Benefits of Raw Dog Food

When it comes to dog food, you get what you pay for. All of the household dog food brand names are made from low-quality ingredients which are cooked to eliminate bacteria, but also losing nutrients in the process. Raw dog food brands like Stella & Chewy's will bring about a noticeable change in your dog's attitude and activity level.

Stella & Chewy's dog food is made from raw, natural beef, poultry and fish, along with organic fruits and vegetables. They are carefully processed and kept fresh in the frozen food section. The raw food is soft and delicious, made from all-natural ingredients without hormones or antibiotics. This brand is perfect for dogs with diet restrictions or digestive issues. It's also free from grains, salt, sugar or food coloring.

Picking a name for your dog

The name says it all...adopting a precious pooch is the easy part, choosing a dog name is probably the most difficult part of owning a dog! Especially when each member of your family has a say-so. Here are a few techniques you can use to give your dog a fitting name, along with some examples.

Look for other dog owners

Try browsing our dog owner community on facebook at Facebook.com/barkerspet. You'll find pictures of dogs and discussions that can help you pick out the perfect name for your dog.

Name your dog by Appearance

Think about names that characterize the dog's size or coat. Brown dogs can be called Chip, Coca, Toasty, Hershey, and so forth. Small dogs can be called Littlefoot, Goober, Peanut or Pixie.

Name your dog Affectionately

If your dog has a soft, sweet personality, try Babe, Buttercup, or Sunshine. Big and active dogs can be called Tank, Rocket, or something that showcases their personality.

Name your dog a Food

It is common for dogs to be named after food, like Bagel, Bean, Blackberry, Oreo, Snickers....But don't feed your dog candy in order to find out their preference! You might have to call him Dead-ey.

Name your dog by Personality

Take some time to think about your dog's personality. A few examples of this type of dog name are Dozer, Dash, Chase, Angel, Snuggles, or Thumper.

Let's hear from you! What is your dog's name and how did you pick it?

Dog Training Basics: Training at Home

Dog training isn't a luxury, it's a necessity that strengthens the relationship you have with your dog and improves communication. In a way, it's just as much of a training for you as it is for your dog! All dog training techniques are based on one concept; understanding how a dog learns. For more expert dog training advice, visit The Barkers Pet Resort website.

How a dog learns

All dog behavior is based on a concept of action and reward, similar to the way that human brains make connections between actions and their outcome in order to survive better in the future. The hardest part of dog training is that it is very counter-intuitive; if a dog won't stop barking for example, you may want to yell back or give the dog what you think it wants. This is a habit that's very hard for a person to break, but if you don't you are only teaching the dog that barking is the way to get what it wants.

Training your dog

Just like people, dogs have a learning curve. It's critical that you and the people that are around your dog the most all use the same verbal, facial and physical expression when telling your dog to stop his negative behaviors and to reward his positive ones. With consistency over time, your dog's behavior will change. And stay calm! Yelling at your dog to stop barking will only seem as if you are barking along with him.

Exercise your dog during training

Dogs with pent-up energy will bark all day until they are tired, so tire them out on purpose so that they can be calm enough to have a two-way communication with you. It may seem sometimes that your dog is bouncing off the walls or will never stop his negative behavior. In this case, take him to the park and work him out until he's exhausted. This is the number one dog training tip we can give you.

Don't give in to your dog barking

Your dog may bark until your head is ringing, so you naturally think that the barking will stop if you give him what he wants. This is counter-productive, it will only teach your dog that he is in control of you. Instead, think of an activity that he can do that makes it impossible to perform the negative action at the same time. If he's barking too much, make him fetch, eat, or something similar. If he's jumping on people, give him a dog bed in one location to consistently be sent to when he does it. Consistency is key to changing dog behavior. Don't give up!

Holiday Safety Tips For Pets

Holiday Hazard			How to keep your pet safe
Dangerous Foods			The following can be toxic to pets: chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, garlic, onion, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, bread dough, and sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.
Regular Foods			Despite tradition, bones should never be given to pets. Even beef, ham, and other "regular" foods that are not considered toxic can cause illness in pets. If your pet is a moocher, keep a saucer of his regular treats on the table to offer when he asks. He probably won't know the difference!
New Treats and Toys			Even a pet-safe treat can cause stomach upset if it is new to your pet. Offer only one of these at a time (ideally, separated by a few days). If your pet becomes ill after eating a holiday treat, it will be easier to trace the source and discontinue it. Also, check new toys for sharp edges, pieces that can be chewed off, or other potential hazards.
Plants			Hazardous plants include mistletoe, some evergreens (including some types of pine), and holly bushes and berries. Try to keep these plants away from pets, or at least supervise pets when dangerous plants are nearby.
Decorations			Tinsel, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, and garlands are some items that can be dangerous if eaten by pets. Keep these items away from pets — especially when pets are unattended. Don't forget to cover any electrical cords or keep them out of reach.
Fire and Carbon Monoxide			Monitor pets near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and portable heaters. Also, don't forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Space heaters, furnaces, and idling cars (in a garage) can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pets and humans.

