More than a Simple Snack

If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that dogs love treats. We love seeing our dogs’ tails wagging at the sight of a fresh biscuit, whether it’s a reward for learning a new treat or just a quick snack for being so darn cute. Treats come in many forms to suit our dogs’ unique preferences and tastes. From soft biscuits to bite-sized chews and even bites of fruits and vegetables, there are so many different tasty and satisfying options available when you’re looking for the right treats for your dog.

At first glance, it can be easy to draw parallels between a dog eating a treat and a human munching on  a bag of chips: delicious, but ultimately not the healthiest choice. However, healthy treats play a much more important role in your dogs’ diets than a mindless munch. Treating with purpose helps you to reinforce proper behaviors, build a bond with your dog, and offers nutritional benefits beyond the food bowl. Let’s dive in.

Treats are training tools

First and foremost, treats are important tools to reinforce your training practices. Of all the incentives you can offer to a dog (i.e. toys, affection, etc.) food is the most exciting for your canine friends. As you train your dog to remember tricks or adapt to certain behavior patterns, be sure to reward them frequently when they do the right things. 

A word of warning regarding treating to enforce behaviors: treating at the wrong time can reinforce bad behavior, as well. For example, giving your dog a treat while you eat at the dinner table can encourage them to beg for scraps every time you eat. Be mindful and conscientious about when and where you offer treats. 

Treats help create a bond

Do you remember the last time your partner or a friend brought you a delicious dessert? You probably felt pretty fond of them at that moment, right? In a similar way, offering dogs high-value treats can establish a bond of trust and appreciation between you. Your dog will recognize that you love them because you give them snacks that they go absolutely wild about!

Treating can be a great way to welcome a new dog into your home, whether you’re adopting from a shelter or bringing home a puppy. Dogs need some time to get accustomed to their surroundings, and giving them delicious treats as they do can help them feel much more comfortable.

Treats offer nutritional benefits

Treats can help you sneak some extra nutrients into your dogs’ diets. If your dog eats kibble, offering small bites of blueberries or carrots can give them a little boost of freshness and wholesome nutrients. Even if you are feeding your dog fresh food, a good treat should contribute to their overall dietary and nutritional needs. 

Some specialized treats are designed to target specific health concerns. For example, there are a number of treats on the market that help to combat bad breath. Others offer joint and digestive support for senior dogs. If you’re not sure what needs you should focus on, it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian for their recommendations. 

How to Treat Properly

Now that you know just how awesome a healthy treat can be, it’s time to learn the right way to incorporate treats into your dog’s diet. Choosing the best treats and learning when, where, and how often to offer them are all important factors in your treat regimen’s success. 

Choosing the right treats

Just like it is with commercial dry dog food, some treats offer little to no nutritional value for your dogs. Always be sure you look at the ingredients list before you buy. If wheat flour and preservatives are at the top of the list, you should probably seek out a healthier option. Protein quality and the presence of artificial dyes and flavorings also indicate a treat with low nutritional value.

The great thing is that finding a healthy treat is simple. If your dog prefers cookies, try some fresh, natural dog treats with whole fruits and vegetables and no fillers. You can even offer your dogs a few bites of dog-safe fruits and vegetables, like carrots, sweet potatoes, or blueberries. 

When and where to offer treats

We mentioned above that the wrong treating practices can reinforce bad behavior, which can be even harder to counteract over time. It’s important to offer your dog a treat immediately after they display the behavior you want. You also want to be mindful about where you offer treats – don’t offer them in spaces where they may cause mixed signals, like in the kitchen or near the dining table. Finally, if you have more than one dog, do not offer treats to both at the same time if either one is food or treat reactive. You want to only enforce the positive without creating any unintended consequences.

How often to treat your dog

According to Petfoodcare.com, treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. You should never use treats as a replacement for a meal. If you notice that your dog is gaining weight but you haven’t changed their diet, it may be a sign that you need to cut down on their treat allowance. 

Treats Make Tails Wag

Finding a healthy treat for your dog that they can be excited about isn’t as hard as it may sound! Pawsitively Pure Dog Food offers gourmet, gluten-free dog treats that are packed with real ingredients like pumpkin, blueberries, and oats. If you want to learn more about our food and treats, follow us on Facebook or Instagram and send us a message!

