Archive for the ‘Dog Facts’ Category

The Science Behind Staring Into Your Dog’s Eyes – A Magical Bond

Posted on: September 18th, 2024 by Asia

SUMMARY: Making eye contact with your dog’s eyes can do more than melt your heart—it actually strengthens your bond by synchronizing your brain activity with theirs, enhancing social and emotional connections. This fascinating insight could also explain why therapy dogs are so effective. Want to know how simple eye contact can transform your relationship with your furry friend? Read on or listen to the full article below.

Listen to the Full Article 🎧

Have you ever looked into your dog’s eyes and felt a deep, unspoken connection? Science says that a bond is more than just a feeling.

A groundbreaking study from the journal Advanced Science reveals that when we engage in bonding activities with our dogs, like eye contact and petting, something extraordinary happens—our brains sync up!

How Eye Contact with a Dog’s Eyes Strengthens the Human-Dog Bond: The Science Behind It

Using a technique called dual-EEG, researchers measured brain activity in both humans and dogs at the same time. What they found is mind-blowing: our brains literally “talk” to each other during these moments of connection.

This synchronization, known as interbrain coupling, happens mostly in the parts of the brain responsible for social interaction and attention, like the frontal and parietal lobes.

And guess what? We lead the way, with our dogs following along. It’s almost like we’re guiding them through this neurological dance.

But here’s where it gets even more fascinating. This connection can grow stronger the more time we spend with our pups.

Eye contact, in particular, seems to play a crucial role.

And while we all know that dogs are great emotional support companions, this research suggests that the bond we feel with them may have real, neurological foundations.

Unlocking the Secrets of Interbrain Coupling: The Deep Connection Between Humans and Dogs

The study even ventured into autism research by exploring dogs with mutations in the SHANK3 gene, which is linked to autism in humans. These dogs had trouble syncing their brains with humans, similar to how people with autism struggle with social cues.

And in a surprising twist, researchers found that LSD temporarily restored brain synchronization in these dogs, though this area of study is still in its infancy.

This incredible discovery opens the door to many possibilities, from understanding therapy dogs to exploring how our pets help with anxiety, PTSD, and more.

Conclusion: Embrace the Bond!

So, next time your dog locks eyes with you, take a moment to appreciate the deep connection you’re sharing. It’s not just love; it’s science.

By engaging in these bonding moments—whether it’s petting, playing, or simply gazing into your dog’s eyes—you’re strengthening a neurological bond that runs deeper than we ever thought.

Let’s cherish these moments and keep building that amazing human-dog connection, because it turns out, “man’s best friend” is a title that’s rooted in both heart and brain!

Now, go give your dog some extra love—you’re not just making them happy, you’re syncing your minds!

– Asia
Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com Since 2008

Asia

Asia Moore has been dog whispering for 40+ years, and along with K-9 Super Heroes Dog Whispering team members Jim and Boris the dog, offers insights about dog behaviour and psychology and their relationships with their humans! Many humans don’t realize that they could have a much happier life with their canine counterparts. You don’t have to live with the embarrassment of behavioral problems because with just a little dog whispering, everyone can live a happy, stress-free life together. ^..^

Can Humanizing Your Dog Be Harmful?

Posted on: December 14th, 2023 by Asia

So many people are excessively humanizing their pets, and none more so than our canine counterparts.

For instance, you see cute, little humanizing sayings everywhere, such as “Dogs Are People Too”, “I’m Family”, and “Dogs are Children in Fur Clothes”, just to quote a few.

Such as movies portraying dogs and cats as conversational, intelligent, puzzle-solving, clothed, miniature human-like creatures, etc.

How Can Humanizing Your Dog Be Harmful?

Generally speaking, the more you humanize your dog, the more likely your dog may be suffering from psychological problems that manifest themselves through your dog acting out in ways unacceptable to us humans.

Many behavioral problems can arise as a result of too much humanizing, including anxiety, barking, aggressiveness, obsessiveness, nervousness, confusion, fear, and more because the dog, try as it might, doesn’t have the capacity to turn itself into a fur human any more than we humans have the capacity to turn ourselves into hairless canines.

We love our dogs, but perhaps we humans need to ask ourselves how much we love dogs, as opposed to how much we want our dogs to change themselves into furry humans that also retain the loyal, unconditional loveable dog characteristics that attracted us to them in the first place.

Perhaps we humans need to exercise a little more understanding of how our excessive humanizing may actually be harmful to our dogs and instead of trying so hard to turn them into perfect little humans, we need to respect them for the wonderful dogs they are and all that being a dog actually means.

– Asia
Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com Since 2008

Asia

Is Dog Stress Killing Your Best Fur Friend?

Posted on: December 12th, 2023 by Asia

We’ve all heard about how stress can kill humans, but have any of us humans ever stopped to consider how dog stress is also taking its toll on our beloved canine population?

Once we humans decided to domesticate dogs, remove from all they previously knew and fully integrate them into our immediate environment, they have become affected by all our human foibles and diseases, which includes a mountain of stress.

In many cases, we have unknowingly created situations that are unnatural to our dogs whom we now expect to function as small fur humans and just forget about the true nature of their very being.

There are many humans situations, which seem normal and every day to us humans, that when not approached in a way that the dog can properly comprehend can cause ongoing dog stress for your fur friend that will ultimately shorten your dog’s life.

Dog Stress Situations

There are multiple situations and daily activities in the human world that can cause a great deal of dog stress which the average human may not even be aware of.

When you start to think about how much we have changed the lives of dogs over the centuries and how much we expect them to accept or give up as they become part of a human family, we start to realize that all that is part of our daily routine, is largely foreign to our dogs.

