Vets like those foods because they have been through "AAFCO Feeding Trials" (not just "formulated to AAFCO standards") and because they feel that the ingredients and nutrition inside each bag is exactly the same as every bag, while they feel other brands are not "scientifically proven" or consistent enough batch to batch.
I went to a seminar on dog food labels at Tufts one evening- I found this all to be very strange, especially when I went to the store and tried to find which food HAD been through the Feeding Trials - very few were and those were largely corn-based, and full of by-products, artifical colors (Beneful!). My conclusion is that Feeding Trials don't mean that much...
Hijacking is fine :P I love info. Yeah, it was just annoying cause she seemed irritated when I said I refused to feed the food she likes. But whatever. : ) I'm gonna feed my dog right and start eating right myself.
General practice Vets are not, in large part, reliable nutritionists. They lack the time and desire to do the proper research on what's out there. "Veterinarian" used to mean animal authority, like how "dog chow" reflected only 1 or 2 brands total back in the day. So many specialities exist now, that unless the DVM is offering a medical diet for a condition, you can pretty much disregard any other info they will offer you on brands and "boutique" foods. I guess the saying, "jack of all trades, master of none" comes to mind when I think about most DVMs in general practice these days.
I agree with Brandon, though I know thats not always entirely possible or easy. After TWO years of searching for a vet that was semi-local and more holistic minded, we found her and we are thrilled.
When you do your independent research for what is truly best for your dog and not just what is the general or easiest for you, your vet should respect your educated conclusion.
With that said, I do far more nutrition research than anything.. I still do prelim research on medical stuff like vaccines and preventatives, and I'll bring what I found to her and go over it. I'm blessed with a vet that believes total health comes from within and not with what is administered, so we have a lovely working relationship. I'm happy to write those checks after our visit!
Thanks for the advice, we have been actually asking around. We were trying out that vet after hearing good things since the vet we were going to for my cat is pretty non-caring and cold. So I'll be doing some more research and we may switch eventually. The lady was good about other stuff, just the food issue was annoying. I really liked the rest of the staff, maybe we can request a different vet at that office? Im not sure yet. Right now I am ignoring her food "advice" and might actually bring in ingredient lists of food next time and circle what I don't like.
Today he's been a little skiddish, When I took him out for his morning walk he got upset and shivering/whining/tried to pull back into the house, not sure why he did that. It was a little chilly this morning might have been that, he might also be sore from his shot yesterday. -shrugs- we did get up really early this morning. Been trying to train him to know his name or at least listen a little when i call. He likes to ignore us completely. :P
Hhaha he sounds like one when he screams. I swear he's part-shiba...maybe an uncle removed or something :P Hahah. I'll probably end up using tons of the info on the forum
here is some more spam of him. sorry for my only posting here really, been having some serious personal problems and have been unable to finish my drawings yet or get to you guys. i feel really bad since i keep doing this. : ( ill have art up as soon as i can. ill try to get some done tonight.
so here's bandit being a devil:
he gives us this look alllll the time
man though, getting him to use the leash and the crate has been hell, since my dad thinks the leash is too time consuming to get on and my bro likes to lock him in the crate when he puppy bites. geez. speaking of puppy bites, im working on training him to stop, any suggestions (i've been doing the ignoring thing)
Oh what a cutie, and he's got a 'button winkie'...Don't worry too much with the art, with distractions like Bandit, I'd be the same way.
Just be consistent with the way you enforce no biting, change it up and you might just confuse him. It also helps if the rest of the family is on the same page (with both the biting and the crate). Stuff like this takes time, but you'll get there.
With the play biting, you need to ensure that everyone in the family is being consistent with what they allow and how they handle it if he crosses the line. It can get really confusing for a puppy when there are 4 people telling him slightly different things. (heck, it can be confusing for me if there are multiple people telling me slightly different things!) What I did with both of my pups is any time they put their teeth on my skin, I immediately yelped LOUDLY, got up and left the room. After a few minutes, come back, and repeat as necessary. It worked very well with my two.
I'm really upset right now my dad just brought the dog in for a walk and the Bandit peed a little then before i could do anything my dad snatched him up and shoved his face in it. he's really mad cause i yelled when he did that out of shock/horror.
Some habit are hard to break parents of. Me dad did summit similar to the cat. After 3 times I pointed out, "NOTICE HOW IT'S NOT WORKING!" & he finally agreed to do it the proper way, then remarked "Oh wow, you're right."
