How to Choose a Breeder
By Leah Morse
I am a big fan of people that adopt from the shelters and rescues. There are a lot of great dogs just waiting for their forever home. Why did they end up there in the first place? Why didn’t they get the training or direction that they should have to prevent shelter admission? I spent 2 years working at a shelter and saw everything you could imagine! I saw purebred, mixes, adults and puppies. I saw many dogs euthanized including countless purebred puppies and dogs. So why a blog on finding a great breeder? Simple, there are many of us that love our purebreds. Yes there are rescues that should be considered first. However, if a specific dog is in mind and has not been found in a shelter, a breeder is the next step. If all breeders really and truly cared about what they were producing, it would directly affect the number of shelter animals. A breeder’s responsibility goes beyond the health of the dogs they help to produce.
On the low end, countless unscrupulous backyard and puppy mill breeders pump out puppies by the thousands. Pedigree, conformation, temperament and health are secondary to the money they collect. They produce mass quantities of puppies at bargain prices, many of which end up in pet stores designated to be someone’s impulse buy. These puppies, at their bargain prices, become many of the throw away shelter admissions. When the vet or training bills surpass the price of the puppy it is just easier, in some people’s minds to just relinquish the problem puppy to the pound (generally between 6 and 18months which is the most challenging age for most dogs) and go back to the pet shop or bargain breeder for a new one.
What if all breeders had the integrity to do all they could possibly do to keep their puppies in a forever home? This would definitely take more than just putting 2 dogs of the opposite sex together. First off the breeding animals should cared for to be at optimal health, after all they are going to be building healthy puppies. Feeding the best food, for optimal health is key for healthy puppies. Next health testing should be done as there are many hereditary diseases that should be considered. Breeders that go the extra mile to health test for their breeds specific troubling diseases such as hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, cardiomyopathy to name a few. Breeders that follow their specific breed recommendations for health testing, provided by many breed specific clubs, should be considered over those that don’t. Once nutrition is optimal and health testing has been completed, the next step is the choice of dam and sire. They should be true to the breed standard and improve on each other’s faults. Parent dogs should be great examples of their breeds traits, working ability, and conformation.
After the health of the breeding animal has been established and the breeding has taken place, optimum care should be taken of the mother. Once the puppies arrive the work does not stop. Puppies should be handled and socialized and prepared for their stressful departure. More and more breeders are adopting best practices of socialization, training, handling, crate training introduction and puppy nutrition. Introduction to crate training, the rule of sevens (http://www.rmclassiccanine.com/www.RMclassiccanine.com/Rule_of_7s.html )
and basic handling should be consistently practiced to help give the puppies the best confidence levels as possible. It is stressful enough for them to leave the only home they have ever known in their short 8week life to go to a completely unfamiliar new home. Add the stress of having to learn what a crate is on top of missing your siblings and mother. Having been introduced to a crate prior to leaving for their new home greatly reduces the stress they go through. If you are lucky enough to have received the puppy’s crate from the breeder it will lessen the frustration on the part of the new owner listening to the crying puppy and the anxiety of the puppy as a crate will be a familiar object. New owners will be more likely to continue the crate training which will aid in house training.
How much would you pay? Being wise about a puppy purchase goes without saying. However, a bargain puppy will most likely cost you considerably more in its lifetime. Spending more on a puppy that has come from a breeder that practices preventative measures as that which has been mentioned above, will be easier to train with the foundation that the breeder worked for by early handling, socialization and training. Purchasing a puppy that has come from healthy stock also is a wise financial consideration.
Finally, be prepared to be questioned by an ideal breeder. They have put a lot of heart and soul into the production of their puppies. An ideal breeder will have a puppy application and certain requirements of the potential new owner. An ideal breeder will be knowledgeable and preferably only breed one or two types of dogs. They will be able to instruct you on the breeds traits and potential health problems. An ideal breeder will not mind being 20 questioned either. An Ideal Breeder will also make themselves available for questions and support throughout the dog’s life and in the very least offer at least a one year health guarantee. You should be able to visit the puppy and see at least the mother on the property. Obtain referrals from the breeder if possible including the breeders vet if possible. The breeder should be able to easily produce health records, registration papers and pedigrees. Last but not least, be prepared to wait for the right puppy, hasty decisions or impulse buys are more likely to not turn out well.
We would love to hear your comments and concerns about choosing a breeder. You can reach us by email at live@dogdoctoradio.com
Tags: Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Dog Training Careers | Colorado Dog Trainer | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah also writes weekly for Denver Dog Works. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Showing posts with label leah morse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leah morse. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Science Behind Raw Diets for Dogs
The Science Behind a Raw Diet for Dogs
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
So why should I feed raw diet? I want to dig a little deeper and look past the fact that my dogs look like they were dipped in clear coat, they aren’t getting sick, my puppy has really never gotten diarrhea, it costs less for the nutrition it provides and my dogs truly enjoy eating it. I want to know about the science of why this is working. I have read several books, watched a DVD and have spent hours upon hours on the internet. Here are some interesting things that I have found.
The enzymes that exist in the raw food are a huge part of why this has been so good for my dogs. In “Living Enzymes, The World’s Best Kept Pet Food Secret” by Robert Mueller, BSc, Pharm. It is explained that the enzymes are the key to everything. Robert Mueller has had plenty of experience with feeding raw food as he worked with racing greyhounds that were fed raw diet to enhance their performance. He also was involved with providing correct raw food for exotic animals. Robert Mueller states “Enzymes are the life forces that activate and then participate in all the body’s digestive and metabolic processes. “
There are enzymes that are produced inside a dog’s body by various organs but when supplemented by naturally occurring enzymes from raw food, it takes away the strain of production on the body. According to Robert Mueller a pets enzyme reserve is exhausted in several years of feeding foods that do not supply enzymes. All enzymes are completely cooked out of kibble by the high temperatures, as well as all the nutrients that are later added back in.
In Whole Health for Happy Dogs, by Jill Elliot D.V.M and Kim Bloomer, they state that meat that has been cooked beyond 180 degrees F, no longer contains the beneficial fats and enzymes which are the most valuable ingredients that your dog needs for optimal health. You can bet that dog food has been cooked beyond this. Another interesting fact that this book points out is that there are storage mites that are in the grains used in dog food. These mites apparently secrete deadly mycotoxins (mycotoxins are chemical secreted by toxic mold) and when the grain is processed these toxins end up in the kibble. The food and Drug Administration allows certain levels of mycotoxins in the food so pet food manufacturers get around this my mixing grains with higher levels of mycotoxins with grains of lesser levels; hopefully to reduce the higher levels. (page 100-107)
In Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD) goes to great lengths to discuss the good of raw diet and the bad and ugly of processed kibble. He breaks the ingredients down to preservatives and color. Dr. Pitcairn meticulously breaks down the additives such as fillers and color and flavors.
I highly recommend this book as a complete guide to anyone just starting to feed raw diet. I am currently following his recommendation for feeding a pregnant dog as we have followed through with a planned breeding. He even provides exact recipes of supplementation and meals that you can make. It has been an awesome resource for me with having both a growing boxer puppy and a pregnant boxer in my house.
For more information on our upcoming litters please visit: My Watch Boxers
In conclusion, all of my sources of information all agree on the fact that the nutrition and enzymes provided by the raw food is invaluable. They all agree that a dog’s digestive system is designed to handle raw food. They all agree that raw food is digested so much quicker than cooked and therefore prevents bacteria to thrive.
It is my hope that sharing my experiences of converting to and feeding raw diet is beneficial. I will never go back to kibble.
We would love to hear your comments and concerns about feeding a raw diet to dogs. You can reach us by email at live@dogdoctoradio.com
Tags: Raw Diet for Dogs | Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Dog Training Careers | Colorado Dog Trainer | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
__________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah writes a weekly blog for Denver Dog Works. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
So why should I feed raw diet? I want to dig a little deeper and look past the fact that my dogs look like they were dipped in clear coat, they aren’t getting sick, my puppy has really never gotten diarrhea, it costs less for the nutrition it provides and my dogs truly enjoy eating it. I want to know about the science of why this is working. I have read several books, watched a DVD and have spent hours upon hours on the internet. Here are some interesting things that I have found.
The enzymes that exist in the raw food are a huge part of why this has been so good for my dogs. In “Living Enzymes, The World’s Best Kept Pet Food Secret” by Robert Mueller, BSc, Pharm. It is explained that the enzymes are the key to everything. Robert Mueller has had plenty of experience with feeding raw food as he worked with racing greyhounds that were fed raw diet to enhance their performance. He also was involved with providing correct raw food for exotic animals. Robert Mueller states “Enzymes are the life forces that activate and then participate in all the body’s digestive and metabolic processes. “
There are enzymes that are produced inside a dog’s body by various organs but when supplemented by naturally occurring enzymes from raw food, it takes away the strain of production on the body. According to Robert Mueller a pets enzyme reserve is exhausted in several years of feeding foods that do not supply enzymes. All enzymes are completely cooked out of kibble by the high temperatures, as well as all the nutrients that are later added back in.
In Whole Health for Happy Dogs, by Jill Elliot D.V.M and Kim Bloomer, they state that meat that has been cooked beyond 180 degrees F, no longer contains the beneficial fats and enzymes which are the most valuable ingredients that your dog needs for optimal health. You can bet that dog food has been cooked beyond this. Another interesting fact that this book points out is that there are storage mites that are in the grains used in dog food. These mites apparently secrete deadly mycotoxins (mycotoxins are chemical secreted by toxic mold) and when the grain is processed these toxins end up in the kibble. The food and Drug Administration allows certain levels of mycotoxins in the food so pet food manufacturers get around this my mixing grains with higher levels of mycotoxins with grains of lesser levels; hopefully to reduce the higher levels. (page 100-107)
In Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD) goes to great lengths to discuss the good of raw diet and the bad and ugly of processed kibble. He breaks the ingredients down to preservatives and color. Dr. Pitcairn meticulously breaks down the additives such as fillers and color and flavors.
I highly recommend this book as a complete guide to anyone just starting to feed raw diet. I am currently following his recommendation for feeding a pregnant dog as we have followed through with a planned breeding. He even provides exact recipes of supplementation and meals that you can make. It has been an awesome resource for me with having both a growing boxer puppy and a pregnant boxer in my house.
