By Michelle Houser
Going on a search for the best quality dog foods has been a much bigger project than I initially imagined. I decided to start trying different dog foods after the ongoing concerns with the quality of dog foods and because our male Border Collie, Rodeo struggles with stomach problems and has joint issues. I wanted to make my own determinations on safety and quality on any dog food I choose to feed my loving pups Rodeo and Maddie and of course they were pretty sure they should have a say too.
It's probably worth mentioning that I have been in the dog business for over twenty years so I did have a pretty good idea of what I was looking for in a dog food. However, I was shocked at the lax regulations within the dog food industry. It is so easy for a food company to manipulate the information they put on the outside of their food package and then call it nutritious.
I was even more surprised to find that some of the so called quality foods that you would pay a hefty price for in the discount stores are actually not what they make themselves out to be! That's what those advertising dollars are paying for. Which leads me to my first big tip, throwing money at a high priced dog food does not make it a best quality dog food.
I started by properly learning how to read a dog food label. There are many tricks and frankly deceptive practices that make it a priority to learn how to read a label. Here is a shortened version of that process to help you get started. The first set of labeling rules comes from the FDA and must list the following information:
The product must be identified as a dog food
The weight, volume or count of the dog food
Name and location of the manufacturer
Listing of all ingredients by their common name
Listing of all ingredients in descending order by weight
The next agency that may be policing your dog food is the AAFCO or the Association of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO is not a government agency like the FDA, instead its members are made up of state and federal employees from various agencies and employees from pet food companies. They have additional rules and label regulations on top of the FDA regulations for pet foods. However, dog food regulations vary from state to state and not all states agree to AAFCO regulations.
It's noteworthy that AAFCO statements only appear on commercial dog foods, which means the natural diets and homemade diets can not be compared using these standards.
With the dog food companies using adorable packaging with cute and catchy names, it's easy for them to imply that their food is made with good stuff and your dog's will love it. When in truth, they are hiding the poor quality of their food behind fancy advertising techniques. It's natural for us as consumers to gravitate toward the more attractive packaging, which is why it's important to learn how to read the label.
Confused already? Let me explain what I mean when I refer to some companies hiding the poor quality of their dog food. For starters, it's completely possible that you can purchase a beef dog food that may not actually contain any beef! The problem lies with the rules and regulations allowing the companies to hide poor food ingredients behind wording twist and with hidden meanings. Here are a few of the statements that are used on food labels that can be misleading:
With Chicken Flavor - Flavor is detectable but doesn't have to have any actual Chicken meant present in the product.
With Salmon - The product contains at least 3% salmon. So if you buy a product that says "now with real beef" it may only have 3% real beef in it!
Beef Dinner - The product must contain at least 25% Beef.
Liver For Dogs - At least 95% of the product must be liver or 70% including water
Along with the misleading phrases above, there are many other dog label statements that you will need to be wary of: Natural Food, Organic Food, Gourmet Food & Premium Food - A dog food can say "Organic" but it may not necessarily be 100% organic. You should also look for artificial flavors, calories, antioxidants as potential misleading ingredients and all of them vary between manufacturers and product lines.
It's also important to point out that ingredients are listed by weight but they are listed before they go through any processing. This gives manufacturers another way to pad their label. By listing the weight of the meat in it's hydrated state, it's obviously going to make it higher up on the label than the same ingredient after going through the dehydration process. In other words, the label is giving you the amount before processing in it's original form, not what you are actually getting after all of the moisture is removed during processing.
Watch for poor ingredients that have been split. For example, instead of using a whole grain such as rice, the manufacturer separates the grain into a lesser product such as rice bran and rice gluten. These are far inferior products.
So now you have a good idea of what not to include in your best quality dog foods so what rules should you follow when choosing a safe food?
Always read the label and if you have questions, ask them!
Make sure the first ingredient is a whole meat source such as salmon, chicken or lamb.
Absolutely NO protein or meat by-products like bone meal and meat meal.
Never buy anything that has leftover animal products from rendering plants.
Avoid low quality grains like corn or split grains like rice gluten that create an inferior product.
Use human grade foods or organic or natural - remember that these terms are not yet regulated.
Stay away from preservatives - a good rule is - if you can't pronounce it - leave it!
