Feeding your pup a nutritious and balanced diet is the best way to ensure your dog lives a long and happy life. One of the many benefits of proper nutrition is the health of your dog's skin and coat. This means shinier hair and fur and less itching and scratching! Ensuring your dog is receiving the vitamins and minerals he needs in his diet also ensures he will be better able to fight off disease and will also increase your dog's life expectancy. So, if you care for your dog's health, and we know that you do, it's time to stop buying the cheap bags of kibble you usually find at the grocery store that contain processed ingredients and harmful additives and fillers that can be detrimental to your dog's health. Instead, head down to your local pet food store and invest in a brand of dog food that you can trust- your dog's diet is no place to cut corners!
According to The American Kennel Club, "A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables. grains, and fruit. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dog's digestive system."
What To Look For:
What To Avoid:
Now that you have a good idea of what constitutes a good choice for your dog's next meal, check out our Top 3 dog kibble brands that we are sure you and your pup will love!
Our runner-up is Instinct's grain-free kibble recipes. Using pure and nutritious ingredients like high animal protein, vegetables and fruit, Instinct's many kibble blends are a great choice for pets with food sensitivities and anyone wanting to feed their pooch natural, whole-food ingredients. They also tumble their kibble with crushed, freeze-dried raw, maximizing the nutrition and taste for your four-legged friend.
Nothing beats feeling the sand between your toes (or paws) on a hot summer day! Find the nearest dog-friendly beach and pack a beach bag with all the essentials (don't forget the treats!). Play a game of Frisbee with your pooch, take a stroll along the water, or simply lay back and soak up the sun together.
Switch up your regular lunch routine and take a walk to a dog park or a quiet spot in nature. Then roll out your picnic blanket and dine with your dog while taking in the scenery. You can create your own Charcuterie Box at home to bring in your picnic basket with cheese, crackers, meats, fruits, and veggies or you can grab one from a local business like Charcuterie Vancouver. And of course, don't leave your pup out of the fun- we have a variety of Barkcuterie Boxes available in our shop for you to bring along to your picnic date!
If you are lucky enough to live in an area like Vancouver, you will know just how many beautiful hiking spots there are to explore. Bring a backpack with plenty of water and snacks and take your best friend for a trek in nature. If you are not quite sure which trails to try, check out these suggestions by Vancouver Trails.
What dog doesn't love camping? Well, to be fair, my dog, Dante sure was opposed to it when I took him a few summers ago with some friends. That is when I learned that some dogs prefer short adventures in nature and then would like to retreat back to their cozy home, but for the more adventurous pups camping is paradise. With endless open space to explore and new scents to sniff, a camping trip is a great way to re-connect with nature and your best friend.
After a day of fun in the sun, treat yourself and your pooch to an ice-cold treat to cool down. If you happen to be walking along the seawall in Vancouver, you can make a pit-stop at Sweet Spot and grab yourself an ice cream cone AND your pup a dog-friendly ice cream cone, too! And if you can't seem to find a place nearby that sells doggy-friendly ice cream, you can always make your own frozen dog treats at home with these easy recipes from Furry Friend below.
What is your favorite summer activity to do with your dog? Tell us in the comments below!
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Many years before I brought home my lovable companion (and CEO of our company), Dante, I had another wonderful dog named Sam. I will never forget the day my parents surprised me and brought me to a backyard with a playpen full of adorable Bichon Shih-Tzu puppies. Sam greeted me first and from that day on, we were inseparable.
We also had a family pet at the time- a beautiful German Shepard named Sasha- but I was told that Sam was to be my dog and my sole responsibility. It was a big commitment for me at eight years of age, but I was excited to be a dog mom for the first time and vowed to be the best one that I could be.
Looking back now, I did a pretty good job of training my puppy- given my age at the time. As soon as I arrived home from school, I would rush over to Sam with excitement and we would never leave each other's side. What I did not realize was that our clingy behavior towards one another was actually encouraging unhealthy behaviors in my dog that would result in long-term stress for us both.
