Loving Our Dogs To Death

There's an epidemic in today's world in which people love dogs more than ever. But dogs are also being harmed more than ever. Whether it's playing with genetics, diet, exercise, training . . . loving but uneducated people are doing their furry companions a disservice. Are you one of them?

This post isn't for people who hate dogs or just flat out shouldn't own a dog (and there are many). This post is for those who love their dogs, but may not be aware of the damage they are doing do their dog. It's to empower those who are wanting to do better for their fur babies!

Post Summary

-Genetics

-Exercise

-Environment

-Diet

-Mental Stimulation

-Training

-Conclusion

Genetics

You might be thinking this one is out of your control. Yes & No. If you're adopting a dog then yes, this is out of your control other than being conscious about the dog you choose. BUT, if you are seeking out a breeder, then you are choosing which breed and genetics to get. With a breeder you want to make health and temperament your biggest priority. Avoid breeders that breed for extreme features that negatively impact the dog's health. Supporting good breeders can hopefully lessen the bad breeders out there.

Why is temperament so important? Think about it. Temperament shapes your dog's life and what they can or cannot do. If you get a dog that's a constant stress case. That'll significantly impact their health and longevity. Or if you end up with a dog with more aggressive genetics, you're opening yourself up to the possibility that your dog bites someone and gets put down or always has to be shut away and managed. A good stable temperament makes for a happy healthy dog . . . provided you are also good at the remaining topics.

But Aren't Breeders The Reason There's So Many Shelter Dogs? If you go to a good breeder, then absolutely not. Good breeders take their dogs back and find them new homes. They are responsible for what they put out there. If you go to a backyard breeder on Craigslist. Then yes, they are contributing to the problem. So related posts below for more detailed info.

Related Posts:

Bred To Be Miserable

Qualities Of A Good Breeder Vs A Bad Breeder

Takeaways

-Find A Good Responsible Breeder

-Prioritize Temperament & Health

-A Mentally Stable Dog Is A Happy Dog

*In the image above you have a "Show Line" German Shepherd (left) and a "Working Line" German Shepherd (right). You can find good and bad breeders in each category. But in general, the working line dogs are bred for function with straighter backs. While the show line is bred more for looks and have more of a curved back. Stacking exaggerates the look, but there is definitely a difference when seeing these dogs in person. And before thinking a working line is the better option. Keep in mind that they also have a lot more drive and need for mental and physical stimulation.

*Here we have another example for a different breed. You have a French Bulldog bred for the extreme flat faced feature that inhibits proper breathing (left) vs one that has been bred for functionality and can breathe properly. (right). One of these dogs will be more miserable than the other because somebody thought a smushed face was cute. The dog's health and ability to live normally was sacrificed for looks.

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Exercise

People are beginning to wake up to this one. Just like it's important for you to get up and move. It is also important for your dog. They say a daily walk should range between 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the breed and activity. Honestly, I think this is a minimum and it should be much higher. Look at wolves, they spend roughly 35% of their time traveling and regularly go about 20-30 miles per day searching for food. Some have even been known to travel up to 100 miles in a day when food is scarce!

But people have lives too and do what they can. And I'm by no means saying you need to get your dog traveling 20-30 miles per day. NEVER push your dog over their limits depending on age, breed, activity level, etc. A Chihuahua will have drastically different exercise needs than a Malinois. I'm just stressing the importance of exercise in general. If you're not able to get fido out, consider a dog walker, dog daycare, doggy playdate . . . something to get your dog more active. And no, a big yard does not count unless you are actively playing fetch or something similar. It's healthy, relieves stress, provides mental stimulation, and is just plain mandatory if you have a dog.

Takeaways

-Regular Exercise Is Mandatory If You Have A Dog

-Wolves Travel 20-30 Sometimes Even 100 Miles Per Day

-Life Is Busy, Do Your Best To Provide Plenty Of Activity

-Different Breeds Have Different Exercise Needs

-Don't Push Your Dog Beyond Their Limits

-Exercise Relieves Stress & Provides Mental Stimulation

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Environment

Dogs these days are always indoors. That's good, isn't it? Again, yes and no. Yes, because they get to be a part of the family and interact with everybody. And depending on your yard care practices and area you live in, they have less exposure to environmental toxins like pollution, fertilizers, etc.

However, they also don't get the benefits of what the outside has to offer. Sights, sounds, smells, sun, even grounding benefits. What's grounding? Grounding simply means direct contact with the ground. The earth has a charge to it. And both you and your dog can benefit from it. Studies have shown it can help with a multitude of health conditions from inflammation, stress, sleep, etc.

There's a variety of grounding products out there for people (shoes, mats, blankets, belts . . .). It's been interesting reading reviews and seeing that dogs and cats tend to be drawn to laying on the grounding mats. Ideally, if it's not too hot to too cold, just allow your dog to be outside for at least 30 minutes per day for a benefit that's absolutely free!

Takeaways

-Dogs are indoors too much

-Allow 30 minutes per day outside to "ground" and enjoy the outdoor benefits

-Consider buying a grounding mat

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Diet

Again, people are waking up to this one and are finding that BALANCED homemade cooked or raw diets are beneficial to their dogs' health and longevity. And yet I'll still see some of these people still buy the horrible dogs treats and feed them to their dog every day. Killing with kindness I call it, as well as overfeeding or frequency.

