-lots of cereal. A lumpy, frightening, bloody, stringy horror is a sign of high quality-lots of meat. Nowhere in the world of wet dog foods was this demonstrated better than in the fanciest I tried-Kal Kan's Pedigree Select Dinners. These came not in a can but in a tiny foil packet with a picture of an imperious Yorkie. When I pulled open the container, juice spurted all over my hand, and the first chunk I speared was trailing a long gray vein. I shrieked and went instead for a plain chunk, which I was able to swallow only after taking a break to read some suddenly fascinating office equipment catalogues. Once again, though, it tasted no more alarming than, say, canned hash.
Still, how pleasant it was to turn to dry dog food! Gravy Train was the first I tried, and I'm happy to report that it really does make a "thick, rich, real beef gravy" when you mix it with water. Thick and rich, any­way. Except for a lingering rancid-fat flavor, the gravy wasn't beefy, but since it tasted primarily like tap water, it wasn't nauseating either.

My poor dachshund just gets plain old Purina Dog Chow, but Pur­ina also makes a dry food called Butcher's Blend that comes in Beef, Bacon & Chicken flavor. Here we see dog food's arcane semiotics at its best: a red triangle with a T stamped into it is -supposed to suggest beef; a tan curl, chicken; and a brown S, a piece of bacon. Only dogs under­stand these messages. But Butcher's Blend does have an endearing slogan: "Great Meaty Tastes-without bothering the Butcher!" You know, I wanted to buy some meat, but I just couldn't bring myself to bother the butcher. . .

Purina O.N.E. ("Optimum Nutritional Effectiveness") is targeted at people who are unlikely ever to worry about bothering a tradesperson. "We chose chicken as a primary ingredient in Purina O.N.E. for several reasonings," the long, long essay on the back of the bag announces. Chief among these reasonings, I'd guess, is the fact that chicken appeals to people who are-you know-like us. Although our dogs do nothing but spend eighteen-hour days alone in the apartment, we still want them to be premium dogs. We want them to cut down on red meat, too. We also want dog food that comes in a bag with an attractive design, a subtle typeface, and no kitschy pictures of slobbering golden retrievers.

Besides that, we want a list of the Nutritional Benefits of our dog food-and we get it on O.N.E. One thing I especially like about this list is its constant references to a dog's "hair coat," as in "Beef tallow is good for the dog's skin and hair coat." (On the other hand, beef tallow merely provides palatability, while the dried beef digest in Cycle provides pal­atability enhancement.)
I hate to say it, but O.N.E. was pretty palatable. Maybe that's because it has about 100 percent more fat than, say, Butcher's Blend. Or maybe I'd been duped by the packaging; that's been known to happen before.

As with people food, dog snacks taste much better than dog meals. They're better looking too. Take Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks. The loving­hands-at-home prose describing each flavor is colorful; the w_iters prac­tically choke on their own exuberance. Of bacon they say, "It's so good, your dog will think it's hot off the frying pan." Of liver: "The only taste your dog wants more than liver-is even more liver!" Of poultry: "All those farm fresh flavors deliciously mixed in one biscuit. Your dog will bark with delight!" And of vegetable: "Gardens of taste! Specially blended to give your dog that vegetable flavor he wants-but can rarely get!”

Well, I may be a sucker, but advertising this emphatic just doesn't convince me. I lined up all seven flavors of Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks on the floor. Unless my dog's palate is a lot more sensitive than mine-and considering that she steals dirty diapers out of the trash and eats them, I'm loath to think it is-she doesn't detect any more difference in the seven flavors than I did when I tried them.

I much preferred Bonz, the hard-baked, bone-shaped snack stuffed with simulated marrow. I liked the bone part, that is; it tasted almost exactly like the cornmeal it was made of. The mock marrow inside was a bit more problematic: in addition to looking like the sludge that collects in the treads of my running shoes, it was bursting with tiny hairs.

I'm sure you have a few dog food questions of your own. To save us time, I've answered them in advance.

Q. Are those little cans of Mighty Dog actually branded with the siz­zling word BEEF, the way they show in the commercials?

