All posts by: dafydd

Feeding your pet dog a raw diet – my interview with a vet and breeder

The following is my interview with Dr. Laurie Coger, a veterinarian and Australian shepherd breeder.

I believe a raw diet is the healthiest option for a lot of dogs, and Coger has fed her dogs a raw diet for over 20 years. She even makes sure to place her puppies into homes that will continue feeding them raw.

If you are interested in learning a lot more about natural pet dog food, Coger shares some of the reasons why she chooses to feed her dogs raw below:

That Mutt: What made you decide to begin feeding your dogs a raw diet?

Dr. Laurie Coger: Like a lot of people, my step to a natural diet resulted from a dog’s health crisis—in my case, autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Thanks to a mentor and friend, I was introduced to the Volhard diet, one of the first raw feeding plans. and my pet dog did very well on it, living years beyond his prognosis.

From there, I learned a lot more about other feeding plans and natural pet dog health. I’ve never looked back, rather continue to learn a lot more and strive to feed my dogs in accordance with their biology.

TM: What are some of your dogs’ favorite ‘meals’ or favorite foods?

LC: They love pretty much everything!

What gets grabbed first from the bowl is normally organ meats. and I have found the green tripe that is the “caviar” of green tripe from Darwin’s Raw Foods—they absolutely love it!

TM: As a veterinarian, how do you encourage your clients to feed their dogs a healthier diet?

LC: Many clients seek me out as the only veterinarian in my region that knows about raw diets, or is not going to tell them they are killing their pet dog with raw foods!

Because I see a lot of clients who are seeking alternative care for their dog, diet changes are one of their expectations, so I have little convincing to do.

For conventional clients, I typically mention how getting off improper foods, such as kibble, will help lots of of the ear infections, skin problems and GI issues they are seeking vet care for.

Not to mention all the other health benefits. For example, they can feed their pet dog a natural diet, or shell out $600 for dental cleaning and potential extractions annually or so.

TM: How old are your puppies when you begin introducing them to raw food?

LC: My Aussies are normally wanting food around 3 to 3.5 weeks of age. They start with a finely ground meat and bone mix, along with some goats’ milk. They get their first chicken necks around six weeks of age.

TM: Is there a certain type of meat you usually start them out with?

LC: I use a finely ground meat and bone mix—typically ground chicken necks, as that’s what I have easily available. I might also add some ground meat—turkey, beef, etc.

After they’ve been eating a bit, I’ll slip in a touch of the tripe, maybe some ground organ meat mix or an egg. I introduce variety early on, but gradually.

TM: You said you only place puppies into homes that will continue feeding them raw food. Miksi?

LC: Simply put, I believe the healthiest way to feed an animal is to do so in accordance with their biology, not what is convenient for us or uses up by-products from the human food industry.

In my opinion, the human equivalent to commercial pet dog food is a box of macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. even if you added a vitamin mineral supplement, as is sprayed on kibble near the end of production, could you be healthy eating that every day, every meal?

Yes, you might survive, but could you thrive? and what health conditions might you develop as you consume far a lot more starches and carbohydrates than your body needs, along with substandard, chemically treated proteins?

The investment I have made in a puppy is huge, in terms of time, money, education and more. A puppy may represent lots of generations of my dogs, and that puppy exists because of my choices.

I cannot in good conscience let them go to homes that will not continue to supply the level of care I believe is crucial for optimal health. This is in the forefront of my mind at the moment, as I am planning a litter likely to be born in early October.

TM: Is there anything else you would like people to know about raw pet dog food?

LC: There are lots of ways to feed a raw diet, and I will be sharing my exact feeding plan in an upcoming book and online content.

The a lot of crucial point to make is that it’s not that difficult! despite what pet dog food companies may tell you, you do not need a Ph.D. in animal nutrition to feed your dog! You do not need a veterinary specialist to design your dog’s meals.

Did your parents seek advice from such a specialist for your meals as a child? Do you plan and calculate the nutritional value of each meal before you prepare and eat it? Ei tietenkään.

Instead, you choose a variety of foods, which include the needed nutrients. The body can store and convert lots of nutrients, allowing for varying intake. The same is true for dogs and other species, alkunkin lajin erityiset biologiset näkökohdat.

