tips & tricks
Ingredients The nice weather is here and with nice weather comes increased trips to the dog park. Here are some DO’s and DON’Ts to make your dog park experience great for you and your pet.
DO ✓ DO bring poop bags. Even though you are in a fenced off area, you still need to scoop. It’s always nice to bring a few extras and leave them there, in case someone else forgets to bring a bag.
✓ DO bring lots of water for your dog. With all that playing, they get thirsty
quickly. Pack an extra bottle in case your dog meets a new friend and happily shares his drink!
✓ DO supervise your dog at all times. Sometimes dogs take a little longer to warm up to other dogs and it's best to keep a watch out for questionable behaviour.
✓ DO take an active role in their exercise by bringing a frisbee or ball to play and interact with your pet. Use this time to strengthen your bond between you and your pet (try to avoid bringing your smartphone!).
✓ DO use the dog park as an area to observe other breeds if you are looking to adopt another dog. It’s a great environment to watch other dogs and determine their energy level and how they play and socialize with each other.
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DON’T bring a dog with behaviour issues to the park. Start by socializing
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DON’T bring a new puppy to the park, as much as you may want to. Dogs
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DON’T worry if your dog does not automatically run off and play with other
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DON’T wear your fanciest clothes to the dog park, as you are bound
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DON’T bring very small children or older adults to the dog park, as they
your dog in a smaller, more controlled environment such as a backyard. Once your dog is comfortable with other dogs, start bringing him to the park during off hours when there are not as many dogs around to ease him into it and observe his temperament.
Good to know!
Our ingredients column shines a light on your pet’s food and helps you read and make sense of the label, ultimately make the best decision for your animal. Below are some of the items you WANT to see in the ingredient list on the back of your pet’s food. Fresh & Whole Vegetables An indicator that your pets are not getting the leftovers from human food production. Having fresh & whole fruits & vegetables means the food includes natural vitamins, minerals and fiber. Protein Your pet's digestive systems are designed to eat meat, so make sure meat is high on the ingredient list of their food. Protein such as chicken or turkey is a vital part of your pet’s diet. Protein can also be found in fish, eggs and soybeans. High Quality Grains (GRAIN DIETS) If your pet requires a diet with grains, try to find a food with multiple high quality grain sources such as brown rice, oatmeal and barley. These grains are carbohydrates and all carbohydrates are digested differently. Each carbohydrate provides your pet with unique benefits. Fat In moderation of course, fat provides the number one source of energy for your pet and helps with the absorption of many vitamins. Fatty acids are important in decreasing inflammation in your pet’s body. Of course, fat content needs to be monitored and, if properly regulated can be extremely beneficial to your pet's overall health. Vitamins & Minerals Our animals need certain vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Make sure your food is a complete and balanced diet, meaning that it contains everything essential to your pet's health. Supplements and preventative vitamins can be added to your pet's food for specific reasons, but only do so under advice from your veterinarian.
should have all their vaccinations before being exposed to so many other pets.
dogs. Some personalities and breeds prefer to walk or run by themselves or play a game of fetch with their owner. to get dirty. Even if your dog does not jump, there is no guarantee another dog won’t try to greet you face-to-face! can be knocked down and hurt accidentally by running dogs. There are often seats or benches on the other side of the fence where they can safely observe the dogs playing and avoid injuries.
22 Companion SPRING/SUMMER 2012
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