Everyone who has ever had a dog knows that dogs rival only goats and garbage disposals for what they will consume.  I have had a lot of dogs and this is completely verifiable, unrefuted fact, dogs eat anything.  But mostly dogs eat anything that you their owner don’t want them to consume.  I have had in the past dogs that eat shoes (only the left shoe), dogs that eat aluminum cans, dogs that chomp on furniture, door and moulding in the house.  Dogs who eat house plants, and full unopened boxes (the size that Costco sells) of Rollo’s candies including the foil wrappers (nope didn’t get sick, have to go to the vet or anything.)

I currently have two dogs, a chocolate Labrador who we’ve had since puppydom and who believes with all his little brown heart that he is a human.  And a 6 year old German shorthair, who was adopted at 5 and spent her life eating junk food that she stole off the table, and dog toys.  We don’t have a lot of junk food in the house, so she thinks she is being punished daily.

Chocolate Labs are in a class all their own when it comes to snarfing everything in sight.  The dog I mentioned who ate the tin cans, was my first chocolate, she also got mad and pulled the moulding off the front door and ate a chunk just so it couldn’t be repaired.  My 2 yr old is generally a good boy, since he has horrendous food allergies, his diet since 7 weeks has been home cooked goodness, and not a lot of junk that could irritate his system, he loves fruit and vegetables, raw cooked, pickled, canned, dried it doesn’t matter, I don’t think there is anything that he won’t eat.  Every day at dinner time I have to cut up an additional carrot, so that he too can have carrot slices.  He is ape over bananas, loves cherries, can’t get enough prunes, dates and dried apples.  Fresh apples he literally drools over. He plays with his oranges before he eats them.  Likes his potatoes, mashed baked or pan fried, and enjoys both squash and eggplant.

The 6 yr old thinks he is a lunatic!  Since we don’t have all the tasty things that she grew up noshing on she has picked out a few things that she is willing to submit to eating, but she makes it know to all who are watching that she has lowered her standards to put up with this shoddy treatment.  She like her carrot slices with blue cheese dressing. Will submit to eat bananas if you ask her nicely.  Wouldn’t eat a date or prune if her life depended on it and still can kill a dog toy and eat the stuffing faster than you can get the tags off of it.  Oh the one thing that she doesn’t need prompting to eat, dirty tissues (gross).

My lab also eats shoes, but usually only when my hubby is wearing them… Who Knew!

This recipe has been adapted from the recipe for Kaptin’s Kruchy Kibble in The Natural Pet Food Cookbook, by Wendy Nan Rees with Kevin Schlanger, DVM.

My dog has so many food allergies that it isn’t funny, so protein, and flours have been changes to allow for this.  This recipe works well for dogs with wheat, beef, lamb, chicken, rye and soy allergies.

I have included the measurements for 5 pounds of turkey which makes approximately 9 cups.

9 cups brown rice flour

4 ½ cups oat flour

4 ½ cups nonfat powdered milk

9 teaspoons powdered coral calcium

2 ¼ cups oat bran

1 cup dried parsley flakes

4 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

9 eggs ----rinse egg shells in cool water, then bake on a lined cookie sheet at 350° for about 20 minutes. Cool crush and freeze in baggy for use in nutritional supplement.

4 ½ cups extra light olive oil

2 ¼ cups Worcestershire sauce

3 cups water to moisten, about the consistency of loose oatmeal [reserve vegetable cooking liquid]

9 cups cooked ground turkey *I brown then grind the turkey in a meat grinder (food processor will work) it makes a better consistency in the finished kibble

4 ½ cups cooked puréed sweet potatoes [canned or fresh that has been cooked and puréed pumpkin]

4 ½ cups apple sauce

4 ½ cups frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained **see notes for other options**

Directions:  Mix all ingredients to blend well, adding water slowly to reach a soft oatmeal consistency.  Allow mixture to sit for about an hour to rehydrate the flours.

Using a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (I use a 16 inch bag, with an Ateco #827 tip) pipe strips of kibble onto greased cookie sheets (jelly roll pans).

Bake at 350° for 1 hour with the door slightly ajar to allow kibble to dry (it steams and doesn’t get crunchy if you don’t) (but if you have a convection oven this probably wouldn’t be an issue.)  Bake for 1 hour, then rotate pans for even baking, bake an additional hour.

