How to Buy a Dog Food Bowl? Stupid Question Right?

By Neha Huft

Buying dog food bowls online may seem like a very easy task, but is actually quite a difficult one. Just like you need to measure your dog's neck before buying a collar, you have to consider a few important things before buying a food bowl.

Breed of your dog

If you have a small dog, for example, a Chihuahua or a Lhasa Apso, you would need to buy a small bowl. If you have a dog with long ears, for example a Basset Hound or a Cocker Spaniel, then you would need to buy bowls with high stands so that they don't dirty their ears while they eat! Other than buying food bowls for your home, you also need to buy travel bowls for your pet.

Age of your pup

Other than the breed of your dog, you also need to consider his or her age while buying a food bowl. If your dog has become old, then you would need to buy a bowl with a shallow end. This will make it easier for your dog to approach the bowl and to eat from it. If your dog has recently been through a surgery then you would need to buy a bowl with a stand. On the other hand, if you have a very active young dog or a puppy, you would need to buy stainless dog bowls with rubber bands under them, to avoid food from spilling all over the floor.

Other than all these, you also need to consider the type of pattern you would like on the bowl, the colour, the size and the quantity.

Buying dog travel bowls is a different story altogether. You need to make sure that they are portable, are anti-skid, anti-leak, anti-spillage and if possible, foldable or collapsible. Like regular dog food bowls, these too come in different sizes and colours. They are meant for serving both food and water and can be carried anywhere. Some travel bowls come with a heater so that the food inside never gets cold. These usually cost much more than regular travel bowls but they make sure that your dog gets to eat warm and nutritious food. Heated travel bowls for serving water are available as well. Some travel bowls can contain both food and water together and are divided into compartments for this purpose. These are ideal for long journeys, outdoor picnics or camping. They also make for great gifts!

Never buy plastic dog food bowls as most of them are made of very cheap quality material and get damaged very easily. Buying dog bowls made of stainless steel is the best idea. Buying the latter is the best way to avoid spilling and wasting of food. Nobody likes a kitchen with dog kibbles strewn all over.
The bowl you buy for your pet should have a wide opening so that your dog is forced to eat slowly. If you a buy a bowl with a deep end and a narrow opening, then this will only encourage him or her to eat as fast as possible. Serving food in a bowl which has a wide opening and is heavy at the bottom encourages your pet to eat slowly.

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Pets: Taking Care of Your Pets

Now that you've brought your new friend home, it's time for the fun part -- and the hard part! This is your chance to really prove to your parents, yourself, and your pet that you're a responsible guardian.

It's a lot to live up to, but don't worry-you can do it! All you need to know is what your pet's needs are, then meet them. Basically, most pets rely on us for:

Food

• Be sure you know the diet and feeding schedule of your new pet. Get information from your veterinarian or the pet store.
• Most animals need to be fed once or twice a day. Sometimes baby animals need to be fed more.
• Don't ever give your pet table scraps -- people food (especially chocolate!) can make most animals sick.
• Introduce changes to food or feeding time gradually -- food changes can be stressful for an animal.
• Feed your pets in a quiet, protected place, so they feel safe and comfortable when they eat.

Water

• Make sure your pet has plenty of clean, fresh water.
• Water should be changed at least twice a day.
• If your pet is a fish or turtle and lives in water, be sure to clean the tank at least once a week.

Shelter

• Your pet needs a place to call home -- whether that's a tank, cage, or doghouse.
• If your dog or cat spends a lot of time outdoors, make sure shelter is available at all times. Shelter keeps pets protected from cold, wind, and rain in the winter and from the harsh hot sun in the summer.
• Even if your pet spends most of the day outdoors, he should sleep indoors at night. This will protect him from cars, bad weather, and animals such as coyotes that will attack pets.
• When it comes to shelter, remember that animals who are treated like part of the family are better-adjusted and will be more closely bonded to you. And after all, your pet IS part of your family, right?

Potty

• All animals need a place where they can go to the bathroom. Unless you're able to train them to use the toilet, cats need a litter box, gerbils need a cage, and dogs need to go outside or in a special lined area.
• Make sure you create a safe place for your pet's bathroom needs and -- this is REALLY important -- clean it regularly! After all, think about how gross it is to use a toilet that doesn't flush.
• If you have a dog and live in an apartment with no yard, you need to make sure your dog is walked often. If he goes in a public place, be sure to pick it up and dump it in a trashcan.