There is no need to choose foods that are too specific such as for a specific breed. They do not offer any great advantage and will likely cost your more money.
When you are searching for your best quality dog foods, make sure you choose more than one. Look for 3-5 quality foods that agree with your dog and offer different flavors and different protein or meat sources. This way your dog gets a change in variety and by feeding multiple food sources you help fill in nutritional gaps.
Once you know what to look for it's time to start sampling foods. There are lots of companies that offer free samples, so if you are interested in particular brands, give the company a call and usually they are glad to send out samples to a new potential customer.
Keep in mind that each dog is unique and no one food is right for every dog. While I think discussing your dog's diet with your vet is always a good idea, I'm a big fan of you, as a pet parent being the one to make those choices together with your dog. Why? Well, you know your dog better than anyone and you are the one to notice those little nuances like when they are not feeling well, or if they are hurt etc. So you will also be the one to know whether or not your dog likes or dislikes a new dog food and whether or not the new food agrees with your dog.
Keep a journal of what you fed your dog and how they liked it and if they had any problems. Make sure you don't mix foods and only feed them one at a time. Wait a few days in between switching foods or you will have a dog with a big tummy ache and you won't get an accurate read on whether or not they liked each food and how it agreed with them.Get the best quality dog food here.
Don't let yourself become intimidated during this process. This is all about you making a life long healthy best quality food choice for your dog that is directly related to their daily health and their lifespan. Use the tips above and good old fashion common sense when making decisions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Utilize forums, ask a vet online, your personal vet, a friend or you're always welcome to contact me through one of my contact forms.
As a pet parent, I want to emphasize the importance of choosing quality ingredients. Maddie and Rodeo are certain that it absolutely must taste good! Consider any additional personal health needs that your dog may have and start choosing a best quality dog food!
A few months ago I left the business world to pursue my passion of working with animals while trying to improve my health. To do this, I am using my 20+ years experience as a dog breeder and pet owner. I also worked for a well known veterinarian and national vet supply company for several years. I have a B.S. In Agriculture with an emphasis in Animal Science and Ag Business and I worked in the Agriculture Business Industry for over twenty years. So if you are interested in the details of how the right dog food, dog care and just good old fashioned love and affection can help your dog live a healthier and longer life, please join us at: http://www.love-your-dog-food.com
Once you have chosen the best quality dog food for your furry member of the family, make sure you take advantage of the convenience of shopping for your dog food online.
You will save time because we're all busy today, you can shop whenever it's convenient for you not just when the store is open, and you can take advantage of the outstanding online prices and coupons that are regularly available.
Most importantly, you have better things to do with your time - like playing with your dog! http://www.love-your-dog-food.com/best-quality-dog-foods.html
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Truth Behind Commercial Dog Food
By Wilhelmina Ford
Dogs don't get to choose their own diet we do that for them. Our choice of food for our dog depends on our own education of what is best for our dogs, with our information predominantly gathered from TV commercials by pet food companies and vets who recommend certain products because of product alliance. These TV commercials on dog food fill your screen with plump chickens; fresh vegetables and a selection of grains and all show a happy, healthy dog on the advertisements. They are generally beautiful ads, emotional marketed to YOU. Dog food commercials are not for your dog, they are produced and marketed for you. Dogs are colour blind, so pet food manufacturers only change the colour and texture of dog food to make it look better to YOU, not your dog. I hope that in this article you discover some interesting pieces of information that you can put into play in the way you select the food for your dog and enlighten you as to how the pet food companies cater to you, alone, and not your dog.
Dog food labels are intentionally made confusing so that pet owners don't realise that they're feeding their dog some awful, terrible, disgusting ingredients. Dog food companies heartlessly exploit loopholes which allows them to add a very cheap form of protein that has almost zero nutritional value to a dog instead of essential animal protein your dog needs to survive. Did you know that dog foods that claim to be come from bone, blood and animal fat are often derived from animals suffering from various ailments, and probably not the best choice for your dog. These multi-billion dollar companies are actually allowed to mix in euthanized bodies of various animals into the food you might be buying for your dog. Would you eat meat that came from a euthanized animal? Didn't think so! So why should your dog be subjected to this? Dogs can have food allergies from commercial dog food which long term for your dog can make them very uncomfortable, sick and weak. These euthanized various animals found in dog food and the animal by-products commonly found can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and fecal waste. Pretty disgusting isn't it?