TM: Kiitos, Laurie, asiantuntemuksesi jakamisesta!

Ruokaako joku teistä tällä hetkellä koiran raakaa ruokaa?

Kerro meille kommenteissa.

Beamer ikkunassa

hänen jokapäiväinen rituaali

Aurinko osuu toimistoikkunaani joka iltapäivä, samoin kuin niin joka iltapäivä, josta löydän Beamerin. Missä tahansa aurinko menee, hän menee.

GoodBoy Bark Collar review and discount coupon Code

This GoodBoy bark collar review is developed to help you decide if an anti-bark collar is best for your dog.

Bark collars are not for all dogs, and that is OK. We are lucky to have so numerous training options. That Mutt is a blog for honest, respectful discussion.

This post is sponsored by GoodBoy. use code Mutt15 for 15% off all products from GoodBoy. shop here.

We also have a giveaway going on. Leave a comment at the end of this post for your chance to win a totally free bark collar. Klikkaa tästä.

Nuisance barking is probably the #1 grievance people have about dogs!

Barking is a real problem for some families, causing tension between spouses or roommates, problems with neighbors, issues with landlords or even police.

In our case, I was considering a bark control collar for my weimaraner for a particular issue: protest barking in his kennel. nothing serious, but the barking causes my spouse and I some stress.

I say “protest barking” because my canine is kennel trained but there are particular instances where he will bark in his kennel:

When we have a guest staying with us. He’ll typically bark if we try to kennel him while someone “exciting” is visiting. He doesn’t want to miss out!
If I kennel him while we are eating a meal in some cases he will bark.
On occasion he will still bark in his kennel early in the morning to get up and eat. For the most part we’ve trained our canine to sleep in but it can still be a problem.

While I used our bark collar to stop my canine from barking in his kennel, I would typically not recommend a bark collar for:

a canine that is scared of being in his kennel/crate
a canine that is still learning to be in a crate
dogs with separation anxiety
puppies

For those issues, see my messages on separation anxiety or kennel training.

GoodBoy bark collar review

I tried GoodBoy’s small bark collar for my weimaraner Remy. This collar is developed for “small and medium” dogs and will fit up to about a 19” neck.

Keep in mind you want a collar like this to be tight and high on the neck so it can be a little smaller than your dog’s regular collar.

Order a bark collar here

My canine Remy is about 60 pounds with an 18” neck so the collar fits him. It’s a little small for my lab mix Ace, but he was still able to wear this bark collar for “modeling” purposes.

The collar comes in black, blue or pink.

GoodBoy’s small bark collar uses tones and vibration only. No static “pings” like other brands I’ve used.

I can’t tension enough how humane this collar is. You do not need to worry whatsoever about it hurting your dog. The vibration from this collar is very gentle, similar to my phone vibrating.

If your canine needs a stronger correction, GoodBoy also makes collars that give a static “ping” correction.

My overall impression of the small bark collar is that it’s an economical option ($28.99) for smaller and medium dogs. It won’t be as accurate or resilient as a much more expensive collar, but it will work just fine for a lot of dogs.

The re-chargeable battery on this collar lasts a long time (weeks, generally). It also comes with a USB cable, so all you have to do is plug it in to re-charge the battery.

How the GoodBoy bark collar works

The collar is developed to be triggered by your dog’s vocal chords when he barks. Ideally, the collar will not set off to other noises or other dogs barking.

The small bark collar starts with a cautioning tone when the canine barks. This is a beep sound that gets the dog’s attention and is implied to interrupt the barking.

If the canine barks again, the collar gives a second, longer tone. If the canine barks after that, the collar gives a vibration.

In total, the collar can potentially give up to 7 corrections before going into a sleep mode, but my canine has always stopped barking after the first tone!

The company’s tutorial videos are valuable and discuss all of this well.

I try to pair the beep tone with “no” and then reward my canine for being quiet. GoodBoy recommends this so the canine learns to associate the tone with “no” even if you are not there.

The tone/beep has always been enough to interrupt Remy’s barking, which is great!

I evaluated the vibration of the collar on my own wrist and it is gentle. I wear a Garmin GPS view that vibrates my wrist to tell me to “move!” if I’ve been sitting too long. The vibration of this bark collar is similar to that. It does not give any static “ping” corrections.