For more information on our upcoming litters please visit: My Watch Boxers
In conclusion, all of my sources of information all agree on the fact that the nutrition and enzymes provided by the raw food is invaluable. They all agree that a dog’s digestive system is designed to handle raw food. They all agree that raw food is digested so much quicker than cooked and therefore prevents bacteria to thrive.
It is my hope that sharing my experiences of converting to and feeding raw diet is beneficial. I will never go back to kibble.
We would love to hear your comments and concerns about feeding a raw diet to dogs. You can reach us by email at live@dogdoctoradio.com
Tags: Raw Diet for Dogs | Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Dog Training Careers | Colorado Dog Trainer | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
__________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah writes a weekly blog for Denver Dog Works. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010
A Day of Fasting (Raw Diet for Dogs)
A Day of Fasting
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
It is important to discuss fasting. After much of what I have read, whether on the internet, one of many books or other resources. It is highly recommended that a day of fasting is very beneficial (except growing puppies or pregnant/lactating females.) This, by far, was a the hardest concept that I considered when choosing raw diet. It took me a while to actually practice fasting with my adult dogs. How could I fast my dogs for 24 hours. They were better than alarm clocks when it came to feeding time. The Daylight Savings switch over and back means nothing to my dogs, days off and sleeping in have no meaning to my dogs. How is this going to be possible, without our peace being severely disturbed by our hungry dogs? It was easier than we thought.
The purpose of the fast is to help clear out the digestive system for a fresh start. Fasting occurs naturally in carnivores. The day after a fast is a good time to feed a less desirable food, my dogs are not big spinach fans so this is added to their meat and bones the day after a fast.
Things that we do to help our dogs get through a fast. We always fast our dogs Friday night through Saturday morning (we generally feed twice a day) as this is the very busiest time of the week for us. Friday night we are busy working, coming home and then leaving again. Saturday’s are full of classes and dog training. Choosing the busiest time of our week really helps as our routine is disrupted. I will occasionally give some cooked veggies to help the adults when I have to feed the puppy as puppies should not be fasted.
Saturday afternoon I will give them a nice raw knuckle bone. King Soopers has been a good supplier of these and lately they have been cut in half which helps the dog get to the marrow. It is a good idea to give veggies with it though as they can get constipated with just bone and marrow.
We also play with our dogs between the hustle and bustle of Friday to Saturday. It has worked out really well as our dogs do not seem to be stressed or act like they are deprived. Finding an activity that your dog’s live for is very helpful. The world does not exist when the Frisbee comes out for Story our adult female. So Frisbee is part our Saturday routine.
9 Benefits of fasting (as reported by doggy bytes http://doggybytes.ca/9-health-benefits-fasting-dog/2266/)
Conserves energy
Revitalizes
Relaxes and energizes the body and mind
Rests the digestive organs
Improves the senses
Reduces allergies
Builds resistance to disease
Detoxifies
Optimizes health
Last but not least, our attitudes make a big difference when it comes to fasting or other changes in the routine. The less we let on that we are impacted the more our dogs take what we do or don’t do in stride. If we act as if fasting is the norm and don’t give attention for attempts, on the dog’s part, to solicit food, the solicitation will not last long. Especially of the demands are redirected to training or play. Keeping ourselves upbeat instead of apologetic is the best help of all. Our dogs trust us and accept willingly the change in feeding schedule.
Tags: Leah Morse | Rocky Mountain Classic Canine | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Therapy Dog Denver
________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah Can also be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
It is important to discuss fasting. After much of what I have read, whether on the internet, one of many books or other resources. It is highly recommended that a day of fasting is very beneficial (except growing puppies or pregnant/lactating females.) This, by far, was a the hardest concept that I considered when choosing raw diet. It took me a while to actually practice fasting with my adult dogs. How could I fast my dogs for 24 hours. They were better than alarm clocks when it came to feeding time. The Daylight Savings switch over and back means nothing to my dogs, days off and sleeping in have no meaning to my dogs. How is this going to be possible, without our peace being severely disturbed by our hungry dogs? It was easier than we thought.
The purpose of the fast is to help clear out the digestive system for a fresh start. Fasting occurs naturally in carnivores. The day after a fast is a good time to feed a less desirable food, my dogs are not big spinach fans so this is added to their meat and bones the day after a fast.
Things that we do to help our dogs get through a fast. We always fast our dogs Friday night through Saturday morning (we generally feed twice a day) as this is the very busiest time of the week for us. Friday night we are busy working, coming home and then leaving again. Saturday’s are full of classes and dog training. Choosing the busiest time of our week really helps as our routine is disrupted. I will occasionally give some cooked veggies to help the adults when I have to feed the puppy as puppies should not be fasted.
Saturday afternoon I will give them a nice raw knuckle bone. King Soopers has been a good supplier of these and lately they have been cut in half which helps the dog get to the marrow. It is a good idea to give veggies with it though as they can get constipated with just bone and marrow.
We also play with our dogs between the hustle and bustle of Friday to Saturday. It has worked out really well as our dogs do not seem to be stressed or act like they are deprived. Finding an activity that your dog’s live for is very helpful. The world does not exist when the Frisbee comes out for Story our adult female. So Frisbee is part our Saturday routine.
9 Benefits of fasting (as reported by doggy bytes http://doggybytes.ca/9-health-benefits-fasting-dog/2266/)
Conserves energy
Revitalizes
Relaxes and energizes the body and mind
Rests the digestive organs
Improves the senses
Reduces allergies
Builds resistance to disease
Detoxifies
Optimizes health
Last but not least, our attitudes make a big difference when it comes to fasting or other changes in the routine. The less we let on that we are impacted the more our dogs take what we do or don’t do in stride. If we act as if fasting is the norm and don’t give attention for attempts, on the dog’s part, to solicit food, the solicitation will not last long. Especially of the demands are redirected to training or play. Keeping ourselves upbeat instead of apologetic is the best help of all. Our dogs trust us and accept willingly the change in feeding schedule.
Tags: Leah Morse | Rocky Mountain Classic Canine | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Therapy Dog Denver
________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah Can also be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Raw Diet and "Legend"
Raw Diet and “Legend”
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
November 13th, 2010 we received our most recent boxer, Legend. He was eight weeks old and delivered from Georgia after much research. This would be my first little puppy on raw diet; Story was almost a year old when I made the switch to raw. I could not imagine the puppy teeth and still developing jaws of an eight week old getting through bones. I am very lucky to have access to a good friend that could get large quantities of chicken necks ground up. We asked for about 20-pounds that we divided into half pound baggies and froze. The small portions were easy to handle on a daily basis. Though the breeder did her due diligence and sent the Eukanuba puppy food he had been eating we switched him onto raw immediately. There would not be any gradual change as I had read that it was not good to combine cooked with raw (except vegetables). Processed dog food is most definitely cooked.
The first day we offered the ground chicken necks to Legend. He was not sure what to do with it. We doctored it with a little bit of plain Horizon yogurt and just a sprinkle of the mixed supplement powder. I literally had to spoon feed him in the beginning, which I liked to do to help him want hands near his food bowl. Lots of encouragement from us with the spoon feeding (he had never had mushy food like this before) and he ate a decent small amount for his first feeding. Out to the potty area and Legend eliminated normal stool, even after the trauma of being taken from home and brought to a strange new house, strange new people and even weirder food.
We continued to feed the ground chicken necks to him through the next few days. He started to anticipate and get excited about it. Again, normal stool with white specks of digested bone with no sign of diarrhea was all that was found. We would give him raw hamburger meat periodically but thankfully (as beef is so much more expensive) Legend really preferred his ground chicken.
We started to see him grow and put on a little weight (a little weight is key as you do not want to grow puppies too fast!) At 11-weeks, it was time for another vaccination and a de-wormer. Ok now we had some diarrhea after the de-wormer but only for a day or so then back to normal stool.
I had never had a young puppy that had such consistent normal stool. Usually they would have episodes here and there but not Legend. His puppy hair started to become extremely shiny, His eyes were bright and he had the typical puppy energy.
At about 16-weeks I started to cut up chicken wings (separate into 3 sections) for Legend. I was amazed at how easily I could cut through them with kitchen scissors. Legend had no problem eating the wing pieces. I stayed with him and watched for several days to be sure he did not choke on them. Again, normal stool no problems.
Legend is now seven months old and getting ready for his first conformation show. He has developed nicely on raw diet. He has the silky high gloss coat that my adults have. He sheds very little and his red fawn coat has taken to a deep shiny red. As with my adults, he is a pleasure to touch as his fur is so silky.
I am very pleased with the results and have absolutely no regrets of starting a very young puppy on a Raw Diet.
Tags: Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Rocky Mountain Classic Canine
_____________________
Leah Morse is the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine and a certified canine trainer. Leah writes a weekly blog for Denver Dog Works.
By Leah Morse
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
November 13th, 2010 we received our most recent boxer, Legend. He was eight weeks old and delivered from Georgia after much research. This would be my first little puppy on raw diet; Story was almost a year old when I made the switch to raw. I could not imagine the puppy teeth and still developing jaws of an eight week old getting through bones. I am very lucky to have access to a good friend that could get large quantities of chicken necks ground up. We asked for about 20-pounds that we divided into half pound baggies and froze. The small portions were easy to handle on a daily basis. Though the breeder did her due diligence and sent the Eukanuba puppy food he had been eating we switched him onto raw immediately. There would not be any gradual change as I had read that it was not good to combine cooked with raw (except vegetables). Processed dog food is most definitely cooked.
The first day we offered the ground chicken necks to Legend. He was not sure what to do with it. We doctored it with a little bit of plain Horizon yogurt and just a sprinkle of the mixed supplement powder. I literally had to spoon feed him in the beginning, which I liked to do to help him want hands near his food bowl. Lots of encouragement from us with the spoon feeding (he had never had mushy food like this before) and he ate a decent small amount for his first feeding. Out to the potty area and Legend eliminated normal stool, even after the trauma of being taken from home and brought to a strange new house, strange new people and even weirder food.
We continued to feed the ground chicken necks to him through the next few days. He started to anticipate and get excited about it. Again, normal stool with white specks of digested bone with no sign of diarrhea was all that was found. We would give him raw hamburger meat periodically but thankfully (as beef is so much more expensive) Legend really preferred his ground chicken.
