Recent research indicated that higher levels of protein in your dogs diet might lead to kidney failure. Do you know if your dogs diet is safe? Are you killing your furry sidekick by providing too much protein in your dogs diet?

The studies that demonstrated a relationship to high protein levels and kidney failure, that sparked concerns about protein levels in dogs diets were not complete. The research was performed on rats, not dogs. Rats chiefly eat plants as their natural diet. Naturally, rats biological makeup would suggest trouble digesting diets containing high levels of protein. The rats have trouble excreting protein due to their particular dietary requirements, not because the high protein diet causes kidney failure.

Thus, where do we stand on protein in your dogs diet? Dogs are naturally omnivorous. In the wild, dogs would hunt or scavenge for food. Your dogs diet would normally be of both animals and plants. Naturally dogs are meat eaters too. Because of this, a dog can easily manage with a diet consisting of 30% protein or more.

When protein intake is reduced in a dogs diet, renal function does not improve. Renal lesions are not less likely to form when a dog is fed with a low-protein diet. It is not until a blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, test indicates a level of 75, that a reduction in protein intake be considered for your dogs diet.

If you have concerns about how much protein is in your dogs diet, you should make a appointment with your vet. Your vet can advise you on your dogs diet.

It is not right that dogs can not ordinarily digest high levels of protein. Kidney problems do not result from having high levels of protein in your dogs diet. Large amounts of protein are digested safely in your dogs diet, especially when they chiefly come from animal origins.

Ten amino acids must be supplied in your dogs diet through protein. Only twelve of 22 amino acids can be manufactured in your dogs liver. For this reason, meat such as heart, spleen, and meat by-products all have a place in your dogs diet.

A high-quality dog food should contain meat as the first ingredient. This will provide the proper amount of protein for your dogs diet. You know you are on the right track when you turn to nature for advice. Do you ever recall seeing a wild or stray dog happily grazing through the cornfield at mealtime?

Aging dogs should not be put on lower protein diets just because of age. As a matter of fact, some older pets want a dogs diet that is higher in protein than when they were at a younger adult stage. Unless your veterinary surgeon advises not to, you should always provide your pet the advantage of quality protein in your dogs diet.

Giving your dog protein should not cause you concern. You want what is best for your dog and nature tells you that protein will assist your dog to thrive. If you have queries about the myth of protein and kidney failure in your pet, speak to your veterinary about your dogs diet.

Recent research suggested that higher levels of protein in your dogs diet might lead to kidney failure. Do you know if your dogs diet is safe? Are you killing your furry pal by providing too much protein in your dogs diet?

The studies that demonstrated a relationship to high protein levels and kidney failure, that sparked concerns about protein levels in dogs diets were not complete. The research was performed on rats, not dogs. Rats chiefly eat plants as their natural diet. Naturally, rats biological makeup would suggest trouble digesting diets containing high levels of protein. The rats have trouble excreting protein due to their particular dietary requirements, not because the high protein diet causes kidney failure.

Thus, where do we stand on protein in your dogs diet? Dogs are naturally omnivorous. In the wild, dogs would hunt or scavenge for food. Your dogs diet would normally be of both animals and plants. Naturally dogs are meat eaters too. Because of this, a dog can easily manage with a diet consisting of 30% protein or more.

When the protein consumption is lowered in a dogs diet, renal function does not improve. Renal lesions are not less likely to form when a dog is being fed a low-protein diet. It is not until a blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, test indicates a level of 75, then a reduction in protein consumption should be considered.

If you have concerns about how much protein is in your dogs diet, you should make a appointment with your vet. Your vet can advise you on your dogs diet.

It is not right that dogs can not ordinarily digest high levels of protein. Kidney problems do not result from having high levels of protein in your dogs diet. Large amounts of protein are digested safely in your dogs diet, especially when they chiefly come from animal origins.

Ten amino acids must be supplied in your dogs diet through protein. Only twelve of 22 amino acids can be manufactured in your dogs liver. For this reason, meat such as heart, spleen, and meat by-products all have a place in your dogs diet.

A high-quality dog food should contain meat as the first ingredient. This will provide the proper amount of protein for your dogs diet. You know you are on the right track when you turn to nature for advice. Do you ever recall seeing a wild or stray dog happily grazing through the cornfield at mealtime?

Aging dogs should not be put on lower protein diets just because of age. In point of fact, some aging pets want a dogs diet that is higher in protein than when they were at a younger adult stage. Unless your vet advises not to, you should always provide your pet the advantage of quality protein in your dogs diet.

