1. Food quality is not valued or questioned.
2. The guilt that food choices may have shortened the dog’s life causes denial.
3. The misguided belief that dogs can eat anything; i.e., they are the garbage disposals of the animal kingdom.
4. The misunderstanding of a dog and its natural history; i.e., dogs are mini-humans on four legs.
5. The misguidance and information provided by a trusted veterinarian.
6. The misguided belief that “my dog food” is of high quality.

It is more likely that the agent the dog was exposed to and ingested every day, i.e., dog food, affected his/her well-being to a greater extent than the lawn chemicals. Recently, a study from Indiana State University found flame retardant chemical concentrations to be 10X higher in the blood of dogs than previously observed in humans. The dog food of the test subjects contained concentrations of these chemicals greater than those found in human food. Because of the lifestyle of the tested dogs, it was assumed that the food was the source of the chemical blood concentrations. More disturbing, the toxicological effects of these compounds are largely unknown. Commercial dog food is subjecting our companion animals to non-natural chemicals, which the effects are unknown. Can we really afford to be complacent about our dog’s food?

Food and life have a real simple association, food supports life. When we love our companion animals so much, why are many dog and cat owners unaware of the consequences of food? I don’t know, but it is time to start blaming food and appreciating the effects it has on our furry friends.

Indiana University (2011, April 26). Flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 28, 2011

Dogs that do not exhibit skin problems may also benefit from an Omega 3 supplement, because the relative amount of Omega 3 to 6 fatty acids affects a dog’s health. One study found that an increase in the concentrations of Omega 3 to 6 fatty acids produced a positive immune system response in young and geriatric dogs. Another study found that the lower the ratio of Omega 6 to 3, the lower the inflammation response of the body. Omega 6 fatty acids are typically derived from plant rather than animal tissue. This is significant; because dry dog diets typically contain higher quantities of plant tissue, i.e., dogs on dry diets typically consume greater amounts of Omega 6 compared to Omega 3 fatty acids. In addition, Omega 3 fatty acids in dry diets tend to degrade due to oxidation, further increasing the ratio of Omega 6 to 3. Supplementing a dog with fish oil will decrease the ratio of Omega 6 to 3 offsetting the possible imbalance due to consuming a dry diet.

So, if you notice your dog’s skin is dry, flaky, red, or inflamed, and/or feed a predominantly dry diet with oxidized fats, i.e. cooked fats, then a fish oil supplement might be the right dietary addition for your dog. Consult with your veterinarian and consider adding a fish oil supplement to your dog’s daily diet.

Get Fish Oil!

Supporting Literature

Kearns, R. J., Hayek, M. G., Turek, J. J., Meydani, M., Burr, J. R., Greene, R. J., Marshall, C. A., Adams, S. M., Borgert, R. C., and Reinhart, G. A. (1994) Effect of age, breed and dietary omega-6 (n-6) : omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid ratio on immune function, eicosanoid production, and lipid peroxidation in young and aged dogs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 69:165-183

LeBlanc, C. J., Horohov, D. W., Bauer, J. E., Hosgood, G., Mauldin, G. E. (2008) Effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil on in vivo production of inflammatory mediators in clinically normal dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 69(4): 486-493

Logas, D. & Kunkle, G. A. (1994) Double-blinded crossover study with marine fish oil supplementation containing high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of canine pruritic skin disease. Veterinary. Dermatology. 5: 99–104.

Scott, D. W., Miller, W. H., Decker, G. A., Wellington, J. R. (1992) Comparison of clinical efficacy of two commercial fatty acid supplements (Efa Vet® and Derm Caps®), evening primrose oil and cold water fish oil in the management of allergic pruritus in dogs: a double-blinded study. Cornell Veterinarian. 82:
319-29.

Watson, T. D. G. (1998) Diet and Skin Disease in Dogs and Cats. The Journal of Nutrition. 128:2783s-2789s

Leading up to this day, each dog had participated in a series of “K9 Nose Work” classes that are based on authentic detection dog training. In this sport, the dog is expected to search for the essential oil odors of birch, anise, or clove. Gail uses modern, positive training methods to communicate the specific scent she would like the dog to focus its superior scenting abilities on locating. To get their dogs to search, the owners tap into their dogs’ natural desire to hunt. These hunting behaviors are positively reinforced with a reward system that the particular dog loves, such as a highly-valued toy, special food, and/or sincere praise. While watching the dogs work, it was obvious that the “K9 Nose Work” classes are exhilarating for both dog and handler.

Gail mentioned that these classes can help develop confidence in the most timid dog. The mental exercise of searching and problem-solving seemed to calm the most energetic or reactive dogs. Another huge benefit of “K9 Nose Work” was the positive working relationship that dog and owner developed as they were “hunting” as a team. It was great hosting these dogs and their owners, and I hope they come back soon!

For more information, check out the official “Fun Nose Work” website to learn all about it: Fun Nose Work. Rules and regulations can be found at the National Association of Canine Scent Work website. Also, if you would like to learn more about the sport of “K9 Nose Work” and classes that Gail teaches, you can reach Gail at her email address, CzechGSD@macrt.org or call Fran at MasterPeace Dog Training Facility at 508-553-9300 or visit masterpeace’s website.