GoodBoy discount coupon code and ordering info

The small bark collar is very affordable. just $28.99. It’s available on the company’s website.

Use the GoodBoy discount coupon code Mutt15 for 15% offOrder here

More info on using the GoodBoy bark collar

I recommend you test the bark collar before you put it on your dog. Do this without your canine in the room, especially if he is nervous of beeps.

You ought to also test the beep/tone with your canine in the room to make sure he’s not overly sensitive to the sound. You want it to startle him and interrupt his barking but not scare him.

Next, follow the directions and set the collar to the best sensitivity level for your dog.

I have the collar set at the default level 4, and you can adjust it up or down so it triggers correctly to your dog’s bark. I am amazed the collar does not set off to Remy’s whining but only to his barking.

One issue we had is the collar triggered when Remy shook his head and ears around. He is loud and obnoxious when he does this!

The best service was to remove Remy’s everyday collar. That way, the sound of the two collars bumping together can’t set off the beep. Since I only plan to use the bark collar while Remy is in his kennel, this has worked well.

Another option would be to lower the collar’s sensitivity level from a 4 to a 3 so it’s less likely to be triggered by these types of sounds.

Order a collar hereUse code Mutt15 for 15% off

Pros of the GoodBoy small bark collar

Affordable at just $28.99
Humane and won’t hurt your dog
Simple to use & comes with instruction guide
Should fit many dogs with neck size 5″ to 19″
Uses tones and vibrations (no static correction)
Adjustable sensitivity levels
No “prongs”
Rechargeable battery and USB cable television (just plug it in)
Waterproof, according to GoodBoy
“No questions asked” return policy for 30 days

This collar is a good option for you if you have a small or medium canine with a barking problem and you want to try an economical bark control collar. purchase here.

Cons of the collar

Not incredibly resilient (I recommend removing it during play or sports)
The collar might be triggered by other noises if the sensitivity level is not set correctly
This collar works well for the price but I wouldn’t expect it to last years

GoodBoy’s small bark collar might not be the best choice for you if you’re handling multiple barking dogs or if your canine makes a ton of other noises that could set off the collar. If you need to make certain the collar corrects at the best time, I recommend GoodBoy’s collar that comes with a remote.

Is a bark collar best for your dog?

I would consider a bark collar for your canine if your dog’s barking is causing you tension or if you need to get control of the problem for any reason.

Of course, you ought to only use a bark collar if you are comfortable correcting your canine with a tone or vibration. I can’t tension enough how humane this particular collar is. The vibration mode is the equivalent of my phone or GPS view vibrating.

On the other hand, if your canine is barking due to fear, separation anxiety or extreme stress, I wouldn’t recommend a GoodBoy bark collar. There are exceptions to everything though, so don’t hesitate to leave any questions in the comments or speak with with a trainer in your area.

We’re lucky we have so numerous training options and resources on how to correctly use them. I have hunting breeds so I’ve always been around e-collars and get to see how they improve the lives and freedom for so numerous dogs.

Browse GoodBoy’s bark collars HERE.

Antaa pois! Win a totally free bark collar for your canine from GoodBoy

GoodBoy is giving away a totally free bark collar to two winners!

To enter, just leave a comment below so I know your canine wants in on the drawing. let me know about your dog’s barking issue.

I’ll choose two winners at random on Tuesday Jan. 23 and notify the winners by email and post them here. should have a U.S. mailing address to win.

The two winners will each get to choose any collar from GoodBoy’s website.

Would you be interested in a bark collar from GoodBoy?

Let me know in the comments!

Please share this GoodBoy bark collar review with anybody whose canine could benefit from a bark collar.

-Lindsay

Aiheeseen liittyvät julkaisut:

How to stop a dog’s barking

Stop a canine from barking at people on walks

Yllätys lemmikkieläinten tilausruudun tarkistus- ja kuponkikoodini

Kaksi lukijaa, jotka Mutt saavat ilmaisen laatikon

Huomaa: Tämä on sponsoroitu viesti. Lue lisää oppiaksesi, kuinka voit voittaa ilmaisen laatikon yllätyksestä lemmikkini koirallesi.