Dogs, being scavengers, also thrive on eggs, berries, fruit and the food that they might find in the preys stomach, such as grains and vegetable matter. But, in saying this, dog's bodies are unable to process whole vegetables. So with pet food companies ads showing plump chickens and whole vegetables it makes you wonder if they really know that much about a dogs nutritional needs and digestive system. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog to eat something it would normally turn up its nose too. Do you know how they do this? Fat is sprayed directly on the morsels of food, and that is what you and your dog smell and think would taste wonderful - It's just an illusion. And those wonderfully shaped and coloured treats and morsels are not for your dogs benefit, they are for yours. Don't be fooled by pretty shapes and rainbow colours and smiling dogs on the packets - Its emotional marketing at its best. All your dog cares about is the way the food smells, tastes and all you should care about is that it is getting its nutritional needs.
Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs and they need proper vitamins and minerals every day. Low quality ingredients, excessive chemical additives, and poor labelling standards all result in problems for your companion pet, from skin allergies to cancer. Commercial pet foods and some pet food ingredients have been implicated in a number of diseases in companion animals. One potential problem with commercial pet food is pesticide residues, antibiotics, and mould contained in pet food ingredients and manufacturers will not disclose very much information about the sources of ingredients, how they are processed, their quality control standards, or, in some cases, even where the food is made. Doesn't that make you have some doubt as to how trustworthy a company is if it cannot even tell you those things? It makes me very doubtful!
Think about this... have you ever seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he/she enjoys a good meaty bone? I never have and I have had a lot of dogs in my lifetime and through my business care for all different breeds of dogs, sizes and ages. Do you know why? It is because bones are fresh meat, exactly as you purchase them is exactly what you give your dog. However, with commercial dog food some companies may list real meat as their number one ingredient, but they may actually have more fillers, which reduces the ratio of quality ingredients to useless ones. Ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fiber, and have no significant nutritional value. Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to begin with. Cereal grains are the primary ingredients in most commercial pet foods. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. And to top that off, sometimes a manufacturer may not have added any preservatives, but the meat or other ingredients may have had preservatives added to them by suppliers. So, by the time the food gets to your dogs plate the good quality that may have been slightly present in the beginning has disappeared. And not every batch of dog food is the same because meat by-products and meat and bone meals vary from batch to batch creating an unstable source of nutrition for pets.
The multinational pet food companies have increased bulk-purchasing power; those that make human food products have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products, and pet food divisions have a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of ingredients. The ingredients listed on the label are very much less as to what is actually present in the food - they are tiny; and the items themselves are usually scraps and rejects from processors of human foods-certainly not the whole, fresh ingredients they want you to picture. The labeling of dog food is a confusing discussion to say the least and very much a tell half-truth scenario. Many label rules exist such as; the "Flavour" Rule that states that a food may be labelled as "Beef Flavoured Dog Food" even if it does not contain any beef, as long as the flavour is "sufficiently detectable. When a label reads "With Real Turkey," a consumer may assume that he is purchasing quality turkey dog food for his pet. If the label reads "Beef and Liver for Dogs," the food must contain a combined amount of beef and liver to total 95%, and again there must be more beef since it is listed first. However, as I outlined above the amounts in there are based on tiny morsels and weight - weight is inclusive of water content too.
Now, of course, not all pet food companies operate this way. Today there are a few all natural companies and dog diets on the market which pride themselves on human grade ingredients in their dog food, but remember the definition of "natural" is very broad, and allows for artificially processed ingredients that most of us would consider very unnatural indeed. You have to be very careful in your selection and educate yourself on the harmful ingredients and preservatives on the labels of these dog-canned foods. I always go by the rule that if there are no nutrients in the soil = no nutrients in the plants = no nutrients in the dog food and I cant imagine they would be getting their plant sources from the same crops as humans do.