At this point I transfer the kibble to a dehydrator set at 125° for 8 to 12 hours depending on the crispness of the kibble when removed from the oven. You can also turn off the oven leave the door cracked slightly and allow to rest overnight (but this didn’t get as crisp for me)

Store finished kibble in gallon ziplock bags in fridge (freeze if more than one bag)

A gallon last about a week for one 70 lb dog.  I feed him 1 cup soft food and 1 cup of kibble morning and evening.

**Dried spinach is available at www.atlanticespice.com, I also use dried kelp, dried dandelion leaf, and dried cat nip or a mix of the above available at you local herb shop or try www.herbalcom.com.**

1 part cooked and chopped meat Turkey, Beef, Pork, Duck, Lamb, Chicken, Venison, Elk or Fish ( I use a pressure cooker to cook the fish so that any bones don’t pose a potential choking hazard to the dogs)

1 part cooked brown rice

1 part cooked mixed vegetables Carrots, Green Beans, Peas, Sweet Potato, broccoli, summer or winter squash.  I always use a mix of yellow/orange vegetables and green vegetables.

Mix to combine.  Store in Gallon bags.  I leave one bag out to use and freeze the rest.  You may want to fill them a little on the light side of a gallon, I don’t like the food to set in the fridge for more than 5 days.

I feed a 70 lb dog 1 cup soft, and 1 cup kibble morning and night.

I take the chill off the dog food by microwaving a cup for 25 seconds.  It seems to set better on dog tummies if not so cold.

Doggy Stew

Same equal portions of meat, and vegetables, add a little white potato if you want, simmer with a gravy.  Serve over brown rice.  To make the gravy I use a bit of the pan juices from the cooked meat (or vegetable stock) mixed with rice flour to thicken.

Bowser’s Breakfast

Scramble two eggs

Make old fashioned oatmeal 1/3 cup oatmeal, to 2/3 cup water, microwave for 2 minutes

Diced or grated fresh apple

Combine ingredients, and allow to cool, makes a nice alternative breakfast for your favorite canine companion.

Some note worthy information:  My vet is ok with the addition of pork to my dogs diet on a very limited basis, because the richness of the meat can cause stomach upset.

If you are cooking for a dog with food allergies, this is an excellent diet to eliminate allergies.  It can be made in small portions, while allowing you to monitor your pet for signs of allergy flare-ups (like red spots, red itchy ears, rash bumps on the muzzle etc.  When you see the allergic reaction, change up your protein.

You may have heard of or even thought about an alternative to standard veterinary care for your pets.  But what happens when you vet, can’t see the larger picture, for example.  My 10 year old Labrador started getting sick, shivering, dry nose then running nose, coughs and sneezes, then her appetite went down hill.  My regular Vet’s answer, ‘she’s lived a good life, it’s time to let her go.’  Since at the time, we had just recently lost our 13 year old lab, that wasn’t an option.  We just couldn’t put her to sleep without even trying.

I started looking for alternate care and found a holistic veterinary clinic.  The holistic vet not only offered advice, but was willing to explore several options.  We thought that perhaps it was grief that was affecting our dog, and it may have played a part in it.

The holistic vet, using a combination of typical western medicine, herbal medicine and acupuncture set about to strengthen her immune system.   He also ordered test to check for cancer, and suggested a home made food diet (instead of the commercially prepared diet she was currently eating – even though it was a high quality dog food.)

With this treatment, and patience we began to see improvement in our dog’s health.  A renewed energy and the return of a healthy appetite were evident after just a couple acupuncture treatments.  The herbal medicine, helped to balance her immune system and her issues with fever and chills, as well as the coughing and sneezing and runny nose cleared up.  Her skin and coat began to look healthier, her ears that had always been plagued with infections due to food allergies (even when on an allergy restrictive diet) cleared as well.

While every ones experience with holistic veterinary care may be different, and the vets are human not miracle workers, so not every animal who is nearing death can be saved, my vet was able to help my dog, improve her quality of life, and she lived to the ripe old age of 16 (which is very old for a 85 pound Labrador).  Alternate veterinary care is available.

Be forewarned, this is not an inexpensive option to standard veterinary care.  The bill’s for each treatment visit (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and office visit fees) were over $200.00, and some times much higher.  At the time, and under the circumstances it was a viable option for us, and one that we have recommended to several friends and coworkers with pets that need a bit of extra care.

