If you own a Labrador you’ll understand the joy and fun that they bring with them at all times. When a big dog, such as a Labrador is providing you with frustration though, through a lack of understanding simple commands, or failing to behave in public or when you have visitors round the house, it can be difficult to see how you can overcome the challenge. For many owners of big dogs and Labradors in particular common problems include pulling on the lead, jumping up at people and not coming to you when called.

There are different ways you can deal with this, through a training programme that you can put together at home, regular dog training classes, or residential dog training. Each one has its merits and you’ll find the right option for you. For some people, sending your Labrador away from home for a few weeks for an intensive residential training course is too much of a wrench, but there are many benefits to it.

Residential dog training takes your dog to a comfortable and familiar environment where they can be trained by professional dog trainers in a one-on-one or small group setting, in ways that are more likely to stick and remain with them when they return home. Having that extensive period of time to train a dog intensively is a great way to ensure that they remember those commands. It can be difficult to teach a dog new tricks if you are only doing so for a short period of time, even if it is for an hour every day, or a few hours per week.

Find a residential dog training provider that sits down with you prior to the training programme starting and have a full dialogue with them. It is important for them to understand what your current situation is, what your home life is like and what you want your dog to learn specifically. If your Labrador has been having problems paying attention to basic sit and stay commands at home, they can tailor a programme that works out those kinks in particular. If there is more of a problem with your dog jumping up at people when out walking, or when you have visitors at home, the training can lean more to focus towards that aspect of their behaviour.

There will always be a transition period, where you are brought in and given a demonstration of what your Labrador has learned during the 2-6 weeks away at residential dog training. This gives you the chance to command them in this new setting, which helps when they return home with you, as the dog will have already accepted your instructions and listened to you in the residential training session. This can make a big difference to the success rate of the overall dog training, especially where bigger dogs, such as Labradors are concerned. Always make sure that you work with residential dog training suppliers that have a track record of success.

In addition to mental health and exercise, diet is also a huge contributing factor to your dog’s overall health and well-being. The eating habits you introduce to him can help ensure a long and energetic life. And as such, deciding what and how to feed him is crucial.

Since not all dogs are the same, it’s best to do in-depth research into the specific dietary needs of your canine. In Dubai, pet food brands of all kinds can be found in the top pet supply stores, and you must be able to choose one that is right for him.

To help guarantee that you are feeding your dog properly, here are five things you can do to boost his health and well-being in no time.

1. Don’t overfeed

Obesity is one of the common illnesses among dogs today. The best way to prevent your dog from becoming overweight or obese is to feed him based on whether he is recommended to lose or gain weight. 

Basically, you must feed your dog more frequently if he needs to gain weight. But remember that proper monitoring of feeding times is still important so as not to provide him too much food. Don’t wait for him to become fat and lethargic before thinking of monitoring his diet.

But if your dog is overweight, measure the food you give him on a daily basis. Also, get him into an exercise routine to burn those excess fats. Take note though that before introducing a new diet and exercise routine, consult your vet to make sure that him being overweight is not a cause of an underlying medical condition. And as a pro, vets will also provide you with more dog feeding guidelines to keep him healthy and happy.

It’s very fortunate for you if your dog is lean and healthy because you don’t have to alter his feeding routine. But still, keep monitoring his weight to prevent any significant weight loss or gain.

2. Give treats sparingly

Today, there are plenty of prepared high-quality dog treats on the market that vary in quality. Some are healthier than the others. So be cautious when choosing which treats to give your dog. You can do this by looking into the ingredients label.

High-quality commercial treats are prepared with dogs’ dietary needs in consideration. Still, treats must be given sparingly, which is no more than 15% of your canine’s total daily calorie intake.

When used regularly, you must reduce the amount of your dog’s main meal to prevent overfeeding him. Also, go for genuine treats that have been proven to benefit your pet, such as by preventing dental diseases.

Note: Don’t give real chocolate because this is poisonous to dogs. Studies have shown that this can result in liver damage and even death. Thus, always keep chocolates out of your dog’s reach, especially during Christmas.

3. No raw feeding

As the name implies, a raw diet calls for feeding a dog food that is not cooked. This often contains muscle meat from animals, raw fruits and vegetables, raw eggs, whole or ground bones, and some dairy products like unpasteurized milk and yogurt.

Generally, raw diets are not nutritionally balanced as they are low in phosphorus and calcium but are excessive in vitamins A and D. This means that raw feeding can lead to nutritional imbalances, resulting in health complications.

Furthermore, a huge concern about raw feeding is the potential transmission of harmful bacteria to the whole household. Pathogens present in meat such as salmonella may not affect your dog, but could cause illnesses for your family.

4. Keep clean water readily available

One of the most important yet overlooked aspects of your dog’s healthy diet is clean water. Make sure to keep it readily available for your canine at all times. For instance, fill his water bowl early in the morning and check it once in a while if it needs to be refilled. And don’t forget to replace it daily.