Feeding your dog protein should not cause you concern. We all want what is best for our dogs and nature tells us that protein will assist your dog to live a healthy life. If you have questions about protein and kidney failure in your pet, then you should speak to your vet about your dogs diet.

Aggression in dogs is scary. Having a dog that acts aggressively towards strangers is a big problem. There are some things you can do to help correct the problem, but first you should understand why your dog is acting this way.

Dogs are instinctively aggressive by nature. Aggression came in handy when they lived in the wild - dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other animals, and to defend resources like their food, their den, and their mate.

Over time, selective breeding has significantly lessened and refined this trait. That said, by nature all dogs are still physically capable of causing serious harm. (Just look at his teeth and you know this is true!)

The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface - for whatever reason - there are things you can do to deal with it.

Aggression in dogs comes in different forms. Aggression towards strangers is one of the most common types. The reason for this type of aggression is nerves. A dog that becomes nervous around unfamiliar people is seeing them as a possible threat. His instinct is to protect himself (and you) from this threat.

Dogs that are nervous around strangers are pretty easy to spot. When someone unfamiliar approaches (a visitor, delivery person, or someone walking down the street) they will usually act one of two ways… Either they will sit completely still, staring hard at the new person, or they’ll become agitated. They’ll be fidgety, pace back and forth and bark or whine.

Why does it happen? The main reason a dog doesn’t like strange people is that he’s never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog depends 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him. The only way he will learn to relax is by experience. He needs to go on lots of outings - have many positive experiences to realize that the “unknown” isn’t something he needs to be afraid of.

This is what we call “socialization” - and it’s an important part of raising a healthy, stable dog. The best time to start is when he’s a puppy, but it should continue throughout your dog’s life. Giving him a lot of new experiences helps him become comfortable in new situations. It gives him confidence. The only way this happens is by taking him out in the world and exposing him to new people, places and things.

You can’t just bring an adult dog into a crowd of new people and expect him to stay calm and relaxed. Saying “It’s okay, Trixie. Settle down” doesn’t work. Your dog needs to learn that it’s okay on his own. Socializing your dog helps him learn this. You want to expose him to all sorts of people — small children, teens and old people, kids on skateboards, delivery people in uniforms — anything that’s different from what he’s use to seeing at home.

When you start socializing your dog as a puppy, he learns that new experiences are a good thing, instead of something to fear. He’ll be much more relaxed and comfortable when he’s around strangers.

One of the easiest ways to start socializing your puppy is by signing up for a puppy class. These are sometimes called puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool. It is a series of classes specifically for puppies. Most are held at a vet clinic or another controlled indoor environment.

Puppy classes are usually taught by a qualified dog trainer. Many times the instructor will bring one or two assistants, which lets you have more one-on-one time with a trainer during class. You’ll learn about your puppy’s developmental stages, how to crate train and potty train your puppy, and even a few basic obedience commands.

This obedience work is a great way to start your puppy on the road to being a trustworthy and well-behaved dog, but it’s really just a “bonus” to the real benefit of puppy classes… which are the play sessions. Several times at each class, the puppies get a chance to run around off-leash and play together. This gives them a chance to learn social skills in a safe, controlled environment. Playing in a group of unfamiliar dogs and people helps them learn how to interact with strange dogs and that they don’t have to be afraid of people they don’t know.

Yes, puppy classes are the perfect way to start socializing your new dog. But the job doesn’t stop there. You’ll want to continue taking him to new places so he can experience meeting new people in an unfamiliar environment. Just don’t overwhelm him… start off slow, and you’ll watch your new puppy blossom into a friendly and confident dog who is always happy to meet someone new!

Does your dog have a habit of jumping on people when he sees them? If so, you know how embarrassing it can be. But imagine how annoying - or frightening even - it is to your guests.

Teaching your pooch to keep all four paws on the floor is part of being a responsible dog owner. It’s also relatively easy to do. This is a good thing, because while some dogs are simply jumping up in excitement — others are using it as a way to show you who’s the boss. Here’s what I mean…

The main reason dogs jump up is because they are excited. It’s just an enthusiastic greeting. His adrenaline is running high and he’s happy about something. This is often the case when someone comes over to visit, or if you’ve been gone for a long time.

There is also a less common, but more serious reason dogs will jump on you.

Dogs are pack animals, and each member of the pack has a ranking. The “top dog” is the alpha dog. There are many ways dogs show who is ranked higher in the pack — for example, the alpha dog eats first. He goes through the door first. He also shows he’s superior physically. He will do this with other dogs by putting one or both paws over the other dog’s shoulders — and he will do this with you by jumping up on you.