Yllätys lemmikkini on uusi tilauslaatikkopalvelu koirille, ja yritys lähetti äskettäin laatikon koiran ässään tarkistettavaksi.

Yllätys lemmikkini käynnisti aiemmin tällä viikolla, ja Ace sai helmikuun laatikon.

Voit lukea yllä olevista yllätyksistä, jotka saimme ensimmäisessä laatikossa alla. Lisäksi jaan myös kuponkikoodin 5 dollarin alennuksella ja tiedot kahdesta lahjasta.

Tässä on video, jossa on lisätietoja lemmikkini yllätyksestä.

Lisätietoja lemmikkieläinten tilaamislaatikosta yllättää lemmikkini

Yllätys lemmikkini tarjoaa tällä hetkellä laatikoita koirille, ja se aikoo myös tarjota laatikoita kissoille ja muille lemmikkeille lähitulevaisuudessa.

Yksi ainutlaatuinen asia yllätyksenä lemmikkini on tilaajat voivat valita ”deluxe -paketin” vastaanottaakseen 2-3 tuotetta kuukaudessa tai “premium -paketin” vastaanottaakseen 4-7 tuotetta.

Sekä deluxe että premium -laatikot sisältävät herkkuja, leluja, pureskelta ja joskus muita esineitä, kuten yrityksen mukaan hoitamistuotteita tai laitteita.

Hinnoittelun kannalta kuukausittain Deluxe-paketti on 13,95 dollaria kuukaudessa, plus toimitus. Hinta laskee 12,56 dollariin kuukaudessa, jos sitoudut 3 kuukauden suunnitelmaan ja 11,44 dollaria kuukaudessa, jos sitoudut 12 kuukauden suunnitelmaan. Toimitus on 6,95 dollaria kuukaudessa riippumatta siitä, mikä suunnitelma.

Premium -paketti on 32,95 dollaria kuukaudessa, plus 7,95 dollaria toimituskulut. Kuten Deluxe-paketti, voit säästää vähän rahaa kirjautumalla 3 kuukauden tai 12 kuukauden suunnitelmaan.

Kaikki suunnitelmat tarkistavat automaattisesti, ja voit peruuttaa milloin tahansa, yllätys lemmikkini mukaan.

Mikä oli ensimmäisessä laatikossa yllätys lemmikkini?

Yllätyslaatikkomme lemmikkini sisälsi kolme tuotetta:

Kadetin premium -kanan taipumus

Ace ja sijaiskoiramme Lana rakastivat näitä herkkuja. Ne ovat riittävän pehmeitä hajottaakseen harjoittelua varten, ja ne voidaan myös täyttää Kong -leluon.

Ne on valmistettu Yhdysvalloissa, eivätkä ne sisällä keinotekoisia makuja yrityksen mukaan.

Dura-squeaks tikku koirilelu

Molemmat koirat ajattelevat, että tämä lelu on hieno, ja se näyttää melko kestävältä, kuten pakkaus sanoo. Lana pystyy pilaamaan useimmat lelut, eikä hän ole vielä pilannut tätä (vielä).

Tämä lelu kyykistyy ja kelluu, ja se on valmistettu myrkyttömillä materiaaleilla, yrityksen mukaan. Se on loistavaa pelaamaan hinaajaa tai hakemista.

Smokehouse -koira herkut

Smokehouse tekee koirille erilaisia ​​erilaisia ​​pureskeluja, ja saamamme oli naudanlihan ligamentti. Melko suoraviivainen, ja tietysti ässä rakasti sitä!

Surprise My Pet coupon Code and two Giveaways!

Surprise My Pet would like to mail a free premium box containing 4 to 7 items to two lucky readers of That Mutt.

To enter, just leave a comment to indicate your dog would like “in” on the drawing.

I’ll choose two winners at random on Thursday March 5. Must live in the contiguous united states to win, but if you live elsewhere you can still enter and have a box sent to a pal if you’d like.

*Congrats Ariel and Mal!

Coupon code for $5 off surprise My Pet

You can use coupon code ThatMutt to get $5 off your first order with surprise My Pet. The code expires April 4.

For more information or to order a box, check out SurpriseMyPet.com.

Would your dog be interested in ordering a box from surprise My Pet?

