My Dumb Dog

If you are one of the many allergy sufferers you know who miserable it can make you.

Now imagine your dog suffering from allergies and how miserable she must be. She cannot complain and she cannot ask for help. So as responsible dog owners it is up to us to figure out when she is having an allergy outbreak and to provide her with medicine as soon as possible.

Similar to humans, dog allergies are usually passed through genetics from parents to puppies.

Various factors can trigger an allergic reaction in a dog. The more common dog allergies include dog food allergies, protein allergies, allergies to pollen, and dog skin allergies. Thankfully with the proper treatment they can all be treated. Try and change her food to fight dog allergies. For other allergies you can find the appropriate treatment for her condition.

If you believe your dog has allergies then schedule a vet appointment. You vet can examine her and then recommend the best course of treatment.

The easiest way to identify dog allergies is to know your dog. Know what “normal” looks like for her. That way, you can probably tell when something just doesn’t seem right. This can be helpful not only in identifying potential allergies, but it can help to identify the start of other illnesses as well.

Several symptoms can indicate that your dog may be allergic to something. She may be scratching constantly, or even gnawing at her skin. There is no sure set of symptoms that you can use to identify your dog’s allergies since there is no telling how a dog will exactly react to something.

Behavioral changes are a great reason to look deeper. Try to find out what is causing the change in your dog’s behavior.

Dog allergies should be identified and treated as soon as you can. This can help you poor little dog to avoid additional pain and discomfort and bring her some relief to her allergy suffering.

If you got your dog from a breeder then it is quite likely that they can tell you if her parents had dog allergies too. That may make it a bit easier to pinpoint what she may be allergic to.

Read the rest of the articles in the dog allergy series.

Stop by our online pet store for all your dog supplies.

When you have a dog going on a holiday might be more complicated than usual. This is because most of the times you will not have the accommodation to take your dog along with you. As such you have only two options when you take a holiday. One is to take your dog along with you on your holiday and the other is to leave your dog behind under the care of some one else. There are many hotels and resorts around the world today that accommodate for pets.

Start your dog off right, give him or her what they deserve, put a smile on their face with the best Dog Supplies that is available at Doggy Dog Supplies. You will find Dog Clothes and Dog Beds that are the best designs and best looking on the internet.

You can make a list of such resorts and visit them. These places you can take your dog along with you. If you have a relative staying somewhere that you are holidaying in then perhaps you can them if you could perhaps stay over at their house for the holidays and also ask them if they would mind bringing along your dog. Travelling with your dog is simpler when you are travelling by road. If you are going to your beach house or farm house to holiday then it is not a problem for you at all to accommodate your dog for the holidays. Also you should make sure that you have all you need that will help you to take care of your dog while you are traveling. This includes a sufficient supply of pet food etc.

If you are leaving your dog behind then make sure that you have made appropriate arrangements for your dog that you are leaving behind. Make sure that you are leaving your dog with a reliable or a trusted person. It is always better to leave your dog behind with a person that your dog is familiar with. This will help your dog to get along well with the person. The person who is taking care of your dog should know how to handle your dog properly. He should take your dog for regular walks and tend to your dog’s needs. You should leave a bag of dog food with the person who is taking care of your dog. If the person already has a dog then it is most ideal as he or she will already know how to handle your dog properly. Always ask to make sure that the person has absolutely no problem in taking care of your dog. Do not impose your dog on people but give it to people who would love to take in your dog.

Are you a hunter who takes his dog out onto the field? If so, you must carry first aid kits, not just for yourself but for your dog, as well. Injuries can occur at anytime, so you should be prepared to treat small injuries before they become very serious. The good news is that there are an abundance of great first aid kits for hunting dogs that you can use at home or out on the field.

Your dog is depending on you to care for him at home and out on the field. After all, this is your responsibility. In the event that your dog becomes hurt, will you be prepared to treat his wound with sanitary medical dressing? That’s the difference between being prepared and using an old shirt or rag, which can actually lead to deadly infections and make the injuries worse. It’s worth the couple extra dollars to have a first aid kit for dogs on hand.