Remember, you are a part of your dog’s pack whether you like it or not. So if you find that he’s jumping up on you a lot - not just when he’s excited - there’s a good chance he thinks he’s the boss.

When this happens, you’ve got more than a jumping issue. Your dog thinks he’s the boss. This is a serious issue, and you’ll need to make some big adjustments in your overall relationship with your dog. It might be a good time to get some outside help to solve the problem.

Fortunately, most “jumpers” are just doing it because they are excited. It’s not hard to stop this type of jumping. The most important thing is to be consistent. You can’t let your dog jump on you when you’re playing, and then get mad when he jumps on you as you walk in the door. To stop jumping, you need to teach him that it’s never okay to jump up on you.

Here is a 2-step technique that most trainers use to stop dogs from jumping.

The first step is very simple. You just ignore him whenever he jumps up on you. This means you withdraw all attention - even negative attention - so no yelling, shoving, or corrections whatsoever. The idea is to give him the cold shoulder.

To be effective, you just immediately turn away from him whenever he jumps up. Just fold your arms, turn your back to him and look away. Dogs are keen on understanding body language, so he will know exactly what you’re saying.

Just be sure you are ignoring the dog, not just the behavior. You can’t look at him, talk to him, yell at him, or acknowledge him in any way. Without your attention, he’ll settle down quickly.

Now, even though you are “ignoring” your dog, you will need to pay close attention to him. The next step is all about timing.

The minute your dog has all four paws on the floor, you are going to start praising the heck out of him. Get excited. Let him know that he’s doing something great. Even though he was just jumping up on you, he’ll understand that the praise is for being on the ground as long as you time it right.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly this simple technique works. All your dog wants is your love and attention. By withholding it when he’s behaving poorly - and praising him when he’s being good - he’ll soon be the well behaved dog you always wanted.

Now that you are moving on to Intermediate Training, consider teaching your best buddy the Lie Down command. He is quick to Sit on command at this point and the Lie Down behavior is merely a step away.

First, command your little pal to Sit. Take his favorite treat and move it a bit closer to the ground prior to allowing him to take it. Don’t allow movement from the Sit position. After he has this process learned, move the treat a bit farther away but still keeping it on the ground. Uh Oh! Now, he must lie down in order to reach this little goody. When he does this, simply say, “Lie Down.” Be consistent and eventually you will be able to fade out the treat completely. Patience is a must — he may try to get up but simply keep him in the Sit position until he has mastered the entire technique.

Teaching the Heel command is really important for your little pal. You want him to have good manners, and lunging at other people or pets is just not good behavior. You first teach your dog not to pull on the leash. Start off in a small area, making small circles and walking very slowly. This will cause him to think about going slow and also help him understand whether you are going left or right. Occasionally, however, give him a little room to explore — have you ever met a dog who didn’t like to sniff every thing in sight?

After your little friend is consistent with the Sit behavior, training him to Sit Up is a snap. Choose a bit of food or his favorite treat, hold it over his head while he is in a Sitting position but low enough so that he can reach it. Continue this maneuver but raise the treat a bit higher each time so that he must stretch for it but still remain seated.

Begin to raise the treat even higher at this point. Unless he raises his front paws from the ground, he won’t be able to reach the treat. And when he does this, now is the time to use the verbal cue, “Sit Up.” Once he understands the behavior you are looking for, you can fade out the treat and use only your hand, giving him his cue of “Sit Up.”

Your dog is going to eventually appreciate learning the Sit Up, Lie Down and Heel commands in the Intermediate Behaviors Training. As you are consistent, patient and loving with your best friend, he will do his utmost to earn your approval and please you.

Giving a Shar Pei rescue dog a second chance in life is a wonderful gesture and if you take the time and patience to train your dog properly and show it the necessary love and attention then it will return that love over time and give you years of happiness. The Shar Pei is like any breed in that it has its strange behaviors that you should be on the watch for and you should be aware of any warning signs that may indicate that problems could be ahead.

The Shar Pei is a very loyal dog and when it finds itself in a situation with a family it will become very protective and loyal to that family. Over time your Shar Pei rescue dog should begin to display this protective nature and if it does do not be alarmed, as a protective nature is normal for a Shar Pei.

A Shar Pei is a very protective dog as they were bred originally as guard dogs so their nature is to be very protective. They will get to the point of protecting their family at all costs so be prepared to have your dog get very attached to you and your family. Be watchful of a Shar Pei that seems a bit territorial however as that can be the result of previous abusive behavior.

