1) How many times a day do you feed your dog?

There is no set rule for adult dogs but the general consensus is that twice a day is a sensible amount. Some owners feed once a day, some three times a day. How much your dog is fed is far more important than how often really, but it is useful to set guidelines nevertheless. The reason many experts suggest twice a day rather than once a day is that once a day feeding encourages the dog to gorge his or her food as he or she is so hungry, having last had a meal a full 24 hours ago. Eating too quickly can cause reflex regurgitation or vomiting. Also it has been theorized that deep chested large breed dogs are more likely to suffer from a twisted stomach (gastric dilatation and volvulus), a life threatening condition, if they are fed one large meal daily rather than two smaller meals.

Clearly more active dogs will burn far more calories than others but these variables are best reflected in portion size rather than frequency. Some dogs with medical conditions may benefit from multiple meals of smaller portions, for example those recovering from gastroenteritis. Puppies must be fed more often than adult dogs as they have a higher metabolic rate, around 4 times a day from weaning to around 5 months old, then drop down to 3 times a day until 7 months old, then down to twice a day thereafter.

2) Is your dogs diet manufactured specifically for dogs or do you give human food or food from the butchers?

There is a misconception around that human food is higher quality than dog food, and therefore better for them. This is by and large nonsense. Reputable dog foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits canine physiology best. Dogs on balanced dog food diets do not get nutritional deficiencies but dogs on human food do. Certain human titbits can play havoc with your dogs digestive tract, chocolate being a prime example.

Your dog need ingest nothing other than a complete dog food and water to have a complete and balanced diet. Remember, dogs do not need variety in their diet! They are perfectly happy having the same boring looking meal every day! So keep it simple and safe, feed your dog either a complete dog food (dry or tinned, dry is better for their teeth) or standard dog biscuits and tinned dog meat together. Of course human leftovers every now and again or a bit of tripe or heart from the butcher is fine, but do not make it the day to day diet.

3) Which is the best dog food to choose?

There are so many different brands of dog food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your dog cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in dogs with food allergies, for example. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.

Dog foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for dogs – one for growth (puppies) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.

In summary, consider the following points.

Choose a food that suits your dogs age, breed and overall health. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for small vs large breeds, and puppies vs adults. Dogs with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.

Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.

The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.

There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms premium, super premium, quality, or natural.

Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.

The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.

Avoid supplementation. All commercial dog foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Too many minerals can lead to severe skeletal problems in growing dogs.

Feeding your dog a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems. For example, overfeeding puppies can lead to serious skeletal problems. Neutered dogs require portions 20% smaller than unneutered dogs or they will put on weight.

4) How many times a day do you give your dog treats?

It is hard to resist those puppy dog eyes begging you for a little piece of what you are eating. Indeed treats promote a special bond between you and your dog and it gives such pleasure when they have a delicious morsel to savor. The key word is MODERATION. If you are giving your dog regular treats, you must subtract this amount from the portion given at meal time to maintain a appropriate calorie intake. As a rule of thumb the amount of treats should never exceed 10% of your dogs daily food intake. It is far easier to make your dog obedient if you reserve treats for rewarding good behavior rather than just giving them willy nilly, where they become meaningless.

5) What do your dogs treats consist of?

Quality dog treats are usually far healthier and lower in calories than table scraps. Many dogs are fed scraps habitually from the table while families are eating, particularly by children. This only encourages further begging and feeding with often unsuitable high calorie treats which are forgotten about when it comes to measuring the dogs daily portion(s).

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Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.

Poor diet in dogs could mean many things. Dogs with a poor diet don’t have high energy levels, they may develop health problems down the line, they can be overweight or underweight. They can have teeth problems, bad breath, infections… As a general rule, an unbalanced diet for your dog means a shorter lifespan for him.

It is better to never fed your dog leftovers from the dinner table, unless they are dog healthy choices. Greasy and fried foods can make dogs overweight and ill, while other foods we eat can be toxic for them. Leftovers are generally not good for dogs.

Many dog owners do not give a second thought to what they feed their dog, until they notice that their dog’s coat isn’t looking as shiny as it once did, or until their dog began scratching himself badly or not have much energy. Yet, other dog owners wait for their dog to be so overweight before they realize that there might have been a problem with their dog diet. It is best not to wait for your canine to show signs of disease to put him on a healthy dog diet.

Dogs will get fat and ill if they eat an unhealthy dog diet. Optimal dog health can be achieved through healthy nutrition.