Quality dog food is crucial for your dogs well being as it is their one source of nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the organic process of nourishing or being nourished, the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and nutriment: a source of materials to nourish the body. The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. So, please when your searching through all the dog food at the supermarket, forget the ads and ignore the glossy pictures and fancy titles on the cans and packages and always look for natural organic dog food with" natural" preservatives. Given the high possibility that your favourite pet foods may be slowly poisoning your dog, it's crucial that you find brands you can trust to be animal friendly and have natural ingredients and low additives and colouring. Many listed ingredients don't provide a significant health benefit and are really a marketing gimmick. Remember you are looking for ingredients that you recognize and you would eat. In fact, just as is true for humans, fresh foods can provide much better nutrition for pets than highly processed "fast foods. "
The reality is that there are only two nutritional standards against which all pet foods are measured (adult and growth/gestation/lactation)-everything else is marketing. Don't fall into the marketing trap and a side note, generally, the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality.
Dogs may not need the most expensive foods out there to survive... but they do need the
correct nutritional value in their diet everyday. Your dog food should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison get it here now.
By Wilhelmina Ford
Want to know more about Commercial Dog Food, Check Out: [http://www.doggyebooks.com/Dogfoodbook.html]
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/
Dogs don't get to choose their own diet we do that for them. Our choice of food for our dog depends on our own education of what is best for our dogs, with our information predominantly gathered from TV commercials by pet food companies and vets who recommend certain products because of product alliance. These TV commercials on dog food fill your screen with plump chickens; fresh vegetables and a selection of grains and all show a happy, healthy dog on the advertisements. They are generally beautiful ads, emotional marketed to YOU. Dog food commercials are not for your dog, they are produced and marketed for you. Dogs are colour blind, so pet food manufacturers only change the colour and texture of dog food to make it look better to YOU, not your dog. I hope that in this article you discover some interesting pieces of information that you can put into play in the way you select the food for your dog and enlighten you as to how the pet food companies cater to you, alone, and not your dog.
Dog food labels are intentionally made confusing so that pet owners don't realise that they're feeding their dog some awful, terrible, disgusting ingredients. Dog food companies heartlessly exploit loopholes which allows them to add a very cheap form of protein that has almost zero nutritional value to a dog instead of essential animal protein your dog needs to survive. Did you know that dog foods that claim to be come from bone, blood and animal fat are often derived from animals suffering from various ailments, and probably not the best choice for your dog. These multi-billion dollar companies are actually allowed to mix in euthanized bodies of various animals into the food you might be buying for your dog. Would you eat meat that came from a euthanized animal? Didn't think so! So why should your dog be subjected to this? Dogs can have food allergies from commercial dog food which long term for your dog can make them very uncomfortable, sick and weak. These euthanized various animals found in dog food and the animal by-products commonly found can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and fecal waste. Pretty disgusting isn't it?
Dogs, being scavengers, also thrive on eggs, berries, fruit and the food that they might find in the preys stomach, such as grains and vegetable matter. But, in saying this, dog's bodies are unable to process whole vegetables. So with pet food companies ads showing plump chickens and whole vegetables it makes you wonder if they really know that much about a dogs nutritional needs and digestive system. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog to eat something it would normally turn up its nose too. Do you know how they do this? Fat is sprayed directly on the morsels of food, and that is what you and your dog smell and think would taste wonderful - It's just an illusion. And those wonderfully shaped and coloured treats and morsels are not for your dogs benefit, they are for yours. Don't be fooled by pretty shapes and rainbow colours and smiling dogs on the packets - Its emotional marketing at its best. All your dog cares about is the way the food smells, tastes and all you should care about is that it is getting its nutritional needs.
Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs and they need proper vitamins and minerals every day. Low quality ingredients, excessive chemical additives, and poor labelling standards all result in problems for your companion pet, from skin allergies to cancer. Commercial pet foods and some pet food ingredients have been implicated in a number of diseases in companion animals. One potential problem with commercial pet food is pesticide residues, antibiotics, and mould contained in pet food ingredients and manufacturers will not disclose very much information about the sources of ingredients, how they are processed, their quality control standards, or, in some cases, even where the food is made. Doesn't that make you have some doubt as to how trustworthy a company is if it cannot even tell you those things? It makes me very doubtful!