We started to see him grow and put on a little weight (a little weight is key as you do not want to grow puppies too fast!) At 11-weeks, it was time for another vaccination and a de-wormer. Ok now we had some diarrhea after the de-wormer but only for a day or so then back to normal stool.
I had never had a young puppy that had such consistent normal stool. Usually they would have episodes here and there but not Legend. His puppy hair started to become extremely shiny, His eyes were bright and he had the typical puppy energy.
At about 16-weeks I started to cut up chicken wings (separate into 3 sections) for Legend. I was amazed at how easily I could cut through them with kitchen scissors. Legend had no problem eating the wing pieces. I stayed with him and watched for several days to be sure he did not choke on them. Again, normal stool no problems.
Legend is now seven months old and getting ready for his first conformation show. He has developed nicely on raw diet. He has the silky high gloss coat that my adults have. He sheds very little and his red fawn coat has taken to a deep shiny red. As with my adults, he is a pleasure to touch as his fur is so silky.
I am very pleased with the results and have absolutely no regrets of starting a very young puppy on a Raw Diet.
Tags: Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works | Rocky Mountain Classic Canine
_____________________
Leah Morse is the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine and a certified canine trainer. Leah writes a weekly blog for Denver Dog Works.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Ingredients for a Raw Diet for Dogs
Ingredients for a Raw Diet for Dogs
By Leah Morse
What Ingredients and Where to purchase for feeding Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F)
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
I don’t tend to supplement too much with feeding raw diet. The high quality nutrition that comes from feeding raw is more than sufficient. Due to the fact that the protein, minerals and nutrients are in their most natural state, combined with naturally occurring enzymes in the food that help with digestion. However there are a few things that I add as there is a lot of evidence that there is a benefit to do so.
I make a mixture of powdered alfalfa, kelp powder and bee pollen. I keep the majority of it in a clean glass jar but I also put a small amount in a salt shaker (no salt please) to make it easier to sprinkle a small amount on my dogs food. I use a very small amount as much of their nutrition is coming from the variety of veggies and meats and eggs.
Kelp Powder provides essential iodine. The further you live away from the coast the less iodine is present naturally in your environment. We as humans receive it in vitamins or salt that has been fortified with Iodine. Salt is not good for dogs. A great source of iodine is kelp powder a slight amount, a mere dusting is sufficient for a dog. Do your homework and find out what your dog’s needs are by weight to figure out proper amounts. Kelp powder is easily found at one of the many health food stores in the area.
Alfalfa powder is a terrific green food to add to your dog’s food. According to the analysis on the can of alfalfa powder that I purchased at Vitamin cottage, alfalfa is 20% protein and 15% fiber; plus it contains 16 amino acids, 13 trace minerals and 13 vitamins. Again a little goes a long way.
Bee Pollen Granules is also a nutrient rich super food. It supplies vitamins, amino acids; trace minerals and enzymes in a synergistic balance that provides optimum bioavailability, according to the NOW brand Bee Pollen Granules. Bee pollen contains all 22 elements composing the body.
Fish Oil is a good source of Omega 3 Fatty acids. There has been a recent scientific finding that suggests that fish oil aids in preventing cancer.
Vitamin C is a great supplement to use when stress is present. I have also heard veterinarians that have recommended Vitamin C to help prevent urine grass kill. I give the dose recommended for my dog’s weight per the raw diet books I have. Dr. Ian Billinghurst does a very good job at explaining the proper amount to give, in his book “Give Your Dog a Bone.:
Water should not be taken lightly. Filtered water is best, or at least the highest quality water available. The fewer chemicals the better, I say. I give my dogs’ filtered water.
Sunshine is also important as this helps to provide vitamin D, an essential nutrient for proper calcium utilization.
Again, I don’t supplement everyday but I do try to use everything regularly. I have combined all the powders in one big mix as it makes it easier to give. Fish Oil and Vitamin C are also given periodically. There is plenty of information out there as far as how much and how often.
Tags:Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
___________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
What Ingredients and Where to purchase for feeding Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F)
This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
I don’t tend to supplement too much with feeding raw diet. The high quality nutrition that comes from feeding raw is more than sufficient. Due to the fact that the protein, minerals and nutrients are in their most natural state, combined with naturally occurring enzymes in the food that help with digestion. However there are a few things that I add as there is a lot of evidence that there is a benefit to do so.
I make a mixture of powdered alfalfa, kelp powder and bee pollen. I keep the majority of it in a clean glass jar but I also put a small amount in a salt shaker (no salt please) to make it easier to sprinkle a small amount on my dogs food. I use a very small amount as much of their nutrition is coming from the variety of veggies and meats and eggs.
Kelp Powder provides essential iodine. The further you live away from the coast the less iodine is present naturally in your environment. We as humans receive it in vitamins or salt that has been fortified with Iodine. Salt is not good for dogs. A great source of iodine is kelp powder a slight amount, a mere dusting is sufficient for a dog. Do your homework and find out what your dog’s needs are by weight to figure out proper amounts. Kelp powder is easily found at one of the many health food stores in the area.
Alfalfa powder is a terrific green food to add to your dog’s food. According to the analysis on the can of alfalfa powder that I purchased at Vitamin cottage, alfalfa is 20% protein and 15% fiber; plus it contains 16 amino acids, 13 trace minerals and 13 vitamins. Again a little goes a long way.
Bee Pollen Granules is also a nutrient rich super food. It supplies vitamins, amino acids; trace minerals and enzymes in a synergistic balance that provides optimum bioavailability, according to the NOW brand Bee Pollen Granules. Bee pollen contains all 22 elements composing the body.
Fish Oil is a good source of Omega 3 Fatty acids. There has been a recent scientific finding that suggests that fish oil aids in preventing cancer.
Vitamin C is a great supplement to use when stress is present. I have also heard veterinarians that have recommended Vitamin C to help prevent urine grass kill. I give the dose recommended for my dog’s weight per the raw diet books I have. Dr. Ian Billinghurst does a very good job at explaining the proper amount to give, in his book “Give Your Dog a Bone.:
Water should not be taken lightly. Filtered water is best, or at least the highest quality water available. The fewer chemicals the better, I say. I give my dogs’ filtered water.
Sunshine is also important as this helps to provide vitamin D, an essential nutrient for proper calcium utilization.
Again, I don’t supplement everyday but I do try to use everything regularly. I have combined all the powders in one big mix as it makes it easier to give. Fish Oil and Vitamin C are also given periodically. There is plenty of information out there as far as how much and how often.
Tags:Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
___________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
FAQ's Feeding a Raw Diet to Dogs
FAQ's Feeding a Raw Diet to Dogs
By Leah Morse
This is a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
______________________
I have now been feeding all of my dogs raw diet for some time now. I have some of the same questions frequently asked of me. There are many who want to explore feeding their dogs this way but, as I was, they are concerned about many facets.
FAQ #1: Won’t feeding your dog raw meat make your dogs mean or want to go kill things?
Answer: I have not experienced any kind of increased aggression. I have not seen my dogs become more motivated to hunt; they seem to be less interested. We actually had pigeons that were foraging on our property fairly close to us, not too long ago, and the dogs were all but completely disinterested. One of our dogs has always hunted mice but she doesn’t go out of her way to do this. I have done a lot of reading and have even read of people who regularly feed raw chicken and also keep live chickens and not had a problem with their dogs killing the chickens. If this were to happen, dogs are carnivores and they do have the instinct to stalk, kill and eat prey but it is not because they are now eating raw meat. Dogs are conservationist. Anyone who has ever trained can plainly see this. Dogs will only do what they absolutely have to do to get their reward. If we are providing their meals and giving sufficient amounts they have more lounging, napping and play time. If they are getting the protein that they need, for them it is better to conserve the energy. However, dogs being dogs, they love the chase, a wayward critter could cause prey drive to kick in simply because the creature ran away.
FAQ #2: Aren’t you afraid you won’t give them all that they need? The pet food companies have researched their product production and they add all of the supplements to the food.
Answer: Dogs have very simple needs. Giving a variety of meaty bones, organs and veggies along with some supplementation is easier than you think. Pet food companies cook their kibble at such a high temperature that the protein is changed and many of the vitamins and nutrients are made inactive from the processing. This is why they have to add the nutrients back into the food. Raw Meat and bones provide the best source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Some seasoned Raw Diet feeders state that no supplementation is necessary, others say add a small amount of veggies and natural supplements (kelp powder, alfalfa powder and bee pollen as opposed to an actual supplement) I do supplement veggies in my dogs diet as they tend to get a little constipated if I don’t. However, the skin and coat is the last to net nutrition from what a dog eats. I have never seen skin and hair health like I have seen on my dogs (not in 20 years of pet retail, 10 years of vet assisting and all of my experience with dog training) They look like they have been dipped in a clear coat of pure gloss, only dandruff if they are nervous (like at the vet) and very reduced shedding. If this is any indication of what is going on inside their bodies I have to ask what was missing in the commercial food. I have fed my children and kept them healthy; I will also feed my dogs and keep them healthy.
FAQ #3: What about cost? It must be expensive.
Answer: Actually it has worked out to be much cheaper. The commercial food I was feeding is $46.99 for a 30lb. bag. That works out to actually about $50.51 with Tax which then figures into about $1.69 a pound. I buy chicken necks and backs for .99 a pound and I have figured that I give about 50 cents or less to the amount of veggies I use. Even the supplementation that I do with the kelp, alfalfa and bee pollen, which is such a sparing amount, I spend just about the same. I don’t supplement every day.
FAQ #4: What about making your dog sick. What about Salmonella poisoning from the raw meat.
Answer: According to Dr. PitCaren in the DVD “Eat, Drink and Wag your Tail” Dogs have a more efficient digestive tract that can handle bacteria better. This is why they survive after eating a dead thing from the field, eating their stool or just licking their butts. Salmonella has actually been found on commercial dog food. We are more likely to get sick from handling so just be sure to follow proper meat handling protocol and sanitize, use stainless steel bowls or crocks that are dishwasher safe.
FAQ #5: I thought Chicken bones were bad for dogs!
Answer: They are if they are cooked. Chicken bones are surprisingly soft and easy for the dogs to get through. Cooking makes the bones change on a molecular level so that they splinter and become dangerous. Dogs have been known to choke on kibble. I will chop up bigger bones for my puppies so they don’t try to swallow something too large, but I have never had a problem and those that I consult have never had a problem. Once you start feeding raw chicken meat and bones or any bones for that matter, you will start to see white stool which is the digested bone.
