Feeding “people food” to dogs has long been a controversial topic. Across the internet, you’ll find a variety of posts telling you which foods are safe, which foods should never be fed to dogs, and which foods are hotly contested. All this information becomes even more confusing when you consider that many dog food companies that produce human-grade, raw dog food are hitting the scene. Are dogs supposed to eat human food or not?!

Everyone is different with their dogs’ behavior standards. While some people are laxer with table scraps, others have more rigid rules about where and when their dogs can eat people food. Whichever way works for you is fine! If you have questions about what human foods you can feed your dog, here are some quick tips:

• There are a number of human foods that have nutritional value for dogs. Human foods and dog foods aren’t as mutually exclusive as you may have initially thought. Lots of our whole, natural foods provide the same nutrients for dogs as they do for us. As a rule of thumb, processed human foods should not be added to your dog’s diet. Stick to whole nutrition as much as you can.

• Some foods are absolute no-gos. While a lot of human foods are fine for dogs to eat, they don’t process all foods the same way we do. To that end, there are a handful of foods you should keep away from your dog at all costs. These include chocolate, avocado, grapes, onions, and xylitol. The ASPCA has a helpful list of foods to avoid when it comes to feeding your pup.

• Snacks should never replace your dog’s regular diet. Never rely too heavily on snacks as dietary supplements for your dog. You should only be giving your dog table scraps on occasion. If you’re concerned or confused about the best treat-giving schedule for your dog, have a conversation with your veterinarian. No matter how healthy your table scraps are, your dog should get the majority of their calories from their dinner.

Human food generally isn’t as bad for dogs as people make it out to be, but it shouldn’t be your dog’s main source of nutrition. Feed your dog treats in moderation! If you want human-grade food that you know will be good for your dog, grab a bag of Pawsitively Pure dog treats. Browse our shop now and bring some home!

Is there anything more exciting than bringing a new dog home? There’s so much to learn and love as you and your new dog become more familiar. As dog owners already know, every dog has its own unique personality, and getting to know a dog is just like getting to know your new best friend! Whether you’re adopting a puppy or an older dog from the shelter, it’ll take some time to get familiar and comfortable around each other, especially if you already have dogs in your family.

Sometimes introductions between dogs are super easy, and other times they’re more fractious. Whichever way you think the introduction may go, it’s important to be prepared so you can make the process as smoothly as possible. Here are a few of our tips to help you make your new dog feel at home: 

• Make sure you have a partner with you during the first few introductions. Introducing dogs is not a one-man job. Make sure you have a friend with you and that each of you is assigned to one dog. Before you get started, make sure your helper knows your house rules for your dog, and that they should keep a calm demeanor. Your dog responds to your emotions, so it’s important that you set the tone and stay cool.

• If possible, do the introductions in a neutral space. Dogs are territorial animals. Bringing a new dog into your home before they’re acquainted can spark some aggressive behavior and lead to your dogs not getting along. Don’t go somewhere with a lot of other dogs and stimulation, like a dog park, or there are too many opportunities for distraction.

• Introduce in short spurts, rather than one large session. It’s important to have other things on hand to keep your dog busy during the introduction. You should begin by letting them touch noses and sniff for a brief few moments, then separate them to do some training work. Continue to pepper in small interactions until the big feelings of excitement have worn off.

With the right preparation, your new dog will be part of your family in no time. It’s all about the way you set the stage for your dogs. To learn more about guiding your dogs through positive interaction, talk with your vet. To get treats for your dog to help things go smoothly, visit our shop today!

We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But here at Pawsitively Pure dog food, we believe that any dog can learn a new trick with the right incentive! Soft enough to break into small chunks and packed with the best nutritious ingredients, our human-grade dog treats are the perfect reward for a learning dog. Even our senior boy, Jackson, has learned a few new ones in recent years!

To celebrate the return of the school year, here are a few fun and easy tricks you can teach any dog, no matter what stage of life they’re in: 

• “Shake Hands” may look like an advanced trick, but it’s one of the easiest there is to teach a dog! Dogs will naturally paw at you if you’re holding something they’re curious about. If you tuck a treat in your closed fist, hold it toward your dog and say the command word, “shake!” When they reach to paw at you, reward them for their response.

• Many people shy away from teaching their dogs “speak” since they probably already bark enough. However, putting “speak” and “quiet” to commands is one of the easiest ways to combat excessive barking. This one does take a little bit of vigilance, as you’ll need to pay attention to the times when your dog is barking and reward them systematically for following your commands.