Riding in Vehicles

Many dogs are just expected to blindly accept that they will ride about in vehicles, and for many of our fur friends, this simple transportation system that has been part of our human daily lifestyle for a very long time, and which we don’t even think about, if not introduced properly can be a big dog stress.

The Little Things

What we humans think of as simple, little things, such as nail clipping and bath time can cause much dog stress.

In the wild, dogs don’t need their nails trimmed because they wear them down naturally from all their daily motion, but when they come to live with us, we are much more sedentary than the average dog, therefore our dogs don’t get the exercise they need, and thus their nails grow too long, so require regular trimming.

When your dog is not properly introduced to a nail clipping routine, this process than cause traumatic dog stress so severe that your dog will do anything to avoid the procedure.

In the wild, dogs don’t take baths, but instead they run through streams and puddles, swim in lakes and oceans, and they never have to mask their natural scent with lovely human fragrances so that they are more agreeable to the humans.

No Job – No Exercise

Dogs are natural born athletes who, in order to stay healthy, need to move at a pace much faster than the average human is capable of.

Over the centuries our dogs have worked outside with us, providing valuable services to help us get through our daily grind, but today, many of our dogs are confined, must stay indoors all day long and just don’t get the exercise or mental stimulation they need. This causes a great deal of dog stress.

Victoria’s very own Dog Whispering team is concerned that the majority of the Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island dog population is suffering from stress overload that could very easily lead to an early death for many beloved canine companions.

The K-9 Super Heroes Dog Whispering team believes that the majority of dogs are not receiving the leadership they need from their humans resulting in many stressed, unhappy dogs acting out in noisy, destructive and dangerous ways.

The K-9 Super Heroes team says that an out of control dog not only disrupts the household and puts children and adults in a potentially harmful situation, the stressful, ripple effect is also felt throughout the entire neighbourhood.

Of course, our fur friends can be easily integrated into our human lifestyle and learn to accept many unnatural situations without the stress than can shorten their lives once the humans understand that there are many things they can do to help extend the lives of their best friends.

How Do I Know if My Dog is Stressed?

There are many different ways that dogs display their stress, with the more common indications being excessive excitement, panting, barking, pulling, lunging, growling and aggressive behavior towards other dogs and humans.

Not only do the above behaviors put a tremendous stress load onto the dog, the result of which can shorten your best friend’s life.

Even worse, if left unchecked these types of unstable behaviors can escalate to such a degree that your best friend may hurt someone and be sentenced to an early death.

Also, the family that doesn’t know how to rehabilitate these unwanted behaviors may feel forced into making the decision to remove their dog to a local pound or rescue organization, which may also result in early death.

The K-9 Super Heroes Dog Whispering team is often called upon to show humans how to stop this unwanted behavior and bring peace to the neighbourhood.

Help your dog live a stress-free, happy life. If you need help, please contact us today.

– Asia
Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com Since 2008

Asia

Dogs Are…Love, Helpers, Companions, Great Listeners, Fitness Coaches

Posted on: November 22nd, 2023 by Asia

Even though, when you ask most humans why they have a dog, their spontaneous response is usually “for companionship”, there may actually be far more subtle reasons we humans aren’t even aware of that speak to the many human needs that might be left unfulfilled if we were unable to share our lives with a furry friend.

Executive Pet Sitting / Dog Sitting Service

“Companionship and affection and they never get grumpy” “Because I’ve always had them and I love them and they’re a calming effect in our lives. They comfort me and my wife.”

We asked some of our clients and strangers, too:

“What’s your number one reason for having a dog in your life?”

Here are some of the spontaneous comments we gathered…

Isn’t it so very interesting that many of us humans, even those who are married and have children in their families, and lots of friends, seem to have dogs in our lives for “companionship”, “love” and “affection”? Beyond these very important aspects of our human lives, perhaps our dogs are so much more than we even realize.

Dogs Are Our Helpers

We wouldn’t be where we are in society today without the help of many working breed dogs that helped us humans in so many ways. If us humans had a need, we could find (or create) a dog that would provide the answer.

We have working dogs for herding, hunting, guarding, rescuing, policing, bomb detection, drug sniffing, border patrol, emergency response, service for the handicapped, therapy for nursing homes, rehabilitation and detention centers.

Dog Training with K-9 Super Heroes Dog Whispering Dog Trainers

“Companionship.” “Because my husband wanted one. I grew up with cats and he wanted a dog.”

Dogs Are Faithful Companions

In today’s society, for the most part, while our dogs still play a vital role in many areas of our human lives, we don’t require our dogs to work the herds and guard our fields alongside of us like they used to, and thus our dogs are more often fulfilling the part of faithful companion for many of us humans.

Dogs Are Great Listeners

No matter how busy our spouses, children or friends may be and how crazy busy our daily lives, our dogs are always there, waiting to sit quietly and listen to anything we have to say, blindly accepting everything we are – whether good, bad, or otherwise, without passing judgment.

Dogs Are Our Fitness Coaches

We humans go to great lengths buying memberships at our local gymnasiums, driving to the local fitness center, buying the latest exercise DVD’s and lugging home the best, new exercise devices, when our dogs are the very best fitness coaches, always waiting and willing to go for a walk, a hike in the park a swim in the lake, a run along the shoreline. If we humans would just listen to our dogs, who are all natural athletes, follow their example and get out there, we’d all be healthy and fit.

“I fostered her and my husband fell in love with her and I kept her for him.

Dogs Are Giving Without Expectation

Our dogs give so much of themselves to us every single day.