A. You should know by now that that kind of thing never happens.

Q. Does chicken-flavored dog food taste like chicken-flavored cat food?

A. To my surprise, chicken cat food was actually a little better­
more chickeny. It tasted like inferior canned pate.

Q. Was there any dog food that you just couldn't bring yourself to try?

A. Alas, it was a can of Mighty Dog called Prime Entree with Bone Marrow. The meat was dark, dark brown, and it was surrounded by gelatin that was almost black. I knew I would die if I tasted it, so I put it outside for the raccoons.
-----

Source Reference: Author: Hodgman, Ann. "No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch." The Norton Sampler, 6th Edition. Ed. Thomas Cooley. New York, NY: W. W. Norton and Company, 2003. 47-51.

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat, Pet Dental Care

Deadly Halloween Warning for Your Pets: The Killer is Chocolate!

Halloween is a few days away and everywhere families are getting ready with costumes, candy, and parties - who wouldn't be excited? But here are 6 things to remember about chocolate when it comes to your pets so that they can live through it (no kidding - lots of pets suffer - some even die on Halloween).

There is a lot of information on various websites on this subject and we've tried to gather as much information for this report as possible. The UC Davis site provided some of the great information you'll find below as well as about.com on veterinary medicine.

*Why Eating Chocolate Won't Kill You, but Can Kill Your Dog:

Chocolate is fatal to your pet. It's not the chocolate itself but the chemicals. Chocolate contains a naturally occurring chemical compound called theobromine (found in the cocoa bean).

Theobromine is BOTH a diuretic and a stimulant - meaning it increases urination and affects the central nervous system. It also is a cardiovascular stimulant; it will sometimes increase blood pressure and cause nausea and vomiting.

It's not the chocolate itself, but the theobromine that is dangerous and may even be fatal for your dog!

*Do you recognize the warning signs of a dog that has eaten chocolate?

Your dog has consumed an overdose of chocolate he or she may become excited and even hyperactive. Because theobromine is a diuretic your dog will usually be thirsty and may pass large volmunes of urine. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common signs.

What you don't see... Theobromine may increase the heart rate or cause irregular heart beat. This alone can cause death, especially if you add exercise! You may NOT SEE any signs of ill health for several hours but your dog could be dead in the next 24 hours.

You may or may not see any immediate reaction or symptoms - but you must take action if you think your dog has consumed large amounts of chocolate. Dogs usually show symptoms within 4 to 24 hours of eating chocolate.

*Let's take a look at the different types of chocolate & the levels of theobromine in each: Baking chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet or milk chocolate and even hot chocolate!


There are different levels of toxicity in chocolate but for safety sake we recommend NO chocolate at all in any way, shape or form!

Here for your reference is a list of theobromine content in different types of chocolate:

• Baking chocolate, bitter chocolate, and cocoa powder can contain 150 to 600 mg/oz.


• Dark chocolate - 450 mg/oz.


• Semi-sweet chocolate - 260 mg/oz.


• Milk chocolate - 44 to 66 mg/oz.


• Hot chocolate - 12 mg/oz.


• White chocolate - 1 mg/oz.

*How much chocolate is "deadly"?

There are three factors to consider:

1. The size of the dog is a critical factor. A smaller dog will be significantly more affected than a larger dog if the same quantity of chocolate is consumed.


2. You must also consider the health and age of your dog, as this will affect survival rates. For example, a dog with epilepsy is usually more affected by theobromine than a healthy animal because theobromine can trigger seizures in some dogs suffering from epilepsy.


3. Finally the type of chocolate consumed.

*A Quick Theobromine Guide - How much chocolate will kill my dog?

• Baking chocolate: Two one - ounce squares of Baker's chocolate is toxic to a 20lb dog and one square of one ounce is toxic to a 10lb dog.


• Chocolate Cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight or 1/3 of a pound is toxic to a 20lb dog and 1/6 pound for a 10lb dog.


• Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of body weight. The average chocolate bar contains 2-3 ounces of milk chocolate so it would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10lb dog.


• White chocolate: The least toxic of all chocolates. 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to poison a 20lb dog and 125 pounds of white chocolate to poison a 10lb dog.

*What you MUST do immediately to help your pet:

1. Call your vet immediately! The level of toxicity depends on what kind of chocolate your pet consumes, how much he consumes and the wright (size) of your pet. Be ready with this information if you know it.