As the years went on and the two of us grew up together, Sam's separation anxiety became more apparent. While he was rarely left completely alone due to our large family, my siblings and parents would tell me while I was away, Sam would refuse to eat and would dismally wait by the door for my return. His behaviors only worsened if nobody was home. He would bark endlessly and destroy anything in his path.
His separation anxiety was heartbreaking for me to witness and it made it difficult for me to leave him at times. I turned down many sleepovers as a kid because I worried about leaving him alone for the night. Yet, despite his issues, we shared a wonderful ten years together before he crossed over to the rainbow bridge.
Flash forward to the fall of 2015 when I decided I was ready to be a dog mom once again. I was eager to bring a new puppy home, But I had this lingering fear that they would struggle with separation anxiety just as Sam had and since I was now an adult living on my own with a full-time job, I knew it was a situation I had to prevent if I wanted things to work. So, I logged onto my laptop and set off to uncover what I had wished I had known all those years ago when I first brought Sam home.
According to the ASPCA website, some common symptoms that a dog may have separation anxiety include:
According to an article by ASPCA, "While there is no conclusive evidence as to why some dogs develop anxiety, there are some situations that have been associated with the development of separation anxiety, [such as the change of a guardian or family, change in schedule or residence, or the sudden absence of a family member."]
While there is a plethora of information out there about various methods of easing your dog's mind when you leave them alone, there is one source that I trust more than anyone- Cesar Millan. While conducting my research, I came across an article on his website which I implemented the very day I brought home a 3-month-old, Dante.
When you leave the house, it should not be a fearful or distressing experience for your dog. While they may not like being apart from you, they should recognize that you are coming back. You can start conditioning them by leaving them alone for small periods of time and then gradually increasing that length of time as your dog starts to feel more comfortable and calm during each absence.
I started this training early and left Dante alone for ten minutes in our apartment while I took a walk around the block. I kept increasing the time by about ten minutes every day after observing that his demeanor remained calm during each absence.
This is the most valuable advice I have ever received on puppy training and the proof is in the pudding (and by pudding I mean Dante). Whenever you leave your home, do not make a big deal about it to your dog. This means refraining from touching, talking, and making eye-contact with them. Leaving your dog at home should be a normal routine- not a stretched-out farewell as though you may never see each other again. When you make a big fuss about leaving, it can excite your dog and the last thing you want before you go to work is an agitated pooch.
The "no interaction rule" also applies to when you come home to your dog. When you walk in the door, do not make eye-contact, talk to, or touch your dog until they are in a calm state. I have shared this trick with my dog-mom friends and they usually look at me with horror when I tell them I have been using this rule with Dante for the last five years. Of course when I come home I want nothing more than to embrace my dog, but it is not mean to make him wait a few minutes while I take my shoes off, set my things down, and then greet him in a calm manner. In fact, when I walk in the door, without fail, Dante is always sitting on the couch, calmly waiting for me to come over to him. He never barks when I enter our home or rushes over to me in a hyper state. He always sits collectedly on the couch, happy to see me, but patiently waiting for me to make the first move.
I would also like to add to this rule by suggesting that you inform guests coming over to also practice the same rule with your dog. The only time Dante will not wait calmly on the couch when I open the front door is when I have a guest with me. While he is more than welcome to sniff out this new person entering our home, I try to remind my guests not to interact with him until he has calmed down.
I really hope this information serves you well in the early stages of your pup's development. It has been a life-saver for me knowing that I can leave my dog when needed and he is calm, safe, and comfortable in my absence.
What was the best piece of pet parent advice you have ever received? We want to know! Let us hear about your experiences or tips in the comment section below. And be sure to check out Cesar's video below for more tips on preventing and helping a dog with separation anxiety!
Need some nutritious treats for your puppy training? We have you covered! Our Gourmet Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Bones are perfect as a reward and they also come in bulk!
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