Also, sign up for That Mutt’s newsletter here.

I received compensation and a free box in exchange for writing about surprise My Pet.

Mitä koiramme ohjaavat meitä

mitä koirasi on opettanut sinulle? Mutt muistuttaa minua muutamista asioista joka päivä, kuten aina anteeksiantavaa, kuunnella ja olla avoin mieli. Hän haluaa kokeilla uusia asioita, matkustaa, tavata muita ja oppia.

Mutt on ilo aloittaa joka päivä ja elää joka päivä täysimääräisesti. Hän ei koskaan hylkää mahdollisuutta viettää aikaa ystävien kanssa. Hän ei tarvitse paljon tavaroita ostokseen tunteakseen olevani täytetty. Hän haluaa vain istua ja pohtia elämää. Hän arvostaa luontoa ja nauttii pitkästä kävelystä. Hän ei koskaan petä harjoittelukaveriaan. Mutt nauttii hyvästä ateriasta, eikä se pelkää nukkua.

Mutt ei tuomitse, hän vain rakastaa kaikkia, koiria tai ihmistä, koska he ovat. Hän tietää, että esiintymiset eivät ole kaikkea, tykkää kiertää ja ei välitä siitä, mitä kukaan ajattelee. Hän puhuu järkyttyneenä, mutta kohauttaa asiat pois, kun ne eivät ole sen arvoisia. Hän ei koskaan aloita taistelua, ei koskaan pidä surkeutta, ei koskaan valehtele. Hän on aina siellä.

Mutt opettaa minulle, kuinka olla parempi ystävä.

How to exercise a senior pet dog

I fostered an ancient black lab named Dora a couple of years ago.

Even with pain medication, her joints were so bad I just didn’t take her for walks at all. Looking back, I wish I would’ve come up with some ways to exercise her.

Today, my own black lab mix Ace shows signs of sore joints. We still choose walks, but I no longer take him running and we don’t play as much fetch.

Ace is one of those dogs who is completely obsessed with a tennis ball, and playing fetch tends to hurt his legs. So now, we just play a game every night where we roll the tennis ball back and forth in the living room. He loves it!

With older dogs (Ace is now 10), it’s tempting not to walk them as much or even at all, especially if they have less energy or if they have joint pain.

But as you know, exercise is still crucial for older dogs, for evident reasons such as:

Weight management
Enjoyment!
Stress management
Bonding with family members – Ace’s favorite thing is probably to go on a walk with my husband and I together
Continued socialization and training
A healthier immune system

So, generally the same reasons why we must ALL be exercising, right?

It gets a lot more challenging with an older dog, though, because you may not be able to take him running, hiking or on those off-leash pet dog park excursions.

In Ace’s case, I can’t just throw his ball 20 times to help him burn energy like I used to do. He’ll hurt his legs.

So, here are some ideas for exercising your senior dog, especially if he’s having joint issues:

Tips for exercising a senior dog

1. just do it

Don’t use a senior dog’s age as an excuse not to exercise, said lab owner Kate O’Brien.

“It’s even a lot more crucial to appropriately exercise a senior, as arthritic joints do better if they are kept loose and limber,” she said.

She also suggested massaging your pet dog after a workout.

2. multiple short walks throughout the day

Ace gets sore after a mile or so, but he also still has energy after going that distance. I used to take him on one longer walk each morning and call it good, but that doesn’t work for him anymore. Instead, I walk him for about 20 minutes in the morning and then we choose a second walk some evenings.

On the other hand, if your senior pet dog still seems to do ok on longer walks or even running sessions, that’s great! I would keep it up if it’s working. See my post on taking senior dogs running.

3. use hills

“Hills can be a great way to keep a pet dog in shape,” according to Steve Pelletier, the other blogger behind Slim Doggy.

“Seniors in particular will often show a marked weakness in their hind legs,” he said. “Which can hinder their mobility.”

He suggested to walk uphill to a lot more successfully engage the dog’s hind legs and then “zig-zag down to alleviate anxiety on the front legs.”

4. Swimming

It’s not always easy to find a convenient, controlled area to take a pet dog swimming, but if you have the option, use it!