Here is what to look for in a good gun dogs first aid kit:

A First Aid Guide
The first aid guide will show you basic first aid for dogs for both small injuries (like wound treatment for scraps) and life-threatening injuries (like mouth-to-snout resuscitation). There should be clear instructions for the use of all items contained within the first aid kit, as well. To be best prepared for emergencies, you should read the first aid guide and learn the basics before emergencies happen. The keyword here is “emergencies” — first aid is not the replacement for regular veterinary visits.

Tweezers
This is a very helpful tool for removing splinters, ticks, and more. Splinters can go into the pad of a dog’s foot or elsewhere and work its way deeper and cause discomfort, and worse, abscesses. It’s best to treat them right away before they are forgotten and enters further in, causing infections that can spread to other parts of the body.

Good old Hydrogen Peroxide
This simple, cheap, and misunderstood liquid is the basis for any good first aid kit. It’s a sterilizer that can be used safely on animals and causes no discomfort. Use with a sterile gauze pad to clean a wound, prep a splinter site before removal and after you’re done, and so forth.

Iodine
A small bottle of iodine is the next step up from peroxide and can be used to more thoroughly clean a wound or cut before bandaging. Even better is to use the peroxide and then the iodine on the wound before bandaging. Iodine can make a wound heal much faster.

Antibiotic Ointment
No dog first aid kit would be complete without this ointment which can help with insect stings, scratches and scrapes and other minor injuries. Make sure you have a tube of this ointment!

Eyewash
A simple saline solution for washing out the eyes can make your dog’s life much easier and save his vision in some cases. When your dog gets something in his eye that he can’t get rid of on his own, use this to clean them. A quick squirt into the eye and nature will do the rest in most cases.

Trauma Pad
A trauma pad is crucial if your dog is seriously injured; it will help minimize bleeding and help keep the wound bound as well as providing assistance in transporting your dog to emergency help. When shopping for a trauma pad watch out that the sizing is correct for your dogs needs.

Gauze, Tape, and Scissors
Simple tools that, when used correctly, can greatly help your dog in times of injury. If your dog is cut, scratched, or similarly hurt, you’ll want to bandage, gauze over, then tape the wound so it is protected from infection. These three tools can do that job quickly.

Don’t risk your dog’s happiness with being out on a hunting trip with you by being unprepared for an emergency. A good first aid kit is a helpful tool whether you’re out hunting or at home and is full of great hunting dog supplies. There is nothing that you can do more easily for your dogs’ safety than have a good first aid kit.

It’s not uncommon for gun dogs to get an ear infection in fact it’s a result of the size and depth of their ears. Because hunting dogs (gun dogs) spend so much time outdoors and have large, floppy ears, they are actually more prone to getting an ear infection. Infections in the ear are a result of yeast or bacteria which can grow in your dogs’ ear and eventually may wind up in the ear canal.

Symptoms of Otitis
Not only are ear infections painful, in extreme cases they may actually lead to your dog becoming deaf. There are some symptoms that you can be on the lookout for – some are basic behaviors of dogs that have ear infections while others are clinical symptoms. You should be aware if:

Green or yellowish discharge coming from the dears
An unpleasant odor near the ear
Scratching at the ear or shaking the head excessively

These symptoms can worsen and the infection may become more severe. The deeper the infection goes into the dog’s ears, the worse it will get as it affects the inner ear. This will affect your dog’s balance and ability to hear. The advanced symptoms may include:

Disorientation
Disorientation of the dog
Awkward collapses or “drunken” state
Deafness
Strange movements of the eye, also known as “crazy eye”

If you notice any signs that your dog may be having a problem you should contact your vet immediately and find make sure your dog is seen. Failure to care for an infection early on can result in your dog suffering unnecessary discomfort and costing you more money in the long run.

