Aging has very little to do with your dog’s age.

A myth? The truth is… diet and exercise slow down aging because thinner dogs live longer.

Dogs can’t see color!

It's a myth! The truth is; dogs see certain colors. They have two photoreceptor cones for color — versus three for humans. Dogs see shades of yellow, blue, and grey, all have trouble distinguishing red and green. If you toss them a red ball most will keep missing the ball…they have trouble spotting red against the green grass. Use blue or yellow toys and balls. These two colors are seen most vividly.

Nutrition?

There are unlimited options and hundreds of brands including wet, dry, raw, age-specific and restricted diets. How to decipher the advertising and marketing claims?

Know the Rules - The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has four rules:

1. The 95 Percent Rule: At least 95 per cent of the product must be the named ingredient, for example, "Chicken for Dogs," or "Salmon Dog Food," must include at least 95 per cent of chicken or salmon. The remaining five percent will be other nutritional items, such as vitamins and minerals, and other ingredients.
2. The 25 Percent Rule: Products named "Beef Dinner for Dogs," "Chicken and Sweet Potato Entree," or "Lamb Platter," The 25 per cent rule says that the named ingredients must comprise at least 25 per cent of the product (not counting the water for processing.
3. The "With" Rule: The label "Doggie Dinner with Beef," the "With . . ." ingredient need only be at least 3 percent of the product.
4. The Flavor Rule: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), says if the label says "Beef Flavor Dog Food," then "a specific percentage (of the beef) is not required, but a product must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected." In this example, the word "flavor" must appear on the label in the same size, style, and color as the word "beef."

Grain-free: There is little veterinary science to support the benefits of grain-free dog food according to Lisa Freeman, veterinary nutritionist and professor of clinical nutrition at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Pedigree Software

A better way to track your breeding's and keep up with your puppies is by using "Stick Dog Pedigree Software". Written for Microsoft Windows it's popular with breeders. One click of the mouse generates a pedigree with names, titles & certifications, another generates the Stick Dog color coded pedigree with structural traits of conformation. A 3rd click generates the Symbols Pedigree which is used to code health, carriers and affected ancestors. A User Manual provides step by step instructions.

Choosing the Best Puppy

Choosing the Best Puppy Seminar on DVD teaches you how to Choose the best Puppies. It also includes instructions on how to stimulate their Neurological System at 3 days of age. An unpublished study shows that breeders are wrong 60% - 70-% of the time. No method is perfect but this DVD offers a method that works. As a bonus it includes a demonstration of how to stimulate the neurological system of newborn pups.