Q: What makes a good training treat? A: Since you don’t want your dog to fill up on treats too quickly during a training session (nor do you want to make him or her fat), it is important to use small treats when training. By small, I mean tiny. The best training treats are soft and not too chewy, so your dog can ingest them quickly and move to the next activity.
Q: There are so many varieties of treats. How do I choose? A: Dogs get sick of foods just like we do. To make treats more rewarding, vary them. You can do that by mixing different treats in your treat pouch or cookie jar, so that you randomly select what your dog’s going to get, to keep him or her guessing.
Q: How do I keep my dog from getting bored when left alone? A: If you share your home with a young or an especially active adult dog, you know how important exercise is. Active dogs who are left alone all day- even when well exercised- should be left with things to occupy them. This can prevent a lot of damage to household belongings. One way you can provide this sort of “environmental enrichment” is to leave toys stuffed with food. One favorite such toy is called the Kong. It is a hollow rubber toy with a big hole in the bottom and a small air hole at the top. If you fill an appropriate-sized Kong with treats and seal up the bottom hole with something sticky like cream cheese or peanut butter, your dog can get worn out trying to get to the treats. Use your imagination and stuff anything edible inside the toy- pieces of banana, bits of cheese, even yogurt. Just don’t make it too messy!
Q: Soft Versus Crunchy Biscuits? A: Traditionally, dog biscuits are hard and crunchy. Some people think that the crunchiness cleans the dog’s teeth, though many experts cast doubt on this belief. In any case, feeding a dog hard biscuits isn’t a substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth or for giving him or her actual raw bones to chew on. Whether you choose to feed hard biscuits or soft ones is a matter of personal preference for both you and your dog.
Q: How do I go about switching the food I feed my pet? A: Going from one brand of food to the next without slowly introducing the new food can cause digestive problems and diarrhea for your dog or cat. There is a simple menu that will take you two weeks to complete. For the first 4-5 days feed a mix of 2/3 old brand with 1/3 new brand. For the next 4-5 days feed a mix of ½ old brand with ½ new brand. Then for the next 4-5 days feed a mix of 1/3 old brand with 2/3 new brand. By the end of the 15 days your pets digestive system will be accustomed to the new diet, and your carpets will be mess free.
Q: Should I feed a Raw Food Diet? A: A growing number of pet owners are feeding their dogs a raw diet, usually comprised of raw, meaty bones, raw muscle and organ meat, and raw, pulverized vegetables. While there are a variety of opinions on what constitutes the best raw diet, no one diet is perfect for all dogs. Individual dogs have individual dietary needs (and tastes). Many raw feeders feel that grains are an unnatural component of a dog’s diet and do not feed them. Other dogs have specific allergies to certain grains. The choice is yours, but do consult with a veterinarian before switching to a raw food diet for your dog or cat.
BRINGING YOU THE BEST OF THE CAPE...
Countdown to SandwichFest
Join us for a day of family and fun at SandwichFest and our We Grow Smiles campaign, Sat July 10th Click Here For More Details
HOURS 