2. There is no specific antidote for theobromine or chocolate poisoning. Your vet may use some or all of the following treatments depending on the condition and circumstances:

• IV Fluids - prevents dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea and will also help flush theobromine from the system.


• Medication to induce vomiting - theobromine normally stays in the bloodstream between 14-20 hours. Usually it will help to induce vomiting up to 4 hours of ingestion of chocolate.


• Use of Activated Charcoal - unabsorbed theobromine will chemically bond to activated charcoal and be eliminated in the feces - should be done ASAP after ingestion of the chocolate.


• Cardiac medications.


• Anti-seizure medication when appropriate.

*Can your kids pass the "dog and chocolate test"?

Whose the most likely to give your dog a chocolate treat? Your kids of course! Please inform your children! Most kids (and many adults) have no idea how fatally toxic chocolate can be to their pets.

Here are some suggestions:

• Make sure everyone understands that chocolate is a KILLER and even a little bit can cause serious harm to your dog.


• Have kids repeat back to you what you just told them about chocolate and your dog until you are sure they really get it!


• Mention it at school - if you are a teacher remind kids about how chocolate, even though it tastes good, can kill a dog. (Also pass on this website to people you know!)


• Be sure that any chocolate received for Halloween is put away or high enough up so your dog cannot reach it. Dogs do love chocolate - just like humans - so take the proper precautions and don't put your dog in harms way by leaving your Halloween goodies out (or even on a low table).


• Many people take their pooch along when trick or treating. If you do, make sure no one offers a chocolate treat to your furry friends - and tell others just how toxic chocolate is to dogs. It is amazing how many people just don't know about this!

From all of us @ The Dog Bowl we wish you and your family a safe and happy Halloween! Thank you for reading! Thank you in advance for sharing this important information with your family and friends (and dogs)! Click here to read more about what is toxic for dogs!

Labels: Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat, Pet First Aid

Ever wonder why your pet's teeth are so bad? Why ARE your pet's teeth full of plaque? Why does your pet have bad breath? Young or old, it seems that dental issues are a common problem for pets!

Well it is pretty logical to us at The Dog Bowl and we will tell you why! Let's get right to the source of the problem of pet dental issues! Is your pet is eating dry food?

Let's start by doing an experiment together: Place a bit of that dry food in the palm of your hand. Next add a little water. Hold it for a few minutes and let's see what starts to happen. You first notice that your initially clean hand starts to feel greasy. Next you notice how the once, dry food, starts to get soggy and swells up. Followed by a pasty mess! Yuck! Is you hand really messy? Our is! Yuck yuck yuck!

Didn't the television commercial tell us that the dry food cleans our pet's teeth? How can that be? As it made a pasty, sticky mess in our hands! We had to wash our hands multiple times just to get rid of the fatty grease residue!! Logically there is NO way that if our hand is full of a sticky, pasty mess that you could tell me our pet's mouth didn't end of this way as well! My hand is not clean, therefore why would my pet's mouth be any different?

Next let's look at the way the pet's skeleton and jaw functions. Looking at your pet's jaw you can clearly see that they are NOT capable of moving their bottom jaw to the left or the right. They can ONLY move their mouth up and down. Grab your pet & move their jaw to see! Quite simply, the way your cat or dog (they both have the same function) is supposed to eat is to "pull and tear" at their food. (Even more of a reason to consider raw food - click here to read more about B.A.R.F.) Your pet is literally swallowing the dry food, air and all (Why do you think people think they need to provide raised dog bowls? Because their pet is gulping air!), and in a effort to swallow it, and as they move their jaw “up & down” you hear crunching sounds. Dry food is not "chewed" as we have seen in our pet's anatomy -- they simply cannot chew! In addition, those now broken bits of food mixed with saliva make ideal, pasty lodging boats in your pet's mouth, nicely parking along the gum line. Yikes!

I feel betrayed! How about you? ALL these years we hear that our pet chews their food & that the dry, cereal like, food cleans their teeth! Looking at reality and facts, the billion dollar marketing is NOT true! Add on another vet dental bill & you can see - Why would the dry pet food industry want you to think otherwise?