More about feeding Raw Diet Next week.
Tags:Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This is a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
______________________
I have now been feeding all of my dogs raw diet for some time now. I have some of the same questions frequently asked of me. There are many who want to explore feeding their dogs this way but, as I was, they are concerned about many facets.
FAQ #1: Won’t feeding your dog raw meat make your dogs mean or want to go kill things?
Answer: I have not experienced any kind of increased aggression. I have not seen my dogs become more motivated to hunt; they seem to be less interested. We actually had pigeons that were foraging on our property fairly close to us, not too long ago, and the dogs were all but completely disinterested. One of our dogs has always hunted mice but she doesn’t go out of her way to do this. I have done a lot of reading and have even read of people who regularly feed raw chicken and also keep live chickens and not had a problem with their dogs killing the chickens. If this were to happen, dogs are carnivores and they do have the instinct to stalk, kill and eat prey but it is not because they are now eating raw meat. Dogs are conservationist. Anyone who has ever trained can plainly see this. Dogs will only do what they absolutely have to do to get their reward. If we are providing their meals and giving sufficient amounts they have more lounging, napping and play time. If they are getting the protein that they need, for them it is better to conserve the energy. However, dogs being dogs, they love the chase, a wayward critter could cause prey drive to kick in simply because the creature ran away.
FAQ #2: Aren’t you afraid you won’t give them all that they need? The pet food companies have researched their product production and they add all of the supplements to the food.
Answer: Dogs have very simple needs. Giving a variety of meaty bones, organs and veggies along with some supplementation is easier than you think. Pet food companies cook their kibble at such a high temperature that the protein is changed and many of the vitamins and nutrients are made inactive from the processing. This is why they have to add the nutrients back into the food. Raw Meat and bones provide the best source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Some seasoned Raw Diet feeders state that no supplementation is necessary, others say add a small amount of veggies and natural supplements (kelp powder, alfalfa powder and bee pollen as opposed to an actual supplement) I do supplement veggies in my dogs diet as they tend to get a little constipated if I don’t. However, the skin and coat is the last to net nutrition from what a dog eats. I have never seen skin and hair health like I have seen on my dogs (not in 20 years of pet retail, 10 years of vet assisting and all of my experience with dog training) They look like they have been dipped in a clear coat of pure gloss, only dandruff if they are nervous (like at the vet) and very reduced shedding. If this is any indication of what is going on inside their bodies I have to ask what was missing in the commercial food. I have fed my children and kept them healthy; I will also feed my dogs and keep them healthy.
FAQ #3: What about cost? It must be expensive.
Answer: Actually it has worked out to be much cheaper. The commercial food I was feeding is $46.99 for a 30lb. bag. That works out to actually about $50.51 with Tax which then figures into about $1.69 a pound. I buy chicken necks and backs for .99 a pound and I have figured that I give about 50 cents or less to the amount of veggies I use. Even the supplementation that I do with the kelp, alfalfa and bee pollen, which is such a sparing amount, I spend just about the same. I don’t supplement every day.
FAQ #4: What about making your dog sick. What about Salmonella poisoning from the raw meat.
Answer: According to Dr. PitCaren in the DVD “Eat, Drink and Wag your Tail” Dogs have a more efficient digestive tract that can handle bacteria better. This is why they survive after eating a dead thing from the field, eating their stool or just licking their butts. Salmonella has actually been found on commercial dog food. We are more likely to get sick from handling so just be sure to follow proper meat handling protocol and sanitize, use stainless steel bowls or crocks that are dishwasher safe.
FAQ #5: I thought Chicken bones were bad for dogs!
Answer: They are if they are cooked. Chicken bones are surprisingly soft and easy for the dogs to get through. Cooking makes the bones change on a molecular level so that they splinter and become dangerous. Dogs have been known to choke on kibble. I will chop up bigger bones for my puppies so they don’t try to swallow something too large, but I have never had a problem and those that I consult have never had a problem. Once you start feeding raw chicken meat and bones or any bones for that matter, you will start to see white stool which is the digested bone.
More about feeding Raw Diet Next week.
Tags:Leah Morse | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Feeding a Raw Diet and Sharing My Discoveries
The apparent benefits after only about six weeks
By Leah Morse
This will be the fourth of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I have seen some amazing changes in the health of my dogs but this is, by any means, a simple way to feed your dog. It takes planning and work. The days that you are tired and don’t feel like preparing an extra meal, or paying for it, for that matter, you still have to do it. Your dogs can’t feed themselves. I have gotten creative at saving on the cost but again this creates more work. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
______________________
So now by about the 6th week my dogs have completely transformed. It is almost like they had one of those drastic make overs like you see on reality TV shows.
One very important transformation that I noticed was the nearly complete reduction in how much hair I was getting from sweeping the kitchen floor. Normally I was sweeping two or three fist sized piles daily. I was now only getting about 2 tablespoons of hair daily. The dogs seemed happier, their eyes brighter and their coats, which did have a healthy sheen before, now looked like they were dipped in a glossy clear coat. Their coats actually felt different. They were softer and you could actually feel the smoothness that gave their coats the high gloss shine that I was now observing. Upon brushing them I was, again, getting less hair with each brushing session. I have been told many times about how much of a pleasure it is to touch my dogs. They did not have a greasy oily feel but there is a wonderful soft, smooth texture to their coats that it is wonderful to touch them. I have learned that the skin and coat is the last get the nutrients of what a dog consumes. If their skin and coats were any indication about what was happening in their bodies, I have to believe that the same transformation was happening inside. I can’t even take a picture of Story, my reverse brindle boxer, and use a flash as the sheen is so bright that it skews the cameras ability to take a picture without the shine being overbearing in the picture.
I also notice that my dogs do not have a doggy odor. I keep my dogs pretty clean, living in the country on acreage I do frequently bathe them as they tend to get quite muddy. Muddy feet and white carpet don’t mix well. Even with the frequent bathing (which in Colorado typically dries out their coats terribly) their coats still seamed to be healthy and their skin did not have dandruff like a dried out coat often has.
The next amazing thing that I noticed was the improvement of their oral health. Starting with the younger dog, I noticed that, even though Story was less than a year old, she had started to develop a tarter build up on her molars. I only had fed hard kibble and brushed regularly but even still there was clearly a brown staining and even tarter in her upper Carnasal molars. Bohdi, my 9 year old, always was a struggle to keep his teeth in good shape. Bohdi came to us from rescue with stained teeth at a young age of 18 months. After about 6 weeks all tarter and staining disappeared. Both Story, the 10 month old, and Bohdi the 9 year old had white, not stained, teeth. Their breath was the other wonderful discovery as neither dog had foul breath, not even Bohdi. I was very pleased. I have always been meticulous with good oral hygiene in both people and dogs. Being that I was a veterinary assistant for nearly 10 years, I have done 100s of dentals on a wide variety of both dogs and cats. Nothing saddened me more when either a dog or a cat needed to loose teeth due to dental disease. I have always been an advocate for brushing a dogs teeth with an enzymatic tooth paste, designed for a dog of course. I even payed thousands of dollars on dentals through out the years for my own pets. I would use a dental tool to scrape some of the tarter myself. I spent hundreds of dollars on Tarter Diet, special chews and dental hygiene toys. I could not believe how white and beautiful both dogs teeth looked from simply eating raw bones and meat. So now besides the total health that I was observing after feeding Raw diet, I would now be saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars on dental hygiene items and costly dentals that require anesthesia to be done properly and humanely.
The vomiting and diarrhea that had plagued Bohdi all the time that we had him (nearly 8 years) disappeared. Again, through his life time we had purchased hundreds of dollars in pepcid, other antacids and many prescription medications to help with his digestive upset. We had been dealing with this since 2001 when we adopted him. I have been told that the live enzymes present in the raw food were the reason for his improved digestive system health. I was sold on this idea as well. There was plenty on the internet and in the books on Raw Diet about this.
Last but not least, the attitude change that I noticed after 6 weeks, especially in my older dog, was very encouraging. Before beginning raw diet with our dogs, Bohdi’s attitude had started to decline. He was depressed and lethargic. I am not unrealistic, I understand that he was a senior and that this was the natural progression of life. I did want to give him the best care possible through to the end. I saw him perk up considerably. He lasted longer on walks, stayed with us more often during the day and he seemed more alert. Story became an unbelievable picture of health. Her muscle tone was very defined and she seemed to have more of a spring in her step as well, even though she was a puppy at the time.
All in all, raw diet was already showing a significant way that I would be saving on both medication and vet bills as well as all of the dental items that I have purchased over and over for all of my dogs through out the years. Just the savings in Dental procedures was huge. If you have ever priced a dental, you know they are not cheap. There is the price of the pre anesthesia blood work, the anesthesia, the dental procedure and God forbid the cost of extractions. Anyone who has had this done with their pet knows you can get into a cost of hundreds of dollars if not more. Don’t misunderstand, pet dentals are a very necessary part of good health care for your dog. Bohdi’s teeth were in relatively good shape when we started, they just improved. (Raw diet should not be seen as an alternative if a dog has serious dental needs. Rather have the dental needs attended to then discover the benefits of raw diet to maintain.) The savings that I was going to see in not having to purchase over the counter and prescription medications for the intestinal well being of my senior boxer was another substantial gain. I do not think that Raw Diet is an end all to all ailments or that a veterinarian should not be consulted for serious reasons. I am merely sharing my pleasant discoveries of financial savings with my own dogs. I very much value my veterinarians! I am just happy to have relief from some of the costs of keeping my dogs in the best health possible. I am certainly glad that I have started a journey of learning and exploring the best ways to incorporate the knowledge that I gain to keep my dogs as healthy and happy as possible. I owe them this much for all they do for me.
Tags: Leah Morse | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
______________
Leah Morse is a canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This will be the fourth of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I have seen some amazing changes in the health of my dogs but this is, by any means, a simple way to feed your dog. It takes planning and work. The days that you are tired and don’t feel like preparing an extra meal, or paying for it, for that matter, you still have to do it. Your dogs can’t feed themselves. I have gotten creative at saving on the cost but again this creates more work. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
______________________
So now by about the 6th week my dogs have completely transformed. It is almost like they had one of those drastic make overs like you see on reality TV shows.
