Food

There are many brands and types of food available for you to feed your pet.  Here are some tips about food.

1.  Some dogs need weight management food to keep them from getting overweight.  Select the right type of food for your dog and exercise regiment (puppy, adult, active, aging, large breed).

2.  Check the ingredients.  The primary ingredients are listed in order on the nutrition label.  It is better for chicken to be listed first than sixth if you want quality chicken for your dog's diet.  "Chicken meal" is not the same as chicken.  It is a hodge podge of left over chicken parts blended together, not pure chicken.  If you want quality, make sure chicken is listed before chicken meal.

3.  Read the directions.  Feed your dog the appropriate amount of food.  Each variety will require a different quantity of food for your dog based on weight.  I recommend feeding twice a day and avoid feeding right before or after strenuous activity.  Always make sure there is plenty of water for your dog to wash down dinner.

Dog Parks

Many dog owners (and even more dogs) love to visit dog parks for fun, exercise and socialization.  Having experienced dog parks for the first time over the past year I have learned some tips and tricks to share with you.

Be a responsible owner

This isnt a time for you to go sit in the shade and zone out.  You need to watch your dog.  Make sure everyone is playing nice and discipline your dog if necessary.

Pick up waste.  Dog parks can get really gross with all the traffic if waste is just left on the ground and nobody wants it on the bottom of our shoes.  Speaking of shoes, wear them, not sandals, just in case.

At the same time, dont hover. Chance are, your dog is way more excited than you to be at a dog park and probably faster than you.  Hopefully your dog has basic obedience skills but realize that they wont always be on their best behavior with all the excitement happening at the park.  Let dogs sniff each other.  It is ok to let your dog interact naturally with other dogs even though it's not how we would act.

Socialize.  There are not just dogs at dog parks.  Meet other owners, especially if your dogs like to play together.  Check out this parody video about some of the people you meet at dog parks.  Just don't turn into any of them.

The 6 People You See at Every Dog Park -- powered by Cracked.com

Hygeine

One important thing you need to know about owning a dog is that there are important chores your dog is depending on for health and happiness.  Most people are ok feeding and walking, maybe even brushing their dogs and enrolling in basic obedience training.  Some things that people might not realize, or forget to do:

1. Brush teeth
2. Clean ears
3. Clip nails
4. Check for ticks
5. Pick up waste

Ask your vet for some tips and your dog will thank you for it.  Please remember if you have or are getting a dog to do the little things that make a big difference for a happy pet.