The Shar Pei is very capable of being a social animal that can interact without problem with humans and other animals. A Shar Pei rescue dog will need extra help and time to be able to socialize after its abusive past but Shar Peis are intelligent enough to be able to catch on to social training and know when they are supposed to be learning to interact with others. All the Shar Pei rescue dog needs is some reassurance and the rest is up to them.

It bears repeating that the Shar Pei is an extremely intelligent dog because it helps you understand how to train them better. A Shar Pei responds well to training but gets bored easily with some of the repetition involved in standard training. A rescue dog is going to require even more time to adjust so patience is needed on your part and you will also need to come up with some creative training that will get your point across and keep your dog listening at the same time.

If you find yourself not knowing how to handle your Shar Pei rescue dog, or if you just have questions, always remember that you can always ask your vet for their advice and assistance. You can also try and see if any of the local Shar Pei breeders in your area would be willing to help you out with advice as well.

A reputable breeder will be more than happy to offer some words of advice and your vet will always be one of your best sources for information.

The Shar Pei was originally bred as an aggressive and intelligent dog so it is their nature to be able to recognize a situation and react in a way they think is appropriate. If they feel a situation requires aggression then they will use it so be certain to always be patient with your dog and always show them a lot of love and positive reinforcement.

Your little girl, or boy, just looked at you with those big eyes and said that they want a Shih Tzu puppy. So now you have to go out and find someplace that has a Shih Tzu puppy for sale so you can get your little one what they want. It is not as difficult as it sounds as long as you remember a few things and know that there will be no cutting corners on this purchase.

Avoid pet stores. That cannot be said any clearer. Pet stores are notorious for their horrible treatment of animals and they are also inclined to sell you an unhealthy Shih Tzu because that is what they have in their puppy mill inventory.

Add to that the horrible treatment pet stores give their inventory and it just makes you want to avoid pet stores completely and forever.

Probably the best place to get a Shih Tzu puppy for sale, that you can know and feel confident is a healthy pet, is from a local breeder. Make sure you check out several breeders before buying from one and make sure the one you are buying from checks out with at least some of the national breeder registries or your local vet. A good breeder will be with you for quite a while, so make sure you make the right choice.

A breeder will also offer you care and feeding instructions that can be invaluable to first time Shih Tzu owners. A breeder can also offer you free pet insurance that will extend to six weeks after the purchase date of your Shih Tzu puppy and this can be a huge help especially when it is time to head out to that first vet visit. So look into a reputable breeder and when you find a good one they will make your owner experience so much better.

Another great option if you cannot afford the price a breeder will charge you is to contact your local animal rescue organization and ask them about the possibility that they have a Shih Tzu puppy for sale.

Your Shih Tzu puppy from a shelter will have been checked out by a qualified vet and should have been given all of its shots so it is ready to go home. That warm feeling you will get in your heart every time you look at your Shih Tzu will never leave you either.

A Shih Tzu puppy can make a wonderful pet for you and your family so be sure to take your time and decide which way is the best way for you to buy your Shih Tzu puppy. In the end you will end up with a wonderful family pet and just remember that they require a lot of attention so don’t forget their care and maintenance and they will reward you with years of love.

So many people are beginning to recognize just what a wonderful addition Havanese puppies can be to a family. These fiercely loyal and overtly affectionate dogs are the perfect size for apartments and small homes and their mild temperament make them perfect for families with children. If you have been looking to add a new dog to your family, or if you just have a love for small breed dogs, then you absolutely cannot go wrong when choosing a Havanese.

There are several things that you should watch for when choosing Havanese puppies, not the least of which is to make certain that the breeder you choose from has taken excellent care of their puppies. You can do this primarily by first getting recommendations from vets in the area where your breeder is located, and second by insisting on seeing documentation of medical care for the Havanese puppies in question.

One of the things that makes Havanese puppies so popular among people who live in small houses and apartments, is the fact that they can actually be trained to use litter boxes, just like cats. Although it isn’t recommended that a litter box be used on a regular basis, it does allow people living in apartments the peace of mind of knowing that they won’t be coming home to puddles on the living room rug.

It is also very important that the Havanese puppies the breeder you choose has available are energetic and playful. These dogs are typically very high-energy, and any sign of lethargy may be a sign that the dogs are under nourished.

If you are buying Havanese puppies from a breeder or owner in your local area, it is a good idea to ask your local veterinarian if they have ever treated these puppies by giving them their shots, treating them for worms, and the like. If you are purchasing a Havanese puppy from an out of state breeder, be certain to ask for proof that the puppies have been well cared for.