Dogs are mammals, just like us. Dogs get overweight if they eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Dogs will feel tired and depressed if they do not get a proper diet. Eating unhealthy for a dog can cause a whole slew of problems.

Dogs’ coat and skin are affected by diet. Dogs can get most of the same illnesses we do. Dogs can get heart attacks, heat disease, an cancer. Dogs can even get diabetes.

Dogs need a healthy diet. If a dog don’t get enough exercise or eats too much, he will get fat and have many health problems.

This is why you should understand why your dog’s diet is so important to his health. Just like with us, dogs are what they eat. Unfortunately, a dog can’t tell you when he has a stomach ache from the food he ate, or when something doesn’t feel right on him. Oftentimes, dog owners wait until something is wrong with their dogs to make any adjustments in their dog’s diet. You should get your dog on an healthy diet right now, and not wait something goes wrong with your canine!

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Ron Smith is an expert in dog and puppy health. Visit www.dogdieter.com for more information on healthy dog nutrition, best dog vitamins , and dog food label secrets.

Water is probably the most vital yet often overlooked part of a dog’s diet. A bowl of clean water should be available to a dog at all times, so that it can drink whenever it gets thirsty. If you’ve been feeding your dog foods that are unusually salty, keep a close eye on their water bowl, as your pet will want more water (and need to pee afterwards) once they’re done with the salty food.

Meat provides many things for the naturally-carnivorous dog (though, ideally, only about half their diet consists of meat), including proteins and fats. Though cooking is good for all meats fed to a dog, only pork and rabbit really need to be cooked. Processed and heavily spiced or salted meats, such as beef jerky, salami, or pork rinds, aren’t as easy on a dog’s digestive system as they are on a human’s digestive system.

Dogs will also gladly eat eggs and fish, though a few words must be said about both first. Fish should be thoroughly deboned, lest a stray fish rib pierce a dog’s windpipe, and it should always be cooked. Dogs love eggs, and they don’t know the difference between brown eggs and blood spots and ordinary eggs, so you can save some money by buying cheaper eggs.

Grains are another good food for a dog, especially since grains offer all the carbohydrates they might need. Breads, rice, and cereals are all good grains, though all grains should be cooked before you feed them to a dog. However, as important as grains are, they shouldn’t be more than half of a dog’s diet.

Vegetables are a perfectly fine addition to a dog’s diet, though foods like peas and beans should be avoided. Carrots, lettuce, celery, potatoes, and potato skins are fine for a dog to eat. Cooking vegetables is purely optional, though the less time spent cooking the better for your dog, at least in terms of nutrition.

Cheese and dairy products are another good bet, as they provide a healthy amount of proteins and a larger dose of calcium for older dogs. However, not all dogs will appreciate cheese, so know if your dog in particular enjoys it. Dogs can also consume cow’s milk in their diet, though newborn pups shouldn’t drink cows milk. Further, too much milk in a dog’s diet (save for newborn pups), will leave them with a case of diarrhea.

Dogs can become fat and out of shape or undernourished just like their owners. When deciding how much food to give your dog, the general formula is an ounce of food for every pound of the dog’s weight. Another factor to take into consideration would be how active your dog is. If he’s working herding cattle or sheep all day, as opposed to lounging around a penthouse apartment with not much to do, you will have to adjust the amounts of food appropriately.

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Jeff Clare runs Dog Training News where you can read many more articles on dog training schools. For more general advice on dog food go to Dogs And Dog News.

Increasing your dog’s life span is easily achieved by feeding a properly balanced healthy organic dog food or high premium diet from puppy hood. An all natural healthy diet is as beneficial for your dog as it is for yourself. Improper or poor nutrition can cause diseases, allergies, obesity, and shortened life spans in your dogs.

There are many commercial grade dog food products available at the grocery store, and care must be taken when choosing one. Becoming more diligent in all facets of our lives is quickly becoming the norm, and we should include our pets in our education and improvement of lifestyle.

Here are a few general guidelines to follow when looking at the ingredients on a dog food bag:

Choose a food with high meat content. The first ingredient must be a specified meat. Another one or two meats or meat meal listed in the top 5 ingredients is a bonus, but not necessary. (Meat meal is meat with the moisture removed.)

If the same grain ingredient is used two or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. “ground brown rice”, brewer’s rice”, “rice flour”, are all the same grain), this is not a well balanced, nutritious product. It is loaded with “filler” and made to look like it is healthy by separating the one ingredient into sub categories, but rice is rice so it should be listed once.

