Before you set your iPod shuffle to play the best classical music has to offer, or assume that because you love Bruce Springsteen, so will Milo, you may want to know a little more about this.

Good News for Music Lovers Who Want to Expose Their Dogs to Music
The good news is that loving music is not unique to human beings. Long thought to be a wholly human experience, it turns out that dogs, cats and monkeys love music. Not only does each group love music, it seems each has very distinct tastes. Fortunately for you, what Milo likes isn’t the same as what monkeys want to hear. Evidently tamarins prefer music with vocals three octaves higher than what we find pleasing to the ear. Adding insult to injury, they like music meant for heart beats twice as fast as our own. The best music for a monkey? Something shrill with a beat so fast, the most avid dance club goer would have trouble keeping up.

It will be of little surprise to learn that after extensive testing, cats were difficult to please and place into any one category. In general, most cats appear to love music that appeals to their fast heart rates. However, given how much cats are known for their sleeping, cats appear to tire quickly of the heart pounding clubbing music pretty quickly.

Dogs: Human’s Best Friend Indeed, Well It Depends
For those of you who have large dogs – Bull Mastiffs, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Labrador Retreivers, etc. consider yourselves pretty fortunate. It means that Milo should tend toward music with a pitch that appeals to most human males. So if you like Mozart, Bach, Dvorak or Beethoven, there is a good chance Milo will as well. However, if you like Bruce Springsteen, chances are that Milo will only like his pre-1980s songs. The screaming that became “the Boss’s” signature from Born in the USA until he finally matured into performing folk ballads will send Milo in an agitated frenzy! Oh that’s why he barks and howls!

And what of littler breeds such as the Chihuahua, Min Pin, Pug and other dogs weighing less than 15 pounds? There isn’t any really fun way to break this to you. You may as well stop listening to music altogether and keep things as quiet and calm in your house as possible. Seems that smaller breeds prefer no music to any style of music. They appeared to react better to the sounds of silence, and we’re not talking about Simon and Garfunkel. Regardless what music researchers played for these hyper pooches, none seemed to be music to their ears. Sorry!

If Milo reacts well to your musical tastes and you would consider buying him music designed especially for his doggy ears, if you google music for dogs, for about $1.99 per song, you can purchase music composed with Milo in mind, not music created for humans that you hope Milo will adapt to. Who knows? You may actually love it as well.

Autarky Dog Food (also available at GJW Titmuss) for example offers a whole range of dog food that is specified to the age of your pet. Whereas an older dog may need a few extra vitamins to maintain that spring in his step, no young pup may need that encouragement and instead the food focuses on the growth and natural balance of the diet that any young dog needs. With six different flavours and a very special Top ‘N’ Tasty Gravy mix, there’s sure to be something for your pet as every offering is packed with natural ingredients that offers only the best quality food for your dog.

As with Autarky Dog Food, BETA dog food offers a whole variety of foods based around the age of your pet. From specialised lamb & rice mixes to complete dry food the exquisite range and variation is enough to satisfy any hungry hound. Not only are there foods varying on age ranges but BETA also supply specialised foods such as the BETA Adult Sensitive Salmon & Rice product that is designed for dogs with sensitive digestions. It’s important to remember that dogs can have allergens just as humans so it is important to monitor how your dog takes to new food. If your dog has trouble, the sensitive range may just be what he’s been waiting for.

Due to the fact that many dogs enjoy dry food over the canned variety, Skinners Complete Dog Food specialises in a whole range of dried quality dog food. Having been around in the dog food market since the early 1970’s, Skinners Field & Trial range encompasses a whole range of flavours and variety for the working dogs amongst us. Combining top quality ingredients with all the oils and minerals that are essential for sustained stamina, the range contains all a dog needs to maintain his hard working ethic day in and day out.

No matter which dog food you end up choosing, it is important to get the correct proportion of food in each serving. Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or mountainous Mastiff, the size of their portion depends entirely on their breed. All the foods mentioned are packed with healthy loving ingredients along with minerals and vitamins that are essential for any dog, both young and old but it is still important to get the portions just right. A dog such as a Chihuahua may only need ¾ of a cup of food per portion whereas a Mastiff may need around 3-4 cups. To help tackle obesity, portioned, quality food along with regular exercise is a great way to keep your dog in tip top shape.