How Dogs Get Into Tummy Troubles

Dogs are inquisitive by nature. Their sensitive snouts guide them to discover most of their information about the world around them, from food and toys to other dogs and human friends. However, that inquisitive nature sometimes means that might seem tasty at first sniff but doesn’t sit right on their stomachs. Some dogs are prone to stomach sensitivity; some dogs get upset stomachs in stressful situations; some dogs just like to put everything in their mouths. No matter your dog’s temperament, you’re likely to encounter an upset stomach at least once in their lifetime.

When you’re monitoring your dog’s upset stomach, a good first place to start is by getting in touch with your veterinarian. Some mild cases of tummy upset will pass on their own, but you need to be mindful of more severe symptoms including:

• Frequent vomiting

• Frequent diarrhea

• Bloody stool

• Total loss of appetite

• Lethargy

• Excessive drooling

How to Avoid Tummy Troubles

As is the case with humans, not every tasty-looking morsel our dogs see is good for them to eat. Even some foods that are perfectly healthy for humans can have serious negative consequences for dogs. Make sure your dog doesn’t get the opportunity to eat any of these human foods: 

• Grapes

• Avocado

• Chocolate

• Alcohol

• Onions and Garlic

• Caffeine

Furthermore, non-food items can also cause severe reactions in dogs. If you’re a plant lover, there are certain plants you’ll want to keep out of reach of your pets. Also, some dogs are bad at dropping items instead of swallowing them. Some dogs eat the stuffing or hard parts of their toys; others like to consume socks, dryer sheets, and other such items left in their paths on the floor. If this is the case, you’ll want to work with a trainer to break this habit as it can cause serious discomfort - or worse. 

Foods That Can Soothe a Sick Dog’s Stomach

If you’re nursing your sick dog’s stomach at home, it’s generally recommended to take a short break from their usual diets and give them foods that are gentle and soothing on their stomachs. Here are the best foods to feed your dog while they’re recovering from nausea. 

Bone broth

One of the symptoms of an upset stomach is a loss of appetite or lack of desire to eat. However, you still want your dog to have access to healthy nutrients when they’re not very hungry. A warm bowl of bone broth is enticing, light on the stomach, packed with vitamins and minerals, and provides liquid to help prevent dehydration. Make sure you select a bone broth that’s specifically formulated for dogs, meaning that it doesn’t have herbs, onions, or garlic that may irritate their stomach even more.

Pumpkin

We’ve discussed at length the wonders of pumpkin for your dog, so it should come as no surprise that pumpkin is a big helper for upset stomachs. Pumpkin is full of healthy fiber, which helps to settle upset stomachs. It also has Vitamin A, C, E, B6, iron, magnesium, potassium, folate, and so many other nutrients. When choosing pumpkin for your dog, be sure not to get pumpkin pie filling, which is packed with sugars and other additives. Instead, select a can of plain, pure pumpkin puree - or cook your own when it’s in season! 

Rice

Rice is often recommended for humans when they have upset stomachs, too! Plain white rice is low in nutrients, but it’s a good addition to your dog’s meals to keep them sated while they’re recovering from illness. Many veterinarians recommend giving sick dogs multiple small meals throughout the day, so rice is a great option when your dog just wants a little snack to tide them over. 

Plain chicken

We haven’t met a dog that can say no to a little nibble of chicken. Plain, boiled chicken (made without butter, oil, or spices) offers a great incentive for your dog to have a bite if they haven’t eaten all day. The AKC recommends offering small meals of plain chicken and white rice to make sure your dog has protein in their system to keep them energized. Be sure to serve the chicken in deboned, bite-sized pieces so your dog won’t choke if they’re hungry!

Always Check In With Your Veterinarian

As we mentioned before, it’s so important to check in with your veterinarian before you start treating stomach illness at home. You’ll want to let your vet know about your dog’s symptoms and do your best to determine the cause of their illness so they can give you the best plan of action for your dog’s health. If your vet gives you the OK to care for them at home, order a bag of Pawsitively Pure Bone Broth and give them lots of extra comfort and love while they recover.