Using high quality grains has become the standard for the premium quality dog food manufacturers, such as barley, brown rice and oatmeal. If the grains are organic, then all the better. Wheat and corn are inferior and useless as a nutritional element in dog food, and used as filler only. Dogs are known to be highly allergic to wheat and corn.

If there are any by-products at all on the ingredient list, pass this dog food by.

There should not be any fillers.

Carcinogenic preservatives do not need to be used, and if they are don’t buy the product. (They will be listed as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin.)

Artificial colorings are also cancer causing, and completely unnecessary. You’ll be surprised to see how many products still contain this dangerous ingredient. The dyes will be marked as such – e.g. Red, Blue and Yellow dyes.

No added sugars or corn syrup should be in the ingredient list.

The more organic ingredients listed, the better.

Added glucosamine, chondroitin, pro and prebiotics, flax seed oil, barley, oats or oatmeal, and sunflower oil, are a good thing.

Slowly baked, not extruded, retains the minerals, vitamins and essential goodness of the food.

Hormone free, antibiotic free, pesticide and herbicide free, chemical and preservative free would indicate a high quality premium organic dog food.

And finally, no mystery meats should be in the list. Mystery meat will be listed as simply meat or poultry, rather than chicken or venison. The mystery meat will probably be some horrible rotten road kill, old euthanized animals, and parts of animals that are not edible.

Although the higher quality food might seem more expensive initially, it will work itself out and become cheaper in the long run. The savings in vet bills alone over the life of your pet will pay for the food.

I use a lazy homemade dog food tactic of using a high end organic dog food, and add just a few ounces of poached chicken, or broiled venison every day. The best of both worlds is then achieved for my dogs.

Always be aware, educate yourself and know that the big business of dog food manufacturing is in it for the profit, not the health and welfare of our pets. That is up to us. Just do the absolute best you can for your pet and it will be returned with more doggie love, which is never a bad thing.

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This dog food rating scale will help you determine if your dog food is nutrtionally acceptable, or possibly dangerous to your pet. Try it here, it is enlightening!

Occasionally, some low-quality dog foods will increase the need for extra supplementation. Your vet may recommend that you give your dog’s diet a little boost. Consider supplementing your dog’s diet with a hard boiled egg a couple of days per week. This simple step will add extra amounts of vitamins A and D to your dog’s diet. Such vitamins help to maintain good bone structure and healthy eyes.

If you have decided to personalize your dog’s diet by customizing a raw diet, cooking at home for your pet, or just want to make sure your dog’s diet is at its best, you will want to know about the benefits of other supplements. Your dog’s diet can be supplemented with whole grains, green vegetables, and nuts. These items will increase your dog’s intake of vitamin B. Other ways to supplement your dog’s diet to increase the amount of vitamin B take in beans, yeast, and liver. Your dog needs vitamin B in a healthy, balanced diet to support healthy skin and muscles.

Puppies require more mealtimes throughout the course of the day. Nursing pups should be permitted to nurse on demand. As you alter your puppy dog’s diet from milk to dog food, you will need to offer food four or five times per day. Once the puppy has become weaned and used to the new diet, you may reduce the feeding times to three occasions during the day.

Do not be surprised if your dog starts getting antsy at 5:45 in the morning in anticipation of breakfast. Your dog’s diet is important to him and he is anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Establishing a feeding schedule helps to keep your dog’s diet on track. It is easy to get in the habit of feeding your dog regularly. Plus, scheduled feeding times will help to predict your dog’s elimination schedule. When you are potty training a puppy or housebreaking an adult, it can be helpful to have an idea of when your dog needs to go out. Maintaining a healthy diet and feeding schedule will make your job much easier. This is also very useful when traveling with your pet. If you know to expect your dog’s elimination schedule, you will be able to plan appropriate potty stops. In addition, you will know if your dog is feeling stress by changes to his schedule. Try to maintain normalcy and routine as much as possible.

What your dog’s diet consists of is very important. Your dog’s overall health and well being is fueled by excellent food and resources. Did you know that your dog’s diet should be following a feeding schedule?

Occasionally, some low-quality dog foods will increase the need for extra supplementation. Your vet may recommend that you give your dog’s diet a little boost. Consider supplementing your dog’s diet with a hard boiled egg a couple of days per week. This simple step will add extra amounts of vitamins A and D to your dog’s diet. Such vitamins help to maintain good bone structure and healthy eyes.