One very important transformation that I noticed was the nearly complete reduction in how much hair I was getting from sweeping the kitchen floor. Normally I was sweeping two or three fist sized piles daily. I was now only getting about 2 tablespoons of hair daily. The dogs seemed happier, their eyes brighter and their coats, which did have a healthy sheen before, now looked like they were dipped in a glossy clear coat. Their coats actually felt different. They were softer and you could actually feel the smoothness that gave their coats the high gloss shine that I was now observing. Upon brushing them I was, again, getting less hair with each brushing session. I have been told many times about how much of a pleasure it is to touch my dogs. They did not have a greasy oily feel but there is a wonderful soft, smooth texture to their coats that it is wonderful to touch them. I have learned that the skin and coat is the last get the nutrients of what a dog consumes. If their skin and coats were any indication about what was happening in their bodies, I have to believe that the same transformation was happening inside. I can’t even take a picture of Story, my reverse brindle boxer, and use a flash as the sheen is so bright that it skews the cameras ability to take a picture without the shine being overbearing in the picture.
I also notice that my dogs do not have a doggy odor. I keep my dogs pretty clean, living in the country on acreage I do frequently bathe them as they tend to get quite muddy. Muddy feet and white carpet don’t mix well. Even with the frequent bathing (which in Colorado typically dries out their coats terribly) their coats still seamed to be healthy and their skin did not have dandruff like a dried out coat often has.
The next amazing thing that I noticed was the improvement of their oral health. Starting with the younger dog, I noticed that, even though Story was less than a year old, she had started to develop a tarter build up on her molars. I only had fed hard kibble and brushed regularly but even still there was clearly a brown staining and even tarter in her upper Carnasal molars. Bohdi, my 9 year old, always was a struggle to keep his teeth in good shape. Bohdi came to us from rescue with stained teeth at a young age of 18 months. After about 6 weeks all tarter and staining disappeared. Both Story, the 10 month old, and Bohdi the 9 year old had white, not stained, teeth. Their breath was the other wonderful discovery as neither dog had foul breath, not even Bohdi. I was very pleased. I have always been meticulous with good oral hygiene in both people and dogs. Being that I was a veterinary assistant for nearly 10 years, I have done 100s of dentals on a wide variety of both dogs and cats. Nothing saddened me more when either a dog or a cat needed to loose teeth due to dental disease. I have always been an advocate for brushing a dogs teeth with an enzymatic tooth paste, designed for a dog of course. I even payed thousands of dollars on dentals through out the years for my own pets. I would use a dental tool to scrape some of the tarter myself. I spent hundreds of dollars on Tarter Diet, special chews and dental hygiene toys. I could not believe how white and beautiful both dogs teeth looked from simply eating raw bones and meat. So now besides the total health that I was observing after feeding Raw diet, I would now be saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars on dental hygiene items and costly dentals that require anesthesia to be done properly and humanely.
The vomiting and diarrhea that had plagued Bohdi all the time that we had him (nearly 8 years) disappeared. Again, through his life time we had purchased hundreds of dollars in pepcid, other antacids and many prescription medications to help with his digestive upset. We had been dealing with this since 2001 when we adopted him. I have been told that the live enzymes present in the raw food were the reason for his improved digestive system health. I was sold on this idea as well. There was plenty on the internet and in the books on Raw Diet about this.
Last but not least, the attitude change that I noticed after 6 weeks, especially in my older dog, was very encouraging. Before beginning raw diet with our dogs, Bohdi’s attitude had started to decline. He was depressed and lethargic. I am not unrealistic, I understand that he was a senior and that this was the natural progression of life. I did want to give him the best care possible through to the end. I saw him perk up considerably. He lasted longer on walks, stayed with us more often during the day and he seemed more alert. Story became an unbelievable picture of health. Her muscle tone was very defined and she seemed to have more of a spring in her step as well, even though she was a puppy at the time.
All in all, raw diet was already showing a significant way that I would be saving on both medication and vet bills as well as all of the dental items that I have purchased over and over for all of my dogs through out the years. Just the savings in Dental procedures was huge. If you have ever priced a dental, you know they are not cheap. There is the price of the pre anesthesia blood work, the anesthesia, the dental procedure and God forbid the cost of extractions. Anyone who has had this done with their pet knows you can get into a cost of hundreds of dollars if not more. Don’t misunderstand, pet dentals are a very necessary part of good health care for your dog. Bohdi’s teeth were in relatively good shape when we started, they just improved. (Raw diet should not be seen as an alternative if a dog has serious dental needs. Rather have the dental needs attended to then discover the benefits of raw diet to maintain.) The savings that I was going to see in not having to purchase over the counter and prescription medications for the intestinal well being of my senior boxer was another substantial gain. I do not think that Raw Diet is an end all to all ailments or that a veterinarian should not be consulted for serious reasons. I am merely sharing my pleasant discoveries of financial savings with my own dogs. I very much value my veterinarians! I am just happy to have relief from some of the costs of keeping my dogs in the best health possible. I am certainly glad that I have started a journey of learning and exploring the best ways to incorporate the knowledge that I gain to keep my dogs as healthy and happy as possible. I owe them this much for all they do for me.
Tags: Leah Morse | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works
______________
Leah Morse is a canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Feeding Your Dog a B.A.R.F. Diet
Feeding Your Dogs a B.A.R.F. Diet
By Leah Morse
This will be the third of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
What Ingredients and Where to purchase for feeding Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F)
The first few weeks of feeding continuous raw diet I did a lot of researching. I went to the local grocery stores and scanned the meat departments of each one. I started to really pay attention to the different cuts of meat, each price, what was available in the mark down area. I bought chicken quarters, hamburger meat, knuckle bones, chicken gizzards, hearts and livers, soup bones. I also purchased canned herring (yes these are not raw but full of omegas and calcium and other beneficial nutrients). I also made my rounds in the produce department. A trip to the local Liborio Markets (www.liborio.com) proved to be a worth the while trip as I found bulk chicken necks and a plethora of very different cuts of meat. I wanted to stick as close to the prey model as possible which meant a variety of bone, meat and innards. Living in a rural area has also proved to be very handy as we have many friends that raise their own meat and have many parts that they don’t care to fix for themselves or their families. I have acquired many beef hearts and livers this way. Likewise with all our hunter friends as I have put the word out that we will take the parts that they won’t eat.
I also love my Costco membership. The savings on both the fresh and the frozen vegetables is wonderful. I prefer the frozen vegetables when I can’t use fresh. I purchased the Normandy mix (cauliflower, broccoli and carrots) frozen peas, frozen green beans, fresh organic spinach and fresh organic carrots. We take the Frozen veggies (thawed frozen veggies seem to be easier for dogs to digest) and put them in a container in the refrigerator to thaw. This way they are ready to chop up or puree and use as we need them. Canned vegetables have salt added and do not have the nutritional value. I also get the fish oil and vitamin C from Costco.
I chose to start with chicken as their bones are relatively soft as chickens are typically fairly young when they are slaughtered. Most of what I feed is chicken due to cost and availability. Chicken Quarters are only about $0.79 a pound fresh. Wings are more than twice as much. The bulk necks were reasonable as they were $1.29 a pound. I try to get organic meat and produce as often as possible but it seems that public demand for meat with less additives and hormones has given us more companies that state that they don’t use additives an hormones. Walmart had their roll back on price for hamburger meat and it went from 2.49 a pound to $1.29 a pound (sadly the price has gone back up to $1.98 or so). We stocked up. I have never been so in tune with the price of meat as I am now, being a former vegetarian. Walmart was also the cheapest source for canned herring as well. As for the supplements I found bee pollen, Kelp powder and alfalfa powder at The Vitamin Cottage for a fairly reasonable price.
Having a large freezer has proven handy. Being able to buy large quantities of meat that is on sale and also frozen veggies and have a place to put them really makes life easier living in a rural area. The nearest grocery store is more than 10 miles from our house. I should mention again that all meat should be thoroughly thawed before feeding. I found out the hard way that frozen bones take their toll on canine teeth. I will not let that happen again.
I kept track of all the ingredients that I had acquired and tracked the cost for a month, carefully logging each meal and the price of all the ingredients. What I found was that it cost only slightly more than the expensive high quality premium kibble that I had been feeding. Again, I got back a fraction of what I fed. There was a substantial reduction in stool.
I must say that being an empty nester helps as I no longer was feeding my children, who have grown to adulthood. Though cooking is not involved, I liked being in the kitchen preparing. All the thought processes of feeding a family of four has really helped with all of my meal planning. To save time, we measure out meat and veggies and freeze individual portions. This way, we could just take out what we need the night before.
Last but not least I have found that you can purchase commercially produced raw foods. There are several really good companies, although it will cost you for the convenience. There are some that will even deliver to your door. These companies have done the searching for top quality ingredients for you, using human grade ingredients.Darwin’s Natural Pet Products (http://www.darwinspet.com ) , K-9 Kraving (http://www.k-9kraving.com/), Freezer space is going to be a necessity, as it is for doing it on our own. I have just discovered that you can order “green tripe” over the internet to be delivered to your door. (Green tripe is more nutritious and has the live enzymes that make this diet so good for your dog.) (http://www.greentripe.com/ )
Tags: Leah Morse| Robert Forto | Dog Training Careers | Colorado Dog Trainer | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
_________________ Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and owns Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This will be the third of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
What Ingredients and Where to purchase for feeding Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F)
The first few weeks of feeding continuous raw diet I did a lot of researching. I went to the local grocery stores and scanned the meat departments of each one. I started to really pay attention to the different cuts of meat, each price, what was available in the mark down area. I bought chicken quarters, hamburger meat, knuckle bones, chicken gizzards, hearts and livers, soup bones. I also purchased canned herring (yes these are not raw but full of omegas and calcium and other beneficial nutrients). I also made my rounds in the produce department. A trip to the local Liborio Markets (www.liborio.com) proved to be a worth the while trip as I found bulk chicken necks and a plethora of very different cuts of meat. I wanted to stick as close to the prey model as possible which meant a variety of bone, meat and innards. Living in a rural area has also proved to be very handy as we have many friends that raise their own meat and have many parts that they don’t care to fix for themselves or their families. I have acquired many beef hearts and livers this way. Likewise with all our hunter friends as I have put the word out that we will take the parts that they won’t eat.