You Are What You Eat

Here in the United States (and all around the world), dietary health is a hot topic for a huge number of adults. According to Statista, the second-most popular New Year’s resolution for 2022 is healthier eating, with 44% of resolution-setters naming this as their top goal. As they say, “you are what you eat,” and improving your diet is a great way to improve your overall health from head to toe. Whether you realized it or not, the same goes for your dogs. 

Providing your dog with a healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to improve his quality of life. But as you search for a healthy diet for your dog, you may wind up with more questions than you had when you started. What exactly is a healthy diet for your dog? What’s the best way to implement a healthy diet? 

What is a healthy diet for your dog? 

The biggest question you need to answer when choosing the right diet for your dog is whether you’ll feed them dry food or wet food. There are benefits to each depending on your lifestyle, but for the most part, fresh, natural, wholesome meals present a healthier option than kibble. Many natural dog foods are appropriate for dogs at any age and life stage and are easy to customize as needed. 

Once you choose between wet (raw or natural) and dry food, it’s time to start reading the label! Choose a food that has ingredients you can see and understand without a lot of extra grains, carbohydrates, and other such fillers. You want to make sure your dog is getting an appropriate amount of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. The right amount of each nutrient will depend on a number of factors including your dog’s age, breed, weight, activity level, and more.

How a Healthy Diet Can Change Your Dog’s Life

Now that you’ve chosen an appropriate food for your dog’s needs, it’s time to start feeding! In certain aspects, feeding raw or natural food does require a little extra effort on the humans’ part – you’ll have to schedule regular feeding times, measure out portions, and perhaps prepare the food by warming it up (i.e. bone broth). Are the benefits worth the extra effort? 

All signs point to yes, according to any pet parent who’s fed their dogs with Pawsitively Pure. Here are just a few of the reasons why a healthy diet is the key to a healthy dog: 

Keeps gums and teeth healthier

Dogs are notorious for having stinky breath, but it might not be all their fault! Most commercial dry dog foods are made with an abundance of starch and carbohydrates, which both break down into sugar. As we all know from our dentists’ warnings around Halloween, too much sugar can cause tooth decay which leads to bad breath. 

Some experts have argued that crunching on kibble can scrape away some of the buildup around your dog’s teeth and gums, but according to Dog Food Advisor, that scraping action doesn’t remove tartar from the critical zone nearest to your dog’s gums. Prevention is the best method to keep your dog’s teeth healthy, and providing your dog with a diet that’s low in sugar and carbohydrates is a great place to start. 

Boosts the immune system

Speaking of prevention, a healthy immune system is the ultimate prevention against illness and disease. Think about it: how much better do you feel when you stop ordering fast food and start eating fresh fruits and veggies? All the vitamins and minerals found in your dog’s meal help keep their metabolism moving smoothly and help them stay fit and healthy well into their golden years. 

Supports healthy muscle tone

Protein is the foundation on which every cell in your dog’s body is built! That’s why wholesome, complete proteins are such an important part of your dog’s diet. Many commercially produced dry dog foods are made with meat by-products that include bone meal and other “scrap” parts of the protein. Fresh, gently cooked food is made with nothing but the good stuff. 

Protein especially aids the production of healthy muscles, which can in turn help support your dog’s joints. Healthy muscle tone can help your dog stay active and healthy at every stage of their life. It also helps your dog recover from injuries more easily!

Improves digestion

One of the major things pet parents tend to notice after they switch to fresh food is that their dog’s poops are often smaller and less frequent. While this is more convenient for us humans, it’s also a good sign that your dogs are getting the nutrition they need. With a fresh diet, dogs usually have smaller poops because their bodies are more easily able to absorb the nutrients from their food, leaving less waste behind. 

Supplement your dog’s fresh diet with some delicious dog-friendly bone broth and you’ll be giving their digestive system a double dose of support! Bone broth is packed with healthy gelatin, which effectively coats the digestive tract and protects it from injury and disease.

Start Feeding Fresh Today

Many pet parents are hesitant to switch their dog’s diet, especially if their dog has sensitive stomach issues. We’re here to let you know that transitioning to fresh food isn’t as hard as it may seem! As you make the transition, gradually replace your dog’s old food with a portion of their new fresh food until their whole bowl is filled with fresh food. Take it slowly and monitor your dog’s reaction to their new dinner. 