Your veterinarian can find the problem by utilizing a special scope to observe the infection, and sometimes, a cotton swab may be use to get a sample. Ear mites and other diseases can have the same symptoms of otitis, so they must be ruled out before treatment can begin.

Treating Ostitis
Your dogs’ ear infection may be treated in one of two of ways:

A) For a less serious infection your vet may suggest you treat the dog with hydrogen peroxide which you place directly in the ear;
B) For a more serious infection your dog may require a prescription antibiotic or other appropriate medications.

Regardless of the course of treatment that is recommended for your dogs ear infection, your vet is likely to perform a thorough cleaning of your dogs ears before the treatment begins, then they will give the initial dose of medication to show you how to use it and you’ll finish the course of treatment at home.

When you give the medication, which is usually squirted or poured into the dog’s ear, you will have to hold the dog down or have someone help you. Obviously, the dog won’t like this, but it needs to be done.

Because dogs cannot become immune to ear infections, you should watch carefully for the signs, even if you believe he is cured. Early action requires early detection, and makes the infection easier to handle.

Just remember that not only is health care issues important with your dog, but the kind of hunting dog supplies that you have is also just as equally important. Take your time and do your research when you going to purchase something such as a dog training collar for your hunting dog.

Whelping is a term used to refer to the birth process of canines, when the female gun dog gives birth to a litter of puppies. Most female hunting dogs (bitches) will go through this process naturally, with little help needed from you or a veterinarian. Occasionally, though, some help is needed and if you understand the process and what is expected at each stage of whelping, you’ll be prepared to give aid when it is needed.When you have a pregnant gun dog and she is about to give birth, this process is called “whelping”. In most cases, the mother dog will know how to do this alone, but in some cases help may be needed by you or a vet. If you are thinking about breeding dogs, and having the mother deliver them at home, then you should really become familiar with whelping and all that goes into to it.

A bitch will be pregnant for about 58 to 68 days. Towards the end of this gestation period, at about the fifty-eighth day, you’ll want to start watching for signs of labor. Take the dog’s temperature regularly and watch for a sudden drop to about 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit as this is an indication that she will begin whelping within the next 24 hours. You can rent or buy a thermometer meant especially for this task from a veterinarian. Use a little lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, to help the process.The gestation period for dogs is 58 to 68 days. As that 58th day approaches you will want to keep a close eye for signs that your pregnant dog is about to go into labor. I typically take my dogs temperature as the days get closer to the expected delivery date and watch carefully for a sudden drop in her temperature. Now dogs typically have a normal temperature of 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit but about 24 hours prior to delivery their temperature will drop by a couple degrees to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating birth is imminent.

Make available a whelping box (any box large enough for her to comfortably stretch in). It can be cardboard, plastic, or wooden. She will naturally begin nesting in that box shortly before the whelping process is to begin. Her instincts are telling her to prepare for the puppies.In order for you dog to feel “prepared” for the whelping process, it is necessary for you to provide some version of a “whelping box” for her. This can be a professionally made one, or something as simple as a cardboard box, which ever she feels more comfortable in. Once the whelping process has begun the mother dog will begin a process called “nesting” which means the dog will take anything available whether it be newspaper, blankets, or towels to prepare a comfortable place for her to give birth.

Don’t hold that 24-hour rule for temperature drop to whelping too fast, however. Often, this temperature drop happens only a few minutes or hours before the event. Nesting and temperature change together are sure indications no matter what, though. Be prepared anytime after her 58th day of pregnancy for her to go into labor at any time. When she does go into labor, she will begin contractions, which will be clearly visible as her muscles from shoulder to tail will contract and release rhythmically and she will likely lie down and find a comfortable place in her whelping box. She will whimper slightly and begin licking herself to prepare for birth.It is always to keep in mind though that when your dog’s temperature drops, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have 24 hours until the puppies are born. It can often happen within only a few hours before labor begins. If your dog begins whelping, and her temperature drops, that is a sure sign that labor will begin very soon. Labor is very easy to spot, she will begin having contractions which will be easily spotted. The muscles from her shoulder to her tail will contract and release over and over again. At this time she will most likely be very restless and try to find a comfortable position.

