Basset Hound Training Nourishment

Effective training technique is not the only foundation of good basset hound training. Neither the most expensive and popular dog training tools. Good health and proper diet also play an important role in shaping your pet to become a well-behaved canine companion.

Many dog owners opt for commercial dog foods since it is the most common and readily-available pet food. Some owners prefer homemade dog foods to ensure that their pets get nothing but the best nutrition. When buying commercial dog foods for your beloved basset hound, make sure that it contains all the necessary ingredients your pet needs. To do so, read the product label carefully. Understand that the ingredients in the product label are ordered based on its proportion. So if the product label listed meat as the first ingredient and vegetables as the second ingredient, it simply means that the particular dog food contains larger amount of meat than vegetables. If you see a dry dog food with by-products as its first or second ingredient, it is best to consider another dog food brand. Though most by-products are actually not dangerous, the low quality dog food may affect your pet's coat, muscles and overall health in the long run. While dry dog food is said to help improve your pet's teeth and gums, some dogs enjoy dry dog food if prepared with a small amount of water and microwaved for about 30 seconds.

There are also dog owners who, despite the convenience commercial dog foods offer, prefer to prepare homemade dog foods for their little pets. Before you make the big switch, it would be wise to consult your veterinarian first. Since protein is very important in keeping your pet fit during basset hound training, homemade dog food must contain 40% meat while vegetables and starch should be both 30%, the same with high-quality commercial dog food. Though homemade dog food may require more effort to prepare compared to commercial dog food, the result is worth it all since you can be sure that your pet gets the nutrients needed to make him physically and mentally healthy.

While dog treats are used during training, care must be taken not to give him more than what he needs since most treats are usually high in fat content that would surely lead to weight and other health issues.

So if you feel like your basset hound training is going nowhere despite of all the proven techniques you are using, better check out your pet's diet. Lack of much-needed nutrients may be the reason why he does not seem to behave as intelligent as other basset hounds.

Hannah Downey shares her basset hound training tips. Check out more from her by visiting her site about basset hound training.