They wait patiently for us to be finally ready to take them for a walk.

They let us dress them up in silly clothes, and style their coats in ways pleasing to human fashion.

They learn how to do tricks because it makes us humans happy and they follow our commands the best they can because they always want to please us.

All of this and so much more, yet they don’t “expect” anything in return other than to be with us. Margery Facklam (award winning Children’s Science author) could not have been more correct when she said, “We give dogs time we can spare, and love we can spare. In return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.”

Dog Sitting / Pet Sitting in Victoria, Langford, Colwood, Oak Bay, BC

“For affection – the dogs give me affection and I give them affection.” “Because they make me laugh every day and remind me about the really important things in life.”

Dogs Are Unconditional Love

If we’re lucky in our human relationships, we may find that elusive “unconditional love” and acceptance we’re all looking for, or we can simply share our lives with a dog and have a guaranteed endless supply.

The canine capacity for unconditional love is likely the biggest reason that dog has become man’s best friend.

Further, when it comes down to displaying unfettered love and affection, a dog can always outdo us humans without even working at it because he or she is born with it.

Think of all those times you’ve had a trying day, you’re a complete grouch, you ignore your dog, and show him no love or affection whatsoever. Does he hold this against you or ignore you back?

Of course not. He waits patiently for you to decide you’re ready to be social again, and then is just happy that you are there. When it comes to unconditional love, our dogs win hands down.

“To rescue him from homelessness, or from being unwanted by his previous owner”.

Dogs Are Joy

Dogs are always showing us the joy in everyday things that us busy humans often don’t take the time to even notice. If we slow down just a bit and watch, we can enjoy vicarious, spontaneous joy through our dogs.

Dogs live for the moment, and when you have a dog in your life, you can learn this, too.

A dog appreciates every fine moment of each new day and doesn’t complain about it, and we can certainly follow their lead and learn to be grateful for all that we have.

When we learn to live our lives more fully in the present, we naturally have more enthusiasm, less worry and a more simplified joy for life, just like our dogs.

Dogs Are Keeping Us Young

Dogs are always ready and waiting to give us an opportunity to be silly and child-like any time we feel like it, which is a side of grown up and responsible adults that we most often don’t allow ourselves to experience with our peers.

“Because taking care of them helps me enjoy a better quality of life.”

Dogs Are Our Connection With Nature

Dogs are always reminding us that there’s a whole great, big, wide, wonderful world of beautiful nature out there for us to explore that is so much more interesting, educational and spiritually uplifting than sitting in front of our TV’s watching the latest movie, playing the latest video game or chatting on our smart devices.

Dogs are always showing us that we need to take the time to notice all that is growing, living and breathing around us.

Dogs are telling us to pay attention and take the time to appreciate the flowers, smell the ocean breeze, wonder where that bald eagle builds its nest, marvel at how far that tiny hummingbird had to fly to get here.

Our dogs are encouraging us to pause for a moment and watch the most outstanding sunrise and enjoy these many free gifts from nature that expand our minds, bring peace to our souls, and are simply without compare.

“Companionship – they’re interesting – to have something to nurture and because they provide unconditional love.”

Dogs Are Uninhibited

Perhaps our dogs remind us about how great it would be to be so uninhibited and not worry about how others think about our fun, crazy, playful moments, because it’s so much more important to really notice the day and laugh out loud than worry about how we look.

George Evans (Outdoor Essayist and Dog Breeder) captured the essence of the uninhibited dog quite perfectly when he said, “I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better.”

Dogs Are Holistic Medicine

Dogs are truly medicine without the side-effects.

So many of us humans lead very stressful lives, we’re overworked and underpaid, run ragged trying to keep up with our families and friends and because of our fast-paced lifestyles have little, if any, truly “me” time.

This leads us down a path that can cause ill health, which in turn sees us swallowing all sorts of drugs to try to find a way to cope or reach a balance or inner peace that will work for us.

Many times, instead of reaching for the medicine cabinet, what we really need is a peaceful walk with our fur friend, a moment to sit on a park bench or grassy knoll, and watch the clouds roll by, while stroking the soft, stress-reducing fur of our favourite canine.

“For love.”

Loving Companionship

This loving companionship we receive from our dogs is obviously a very special type of companionship that we just don’t get from our human family members or significant others.

Perhaps it’s because humans can be judgmental, have expectations about how you should look and act, and usually have limiting boundaries, which means that no matter how special a relationship you might have with your human counterparts, there are still many social boundaries we feel we must adhere to.

Could it be that the only time we humans feel that we can escape from feeling overwhelmed with our daily lives, when we can experience moments of loving, unconditional companionship where we can totally relax, be 100% ourselves, carefree and connected with our inner child, enjoying the bliss of the simple things in life, where we give ourselves permission to be spontaneous and crazy loving, is not with our children, our friends or our life partners, but rather, it’s that precious time we spend time with our dog(s)?

“Because…!”

Of course, what our dogs bring to our human lives will be special to every dog and personal to each and every one of us humans, as we and our dogs are all individuals with unique needs.

What do you get from YOUR dog that you may not be consciously aware of, because of course, our special dogs are all of the above, and so much more.

– Asia – Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com [Since 2008]

Asia

$250 Dog Poop Trap

Posted on: November 19th, 2023 by Asia

What’s a $250 Dog Poop Trap?

No doubt you’ve heard of a “speed trap”, but for irresponsible dog owners who refuse to pick up after their dogs, what about a “$250. poop trap”?

Sure everyone is more vigilant when they see the local enforcement authorities wandering about in their uniforms, but what if they were in plain clothes and just wandering about at the off-leash park or beach?