If you have other questions about feeding fresh, we’d love to help! Head over to our website and leave us your questions and feedback on our contact page.

What Feeding Method is Best for Your Dogs?

Successful dog parenting involves a lot of schedules and routines. You probably have set potty times, walk times, and sleep times. But as far as feeding times go, some pet parents stick to a regular feeding schedule, while others leave a bowl out for their dogs to munch on as they please. Which of these methods is best for your dog? 

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. First of all, the type of food you feed your dog determines whether you can leave it out all day or not. Obviously, kibble can stay in the bowl without spoiling while fresh foods need to be eaten when they’re offered. For that reason, pets who eat Pawsitively Pure Dog Food need scheduled feeding times. 

Secondly, the best feeding schedule depends on your availability. If you’re out of your home for work for most of the day, it can be difficult to stick to regimented feeding times. Free-feeding can offer you some peace of mind when you’re away from home since you’ll know your dogs have food when they need it. If you work from home or you have the same schedule every day, scheduled feeding times may work for you. 

For the purposes of this article, we’ll be discussing how to feed your dogs on a schedule and to give them a positive environment in which to enjoy their meals. Scheduled feeding offers a number of health benefits as compared to free-feeding, and it’s the right choice when you have your dog on a raw or gently-cooked diet!

The Benefits of Feeding on a Schedule

According to Dr. Jennifer Coates of PetMD, free feeding is the wrong choice for most dogs. A scheduled meal time can offer all of the following benefits: 

Training Benefits

Dogs love routines. If you start a scheduled feeding routine during puppyhood, you’ll be able to coordinate feeding time and potty time since most puppies tend to need to relieve themselves 10-15 minutes after a meal. This is helpful for pet parents since they’ll be able to take their dogs out before accidents happen, and it’s good for the pets themselves since they’ll learn the right times to relieve themselves. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Weight Control

Dogs who free-feed are more prone to obesity than those on a feeding schedule. In her article, Dr. Coates notes that many dogs tend to continue eating or “snacking” past the point of satiation. Just like humans may reach for a bag of chips when they’re bored, some dogs turn to food as comfort when they’re bored. 

Health Monitoring

A lack of appetite can be a sign of illness. When your dog is good about eating at the same time every day, you’ll be able to tell right away when they’re not in the mood to eat. Sure, you can keep an eye on how much food is left in the bowl when you check, but it’s much easier and safer for your dog if you notice it as soon as it happens. 

How to Create a Feeding Schedule for Your Dogs

When you’re creating your dogs’ feeding schedules, there are a number of factors you should consider. 

How Often Should You Feed?

According to VCA Pet Hospitals, you should feed your pets at least twice a day, for breakfast and for dinner. If you have a puppy at home, you may need to increase that to three times a day since they use lots more energy as they grow and play. Furthermore, as your dog progresses into his senior years, you may find that his feeding needs decrease. Pay close attention to your dogs’ activity levels, their age, and their weight when determining how often to feed.

Where Should You Feed Your Dogs? 

Wherever you decide to feed your dog, you should feed them in the same place every single time. Moving your dog’s food bowls around too often can make them nervous and ruin the routine you’re trying to build. We find it’s best to have a dedicated space in our home where our dogs eat, away from the kitchen but near our living space. Lay down floor mats and give them a nice food and water bowl. 

How Much Should You Put in the Bowl?

For the most part, this answer relates back to the factors you considered when determining how many times per day to feed your dog: their activity levels, their age, and their weight/goal weight. Here at Pawsitively Pure, we’re happy to offer our recommendations for the amount of food you should give your dog at each meal. The most important thing to remember is to feed them the same amount consistently, even if they finish the whole meal. 

Do Treats Count as Feeding? 

Treats should never be used to substitute an entire meal, but treats are an important part of your dog’s complete diet. Keep a tally of how often you treat your dogs during the day; these treats go toward your dogs’ overall calorie count. You should be able to adjust your dog’s feeding needs accordingly. 

Feed Your Dog the Best at Each Meal

For your dog to get the most out of their feeding schedule, you should offer them the most nutritious food available to keep them full during the day. Natural, wholesome foods can help give your dog energy and keep them full for longer. Pawsitively Pure Dog Food offers a complete system of natural dog food, treats, and bone broth to keep your dog satiated and healthy. Head to our online shop to pick your dogs’ favorite flavors today! 

