Should You Feed Your Dog Table Scraps?

By now, we’ve cleaned up after the big Thanksgiving dinner; we’ve made headway on the leftovers. The holiday eating season has begun. With all the food that is around during this time of year, it makes one wonder if dogs love or hate the holidays. Smelling turkey roasting all day will tempt even the most disciplined dogs. And it may tempt their owners to. Why not give your pup a piece of turkey to enjoy with the family? Should you feed your dog table scraps? After all, if it’s good enough for you….

The general consensus is no. Sorry! It is better for your dog if you keep his diet the same throughout the holidays and not supplement with table food. One reason why is that people food is not always good dog food. Fat trimmings, for instance, can cause pancreatitis; a nice juicy drumstick can obstruct your dog’s airway or cause a laceration in the digestive system. Carbohydrate-rich foods, like yeasty bread, are difficult for your dog to digest and can cause bloating and discomfort. A grape or a raisin that your dog eats (maybe in with some stuffing) can damage the kidneys. Dogs don’t have the same enzymes that humans do so they cannot break down and digest the same foods.

A piece of cooked turkey with all the fat trimmed off will not hurt your dog. But it is important that if you give your dog a piece, that you take away some of his dry food in order to compensate. Many people over feed their dogs. A small piece of turkey is fine – but don’t fill up a bowl for him and then give him his regular food. If you must, give your pet a piece of cooked meat without fat with his meal, making sure it accounts for no more than ten percent of his food.

It is so tempting to give our dogs treats as we give ourselves treats over the holidays. But just like the average American gains weight through the Thanksgiving-Christmas season, a dog can pack on the pounds, too, which can impact his health. Get him a nice chew toy instead!

Hitting the Road with Your Dog

The holiday season is coming, and for many of us, that means going to visit family and friends. If your dog is your best road trip pal, it is worth taking some precautions to keep him safe and sound. Often, dogs are not restrained in the car; they can cause accidents (or rather they can cause their owners to cause accidents), become missiles that can injure other people, or get injured themselves. What can you do to help make your trip safer for everyone?

• Crates or kennels. Wire crates help you keep your dog in one space. These are effective – and they can be used as beds when you get to your destination. If you have a small car, though, and a large dog, you may have a tight fit. If you put a crate in the back of a truck, make sure to secure it so it stays in place.

• Carriers fit into the seat and buckle in. This gives your pet his own space, a sense of safety, and security in case of an accident. You can also get a carrier that is similar to a child’s booster seat that allows your dog to look around and see what’s going on while still being tethered and safe.

• Harnesses are a great tool as well. These look very much like a harness with leash. The leash portion hooks into the seatbelt. Your dog has a little more freedom to move but is still secure.

• Wire or mesh barriers. These keep your dog from hopping over the seats. They do not restrain your pet like a carrier or harness will, so they can still get injured in an accident.

Remember to take lots of breaks for your dog to run and relieve himself. Dogs thrive on consistency, so even if you’re not at home, give him a sense of routine. Having his kennel, favorite toys, and a regular mealtime will help. Happy travels!

Forget the Doggie Bag -- This Restaurant is for the Dogs

“It's all about the dogs,” says Lily's Kitchen owner Henrietta Morrison. Perhaps the first restaurant for dogs, Lily's Kitchen features such tempting canine cuisine as turkey and chicken casserole or slow cooked lamp hotpot. Sounds good, doesn't it? The London restaurant was opened to spread the word about the company's superb organic food products, and to raise money for charity. The food includes such ingredients as marigold petals for detoxification and celery seed for joints and digestion. Is the doggie diner a success?

Thirty pups showed up the grand opening, and they were treated to a comfortable atmosphere – and various sized tables to accommodate different breeds. Dogs receive their meals – and belly rub – for free, while their humans are encouraged to make a donation. For a particularly dogged day, your pet can visit a holistic vet on-site and get an acupressure treatment. It's sounding even better now, isn't?

