Three food tips for a healthy, happy dog
- 10 years ago
Dog trainer Louise Glazebrook explains how the diet you feed your four-legged friend can have a massive influence on their health and behaviour
A nutritious, balanced diet is essential to keeping your dog healthy.
London-based dog trainer and behaviourist Louise Glazebrook warned that a diet high in sugar, salt and processed food, is likely to lead to more regular visits to the vet for your dog.
If you are shopping for dog food and you look at the ingredients on the back "and you have no idea what they are...you should put the package back on the shelf of the shop and walk away," she advised.
"You need to be feeding your dog items that you recognise", she said, suggesting a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and chicken and avoiding dry kibbles which are generally higher in carbohydrates.
It is important to reward dogs with treats when they have done something well, but try to ensure those treats are healthy, natural and do not make your pet gain weight.
She recommends white rawhide and antler dog chews, and cubes of apples, carrots and broccoli as treats if your pet is happy to eat vegetables.
For really special treats she advises, chicken, ham and sausages, but you "shouldn't be giving your dog sweets every time he does something right".
She stressed that owners must avoid giving grapes, raisins, chocolate and onions which can all be toxic to dogs.
Get the latest headlines http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Subscribe to The Telegraph http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/telegraph
Follow us on Google+ https://plus.google.com/102891355072777008500/
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Daily Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
A nutritious, balanced diet is essential to keeping your dog healthy.
London-based dog trainer and behaviourist Louise Glazebrook warned that a diet high in sugar, salt and processed food, is likely to lead to more regular visits to the vet for your dog.
If you are shopping for dog food and you look at the ingredients on the back "and you have no idea what they are...you should put the package back on the shelf of the shop and walk away," she advised.
"You need to be feeding your dog items that you recognise", she said, suggesting a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and chicken and avoiding dry kibbles which are generally higher in carbohydrates.
It is important to reward dogs with treats when they have done something well, but try to ensure those treats are healthy, natural and do not make your pet gain weight.
She recommends white rawhide and antler dog chews, and cubes of apples, carrots and broccoli as treats if your pet is happy to eat vegetables.
For really special treats she advises, chicken, ham and sausages, but you "shouldn't be giving your dog sweets every time he does something right".
She stressed that owners must avoid giving grapes, raisins, chocolate and onions which can all be toxic to dogs.
Get the latest headlines http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Subscribe to The Telegraph http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/telegraph
Follow us on Google+ https://plus.google.com/102891355072777008500/
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Daily Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.