We want to make sure our French Bulldog has the best food possible. I’ve been doing some research on the popular dog food brand Science Diet because that’s what our breeders were feeding as well as the brand our Vet recommended. Since we posted a blog regarding Science Diet we have gotten many negative feedback, so we decided to dig a little further. Besides finding out that Science Diet has by-products in it, I have also read that the only reason why vets recommend Iams and Science Diet is because the two companies help put them through veterinarian school and are the ones who publish the textbooks they use while in school. The company that provides the vets with these textbooks, research labs and information is The Hill’s Company, which coincidently happens to be the makers of Science Diet.
I also read it is not recommended to trust vets when it comes to nutrition because vets spend very little time on nutrition while in school (some vets don’t spend any time on it whatsoever) and just aren’t qualified to render a good judgment as to what’s good and what’s bad. This is why people need to go to sites like Mordanna’s Dog Food Project (http://www.dogfoodproject.com/) and research for yourself as to what’s good and what’s bad. Or check out Ashley’s Pets Dog Food Info (http://ashleyspets.com/DogFood.html) for juicy veterinarian diet info.
I spent hours surfing through the Dog Food Project and found some very interesting reads about different dog food brands and the veterinarian politics around them. I also discovered an ex-veterinarian journalist named Charles Danten. He pretty much exposes all of the unethical veterinarian nutrition practices and how vets make money off brands like Iams and Science Diet.
Here’s the twist. Tink’s Parents are some of the healthiest adult frenchies we’ve ever seen. They have a good bill of health and have never had any problems. And when we got Tink, she appeared and acted as healthy as a French bulldog pup can be. And they eat Science Diet. hmmm… maybe all this controversy is a myth. It seems the more and more we research anything in the puppy world the more we realize that everyone has a different opinion, the question is who do we believe? Perhaps different brands work better for different dogs, I guess in the end as long as your dog is healthy and happy thats all that matters.
Training your dog how to perform simple commands is an essential for all dog owners. The time it will take will vary depending on how much time you invest in training your dog each day. Generally, dogs trained about 20 minutes each day will follow simple commands after 2-3 months of training.
To teach any command, you should follow these simple steps:
1. Decide what you would like your dog to do.
2. Make up an auditory and/or visual sign to initiate the desired action.
The auditory command should have his name in it (e.g. "Buddy, sit"). Your voice should be of right tone and volume (e.g. don't mumble, shout).
3. Say the command only once.
4. To help the dog make the association of the command to the action, make your dog perform the action after the command is given.
5. Use reinforcements for good behaviors (e.g. petting him or treats)
6. After your dog follows the commands consistently, use distractions and see if he still obeys.
Sit
To teach your dog how to sit, first place a leash on the collar of your dog. Say the command in a firm voice once. Pull up in the leash while pushing down on his back until he is in the sitting position. For larger dogs, if you are unable to push the dog down into the sitting position, and easy way to do this is to walk the dog forward a couple steps and this will allow you to easily push the dog's rear down. If your dog is fidgeting around and won't sit, keep a firm grip on the leash while pulling upward. After your dog is in the position, praise the dog, but do not let him get up. This enables the dog to associate your command with this position. After a few seconds, you can allow your dog to get out of that position by petting under his chin. This tells the dog it is okay to move. Continue this process until your dog obeys the command.
Stay
After you teach your dog to sit, you can teach him to stay. First, have him sit. Then command him to "Stay" while you stand in front of him with the leash over his head. You should act distracted (e.g. look the other way, tie your shoes). if your dog gets up, you should pull the leash upwards until the dog sits again. Prevent your dog from lying down by holding the leash high enough that he can't comfortably lie down. After some time sitting and not getting up, you can pet under its chin, which the dog will associate with being okay to move. After your dog successfully stays seated, you can eventually move one or two paces away. You can also start to use other distractions like food or toys. The dog should still obey your command and stay in a sitting position, despite the distractions.
Lie Down
Teaching your dog to lie down starts out similarly to the sit routine. Command your dog to lie down. You should then force the dog to lie down by placing your hand above his shoulder blades and pushing down. This can be very tricky. Some dogs my hold their front legs very rigid that it is too difficult for you to push them down. If this is the case, you should push down on the shoulder blades while you lift up on of their legs. You may want to wear gloves and long sleeves because the dog may resist you by flailing its paws. When the dog is in the proper position, you may reinforce the dog, but don't allow him to move until you pet him underneath the chin, which signifies he can get out of whatever position he may be in.
After teaching the dog to lie down using this method, the next step is to teach him to lie down without pushing his front down. You should pull the leash diagonally toward the back. The first few times, you should push down on its front so he knows to lie down. After that, he should associate the diagonal pull on the leash and the command with the proper action.
After you dog learns this, you can teach him to lie down by just using words. To do this, you should command him to go down quickly several or more times a minute.
Stand
Teaching your dog to get up from lying down or the sitting position is very similar to the previous methods. Hold his collar and give the command. Pull forward on the collar slightly. As the dog stands, reinforce his behavior, and make him stand still for about 20 seconds. If the dog tries to move, jerk the collar in the opposite direction until he stands still. After he stands still for about 20 seconds, release him by petting under his chin.