Think about this... have you ever seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he/she enjoys a good meaty bone? I never have and I have had a lot of dogs in my lifetime and through my business care for all different breeds of dogs, sizes and ages. Do you know why? It is because bones are fresh meat, exactly as you purchase them is exactly what you give your dog. However, with commercial dog food some companies may list real meat as their number one ingredient, but they may actually have more fillers, which reduces the ratio of quality ingredients to useless ones. Ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fiber, and have no significant nutritional value. Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to begin with. Cereal grains are the primary ingredients in most commercial pet foods. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. And to top that off, sometimes a manufacturer may not have added any preservatives, but the meat or other ingredients may have had preservatives added to them by suppliers. So, by the time the food gets to your dogs plate the good quality that may have been slightly present in the beginning has disappeared. And not every batch of dog food is the same because meat by-products and meat and bone meals vary from batch to batch creating an unstable source of nutrition for pets.
The multinational pet food companies have increased bulk-purchasing power; those that make human food products have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products, and pet food divisions have a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of ingredients. The ingredients listed on the label are very much less as to what is actually present in the food - they are tiny; and the items themselves are usually scraps and rejects from processors of human foods-certainly not the whole, fresh ingredients they want you to picture. The labeling of dog food is a confusing discussion to say the least and very much a tell half-truth scenario. Many label rules exist such as; the "Flavour" Rule that states that a food may be labelled as "Beef Flavoured Dog Food" even if it does not contain any beef, as long as the flavour is "sufficiently detectable. When a label reads "With Real Turkey," a consumer may assume that he is purchasing quality turkey dog food for his pet. If the label reads "Beef and Liver for Dogs," the food must contain a combined amount of beef and liver to total 95%, and again there must be more beef since it is listed first. However, as I outlined above the amounts in there are based on tiny morsels and weight - weight is inclusive of water content too.
Now, of course, not all pet food companies operate this way. Today there are a few all natural companies and dog diets on the market which pride themselves on human grade ingredients in their dog food, but remember the definition of "natural" is very broad, and allows for artificially processed ingredients that most of us would consider very unnatural indeed. You have to be very careful in your selection and educate yourself on the harmful ingredients and preservatives on the labels of these dog-canned foods. I always go by the rule that if there are no nutrients in the soil = no nutrients in the plants = no nutrients in the dog food and I cant imagine they would be getting their plant sources from the same crops as humans do.
Quality dog food is crucial for your dogs well being as it is their one source of nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the organic process of nourishing or being nourished, the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and nutriment: a source of materials to nourish the body. The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. So, please when your searching through all the dog food at the supermarket, forget the ads and ignore the glossy pictures and fancy titles on the cans and packages and always look for natural organic dog food with" natural" preservatives. Given the high possibility that your favourite pet foods may be slowly poisoning your dog, it's crucial that you find brands you can trust to be animal friendly and have natural ingredients and low additives and colouring. Many listed ingredients don't provide a significant health benefit and are really a marketing gimmick. Remember you are looking for ingredients that you recognize and you would eat. In fact, just as is true for humans, fresh foods can provide much better nutrition for pets than highly processed "fast foods. "
The reality is that there are only two nutritional standards against which all pet foods are measured (adult and growth/gestation/lactation)-everything else is marketing. Don't fall into the marketing trap and a side note, generally, the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality.
Dogs may not need the most expensive foods out there to survive... but they do need the
correct nutritional value in their diet everyday. Your dog food should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison get it here now.
By Wilhelmina Ford
Want to know more about Commercial Dog Food, Check Out: [http://www.doggyebooks.com/Dogfoodbook.html]
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Dog Food Labeling Better Than Human Food , Industry Claims
By M. Bruno
The dog food industry announced in a recent statement that labeling on pet and dog food is actually better than labeling requirements on food for human consumption.
This would be the best news that we have heard since the beginning of the dog food recall that has claimed the lives of thousands of dogs, while an ever growing number of dogs continue to suffer from kidney failure after eating contaminated dog food.
Let's take a look at how the pet dog food industry supports this claim.
The dog food industry has the option of including ingredients that they deem safe and nutritious in the dog food that they produce and sell.
Some of those ingredients are:
Dead, dying, diseased and downed animals. Well, this confuses me a bit. I don't know of any regulation permitting the inclusion of these unsuitable proteins on any human food label. The fact is that these 4Ds, can not be used in human food but are used by dog food manufacturers. Ever see those listed on a dog food label?