Exercise

• Dogs need plenty of exercise. Physical activity keeps them healthy, happy, and fit. Make sure you walk, run, hike, or play fetch with your dog every day. Not only is exercise good for your pup, but it's good for you, too!
• Cats, especially if they live indoors, also love some quality playtime with you. This is a chance to have fun and get creative with cool cat toys.
• Rodents like hamsters and gerbils will thank you for putting an exercise wheel in their cage to make life a little more interesting.

Grooming

• It's a good idea to brush and comb your pets every day to get rid of loose or shedding hair.
• Poke around to check for fleas, ticks, leaves, and other things that might be tangled in your pet's fur.
• If you can, bathe dogs once a month and cats every few months. But don't overdo it! Too many baths take away the natural oils from a pet's skin and can cause itching or rashes.
• Cats will have fewer hairballs and shed less if they're combed on a regular basis.
• If your pooch has killer doggie breath, try brushing his teeth when you bathe him.

Training, if you have a dog

• Yes, Bowzer is your buddy, but you need to be his boss! If you don't set up rules for him to follow, he may act aggressively and out of control. You don't want your dog dashing into oncoming traffic, jumping on little kids, or growling at your neighbors, right? So you need to set up rules for him to follow and help him follow them.
• You can do this in a very gentle manner without raising your voice or becoming mean. Work with your parents to determine the rules of the house. If there's a "no dogs on the sofa" policy, don't let Spot on the couch the minute your parents leave the room. It's best when all of you work together to teach your new family member how to behave.
• An obedience class is a great way to learn how to speak a dog's language and teach her the rules of your household. But don't expect her to be perfect -- there will be accidents! Just be patient and loving, and eventually the hard work will pay off.

Health care

• Just like we need annual checkups with our doctor and dentist, most pets need regular checkups, too.
• Veterinarians, or animal doctors, check your pet's general health, can answer any questions you might have, and make sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date.
• If you bring home a new dog or cat, you should take him to the vet right away to get checked out.

Love & affection

• Just like people, pets thrive on attention! The more love you give, the more you'll get back.
• Give your pet plenty of hugs, kisses, gentle pats, and love. Okay, so maybe you can't pet a fish, but you can still show you care by talking to it, watching it, and feeding it special treats.

Get your house ready for a new pet
Before you bring a new animal into your home, make sure your house is pet-ready. Take a tour around your home and yard with your parents, using this as a checklist:

• Are there any holes, broken concrete, drains, or swimming pools that your pet could fall into or get stuck in? They need to be fixed before your pet arrives.
• Are there any gaps in the fence, or a broken gate, that might allow your new pet to get out of your yard?
• Are there any poisons, like snail bait, antifreeze, or other toxic chemicals just sitting out? These things are super-poisonous to animals. Make sure containers are stored away in locked cupboards far out of reach.
• Check for dangling electrical cords in the house or outside. Puppies, kittens, and rodents love to chew them, thinking they're toys. Cover cords or tape them down with industrial tape.
• How about your toys? Do you have any Legos or other small pieces lying around that an animal could choke on? Keep your things out of reach of little paws.
• What about stuff that breaks? If you don't want something to get knocked over or stepped on -- maybe your mom's valuable vase or your favorite model airplane -- put it up high or away for a little while.

Pet "Don'ts"

• Don't use insect sprays and weed killers around your pets or allow antifreeze to spill in any area where pets hang out. If animals get poisons on their fur or paws, then lick themselves, they can get very sick or even die.
• Never leave a pet alone in a car on a hot day-even with the windows cracked open. Temperatures can go up quickly and cause an animal to overheat, which is sometimes fatal.
• Don't ever feed your pet chocolate, no matter how much they might beg. Dogs can't digest chocolate and can die from eating too much.
• Don't let your dog wander the neighborhood without you. She could get lost, hurt, or catch a disease from another animal. Always keep her on a leash when in public areas, like a park or busy street.
• Never give pets human medicine. Keep all medicines -- human or pet -- out of your pet's reach.

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Pet Insurance Vpi - Insuring Your Pet – Why Is It Important?

Pet lovers know that their pets are an integral part of their lives and their families. Holidays and family outings are made more memorable when we take our pets along for company. It therefore becomes very painful if our pet falls ill, breaks any of its bones or needs constant medical supervision due to an illness like cancer. As the pet owner, the responsibility falls on us to get the best veterinary care and bear the costs associated with the treatments.