It’s a $250. Fine

Perhaps you’re not aware that not picking up after your dog is a substantial $250. fine – that’s more than not having a current dog tag on your fur friend’s collar.

What’s worse is that dog poop is highly toxic and when you don’t pick up, this toxin finds it’s way into our water supplies, and into our homes.

Why might it be a good idea for control officers to blend into society so that they can catch irresponsible owners?

Nobody wants to step in doggy do, and they sure don’t want to smell it when they’re taking a few hours to enjoy the sun and sea at the beach.

None of us conscientious dog owners want to keep on taking the rap for those who think it’s OK to operate outside of the rules of common decency.

I’m sure that all conscientious dog owners have many times seen a big pile of dog poo left on the side of the road in your neighbourhood, or at your local park, and I’m sure that being the conscientious dog owner that you are, you’ve picked up many loads that didn’t come out of your dog, while silently cursing the irresponsible dog owners who makes all the rest look bad.

Pick It Up – It’s the Law

Because there are so many more dogs in homes these days than ever before, this means that sadly there are many more piles of poop not being picked up.

Every time a dog owner does not pick up after their dog, this inaction creates a health hazard and puts all other dog owners in a bad light which broadens the wedge between those who love dogs and those who would rather see them banned from all public places.

As an example, just yesterday when we were pack-waking with our clients as we do every Saturday, the weather was gorgeous and we decided to return to the beach. There were lots of dogs and humans enjoying the sunshine and ignoring their off-leash dogs.

Within a space of just five minutes we saw two dog owners NOT pick up after their dogs.

One young woman actually dug a hole in the beach and buried her dog’s poop under an inch or two of small rocks and when one of our group called her on it, her excuse was that it was better than filling landfills with plastic.

When I replied that most doggy do-do bags are biodegradable, she became belligerent and said, “you look after your dog and I’ll look after mine.”

A minute farther down the beach and we witnessed another dog squeezing out a fresh pile of poop while the two young guys who seemed to be associated were already too far down the beach to ever notice.

We live very near a beautiful little park where we often walk our dog, and inevitably we are picking up after a dog and owner that has long since left the vicinity.

In fact, we seem to pick up far more dog poop from other dogs than from our own.

The Power of Peer Pressure

So what’s the solution to solving this problem before dogs are banned from all public areas?

Conscientious dog owners need to voice their opinions loudly whenever they see someone not picking up, as sometimes it’s a legitimate mistake, but for those who are purposefully not picking up, perhaps a little peer pressure or embarrassment might do the trick.

Of course, it might have the opposite effect and you will get a hail of four-letter words back at you.

No matter if this happens, as the person is really swearing at themselves because they know they are wrong and perhaps unbeknownst to you, they will change their errant ways somewhere down the road.

I say, why not set up poop traps and start making some serious money for the city?

If every time a plain clothes enforcement officer catches someone not picking up they fine the individual $250. wouldn’t you think that this considerable hit to the wallet would have a positive effect on teaching the irresponsible that the rules also apply to them?

If you have a good idea about how to get those dog owners to be more responsible, put it in play, and help all conscientious dog owners make our community a safer, cleaner and all round better place for everyone.

– Asia – Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com [Since 2008]

Asia

Mastering Dog Socialization and Training: Don’t Blame the Dog – Part #2

Posted on: May 31st, 2023 by Asia

Get ready to learn how, from a canine’s perspective, dog socialization and training can make all the difference in creating a happy and well-behaved furry companion.

Dog Socialization

SOCIALIZATION is crucial in helping your dog develop positive behavior towards humans and other animals.

Through proper socialization, your dog can learn to interact appropriately with its surroundings, and everyone in it, making the dog feel relaxed and confident and less prone to fear and anxiety, which can lead to aggressive behavior.

As soon as a young puppy comes home with their new family, they need to begin socializing.

This can be achieved by exposing your dog to different environments, sights, sounds, and situations, including different people, animals, and places, in a controlled and positive manner.

If you wait until a dog is older, before they are introduced to all the normal day-to-day activities in our human world, chances are high that you are going to have to deal with a dog that has behavioral issues.

Get out there and take that puppy everywhere you can think of before they get older and may become nervous or fearful rather than calmly following your lead in every situation.

They need you to teach them that the horse-drawn carriage, the ducks at the petting zoo, or the airplane landing at the airport is all part of a normal day.

Here are Five Quick Dog Socialization Tips to Remember:

Start socializing your puppy early by exposing them to different environments, people, animals, and situations in a controlled and positive manner.
Gradually introduce your dog to new experiences and stimuli to build their confidence and reduce fear or anxiety.
Encourage positive interactions with humans and other animals to foster good behavior and appropriate social skills.
Provide regular opportunities for your dog to meet and interact with a variety of dogs to promote socialization and prevent behavioral issues.
Use positive reinforcement and rewards to reinforce desired behavior during socialization, making the learning process enjoyable for your dog.

Dog Training

TRAINING is another essential aspect of responsible dog ownership that will definitely improve canine behavior and strengthen the bond of trust and respect between you and your furry friend.

By consistently rewarding positive behavior and addressing negative behavior, you can easily teach your dog the three most important basic obedience commands (Come, Sit, Stay) because once learned, these commands will keep them safe in almost every situation.

Then it’s up to you how many more commands or fun tricks you might like to teach.

Training can also help your dog develop impulse control, which is essential in preventing destructive or unexpected and sudden aggressive behavior.

It is essential to remember that training should be a positive and rewarding experience for your dog, that always avoids harsh punishments.