I also love my Costco membership. The savings on both the fresh and the frozen vegetables is wonderful. I prefer the frozen vegetables when I can’t use fresh. I purchased the Normandy mix (cauliflower, broccoli and carrots) frozen peas, frozen green beans, fresh organic spinach and fresh organic carrots. We take the Frozen veggies (thawed frozen veggies seem to be easier for dogs to digest) and put them in a container in the refrigerator to thaw. This way they are ready to chop up or puree and use as we need them. Canned vegetables have salt added and do not have the nutritional value. I also get the fish oil and vitamin C from Costco.
I chose to start with chicken as their bones are relatively soft as chickens are typically fairly young when they are slaughtered. Most of what I feed is chicken due to cost and availability. Chicken Quarters are only about $0.79 a pound fresh. Wings are more than twice as much. The bulk necks were reasonable as they were $1.29 a pound. I try to get organic meat and produce as often as possible but it seems that public demand for meat with less additives and hormones has given us more companies that state that they don’t use additives an hormones. Walmart had their roll back on price for hamburger meat and it went from 2.49 a pound to $1.29 a pound (sadly the price has gone back up to $1.98 or so). We stocked up. I have never been so in tune with the price of meat as I am now, being a former vegetarian. Walmart was also the cheapest source for canned herring as well. As for the supplements I found bee pollen, Kelp powder and alfalfa powder at The Vitamin Cottage for a fairly reasonable price.
Having a large freezer has proven handy. Being able to buy large quantities of meat that is on sale and also frozen veggies and have a place to put them really makes life easier living in a rural area. The nearest grocery store is more than 10 miles from our house. I should mention again that all meat should be thoroughly thawed before feeding. I found out the hard way that frozen bones take their toll on canine teeth. I will not let that happen again.
I kept track of all the ingredients that I had acquired and tracked the cost for a month, carefully logging each meal and the price of all the ingredients. What I found was that it cost only slightly more than the expensive high quality premium kibble that I had been feeding. Again, I got back a fraction of what I fed. There was a substantial reduction in stool.
I must say that being an empty nester helps as I no longer was feeding my children, who have grown to adulthood. Though cooking is not involved, I liked being in the kitchen preparing. All the thought processes of feeding a family of four has really helped with all of my meal planning. To save time, we measure out meat and veggies and freeze individual portions. This way, we could just take out what we need the night before.
Last but not least I have found that you can purchase commercially produced raw foods. There are several really good companies, although it will cost you for the convenience. There are some that will even deliver to your door. These companies have done the searching for top quality ingredients for you, using human grade ingredients.Darwin’s Natural Pet Products (http://www.darwinspet.com ) , K-9 Kraving (http://www.k-9kraving.com/), Freezer space is going to be a necessity, as it is for doing it on our own. I have just discovered that you can order “green tripe” over the internet to be delivered to your door. (Green tripe is more nutritious and has the live enzymes that make this diet so good for your dog.) (http://www.greentripe.com/ )
Tags: Leah Morse| Robert Forto | Dog Training Careers | Colorado Dog Trainer | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works
_________________ Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and owns Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
Learning About Sanitation
Learning about Sanitation
By Leah Morse
Sanitation to me is so important so I am going to go into great detail.
So now I have joined the many who feed their dogs a species appropriate diet of raw meat and bones. I want to make sure that I keep my dogs and my family as safe as possible. This new diet now means that I will be handling substantially more raw meat and all the potential dangerous germs that can be associated with that. However, let’s not forget that simple dog food has been found to contain both salmonella and E. coli. I wanted to make sure that how I handled, prepared and cleaned and sanitized afterwards were very thorough. As I work for a major health care insurance company, it has been completely ingrained in my brain the dangers of contaminated surfaces, improper meat handling and how germs are so easily transferred. I think about the commercial that shows how germs transfer so easy from your hands to every surface that you touch. This was going to be a dilemma as I am not a big fan of using lots of chemicals. I do care about the environment and how these same chemicals can soak into our skin and fumes be inhaled.
So I purchased some new spray bottles and filled one with 50% Bleach and 50% Water the other spray bottle I filled with 50% White Vinegar and 50% water. DO NOT EVER MIX BLEACH AND VINEGAR as it is a dangerous and potentially lethal combination. I was not happy with the bleach solution as I ruined my clothes and the fumes were something else. I also did not like spraying the kennels with it as sensitive as a dog’s sense of smell is, the bleach fumes did not seem to dissipate. I had researched (http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Kitchen-Sanitation/Detail.aspx ) environmentally friendly (and subsequently better for us) sanitizers. The best mix that I use is 50% White Distilled Vinegar and 50% water with a few drops of aroma therapy peppermint oil. The peppermint gave the staunch odor of the vinegar a more appealing fresh scent. Once the vinegar dried the smell seemed to dissipate.
I also purchased stainless steel bowls, which are better for our pets anyway as they can be run through the dishwasher and don’t harbor bacteria like porous plastic bowls do. After working in a vets office and hearing over and over again to use ceramic crock bowls or stainless steel to help prevent problems like canine and feline acne, it was not hard to transition to stainless steel.
I purchased 6 stainless steel bowls and 4 stainless steel buckets for water (water should be fresh, clean and always in a clean container), enough to be able to have at least 2 sets. This way I could put them all in the dishwasher to save time and have extra sanitation. After working in a vets office and hearing over and over again to use ceramic crock bowls or stainless steel to help prevent problems like canine and feline acne, it was not hard to transition to stainless steel.
I also purchased, from a local hardware store two remnant pieces of vinyl (5 foot by 6 foot) to put under their 4 foot by 6 foot kennels for easier clean up. The galvanized steel chain link was easily sanitized but the cement floor was not. Having the vinyl floor piece brightened up the kennel area for an added bonus.
Last but not least, I purchased nitrile disposable gloves to wear while I cleaned or handled the meat.
My procedure is to put on the gloves and measure out the meat, veggies and supplements for the meal. Each dog was then fed and allowed to finish. I always pick up bowls as soon as they are done. All go outside to lick and clean each other off, enjoy some sunlight and do their business then back inside. Meanwhile, I am cleaning bowls, cleaning the counter area with vinegar or loading the dishwasher and then quickly cleaning their respective areas with the vinegar solution. Everyone has a clean kennel to come back to and it literally only takes me a few minutes. From Preparation to clean up, it really only takes me about 20 minutes with 3 dogs in the morning and at night. It takes less time if I get it ready the night before. I am very conscience about what I touch and also making sure all surfaces are cleaned. I save used ziplock bags to enclose the meat packaging prior to throwing it away to help keep trash odor down. I also make sure to keep the dog run clean and I frequently am picking up what little my dogs are now leaving. Again it is substantially less (definitely not nearly the amount they are fed) and also seems to break down and decompose very quickly.
Next week: Where do I get the ingredients and what ingredients should I start with.
____________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine (http://www.rmclassiccanine.com) Leah can also be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
Sanitation to me is so important so I am going to go into great detail.
So now I have joined the many who feed their dogs a species appropriate diet of raw meat and bones. I want to make sure that I keep my dogs and my family as safe as possible. This new diet now means that I will be handling substantially more raw meat and all the potential dangerous germs that can be associated with that. However, let’s not forget that simple dog food has been found to contain both salmonella and E. coli. I wanted to make sure that how I handled, prepared and cleaned and sanitized afterwards were very thorough. As I work for a major health care insurance company, it has been completely ingrained in my brain the dangers of contaminated surfaces, improper meat handling and how germs are so easily transferred. I think about the commercial that shows how germs transfer so easy from your hands to every surface that you touch. This was going to be a dilemma as I am not a big fan of using lots of chemicals. I do care about the environment and how these same chemicals can soak into our skin and fumes be inhaled.
So I purchased some new spray bottles and filled one with 50% Bleach and 50% Water the other spray bottle I filled with 50% White Vinegar and 50% water. DO NOT EVER MIX BLEACH AND VINEGAR as it is a dangerous and potentially lethal combination. I was not happy with the bleach solution as I ruined my clothes and the fumes were something else. I also did not like spraying the kennels with it as sensitive as a dog’s sense of smell is, the bleach fumes did not seem to dissipate. I had researched (http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Kitchen-Sanitation/Detail.aspx ) environmentally friendly (and subsequently better for us) sanitizers. The best mix that I use is 50% White Distilled Vinegar and 50% water with a few drops of aroma therapy peppermint oil. The peppermint gave the staunch odor of the vinegar a more appealing fresh scent. Once the vinegar dried the smell seemed to dissipate.
I also purchased stainless steel bowls, which are better for our pets anyway as they can be run through the dishwasher and don’t harbor bacteria like porous plastic bowls do. After working in a vets office and hearing over and over again to use ceramic crock bowls or stainless steel to help prevent problems like canine and feline acne, it was not hard to transition to stainless steel.
I purchased 6 stainless steel bowls and 4 stainless steel buckets for water (water should be fresh, clean and always in a clean container), enough to be able to have at least 2 sets. This way I could put them all in the dishwasher to save time and have extra sanitation. After working in a vets office and hearing over and over again to use ceramic crock bowls or stainless steel to help prevent problems like canine and feline acne, it was not hard to transition to stainless steel.
I also purchased, from a local hardware store two remnant pieces of vinyl (5 foot by 6 foot) to put under their 4 foot by 6 foot kennels for easier clean up. The galvanized steel chain link was easily sanitized but the cement floor was not. Having the vinyl floor piece brightened up the kennel area for an added bonus.
Last but not least, I purchased nitrile disposable gloves to wear while I cleaned or handled the meat.
My procedure is to put on the gloves and measure out the meat, veggies and supplements for the meal. Each dog was then fed and allowed to finish. I always pick up bowls as soon as they are done. All go outside to lick and clean each other off, enjoy some sunlight and do their business then back inside. Meanwhile, I am cleaning bowls, cleaning the counter area with vinegar or loading the dishwasher and then quickly cleaning their respective areas with the vinegar solution. Everyone has a clean kennel to come back to and it literally only takes me a few minutes. From Preparation to clean up, it really only takes me about 20 minutes with 3 dogs in the morning and at night. It takes less time if I get it ready the night before. I am very conscience about what I touch and also making sure all surfaces are cleaned. I save used ziplock bags to enclose the meat packaging prior to throwing it away to help keep trash odor down. I also make sure to keep the dog run clean and I frequently am picking up what little my dogs are now leaving. Again it is substantially less (definitely not nearly the amount they are fed) and also seems to break down and decompose very quickly.