Socialization
One of the best ways that you can prevent Bullwinkle from trying to eat the chickens is to socialize him with the chickens. Now, if Bullwinkle is a puppy, this is going to be a fairly simple process, but if he is an older dog, it is going to take a considerable amount of time and repetition on your part. In either case, the method you should use remains the same.

The first thing that you should do is to let Bullwinkle sniff around the area where the chickens live. What you are doing is getting him used to the chickens’ smells. Remember, Bullwinkle smells better than he sees and his world revolves around that extra keen sniffer of his. Keep Bullwinkle on a leash so that he doesn’t try to dart after any chickens. Once Bullwinkle has settled down, you can introduce him to a chicken. This is going to be a very scary experience for the chicken, so someone will have to hold the chicken. Let the animals sniff each other, but be very careful that neither of them snaps at the other one. Thing can quickly turn into an ugly situation if you aren’t not keeping a watchful eye on both canine and fowl.

If Bullwinkle shows any desire to get the chicken, you may have to back away from the chicken. It is important to let Bullwinkle and chicken socialize with one another on their own terms. Trying to rush things or to force them to socialize will lead to a frustrating experience. As a general rule, the older Bullwinkle is, the longer it will take him to accept that the chicken isn’t his dinner.

Distract
Because socializing Bullwinkle is going to take longer than just a day, you will have to keep him distracted so that he won’t try to find his way into the chicken coop. Buy him some new chew toys and take him for walks away from the chickens. Play with him in an area where the chickens won’t become his main focus. This is going to take some extra effort on your part until Bullwinkle gets used to having chickens nearby, but it will be worth it in the end when your dog and your chickens can hang out in the same backyard without bloodshed.

When you are trying to find things to distract Bullwinkle, it is vitally important that you don’t choose anything that looks like or smells like a chicken. That yellow toy that vibrates and squeaks probably isn’t a good option if it is fuzzy since small, yellow and fuzzy describes a baby chick. Pig ears aren’t a good choice right now because the pig may have been exposed to chickens, and since dogs have a keen sense of smell, Bullwinkle may pick up on just that hint of chicken scent.

The Final Straw
If you have tried socializing Bullwinkle with the chickens and you have tried distracting him to keep his mind off the chickens and Bullwinkle still has a high prey drive toward those chickens, it may be time to just acknowledge that Bullwinkle and the chickens have to be kept separated. If Bullwinkle is a small dog, keeping him away from the chickens can be as simple as constructing a chicken coop or creating a fence that neither chicken nor Bullwinkle can cross. Most dogs can learn not only to coexist with chickens but as well learn to protect them as they do you. Keep being patient with Bullwinkle and when he stalks your chickens, firmly say, “no!” and eventually even the most stubborn dog will listen.

How do you deal with your tiny force to be reckoned with – by training him, of course! Luckily, you don’t have to do this on your own. You and Thor can enlist the help of a trainer to make the training process easier. If this idea doesn’t strike you as appealing, it might be a good idea to get a training DVD seminar instead. Tackling puppy training on your own, especially if you are first time puppy owner – but even if you’re a pro – is not recommended.

Trainer
So what are the advantages of hiring a trainer over going by a book or DVD? Well, the single greatest advantage that a trainer will give you is adaptability. He or she will be able to adapt their training to your little Thor. Just like people, dogs are individuals with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses when it comes to learning. A good trainer will be able to pick up on these and use them to your advantage during training, making the whole process a lot smoother for all parties involved.

Though this advantage may seem to outweigh any disadvantage working with a trainer may carry, this is not the case. Trainers can be pricy, and sometimes have their own way of doing things that may not mesh with how you want to bring Thor up. In addition, working with both a trainer and an owner may be confusing or stressful for your four-legged friend.

Also, there are good and bad dog trainers, as is the case in any profession – research will be your best friend in the process of finding the right trainer for you and Thor. Look for trainers with recommendations or high ratings, don’t just take the first one that comes along.

DVD Training
The greatest advantage to the do it yourself approach, a.k.a. the DIY, with the help of a training DVD is the flexibility that your training schedule can have. If you’re a busy person, scheduling something like a doctor’s appointment is difficult, nonetheless something more trivial like puppy training lessons. If you are working with your pup yourself, then training sessions can happen on your schedule when you have time. In addition, if your little Thor takes a little longer to learn a certain command or trick, you won’t end up paying more money for more lessons. A DVD is a one-time purchase, meaning it costs the same whether your Thor takes a few weeks or a few months to complete his training.