Stand, Stay
After you dog consistently obeys the stand command, you can teach him the stay command. Have your dog stand. Walk around your dog while one hand is firmly holding his collar prohibiting him to move, while the other hand is petting and reinforcing him for not moving. After you dog stands without moving, you can try walking around him, without petting him.
However much we love our dog there may be times when it’s just not possible to be together and during this time we may need to place them into a boarding kennel. It will be hard leaving your dog especially if this is the first time and you’ll worry if they are going to be looked after well, will they miss you, and will they get taken for a walk or be comforted if there scared.
These are all natural feelings as your dog will be part of the family and you wouldn’t leave one of the members of your family with just anyone. The same applies to your dog with a little careful checking and looking around you can find a boarding kennel which can satisfy all your questions. Here are some tips when choosing a boarding kennel:
How to find a good kennel
A good place to start is with family and friends, ask around which kennel they have used and what they felt about it, if friends and family haven’t used one then considering getting a recommendation from your vet. Once you have got some names then do a little investigation work into the kennel, most reputable kennels now have websites where they show information on the kennels and even pictures of the accommodation where dogs are kept.
Most kennels have to meet certain standards and gain certification so look for this, when you think you have found one or two that meets your requirements call them and ask if they can accommodate your dog and plan a visit there.
All good kennels will be only too happy to show you around the facility and let you meet members of staff who will be helping to look after your pet. Feel free to ask any questions or worries you have and also to point out any special requirements that your dog might have.
What to look for at the kennel
On your visit to the kennel pay particular attention to the following:
* Make sure the kennel looks and smells clean.
* Make sure the area where the dogs are kept is light and airy.
* Is the temperature comfortable.
* Do the staff members seem happy in their work, do they seem loving and caring.
* Does each dog have somewhere they can get exercise, such as an outdoor or indoor run.
* Are the runs protected from the elements.
* Is there bedding or resting boards so the dogs can get off the concrete floor.
* Is there adequate space for the food and water bowls.
* How often are the dogs fed and watered.
* Can the owner bring special food if required.
* What vet services are there in the kennel.
* Does the kennel provide grooming, bathing and training.
The pros and cons
The pros
* A boarding kennel avoids the stress of a long journey on your pet to your holiday destination.
* He’ll be somewhere where he’s welcome unlike some hotels.
* Hell receive more attention than he would being left in the hotel room for the day.
* You’ll have more freedom on your holiday.
* Your dog will be monitored all day.
* Your dog will be secure and safe.
The cons
* Your dog could get stressed being in an unfamiliar environment.
* Your dog may be exposed to illness from other pets.
* Choosing a kennel can be difficult and cause you worry.
* If the kennel is a long way from your home your dog could become stressed on the journey.
* Make sure that you research the breed thoroughly before you buy a puppy or dog, never make an impulse purchase and buy the first puppy from the first breeder you find.
* Be honest with the breeder about what you’re looking for when you go to see the puppies or dogs, if you are looking for a show dog then don’t tell the breeder you want a pet because you think this will cost you less. A responsible breeder will sell their French bulldogs as pets with limited registration papers and you will not be able to show your dog without full papers.
* If you buy a frenchie as a pet, then you probably wont be able to show it, the breeder will sell their frenchies as pets if they know the puppy wont meet the strict requirements needed for showing.
* Even if you purchase a dog or puppy for show there is no guarantee that you will be successful, not every show dog has the superior qualities which are needed to win major prizes at the top shows.
* Don’t buy a show dog just for the sake of it, if all you want is a companion then buy a puppy for a pet, they might not meet the exact standards required of the breed but if you bought your puppy from a reputable breeder who does breed show dogs then your companion will be pretty close to meeting the requirements without costing you an arm and leg.
* Make sure that you get yourself a copy of the breed standard and also equip yourself with the knowledge of the problems know to this specific breed.
* If you wish to purchase a dog for showing then attend as many shows as possible before you go looking for a puppy, make sure you know the breed and the colours that are required for showing.
* Even if you don’t intend to show your frenchie it doesn’t hurt to get acquainted with the breed’s standard before you choose your puppy, what better way to learn about the breed than from those who have been breeding and showing frenchies for years.
* Contact and view puppies from as many different breeders as you can before making your final choice.
* Makes sure you take a list with all the questions you want to ask the breeder, a reputable breeder will only be too happy to answer all your questions, they should also ask some questions of you too.
* A breeder who isn’t affiliated with a dog club is no worse than those who are, their puppies and dogs can be just as worthy of the show ring than those belonging to a club.
* Don’t be taken in by breeders who claim their dogs are show worthy but who don’t actually show them, a good breeder will show their dogs and have proof with certificates and trophies of what their dogs are actually capable of. The breeder who claims their dogs are champions without having the proof and who makes the excuse of not having time to show their dogs should be avoided especially if you do want to show the puppy.
* Look for a breeder who has several years of experience in breeding French bulldogs.
* Ask how many litters a year the breeder has and be wary of those who claim they always have litters available, the good breeder will only breed a few litters per year, those who say they always have litters haven’t got the best interests of the dogs at heart only their pockets.
* Does the breeder give you registration papers; health records and micro chip the puppies. A reputable breeder will give you the puppy’s pedigree records and health records. Most breeders know have a micro chip inserted into the puppy very early on, this helps to locate dogs that are lost or stolen.