So cute...but...looks like a stuffed animal! haha ~
My dad raised my childhood puppy like that too.... Puppy would poo somewhere throughout the house while he was gone or just not watching. My dad would notice it a few mins after at the earliest and yell at the puppy, stick his nose into it and say "yuck! we don't do that" rub his nose in the poo again and so forth... but i guess that's how most people raised their dogs 20 yrs ago. Some still do. Since you know it's wrong, your dad should listen to you. Tell him if he wants a puppy that's housebroken, he needs to stop using the "rub nose in the poo and pee method"
he was alot better today, we kept him in the crate alot, and he slept the whole time with food/potty/play breaks. He seemed much better feeling by the end of the day. I also taught him to sit...but only for really high-value treats :P but its nice. haha for a couple of minutes after i ran out of the treats he followed me and sat down every time i looked at him. :P
my dad started working at the office instead of home today and he noticed a big change. I was the only one home almost all day so bandit was doing alot better and seemed much better behaved that he had been. He follows us around then lays on the floor until we move to another room. I'm feeling more confident now. He only had 1 accident today and that was when mom let me take a nap and my brother (who is trying to earn his right to own a dog) watch him for a little.
Comments
*sorry!*
Vets like those foods because they have been through "AAFCO Feeding Trials" (not just "formulated to AAFCO standards") and because they feel that the ingredients and nutrition inside each bag is exactly the same as every bag, while they feel other brands are not "scientifically proven" or consistent enough batch to batch.
I went to a seminar on dog food labels at Tufts one evening- I found this all to be very strange, especially when I went to the store and tried to find which food HAD been through the Feeding Trials - very few were and those were largely corn-based, and full of by-products, artifical colors (Beneful!). My conclusion is that Feeding Trials don't mean that much...
Sorry, I can go on and on about my nutrition evening, but this is Bandit's debut thread, so not to hijack...
Yeah, it was just annoying cause she seemed irritated when I said I refused to feed the food she likes. But whatever. : )
I'm gonna feed my dog right and start eating right myself.
My vet sells Science Diet, etc, but she respects my decisions when it comes to my dog. She is also very interested in my opinions and research.
When you do your independent research for what is truly best for your dog and not just what is the general or easiest for you, your vet should respect your educated conclusion.
With that said, I do far more nutrition research than anything.. I still do prelim research on medical stuff like vaccines and preventatives, and I'll bring what I found to her and go over it. I'm blessed with a vet that believes total health comes from within and not with what is administered, so we have a lovely working relationship. I'm happy to write those checks after our visit!
Right now I am ignoring her food "advice" and might actually bring in ingredient lists of food next time and circle what I don't like.
Today he's been a little skiddish, When I took him out for his morning walk he got upset and shivering/whining/tried to pull back into the house, not sure why he did that. It was a little chilly this morning might have been that, he might also be sore from his shot yesterday. -shrugs-
we did get up really early this morning. Been trying to train him to know his name or at least listen a little when i call. He likes to ignore us completely. :P
i love this forum
so here's bandit being a devil:
he gives us this look alllll the time
man though, getting him to use the leash and the crate has been hell, since my dad thinks the leash is too time consuming to get on and my bro likes to lock him in the crate when he puppy bites. geez.
Just be consistent with the way you enforce no biting, change it up and you might just confuse him. It also helps if the rest of the family is on the same page (with both the biting and the crate). Stuff like this takes time, but you'll get there.
Oh, he's just too cute
With the play biting, you need to ensure that everyone in the family is being consistent with what they allow and how they handle it if he crosses the line. It can get really confusing for a puppy when there are 4 people telling him slightly different things. (heck, it can be confusing for me if there are multiple people telling me slightly different things!) What I did with both of my pups is any time they put their teeth on my skin, I immediately yelped LOUDLY, got up and left the room. After a few minutes, come back, and repeat as necessary. It worked very well with my two.
I'm really upset right now my dad just brought the dog in for a walk and the Bandit peed a little then before i could do anything my dad snatched him up and shoved his face in it. he's really mad cause i yelled when he did that out of shock/horror.
So cute...but...looks like a stuffed animal! haha
my dad started working at the office instead of home today and he noticed a big change. I was the only one home almost all day so bandit was doing alot better and seemed much better behaved that he had been. He follows us around then lays on the floor until we move to another room. I'm feeling more confident now. He only had 1 accident today and that was when mom let me take a nap and my brother (who is trying to earn his right to own a dog) watch him for a little.
i feel a little better about things. : )
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