Food, Glorious Food

The answer on how to serve your dog food may be a glaringly obvious one but if you are feeding all or part of your dogs food in a bowl, only small or medium dogs should eat with their bowl directly on the floor. Dogs of Labrador height or larger should be fed with their bowl at shoulder height and on a stand. This can aid the movement of the food to the dogs stomach and prevent gastric dilation.

Unlike humans who have to chew their food to get the digestive juices flowing, the dogs digestive juices do not start to flow until the food reaches the stomach. Dogs therefore gulp their food down and as a consequence take in large amounts of air as they eat.

With the larger dog if his food is placed on the floor then the food has to travel upwards first before it heads downwards to the stomach and so he takes in even more air. For similar reasons it is always better to feed your adult dog twice a day rather than give him one huge meal. Puppies of course will be fed between 4 and 6 times a day to begin with. If you are feeding your dog a natural diet then most of the dogs food will be outside on the ground and the dog will lie down to eat it.,save the feeding stand for the raw meat,vegetables etc.

With regard to giving your dog Tit bits, remember that dogs cannot digest refined sugar. Do not give them biscuits, or snack food made for human consumption. Tit bits should be reserved for training exercises where they should be the branded type or small pieces of apple or cheese. NEVER give your dog chocolate that is designed for humans and that goes for dark chocolate especially. It contains a substance called Theo bromine which is a bitter white crystalline alkaloid related to caffeine and Cocoa. It is a heart stimulant and could cause your dog serious problems. Theo bromine is also found in cocoa shell mulch, the type of mulch that is used for many pot plants so be aware that any potted plants that you buy may also present a real danger to your dog.

So how much food do we feed our puppy or adult dog.

As a rough guide he should be having about 20 percent of his total target body weight in food over one week. To begin with use your common sense and either decrease or increase the amount depending on hos the puppy is growing or the dogs weight. Once a dog is fully grown you will have to level out the amounts and may have to reduce them.

Boston Terrier Eye Problems

Those buggy eyes are cute, but they can develop eye problems. Some of the Boston Terrier eye problems can include, but are not limited to cataracts, corneal ulcers and environmental irritation. Another eye difficulty that can affect Boston Terriers is an affliction known as Cherry Eye.

Most incidences of cataracts are inherited. Juvenile cataracts may appear between ages one to four, while late-onset cataracts can occur slowly as the dog ages. Cataracts can lead to blindness, but not always. When your Boston Terrier gets older, they can develop other health problems, such as diabetes, which can also cause cataracts. Things to watch for are bluish, grey or white flecks in the eye. In some cases, surgery may be possible to correct cataracts.

Another common Boston Terrier eye problem is corneal ulcers. These may develop through irritation of the eyes from particles in the environment or from other internal eye health issues that cause infection and irritation. Injury of the eye is a common cause of corneal ulcers as well.

The best prevention of corneal ulcers is to protect your Boston Terrier's eyes. Anything that could potentially scratch or cause injury to the eye, such as a sharp plant spikes, cat's claws or using strong household chemical cleansers near your dog should be avoided.

Boston Terrier's eyes can be susceptible to problems when exposed to harsh elements, such as sun and wind. Allowing her to have her head out the window while you are driving should be avoided. If you are going to be in sunny, windy or dusty conditions, consider getting a pair of dog goggles for your furry friend.

Cherry Eye can look similar to a tumor in the eye, as it is usually a bright red mass protruding out of the eye. It is caused by a gland popping out of its normal position. Boston Terriers have a third eyelid where this gland is located. Once the gland pops out, it swells up outside the eye, causing the unsightly cherry eye. This needs to be corrected surgically, but it is a fairly common procedure and most veterinarians would be familiar with it.

Keep a close watch for Boston Terrier eye problems. This is not meant to diagnose any eye condition. If your dog exhibits any symptoms of discomfort, is rubbing her eyes, or the eyes are red or discolored, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Things You May Need to Know When Training a Labrador Puppy

There are many things people do not understand about training their puppy. When you train your puppy to be an obedient dog, it gives you control and they always seem to be a much happier pup. Things you may need to know on training a Labrador puppy as simple and can be fun. Puppies are not born to know right from wrong and when they do something that is fun to them (like digging in the garbage) they do not understand nor do they know that this is wrong, unless they are taught that.

From the first day they are born they are constantly being taught how to feed, play, and defend themselves. Their mother is their first teacher and also their canine siblings. Then they go on to be with a family and the owner becomes their next leader at that point. Things you need to know on training a Labrador puppy are, one that you need to be consistent with your lessons and different commands. The more you willing to work with your puppy the more obedience you will see. You may want to watch your puppy closely to see when he or she is getting into mischief. By doing this you are taking control over the situation immediately and you are correcting their behavior.

Another thing you may need to know on training a Labrador puppy is to reward their good behavior. When you reward them when do something that they have been taught you are letting them know that they are doing something good and this behavior will indeed be repeated. My suggestion is to always have a treat handy. See. Our commands to a puppy make no sense at all. They learn them by our hand movements and signals and even the tone of voice we use.