Jackson loves bone broth!

This senior dog is active and healthy at age 14.

January is National Soup Month! Soup is such a versatile meal, packed with nutrients and easy to create according to your favorite flavors and textures. So far this January, we’ve experienced a few chilly days (for Central Florida, anyway), which gives us the perfect opportunity to wrap up in our favorite blankets and enjoy a warm cup of soup. But did you know that a hot bowl of broth can be just as nourishing for your dogs, too? 

Bone broth has been a trending topic in the nutritional world for dogs and humans alike. Slightly different from your average soup stock, bone broth is made by simmering animal bones for a long period of time, releasing collagen and other beneficial nutrients from the bones over time. The result is a thicker, savory broth that offers a long list of nutritional benefits for humans and their canine companions. 

A quick note about choosing broth for dogs

As tempting as it may be to serve your dog the same tasty broth you enjoy, it’s important that you select a bone broth that’s been specifically formulated for your dogs. Often, bone broth for humans includes flavor-enhancing ingredients like onions, garlic, and salt that can cause stomach upset and other issues in dogs. We believe that dogs should receive wholesome nutrition with real ingredients – but not all ingredients are appropriate for dogs!

Common health issues for senior dogs

As our dogs age, we notice them slowing down. After a long, active life, your dog’s internal systems don’t perform like they did when they were puppies. Maybe they don’t play outside or get the zoomies as often, and they definitely take more naps. You may notice that they have increased occurrences of stomach issues, and sometimes they may even lose their appetites. It’s a fact of life; but aging doesn’t have to keep your dog from living out their golden years in good health and happiness. 

A huge part of your dog’s overall wellness is their diet. With natural, wholesome ingredients and minimal fillers, your dog will experience less pain and inflammation, better mental acuity, and more energy. Bone broth is a wonderful and easy-to-administer part of a healthy diet for a senior dog. Read on to learn about some of the benefits. 

Bone broth combats inflammation

Over time, all active dogs experience some cartilage loss. As the cartilage between joints and bones wears thin, the bones often start rubbing against each other, causing painful inflammation. This type of inflammation can also present itself as arthritis and is particularly prevalent in dogs who have had an injury at some point in their lives. 

Bone broth is chock full of gelatin and collagen, as we mentioned before. Regular consumption of nutritional collagen can in turn increase the amount of collagen in the body, which supports the cartilage and helps keep those joints moving smoothly and with less pain. With bone broth, your dog should be able to enjoy regular activity without increased stress from pain. 

Bone broth is good for tummies

Many people experience decreased appetite in their senior years; the same is true for dogs. Their metabolism slows down and they may be experiencing inflammation and pain that keep them from wanting to eat. If your dog is showing signs of decreased appetite, especially if it’s a drastic change, be sure to consult with your vet to take the appropriate action.

Bone broth contains glycine, an amino acid that specifically helps build new tissues in your dog’s digestive tract. In a nutshell, glycine can help repair any problem areas in your dog’s stomach and intestines to make eating enjoyable again. 

As a bonus, bone broth doesn’t require any chewing. A dog that’s not hungry may still be game to lap at a bowl of broth, keeping them hydrated and ensuring they get healthy nutrients in their systems when they don’t feel like snacking. 

Bone broth supports your dog’s immune system

Your dog isn’t producing as many antibodies in their senior years, which means that they may be more prone to infections and illness. Think about it: even older dogs spend most of their days sniffing, exploring, and maybe even mouthing new objects to learn about them. All that close contact with the outside world can leave them vulnerable to sickness. 

The many amino acids in bone broth provide support to your dog’s immune system, boosting the metabolism, liver, and more, so that they’re better able to fight off infections and pathogens they may encounter in their daily lives. 

Where to find the right bone broth for your dogs

The bone broth you choose for your dogs should have nothing but the good stuff with no fillers or additives! Pawsitively Pure bone broth is made with nothing but the ingredients that come from beef or chicken bones simmered overnight, so your dog gets lots of collagen and amino acids without any ingredients that can irritate their stomachs. Head to our online shop or find us at one of our weekend markets to take some home today!