Unfortunately, in the case of DVD training, you lose the personalized, one-on-one attention that a trainer would give your furry little friend. In addition, if the training method endorsed by the DVD doesn’t fit with Thor’s learning style, then you’ve wasted your time and money.

When choosing the method of training that you will employ for your mighty little Thor, think over what is most important – timing or personalized attention. Paying for puppy lessons you constantly have to miss or reschedule won’t do you or Thor any good – no matter how much special attention he would receive there. Similarly, if you are a first time puppy owner with no clue at all how to train a puppy, doing so on your own time may sound appealing, but the odds that you will succeed without help are fairly slim. To ensure that Thor will receive the best training to turn him into the best pup he can be, you will need to be ready to put time and genuine effort into the process, from choosing your method to teaching him his last trick.

How do Anti-Bark Collars Work?
There are a few different types of bark-correcting collars on the market. The kind that most people think of is a shock collar. This device will deliver a little jolt of electricity to Bailey’s neck each time she barks at a certain volume. Some will produce different levels of shock depending on the loudness of the bark. A citronella bark collar will spray some nasty citronella in Bailey’s face when she barks. She won’t like it; dogs hate the smell. Finally, an ultrasonic collar emits a high-pitched sound in response to a bark. You won’t hear it, but Bailey will and she will find it very annoying.

Benefits of Using an Anti-Bark Collar
While just about any problem behavior that Bailey exhibits can be corrected by a professional dog trainer, it can be tempting to buy a collar instead. They are certainly less expensive than a trainer and they will produce the desired effect much more quickly. The annoyance of a shock, screech, or spray of citronella can correct barking pretty efficiently. When Bailey realizes that barking creates the thing she doesn’t like, she will be effectively trained to not bark. Whether using any of the collars is cruel is an individual decision. What is certain is that none of them harm dogs. The idea behind the devices is to get Bailey’s attention rather than to hurt her.

The Downside to Anti-Bark Collars
So why shouldn’t you use an anti-bark collar to correct Bailey? It’s not very nice. The type of training that is involved with these collars is called positive punishment. Don’t be fooled by the word positive. This means that something Bailey does not like is introduced to punish her and to deter her unwanted behavior. While effective, it’s not a very pleasant experience for her. Most contemporary dog trainers use techniques that are described as positive reinforcement. That means giving Bailey something she likes to reward her and to encourage her good behaviors. It is a much nicer way of training and can be used to solve any problem. It may not be as fast, but positive reinforcement is just as effective, if not more so, than an anti-bark collar.

The deterrents used in collars are not physically harmful to dogs. Imagine you got a light slap in the face every time you said a certain word. That might give you an idea of what Bailey would be in for. A slap doesn’t cause you harm or injury, but it is unpleasant and could have psychological effects. If Bailey is getting shocked or sprayed on a regular basis, she could become timid and shy. In fact, she may even develop other undesirable behaviors like jumping, peeing in the house, or hiding as a result of the anti-bark collar.

Whether you use an anti-bark collar to help Bailey become a quieter dog is a personal choice. There are many experts and veterinarians who promote their use. On the other hand there are plenty of trainers and animal rights groups that believe they represent cruelty. Consider the pros and cons carefully and decide what will work best for and for Bailey.

Some naturalists will point out that raw meat is the way carnivores have always eaten in the wild. Indeed, man is the only animal who cooks his food. However, dogs are so far removed from their wild wolf ancestors that many do not last long in the wild and much of that is due to disease and parasites gained from their food sources. Most wild animals lead short and violent lives but we enjoy seeing our canine friends live long, happy and full lives free from strife and worry. The ‘wild card’, as it were, is not the best played hand when it comes to the argument of raw and cooked but there are plenty of other excellent points to consider.

Almost any time you apply heat to something the structure of it changes; heat alters compositions, often destroying the original product. In the case of food – any food – heat breaks down the natural proteins and damages nutrients, if not outright annihilates them depending on the extent to which the food is exposed to heat source. Heat also kills the pathogens and parasites that might be found in foods, especially meat. Not cooking meat increases the likelihood that such undesirables as salmonella and E.coli are more readily contracted. High heat has the power to alter certain fats and essential acids into undesirable, even carcinogenic, by-products. On the other hand, lightly cooking meats leaves a large amount of the desirable stuff intact while also destroying most bacteria and pathogens.