Rendered animal tissue, such as acquired from the remains of euthanized dogs and pets from animal shelters are used in some dog food products. Hmmm, I never saw any of that on an approved for human consumption food label.
Dog food labels often have statements that claim the dog food is complete, balanced and safe. This would be almost an impossible claim to have approved by the FDA for food destined for human consumption. But dog food manufacturers make this claim as almost as a matter of course. Just check their label.
The dog food industry is fond of pointing to the oversight of the industry by AAFCO the, Association Of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO has no real regulatory authority and the testing of dog food is little more than a joke.
Here's a synopsis of AAFCO testing requirements
o Eight dogs more than a year old must participate
o The dogs must be of normal health and weight
o Blood tests are taken at the inception and conclusion of the test
o No dog (of the eight participants) die or are taken off the dog food because of nutritional problems.
Results of a Successful Dog Food Tests
o At least six of the original eight dogs that began the test must complete it.
o During the test, none of the dogs used are to die or be removed because of nutritional causes.
o Six of the eight dogs starting must finish the test.
AAFCO, with no real authority conducts a test on all of eight dogs. If none die or are excluded and a very basic blood test is passed, that dog food gets the green light.
Are you willing to risk your dog's life on the claims made by the dog food industry? Do you think that a test which will determine the safety and nutrient values of your dog food is adequate when the test involves only eight dogs? Get best dog food recipe here
Do you believe that the FDA should be more directly involved or is the oversight of a group such as AAFCO sufficient to assure the health and safety of your dog?
What is happening in the dog food recall is the product of the claims and performance of the dog food industry, AAFCO, and their marketing and business efforts.
Before chancing our dog's life to the claims of dog food manufacturers that their labeling requirements are safe, that their dog food is safe, and that their industry is regulated, become an informed consumer. Spend some time and learn what your dog food label really says at rel=nofollow http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petlabel.htm
Dog food companies claim that the products they manufacturer are safe.
Sadly, the recent dog food recall and recalls prior to this one suggest otherwise. The dog food industry has in many cases been untruthful in their sales pitch, unsavory in their ethics and have produced a product that in many instances belong in a landfill, not eaten by your dog. A few good apples exist in the commercial dog food world. Make absolutely sure that your dog food comes from one of the good guys or consider making your own dog food at home
By doing so you can make sure that the food you give your dog is truly healthy and not a potential death sentence.
Do you buy your dog food at a supermarket? Pet superstore? Online? Is it healthy and safe? Find out what’s the dog food you feed your pooch at http://www.dogs-4life.com/dog-food-that-kills.html
This article may be reproduced with the author's link
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com
Dog Food Aggression or Canine Possession Aggression
By Chris S
Dog food aggression is one of those dog behavior problems that is difficult for us humans to fully understand. It just doesn't seem to make sense that your dog would consider you a threat to his/her food resource. I mean you gave him the food in the first place, and if you feed your dog's the same kinds of foods that I do, it's not all that appealing anyway!
But, what is your dog thinking?
If your dog glares at you, snarls, growls and positions himself between you and the food he is actually saying to you "this is mine, go away, find your own". He is basically telling you that he considers himself as the leader or alpha dog in your household. Dog food aggression (sometimes called canine possession aggression) is a dominance issue, it is serious and needs to be addressed immediately, it won't just go away.
We've all made the mistake of laughing and even encouraging our feisty little dogs when they first display the "cute" signs of dog food aggression. Don't fall into this trap! Food or toy aggression in dogs should never be tolerated as you never know when it can escalate into something more dangerous for you or a family member.
Why Does Your Dog Display Dog Food Aggression?
Canine possession aggression can be triggered by any number of factors but in most cases it can be attributed to one of these common causes:
Your dog is desperate for this food, in his mind he doesn't know if or when he will get more food. Therefore he protects or guards his food, just like he would have done in a pack situation in the wild. Get the best Dog Food ever Here
Your dog may begin to see you as someone who is always taking good stuff away. He comes to view you more as a threat than a provider (you've got to turn this thinking around).
Dog food aggression can be part of the general confusion regarding who the leader is in your owner - dog relationship. Often it is not an isolated incident, it's something you need to rectify.
It's possible that your dog doesn't even understand that his dog food aggression is unacceptable behavior. In such cases there is an obvious communication breakdown between human and dog.
