Are you aware that getting the attention of the sexy ladies on the beach would be a breeze if you have a dog that would play up and deftly catch the Frisbee every time you give the fetch command? Playing fetch with the dog would be lots of fun. Unfortunately, dogs don’t come from breeder already trained to fetch. Even retrievers, the dogs that were specifically bred to retrieve game after the shot have to be trained before they can be useful hunter’s companions. 

Dogs are intelligent animals thus teaching them the fetch command would not be too difficult. We know how playful these animals are thus the training will be viewed by the pet as a game. The dog’s inherent eagerness to please can be used by a dog owner to train the pet to fetch . Dogs are food motivated thus favorite treats can be used as positive reinforcement to make the training easier.

Start the training by playing with the dog. Gain the interest of the dog by playing with the ball in front of the pet. Toss the ball a few feet away and then retrieve. The dog will surely be enticed to play because dogs are naturally playful. Toss the ball and at the same time give the fetch command. At the start of the training, the dog will not return the ball to you although it may run after the ball and play with it for a while. Praise the dog and toss the ball again. Repeat the process until the dog picks up the ball and returns it to you. Every time the dog obeys praise and reward the pet with a treat.

The reward will entice the dog to obey as it will be associated by the dog to the fetch command. Take the training to the next level by tossing the ball farther. The dog may run after the ball but it may not pick the ball. Do not give a treat. The dog has to understand that a treat will only be received if he returns the ball to you.

You can train a dog to fetch by using a toy filled with treats. Just make sure that the dog cannot get the treat inside the toy. If the pet can remove and consume the treat, it will not be inclined to return the toy to you. The dog has to learn to return the baited toy to you so that you can remove the treat and give it to the dog.

Aiding handicapped individuals, hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police military and companionship, these are just some of the big help of dogs in human’s life. As quoted by Roger Caras, “dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole”. Dogs are not only man’s best friend but they are also very efficient companions; this is why their health is very important. Maintaining your dog’s good health is very important to ensure good performance and also longer life, and to do so, owners must keep in mind that the food they feed their pets plays a very crucial part in the health of their pet. Different companies offer various kinds of dog food that caters all the needs of your pets.

About 15,000 years ago, dogs which are form of gray wolves were domesticated. Over the years, other breeds were developed and now there are more or less a hundred of different dog breeds. The estimated population of dogs in the world in 2001 is a whopping 400 million that includes all types of breeds, most especially the toy breeds or toy dogs. Toy dogs have become popular over the years because of their small size even when they are mature. These dogs have the exact characteristics for people who want a dog pet but have small yards or lives in cities or apartments. There are also sporting, non-sporting, working, terrier, hound and herding dog breeds. Different breeds of dogs have different needs and this is why owners must take in consideration in selecting the right kind of food for his/her dog.

Also, an important consideration in choosing the best dog food one should feed his pet is the dog’s age. Keep in mind that a puppy’s food may not provide the nutrients necessary for an adult dog much that an adult dog food does not have the elements necessary during the puppies’ growth period. You must also remember to include your dogs’ preferences in the choice of food you feed them.

One must remember that a healthy, well balanced and nutritious dog food promotes healthy skin and coat, strong well developed bones, bright clear eyes, firmer stools, well defined muscle tone, quality of life and longevity, healthy teeth and gums, fewer trips to your Vet, no bad odor, fewer digestive problems, energy, vitality, fewer behavior problems and over all health. On the other hand, a dog fed with an inappropriate dog food is often prone to cancers, weakened immune system, liver failure, sluggish behavior, putrid gas, diarrhea, dull coat and heavy shedding, epilepsy, vomiting, ear infections, compromised heart and kidneys, stunted growth and weakened bones, bad breath, bowel disease, diabetes, cystitis, cataracts, hypertension, build up in the eyes, arthritis, countless allergies, etc.

Raw food, commercial food, or even homemade food is some of the types of dog food we may feed our dogs. The commercial dog food or store-bought dog foods also come in two forms, namely the dry form and the wet canned form. Pet owners must remember that in selecting the food for their pet, make sure to look on the labels of the product and make sure that it has all the nutrients needed to support your dog’s nourishment. One must not be lured with all the marketing tactics of other brands in buying your desired product.

Another type of dog food is the raw dog food. Raw dog food is feeding your pet raw meat and imitating the diet of animals in the wild; however, others do not agree with this, and believes that feeding your dog with raw meat is putting your pet on danger of getting food-borne diseases. If pet owners are confused on selecting the right commercial dog food and is not very confident with the raw dog food, this third type might just be your best option, which is homemade dog food. With homemade dog food, you make the food your dog yourself. You are in full control of the food that your pet eats and you can assure that your dog gets the right amount of food and nutrients needed.

Despite these various feeding options, one must always remember that what is at stake in choosing the dog food to feed your pets is your dogs’ health. So whether your Hundefutter -as they call dog food in German -is a commercial dog food like the Select Gold Hundefutter, raw food or homemade, so long as it meets your dog’s nutritional requirements, then it is the best food for your pet.

The author operates a veterinary clinic in Dresden, Germany. To ensure that his dog patients get the ideal care they need, he only feeds them with the best Hundefutter (dog food) proper for their age and breed. He strongly recommends Select Gold Hundefutter.