You won't find many restaurants (or any!) in the US that allow dogs other than service dogs, but there are certainly shops in which people can, and are encouraged, to bring their pets, including PetSmart and other pet centric stores. London has a much stricter attitude on dogs – they should not be seen or heard. The Freedom to Roam Campaign, of which Lily's Kitchen is a part, is designed to encourage more pet-friendly shops in the UK.

Lily's Kitchen will only remain open for about six weeks, but Ms. Morrison and friends hope that their restaurant generates more acceptance of dogs in public.

Dog Park Etiquette

Dogs need socialization just as much as their owners. Even the most pampered pooch is a pack animal at heart. He needs to be around other dogs in a safe setting in order to be happy and well-adjusted. If a dog is properly socialized, it makes him much less likely to become aggressive or hyperactive. One of the best places to do this is a dog park. But before you go and let your dog run free, it is a good idea to learn some dog park etiquette. Here are some tips to make sure your visit is fun and safe for everyone.

• Make sure your dog is vaccinated. This is just dangerous. Not only do you want to protect your dog from disease, you also want to prevent him from making other dogs sick. Many parks prohibit puppies that are too young to have had their full course of vaccines, so make sure you check, and make sure you are up-to-date.
• Clean up after your dog. This is perhaps the biggest dog park faux pas you can make. It is rude, it is dirty, and it is the worst way to go about making friends at the park.
• Keep your kids out of the park. This is for dogs!
• If your dog digs, make sure to fill the holes back in to prevent injuries and keep the park looking nice.
• Don’t bring your dog if she is in heat.
• Watch your dog’s behavior. You want to make sure that he isn’t forming a loose pack with other dogs. This can be a potentially dangerous situation for other dogs and even their owners. They are pack animals, but you do not want an aggressive pack to form.
• Make sure your dog isn’t being a bully. You wouldn’t let your child hurt other kids on the playground, would you? Don’t let your dog do it either.
• Have updated pet ID tags on your dog’s collar.
• Don’t force your dog to go. Again, watch his behavior. Does he like it? If not, he doesn’t have to go. He may get enough socialization on walks when he sees other dogs. Like people, not all dogs are social.
• This last one is completely optional, but we suggest dressing up and hitting the town in some great outerwear now that it is getting cooler! Why not socialize and look great?

Does Bo Walk Like the President?

Until now, Bo was the least controversial member of the Obama family. The adorable Portuguese Water Dog is a high-energy pup, and according to top dog expert, Cesar Millan, he is in charge of the White House. The Dog Whisperer bases his remarks on a recent photo of President Obama walking Bo – or more accurately, Bo doing his sled dog impression while Mr. President tries to rein him in from behind. According to Millan, it is never a good idea to let your dog walk you. When the dog leads, it reinforces his image of himself as the alpha dog, which can lead to dominance and discipline problems. Is this the case? Is Bo walking all over the President?

The “Dr. Phil for Dogs” says, “Americans who allow their dogs to walk them is one of my pet peeves. If your dog doesn't learn how to follow, you'll never have a disciplined pet.” Bo’s trainer, Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, begs to differ. The well-respected dog trainer says Millan’s approach is “old-fashioned.” Sylvia-Stasiewicz says that while Bo can walk at a heel, it is not always necessary for him to do so. She says that while it is true that you need to be the leader, you needn’t bully or pressure your dog to command loyalty.

So, should your dog always follow behind? It is the general consensus of trainers, including Ms. Sylvia-Stasiewicz, that you should be in control of your dog at all times. He doesn’t need to be in a perfect heel, but nor should he be pulling you where he wants to go. Puppies will do this; it’s perfectly natural. Many experts recommend that when your dog begins pulling in one direction, you immediately begin walking in the other. You can practice this in the backyard, and eventually, your dog will learn that he needs to let you lead.

Having the right equipment is essential, but even more important is remaining consistent in your training and rewarding your dog for jobs well done.