We are fortunate to live just a 5-minute drive from the Pacific coast and ideal by a pet dog friendly beach. pet dog paddling is beneficial for Ace because it gets his heart rate up while strengthening his muscles. He also doesn’t get too hot like he often does on walks.

Playing fetch in the water vs. on land is also much easier on his joints.

5. range of motion  

Pelletier suggested a stretching exercise you can try with your senior dog.

“Have your pet dog sit, and with a treat in hand, have them follow your hand as you slowly step it away from them, and then side to side,” he said. “You can even step it back towards their flank so they get a really great stretch.”

To make this stretching exercise effective, he said the dog needs to remain in a seated or down position. It can be used as a warm-up and will “keep your older pet limber.”

SlimDoggy.com also has a great post on balancing exercises for dogs of all ages.

6. Walks in new places

Some senior dogs are well behaved in new areas, which makes it much easier to take them places. To tire out your senior without putting too much anxiety on her body, you could take her on a walk through a pet friendly store or to an event like a street fair. Ace is wiped after such events.

What do the rest of you do to exercise your senior dogs?

Kerro minulle kommenteissa!

Also see my posts:

Older dogs and running

My dog’s tennis ball obsession

What if there’s no rainbow bridge?

one of my preferred films growing up was “All Dogs go to Heaven.”

I liked Charlie, the shepherd-looking dog, as well as the scene where he gets a lot of puppies to share a pizza (here’s the clip).

But even at that young age, I don’t keep in mind really believing in a heaven or that dogs would go there if it existed.

I understand this publish will make me sound insensitive, however a part of life with dogs is, unfortunately, losing dogs.

So here it is:

I don’t believe in a “rainbow bridge.”

I don’t believe Kacy as well as Brittni – my past likes – are waiting on me in a meadow so we can all cross a bridge to heaven together.

And when that day comes where Ace likewise dies, people will state things out of kindness, like, “You’ll see him at the bridge” or “He’s waiting at the bridge.”

Only, I don’t believe my dogs will be waiting at any type of bridge, as fantastic as it sounds to be greeted by a lifetime of wagging, somewhat neurotic sporting dogs.

This doesn’t imply I’m best or that you ought to agree. I’m just stating all of us grieve differently, as well as all of us view death differently.

What is the rainbow bridge?

When people utilize the term “rainbow bridge” they are typically utilizing it as a sign to represent whatever they believe occurs to a dog’s spirit as she shifts to an afterlife. Humans have certainly been telling stories of satisfying animals in an afterlife for countless years.

The concept of the “rainbow bridge” seems to have very first been discussed within poetry sometime between 1980 as well as 1992, according to Wikipedia. The author of the poetry is not known.

According to the poem, when a pet dies, he goes to the meadow on “this side of heaven” brought back to ideal health and wellness as well as totally free of injuries where he runs as well as plays as well as waits for his special henkilö. Then, eventually, the two are reunited as well as they walk into heaven together.

It makes sense the concept of the rainbow bridge gained popularity only recently, right around the time people likewise started “rescuing” dogs (vs. “getting a dog” or “adopting a dog”).

Grieving in our own ways

Just as we will all like as well as raise our dogs in distinct ways, we will likewise experience loss in our own ways.

This makes us all the same, but also different.

Here I am with my family’s two golden retrievers in 2005:

As somebody who composes about dogs, fosters dogs as well as works with dogs, I am practically always conscious of someone grieving over a pet, as well as I am always unfortunate for their loss, frequently having a hard time with what to say.

It’s typically something along the lines of “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Or, if I understood the dog, something like, “I’m thankful I got to understand Misty.”

I do not mention a bridge.

Yet, “rainbow bridge” is so recognizable and commonly used, it might practically be utilized interchangeably with words of generosity such as “Sorry for your loss,” “Rest in peace” or “Thinking of you.”

One much more soul. Waiting at the bridge.

Do you believe in some kind of a rainbow bridge?

Aiheeseen liittyvät blogiviestit:

What did people do for you when your canine died?

How do you relocation on when a canine dies?

Planning for the end of your pet’s life – concerns for families

What do canine walkers do when a client’s canine dies?

This publish was influenced by author as well as blogger Jon Katz, as well as his messages about the rainbow bridge as well as his short story “Luther as well as Minnie in Heaven” from the book “Dancing Dogs.”