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Carob - A Dog's Chocolate

31/3/2015

Has your dog ever gotten into chocolate? You may have made an emergency trip to the vet, or just dealt with cleaning up messes for a couple of days, but after all of this it still didn't deter your dog from wanting more? There are few things that satisfy a chocolate craving, but one comparable and significantly healthier food is Carob. It is derived from an evergreen flowering shrub and belongs to the legume family where both the pods and seeds are edible. Carob can be found in the form of powder or chips, making it an easy substitute for chocolate in most recipes.

Carob has a naturally sweet and pleasant flavour and is packed with nutrients. It is rich in vitamins A, B, B1, B2, B3, B6 and D, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese and protein. Carob is also rich in fibre and pectin, which helps eliminate toxins from the body. This super food improves digestion, lowers cholesterol, and can be used to treat diarrhoea. The vitamin E content in carob helps to treat coughs, flu, and anaemia. It can even be used to fight against osteoporosis because of it allows better absorption of calcium.

As important as what carob contains, is what it does not contain. Unlike commercial chocolate, Carob does not contain theobromine, caffeine, phenylethylamine or fromamide. These are stimulants that can cause migraines and allergic reactions in some people and are toxic to both dogs and cats. People who are allergic or sensitive to chocolate can use carob powder as a chocolate substitute in any recipe. Carob also contains fewer calories than chocolate, and because it is naturally sweet, the amount of added sugar in a recipe can be reduced when replacing chocolate with Carob!

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April Dog of the Month

30/3/2015

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Hasn't the year flown? Already time to announce our 4th Dog of the Month for 2015.
Who better to be our Easter Bunny in disguise then…..

Malamute, eater bunny, easter dog, bunny ears, alaskan malamute,

Casper the Alaskan Malamute!

Casper is just a giant teddy bear and we’re very excited to share his blogs with you for April.

Happy Easter from Casper and all the Doggy Doaters!

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Dangerous Foods for Dogs - Milk and Dairy Products

22/3/2015

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Level of Toxicity: Generally mild to moderate.

What is harmful? Lactose.

Why is this harmful? All dogs are Lactose intolerant to a degree and cannot properly digest dairy. Giving your dog milk can cause a significant imbalance to their system and trigger other health issues as well. Not all dogs react when having milk or dairy products, however it is advised not to take the risk.

What symptoms should I look out for? Smelly farts, diarrhea, vomiting.

Your dog should be examined by your vet immediately should you have any concerns about their health.

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Dog of the Month - Jack Russell

16/3/2015

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As the Jack Russell has strong hunting instincts; they like to chase, explore, bark and dig and should not be trusted with other small animals. They thrive from having a job to do and can really excel when having a strong pack leader. They are a great companion when sufficiently exercised, and require a long, daily, brisk walk. In addition to this, they would be in their glory with space to run, hunt and play. If the Jack Russell is left alone through-out the day, they should be exercised both in the morning with a big jog or pack leader walk, and again once returning home. If not well exercised, they will get restless and destructive so they must have an activity to keep their mind occupied. A Jack Russell that stands 12 inches high can easily jump five foot high, so make sure they are well trained and occupied from a young age. This is a breed that needs to be well socialised, or they can become aggressive towards other dogs. It should be remembered that the Jack Russell is a working terrier and need to retain these instincts, so nervousness, cowardice or over-aggressiveness should be discouraged, and the pack leader should always appear confident!

The Jack Russell is a cheerful, devoted and loving dog who is spirited, obedient yet fearless. They like toys, games and if well balanced, they like children. They are very intelligent and for this reason it is paramount that you are this dog’s pack leader. They must be given rules and limitations, and understand what they are and aren’t allowed to do, otherwise this will lead to varying degrees of behavioural problems such as snapping, guarding, separation anxiety and obsessive barking. If these behaviours are seen, your Jack Russell has fallen into Small Dog Syndrome, which is where they believe they are the pack leader above humans. Jack Russell’s are very intelligent and need a strong, experienced, firm trainer as if you do not show authority to this breed, they can be difficult to train.

Reverend John “Jack” Russell, who was also known as “The Sporting Parson”, was an enthusiastic fox-hunter and dog breeder who developed the Jack Russell Terrier in the 1800’s. These dogs were used as hunting dogs, mainly for the red fox, and required to be long-legged enough to be able to keep up with the bigger hounds. The colour of the Jack Russell is generally 51% or more being white, with black, brown or tan markings. Brindle markings, as well as black and tan colouring can occur but are rare within this breed.

This breed requires to be combed and brushed with a firm-bristle brush, and to be bathed only when required. The Jack Russell’s are prone to dislocation of the knee caps, inherited eye diseases, deafness, Legg Perthes (a disease of the hip joints) and are also prone to mast cell tumours. In saying that, they do have a life expectancy of 15 years or more.

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Dog of the Month - Labrador

2/3/2015

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There are in fact two different types of Labrador; the English and the American. Their general appearance is quite different with the English bred Labradors being heavier and stockier and the Americans being taller and lanky. Both types of Labradors have a smooth double coat that does not have any waves. Their coat colours come in a solid black, yellow or chocolate. It’s believed there is also a rare mutation of a silver/grey colour which the AKC consider a ‘shade of chocolate’, it’s quite a controversial subject between Labrador breeders and some claim it’s a Weimaraner, Labrador cross, though others say it’s a true mutation.

The Labrador is native to the Newfoundland and were once known as the ‘St.John’s Dogs’. It was here they worked side by side with their fisherman and would catch any fish that became loose from the lines. They were trained to jump into the extremely cold waters to help pull in the nets. In the 1800’s some of them were brought over to England on ships coming from Labrador (hence their name). They were cross bred with setters, spaniels and other similar retrievers to improve their instincts as hunters. It didn’t take long for them to become an extremely popular pet and hunting dog and they’ve gradually become one of the most popular breeds throughout the U.S and Australia.

The Labrador is a highly intelligent, trainable breed. They are well known today for their work as Seeing Eye Dogs, Guide Dogs and sniffer dogs throughout the police force and airport work. Their loving nature and eagerness to please is the reason they are such a great family pet. Unfortunately, for some people it’s easy to forget that these bouncy bundles of joy are a working dog, meaning they need constant daily stimulation, both physically and mentally. They can easily put on weight if over fed and under exercised and are prone to hip and elbow displacer. It’s highly important that their weight is kept at a healthy level from the early stages of life to prevent these issues further down the track. An overweight Labrador lives a shorter and unhealthier life then healthy weight Labrador.

As working dogs their minds are always on the go, for this reason plenty of mental stimulation is a must! Training must be started from a young age to assert that you are the pack leader. Labrador’s can grow into large, solid dogs and while jumping all over everyone may be cute as a pup, as they continue to grow this can become very unwelcoming. A dog jumping on you is also their way of showing dominance and means your dog doesn’t see you as the pack leader. Their natural line of work shines through when it comes to water play, Labradors just love it! They love to be a part of a family and are excellent with children and other dogs. They fit well into any environment as long as they can get plenty of human attention, exercise and stimulation.

They are an average shedder and their short, double coat is easy to groom. Brushed regularly and bathed only when needed will help to keep it easily maintained.

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Carob - A Dog's Chocolate

April Dog of the Month

Dangerous Foods for Dogs - Milk and Dairy Products

Dog of the Month - Jack Russell

Dog of the Month - Labrador

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