Choosing the right puppy is a very simple process once you have ascertained that the Havanese puppies you are choosing from are healthy. The best way to choose Havanese puppies is to, if at all possible, visit the breeder’s kennel or owner’s home so that you can interact with the pups before you make a final decision.

If you are choosing a Havanese puppy for your child be sure to take them with you, so that you can see how each puppy interacts with them, as well.

Look into purchasing one of the many beautiful Havanese puppies available today, and see just what a wonderful addition they will make to your home.

Many dog owners assume that when they purchase a breed of dog with short hair, such as a Labrador Retriever, that they won’t have to spend time grooming their dog. They quickly find out that they are mistaken. While it is true that Labrador Retrievers do not require as much grooming as a longer haired breed of dog, there is still some grooming required.

There are several reasons dog owners need to spend time grooming their Labrador Retrievers. The first reason is their dog’s health. Regular Labrador grooming sessions will alert a dog owner to any lumps, bumps, scrapes, cuts and infections that the dog may have developed, in most cases the owner will be able to feel these things before they see them. Both the Labrador and the owner will find that regular grooming sessions will strengthen the bond between them. Time spent grooming will improve the dog’s overall obedience and patience.

You will find that your grooming sessions are more enjoyable if you don’t have to spend an hour trying to track down your grooming equipment. Try to keep your grooming supplies in one place. You’ll find that a small rubber container is an excellent way to keep your dog’s grooming supplies in one place.

The equipment that should be stored in your Labrador’s grooming kit includes nail clippers, a bristle brush, a shorthaired rake and a narrow and wide toothed comb. You should bear in mind that you have all of these grooming items in case you need them and that just because you have them doesn’t mean you have to use them every time you groom you Labrador.

This is a bad idea. Try using children’s tear free shampoo, as this won’t irritate the dog’s skin and will make the bathing experience a little more pleasant. If you choose to use a dog shampoo make sure you dilute it before rubbing it into your dog’s skin. After bathing your dog, make sure the soap is completely rinsed out. Soap that isn’t rinsed will dry out causing an irritation that can later lead to a skin infection.

The reason that Labrador grooming is so important, besides extending the life of your vacuum cleaner, is that it the first line of defense when it comes to your dog’s health. While you are grooming your dog take a few extra minutes and run your hands over the dog’s entire body.

The ears are another important part of Labrador grooming. The breed seems to be susceptible to developing ear infections that are partly cause by the build up of dead skin, wax and dirt on the inside of the ear flap.

After you have finished grooming your dog, wipe the inside of it’s ears with a warm washcloth, cleaning the ears will help prevent your Labrador from developing an ear infection

You have decided that you want to get a Yorkshire Terrier and now you need to find a good Yorkshire Terrier breeder. Getting the names of prospective Yorkshire Terrier breeders is a process unto itself and once you have those names you want to be certain that you know what information you need to get from these breeders in order to make a good decision on which one you want to go with. This is a little primer on the questions you should be asking your Yorkshire Terrier breeder so that you know what information you need to get to make the right decision.

A national breeder registry is an organization that sets breeding standards and the breeders that list with that registry abide by those standards. If the breeder you are considering is not listed with a breeder registry then it may be a good idea to try and determine exactly what breeding standards they are using and where they got those standards.

For any good breeder there is a feeling of wanting to help out any new owner so you want to ask the Yorkshire Terrier breeders you are talking to if they offer any support to new owners after the sale is completed. If you are talking to any breeders that do not offer this support after the sale then you may be talking to a breeder that is not going to be willing to offer you the essential help you will need and that is not a breeder you want to deal with.

A reputable Yorkshire Terrier breeder is going to make sure that all new owners leave with detailed care instructions for taking care of their new pup and those detailed instructions will be in writing for easier access.

If this is not a practice of one of your potential Yorkshire Terrier breeders then that is probably not a breeder you want to deal with.

The best Yorkshire Terrier breeder will offer services that go above and beyond normal services. In some cases a breeder will have a service where they will offer to take your dog back if you can no longer care for it or you can no longer give it a good home.

You won’t get your money back but you will know that the dog will be given a good home and you know you are dealing with a good breeder.

It is always a good idea to spend a lot of time talking with prospective Yorkshire Terrier breeders and just see how you feel with them and how you like talking to them. At the end of the day you will still have to be in contact with your breeder for some time so if you are not comfortable with any of the ones you are considering then it may be wise to not do business with them when it comes to your family pet.