If you have decided to personalize your dog’s diet by customizing a raw diet, cooking at home for your pet, or just want to make sure your dog’s diet is at its best, you will want to know about the benefits of other supplements. Your dog’s diet can be supplemented with whole grains, green vegetables, and nuts. These items will increase your dog’s intake of vitamin B. Other ways to supplement your dog’s diet to increase the amount of vitamin B take in beans, yeast, and liver. Your dog needs vitamin B in a healthy, balanced diet to support healthy skin and muscles.

Puppies require more mealtimes throughout the course of the day. Nursing pups should be permitted to nurse on demand. As you alter your puppy dog’s diet from milk to dog food, you will need to offer food four or five times per day. Once the puppy has become weaned and used to the new diet, you may reduce the feeding times to three occasions during the day.

Do not be surprised if your dog starts getting antsy at 5:45 in the morning in anticipation of breakfast. Your dog’s diet is important to him and he is anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Establishing a feeding schedule helps to keep your dog’s diet on track. It is easy to get in the habit of feeding your dog regularly. Plus, scheduled feeding times will help to predict your dog’s elimination schedule. When you are potty training a puppy or housebreaking an adult, it can be helpful to have an idea of when your dog needs to go out. Maintaining a healthy diet and feeding schedule will make your job much easier. This is also very useful when traveling with your pet. If you know to expect your dog’s elimination schedule, you will be able to plan appropriate potty stops. In addition, you will know if your dog is feeling stress by changes to his schedule. Try to maintain normalcy and routine as much as possible.

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Here are some easy guidelines to abide by when you are selecting a food for your dog’s diet. Realize that every dog is special. A dog diet that is terrific for your neighbor’s dog may not be exactly what your pet needs.

The first action when considering your dog’s diet, is to talk to your veterinarian. This trusted individual has your pet’s interest at heart, just like you. The vet’s recommendations can steer you in the right direction.

Find a reliable brand of dog food to be the key component of your dog’s diet. It is not impossible to stumble across a high-quality dog food that you have never heard of, but a well-known and major manufacturer provides an amount of safety and confidence about the decision to feed your dog a healthy diet. Recognized and trustworthy dog food manufacturers take the time to research the topic of animal nutrition. let your pet to benefit from the company’s wealth of information rather than going it alone.

Select a dog food that is age appropriate. If your dog is grown-up and shows signs of aging, contemplate a dog diet that is specially formulated for senior dogs. Puppies have different nutritional needs than do adult dogs. Find a mixture of food that meets your dog’s needs. Even the class and size of your pet can make a difference in the type of diet you should feed your pet. Diets formulated specially for small dogs and large breeds exist. You may want to keep this in mind when selecting your dog’s diet.

Activity level and weight are other factors to think about when making the determination of what to feed your dog. If your dog is very active or overweight, you may need to pick a type of dog diet that accommodates such situations.

When you decide on a specific diet for your dog, pay attention to the portion size. Obesity is a serious problem in pets. It can lead to hip troubles and take years off your pet’s life.

Table scraps are definitely out for a healthy diet. Your dog’s diet should consist of a high-quality food specially designed to meet your pet’s dietary needs. Begging is encouraged with table scraps and obesity is likely to result.

Only supplement a high-quality diet when recommended by a veterinarian. Giving your pet too many supplements in the dog’s diet can lead to a lower quality of health.

Always consult your vet for advice on what to feed your dog. Your dog’s diet will fuel his health, so pick your dog’s diet wisely. Select a brand of food that is reliable and suited to your dog. Finding the right diet for your pet will promote good health and permit your dog to succeed.

Choosing a healthy dog diet can be perplexing and challenging if you let it. The attractive packaging and marketing can blur our assessment of a product. Your dog’s diet is the most fundamental way to keep your pet healthy and happy for the years to come. It is elemental that you find a diet that will provide critical nutrients to let your pet to thrive rather than merely survive.

Here are some easy guidelines to abide by when you are selecting a food for your dog’s diet. Realize that every dog is special. A dog diet that is terrific for your neighbor’s dog may not be exactly what your pet needs.

The first action when considering your dog’s diet, is to talk to your veterinarian. This trusted individual has your pet’s interest at heart, just like you. The vet’s recommendations can steer you in the right direction.