It’s likely that from here on in, you will only be an observer, watching as the pups emerge one after another. It can take several minutes or even hours. A bitch that has not had puppies before will likely take longer than one who hasn’t, but there is no hard-and-fast rule. If the process takes more than two or three hours, call a veterinarian for advice.As the puppies do begin to arrive the female should know how to handle to puppies but be there to offer assistance in case she begins to struggle or has a hard time tending to all the puppies. Some females will whelp puppies quickly, while other will take longer. If you female experiences excess labor for more than 3 hours seek a vet’s advice.

If more than an hour goes by with her in labor but producing no puppies, help her up and take her for a brief walk around the area or (if the weather is good) in the yard. Do not go further than you can carry her, however, so that if she collapses into birth, you can quickly take her back to her whelping box. Feathering is another technique that can help stimulate birth. Put on a latex glove and lubricate with KY jelly or another non-toxic lubricant and gently insert your finger into her vulva up to the top of her vagina.To speed the process up or if you find that a considerable amount of time has gone by between delivery of puppies you can take her for a quick walk. Keep a close eye on your female this short walk may create an unexpected birth outside of the whelping box. Another way to stimulate birth is to use a technique called feathering. With a latex glove and some KY jelly, gently insert a single finger into your female’s vulva lightly lifting it to the edge of her vagina, in an up and out motion.

When the puppies finally do come, they will be preceded by a gush of fluid as her water breaks. After her water has broken, expect a puppy within twenty minutes and more to follow shortly after, one after another. They are usually born head first and the mother will naturally know when to stop. You can “feel” her gut by gently pressing with your fingers to see if more puppies are due to arrive.When a puppy is being born it is accompanied by the water sac, which can either be with in tactic, or ruptured prior to the puppy being fully delivered. The puppy is usually delivered head first.

Once they are born, the mother will likely do all the work caring for the puppies. Make sure that warm, damp rags are ready for wiping down the pups and for gently massaging them to stimulate breathing. Most likely, mother will do this with her tongue as the pups are born, so again, you will likely just watch. Do not pick up or handle the puppies any more than medically necessary during the first few hours so that they can have mom’s full attention. Gentle, shortly-timed handling for the first week or so is recommended while the puppies acclimate and grow.Once the puppies are delivered, mom knows what to do. She will clean them and make sure they are breathing, if this does not happen, you can clean the puppy off yourself and take a clean dry towel and rub the puppy until they begin to cry. This will both clean and get them breathing all in one step. It should however be taken into consideration that handling the puppies more than medically necessary shouldn’t be done within the first week of birth.

Just remember, there are lots of different kinds of hunting dog supplies out there, and to choose them wisely. Don’t forget your dog crate and dog training collars.

Just like any good parent, when your children go outside to play you want them to be as safe as possible. It is no different when you are a responsible pet owner of a puppy! You will definitely need to pick up some dog supplies for your new puppy.

There are many hidden dangers that you may or may not be aware of that could really hurt or even pose grave dangers for your pup! Your puppy has no sense of what safety is. However, you can do a few simple things to ensure that your puppy is safe when outside.

One of the first things to look out for is water areas. It is true that every dog can swim, but young pups need some training. There are cases every year of dogs that drown because they got into water that was too much for them. In one story, while on a hiking trek, a man and his new German Shepherd puppy along. When he approached a lake, the pup was so excited that he took off into the lake. The pup did not automatically swim, actually the puppy became overwhelmed by how large a body of water such as this lake.