Oh, I was reminded. I peered through the glass wall, separating dog from human, as if the dog was nothing more than a deli meat on display. I felt sad. A dog should not be treated so poorly -living on a metal grate void of cushion or padding, only inches separating waste from body- what kind of life was this? Imagine you had to stand barefoot on a metal grate, sleep naked on a wire bed, and lie inches above your waste.

I assume they received the daily basics: fresh food, water, and a cage cleaning. But, there is much more to life for a puppy than food and water. There is walking, running, stumbling, playing, snuggling, touching, sniffing, biting, wrestling, jumping, exploring, and learning. These puppies were deprived of such. I wondered: how will this affect their development and social skills, how does this shape their personality?

As I stood there, pondering the sight, people stopped at the viewing window and made ouuu and awww like sounds; their attempts to articulate the thought -look how cute those puppies are- that their brains were serving up. The puppies were absolutely cute, with their little wrinkly faces, oversized paws, fluffy tiny bodies, and yawns bigger than their heads- so adorable. But No! I refused to be sucked into the cuteness of the puppies, the single reason this pet store with its viewing window thrives- praying on the soft spot in all of our souls. I refused to forget the bigger picture; the puppies are cute, but their living conditions are abhorrent.

It may be legal, but it is inhumane. Living in a box cut off from normal puppy-hood is no way to start life. Dogs are not inanimate objects like watches or earrings; they don’t need to be on display. Dogs are living breathing organisms, with complex brains, social systems, and developmental needs. Not respecting those needs and denying them the opportunity to live and function as free spirited puppies- that is inhumane; living on a wire grate- that is inhumane; living just inches above your waste- that is inhumane; denied the regular sensation of touch from fellow dogs and humans- that is inhumane.

I knew what to expect when I walked in the store, but I still needed to be reminded. We may treat our companion animals well, but there are individuals and businesses that do not. Please use discretion when you select your next companion animal, and ask your friends and family to do the same. Don’t support pet stores, breeders, etc., more interested in your money than the loving treatment of their dogs.

1. Games
   There is no shortage of toys to keep your dog occupied and engaged, but this is a great time to rethink those toys and develop your own games for your dog. One interactive game you could play is “Tip the Koozie”. Gather one or more Koozies (those great can or bottle insulators for the summer months) and some of your pooch’s favorite treats. Make your pooch sit and stay, show s/he the treat, then hide it below a koozie. Release your pooch from the stay position and watch s/he try to figure out how to solve this puzzle.
2. Brighten Someone’s Day
   If you’ve always thought your dog would make a great Therapy Dog, now is the perfect time to find out. Therapy Dogs provide love and companionship to people that would not normally interact with a dog. Petting and interacting with a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure and stress levels in people. Very important for those in stressful or lonely settings like hospitals and nursing homes. You will most likely need to have your dog certified as a therapy dog before you can bring them into your local hospital or nursing home, so here is more information on how to get involved.
3. Outdoor Activities
   Get out there and enjoy the snow! Many dogs and their two-legged companions love the white wintery mix. You could give your dog a “job” and teach them to pull a sled. This gives many cold weather breeds a sense of purpose and a desire to please. Or try “Sledding” with your dog. Have them sit on your lap, then sled down a gentle slope; many dogs love the “free” ride. Or get a brightly colored ball, grab the kids, and get outside. You can toss the ball around with your dog, while the kids build a snow fort and have a snow ball fight. Use the minty smelling Planet Dog toys and you could start a fun scenting game. Teaching your dog to find a smelly object in the snow.
4. Play Dates
   Plan a date with a friend’s dog. If you don’t have a snow loving dog, but you want him to burn some energy, then get him together with a friend’s dog. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with a friend, while your dogs socialize and play. Play helps build confidence and social skills, making for a more well-rounded properly socialized pooch.

If all else fails, you could always curl up on the couch with a good book and your pooch and wait until spring. I’m sure they would love that too.

What is “human food” anyway? For instance, are onions human food? No, it’s just food that humans eat, just as much as bones are not dog food, it’s just food that dogs eat. Dogs shouldn’t eat onions, just as much as, we probably shouldn’t gnaw on bones. What makes it “human food” is the highly processed adulterated nature of it. French fries, potato chips, hydrogenated peanut butter, etc.. we can call “human foods”. They are all highly processed adulterated food products that should be avoided, by dogs and humans alike. The same is true for “dog food”. There is nothing special about dog food. There I said it. There is nothing special. Dog food is not harvested from Mars and transported here. It comes from the same plants and animals that we consume or can consume for the most part. It’s just highly processed adulterated food products developed over the last 70 years.

