So what do you feed a dog anyway? The Sean Casey people gave us a big bag of dried dog food but is that what a dog eats all the time?
Can a dog eat carrots?
Can a dog eat Brussels sprouts?
Should a dog be eating RED MEAT?
I stopped this nice guy on the street. He’s got a big German Shepherd and we’ve talked before about life, veterinary medicine, becoming an EMT. I asked him what he feeds his dog.
“My dog weighs 99 pounds and he eats dry food and vegetables. No meat,” he said with great seriousness.
“Really?” I said seriously interested.
He even showed me a picture on his iPhone of his dog’s daily platter of food. And the name of the very best dry dog food (I forget now). It’s very expensive, but very good. Dry food and veggies. Very impressive.
Okay, the food thing is one thing. What about pooping and exercise?
“How many times a day do you take your dog out,” I asked a neighbor with a dog.
“It depends…” she said.
Another friend told me I was walking Stanley all wrong.
“Hold his leash tight and close to you so he knows you’re in charge. Don’t let him walk you.”
And what about the dog run. The one in Prospect Park, the one in Washington Park. What’s the story with that?
There really is a lot to learn about having a dog.
Can a dog eat Brussels sprouts?
A brussel sprout or two is okay if you don’t mind a gassy dog. Carrots and apples, in small doses, might work better. Try a little yogurt or cottage cheese mixed in w/ kibble too.
We feed our dog Canidae, Wellness is another good brand. I have a whole list of decent dog foods – email me offlist and I can send them to you, along w/ some good dog-training books to get you started. There are some good trainers in the area as well.
Your friend is right – proper walking and training in general should start right away, since it is much easier to prevent bad habits from getting started in the first place – esp. since you have what looks to be a little terrier mix, and they can be a bit stubborn.
Having the dog walk properly (next to you or slightly behind, with a loose leash unless he needs a quick correction); as well as a feeding ritual (make sure he sits calmly when you put the bowl down, have him wait for you to say “ok” before feeding), seem like little things, but help establish who’s boss in the family.