Dogs love to learn and when you use positive reinforcement techniques, the learning will be fun for everyone.

By investing the much-needed time and effort into proper socialization and training, you can ensure that your dog becomes a well-behaved companion that will live a stress-free life as a happy member of their human family.

In conclusion, socialization and training are crucial in fostering positive behavior in dogs.

By exposing your dog to different environments and situations and consistently rewarding positive behavior, you can help your furry friend develop the necessary socialization skills they need to interact appropriately with their surroundings.

Training, on the other hand, is essential for strengthening the bond of trust and respect between you and your dog.

However, dog socialization and training are not the only crucial aspects of responsible canine ownership.

The next blog post will discuss the role of exercise in creating a happy and healthy dog.

If you missed our first “Unraveling Mysterious Canine Behavior: Don’t Blame the Dog – Part #1” article click on the link below. Enjoy!

Unraveling Mysterious Canine Behavior: Don’t Blame the Dog – Part #1

– Asia
Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com Since 2008

Asia

When Your Dog Is a Picky Eater: How to Make Mealtime Fun Again

Posted on: May 11th, 2023 by Asia

As a dog owner, it can be frustrating and concerning when your dog is a picky eater and turns its nose up at mealtime – don’t worry because you’re not alone.

Did you know that over 50% of dogs are picky eaters, and in most cases, their caring owners don’t know why?

That’s right, half of our furry friends refuse to eat their food or need coaxing to do so.

But before you start doctoring their food or free feeding, let’s dive into the truth about picky eaters and how to handle the situation without creating unhealthy habits.

As a dog lover myself, I understand the desire to spoil our pets with tasty treats and table scraps, however, the truth is that picky eating in dogs can lead to behavioral issues and even malnutrition.

In this article, I will explore the common causes of picky eating, the role of taste and smell, the importance of finding the right food for your pup and how not listening to what your dog is telling you may have contributed to picky eating.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to encourage your dog to eat without resorting to unhealthy habits, let’s dive in

Common Causes Your Dog is a Picky Eater

There are a few common causes to consider.

First, it could be a matter of smell.

Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, and if their food doesn’t smell appetizing, they may not want to eat it.

Secondly, it could be a matter of taste.

Dogs, like humans, have taste preferences when it comes to their food.

They may not like the texture, flavor, or even the brand.

Finally, it could be a matter of health.

Your dog knows instinctively what they need to eat to be healthy; or
If your dog is feeling unwell, it may not feel like eating.

So, what can you do if your dog is a picky eater?

Firstly, don’t panic. Your dog will not starve themselves to death.

Secondly, ask yourself if your dog is eating the best food for their health.

Consider different types (raw, freeze-dried, dehydrated, dry kibble) brands, textures, and flavors.

Many dogs have food allergies, and your dog may know better than you that the food you are offering them is not the best for their health.

If you are already feeding a highly nutritious food, you can try adding some healthy toppers, such as cooked chicken, vegetables, or a splash of unsalted, organic bone broth.

You may be feeding too much, or giving too many treats during the day, so your dog is simply not hungry at mealtimes or prefers to wait for more treats they know will soon be coming.

Finally, try to establish a feeding routine, and if they’ve shown no interest within 20 minutes, remove the food and try again at the next feeding time.

They may be more interested in eating if they understand they have a window of opportunity.

Feeding them at the same time every day can help regulate their appetite and ensure they are hungry at mealtime.

If you are concerned that there may be underlying medical conditions causing them to refuse their food, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian.

The Role of Smell and Taste in Dog Food

When a dog is first born, they rely on their sense of smell before anything else, therefore, when it comes to smell and taste, it’s easy to understand why some foods are more appealing than others.

While it’s frustrating when your dog turns their nose up at their usual food, it’s important to understand that there may be simple reasons for this.

If your dog has always been a picky eater, it may simply be a matter of taste preference.

Are you feeding dry kibble? Did you taste it yourself?

Most of these types of food have a minimal smell and little taste.

Consider that if first the food has little enticing smell, and then the taste is also less than appealing, what’s in the food bowl is offering very little incentive unless the dog is really hungry.

In other words, if you want them to enjoy eating their food, it’s important to find the food that your dog finds appealing.

However, always keeps in mind that if your dog has suddenly become a picky eater, and has refused their food for more than 2 or 3 days, this could be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Finding the Right Food for Your Pup

It’s essential to discover the ideal food for your furry friend to ensure they’re getting the proper nutrition they need.

If your dog is all of a sudden being a picky eater, it’s crucial to evaluate its current diet.

Perhaps it’s time to switch things up and find a new type of food that will entice them.

Here are three things to consider when finding the right food for your picky pup:

1. Age: If you have a young puppy who’s a picky eater, it could be a sign of a more significant problem.

A six-month-old puppy that has become a picky eater may need to see a vet to rule out any underlying health concerns.

2. Size: What to feed a picky small dog may differ from what you would feed a larger breed dog.

Small dogs or older dogs may need smaller pieces of kibble or softer food to help them chew and digest their meals.

3. Ingredients: When looking for new food for your furry friend, it’s essential to read the label and really understand the ingredients.

Dogs may have allergies or preferences for certain flavors, so it’s crucial to find a food that works for them.

Tips for Encouraging Your Dog to Eat

Encouraging a pup to eat can be a tricky task, but there are ways to make mealtime more enticing and enjoyable for them.

If your dog is being a picky eater all of a sudden or has always been one, there are a few things you can try.

First, consider changing their diet.

Look for high-quality dog food that is made with real meat and doesn’t contain fillers or artificial preservatives.

