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Home : Pets : Dogs : Basics : Caring For Man’s Best Friend
Caring For Man’s Best Friend
Several years ago I agreed to get a pet. Not just any pet. A dog. This dog is part of our family and is here to stay. I was talked into getting him just like any other parent is convinced to getting a pet. I heard “Mom we will take care of him, we promise.” Can you guess who takes care of this added member to our family? You guess it! Mommy. I guess I’m no different that any other pet owner. We chose a rather big dog (Labrador Retriever).Â
I wouldn’t change it for the world. We went through the house training stage, with many accidents. I found that if you blot the spot with paper towels. Then with ½ Cup of warm water and ½ teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent mixed together, dip a clean towel in the liquid and dab the stain. Do not over saturate. Rinse with fresh warm water and blot dry. Next dab a mixture of 1/3 Cup of white vinegar and 2/3 Cup of water on stain. Rinse with water and blot dry. Once totally dry sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or room deodorizer. After a few hours vacuum. This helps with the staining and odor.
We also had to go through the teething stage. We had to correct him every time he chew on something that was not his. We had to remove the object and replace to with an acceptable chew toy. He has several of them. Praising him when he chewed on one of these seemed to help.
We will never forget the time our dog got a little to close to a skunk. This was a stinky situation. It didn’t turn out that bad with this great homemade recipe. Use 2 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, ½ cup baking soda, 2-teaspoon liquid soap. Wet your pet down and work the mixture through your pet’s hair. Leave this mixture on him for a few minutes and then rinse out. Throw away any extras.
Our dog seems to be a picky eater. We’ve tried several different brands of dog food but he won’t hear of it. So I started making him this dog food recipe I found one day. Maybe your dog will like it just as must as mine. This makes about 3 lbs. Use 1 lb. Minced beef (not lean) 2 eggs (hard boiled), 2 lbs. Cooked rice, 6 slices white bread crumbled, 2 teaspoons calcium carbonate (crushed Antacid tablets). Cook meat in a covered pot until meat is no longer pink. Keeping the fat. Mix it thoroughly with the other ingredients in a medium bowl. The mixture tends to be dry so add water as needed.Â
Our dog really enjoyed this homemade dog food so I decided to make a homemade dog treat. Rewarding him for his good behaviors has never been tastier. ¾ cup whole wheat flour, ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. Salt, 1 stick of margarine, softened, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1 egg slightly beaten, 1 ½ vanilla, 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 2/3 cup wheat germ, 1 lb. bacon, cooked, drain & crumbled. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Combined first 3 ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture. Mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 16 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes. Cool on a cooling rack. Your dog will love these treats as much as our dog does.
If you have a dog remember to always take good care of him. Help him stay fit by taking him for a walk daily. Get his shots regularly. And show him a lot of attention. Sometimes dogs are just like your children. They will do just about anything to get your attention. If you're trying to make up your mind whether or not to get a dog just ask yourself these simple questions and make your decision. How much time can I spend with my dog? Where would he stay when I’m not at home? Will I be able to give my dog the exercise he needs? Do I have the time for training him? Will I be able to keep up with the grooming of my dog?
A dog is truly a man’s best friend!
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