Advancements in veterinary science have made all kinds of treatments possible to cure your pets. At the same time this technology demands compensation in the form of thousands of dollars. In such a situation what you need is pet insurance. Pet insurance guarantees that the medical expenses incurred on your pets is met by the insurance company partly or in whole. Some pet insurance policies also cover annual pet checkups and immunizations. It all depends on the type of policy you select. Insurance costs can begin as low as $10 with incident costs being in the range of around $40.

The top reasons to go in for pet insurance are:

• Bears the cost of medical expenses – Needless to say, that this is the primary objective of pet insurance. You have insurance to fall back on when you take your pet to the vet. All pet insurance policies can be used at any registered vet's clinic. So you need not compromise by taking your pet to any clinic. You can visit your own vet and be at peace.

• Insuring multiple pets – Most pet insurance companies give you a discount if you have more than one pet and give you a package insurance deal. This not only brings down the cost of maintaining and taking care of your pets but also saves you thousands of dollars in pet medical expenses

• Taking care of tomorrow – As time passes, your pet becomes older and prone to more illnesses. Pet insurance comes handy in such a situation. Getting your pet insured when it is very young ensures coverage for accidents and diseases which may occur at a later stage.

• Inflation shield – Pet insurance acts as a shield due to rising prices in the economy. Medical expenses which may seem affordable now will look enormous after a couple of years. The years gone by will also bring your pet closer to you and you would not want to lose it when it is ill and old just because you cannot meet its medical expenses.

• Peace of mind – Pet insurance gives you the peace you always sought when you bought your first pet and wondered how you will deal with any medical emergencies that may arise when your pet needs medical care or taking care of the vaccinations and checkups. Pet insurance makes having a pet more affordable and truly keeps your pet protected for a rainy day.

So if you are one of those pet owners who really love your pet and want to take care of them till the very end, pet insurance is an attractive and affordable solution.

Pet Insurance Vpi - Insuring Your Pet – Why Is It Important?