The puppy would have drown had the man and his friend not gotten to the German Shepherd puppy in the nick of time! Again, all dogs can swim but puppies cannot swim well enough to take on such large bodies of water such as lakes, streams, rivers, etc. So make sure that your puppy stays on their leash when you are approaching water areas. It is always better safe than sorry! Another danger to your puppy can be insects!

Im talking about bugs! Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other common insects can be real trouble for puppies. These bloodsuckers can pose a real threat to your puppy because they carry disease not to mention can cause skin irritations and in some puppies, allergic reactions. So make sure just as with yourself and loved ones, that your puppy has more than ample protection against insects. Be sure that you take a quick look at dog dresses and dog shampoo.

There are many great products that give round the clock protection against fleas and ticks in addition to a variety of products that will ward off other bloodsucking pests! These medications may come in the form of a pill, spray, lotion or cream, and powders. There are also many holistic products that are all natural and do not contain chemical repellents that have had success when used correctly. A good rule of thumb is that you use these repellents during the early morning and at dusk because that is when mosquitoes are at their most prevailant.

You can also avoid marshy and heavily wooded areas as well that will reduce the chances of your pup being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

It’s summer and it seems like fleas are everywhere. Luckily, today’s pet owner has an arsenal of flea treatments at their disposal. Pyrethrin is a safe and widely used insecticide. Methoprene and Fenoxycarb are insect growth regulators (IGR) which prevent eggs and larvae from developing into pupae. Always treat hunting dogs and their environment at the same time.

Fleas are difficult to kill – their pupa are resistant to most insecticides because of the cocoon they wrap themselves in – and this often results in new fleas being hatched about two weeks after you perform a treatment. What most people don’t realize is that the lifespan of a flea can vary from as little as two (2) weeks to as much as eight (8) months. If you fail to kill the pupa before they hatch you have to start the entire process all over again.

Flea Baths
When you wash your dog with flea bath using special flea shampoo, any live fleas will be killed. A flea dip is very strong and excessively laden with chemicals, so use them with care and only in severe situations. Stay away from flea dips if you have small children at home.

Spot On Medications
This type of flea treatment is administered between the shoulder blades of the pet. It’s a monthly treatment that will kill adult fleas for sure, and some brands will even prevent larvae and egg growth. These medications can only be used on dogs older than eight weeks. Water activities, like swimming or baths can make spot on medications less effective.

Pill Flea Treatment
Perhaps one of the easiest and most effective flea control is this one for the simple reason that it acts similar to birth control! These pills are effective for one month and they sterilize any flea that bites your dog preventing them from laying eggs before they die. The other advantage of this treatment is that it doesn’t wash off making it ideal for dogs that stay indoors.

Natural Methods
Not everyone likes to use chemicals for flea control purposes. If this is the case, you should vacuum thoroughly as often as possible. In addition to carpets, vacuum furniture, pillows, and bedding. Properly discard the bag, or burn it, right away. Secondly, you should wash everything in the hot water cycle. Lastly, use dried pennyroyal, diactomaceous earth, or pyretthrum powder. Apply it on pet bedding and underneath cushions and mattresses. However, don’t use pennyroyal if your dog is pregnant. Repeat this process every few days.

Clean from inside out
Pet bedding, furniture, cushions, and thick carpets are fleas’ havens. Before treatment, always vacuum everything and everywhere in your home. Then, burn or properly discard vacuum bags immediately. Fleas love dust and hair, so this is important. It’s also important to wash all pet clothing and bedding in hot water. Insecticides are most effective on young, immature fleas.

Outside, fleas love wet, shady areas like dog houses, flower beds, and under decks or porches. Treat any location where your pet spends a lot of time. Fully mow and rake your yard. Get rid of leaves in flower beds and under bushes to increase the areas exposed to insecticides. The garage, basement and other places with non-carpeted floors should be thoroughly mopped to get rid of flea larvae hiding in crevices. Wash pet carriers and vacuum the car!

