Whole Dog News

I just recently had the privilege of viewing the new National Geographic show, In The Womb - Dogs (and In The Womb Cats). These shows will air for the general public on January 4, 2009 on NGC These shows are awesome, they feature never before seen “in utero” images of dogs (and cats) and their wild relatives!!!

It is amazing to watch them grow so identically in the womb and reminds you that our pets are not as far removed from their wild relatives as you may like to think. Learn how the Dog got its bark and the cat lost its roar in these facinating shows.

Animal Talk Naturally Radio Show is working on getting someone from NGC to come share with us in the near future so stay tuned for more information there.

The Whole Dog is very excited and pleased to be able to offer excellent, organic and natural treats: Dr WooFers and a brand new, freeze dried, organic RAW food : KrunCheros gourmet pet food and Dr. WooFers Organic and Natural treats with Acai and Goji berries for optimum health.

KrunCheros Fine Pet Dining is an elegant line of freeze-dried raw food with organic, natural and exotic nutrients for optimum health. Your dog will love KrunCheros’ four flavors: Chicken Pot Py, Beef Wellington, Chicken Fiesta and Spaghetti & Meatballs all made with NO grains or potato. Have you been thinking of feeding your dog a raw diet but been a bit reluctant to handle the raw meat and bones? Or worried you would not get the balance of nutrients right? Worry no more! Just add warm water to this freeze dried total raw meal for your dog and it is all your dog needs!

Dr. WooFrs Organic and Natural treats are a combination of exotic ingredients such as: Acai berries, Goji berries, Sprouted Chia in a delicious base of either Chicken, Buffalo, a combination of Chicken-Duck-Salmon and Buffalo or Venison. There are NO grains or potatoes used in these biscuits! How healthy is that? You can’t go wrong, you can only improve your dog’s health by feeding these treats!

For more information on KrunCheros or Dr WooFers natural, grain and potato free biscuits, just go to The Whole Dog and see KrunCheros HERE and Dr WooFer’s HERE.

This holiday season, many of us are looking back on 2008 as being a time of economic challenges and financial uncertainty. Others of us are counting our many blessings and have felt to share our blessings with those not feeling as fortunate. Are you looking to find a way to “Paw It Forward”?

Animal Talk Naturally Radio Show is still offering wonderful gifts of your choice to those who donate $50.00 or more (see our Season Of Giving Page) to:

Paws and Think

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch

(Both non-profit groups utilize abused, rescued animals (*horses and dogs) to provide therapy to in need youths.)
or
Animals In Paradise
(a documentary film on the eternal lives of animals)

We also recently were contacted by our friends at Hooves and Paws Rescue in Glenwood IA. Please read thier request for help below:

Hooves & Paws a place of healing

Dear Family & Friends,

Along the way doing rescue work we have been blessed meeting many wonderful people. Recently we have been offered a truckload of dry dog food from an incredible couple. We will be splitting this dog food with another shelter in the Nebraska area. However, we need to raise our half of the shipping cost which is estimated at between $900.00 & $1,100.00. We also need somewhere to store some of this food since our storage space at our rescue is limited due to our horse’s hay and food. Read the rest

Holiday Stress

This time of year is a time of extra stress with the holidays and all that they entail for us, it’s good to keep in mind that our canine companions feel our stress as well as their own stress from – traveling, extra visitors, more time spent alone while their owners/families attend holiday parties or are out late shopping, and all the extra commotion and change of routine that comes with the holiday season. You may notice your dog licking his paws, acting clingy, or pacing around unable to settle and rest in one spot – these are a few symptoms of your dog feeling stressed. If your family includes cats, you find they will hide under the bed more or fail to use the litter box routinely when they are under stress.

There are a variety of ways to reduce the stress level for your companion. Read the rest

Rabies Challenge Fund

CHEYENNE, Wyoming Passes 3 Year Rabies Ordinance!!

It’s official!!! On December 8, 2008, the Cheyenne City Council passed a 3 year rabies ordinance which included a medical exemption for sick animals — thanks to the efforts of Wyoming dog owners, led by Karon Volk of Karontara Irish Wolfhounds, who initially raised concerns about the city’s outdated annual booster protocol.

CHEYENNE – City Eases Rabies Vaccine Rules Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Page A3, Tuesday, December 9, 2008 by Jodi Rogstad
The City’s Dogs and Cats will No Longer Need to Get Rabies Shots Every Year. Pet owners now have the option to have their animal companions vaccinated once every three years. Monday, the Cheyenne City Council voted 8-2 to change the city’s rabies vaccine ordinance.