5. Always be in charge

With vet supervision, you are aware of your dog’s needs better than anyone else. So, you must always actively take charge of controlling his diet. Set a feeding schedule and follow this strictly. Whenever you notice a change in your dog’s appetite, consult a vet for further evaluation. And remember not to alter his diet suddenly as this can upset your pet’s stomach. 

For your dog to become healthy and happy, he must be given the right care and attention. You must feed him right, observe his regular grooming schedules, lead him in exercise and play, and encourage him to get sufficient rest to ensure a long, healthy life. Furthermore, take him to the vet for a regular checkup to keep his health at the optimum state at all times.

AUTHOR BIO

Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.

When it comes to your pets, it is likely that you consider nothing too good for them, and when you’re looking for the perfect obedience class, you shouldn’t have to look far to find it. Obedience schools for dogs are plentiful, and they always hire competent, experienced instructors so that your dog learns everything that you think they need to know. There are also many different types of obedience classes, and if you do your due diligence online it is easy to determine which class is right for you. Many times, these classes are offered through pet stores, pet supply shops, and even specialised facilities that do nothing but offer these types of classes. Regardless of which one you choose, you can count on the classes being effective because to be an instructor, you have to have a certain amount of expertise and knowledge to teach the classes in the first place.

Determining the Class That Is Right for You

Training your dog on your own can be a little complex, but if you choose a professional training class designed just for dogs, the instructors can do the hard work for you, and for a very reasonable price as well. The classes are also broken down into various types, so you can find just what you need whether you’re looking for a basic obedience class, some type of attack training, or even training specifically designed for dogs who protect. Classes that offer dog training in Sydney are easy to find and easy to afford, and they usually don’t last long, either, which means you’ll be able to enjoy the results of the class before you know it. In these classes, your dog will learn how to sit, drop, stay, and come to you when told to do so. In addition, many of the classes also teach them not to respond to people they don’t know and not to accept food from strangers. Some of these commands may sound difficult or even impossible to accomplish, but the right instructor will make them a success.

Your Dog Deserves the Best

An obedient and well-trained dog is a happy dog, and a much safer dog as well. In most cases, these types of classes can be utilised by dogs of all types, sizes, and ages, although the animal should be of a certain temperament for some of them. If you want your dog to be trained to protect your family, including small children, these classes can accomplish that, and they can even be utilised when you want your dog to attack in certain circumstances. None of these goals should be attempted by an amateur; in fact, only the experts should be training your dog to do these things, because the professionals can guarantee a job well done every time. If you research the training classes online, you can get all of the information you need to move forward, and of course, additional assistance is usually just a phone call way. Getting your dog trained is much simpler when you trust the experts, and the results are always worth everything you paid for the class.

Recent studies say that dogs also need to have the organic food including fish, meat, and veggies for developing their brain, bone, stomach, fur and also growth. The organic dog food recipes applied by Underdog, a popular dog food brand in Singapore are attracting more dog owners these days.

 They have come up with a series of products that are frozen organic food with meat, fish, and vegetables for enhancing the lean muscles of the dogs along with helping them with sufficient supply of antioxidants, probiotics for improving immunity, and Omega 3 for improving brain and heart of the dogs.

Shiny coat of your dog means that he is healthy inside out, and gets proper nutrition. But if you feel that even after all the good nutrition and best meals the fur of your dog doesn’t shine, then maybe there is something you are missing out on. Ways to make sure that your dog has the shiniest and the healthiest coat are mentioned as under:

Feed him raw food –Make sure that your dog get everything and every single nutrition in his diet. Raw food doesn’t contain rancid acids. Usually preservatives are added in the dog food that you find on the market shelves and that is not really good for them. So in case you are giving canned foods to your dog, avoid it immediately. Feed him raw food and see your ultimate dog getting that ultimate fur. Raw diet contains essential fats, protein, minerals and vitamins and this is the natural way that animals are intended to eat.

Feed omega – 3 fatty acids –You must feed fresh fish to your dog. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which is extremely important for the health of your dog. Do not give processed food to your dog. For that healthiest and shiny coat add fresh fish to his diet. A piece of salmon, tuna, fresh sardine can be added to his diet once a week. Within 2 months’ time, you will be able to see significant change in your dog’s fur.

Add Coconut Oil and supplements – It is a great thought to give your dog supplements made from coconut oil. Accordingly, you can give them coconut oil as well in their diet. Coconut oil contains all sufficient vitamins and minerals which would make his coat shiny and healthy.

Eggs all the way –This is something which is readily available in the market and is highly recommended by people all over the world. Eggs have a great nutrition value and therefore make it a super food for the health of the dogs as well. You can add eggs in his routine meal or can feed him raw or boiled. Half boiled would also do great.

There are a number of other things that you can do for the enhancement of dog fur and health. Use vitamin E moisturising solution for the dogs after bathing them. You can also use coconut oil to moisturise the skin of your dogs before their bath. Brushing the coat on regular basis would also be of great help. Besides, if all of these tips do no work, you can meet the vet.