Yes, I said frequency. There're people that can't stop shoving things in their dog's mouth. Even if your dog is not overweight, stop constantly giving them so many treats. Just as it is with people, this is damaging to be snacking all of the time. Give them a chance to fast. It allows the body to heal from free radicals.

I knew somebody who exercised their dog everyday 3 times per day. They had them on a somewhat decent kibble. And they were at what would be considered "pet weight". Those dogs (a heeler and a golden mix) should have lived to be 12-14 years old. The heeler got some sort of cancer and passed at 9 years old. The golden mix passed at 10 due to a block in his gut. But before that was having seizures and mobility issues. For both dogs to die early, my biggest suspicion was the constant treats and handouts that got from dawn to dusk. Including burnt bread which has carcinogens. My husky mix at the time was raised similarly. But he only got 2 meals a day with the occasional treat. He lived to the ripe old age for 14+. He probably would have lived longer had I had the knowledge that I have today on diet, early spay/neuter, etc.

Yes, those are observations with just a few dogs that may or may not be the reason for their lifespan. But studies are showing that fasting your dog can increase their lifespan. A 2022 study found that adult dogs fed once daily have better average cognitive scores and are less likely to have gastrointestinal, dental/oral, orthopedic, kidney/urinary, and liver/pancreas health conditions than dogs fed more frequently". I feed my current dog "OSA" once per day. I only felt comfortable doing this because she eats raw. Raw food does not expand in the gut like kibble does. She was also a finicky eater when she was young, so it also worked out in feeding her a meal that she would finish. It'll be interesting to see what this does for her overall health and longevity.

Takeaways

-Feed a balanced raw or cooked diet, healthy treats

-Don't overfeed or give constant treats/handouts during the day

-Consider one meal day for your dog (OMAD)

-Studies show that OMAD for dogs helps with a variety of health conditions and improves longevity

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Mental Stimulation

Even I can struggle with this one when life gets busy. But just like you, dogs like to keep their brains busy. This is where you get dogs that destroy your home. Even the low maintenance dogs benefit from mental stimulation. I feel like this is one of the more challenging things we can provide for ours dogs because what's stimulating one day, is not as stimulating the next. If you go on the same walk every day, play the same game every day, it's no longer as much fun.

Same with dogs. So, it's good to do your best at mixing things up. Switch up where you walk. Drive to new interesting places. Take your dog to pet approved places. Smelling the ground is probably the number one best activity for your dog. It's mentally stimulating and relieves stress.

There's a multitude of different puzzle toys on the market as well feeding mats, puzzle feeders, and treat dispensers. Instead of feeding your dog in a bowl, try freezing it in a puzzle bowl so they have to work for it.

Try teaching your dog one new trick each week. Learning something new would be incredibly beneficial for fido. With people, learning a new language or a musical instrument activates unique areas of the brain. This leads to increased neural activity, cognitive function, better memory, vocabulary, and enhanced flexibility of the brain as it adapts to new sounds.

Takeaways

-Life gets boring, make it interesting, give your dog a purpose

-Smelling the ground for dogs is the most enriching and relieves stress

-Try the different puzzle toys that are on the market

-Teach a new trick a week

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Training

This is a HUGE topic now days with a lot of controversy. But from what I've seen, studied, and experienced. The softer people get, the naughtier and more unstable the dogs get. There's an epidemic of unruly dogs that have become a hazard to themselves and others. And it's becoming tabu to correct your dog for bad behavior. But let me tell you, treats and love are not going to fix your aggressive or unruly dog. They're great for training new behaviors. But when the reward of going after another dog is more rewarding than you and your treats. You going to have a dog that gets put down or injured.

And it amazes me that some people are okay with that. I've literally heard of some people who would rather their dog gets hurt, injured, or killed having a good time. Then to put the proper training in that would keep them safe, and stable, and open their world up to more opportunities. Let me tell you, your dog is not happy. Everything likes some sort of structure.

Why is this? Why can't people train their dogs properly? I've seen why. Laziness, not enough time to dedicate to it, and most of all not everybody knows how to train properly. Some people create more problems or intensify the existing problems because of improper application. So, it's easier to do what they have been doing. This is where it's important to find a good "balance trainer". Someone who knows the balance between treats and praise, and a proper correction. Below is a link of some of the best trainers I know who are finally bringing balance and happiness to many clients and their dogs. Not to mentioned saving the lives of dogs who would have otherwise been put down because positive only trainers had failed.

There's the argument out there that dominance isn't a thing. A pack leader is not a thing . . . BULLSH*$. Anybody who's been around a bunch of dogs has seen this is not true. There was a study done on this at one time with wolves in which a guy tried to show there was no hierarchy. He later withdrew the study because it wasn't true.

Related Post: The Most Respectable Dog Trainers On YouTube

Takeaways

-Treats and love are not going to fix your problem dog

-Your dog's bad behavior is not worth putting their life at risk

-If you can't figure it out, seek out a good "balance trainer"

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CONCLUSION

So, how'd you do? Are you giving your dog everything they need to thrive and live a long healthy life? Sometimes you need to put aside your own biases or beliefs to see what you are actually doing for your dog. Happy tails!

Photo Credits

Obese Dog image from Pixabay

Stacked Showline German Shepherd image from West German Showline or Highline GSDs

Working Line German Shepherd image by Black Thorne Kennel

Images From Pixabay: Blue Merle Border Collie Running, Maltese Puppy In Grass, Golden Retrievers Playing, Person Training Tan Wire Coated Dog

Raw Food and German Shepherd (Osa) image by Alisha Falcone