We are living in a day and age where inquiries and investigations are happening on a large percentage of food products, and, quite often, many items found in foods are proven to be detrimental to the health of the consumer. But with all of this information surrounding us, it can be harder to understand what we should be avoiding. In this article I will be providing you with a short list of products commonly found in dog foods that you may not have known about but that are dangerous for your dog:

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

These substances are rare, but are incredibly dangerous. They have been listed as ‘cancer causing compounds’ by the World Health organization but still somehow manage to find their way into dog foods.

Tetra sodium pyrophosphate

This causes diarrhea, sickness and weight loss, and as I am sure you know, this can lead to a large number of other problems – it’s only a matter of time before your dog becomes critically ill after prolonged exposure to such products.

Propylene glycol

This product is a preservative typically used in antifreeze, yet somehow a large number of dog foods still contain this ingredient. Can you imagine eating antifreeze yourself? No? Then why is it acceptable for your dog?

Ethoxyquin

Commonly used as a stiffening agent in synthetic rubber and pesticide. It is currently under investigation due to links to liver and kidney cancer, yet it still works its way into our dog’s foods.

So how do you avoid such products? The best way to ensure your pet isn’t being subjected to them is by buying a high quality food. Often, these products find their way into cheaper foods because they are a cheaper alternative to the more expensive safer versions. Whilst I can appreciate that times are hard, I would advise that well-known brands such as James Wellbeloved Dog Food, Hills Dog Food and Royal Canin dog food. They are a little more expensive, but this is because they contain all of the good stuff that your pet needs to be healthy, rather than using cheaper alternatives that will do your dog a lot more harm than good.

Imagine this: sparkling red carpet premiere of a promising family movie starring everyone’s favorite actors of the present. A well-groomed, shiny coated canine who is the real star of the movie, such as the golden lab who played Marley in ‘Marley and Me’, or Richard Gere’s co-star in ‘Hachiko: A Dog’s Story’. Now, imagine if they had a little ‘accident’. Imagine if they weren’t in the best of health…

If you have ever slipped – yes, slipped – in dog poo, you will know that it certainly is not pleasant and you feel like hunting down the dog owner and banning them from your local area until their dog’s bowel movements are back to normal and their ‘business’ can be scooped and bagged as normal. I know if my pug ever got diarrhea again, I would ask some unsuspecting friend to take little Mathilde on a walk to save myself the embarrassment whilst I rush to the vets to book an appointment. Last time, it was the result of too many treats surreptitiously given to her under the table by my friends at Christmas (it’s not just humans that get fat in the winter season). Ultimately, neither Mathilde nor I were very happy.

Of course, it isn’t the end of the world. Canikur tablets are very effective as an anti-diarrhea treatment, which are palatable and chewable. Containing probiotics, prebiotics and a special binding agent, they work together to support intestinal function ensuring your dog’s body fluid balance is normalized. In the case of an emergency, however, Pro-Kolin+ may be a better choice as it is designed to settle diarrhea quickly and safely. Plus, it is beef flavored so my pug, like many other pooches I’m sure, would easily eat it.

For a long term aid, Hill’s Prescription Diet I/D is for dogs suffering with gastrointestinal disorders that can be painful and prolonged if left unattended. Dog lovers want the best for their canine companions so address the ugly stuff is just as important as cuddling. I/D encourages symptom reduction of vomiting, flatulence, constipation and diarrhea, all of which would be the biggest embarrassment on that spotless red carpet…

Training a dog can be a difficult and arduous process. Dogs are wonderful pets that are affectionate and fun-loving, but they also like to test boundaries to see what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are unacceptable. In order to properly train a dog to understand what behaviors are unwanted, immediate correction is necessary. This is difficult to accomplish, as sometimes a behavior occurs unexpectedly or out of reach. Using an e collar can help alleviate this problem, and e-collar training for dogs has been proven to be a very effective training method for correcting negative behaviors while reinforcing positive ones.

How Electronic Collars Work

The collars work by utilizing three basic components: a remote transmitter, collar probes and a collar receiver. The transmitter sends a signal to the collar’s receiver, which in turn directs an electrical impulse through the collar’s probes to the dog’s skin. The dog senses this electrical stimulus, and immediately ceases engaging in the unwanted behavior. The collars are adjustable, so the amount of impulse the dog receives can be dictated by the trainer. Most trainers use the lowest setting, as they have found that even a minimal impulse will result in the desired effect.

Why Training Collars Make Training Easier

Because training collars allow for immediate correction to be made, they are among the most efficient training tools available. They must be used properly, and if an individual has never before used one, it may be best to conduct thorough research or to consult a professional before trying to use one of these collars. If a dog has already mastered some very basic commands, it is probably ready to be introduced to the electronic collar. The collar should be worn by the dog several times before any training begins, and when it does, sessions should remain very brief, no longer than 15 minutes. Dogs seem to respond better to this repetitive style of training. Once training has begun, the collar can be used to reinforce positive behaviors, and also to correct negative and undesirable behaviors.

Are These Collars Humane?

One of the most common concerns about the electronic collar is the debate as to whether it is humane to use on dogs. The simple fact is that the collar is not harmful or painful to the dogs who wear them. The stimulus that is delivered through the collar is very similar to the shock felt from static electricity: Uncomfortable, but not painful or harmful. In fact, most dogs enjoy wearing their collars, because they associate the collar with training, and successful training results in rewards and positive reinforcement. In short, there should be no concern with regard to the use of these collars.

Electronic collars are incredibly useful and effective. When used appropriately, they can result in quick and easy training sessions that help dogs understand how to behave correctly. With the ability to instantly correct unwanted behavior without causing the dog any pain, it is no surprise that this is a popular training tool among professional dog trainers. This simple and effective training method is a smart choice for any dog owner who desires to have a well-behaved and obedient dog.

Jack Bonafacio is an expert dog trainer and has close to a decade of dog training experience, having worked with many different breeds.