Consider a raw food diet that is naturally what they would eat in the wild and has been proven to extend the life of our fur friends.

You can also try adding some wet food or a topper to dry food to make it more appetizing.

If your puppy is a picky eater, try feeding them smaller meals more often throughout the day.

This can help them maintain their weight and keep their energy levels up.

You can also try hand-feeding them their meals to get them more excited about eating.

Another trick is to feed them in a separate room away from the distractions of other pets or people.

And if your picky eater needs to gain weight, consider adding healthy supplements to their meals, such as canned pumpkin or boiled chicken.

If your dog’s picky eating habits persist or are accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, it’s important to take them to the vet for an exam.

More often than not, a dog becomes a picky eater simply because they do not like the food you have chosen to feed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change up my dog’s food to avoid picky eating habits?

I’ve learned that once you find the right food for your dog, no matter their size, so long as you are not over-feeding or giving too many treats and they are receiving adequate exercise throughout their day, they will no longer be picky eaters.

Dogs thrive on routine and familiarity, so focus on finding a high-quality food that your dog enjoys and stick with it.

Remember that dogs won’t starve themselves, and a little competition or hand-feeding can often improve their appetite.

Should I be concerned if my dog regularly skips meals?

As a dog owner, I’ve often wondered if I should be concerned when my furry friend skips meals.

Relax, because dogs won’t let themselves starve, even if they’re picky eaters.

As humans, we tend to fall into the trap of treating our pets like small children who need to eat three meals a day to grow big and strong, but that’s not the case in the dog world.

In fact, free feeding (leaving food out all day as you would for a cat) is not natural for a dog and can actually create behavioral issues.

Hand feeding is another way to show your dog that you are really in control of their food.

If your dog is a picky eater and regularly skips meals, don’t worry too much and trust that they won’t let themselves starve.

Are there any specific breeds that are more prone to picky eating?

I’ve always been curious about whether there are certain breeds that are more prone to picky eating.

While it seems that smaller breeds may be more discerning about their food than others, ultimately any dog can become a picky eater.

Often, we are helping to create a picky eater by free feeding, rather than setting regular food times, feeding too many treats throughout the day, not providing enough daily exercise, or not choosing the right food for our dog.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to understand why dogs may become picky eaters.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly doctoring their food or worrying they aren’t getting enough nutrients, when the truth is often as simple as the dog telling us that they don’t like the food in their bowl, by refusing to eat it.

While they won’t starve themselves to death if there is nothing offered that they actually want to eat (like people) dogs know what they like.

By understanding the common causes of picky eating, such as smell and taste preferences, and finding the right food for your pup, you can encourage them to eat without resorting to unhealthy habits.

With a little patience and understanding of what your dog is trying to tell you when they refuse the food you are offering, you can help them develop healthy eating habits for a happy, long life.

Resource: Newsweek

Asia

Are You Making Your Dog Fat?

Posted on: February 26th, 2013 by Asia

Is your dog fat? Unfortunately, many of our beloved pets are, like their human counterparts, unhealthily overweight.

If your dog is fat, chances are that you could lose a few pounds yourself because a fat dog doesn’t just happen from over-feeding – it’s also because of under-exercising.

Are You Making Your Dog Fat?

Chances are that if your dog is overweight, it means that you’re not giving your best friend enough daily exercise.

Have you taken into consideration the real exercise needs of your dog? Is your best friend naturally energetic, are they a working class of dog, or a breed that requires little exercise to stay healthy?

All dogs are amazing athletes who need to move to be healthy. Interestingly enough, we humans also need to move to be healthy which means for all us dog lovers, that we already have everything we need to shed some excess poundage.

Your dog is there, ready and waiting to go walking and help you both accomplish a healthy weight.

How Can You Tell if Fido is Fat?

There’s a simple test you can do to determine whether your dog is overweight and whether he or she needs to shed a few pounds.

All you need to do is feel around their ribs and spine. If you are unable to easily locate both with only a thin layer of fat between the skin and bones, you have an overweight dog.

Fat Like Us Humans

Sadly, our dogs are following in our footsteps as humanity rushes down that unhealthy path of being overweight or obese.

Make sure you know what your dog’s optimal weight will be once he or she reaches maturity, and check their weight regularly, because, for a dog, just 15% above that ideal weight means your dog is not just fat, it’s obese.

Anything up to a 15% increase means your dog is overweight, and sadly, according to a 2011 study, more than half of our best friends (53%) are overweight or obese.

Of course, this is a direct reflection on how little we humans are getting out there to exercise with our dogs because generally speaking, if Fido or Fifi is overweight, so are you.

Is It Genetic?

While some dog breeds do tend to gain weight more easily, this just means that these breeds require much more exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight, and humans should take this into consideration when deciding to share their homes with these breeds.

Simply because a certain breed may have tendencies to gain weight more quickly than others, is not a good excuse for allowing this to happen because you are ultimately responsible for making your dog fat.

Which Breeds Can Be Prone to Obesity?

While we know that some breeds are known for being typically slim, such as Yorkshire Terriers, Greyhounds, Whippets, and German Shepherds, there are other breeds that can be prone to obesity, including Cairn Terriers, Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers, Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Shar-Peis, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands, and St. Bernards.

If you share your home with one of the breeds that may have a tendency to be overweight or obese, you need to get out there and exercise with your best friend that much more often and/or strenuously.

You’ll both be healthier for it.

Are You Overindulging Your Dog?

Many owners, for many reasons, may be overindulging their dogs by over-feeding them at meal times, or more likely with treats, snacks, or sharing unhealthy people’s food and these habits have created many a fat dog.

