How a Dog Show on TV Changed Me

I used to fear dogs of all sizes: tiny, small, medium, big and huge. Especially when they barked. And if they did not, I would get even more scared. They looked like always ready to get a piece of human--me. The really cute ones with hair much longer and silkier than mine, I did not care much about. But they certainly did make me wonder what was wrong with my hair or with my shampoo.

I grew up in a rural farm where dogs were mostly stray. They were never on leash. They roamed the neighborhood, with houses few and far between, with or without their masters. I doubt if any were ever trained for proper dog behavior. But they knew the basics: run to their master when called or whistled to. To people other than their master or family, they were not too civil: they barked, bit, or barked and bit. So I survived with other kids where our normal reaction upon seeing a dog from a distance was to either freeze and cry, or to run away as fast as we could. In many of these situations we would have been bitten had it not been for a brother or father to dart us away from those sharp shiny fangs.

And then I find myself today in a world where not only do humans and dogs co-exist peacefully, but that every man and his uncle's dog are on very friendly terms. There are as many dogs as there are humans in the park and on the trail I run with my husband every other day. Each time I would see a dog, my childhood memories of sharp shiny fangs would all come back. My heart would always miss a beat and I would take cover behind my husband. Most of these dogs would really sniff at me to a full stop. And then they would go. Some would even come charging up to me. And the owner would say it is ok. It was never OK for me.

But then, the owners were right. The dogs did not bite. They just scared me. One night I saw on TV somebody who calls himself the Dog Whisperer. First time I have heard of him, Cesar Millan was supposedly fast making a name as a dog behavior specialist and was being featured on the O'Reilly Factor. His unique principle about rehabilitating dogs and training humans piqued my interest. My husband and I followed him on the National Geographic channel and pretty soon we were watching his programs on demand. One day I asked my husband, Can we have a dog? A few shows more, each time followed by the same question. Dog days came and went. Then I had Otis. How I got him, who he is, our many adventures and misadventures together will be the continuing thread of this series. I mean Otis.

Have a dog day! And I mean well.

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Top Five Features of Orijen Dog Food

Staying fit and healthy is one of the most important things a dog needs in order to have a long, happy life. As an owner, it is our responsibility to give them the care they need. We need to give them proper exercise, allow them to socialize with other canines, and to feed them a high quality diet. One food that I am writing about today is called Orijen.

Orijen Dog Food excels by matching the foods that dogs naturally evolved to need, thereby providing the ultimate solution to their nutrition. They understand that even though our pets lifestyle have changed over the centuries, the degestive systems have not. Following this simple concept, Orijen has created diets that hold five distinct benefits.

1. High Protein Sources - A dog's body is adapted for high protein, low carbohydrate diets. They are carnivores as you know. That's why Orijen diets contain 70% meat. Very high in protein, the various formulas provide amino acids that are essential for optimal health.

2. Grain Free - As was stated earlier, dogs are carnivores. They did no evolve to eat grains. Sy why are they in so many pet foods? Manufacturers and owners wanted to save on cost and wanted more convenient bagged products. Orijen Dog Food doesn't use this practice. They understand that grains like rice are high in carbohydrates and contribute to obesity and other health problems in dogs.

3. Low Amounts of Carbs - Dogs have no need for carbohydrates. That's why Orijens don't use much. Less that 20% of their products are carbohydate. Most premium dog foods use 40% or more. Again, because our pets don't need them and convert them to fat, this contributes to obesity, diabetes, etc.

4. Fruits and Vegetables - All diets consist of healthy fruits and vegetable which provide important vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. They use ingredients such as tomatoes, carrots, spinch and apples to name a few.

5. Use of Botanicals - The natural botanicals used in this dog food are selected for their large supportive role as antioxidants in promoting daily health and to aid in solving common health problems.

Orjien dog food is made with a simple concept that a dogs dietary needs is what a food should consist of. Backed by several studies that prove older beliefs wrong, they have created formulas that meet and exceed the requirements of your canine.

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What Is a High Dog Food Rating Really Worth

Introduction

Hello my friend. And thank you for reading this article.

If you have somehow made it to this particular page or site, my guess is that you are looking for the healthiest and most nutritious options for feeding your precious dog.

And I don't blame you! Dogs are a truly special breed (in many homes they are considered part of the family); but if you are truly concerned about your pet's health, you may want to think twice before relying on brands with a high dog food rating.

What is a high dog food rating really worth?

Recently, I ran across a site that rated the top 10 dry dog foods on the market. This site (which shall remain unnamed) had a long list of criteria by which they rated each brand. It was the usual: brands with a high named meat source, whole grains and vegetables and no harmful additives received high marks. Those with meat by-products, high (and substandard) grain content and harmful additives received low grades.

But what was truly shocking is that since their last update, this site had removed four of their top ten pet food brands from their list.

Doesn't that give you pause? Here were four brands, which previous to my hitting this site, had received the highest marks any dog food could receive. We're not talking one out of 100, or 50 or even 25. We're talking about 4 OUT OF THE TOP 10 BRANDS of dog food!