This service may not be available in all areas, we live in Southwest Washington, and fortunately there is an excellent holistic vet in Portland, Oregon.  The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association AHVMA website www.holisticvetlist.com  has a web search for Vets, by name, location, medical specialty, and animal type.

We love our pets!

I sleep with two dogs in my room.  They have obviously made a pact that they will alternate snoring so that one doesn’t get worn out…

Step in Snore Guard for Dogs!

No as far as I know the product doesn’t exist.  But what a blessing it would be, think of it.

You are sleeping soundly, there is a peaceful hush to the room. You awake refreshed and relaxed even happy.  You rush out to greet the day, take your beloved pets for a long walk.  Ahh…

If you’ve just heard the sound of screeching brakes as I did, sorry for bursting your fantasy of a snore free night of sleeping bliss.

I don’t know why dogs snore, do they have adenoid problems?  A deviated septum?  My guess is they do it because they can.  Their snoring doesn’t seem to bother them, like it does people.  I’ve never seen a dog snore and wake itself up, nor does the other dog nudge it with an elbow to roll over in the middle of the night.  And about the middle of the night thing…. It is 2:30 in the afternoon, and I currently have one dog snoring on the recliner and the other snoring on the sofa (yea they are slightly spoiled). I can barely hear myself think over the rumble.

I am certain, having had several dogs, that I am not the only person on the planet to be woken in the middle of the night by the lovely melody of dog snores.  This has to bother others, what is the solution to this dilemma?

• Ear Plugs, I tried them with my husband, and let me tell you after a while you feel like your ears are bleeding when you put them in.  OK for the short term, but no cigar for the long haul.
• A bedroom of their own, well that might work if I had a room to spare, but let’s face it I can’t see building an addition on the house for the dogs regardless of how loved they are.
• Kicking them out of the bedroom, while it seems like a viable option, for a dog who has had his/her bed in my room since puppydum.  It won’t fly.  They sit and whine at the door, not understanding that I moved their doggy beds into the living room so they will be comfortable.  Nope all they know is that Mom’s mad and has punished them for something.
• Sleeping Pills, well they help, but even the over the counter type shouldn’t be used forever and I don’t foresee a two week end to the snoring problem. And forget about giving them to the dogs, not even funny.
• Cats- while a viable replacement for my beloved canine companions, I know for a fact that they not only snore too, but they hog the pillows.
• Getting rid of Fido--------not an option.

So here I set, waiting impatiently for some super-genius to invent Snore Guard for Dog.  A little weary, a bit cranky and definitely sleep deprived.

I have a dog in a cone, not due to surgery or injury, but because he is allergic to grass.  Of course I have a dog with grass allergies; I have an acre of grass surrounding my house.  If I lived in a field of buttercups he would be allergic to them, or by the ocean I’m sure he’d be allergic to sea shells or sand or maybe both.

This isn’t the first dog that I’ve had with allergies, my 1^st Chocolate Lab also had allergies, so I’ve been through the elimination diets twice, through ear infections, rashes, vet visits and medications.  I made my own dog food and vitamin supplements.  But now I have a whole new set of problems to deal with.

Grass allergies cause my dog to continuously chew on his feet and legs, he will chew until his toes and pads of his feet are swollen and even bleeding.  He has pulled most of the hair off the inside of his front legs (which are covered in a red bumpy rash) and started in on his hind legs.  His belly gets spotty and itches and he is generally miserable.

He is currently taking a prescribed allergy medication, and is supplemented with Benadryl (which leaves him groggy).  But the itching and rash persist, hence the cone. After some research my husband found an herbal ointment to help ease the symptoms, we are awaiting its delivery.

Homemade Dog Allergies Treatment

In the mean time I have made a simple salve to help moisturize and heal the rash.

• 2 tablespoons Vaseline
• 3 teaspoons cod liver oil
• 3 capsules Evening Primrose oil
• 6 capsules of Vitamin E oil
• 2 teaspoons of bees wax (optional)

Directions- In a small lidded container mix Vaseline and cod liver oil.  Use a pin to pierce each capsule and add to the mixture mixing until well combined.  If desired you can melt the bee’s wax, and add the mixture to the wax to make a firmer salve.

Applying the Dog Allergies Treatment

Apply to clean dry skin 2 to 3 times daily (note even using a cod liver oil with orange added, after a while the dog smells of fish). I massage the salve into his skin, paying particular attention to getting it between his toes and the pads of his feet.