You’ve heard the saying, “Food is love” and many people over-feed their dogs because they believe that it makes them happy.

Unfortunately, many of our fur friends just don’t have any natural portion control, are very practiced and fixated on food and appear to be “starved” all the time, and will literally eat themselves to death if you let them.

Are You Feeding the Right Portions?

It’s important to make sure that you know the correct serving size of food for your dog so that he or she does not become overweight in the first place, or if this has already happened, to know how to exercise the right portion control to help your best friend shed the extra poundage.

You need to take into consideration your dog’s age and metabolism, and how much your dog is exercising, not just what it says to feed on the label, because feeding the suggested amount when your dog doesn’t get proper or enough exercise will make your dog fat.

Obesity-Related Problems

Just as being obese can seriously affect our human health, obesity can seriously affect our dog’s health in many the same ways.

When your dog is overweight, he or she could suffer from diabetes mellitus, joint damage, bone and ligament damage, heart disease, high blood pressure, eye problems, difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, decreased liver function, digestive disorders, skin and coat problems, increased risk of cancer, reproductive problems and surgical and anesthetic risk.

Just as being overweight and/or obese will shorten our human lives, there is absolutely no doubt that obesity can and will have adverse effects on your best friend’s quality and length of life.

What Causes Dog Obesity?

Of course, just like us humans, the primary causes of a fat dog are simply feeding them too much food and/or the wrong kind of food, combined with a sedentary lifestyle without the exercise they need to be healthy.

If your dog is taking in more calories than he or she is burning up through their daily exercise, they will be overweight.

Something we humans tend to forget as our dogs grow older is that, like us humans, they usually become less active, which means that we need to pay attention and adjust their food intake appropriately so that they can live out their more senior years not as a fat dog, but as a healthy older dog.

Also, when your dog is spayed or neutered, this will also affect its metabolism by slowing it down, which means that it then will require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight.

Get Moving – Be Healthy

If you’ve been noticing that your best fur friend is getting a little chunky, take a good look at yourself and how sedentary your lifestyle may have become because a fat dog usually means a fat human.

Don’t be cruel to your best friend by shortening their life because you may have allowed him or her to be an unhealthy weight.

You have a dog, which means you have the perfect excuse for keeping both yourself and your dog healthy and fit. Get out there and get moving.

Asia

Pets Outnumber Children 4 to 1

Posted on: February 14th, 2013 by Asia

You might have been recently noticing that there seem to be increasingly more and more dogs, cats, and other pet owners, and you’d be right because according to new statistics that are about to be released in a book written by Jonathan V. Last, pets now outnumber children 4 to 1 in America.

Fur Friend Explosion

I think most of us would agree that there certainly seems to be an explosion of pet ownership and all the subsequent businesses that go hand in hand with the age of fur friends.

Do we get pets for our children or for something we’re missing in our own lives?

Is this because our aging population has now seen their children become adults and now the many empty nesters are feeling lonely, like they’re something missing in their lives, and because of this they are turning to pets as human replacements….the need for a replacement that can in some ways satisfy their need to nurture and care for someone?

Perhaps the huge increase in pet ownership can be attributed to young adults being too busy or unable to consider today’s high cost involved in raising a human family, so, therefore, lower-cost pets are filling the family’s “need”.

According to various sources, including the American Kennel Club and the U.S. Census Bureau, pets, including dogs, outnumber children in U.S. households.

Booming Pet Industries

Certainly, this is true anywhere pets ownership is prevalent, as we’ve all noticed the increase in the number of veterinary clinics, pet stores and boutiques, grooming salons, training services, pet walking services, pet magazines, pet TV shows, pet paraphernalia, and doggy daycare businesses springing up across the city to meet the demands of a busy working population that doesn’t have the time to devote to their dogs during the day, yet wants to have it all when they get home.

According to statistics in Jonathan Lasts new book, What to Expect When No Ones Expecting, “In 1994 Americans spent $17 billion on pets; …even in the face of a massive recession, it had climbed over $4.8 billion.”

Cost Increases of 100% or More

According to statistics, over a span of just eight short years, the cost of medical care for the average American dog-owning household (with Canadians following closely behind) has increased more than 100%, from $383. in 1998 to $672. in 2006, and dog grooming costs have increased more than 100% during this same time, too, increasing from $59. to $127.

Of course, we dog lovers have known for a very long time that there is much evidence to support the reality that over the years our beloved pets have indeed been elevated to the level of full-blown family members and that our furry family members deserve the latest fashions, food, and services we would give ourselves.

Certainly, the marketplace has taken full advantage of our pet-crazy society, leading us humans down an ever-manic path, which has created a humanizing hailstorm of our doggy friends, which in turn has caused a great deal of unsettling behavioral issues to arise in our dog population who continues to do their best to fulfill the desires of humans who disregard the real needs of the dog.

Travel Policies for Fido

For instance, did you know that there are now companies offering policies for pets traveling in cars? And did you know that the more affluent dog owners have been able to successfully lobby for changes in estate law that permits pets to be the legal recipients of inheritances and trust funds?

Tax Breaks?

You may not have heard that a bill was recently put forth in Congress asking for a $3,500. tax break for pet care expenses, which is apparently more than a family would receive for a human child. This bill was called the HAPPY Act (Humanity and Pets Partnered through the Years). Although this bill failed to reach a vote, if the population continues to choose pets over procreation, perhaps the time is not too far off when it will.