Is doggy day care good for my dog?

Doggy daycare may seem like a crazy concept to some. Kids go to daycare not dogs, right? There are reasons that dog owners should reconsider. Dog daycare offers many benefits for both dog and owner. Dogs are social animals, therefore they do need socialization with both other dogs and with humans.

Have you ever been afraid to take your dog for a walk for fear of how it would behave when around other dogs or people? Doggy daycare is the perfect way to address this. When dogs are around and playing with other dogs their tolerance level increases. They become well-behaved creatures who are good natured the way that dogs should be.

Doggy daycare is always supervised by dog handlers. At the doggie daycare dog handlers interact with dogs, play their favorite games like fetch the ball, laser chase, obstacle climb and of course there are plenty of treats.

Most of us know that dogs that misbehave are generally not getting enough exercise. Generally while we are working dogs are cupped up in the house or in a crate. This leads to frustration in the dog, which may lead them to bite, bark, destroy furniture, chew stuff etc.

Doggy daycare is a complete release of energy. Even the most energetic dogs will be totally worn out at the end of the day. This exercise is great for both their physical and mental health. Generally most dogs are tired until the next morning, which makes it nice to take a dog to doggy daycare if you want to relax and have a quiet evening. It is a lot easier to leave a dog at home after being at work all day when you know they have been playing while you were off at work. So go ahead and go out to eat or go run errands your dog will sleep trust me!
Bring your dog to day care and smile your way to work knowing that he'll have a fun day playing.

Is raw food good for my dog?

RAW FOOD DIET FOR YOUR DOG��

You probably already heard of or know someone who’s feeding their pets raw food diet. This diet is not new. In fact, this simple and ancient formula has kept dogs and cats happy and healthy for centuries. But wait - you are about to learn the secrets of this amazing diet. A Biologically Appropriate diet for a dog is one consisting of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs' wild ancestors. The food must contain such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meats, vegetable and fruit materials combined in precisely the correct balance just as Mother Nature intended.

BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. This diet is all about feeding dogs and cats properly and returning them to their evolutionary diet. Dogs and cats are meat eaters by nature. A diet consisting primarily of raw meat, organ meats, bone, and fat reflects what your pet would eat in its natural habitat. Since dogs and cats are carnivores by nature, they thrive on a diet rich in nutritious meat. Dogs do not require any grain in their diet; they have no nutritional need for it. Our pets get their energy from fats and protein so carbohydrates received from processed grain is not needed. Grains break down into sugar which can grow yeast, produce mucous and may contribute to a multitude of problems including skin allergies, cancer, digestive upsets and skeletal disorders to name just a few. Dogs do not have digestive system to cope with grains. Grains are one of the biggest sources of allergies in dogs. If you really think about it, there is no coyote in the world eating wheat or munching on corn cobs in the field. Unfortunately most commercial pet food companies ad grains to pet food to make it more cost effective for consumers. But is it really? If your dog develops allergy from grains in the food your vet bill will set you back a lot more than you think.

Raw food diet contain meats that are not cooked or processed. Obviously wild animals do not cook their food. Cooked food or commercial dog food takes longer for dogs to digest than raw diets. In addition, the heat used to actually cook the food destroys enzymes and anti-oxidants. Are you asking yourself yet “why my vet did not recommended this ?”. I asked my vet and I got straight forward answer “I’m really not familiar with raw food diet, so I wouldn’t recommend it”. Sadly most vets receive no education at university on dog diet and nutrition other than what the commercial dog food company reps tell them.

A raw diet provides a range of benefits that commercial dog diets can never hope to even closely match. These benefits include:

• Reduces and eliminates skin allergies even the most severe cases

• No more ear infections

• Naturally cleans teeth

• The immune system is strengthened and you’ll begin to see increased mobility in arthritic pets

• No more doggy odor

• Your pet will have super shiny coat

• Much less stool produced and stools become firmer and less smelly

• Your pet’s weight will be brought into line and it’s easy to maintain a leaner, more fit body

• Energy level will increase

• Most importantly will keep your pet healthy and happy for years to come.

There are several reputable companies on the market that produce high quality raw foods for dogs and cats in frozen form or dehydrated. Some owners prefer to make their own raw food recipes. Either way you’ll be feeding your pet the best food that nature intended and they will love it!

If you would like to give a try and see how your pet likes it, please stop by the Barkers Pet Resort for a complimentary raw food sample and a wide selection of frozen raw foods. After all healthy pet is a happy pet.