In the last 3 days some of the redness has reduced, but the itch persists (He still has to go out on the grass).  But an infection hasn’t set in and that is huge relief.  I was beginning to think that I’d have the only lab in town walking around without toe nails or worse yet on stubs because he wouldn’t stop chewing.  Good luck dog lovers and let us know if you would like to see some other homemade dog allergies treatment ideas posted here in the future.

For many people having a pet is like having a good companion. For some they are more than just a good friend, they are like a family member. Very often people treat their pets as if they were human, including providing love and good care to them. If the pet ever has an illness or injury that requires medical care, having pet insurance will make sure that he or she will be well taken care of. Knowing that the health coverage is there will allow the owner take his pet to the veterinarian without worrying about the cost.

Pet owners can purchase health insurance policies for most common pets. The most popular insurance is for dogs and cats, but you can also get insurance for your bird, hamster or rabbit. The burden of paying an unexpected vet bill and the financial problems that can come with surprise expenses can be greatly reduced with pet health insurance. Vet bills can be quite expensive at times and having medical insurance for a pet will certainly come in handy when your pet needs some treatments or medical attention. Pet insurance allows you to focus on getting the best care for your pet rather than worrying about the cost.

You can choose several types of pet insurance from a few selection depending on your needs and your financial situation. One type of pet insurance pays for all annual checkups as well as about 80% of any medical care related to an illness or injury. There is also insurance for just emergency visits that pay about 80 % each time that you go to a vet any emergency situations. The there is the one that will only pay for the pets annual check up to the vet. You'll want to do your own pet insurance review to compare the prices and the coverages of available policies.

The insurance allows you to choose the veterinarian that you want to go to in most cases. Just as many humans would prefer to see the doctor of their choice, pet owners want to be free to choose the right veterinarian for their pet. Your pet may be used to the vet you've been seeing and you don't want to cause him stress by switching vets. It's easier for everyone involved to visit the vet regularly if you, as the owner, know that he's a good vet, and your pet is comfortable in his office.

Pet insurance is available for all kinds of cats and dogs. Owners of purebred dogs may find that an insurance policy protects the financial investment they've made in their dog. There are several full breed dogs that will need more attention than dogs will may need to have more check ups than other dogs too.

The peace of mind that comes with pet insurance is well worth the price. You'll know that if your pet should need medical attention for any reason, it will be available. For those times when you're away and you ask someone to take care of your pet, there will be no need to contact you for payment in the event of an emergency. You and they already know that it's covered.

Pets make the owners' lives so much better and richer. Make sure that when they need medical care, they'll get it. You and your pet will enjoy the many years you have together.

Once you've decided to do it, you'll need to get the low-down on pet insurance, educate yourself about pricing and coverage, and do your own pet insurance comparison to find the policy that fits your needs at the best price.

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It's crucial when you obtain a new puppy to start your puppy dog training as soon as she is old enough to collaborate with other people and the family; usually this means about eight weeks of age. While some dog owners have a obtain a bit overwhelmed with this entire process, you don't require to if you begin with the fundamentals and remember to keep you dog obedience training easy and understandable for the dog to learn. Most of trainers and experts will tell you that dog obedience training should start with a very easy command, usually "sit." The reason this is an ordinary command is because you need to represent to your dog every command you offer it; remember that dogs don't speak English and don't comprehend what the word "sit" really means. But you can easily push the dog's behind down as you state the word again and again, and then give her a small treat or benefit. If you do this several times you can then tell the word on its own and the dog should implement the action.

However, break up your dog obedience training in compliant steps by not representing a myriad of commands all at once. Practice the "sit" command with her for at least several weeks before you move on to another command, possibly "come." If your dog is in the other room and you use the "come" command, offer her some petting and attention when she comes to you. Do this a few times as well while still doing the "sit" command; if you do this your dog obedience training is off to a positive start. A mistake that many new dog possessors make when it comes to dog obedience training is to rush into all the commands you want her to get knowledge all at once. An experienced possessor can tell you that you need to take taking it slow and let her learn at a moderate pace. It's very confusing for a dog to hear a lot of different commands all spoken with a feeling of anticipation and yet she has no idea what you mean or what you want from her.

This is why it's also important during dog obedience training to demonstrate or otherwise show her what the command means. Say the command over and over while she's making the command and then bit by bit work toward simply saying the command and waiting for her response. And be sure to reward her generously as you go through dog obedience training. This doesn't certainly mean a fattening treat that is bad for her health; just some petting and a few minutes with a favorite toy can be reward enough for her to comprehend that her actions are a good thing.