You can also choose a fogger or spray for your home, yard, and other areas, as they are very effective. You may need to repeat treatment in areas of severe infestation, usually every 2 or 3 weeks.

Flea bites cause all kinds of problems for pets and people. Intense itching can lead to skin problems, hair loss and infections. A bad infestation can lead to anemia and tapeworms. Allergies to flea saliva can cause flea dermatitis. Getting rid of a flea infestation is imperative for the health of your pet. Following these steps will help your pet and your home stay flea free.

There are all sorts of hunting dog supplies that are important for you to consider to keep your dogs healthy and safe. Some of them include dog training collars and dog fences.

Parasites – The blight of ticks

Ticks can be considered by many as the worst external parasite which can be found on your dog. These bloodsucking parasites bury their head under the dog’s skin and lives from his blood while in return exposes your pet to dangerous diseases and viruses. These ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever as well as Ehrlichiosis.

A tick’s life

In general, the average tick which makes its way to your dog falls under a 3-host category. In basic form, this means that the larvae, the nymphs as well as the full grown adults live their life attached to your dog; all the while they feed from your dog’s blood. Once bitten, the tick causes the dog’s skin to become irritated and while this occurs with just a single tick, imagine an entire family calling your pet their new home.

Throughout their life, the tick starts off as a larvae and has six legs. As a larvae, the tick will feed from the dog’s blood for about 3 days before letting go of the dog. Once it lets go, the tick turns into a nymph and has eight legs. As a nymph, it can now lay eggs and will feed for another 7 to 10days before molting into a full-grown adult tick.

With eggs attached, if the tick turns into a female, it will then fertilize the eggs while at the same time consume vast amounts of your dog’s blood which allows it to grow in size rather quickly. These female ticks are usually easy to spot at this stage but hopefully you have spotted them and removed them long before they reach the adult stage. You will probably want to pick up a double dog feeder or a double dog diner to keep your dogs food off the nasty floor.

Tick Removal

It is important that you remove the tick as soon as possible because they will burrow themselves in deeper under the skin. The deeper they burrow themselves the harder t will be to remove them. When it comes to removing the tick though, do not try pulling it off or scraping it off with your finger because their head is burrowed under your dog’s skin. Using a pair of fine tweezers, grab a hold of the base of the tick’s head to remove them. Sometimes this is not easy depending on how deeply the tick has burrowed under the skin. Their are many different dog supplies that can help with your dog parasite problems.

It is important to make sure that all of the tick’s head is removed because any part that is left will also leave the dog’s skin irritated. Just remember that the sooner the better when it comes to the removal of ticks. Do not try to burn them off because you may catch your pet’s fur on fire and do not use alcohol, just use a simple pair of fine tweezers.

Dogs age at approximately seven times the rate humans do. So it’s not surprising that your dog should have a physical examination at least every seven “dog years”–that’s every year in human terms. And as your pet gets middle-aged–that’s over 40 in people years or over 6 in dog years–physicals are recommended twice a year.

“Not only do dogs get older faster than people do, but their ailments progress more quickly, too,” according to veterinary doctors.

A once-a-year physical gives your dog doctor a chance to sit down and chat with your pet about what’s changing in his/her life. More importantly, yearly physicals let your pet’s veterinarian establish what is normal in your dog, so he or she will know when something is abnormal.

A yearly physical is good preventive medicine. According to the veterinaians, “Finding and treating diseases in the early stages gives your pet a much better prognosis than discovering a disease already in full swing,”. Your veterinarian may observe changes in your pet that you haven’t noticed.

During the physical examination, your veterinarian will look for systemic abnormalities. During physicals the veterinarian will move from the front to the back of your dog observing any abnormalities, starting with the eyes, ears, nose, and throat and moving to the lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. Always checking for new lumps or bumps as he/she moves along.”

Heartworm tests should also be done at the time of the annual physical. Heartworm is a serious disease, common everywhere mosquitoes live. The physical exam is a good time to keep up to date on vaccines. Our veterinarian also suggests checking whether your pet has worms or other parasites once a year. A simple fecal test can determine whether your de-worming protocol is working.

