Successful Dog Training Starts with Good Pet Health

For any dog-training efforts to be successful and truly benefit your pet, a reliable foundation of good health is necessary.

Would you be able to do your best at learning something new if you weren't feeling your best? Probably not, and neither would your pet. Keeping your canine companions in the best health means they feel great, look good, live longer and they can learn — and retain — more easily.

Luckily, keeping your pet in good health is not difficult or expensive. Follow these tips to keep your best friend healthy and help ensure that its obedience training is successful.

Nutrition

You and your dog aren't all that different when it comes to health needs, and the cornerstone for both of you is good nutrition. Start by providing your pet with a high-quality, well-balanced diet.

Before you buy any type of food for your dog, read the nutrition label, especially the first five ingredients. These make up the bulk of the food, and they should include meat (not byproduct) as well as vegetables.

Make sure to avoid some common ingredients (typically used as filler) that may be harmful. These include:

• Ethoxyquin
• Propylene glycol
• BHT/BHA
• Corn syrup
• Corn
• Animal byproducts

Whenever you switch to a new type of food, watch carefully for any symptoms that could indicate a food allergy or intolerance. If your dog experiences loose stools, an upset stomach or any type of skin condition, the food may be to blame. In this case, seek veterinary advice.

Help Your Pet Maintain a Healthy Weight

Your dog is overweight if it weighs 10 to 20 percent more than what is considered its ideal body weight. More than 20 percent over is considered obese. This can shorten your dog's life significantly and pose a higher risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and bladder stones.

The extra weight also places a strain on joints, muscles and bones, increasing the likelihood of serious orthopedic problems.

Most of the time, dogs are heavy or chunky because they aren't encouraged or given opportunities to keep fit, and are fed too much dog food or table scraps. Talk to your vet about how much food your dog should be eating and take it out to exercise — it'll be good for both of you!

Groom Your Dog

Brush your dog frequently to keep its coat glossy and healthy. This encourages good circulation and can help you identify anything you need to be concerned about such as lumps, cysts, scabs, irritation or itchy places on their skin.

Also make sure to keep its nails trimmed and brush its teeth. Fido's teeth must be brushed daily to remove plaque and prevent bacterial buildup. Don't use human toothpaste for your dog, however, because it's poisonous to them!

Finally, don't forget to check and clean their ears regularly too!

Train Your Dog

Taking your dog to obedience training is a great way to not only socialize it, but to help it become the polite, compliant companion you seek. You probably have several excellent options available in your area for dog training, including puppy and dog boot camps, and even live-in programs with experienced trainers.

Taking great care of your pet is the best way for both of you to live a happy and healthy life together. The ideal combination of good pet health and successful dog training is a great place to start.