The real problem with dog food ratings

Upon closer inspection, the rating entity had really done nothing wrong in terms of their criteria, their research and their grading of a particular dog food. The real problem is that they were relying on the published ingredients contained on the manufacturer's pet food label. And therein lies the real problem with many of the raters.

Apparently, the manufacturer whose food was removed from the high rate list was under investigation by the Food And Drug Administration for "misbranding" their pet food. A food that was labeled as containing duck, had no such ingredient and one labeled lamb contained bovine material. The pet food company denied the reports, but the FDA continued with their investigation.

The other three brands were also deleted from the top 10 list because the manufacturer was bought out by another pet food maker with a not so great reputation.

The real problem is trust

Let me step back for a moment and ask you. Are you really confident that a giant conglomerate, that makes everything from soap, to motor oil, can do a better job of feeding your dog than you can? Do you know what the sources of the ingredients in your dog food are? Do you even know what those ingredients on the label mean? When did feeding our pets become so complicated that we must now rely on pet food formulas that only a chemist would love?

Are we that sold on convenience that we would turn over our pet's health to an industry that has serious credibility issues. How convenient are those vet visits you constantly make, which are likely caused by the processed food your pet is consuming daily.

The true highest rated dog food

There is one sure fire way to escape the ratings madness, and that is to make your own dog food recipes.

Once you truly take control of your dog's nutrition you will never go back to feeding them processed food day after day. And I can promise you that anything you put together yourself, made with only the freshest ingredients will always have a 10 top rating and will never be struck from the list.

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Silver Jewelry for Man

Man wearing silver jewelry like chain, cross or even bracelet is not so uncommon now days as it was sometime back. Those days are over, when wearing any kind of jewelry by man was looked as girly. Nowadays for man, Silver Jewelry can be a perfect way of showing others that you have your own distinct way of fashion sense. Wearing a cool artistic silver chain or a cross can really make you star attraction of any party and it shows that you like to stand out of the league. Always remember that you may have a pleasant personality but it's going to be what you wear, which will count first.

There are certain factors like being cheap, easy to handle as compared to gold and getting customized, which makes silver jewelry popular among today's man. The best thing about silver jewelry is that you can wear them as casual wear unlike other costly metal wear. You can wear them while on beach, or playing some outdoor game or at some meeting.

The cost of silver Jewelry for man can vary a lot as it depend on factors like how much artistic work has been done on it, what kind of finishing it has and whether it's having any other costlier metal or gem in it. But still you can get a good ear ring or chain for around $20 to $50.

The most popular silver items among man are chain, rings and crosses. After that we can count earrings, bracelets and some other jewelry. It's advisable to not to buy silver jewelry from online stores but find a shop in your town, as the looks can be highly deceptive from what you see online and what the actual jewelry is. If you have a friend who knows a thing or two about jewelry than take him with you.

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Submit Your Cute Dog Pictures

A Star Is Born

Everyday around the world people upload pictures of their pets to websites on the internet or to their own desktop to use as wallpaper. Our pets are family and we love to show them off.

Share Your Canine Star

Here are a few pointers for providing memorable pictures of your pooch. First, have as much fun as possible creating your little star. Second, think of a specific theme or story to add to your dog's portfolio. Be creative and work around your dog's individual personality. Besides our dog's real name, most of us have cute little names for our pets as well. We do this because of something they do or the way they look that makes them unique from their other furry friends.

Pick a topic and build yourself a star. For example, bath time. Take a before picture, maybe a picture while he's getting his bath and an after picture. This series of bath time pictures should tell a complete story about your dog. Cute dog pictures along with a cute story are something everyone wants to see and read.

Of course if you prefer just to submit a picture, that's o.k. too. One single picture is enough to communicate a special moment in the life of your dog. Dog pictures convey every emotion known to man. From adorable to mischievous to hilarious - dog pictures are enjoyed by any age group.

Even those who do not have a dog or any pet at all, love dog pictures. Asking an owner to show off their canine pics is like asking Cleopatra to belly dance. It comes naturally.

Tips on How to Take Nice Pictures

To be certain of taking good pictures it will help to know a few simple rules.

Distance

Getting close to your dog will fill the frame. Remember your dog has facial expressions that need to be captured.

Angle

Do not take the picture from above. Crouch down to dog level. This gives a more intimate view of your pet.

Color

Keep it simple. However, props can add interest. For example, introduce a favorite toy such as a ball.

Lighting

Easy - press auto. Take care as too much bright light can dim those exceptional features.

Patience

Getting the right pictures will take some patience. (Easy for a dog lover)

Lots

Be prepared to take lots of pictures. Try different angles, stances and behavior.

Fun

Have lots of it!

A Model is Made

Now that you have taken plenty of cute dog pictures it is time to share those happy moments with us. All the dog lovers who visit will be able to share anecdotes and stories by means of pictures - the cuter the better. Turn your pet into a model pooch.

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