General Rules For Correcting Food Aggression In Dogs
If your dog is directing his aggression towards other dogs the best solution is to simply separate them at meal times. Feed them in different rooms or in their crates.
Involve all of your family members in this dog food aggression training.
Take control of feeding time. You control the time and place of dinner time - own the food!
Make your dog earn any food. Just simple tasks like sit or a down stay is fine.
Make it clear to your young puppies that it's good to have people around when they are eating. If you do this from day one you will almost certainly prevent dog food aggression problems.
If you encounter dog food aggression it is a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family eat. This again is a throwback to your dogs pack mentality where the alpha dog or leader of the pack (which is you) eats first - your dog will understand this technique.
Don't let your dog "win" the food through his growling, this would reward the very behavior you are trying to eradicate. Don't bully or intimidate your dog though, it's much better to make him actually like having you around at meal time (follow the tips below to achieve this).
Never respond to canine possession aggression with aggression of your own. In essence what this does is to lock you and your dog into a battle of wills. Your dogs next move will most likely be to step up his level of aggression to counter your action.
Dog Food Aggression Training Techniques
Firstly, be careful. If you believe your dog poses any real physical threat to you or family members I'd advise getting professional help. Speak to a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist.
Below is a list of training techniques which could help your dog overcome his dog food aggression. Remember all of these techniques are designed to work towards reconditioning your dog to enjoy having you around anytime. Mix it up, show your dog who is boss.
Hand feed your dogs, even stick your hands into your dogs bowl while he is eating.
Stroke and pet your dog while he is eating and at the same time talk to him in a calming tone. All you are doing at this point is showing your dog that it is a good thing for you to be around.
Stand at a distance your dog is comfortable with, then gradually reduce this distance over time. You can flick a few treats in (or near) the bowl as you slowly reduce the distance.
Put your dogs bowl down with nothing in it, your dog will look back at you as though you are crazy. He'll then literally beg you to come over and fill his bowl.
Feed your dog as normal but hold back a few pieces of his meal. When he is finished licking the bowl, he'll look back up at you, then you can come over and give him the remaining food.
Drop a few of your dogs very favorite treats into his bowl each time you walk past it. After a while of this your dog will welcome the sight of you approaching the bowl.
When your dog is eating, call him over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it worth his while then let him back to the food bowl.
While you are preparing your dogs meal put him in a down-stay or sit position, only release him from your command once you have put his bowl down. By doing this you are controlling meal time and establishing (or re-establishing) your role as your dogs leader.
Work with another family member on this technique. Put your dog in his collar and leash and have him sit with your helper while you prepare the food. When you are ready release your dog and allow him his food. Again you are controlling the situation.
Try the "Trade Up Method". What you do is take away the food or toy your dog is guarding, and replace it with something better. You can use an obedience command such as "give" or "leave it" to encourage your dog to release the precious resource he is guarding. You then take this resource (the food or toy) and give the trade up item to your dog. Once your dog has finished with the new item, you can then give back the resource you took away. This technique proves to your dog that he will receive something great for giving something up, it will recondition his thinking.
Every time you are with your dog have him in a pinch or prong collar with a leash attached. Whenever he displays any signs of dog food aggression you immediately administer a correction to your dog by snapping on the leash. What this does to your dog is build a negative association to the act of his food guarding antics.
Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com
Discover how to train your dog the right way yourself at home - try these latest cutting edge dog training techniques.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com
Dog food aggression is one of those dog behavior problems that is difficult for us humans to fully understand. It just doesn't seem to make sense that your dog would consider you a threat to his/her food resource. I mean you gave him the food in the first place, and if you feed your dog's the same kinds of foods that I do, it's not all that appealing anyway!
But, what is your dog thinking?
If your dog glares at you, snarls, growls and positions himself between you and the food he is actually saying to you "this is mine, go away, find your own". He is basically telling you that he considers himself as the leader or alpha dog in your household. Dog food aggression (sometimes called canine possession aggression) is a dominance issue, it is serious and needs to be addressed immediately, it won't just go away.
We've all made the mistake of laughing and even encouraging our feisty little dogs when they first display the "cute" signs of dog food aggression. Don't fall into this trap! Food or toy aggression in dogs should never be tolerated as you never know when it can escalate into something more dangerous for you or a family member.