Raw foods have the benefit of all amino acids, proteins and nutrients kept intact but a dog cannot digest grains unless they are well cooked, which removes them as a carbohydrate source in their raw form. Vegetables also need to be cooked to a degree for a dog to benefit from any nutrients to be found within; else his digestive track is too short to break them down. On top of that, dogs have the teeth of the carnivores meaning they are designed to rip and tear flesh, not gnaw on plants. They also lack digestive enzymes in their saliva needed for breaking down plant matter. Cooking is a form of pre-digestion and the case of non-meat matter, it vastly benefits the canine and ends in less waste. Pureeing vegetables is a viable alternative to cooking.

Both schools of thought have their pros and cons, but some may prefer to look at it from a completely different view: that of highly-processed versus fresh. By its nature, the dry kibble offered in bags sees quite a bit of processing and it is best to think of ‘processed’ more along the lines of ‘a process by which the end product is farther and farther removed from its original state’. Many experts are now connecting processed foods with obesity and degenerative diseases more and more in both humans and domesticated animals as processed foods are both cooked and jammed full of foreign chemicals like preservatives. The steps a dog (or cat) food company goes through to create its kibble will not be discussed here but it may cause some alarm in more sensitive pet owners. While kibble is not known to have been the death of dogs and pets are actually living longer these days, there are better alternatives for delivering balanced nutrition and wholesome meals.

In then end it does not actually seem to matter if a dog eats raw meat or cooked meat but if raw is your choice, take pains to ensure it is suitable for human consumption. Do not feed your dog anything you would not eat or feed to another human. Do not serve Duke raw pork and be very careful with the chicken. Keep meats refrigerated, leaving them out only long enough to reach room temperature before feeding but avoid leaving the meat out for long where it has time to grow bacteria. Keep easily splintered bones, like pork and chicken, out of Duke’s reach. A dog will not get everything he needs from meat alone, so talk to your vet about supplements or cook him up some grains and veggies. Just remember that the less processed food is, the better it is for both you and Duke.

Trainability
If you want your Andy to be famous, he must not only be well trained, but he also must be trainable. This does not mean smart, and this does not only mean obedient, but it means that he must have the capacity for learning and retaining new commands.
On a film set, in a stage show, or during a photo shoot, he will need to learn commands, and he will need to be able to take them from other people besides you. Though you will inevitably be his handler before he gets big, he may have a director, an assistant handler, or a human actor that he has to listen to.

Personable, and Other-animal-able for That Matter
Andy being able to take commands from others leads us to our next point – he must be personable, pretty unconditionally. He needs to be able to get along with kids, adults, groups, and other animals too. In other words, he needs to play well with others, even and especially if they are strangers. One bite, one nip can put him out of show business permanently.

Physical Perfection (Or Quirkiness)
Just like a human actor or model, you dog should be fairly physically attractive – weird to say, right? – to make it in the biz. This is not just being cute, or fluffy, this mean being a prime specimen of their breed in peak physical shape… or it should be quirky looking in some way. Eyes too big, tongue too long, too many wrinkles, and so on, as long as the quirk is cute.

Craigslist, Youtube, and the Want Ads
If you plan on making your dog a star, you will do a lot of work – just as much, if not more than if you planned on making yourself or your child a star. You will need to social media your dog all over the Internet. He will need a Facebook, a Twitter, a flickr, and a myspace as well as a youtube and a vimeo. He may as well be LinkedIn while you’re at it.

In addition, you should have work to put on said websites, meaning that you need to peruse craigslist, the want ads, and also, pet contests through pet food brands, pet stores, and so forth to find work for you pet. Many photographers do something called “TFP,” which means time for prints. Find photographers who will work this way (rather than you having to pay them) to get high quality images of Andy on a budget.
If your dog Andy is ever going to get big time famous, he will eventually pick up an agent and a handler, a prep team, and so on. This is where the view from the top comes in. The sad truth about an animal like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin is that they belong to showbiz, and to America. If Andy were to “get famous,” and “make it big,” he may not even really be your pet anymore.

All that being said, there is a happy medium that can be found between super stardom and complete mediocrity – not that there is anything wrong with that. If your dog is well behaved enough to have you as a handler, he can be a local celebrity of sorts. He can be the dog that the community theatre relies on for their canine roles. He can be the pooch that students put in their films during film school. The most important thing is that your dog will always be a star to you, and honestly, that is probably enough for him.