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A beautiful garden is an active place where stately trees and beautiful and fragrant flowers attract a wide variety of birds, butterflies and other creatures, as well as humans, to enjoy its ambience. Birds are busy searching for safety and food, and if a garden could provide these things they would be happy to move in.
Bird feeding could be done in many ways depending on the kind of birds in the locality, and it will even assist those which are passing by on their long migrations. Bird feeding in the garden would attract birds for generations, year after year. Seeds and fruit are the main foods, and it is best to offer both.

Several hungry birds like fruits like apples, melons, grapes and berries. Dried fruit can also be given if it is first softened with hot water then cooled. Fruit could be put on a platform that is many feet high to discourage squirrels. Cut the fruit into pieces and nail them to the platform or to a tree trunk. This way they can't be carried off by rodents.

For bird feeders, it is better to put out seeds the birds will consume rather than the commercial birdseed mixtures. This usually just gets scattered while the birds are searching for the seeds they want. Black oil and striped sunflower seeds are popular as are safflower seeds, white proso millet, nyjer and milo.

There are many types of seed feeders including PVC plastic tubes, wire mesh and metal tubes with perches. A tray attached to the tube feeder will make it simple for a variety of species to consume. There are also thistle socks, which are oblong bags, perforated and prefilled with nyjer seed. Seed can also be added to a fruit platform to give a variety of alternatives for bird feeding.

Though it is great to have squirrels in the garden, they would usually compete for the food in the bird feeder. Either purchase a squirrel-proof bird feeder or make a bird feeder squirrel-proof by adding plastic bottles around the post or along the wire from which the bird feeder is hung. If this does not work, try giving the squirrels their own food like whole dried corn and other things that they like in their own feeding place.

The goal of bird feeding is to draw birds and help make it easy for them to get food. It is important to ensure bird feeders are cleaned regularly so that rotten fruit and moldy seeds aren’t provided to the birds. The goal of bird feeding is to attract birds and help make it simple for them to get food. It is important to ensure bird feeders are cleaned regularly so that rotten fruit and moldy seeds aren’t offered to the birds.

Is your puppy biting you and other members in your family? Are you at your wit's end your patience striving to figure out how to teach him not to bite? Whether the biting is skittish or aggressive, this behavior should be ceased, now. If puppy is permitted to continue biting while he is young, he will bite as an adult dog and that can spell serious trouble for both you and your dog. Types of Biting can be different. There are two types of biting - normal or frolicsome biting and assertive biting. Playful biting and nipping is a common conduct in puppy litters. They tumble, play, romp, bite and nip. This is usual. Playful Biting may take place. When you bring your puppy home, you and your family become his litter or pack. Since biting was usual behavior in the litter-pack, your puppy will suppose it is positive behavior in this new pack. When you play with or pat your puppy, you will find that your arm or hand, or both will end up in his mouth. This is referred to as mouthing. All puppies do it, but it can’t be allowed to continue. Besides you can turn to dog training house training.

A puppy's teeth are sharp as razors. It won't be long until your arms and hands are riddled with tapping marks. When your puppy bites, hug him to your chest and circumscribe his muzzle with your other hand, at the identical time stating a sharp, steadfast, and "No!" After repetitive and consistent reprimands, puppy will grow to understand that his playful biting is not available and will give up the annoying habit. When you encircle your puppy's muzzle in your hand, do it mildly but firmly. Be sure your hand is not over his nose. He has to be capable to breathe while being reprimanded. This approach of practicing will not work if other members of the pack (family) are encouraging roughhousing. Allow all members of the pack know that rough play will not be allow. Be sure to buy your puppy lots of chew toys. Aspire him to play with them. Praise him when he chews the right things. When he chews household items, take them away and substitute them with one of his toys. He will soon comprehend what is acceptable and what is not.

Repetition is the key thing to dispirit biting. Every time puppy bites you, hug him, restrain muzzle and say a unshakeable "No!" You will be surprised at how quickly your puppy responds. Like kids, puppies learn quickly what they can and can’t get away with. Aggression biting is accompanied by growls and a fixed stare. It is not a persistent action, but rather snap, release and escape. When this occurs, restrain the puppy's muzzle in the same way explained for play biting, accompanied by a loud, firm, "No!"

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