If you want to keep your old dog healthy and happy, then there are some necessary steps that you can take in order to do so. Perhaps one of the most important preventative measures is to have you dog examined by a veterinarian every year, or may even more frequently in that.

It’s important that you keep your dog’s weight in check just like any other human being would. Being overweight is just as big a problem for dogs as it is humans and it can cause issues like joint pain, diabetes, arthritis, and even liver or kidney problems. While it is nice to be able to give your dog a treat once in a while, you’ll want to limit the number of treats that you actually do give him. Be sure that you are feeding your old dog the proper amounts of food at least once a day, or perhaps even split that amount into to smaller portions and feed him twice a day. It is also a good idea to educate children on why feeding your old dog food outside of his regular feeding times is not good for him. This will help prevent the problem of overeating.

Water is important for keeping your old dog hydrated so it is important that there is always fresh water available for your old dog to drink. If you’re dog has trouble moving about the house, don’t be afraid to have multiple drinking sources located throughout the house that he can easily get to. You may even consider bringing the water to him if he has a lot of trouble walking around.

Exercise is very important for keeping your dog healthy and active so you’ll want to try and take your dog for walks on a regular basis. This will promote good circulation of the blood and also will help them digest their food after they have eaten. Exercise is a great way to promote overall good health and keeps your dog happy.

Depending on your dog’s eating preferences, it may be necessary to switch to a canned dog food which is more moist than the dry bagged dog food that you would typically buy. As a dog ages his teeth become weaker and it may be more of a pain for him to try and eat the dry dog food that he has been used to. Canned, moist dog food will eliminate this problem all while still giving him the necessary nutrients and vitamins that he needs from his food.

These are just a few tips that you can make use of to keep your dog healthy and happy. Remember, regular vet checks, proper eating habits, and daily exercise are some of the most important activities that will help keep your old dog healthy and active.

The post Tips For Taking Care Of Your Old Dog first appeared on Puppy Blog.

A new puppy in the house brings happiness and joy, but sooner or later, you will have to leave him in the home alone. This separation anxiety can cause your puppy great mental distress, so it’s very important to slowly acclimate your new friend to the facts of life. Animals display a full range of emotions, and unlike dealing with a human, we cannot reason with them through language. Leaving a new puppy on his own may render him with a hopeless sense of abandonment, creating fear and mistrust, so be sure to take the necessary steps to introduce him slowly to his independence.

1. Begin with a short-term separation period of thirty to sixty minutes. Although this may seem like a blink of an eye for us, to a puppy, this time frame is enormous. Speak with a reassuring tone and lock him in the house alone for under one hour. When he gets the idea that you are always coming back, stretch the separation time until he can relax. Work schedules and emergencies may warrant your departure for eight hours or more, and you need to make sure the puppy has taken all the baby steps to reach this goal.

2. The new puppy gains confidence when he hears the sounds of human voices. For your initial short-term separations, leave the radio or television on to keep him company. Media sounds are no substitute for the one he loves, but the voices provide a distraction from his loneliness.

3. To deflect away from his morose attitude, be sure to keep his favorite toys and snacks within his reach. Creating his own activities with a ball or chew toy does wonders to calm and quiet a frightened puppy and he may bide his time on his own terms until you come home.

4. Reinforce to your puppy that when you have to leave, it’s no big deal. If you play up the situation with a highly strung tone to your voice, the puppy gets the idea that leaving him is a bad thing. Rather, he must learn that people have things to do and places to go that don’t include him and that you shall return before his next meal. Greet him warmly when you open the door, but if you play the drama queen every time, the separation anxiety may become worse.

5. If you must leave your puppy after dark, be sure to leave a small light on or plug in a night light. The dim room may encourage him to nap, but total darkness can be stressful for a baby pooch. One room with one light is sufficient to keep him calm until you arrive home.

The post Puppy Training: How To Deal With Separation Anxiety first appeared on Puppy Blog.