First of all, how old is older? The old “seven dog years to one human year” is ok as a general rule of thumb, with some adjusting for size and breed. The size of a dog’s heart doesn’t change that much compared to the size of the rest of the body so that means a toy breed, such as a toy poodle or papillon, might have a heart that is large for its body, compared to a Great Dane or Newfoundland, whose heart would be comparatively small for its body. This means the same size pump pumping blood around a small network of blood vessels versus a large network of blood vessels is working harder in the larger dog’s body and thus might wear out more quickly. That is why larger dogs often have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs.

Physical Changes
Might it surprise you to know that the physical changes most immediately noticeable with a healthy dog is the same as with humans? Yes, the unwanted, yet unavoidable gray hair that you are plucking right now is the same one that indicates a dog’s increase in age. Dogs do go gray, just like humans, and the first place you might see some graying is around the eyes and on the muzzle. Just as is the same case with humans, genetics will determine how young or old a dog is when graying starts and how much of the face and body turns gray. Sometimes a dog as young as two or three will develop some gray, but seven or eight years old is a more common age for gray to develop.

Let’s Start With the Head
Cataracts are another early aging sign in dogs. Cataracts are a very common eye ailment in which a filmy covering grows on the outside of the eye. This does impact sight and once the “sheath” is fully covering the eye, it can be addressed surgically with great success. Similarly, many dogs experience diminished hearing and eventually go deaf as they age. It is not uncommon for dogs to lose their sense of smell or have it decrease with age. Teeth and gums need additional attention and may need additional care in older dogs. Plaque may build up and teeth can rot or break.

Oh, My Aching Bones
Arthritis is another extremely common physical symptom of aging in dogs. Arthritis can affect any joint, but knees, shoulders and hips are very common sites for this condition to manifest. The main symptom an owner might notice is pain and stiffness upon getting up and hesitancy to be as active as in the past.

Did You Think You’re the Only One Capable of Weight Gain and Incontinence?
Metabolic changes mean that weight gain is common in older dogs. Obesity can result from the combination of a slowing of the metabolism plus trouble moving around due to arthritis, which then places more strain on the already painful joints.

Spayed female dogs are at increased risk for developing incontinence and changes in toileting habits are common as dogs age. Constipation can become a problem, as everything slows down a bit.

I’m Feeling a Bit Verklempt Lately!
Imagine how you’d feel if everything started to hurt a little more than usual, and you had trouble seeing, hearing or smelling and you peed on yourself sometimes. You might get a little touchy! Often temperament and behavior changes as dogs age. Willie may become less tolerant of young dogs or children and “cranky” even with those he loves.

Dogs can also develop dementia and senility and show signs of disorientation and forgetfulness. In severe cases, incontinence can result, as the dog has actually forgotten where he or she is and “thinks” s/he is outside.

What to Do with Your Best Friend?
Common sense “ain’t too common” but here, common sense prevails. Responsible dog owners should manage older dogs with the same sensitivity to your dog’s special needs as you did when the dog was a puppy and a young adult. Exercise is still important but should be scaled back a little. Shorter more frequent walks are probably best, and hard exercise sessions should be shortened. Consider providing more opportunities to swim if your dog will swim, as this is excellent exercise for elder dogs.

Also consider trying supplements. Discuss this with your vet: some vets do recommend glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis symptoms and fatty acid supplements for skin and coat. Some vets recommend anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers for arthritis and other conditions, but having a definite diagnosis and veterinary advice before spending any money on supplements is a wise move.

Older dogs can be a challenge, but they have much to give back. Enjoy your senior dog and remember: every phase of life has pros and cons and special joys.

Jacob
Take Jacob. Jacob is a loving, happy lab who was given to a shelter when his owners had to move to a place that wouldn’t take pets. He has not been abused or neglected, but he poses a different challenge to anyone who may want to adopt him. He’s 3 ½ years old. While this fact may not seem particularly important – beyond the time honored adage that, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” (which in the case of training is actually a fallacy) – there are other issues with adopting a dog who is past his puppy years.

Neutering
If you find yourself in the position of adopting Jacob, who has unfortunately not been neutered, you have a few options. You can still get him neutered, but prime neutering time is between 6 and 18 months old. Neutering him after that means a higher risk and longer healing time. It is more likely that you will have to deal with Jacob not being neutered by discouraging the bad behaviors that it can cause – i.e. territory “marking,” humping, roaming and aggression toward other male dogs. These are behaviors that can be successfully subdued with a bit of hard work and a lot of patience.