Find a reliable brand of dog food to be the key component of your dog’s diet. It is not impossible to stumble across a high-quality dog food that you have never heard of, but a well-known and major manufacturer provides an amount of safety and confidence about the decision to feed your dog a healthy diet. Recognized and trustworthy dog food manufacturers take the time to research the topic of animal nutrition. let your pet to benefit from the company’s wealth of information rather than going it alone.

Select a dog food that is age appropriate. If your dog is grown-up and shows signs of aging, contemplate a dog diet that is specially formulated for senior dogs. Puppies have different nutritional needs than do adult dogs. Find a mixture of food that meets your dog’s needs. Even the class and size of your pet can make a difference in the type of diet you should feed your pet. Diets formulated specially for small dogs and large breeds exist. You may want to keep this in mind when selecting your dog’s diet.

Activity level and weight are other factors to think about when making the determination of what to feed your dog. If your dog is very active or overweight, you may need to pick a type of dog diet that accommodates such situations.

When you decide on a specific diet for your dog, pay attention to the portion size. Obesity is a serious problem in pets. It can lead to hip troubles and take years off your pet’s life.

Table scraps are definitely out for a healthy diet. Your dog’s diet should consist of a high-quality food specially designed to meet your pet’s dietary needs. Begging is encouraged with table scraps and obesity is likely to result.

Only supplement a high-quality diet when recommended by a veterinarian. Giving your pet too many supplements in the dog’s diet can lead to a lower quality of health.

Always consult your vet for advice on what to feed your dog. Your dog’s diet will fuel his health, so pick your dog’s diet wisely. Select a brand of food that is reliable and suited to your dog. Finding the right diet for your pet will promote good health and permit your dog to succeed.

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I love my dogs and want to share how to take care of your dogs and pets. Dogs, Dogs and Dogs

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my name is Jeniffer and i am “Pet” enthusiast i write articles and review products related to “Pets” visit my site : sweet puppy dog I think that our pets is a wonderful gift we have. and we must give them love and care I believe that most of us really feel they are part of the family…!!! i am trying to help people learn about those lovely pets as much possible…

Selecting a high-quality diet for your dog will amplify the likelihood of a long and happy life for your pet. A healthy choice for your dog’s diet will include the basic vitamins and minerals essential for your dog’s wellbeing. Also, your dog’s diet should include some extra nutritional supplements. Talk with your vet concerning your dog’s diet. They will be willing to help you make informed and educated decisions concerning your dog’s diet. Ask about glucosamine or fish oils to combat health issues such as arthritis and dandruff.

Your dog’s diet will affect your pet’s energy level. If the dog’s diet is lacking, your pet may be lethargic or unable to relax contently. If your pet requires extra nutrition to run or walk considerable distances, a healthy diet is crucial.

Your dog’s diet affects the amount and size of outputs. At what time your pet eats a vigorous diet with few fillers, the excrement is less. This is important to lessen the cleanup of the kennel or courtyard. Ask any handler who picks up after their dog and learn the importance of your dog’s diet.

Obesity is not just a problem for people. Weight is also a concern for your pet. Your dog’s diet theater an important role in maintaining a vigorous weight for your pet. Extra treats can seem like a simple luxury, but they can produce serious health problems when given to your pet too frequently.

Finding the finest diet for your dog be able to even help to reduce reactions to food allergies. Decreasing allergy troubles will make your dog feel so much better. Sometimes a simple change in the type of dog food can make such a difference to your pet. Your dog’s diet affects every aspect of your dog’s health..

Your pet’s coat will look and sense better with a in good physical shape diet. Good diet and adequate grooming will keep your pet’s coat looking shiny and magnificent.

The type of dog food you select for your dog’s cut down can even make a difference with your pet’s teeth. Choosing a dry dog food can help to sharpen and polish your dog’s teeth. Avoiding canned food at what time probable will help to reduce tartar and plaque.

As you can see, a dog’s diet influences everything from outputs to teeth. Even your dog’s energy level and attitude is affected by the dog’s diet. Selecting your dog’s diet wisely and consulting your veterinarian is a wonderful way to improve the excellence of your pet’s life.

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Sharonsky is entrepreneur expert of digital imaging and processing founder of Studio Sharon, a special imagine boutique providing graphic design services and business development within the high technology industries and the art world. Sharon master the world’s most advanced digital image processing and editing tools. for more interesting information click here or here please visit my site here Sharon is entrepreneur expert of internet marketing