Cheyenne City Council http://cheyenne.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=57

9. ORDINANCE - 3RD READING - Amending Section 6.12.020, Rabies Tags, of Chapter 6.12, Dog and Cat Registration, and Section 6.16.020, Rabies Vaccination Required, of Chapter 6.16, Rabies Control, of Title 6, Animals, of the Code of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. (PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE)

ACTION: Approved as amended by substitute

ARKANSAS Considers 3 Year Rabies Law

Health Department Discusses Change In Pet Vaccination Law The Morning News November 22, 2008 http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/11/22/news/112308lrpetvaccinations.txt

“LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas and Alabama are the only states that still require annual rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats, but that could change in the 2009 session.” Read the rest

Cesar Milan

I was recently contacted by Cesar Milan’s publisist and asked if I would be interested in reviewing Cesar’s new DVD set “Mastering Leadership with Your Dog” and posting my thoughts here on Whole Dog News Blog. I was quite interested in doing so as I had heard both good and bad things about Cesar and wanted to see and learn more for myself.

This is a three DVD set which takes you from acquiring a new puppy (either from a breeder, shelter or breed rescue) through to working with a dog you may have in your home currently that has some problems you want to work on with the dog.

I have to admit, I was impressed with Cesar’s beliefs about dogs as he does believe they are DOGS, not furry little toys or children in dog clothing. He appears to appreciate and love dogs as dogs! He also points out that living with dogs and treating them as any other species then dogs is what is causing so many of the behavior problems we are seeing today! Maybe Cesar can get this point across to others, I sure hope so!

Cesar makes the point through out all the DVD’s the vital importance of being “Calm & Assertive” with our dogs. Of being the pack leader so our dogs don’t have to try to be…
Read the rest

Uh, Duh! lol

This story hit the news wires today and I wanted to share it with you in case you had not seen it.

(AP) No fair!

What parent has not heard that from a child who thinks another youngster got more of something. Well, it turns out dogs can react the same way.

Ask them to do a trick and they will give it a try. For a reward, sausage say, they will happily keep at it.

But if one dog gets no reward, and then sees another get sausage for doing the same trick, just try to get the first one to do it again.

Indeed, he may even turn away and refuse to look at you.

Dogs, like people and monkeys, seem to have a sense of fairness.

“Animals react to inequity,” said Friederike Range of the University of Vienna, Austria, who lead a team of researchers testing animals at the school’s Clever Dog Lab. “To avoid stress, we should try to avoid treating them differently.”

Similar responses have been seen in monkeys.

Read the entire article HERE

Aging Gracefully

We love our canine companions so much! Don’t you just want to slow the aging process for our dogs? While there is no exact tool or magic bullet for doing this, scientific research for a ‘Fountain of Youth’ has pin pointed some of the aging culprits we can strive to prevent.

The major focus for aging has been placed on the destruction and damage of a system’s DNA, mostly by oxidation. Leading causes of oxidation are just as you would imagine: pollutants, toxins in the air/ water/ground, disease, stress, hormone disfunction, poor quality diet (commercial/ processed foods), and the list goes on (hence the need for antioxidents as well as proper, preventitive nutrition).

The DNA, Telemerase theory on aging describes how cells loose there ability to replicate appropriately, this eventually this leads to cells becoming more and more damaged. The term Cellular Dysfunction is commonly known to us as “aging”.

Along with cellular dysfunction is the Free Radical, ‘balancing act’. We all have heard of the effects of Free radicals, (cancer, disease, aging) however, the truth of the matter is that the production of Free Radicals is an ongoing and natural process in the body systems (dogs and humans alike). Free radicals are produced with the release of ATP (energy formation) and energy metabolisim (food), in an on going process in all body systems. The best way to keep Free Radicals in a ’state of balance’ is to balance the input of energy with the output, food intake with expenditure of energy.

Of course, the controlable aspects of aging are eating a healthy diet (preferably raw, no additives, preservatives, fillers, etc.) and living a fun filled, active life (going to the dog park, beach, hiking trail, etc.).

Having your dog on a healthy diet and taking the time to offer plenty of attention, exercise and love are going to keep you both pretty far up on the Anti- Aging scale.

Please take a look at some of the founding reasoning for feeding your dog a raw diet.

*If raw meat and bone diet or even home cooking for your dog is something you just can not do, We recommend the following alternative:  A Freeze Dried Raw Food or a Freeze Dried, raw layerd, food Either can be fed dry or with added water to re-hydrate and expand the food.

You may also want to check out the fantastic anti-oxident and other health benefits of NingXia Red Juice and Enzymes Pro + . These product were designed with all the aspects of superior  nutrition and anti- aging in mind by increasing antioxidents, ’scavenging for’ free radicals, improving immune systems, and helping with blood circulation for heart.

There are of course further things you can do to enhance, strengthen, and add vitality to your dogs life, preventing premature aging. I will have more articles on this subject of “Aging Gracefully” here at Whole Dog News in the coming weeks. (Check the sidebar for this catagory.)

Thinking of Breeding Your Dog?

Breeding Dogs is NOT A, RIGHT, IT IS A PRIVILEGE!

As such there are responsibilities incumbent upon anyone who undertakes to do so. These responsibilities include the stewardship of the breed. What benefits the dogs must take precedence over what benefits the people.

Read More >>>>>>