That processed, dry food enters your pet's mouth, mixes with the saliva (much like the water in your hand experiment), and forms a nice, sticky paste and a mess in their mouth - which your cat or dog can't remove! (Remember they cannot move their jaw to the left or right. We can move OUR jaw left to right & think about how sticky chips or cereal items get in your back teeth!). The dry pet food paste sticks in their back teeth and sits their to simply rot away the enamel and gums. Why wouldn’t your pet have bad breath after a few meals like that?

We, at The Dog Bowl, hate to bring you this depressing news, but we would rather you know now that later! There is always a cause for a problem! And much of western medicine practice is to put a “band aid” fix on the issue, not to seek out the root of the problem. And as we have found, that root being the dry pet food industry makes A LOT of money! And so do the veterinarians that recommend it!

In conclusion, we want you, our reader and fellow pet owner, to think about options for your pet. Please! We urge you! There are reasons for why your pet has dental issues. There are millions of pets with the same issue. We are certain when you start pulling on "the why thread" logical answers can and will follow. (Start by reading about commercial pet food - click here.) With good information you can make better choices and decisions for your pets (and for yourself). After all, you are your pet’s source for guidance, training, food and shelter.

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat, Pet Dental Care

Have you ever given your pup a treat that is actually good for him?

Now is the time! Wildside Salmon is a treat your dog will love in addition to being a good healthy snack. At The Dog Bowl this is one of the most popular items for our client's pets.

These salmon treats are pure, natural, wild salmon from the Pacific Ocean. Freeze dried to a crunchy 3/4" morsel, designed fo bigger dogs or dogs who just think big!

These salmon treats make a great stocking stuffer too! So order now so you will have these in time for the holidays - http://www.thedogbowl.com/store/PPF/Category_ID/80/products.asp

Labels: Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat

For those of you who are feeding your pet's raw food or BARF OFFAL you will LOVE this offer from The Dog Bowl!

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition, Dog Treat

Beef Sticks are back! The Dog Bowl prides itself on providing only the most high quality products in pet food and accessories, and we can assure you that our wonderful beef sticks will be a big hit!

These beef sticks are not cured with any chemicals, nor do they contain any additives, so your dog will be able to completely digest these dog treats with ease!

Beef Sticks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so depending on your dog’s chewing potential, you can assure yourself that they will be entertained for hours on end!

Beef Sticks come in short strips, longer foot long straps, and thicker braided or twisted pieces.
Keep in mind, treats are food, so don’t overfeed Fido! To see our online inventory of Beef Sticks and healthy, digestible dog treats, click here!

Labels: Dog Treat

Does your dog have dragon breath? Then you have come across the perfect solution! The Dog Bowl has a treat that is not only delicious for your pet, but it helps fight bad breath at the same time!

Breathies are the most delicious way to combat bad breath! These dried chicken treats contain parsley and mint for fresh breath! These treats are totally chemical and preservative free, they do not contain antibiotics or formaldehyde and are not cured with poisonous chemicals! They come in larger strips, and small bite size mini portions!

These treats are oh so popular, and even if your dog doesn't have bad breath, they're still delicious and nutritious! In addition to combating bad breath, they help maintain healthy, clean teeth; a two in one deal!

Breathies are available for online purchase from the Dog Bowl, and in addition to these breath-saving treats, The Dog Bowl offers a large assortment of dental care products that also help keep teeth clean and fight bad breath! Click here to view our inventory of dental care products!

Labels: Dog Treat

Preparation and patience is the key, says ‘Today’ pet contributor Tamar Geller. Here's more advice on how to build that everlasting bond:

By Tamar Geller
"Today" Pet Contributor
Updated: 3:22 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2006

Bringing home a new dog for the holidays is a big adjustment for any family. But with a little preparation and patience, starting that everlasting bond with your canine companion can be a lot easier. “Today” pet contributor Tamar Geller gives tips on how to get adjusted to the new member of the family.

When you bring your new dog home, remember that initially he will be a bit disoriented. The dog doesn’t know you, your family or your home. It’s similar to when you start a new job. This adjustment period rarely lasts for more than two weeks. Here are a few things you’ll need to know to welcome the latest addition to your family.

Be patient:
Please be patient with your dog. Most of us have an idea of some ideal dog in our mind and when reality doesn’t match the dream, we can lose our patience. Just like building on the talent that a child has in sports, your dog needs to have a good coach in order to become that ideal dog.
Take your dog to the vet immediately. Take him to the vet right away to check that he’s healthy and to microchip him. The microchip is inserted with a needle in the back of his neck and is no big deal. This can be a lifesaver by helping you locate your dog in case he gets lost.