Between annual examinations, be on the lookout for signs that your dog is having trouble: not eating, changes in weight, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, elimination problems, or other changes in habits. Any of these may indicate the need for an extra visit to your veterinarian.

If your dog is healthy, you will find that he/she becomes more active.Engaging your healthy dog in activities is a sure way to keep him happy and healthy. The dog collars you have packed away will once again become useful, once your dog feel better.

It is very important to take care of your Dog health in order to keep your dog healthier and happier.

A yearly physical is good preventive medicine. According to the veterinaians, “Finding and treating diseases in the early stages gives your pet a much better prognosis than discovering a disease already in full swing,”. Your veterinarian may observe changes in your pet that you haven’t noticed.

Also learn how to house train dog.

Dogs that lead a very active lifestyle demand a more comprehensive diet than average dogs require. Examples of these hard-working dogs are those that participate in agility competitions as well as those that team up with law enforcement on a search-and-rescue mission.

You will definitely want to take a peek at these dog carriers for your active dog.

To simply say these types are dogs that are on the “go” is a grand understatement! However, should you have one of these terrific dogs it is essential that their diet be rich in nutrients and protein sources. These dogs need larger doses of food and certain types of nutrients.

Be sure to take a look at these pet stroller to give your hunting dog a hand.

A typical working dog would need about 2 – 5 times more calories than a less active dog. These extra calories are converted into energy that helps our dog athletes perform better. This is crucial for these dogs during the times when they are most active! Remember not all dogs can handle this lifestyle, so if you want a dog that has this lifestyle, you must get a breed or sporting class dog! You should never work another breed as these dogs are because again not all breeds can handle what these can! Remember these are the Sporting dogs such as your herders,retrievers,ect.

“What nutrients should my athletic dog be getting? What do I look for?” is a common question! We have outlined 4 basic and essential nutrients that should be in your Working/Sporting dog’s diet!

For your working dog you will need to pick up some dog supplies to keep them cool and collective.

Carbohydrate: Once your dog reaches adulthood, he has no need for carbohydrates in his diet, although he is able to absorb this nutrient if eaten. Less carbohydrates in the adult dog’s diet creates better performance. Therefore, minimum amount of carbohydrates is required for the working dog or any dog that participates in any kind of activity that lasts for more than two minutes.

The next nutrient you want in your dog’s diet is PROTEIN! Protein is very important because it contains amino acids. Amino Acids are important because they are the building blocks for hormones, tissues and muscles, and enzymes. Proteins develop muscle mass and strength. Important to know though is too much protein can lead to excessive protein breakdown and that could pose health problems. You want high protein sources according to what your dog’s diet needs for muscle development and structrual repair! No more, no less!

Your dog’s diet needs fats. Not bad fats and not excessive amounts of fats, but the good fats! The main source of energy for working and intermediate athletic dogs comes from fats. This nutrient contains about twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein provides. Adding more fat to your dog’s diet is the best way to increase his energy and strength. A diet high in fat is more appealing to your dog while at the same time providing him with better endurance.

Therefore, it is very important to supply him with adequate amount of essential fatty acids along with saturated and unsaturated fats. So far we have covered that your dog needs a little carbohydrates from healthy sources, how important protein is and that it is a necessity, and the difference from good and bad fats that are essential to the diet of your working and intermediate sportster!

The final essential nutrient is a definate no brainer, it’s Water! H2O is lost during laborous activity and hydration is crucial if not absolutely necessary! Water is packed with nutrients and minerals that are good for your dog and water also helps them to start the digestion process and their circulatory and coronary systems as well as their brains. So don’t forget to keep a boutiful supply of water for your dog to drink when they need some hydration! These 4 key nutrients will ensure your high performance Working/Sporting breed dog will have optimum and robust health and performance!