Why Does Your Dog Display Dog Food Aggression?
Canine possession aggression can be triggered by any number of factors but in most cases it can be attributed to one of these common causes:
Your dog is desperate for this food, in his mind he doesn't know if or when he will get more food. Therefore he protects or guards his food, just like he would have done in a pack situation in the wild. Get the best Dog Food ever Here
Your dog may begin to see you as someone who is always taking good stuff away. He comes to view you more as a threat than a provider (you've got to turn this thinking around).
Dog food aggression can be part of the general confusion regarding who the leader is in your owner - dog relationship. Often it is not an isolated incident, it's something you need to rectify.
It's possible that your dog doesn't even understand that his dog food aggression is unacceptable behavior. In such cases there is an obvious communication breakdown between human and dog.
General Rules For Correcting Food Aggression In Dogs
If your dog is directing his aggression towards other dogs the best solution is to simply separate them at meal times. Feed them in different rooms or in their crates.
Involve all of your family members in this dog food aggression training.
Take control of feeding time. You control the time and place of dinner time - own the food!
Make your dog earn any food. Just simple tasks like sit or a down stay is fine.
Make it clear to your young puppies that it's good to have people around when they are eating. If you do this from day one you will almost certainly prevent dog food aggression problems.
If you encounter dog food aggression it is a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family eat. This again is a throwback to your dogs pack mentality where the alpha dog or leader of the pack (which is you) eats first - your dog will understand this technique.
Don't let your dog "win" the food through his growling, this would reward the very behavior you are trying to eradicate. Don't bully or intimidate your dog though, it's much better to make him actually like having you around at meal time (follow the tips below to achieve this).
Never respond to canine possession aggression with aggression of your own. In essence what this does is to lock you and your dog into a battle of wills. Your dogs next move will most likely be to step up his level of aggression to counter your action.
Dog Food Aggression Training Techniques
Firstly, be careful. If you believe your dog poses any real physical threat to you or family members I'd advise getting professional help. Speak to a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist.
Below is a list of training techniques which could help your dog overcome his dog food aggression. Remember all of these techniques are designed to work towards reconditioning your dog to enjoy having you around anytime. Mix it up, show your dog who is boss.
Hand feed your dogs, even stick your hands into your dogs bowl while he is eating.
Stroke and pet your dog while he is eating and at the same time talk to him in a calming tone. All you are doing at this point is showing your dog that it is a good thing for you to be around.
Stand at a distance your dog is comfortable with, then gradually reduce this distance over time. You can flick a few treats in (or near) the bowl as you slowly reduce the distance.
Put your dogs bowl down with nothing in it, your dog will look back at you as though you are crazy. He'll then literally beg you to come over and fill his bowl.
Feed your dog as normal but hold back a few pieces of his meal. When he is finished licking the bowl, he'll look back up at you, then you can come over and give him the remaining food.
Drop a few of your dogs very favorite treats into his bowl each time you walk past it. After a while of this your dog will welcome the sight of you approaching the bowl.
When your dog is eating, call him over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it worth his while then let him back to the food bowl.
While you are preparing your dogs meal put him in a down-stay or sit position, only release him from your command once you have put his bowl down. By doing this you are controlling meal time and establishing (or re-establishing) your role as your dogs leader.
Work with another family member on this technique. Put your dog in his collar and leash and have him sit with your helper while you prepare the food. When you are ready release your dog and allow him his food. Again you are controlling the situation.
Try the "Trade Up Method". What you do is take away the food or toy your dog is guarding, and replace it with something better. You can use an obedience command such as "give" or "leave it" to encourage your dog to release the precious resource he is guarding. You then take this resource (the food or toy) and give the trade up item to your dog. Once your dog has finished with the new item, you can then give back the resource you took away. This technique proves to your dog that he will receive something great for giving something up, it will recondition his thinking.
Every time you are with your dog have him in a pinch or prong collar with a leash attached. Whenever he displays any signs of dog food aggression you immediately administer a correction to your dog by snapping on the leash. What this does to your dog is build a negative association to the act of his food guarding antics.
Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com
Discover how to train your dog the right way yourself at home - try these latest cutting edge dog training techniques.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com
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