The Growth of Pet Owners

How has all of this coincided with the growth of pet owners? To say it has been anything less than explosive, would be an understatement as surveys indicate, during the last 38 years (from 1947 to 1985), while fewer than half of Americans reported that they owned a pet, today American pets outnumber American children by more than four to one, and statistics indicate nearly 3/4 of all households have pets.

As of 2024, there are approximately 74 million pet cats in the United States. This figure represents a significant increase from previous estimates, which ranged from 60.2 to 62 million pet cats according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) data from 2022.

The number of households owning at least one cat is also substantial, with around 47 million U.S. households having a pet cat. This makes cats the second most popular pet in the U.S., following dogs, which are owned by about 65 million households.

According to Last, “Educated, middle-class people have all but stopped having babies,” as “Pets have become fuzzy, low-maintenance replacements for children.”

Asia

Dog Poop Bombs

Posted on: January 28th, 2013 by Asia

Now that I’ve got your attention – don’t worry…I’m not about to tell you a story about some evil-intentioned human blowing up dogs, although what I am going to chat about in this article certainly could have its own devastating effects.

What I am going to talk about is a problem that is part of all dog ownership and depending on the size of your dog can be a small, medium, or large problem.

Yes, whether we’re talking about dog feces, doggy do-do, doggy poo, scumber (the fancier name), doggy 2’s, or just that plain, old four-letter word – s-h-IT…whatever you call IT, if you have a dog, and you’re not out there picking IT up every day, you may be guilty of creating a problem far worse than you may be aware of.

Do You Pick Up?

As conscientious dog people, we’ve all seen the little or not-so-little dog poop bombs when out walking, and we’ve all most likely silently cursed those who just left it there for us to get all over our shoes.

However, for those of us who are lucky enough to have a lovely backyard for our favourite fur friend to romp about in, this is likely the first place that Fido or Fifi runs to every morning when first waking up, while we’re busy putting on the coffee pot or getting our kids ready for school, or ourselves together for the start of our day.

So, out runs our best friend(s), and what do they do when they get out in the yard and rip around for a few minutes? Yes, that’s right…they leave you a nice doggy poop bomb, water the grass or shrubs, etc., and back they race inside for their breakfast or hopefully a nice walk with you.

What a wonderful life and what could be easier…but wait…this wonderful and easy life is what could be creating a serious problem, because if you’re not being vigilant about taking the time to get out there and pick up the doggy poop bombs every single day, you ARE guilty of creating a health hazard in your own back yard that can eventually have far-reaching hazardous consequences.

For instance, you might not be aware that over two decades ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated pet waste as a dangerous pollutant, right next to oil spills and toxic chemicals.

Why Are Dog Poop Bombs so Dangerous?

Even though you may not live near water, if you don’t pick up your yard every day, unscooped dog poop bombs from your yard will be carried by overland water flow which is then washed into storm drains, ending up in far away streams, rivers, oceans, and groundwater, and if you do live near a water source, this problem is far worse.

Parasitic Infection

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that pet waste can and does spread parasites including hookworm, ringworm, tapeworm, and Salmonella.

For those of us living on Vancouver Island, where it rains a lot, the problem is even more quickly spread, because when infected dog poop comes into contact with your lawn, the dog poop will eventually seem to wash away or “disappear”, however, the hazardous parasite eggs can linger for years!

When a human or animal comes into contact with that soil through everyday activities like walking barefoot, gardening or playing, they risk infection from those eggs, even years after the dog poop bomb is no longer visible.

Do you think your dog cares about where it romps when it’s out in your backyard, or carefully makes sure that it doesn’t accidentally walk through some old dog poop bombs? Wishful thinking.

Consequences of Infection

You may not be aware that as much as we love our favourite fur friends, their waste is teaming with E. Coli and other harmful bacteria including fecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps, and diarrhea in humans and when you don’t religiously pick up, you subject your children and yourself to infection.

Just 1 Gram

A very shocking statistic you may not be aware of is that there are 23 million fecal coliform bacteria in a single gram of pet waste!

As well, dog poop bombs often contain roundworm larvae, which can cause blindness. If a human ingests a roundworm larva, it can migrate through the body causing disease to the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, or eyes. This means that when we humans (especially children) touch the soil, dog toys, or anything that has been in contact with dog feces and then touch their mouths, they can become infected.

Consider that if your dog is running about in your yard that has many dog poop bombs that were just left to naturally dissolve, they could be coming back into your home with this on their feet, then pawing you, your bed, their toys, your children’s toys and then you or your children touch your mouth and become infected.

Even a group of teens or adults playing Frisbee or touch football in an open area where someone hasn’t been picking up after their dogs could be putting themselves in danger. Parasitic infections can make humans extremely sick, and for pregnant women, can pose serious harm to their unborn child.

Further, leaving a yard full of dog poop bombs will also attract rodents, such as rats and mice who can spread Salmonella through their droppings and bring with them other diseases, including murine typhus, infectious jaundice, Weil’s Disease, and rat-bite fever.

What About the Condition of Your Lawn?

Besides all the other toxic and smelly health issues dog poop left on lawns can create, dog feces release nitrogen into the soil and can literally ruin your nice, green lawn. While small amounts of feces and urine create dark green patches of grass and noticeably taller grass, large amounts of feces left on the lawn for a long period of time will kill the grass by smothering it as well as leaving “burn” marks on the grass that creates ugly brown spots.

Pick Up Every Day

I think by now you must be really starting to understand that dog poop bombs don’t just “wash away” or disappear and if you’re not disposing of your dog’s waste every day, whether your dog is leaving it’s smelly calling card out in a public park, on the side of a street, or in your own back yard, you’re putting yourself, your family, your dog, your water supply and your environment at risk.

Asia