Dog food manufacturers have been around for the last 70 years not the last 14,000 (this is the amount of time that dogs are theorized to have been closely associated with humans). Where were dog food manufacturers for the prior 13,930 years? Not influencing dog nutrition, and yet dogs did just fine making it to the current period in history. Interesting. Dog food manufacturers show up in the last 70 years and tell you that the previous 13,930 were all wrong, and the dog is lucky to have made it. They tell you, they have the right answers and then profit from them. Ok, so this is a simplistic point of view, but the point is dogs did just fine eating what we ate for 13,930 years. Why would the last 70 years be any different? It’s not, except for one thing. Food has become more and more processed both for the human and the dog. So, I will give the dog food companies some credit, but it’s serendipitous. Dog’s shouldn’t eat “human food”, because it just isn’t healthy for them, because of its highly processed nature. But then dogs shouldn’t eat dog food because of its highly processed nature.

If we put human food aside and dog food aside, we are left with natural, raw, unadulterated food that is healthy for dogs and humans. There is no difference between dogs and humans from this nutritional perspective. Meaning, dogs need wholesome, unadulterated, unprocessed foods, just as much as we do. So, next time someone says you shouldn’t feed your dog human food, tell them you don’t, you only feed he/she wholesome, unadulterated, minimally processed foods. It’s neither human nor dog food, it’s just food, the way it’s been for the last 13,930 years.

When you are forced to think about what is dog food, and how it differs from human food, I’m sure the actual tangible attributes are difficult to articulate, i.e. ingredients, processes, ingredient sources, etc. However, the associations created by the term “dog food” are much easier to grasp and explain. Here is what I have heard before: Dog food is a “lower” form of food, not processed for human consumption, “bad” for people, “gross”, “disgusting”, made from “inferior” ingredients, etc… But these aren’t the explanations for the differences between “human food” and “dog food” these are only associates with the words: dog food. If this was the explanation to the intelligent beings, they’d leave only knowing what is thought of dog food, not what it is.

The reason many dog owners can’t always answer: what is dog food, is because many don’t know. They never really question what it is. They never ask themselves what makes it so special that dogs should only eat it and nothing else. They don’t take the time to be curious about the food they feed. Dog owners just assume, because it is presented in a nicely labeled package that it must be “ok”, “good”, “safe”, “nutritious” for their dogs to consume. That’s the irony, they don’t believe it is fit for themselves, but they feel it is the best thing for their dog.

Granted, dogs and humans have different dietary requirements, and different digestive processing abilities. However, please don’t lose sight of the following with respect to humans and dogs:

• Processed food is still processed food regardless of the end consumer
• Ingredient sourcing matters
• Food diversity is much healthier than monotony
• Fresh and wholesome trumps processed and packaged

Dog’s can eat many different wholesome foods, more than the average feed company would like for you to know. Don’t be duped into believing that dogs should only eat dry homogeneous kibble. Try these wholesome items with your dog:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Liver
• Chicken
• Pork Hearts
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Eggs
• Tripe
• Pumpkin
• Kidney
• Roman Lettuce
• Kale
• Bone marrow

Next time someone says, “My Dog Only Eats Dog Food”, say: “My Dog Only Eats Wholesome and Fresh Foods”.

Do

• Refocus the dog’s attention. Have Fido look at you and listen to your commands. The goal is to have him take orders from you, not from himself.
• Walk him away. Gently lead him somewhere else. Breaking his concentration and having him follow you is a good strategy. Then you can work on him focusing his attention on you.
• Have him sit. This is a great way of refocusing his attention to you. Use his favorite treats as an enticement.
• Stand in front of him and step towards him. If he won’t listen, block his vision from the stimuli and step towards him. Show him you are in charge and that he should listen, but don’t use force it is not necessary.
• Gently tug on the lead. There is no need to yank on the leash, just a light tug to obtain his attention. If he doesn’t listen with the first tug, gently tug the leash in rapid succession, it’s the equivalent of yelling “hey” to someone a few times. Remember: Don’t Yank, it’s not necessary. You wouldn’t normally shove someone to obtain his/her attention, you would gently tap him/her. It’s the same idea. You want him to listen to you, not be in fear of you.
• Reward him. Reward him for making eye contact, reward him for sitting, and reward him for keeping quiet. Over time he will learn to look to you for a cue when a stimuli is present.

Don’t

• Pick-up the dog. I see this all the time, Don’t Do It!. It only reinforces the behavior, especially if your dog enjoys being picked up. Think about it from the dog’s point of view- Every time I bark, she picks me up. I like this.
• Hold or pet the dog. Again like the first point, by touching your dog with a “positive” touch such as petting, patting, or coddling, you are reinforcing the behavior. They believe you are approving of their behavior, because it triggers a positive result in their mind- I bark. You pet me. I will keep barking.
• Ignore your barking dog. By ignoring your barking dog you are not changing the behavior, you may be disturbing others, and you are creating an ill mannered dog. Also, you are reinforcing the behavior, because it is likely that the object of your dog’s barking will leave the scene. This simply reinforces the behavior- when I bark, what I am barking at goes away. So I will bark again.

These are just a few steps to help you and your barking dog. If you are having trouble with your dog’s behavior, remember there are professionals that can help you and your dog build a stronger relationship based on trust not fear.