The Role Leadership Plays In Your Dog's Training

The Role Leadership Plays In Your Dog's Training
By George Faulkner
For a very long time pet dog owners and trainers thought that you ought to instruct your pet dog by using alpha theory strategies and overall obedience training and that this simulated the Alpha's duty in wolf packs and that is the best ways to train a dog.
Fortunately times have improved and lots of research have been done with wolves and their functions within the pack and since then the training has actually moved to a more teach by leadership style technique which is much better for the dog and you.
Years ago your pet dog was trained so that you needed to stroll through doorways first or your pet dog should always stroll behind you on walks due to the fact that it was testing your alpha leadership from the dog, or they weren't allowed on furnishings or beds full stop as just the alpha did that and had these possessions.
Well luckily nowadays things have actually taken a turn for the better and we have a better understanding of how pet dogs work and training is more based upon leadership skills instead of supremacy or alpha positioning. In the house it is perfectly appropriate for your pet dog to lay on the sofa or chair so long as it understands that when you want to sit down there and ask it to move then it moves.
Walking through entrances is only relevant for the front door and only for security factors as you do not want your pet dog going out into the road and causing an accident, I do not stand up from my chair each time my pet dog gets up and moves to the door to go into the kitchen or hallway it is absurd to do that each time since you believe you need to.
Everything boils down to leadership from within, if you are consistent and firm as well as reasonable too in addition to being positive in what you do then your pet dog will respect you as the leader and follow your guidance all the time, it is a match made in heaven if you can achieve this function. In the wolf pack a strong leader is always calm and peaceful and will certainly command authority by using a soft growl or a glance and from body movement not by battling with or barking at the other wolves.
It is difficult when you take your pet dog to dog training classes for the instructor to deal with all of these concerns with your dog when there are 8-10 other dogs in the exact same place too attempting to obtain the leadership they desire from the owner. This is why dog training is so difficult as various types of pet dog were developed for different duties in life such as herding or securing and even recovering animals so to attempt to instruct them all the same in one group is going to be impossible with their differing needs.
Also another huge stumbling block with training pet dogs is that commonly it is not the dog that needs training it is the owners and this is much more difficult to achieve than training a dog, so to totally understand the dog and what it needs from training you have to understand the owners too, no mean feat either.
The hereditary difference between pet dogs and wolves is simply 0.04 % which appears very little difference but it is enough to guarantee that the pet dog and wolf continue to be poles apart simply as we do from apes, nevertheless dogs can still do wolf like behavior much as we "monkey around" often it does not make them wolves or us monkeys, that is a big difference. Another distinction is in bite power of a wolf which is in the area of a tremendous 1500lb per square inch or 680kg where as a dog can vary from 250kg up to 500+ kg for a mastiff type of dog. In any case it injures you if you get clamped by the jaws of a dog and would quickly break bones in your hand too however the wolf has a far more powerful bite due to the make up of the head and teeth compared with domesticated pet dogs.
One part of the alpha concept of training was that if your dog licks your mouth region it wants you to regurgitate food for them when in fact it has been revealed that this action in domesticated pet dogs is purely a greeting or communication from them.
Other areas of training that have actually changed over the years is the use of different types of collars such as the shock collar or pronged collar which are barely made use of or even mentioned in today's training world as they do nothing to positively gain respect or trust from a pet dog, simply injure it if it doesn't do that which you require of it. The term positive reinforcement is made use of today to get dogs to do exactly what is required of them and negative reinforcement backs this up too, the requirement for hitting or scolding dogs is not made use of in training and if it is where you are then avoid these training sessions.
Likewise the length of training has changed too as we now understand that pet dogs just have a short attention span just like children therefore training lessons are nowadays kept to around 20 or so minutes at a time or the pet dog just loses interest in it.
It is often like teaching our children when training a dog as kids get all stressed out and toss things around and what do we do? We sit and wait up until they calm down then start once again and it is precisely the exact same in the dog world too merely wait for them to cool down and start once more which is a lot easier than losing your patience with them and getting nowhere.
Nowadays trainers are more ready to adopt the holistic all over technique to training as well as coping with their pet dogs which is including an understanding of the pet dog and its habits and we are more easily acceptable to a few of the dog's behaviour problems than we were even 10 years ago. A lot of dogs nowadays don't want to be the alpha dog in the home they simply desire leadership and direction and they are pleased, yes they might try the limits every now and then however don't your children do that too? Most of the unwanted behavioural concerns we see today are from a misconception of pet dogs and aggravation at them.
Another part of the old alpha theory for training that has changed is food time. The old methods used to say you needed to eat first as alpha and appear like you are eating out of the dogs food bowl otherwise they may attempt to take over as alpha if you don't do this.
Well my pet dogs do not bother with my food or my kids' food either, they are fed when they come back from their walks, not instantly but about 30-40 minutes afterwards as this is hassle-free for us as a family, now we have actually had our dogs for 2 years or more so if they were going to make a play for the alpha role they would have done it before now as well as attempted to eat of our plates which they do not do either.
They do not do this due to the fact that I am not the alpha, there is no such thing in this house, I am the leader who directs them, all of them when they need it and I like to make use of the very same sort of strategies I made use of with our 5 kids growing up and testing each other sometimes or pressing boundaries, The term "Super Nannying" is used a lot for youngsters and I take a look at this phrase to be what I and the rest of the household do with our 3 dogs, we nanny them. Keep in mind that youngsters don't challenge you when growing up they test you which is what your pet dog is doing too, testing you and how you deal with these tests is going to define your relationship with your pet dog simply as with your children.
There are 16 Parts that make up being a good leader for your dog and these are

• Never ever raise your voice
• Keep calm in all scenarios
• Evaluate each situation and adjust accordingly
• Question exactly what you, not the dog is doing wrong and exactly what you need to do to alter it
• Never ever use physical violence
• Never make use of harsh devices or equipment or punishment
• Be open to new approaches and alter strategies
• Be patient
• Want to resolve your shortcomings and constraints
• Be positive and definitive
• Use body and facial language wherever possible
• Never subject your dog to situations that are too much for it to manage (stress)
• Recognise your dogs natural instinct and allow some natural habits from the breed.
• Be proactive and an issue solver.
• Be considerate to our dog- they will offer you respect back.
• Be flexible.

If you can follow these as much as possible you will be well on your journey to being an excellent leader for not just your pet dog but in your very own life too.
If you want to find out more on The Role of Alpha and Leadership Skills then check out http://codyscorner.club or download our free app on http://tinyurl.com/kx4bcnc
Cody's Corner is a website dedicated to bringing you knowledge about all facets of dogs and their wellbeing, care and habits along with training. Using articles and videos to get the material to you.
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