• “Spin” is another great trick for a treat-motivated dog. When you hold a treat right in front of your dog’s nose, they’re likely to follow it. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose to guide him in a circle, then repeat the pattern. As your dog gets more familiar with the movement, you may even be able to teach them to “spin left” and “spin right!”

Pawsitively Pure Dog Food’s treats are perfect for training dogs of all ages and sizes. Available in peanut butter & pumpkin and blueberry & oat, our flavors are craveable enough that your dogs will look forward to learning new tricks every day. Send us a message or browse through our shop to learn more!

If you’ve been keeping up with us on social media, you’ve probably seen a couple videos of our dog Jackson at his hydrotherapy sessions. It’s hard for us to believe that our boy is already 11 years old, and when you see the sparkle in his eye and the pep in his step, it might be hard for you to believe as well! Of course, we attribute a lot of his health and happiness to his human-grade dog food diet, but hydrotherapy plays a huge part in keeping him spry for his age.

Jackson loves his hydrotherapy sessions with Dip’n Dogs Hydrotherapy in Orlando. Hydrotherapy is great exercise for all dogs, especially senior dogs or those recovering from surgery or injuries. Here are just a handful of the big benefits it’ll bring to your pups: 

• No dog is too big or too small. At Dip’n Dogs and many other hydrotherapy facilities like it, the therapy session takes place in a pool, often assisted by a floatation vest. Dogs of any size are able to hop in and take a lap around the pool or to complete the exercises set out for them by their therapists. Under supervision, they’ll be able to carry out several exercises designed to target their problem points.

• Swimming has less impact than out-of-water exercises. Joint health is so important for older dogs. Often, the reason why they start to slow down with age is that their joints become stiff and painful. Water therapy offers enough resistance for a dog to get a good workout without jostling or impacting their joints. This is also important for dogs healing from injuries!

• Water-based activities can easily target any number of joints, muscles, or problem areas. Therapists design their activities based on your dog’s individual needs. By simply tilting your dog to one side or another, they can put the focus on the areas that need it most. Activities like swimming in figure-8’s are very helpful for spine strength and conditioning. Often, therapeutic pools have jets that they can turn on for an additional challenge or more resistance.

We highly recommend hydrotherapy for any senior dog. Even if your dog is young and in great shape, swimming is one of the best ways to help your dog stay active, build critical strengths, and get a good cardiovascular workout in. To learn more about Dip’n Dogs, click here. To browse through our selection of human-grade dog food, treats, and bone broth, click here. 

We hope you and your dogs have been enjoying a fun and exciting summer! Everyone loves the spring and summer months as they give us a little extra time to get outdoors and have some fun in the sun. Even if you and your furry friends don’t get the opportunity to take a little vacation, there are plenty of dog-friendly locations around Central Florida for you and your pups to play and explore. Orlando Weekly compiled this great list, if you need a few ideas! 

As you enjoy the summer months, there are a few safety precautions you should keep in mind so you and your dogs can have the best time possible. Here are a handful of suggestions to help you have safe fun in the sun: 

• Take care not to let your dog walk on hot sidewalks or asphalt. Since you’re almost always wearing shoes outside, you probably don’t realize just how hot the pavement can get. Studies show that when the outside temperature hits 86 or 87 degrees, asphalt can clock in at over 130 degrees - and here in Central Florida, we’re regularly seeing temperatures above 90 degrees. Surfaces that hot can easily burn your dog’s feet, causing pain and blistering or worse. As a rule of thumb, if the pavement is too hot for you to leave your hand there for five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

• Be sure to help your dog stay hydrated, and get familiar with the signs of overheating. Dog’s can’t sweat like we can - they pant and drink water to help regulate their body temperature. When your dog is playing with its friends, it may not be getting the hydration it needs to stay happy. Try to encourage your dog to drink a little bit of water at frequent intervals, rather than a lot all at once. If you notice that your dog has wobbly legs, is drooling a lot, or is vomiting, they may be suffering from overheating and need to see a vet right away. For more information on keeping your dog hydrated, check out our blog here.

• Your dogs need sunscreen, too! Dogs with shorter hair and lighter colored coats are especially susceptible to sunburn and associated skin cancers that come with it. Make sure you at least apply sunscreen to the areas of your dog where skin is exposed, like nose and bellies. Your vet should be able to recommend a dog-friendly sunscreen formula for your pup. 

Having fun in the sun is quite possible with the right precautions! For more great pet health and safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.