Training
Though Jacob is likely to come with the basics, like potty training and hand training (no biting), he may or may not know things like sit, stay, heel and come. It is likely that he will have been assessed for compatibility with humans and other animals, which means you will have an idea of whether he is a good fit for your home. If there are any bad behaviors Jacob picked up – i.e. digging, scratching and chewing furniture and carpets – they will be really hard to get rid of. But contrary to popular opinion about training and dogs, a dog is never too old to be trained. In fact, providing structure for Jacob is your best chance to provide him with a loving and stable home.

Personality
Being older or younger will only affect Jacob’s personality in minor ways. Older dogs tend to have lost some of the hyperactive, destructive, frustrating qualities of puppyhood and often have some of the sweetest, mellowest of temperaments. This doesn’t mean they won’t be playful and run around with you. It means, sometimes, that older dogs will take a bit longer to bond with you, especially breeds famous for being a “one person” type.

Health
Older dogs like Jacob, even at age 3 ½ and certainly when they get older, can have some health problems not common in puppies. These can be severe pre-existing conditions like diabetes or gum disease, or small things like fleas or skin issues, which are likely to be in treatment from the shelter. Some conditions, especially if they weren’t properly treated prior to his finding his way to the shelter, will be more difficult to treat. One common misconception is that it is not worth adopting an older dog because they will die sooner than a puppy and the loss will be too hard.

Losing a dog is always hard, whether they joined your family old or young. Puppies can occasionally die very your from rare diseases, and a dog you adopt at age 7 may live 10 more years.

Jacob presents a unique set of challenges, because he, like any dog you may potentially adopt, is a unique personality, situation and animal. Don’t let some of the cons of his age deter you from adopting him. Jacob will be a great dog at age 1, 3 ½, 7, or at whatever age he may be when you adopt him.

Determining Obesity
So how do you know if Matthew is fat? Obesity means that your dog is 30% greater than the normal weight for that breed. You can look up the breed standard for him and check what he should weigh. But the best way to know for sure is to take a trip to the vet. Your vet can weigh him accurately and can tell you if he needs to lose weight and if so, how much. A good rule of thumb is that if you can no longer see his ribs and hipbones, he’s overweight. But a vet can determine to what extent.

If you’ve looked her over and it’s quite obvious that little Buffi is grossly overweight, you may be asking yourself, how did this happen? As with people, excess pounds generally come from too much food and not enough exercise. If Buffi doesn’t get her daily play time and if you tend to fill up her food bowl as soon as it is empty, mystery solved.

Health Risks and Costs
Overfeeding your dog or cat can be very costly. First, there are health problems to consider. Extra weight can lead to diabetes, which may require daily insulin shots. Arthritis is also a big health issue with overweight dogs, which will require medication, often injected, and potentially surgery. As with humans, high blood pressure is a serious result of obesity, which also means medication. Another serious one is Kidney failure, which may lead to dialysis or surgery. The cost of caring for a pet with any of these issues can add up quickly! Even just a daily pill can be expensive. According to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, in 2010, customers claimed $25 million for obesity-related conditions. Other pet insurance companies say that their top claims each year come from treatments needed for overweight animals. In addition to medical costs, overweight pets consume a lot of food. Especially with large breeds, pet food costs can also skyrocket.

Once you have recognized what has happened to little Matthew, it is time to make a change. But, don’t close up your wallet just yete, this will cost money too. First, you need to find out just how much to feed him. Your vet can tell you that as well as the type of food he will need. In fact, most brands, especially store bought ones, suggeset you feed Buffi and Matthew more than is recommended.

Indeed, there are diet foods for pets, and they are pricier than regular foods. You will also need to get Matthew and Buffi some exercise. That could be accomplished with a daily walk for a dog. Treadmills are now made specifically for dogs and you can even purchase a Tread Wheel from GoPet in a variety of sizes. The Tread Wheel is essentially an oversized hamster wheel, which ranges in price from $375 to $970. If you can afford it, it would release you from the need to walk Matthew outside or to play with Buffi and her toys. But then again, you didn’t get a dog just to watch him or her spin around or get on a treadmill, now did you? No! You got a dog to play catch with, run around your back yard and have loads of fun with!

The bottom line is that by allowing your pet to get overweight, you can seriously compromise his health. Besides the monetary costs, his life will be shorter and his quality of life significantly diminished, which really isn’t fair. So, perhaps it’s time to start measuring the kibble and to go out for a walk. Chances are, you can both use it.