Next week: Where do I get the ingredients and what ingredients should I start with.
____________________
Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine (http://www.rmclassiccanine.com) Leah can also be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Raw Food Diet for Dogs
Learning to Feed Bones and Raw Food to Boxers
By Leah Morse
This will be the first of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I have seen some amazing changes in the health of my dogs but this is, by any means, a simple way to feed your dog. It takes planning and work. The days that you are tired and don’t feel like preparing an extra meal, or paying for it, for that matter, you still have to do it. Your dogs can’t feed themselves. I have gotten creative at saving on the cost but again this creates more work. I am thankful to own a Vita-mix blender (http://www.vitamix.com) which saves me time and blends down the veggies, raw eggs and shells to liquid if needed. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
After suffering through the agonizing cancer and liver disease deaths of my late great boxers Bohdi and Leelu, I vowed to dedicate myself to being part of finding a solution rather than just a victim of diseases that plague boxers and many other breeds for that matter. I have tried many different top brand highly nutritious dog foods only to be somewhat satisfied. I have gone to many dog food nutrition seminars put on by Iams, NutroMax, Science Diet and others. I experimented with adding supplements and veggies to these great foods. Then the great dog food recall of 2007 happened and Melamine (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/) seemed to be the main problem. In my opinion it seemed that outsourcing their manufacturing to other countries (or at least procuring ingredients from them), quality control is not the same as in the United States to save on their bottom line. I spent thousands of dollars on drugs and medications for a variety of ailments. Though there are many theories out there I, for one, believe that environment and nutrition quality play a huge role in keeping our furry children happy and healthy. I know that when my husband and I started eating healthier and incorporating more fresh nutritious choices into our everyday meals, we began to feel much better and we did not have trouble with as many ailments.
So I made my decision and decided to experiment with raw diet, B.A.R.F diet (Bones and Raw Foods) with my dogs. I was terrified at first. After being a veterinary assistant for 10 years, 20 years in pet retail and now as a professional dog trainer, where I preached to never feed people food, I was going to go against everything I had once believed. Although the bird nutrition classes have always pushed to feed fresh as it was the best. Still grieving from the loss of Leelu (just shy of 10 years when we lost her to the horror of hemangiosarcoma) I wanted to do everything that I could for the eight year old rescued boxer and the eight month old boxer puppy that we had left. I had noticed that Bohdi’s health was starting to go downhill. So I did due diligence and scoured the internet, I ordered books (Dr. Billinghurst’s book “Give Your Dog a Bone” and “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats the Ultimate Diet” by Kymythy R. Schultze C.C.N., A.H.I. I joined B.A.R.F chat networks and groups on Facebook. I found these to be quite informative.
I had read that I should keep track of the health of my dogs. In the beginning, both had moderately shiny coats. Bohdi’s energy level seemed to be declining and Story had a normal puppy energy level. Bohdi was on a thyroid maintenance prescription drug, a Glucosamine supplement, pepcid (prescribed for his daily struggle with a sour stomach) and a daily pain relief prescription drug. Both dogs, as many boxers do, suffered us with their flatulence. Bohdi had stained teeth but had just had a dental cleaning done. Much to my surprise the puppy started to show signs of a small amount of tarter building up on her Carnasal molars. I was feeding Blue Buffalo brand food to both, one of the better and more expensive processed dog foods. One of the things that really bothered me about feeding such expensive processed food was that I seemed to feed the same amount that I was picking up afterward in the dog run. I thought that feeding premium foods was supposed to give you less to pick up. I seemed to feed 40lbs of dog food and then I seemed to pick up the same 40lbs in stool.
I finally broke down and purchased chicken wings with the purpose of feeding them to my dogs. I had found that non wait bearing bones were the best and that chicken wings backs and necks had just about the right ratio of bone to meat. I split the dogs up and gave them each a raw chicken wing. It was a strange experience to feel both the excited anticipation of healthier dogs and also the pit in my stomach that said “What did I just do?” I intently watched as the older dog, Bohdi, cautiously sniffed the wing picked it up and gave it a little shake only to drop it again. He then picked it back up and started to chomp through it. A couple of cracks and smacks and the chicken wing disappeared down his throat as he licked his lips. Bohdi looked at me as if to say “Is that it?” I wasn’t comfortable with giving more until I saw how he handled it. Meanwhile, out in the dog run, Story, the puppy, was shaking and licking her chicken wing. It took her much longer to figure out that it was something she could touch and then that it was more than just a toy but she finally got the job done. I kept my eye on both of them the rest of the evening and as gross as it may seem I kept a close eye on their bathroom habits. The morning after my initial feeding of the chicken wings I was anxious to see what the end result would be. I was terrified and had a rough night of sleep, envisioning a quick trip to the local veterinary hospital to extract the bones from my poor dogs. On the contrary, both dogs were fine and had normal stool, yet smaller amounts and much to my surprise I could actually see the digested bone. White dog stool that literally disintegrated as you tried to shovel it up. Another added bonus was that it did not smell nearly as bad. Third bonus was that Bohdi, who usually has an easily upset stomach, was having no digestive issues that I could see, at all. Last but not least, our dogs did not seem to have foul smelling gas. Day one of feeding Raw Diet appeared to go well. Their next meal would, again, be chicken wings with the addition of pureed celery. Now I would start planning meals and start keeping track of the cost. Research where to get the ingredients cost effectively. I wanted to come up with a system that lowered my risk of contamination in the kitchen and that would be the most sanitary for our dogs. I was also going to really educate myself about supplementation. My experiences will follow in future blogs.
If you have any questions for Leah or would like to learn more about feeding a raw diet to your dogs from someone that has first hand experience, please give us a call at Denver Dog Works at 303-578-9881.
Tags: Denver Dog Works, Dog Training Denver, Colorado Dog Trainers, Leah Morse, Canine Nutrition, Raw Diet for Dogs, Robert Forto, Dog Works Training Centers, Rocky Mountain Classic Canine, Your Brand Plan
______________________
Leah Morse is a canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah also is a contract trainer for Denver Dog Works and a former student. Leah can be reached through Denver Dog Works at http://www.denevrdogworks.com
By Leah Morse
This will be the first of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I have seen some amazing changes in the health of my dogs but this is, by any means, a simple way to feed your dog. It takes planning and work. The days that you are tired and don’t feel like preparing an extra meal, or paying for it, for that matter, you still have to do it. Your dogs can’t feed themselves. I have gotten creative at saving on the cost but again this creates more work. I am thankful to own a Vita-mix blender (http://www.vitamix.com) which saves me time and blends down the veggies, raw eggs and shells to liquid if needed. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.
After suffering through the agonizing cancer and liver disease deaths of my late great boxers Bohdi and Leelu, I vowed to dedicate myself to being part of finding a solution rather than just a victim of diseases that plague boxers and many other breeds for that matter. I have tried many different top brand highly nutritious dog foods only to be somewhat satisfied. I have gone to many dog food nutrition seminars put on by Iams, NutroMax, Science Diet and others. I experimented with adding supplements and veggies to these great foods. Then the great dog food recall of 2007 happened and Melamine (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/) seemed to be the main problem. In my opinion it seemed that outsourcing their manufacturing to other countries (or at least procuring ingredients from them), quality control is not the same as in the United States to save on their bottom line. I spent thousands of dollars on drugs and medications for a variety of ailments. Though there are many theories out there I, for one, believe that environment and nutrition quality play a huge role in keeping our furry children happy and healthy. I know that when my husband and I started eating healthier and incorporating more fresh nutritious choices into our everyday meals, we began to feel much better and we did not have trouble with as many ailments.
So I made my decision and decided to experiment with raw diet, B.A.R.F diet (Bones and Raw Foods) with my dogs. I was terrified at first. After being a veterinary assistant for 10 years, 20 years in pet retail and now as a professional dog trainer, where I preached to never feed people food, I was going to go against everything I had once believed. Although the bird nutrition classes have always pushed to feed fresh as it was the best. Still grieving from the loss of Leelu (just shy of 10 years when we lost her to the horror of hemangiosarcoma) I wanted to do everything that I could for the eight year old rescued boxer and the eight month old boxer puppy that we had left. I had noticed that Bohdi’s health was starting to go downhill. So I did due diligence and scoured the internet, I ordered books (Dr. Billinghurst’s book “Give Your Dog a Bone” and “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats the Ultimate Diet” by Kymythy R. Schultze C.C.N., A.H.I. I joined B.A.R.F chat networks and groups on Facebook. I found these to be quite informative.
I had read that I should keep track of the health of my dogs. In the beginning, both had moderately shiny coats. Bohdi’s energy level seemed to be declining and Story had a normal puppy energy level. Bohdi was on a thyroid maintenance prescription drug, a Glucosamine supplement, pepcid (prescribed for his daily struggle with a sour stomach) and a daily pain relief prescription drug. Both dogs, as many boxers do, suffered us with their flatulence. Bohdi had stained teeth but had just had a dental cleaning done. Much to my surprise the puppy started to show signs of a small amount of tarter building up on her Carnasal molars. I was feeding Blue Buffalo brand food to both, one of the better and more expensive processed dog foods. One of the things that really bothered me about feeding such expensive processed food was that I seemed to feed the same amount that I was picking up afterward in the dog run. I thought that feeding premium foods was supposed to give you less to pick up. I seemed to feed 40lbs of dog food and then I seemed to pick up the same 40lbs in stool.