Be consistent:
When trainingMake sure that as his coach, you give him clear and consistent messages. Determine the dog rules and make sure that ALL family members are consistent with enforcing them — such as what rooms are okay for him to use, if he’s allowed on the furniture and where he’s allowed to sleep. The key is that any time you catch your dog in behavior you don’t like, use a disapproving tone of voice and then show him what you would like him to do instead. Do not hit or use physical abuse to correct your dog. This can cause him to become nervous aggressive, which means he could bite to defend himself.

Keep to a schedule:
Dogs like routine. Have a schedule that he can get used to — when he gets fed, bathroom breaks, walks — and then stick to it.

Consider crating:
Crates are a great way to house-train your dog. They should be a size that allows him to stand up, turn around and lay down, but no bigger. Because you’re teaching him to hold it, you don’t want it big enough for him to pee on one side and then lay down on the other. If you’re completely adverse to using one, consider a puppy play pen. One of my clients even used a small shower as the dog’s room — it was very easy to clean! To clean accidents, use paper towels to thoroughly absorb the liquid, then spray with a neutralizing cleanser.

Have the basics:

Collar and leash - You’ll need a collar and leash before you bring your dog home. Puppies are constantly growing, so don’t invest in an expensive collar until they’re fully grown. Instead, purchase a simple, flat nylon collar that you can adjust or replace as he grows out of it. Periodically check to see if the collar is too small — you should be able to fit two fingers under the collar at all times. Small breeds should wear a harness when walking. Attaching the leash to a collar can put undo pressure on the neck and result in a collapsed trachea. If your new puppy is too small for even the smallest dog collar or harness, get one designed for a cat.
Get a four- or six-foot leash for walking. DO NOT use a retractable one, as this will teach him that the more he pulls on the leash, the more he is able to pull, simply reinforcing your dog’s pulling behavior when you walk.
I am against using a choke chain or prong collar, particularly when starting a new relationship with your dog. My personal opinion is that using this equipment causes pain that will not strengthen the loving relationship and may actually do just the opposite.

Food and water bowls - The best food and water bowls are Pyrex, glass or white ceramic that have been certified for human use — do not use plastic bowls. The problem with most ceramic dog bowls is that they are not regulated and may contain lead, which is potentially very harmful to dogs.

Treats - The best yummy treats should be used when your dog has gone to the bathroom outside. Generally speaking, give treats to reinforce your dog's good behavior. Try not to give your dog treats for free — for just being cute.

Exercise and games - Dogs learn through games, so don’t teach your dog biting games or games where he runs away from you. Games are also the way your dog will bond with you. He should think, “Wow, this person is really cool!” Games and exercise also help make sure your dog isn’t bored. Dogs come up with naughty behaviors — such as archeological digging in the yard, redecorating your house by chewing up the furniture or barking — to alleviate boredom.

Toys - Have at least five or six toys on hand since you might have to replace them. You can make them interesting and different by stuffing them with a variety of treats, so it’s always new and exciting for your dog. And they’re dishwasher safe. There’s a great plush toy you can play tug-of-war with called Dr. Noy’s that doesn’t have messy stuffing that your dog can choke on, and has a hidden compartment so that you can remove or replace the squeaker after your dog has “killed” the squeak (as most dogs do within seconds). Greenies are great chew toys for dogs (and they also help freshen their breath). Just as you would with a teething baby, supervise your dog whenever they’re chewing on something in order to prevent choking. Take it away from them when it gets down to a stub. Get one as big as can comfortably fit in your dog’s mouth — the bigger the greenie, the more time your dog will spend enjoying it. Bully sticks and tennis balls, particularly the squeaky kind, are also great toys to keep your dog occupied.

Investing the time now to coach your dog and help him be the best dog he can be will only strengthen your bond. In time, you will come to the point when all you have to do to communicate with your dog is look at him a certain way, and he will know what you want. In turn, you will learn to read his looks and body language to know what he wants. If you follow this, I'm sure you will have a rewarding and beautiful relationship to look forward to.

Labels: Behavior and Training, Dog Treat