I finally broke down and purchased chicken wings with the purpose of feeding them to my dogs. I had found that non wait bearing bones were the best and that chicken wings backs and necks had just about the right ratio of bone to meat. I split the dogs up and gave them each a raw chicken wing. It was a strange experience to feel both the excited anticipation of healthier dogs and also the pit in my stomach that said “What did I just do?” I intently watched as the older dog, Bohdi, cautiously sniffed the wing picked it up and gave it a little shake only to drop it again. He then picked it back up and started to chomp through it. A couple of cracks and smacks and the chicken wing disappeared down his throat as he licked his lips. Bohdi looked at me as if to say “Is that it?” I wasn’t comfortable with giving more until I saw how he handled it. Meanwhile, out in the dog run, Story, the puppy, was shaking and licking her chicken wing. It took her much longer to figure out that it was something she could touch and then that it was more than just a toy but she finally got the job done. I kept my eye on both of them the rest of the evening and as gross as it may seem I kept a close eye on their bathroom habits. The morning after my initial feeding of the chicken wings I was anxious to see what the end result would be. I was terrified and had a rough night of sleep, envisioning a quick trip to the local veterinary hospital to extract the bones from my poor dogs. On the contrary, both dogs were fine and had normal stool, yet smaller amounts and much to my surprise I could actually see the digested bone. White dog stool that literally disintegrated as you tried to shovel it up. Another added bonus was that it did not smell nearly as bad. Third bonus was that Bohdi, who usually has an easily upset stomach, was having no digestive issues that I could see, at all. Last but not least, our dogs did not seem to have foul smelling gas. Day one of feeding Raw Diet appeared to go well. Their next meal would, again, be chicken wings with the addition of pureed celery. Now I would start planning meals and start keeping track of the cost. Research where to get the ingredients cost effectively. I wanted to come up with a system that lowered my risk of contamination in the kitchen and that would be the most sanitary for our dogs. I was also going to really educate myself about supplementation. My experiences will follow in future blogs.
If you have any questions for Leah or would like to learn more about feeding a raw diet to your dogs from someone that has first hand experience, please give us a call at Denver Dog Works at 303-578-9881.
Tags: Denver Dog Works, Dog Training Denver, Colorado Dog Trainers, Leah Morse, Canine Nutrition, Raw Diet for Dogs, Robert Forto, Dog Works Training Centers, Rocky Mountain Classic Canine, Your Brand Plan
______________________
Leah Morse is a canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah also is a contract trainer for Denver Dog Works and a former student. Leah can be reached through Denver Dog Works at http://www.denevrdogworks.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Who Are You? Canine Trainer, Leah Morse
Who Are You, Anyway?
Contract Trainer, Leah Morse
By Robert Forto, PhD
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing Leah Morse. Leah is a graduate of our canine obedience instructor course and offers contract training at Denver Dog Works.
Let’s get to know Leah Morse, certified canine trainer:
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: mforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 2 years
Personal Training Philosophy: Training a dog should have an equal priority level to proper nutrition and health care for a dog. Use as many techniques as possible to get a dog to think for himself and to choose to do the right thing happily. Dogs need an owner that provides adequate leadership, a safe and happy environment, structure and training.
How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?
I have been educating people how to raise and train their dogs for my entire adult life but professionally for 2 years. I have 20 years of retail pet experience, 10 years of vet assisting experience and have been raising and training dogs for over 30 years. I encourage touch free training but am prepared to incorporate all types of training. I offer private and group classes, in home private lessons and semi private lessons, puppy socialization “kindergarten” classes, basic obedience and some advanced obedience classes, behavior therapy. trick training, CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) prep.
How did you get started?
A phone call to Denver Dog Works, researching training facilities for a friend, and was informed by Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works School for dog trainers. Next an interview with Dr. Forto and then I was well on my way to becoming a professional dog trainer and certified.
Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?
Would love to learn about tracking and herding but currently I am investing time in a competition obedience dog and an up and coming conformation show prospect.
How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?
I have a very good relationship with my local veterinary practice in Bennett CO. I give the vet technicians free lessons to test drive the trainer and they refer clients to me. I have donated obedience private lesson packages to the local recreation center’s private auction. I also have acquired clients from Facebook, advertising in the employee lounge at my other employment, current word of mouth and soon to be a website.
Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?
I work with Dr. Robert and Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works and Sandy Chiavelli with Prairie Dog Acres in Strasburg. I have applied for membership with Colorado Dog Trainers Network. I am a member of APDT, a certified CGC evaluator, a member of MSDTC and am currently registered with TeachStreet.com and am in the process of connecting with some local Doggy Day Care Providers.
What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?
That the owner is a confident Leader that provides a safe and structured environment and is worthy of respect.
That training is a fun game to play daily
That it is a pleasure to work for their people
What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?
The most challenging cases are the owners that come for some or even all of the classes but don’t practice at home with their dogs. You see the dogs that are being regularly practiced with and the ones that aren’t and how much the practiced dogs progress compared to not. The frustration that then ensues between owner and dog (the unpracticed pair) could have been avoided by even a few quick sessions daily. There is such potential that is not being realized by the owner such as better relationship, a calmer dog, better owner/dog communication and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Basically as they say “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
What teaching techniques or philosophies have you found helpful in dealing with your challenging cases?
Pay attention to the emotional status of the owner and the behavior/mood of the dog and try to add encouragement or stress release techniques if necessary. As tactfully as possible, point out what is observed and, quite often, the owner is harboring left over negative feelings from home or work or frustration at the dog.
Work the dog for the owner if the owner is really having a hard time.
What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?
Allow new dogs to sniff around and get comfortable with the training environment prior to the session.
Pay attention to the demeanor of the owner and watch for calming signals given by the dog.
If the dog allows the trainer, demonstrate the techniques to the owner with the owner’s dog, as this shows that it can be done.
Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?
It is great that we all love dogs but you have to develop a love for people too. Loving/appreciating people, helps you to be tolerant and be more in tune to what a client actually needs. People know when you are frustrated with them or if you are disinterested. Common sense for you may not be for others, it just means that you heard it or learned it more than they did. Don’t judge an owner on their inadequacies but help them through them. You help the dog more in the end of if you connect with their people.
What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?
Watching a young handler get attacked by an aggressive dog he was working with. Fortunately it ended alright.
What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?
Patience, Patience, Patience,
Be flexible to a point
Be Personable
What was the last training related seminar you attended?
I am still progressing through a correspondence course as I am working towards another certification.
Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?
Many of the Leerburg training DVDs.
Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor.
Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
Caesars Way
Tender Foot Training DVD
Monks of New Skeet
It’s Me or the Dog Cable Show
Anything else you would like to add?
It is my goal to help as many dogs stay home and out of the shelters and to help prevent as much as possible, future dog bites and behavior problems through prevention training, starting with young puppies by educating their owners.
I would like to see more professional dog trainers start to work together instead of against each other.
______________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Contract Trainer, Leah Morse
By Robert Forto, PhD
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing Leah Morse. Leah is a graduate of our canine obedience instructor course and offers contract training at Denver Dog Works.
Let’s get to know Leah Morse, certified canine trainer:
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: mforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 2 years
Personal Training Philosophy: Training a dog should have an equal priority level to proper nutrition and health care for a dog. Use as many techniques as possible to get a dog to think for himself and to choose to do the right thing happily. Dogs need an owner that provides adequate leadership, a safe and happy environment, structure and training.
How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?
I have been educating people how to raise and train their dogs for my entire adult life but professionally for 2 years. I have 20 years of retail pet experience, 10 years of vet assisting experience and have been raising and training dogs for over 30 years. I encourage touch free training but am prepared to incorporate all types of training. I offer private and group classes, in home private lessons and semi private lessons, puppy socialization “kindergarten” classes, basic obedience and some advanced obedience classes, behavior therapy. trick training, CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) prep.
How did you get started?
A phone call to Denver Dog Works, researching training facilities for a friend, and was informed by Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works School for dog trainers. Next an interview with Dr. Forto and then I was well on my way to becoming a professional dog trainer and certified.
Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?
Would love to learn about tracking and herding but currently I am investing time in a competition obedience dog and an up and coming conformation show prospect.
How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?
I have a very good relationship with my local veterinary practice in Bennett CO. I give the vet technicians free lessons to test drive the trainer and they refer clients to me. I have donated obedience private lesson packages to the local recreation center’s private auction. I also have acquired clients from Facebook, advertising in the employee lounge at my other employment, current word of mouth and soon to be a website.
Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?
I work with Dr. Robert and Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works and Sandy Chiavelli with Prairie Dog Acres in Strasburg. I have applied for membership with Colorado Dog Trainers Network. I am a member of APDT, a certified CGC evaluator, a member of MSDTC and am currently registered with TeachStreet.com and am in the process of connecting with some local Doggy Day Care Providers.
What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?
That the owner is a confident Leader that provides a safe and structured environment and is worthy of respect.
That training is a fun game to play daily
That it is a pleasure to work for their people
What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?
The most challenging cases are the owners that come for some or even all of the classes but don’t practice at home with their dogs. You see the dogs that are being regularly practiced with and the ones that aren’t and how much the practiced dogs progress compared to not. The frustration that then ensues between owner and dog (the unpracticed pair) could have been avoided by even a few quick sessions daily. There is such potential that is not being realized by the owner such as better relationship, a calmer dog, better owner/dog communication and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Basically as they say “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
What teaching techniques or philosophies have you found helpful in dealing with your challenging cases?
Pay attention to the emotional status of the owner and the behavior/mood of the dog and try to add encouragement or stress release techniques if necessary. As tactfully as possible, point out what is observed and, quite often, the owner is harboring left over negative feelings from home or work or frustration at the dog.
Work the dog for the owner if the owner is really having a hard time.
What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?
Allow new dogs to sniff around and get comfortable with the training environment prior to the session.
Pay attention to the demeanor of the owner and watch for calming signals given by the dog.
If the dog allows the trainer, demonstrate the techniques to the owner with the owner’s dog, as this shows that it can be done.
Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?
It is great that we all love dogs but you have to develop a love for people too. Loving/appreciating people, helps you to be tolerant and be more in tune to what a client actually needs. People know when you are frustrated with them or if you are disinterested. Common sense for you may not be for others, it just means that you heard it or learned it more than they did. Don’t judge an owner on their inadequacies but help them through them. You help the dog more in the end of if you connect with their people.
What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?
Watching a young handler get attacked by an aggressive dog he was working with. Fortunately it ended alright.
What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?
Patience, Patience, Patience,
Be flexible to a point
Be Personable
What was the last training related seminar you attended?
I am still progressing through a correspondence course as I am working towards another certification.
Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?
Many of the Leerburg training DVDs.
Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor.
Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
Caesars Way
Tender Foot Training DVD
Monks of New Skeet
It’s Me or the Dog Cable Show
Anything else you would like to add?
It is my goal to help as many dogs stay home and out of the shelters and to help prevent as much as possible, future dog bites and behavior problems through prevention training, starting with young puppies by educating their owners.
I would like to see more professional dog trainers start to work together instead of against each other.
______________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
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