Frequently Asked Questions

For mature dogs that live indoors, most "super-premium" dog foods should be fed at a rate of about one 8 ounce measuring cup for every 25-30 lbs of your dog's body weight per day. "Mid-range" dog foods are usually required to be fed in volumes of a cup for every 15 lbs of body weight, more or less, and "low-end" cereal-based foods are usually designed to be at volumes of about a cup of food for every 10-12 lbs of body weight.

If your dog lives outdoors or is exposed to stress (if your dog "works for a living", if you run with your dog, etc.) you may have to feed more, but in every case check your dog's weight every couple of weeks to make sure that your dog isn't putting on unwanted weight. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs (especially the last three) but not too prominently. Check your dog's stools to make sure that they are firm and not loose. They should be firm, dark-colored, and not particularly smelly. If they become loose, slimy, or really smelly, try cutting back on the food volume.

Remember, every pet is an individual. Don't assume that the feeding guidelines on the bag are right for your particular pet. Try to find what's best for your particular pet.

Cats fed a “super-premium” cat food usually require 1/3 to 1/2 cup per day for adult non-reproducing cats weighing 10-15 lbs. It is better to allow your cat to free-feed, whereas adult dogs are better off with controlled feedings once or twice a day. A breakfast and supper schedule works particularly well for larger dogs.

Remember, every pet is an individual. Don’t assume that the feeding guidelines on the bag are right for your particular pet. Try to find what’s best for your particular pet.

Bath time is much easier after a thorough brushing. Place your dog in a tub or a basin with a non-skid surface. Hold your dog’s collar firmly, then slowly pour several pitchers of lukewarm water over his body, being careful to leave the head dry.

Soap your dog’s body with a dog shampoo, then massage the soap into a lather, talking to your dog and praising him as you work. When his body is lathered, move to his head, being careful to keep shampoo out of his eyes, ears, and mouth.

Rinse and dry your dog’s head, then rinse his body. When the water runs clear, rinse one more time.

Thoroughly dry your dog with towels. If your dog has healthy skin, you can dry him further with a hairdryer set on a low or warm temperature.

Bathe smaller dogs such as poodles and schnauzers every two or three weeks, except in the winter when once a month will probably do. Larger pets need bathing several times a year. Of course, always wash a pet when it is dirty or smells, regardless of when it was last bathed.

Most dogs shed, whether they have long hair, short hair, or heavy undercoats. A Labrador Retriever with fairly short hair can shed just as much, if not more, than a longer-haired German Shepherd or Collie. Daily brushing can help to decrease the amount of hair you see around your house and thus on your clothing. For dogs who shed seasonally, brushing may need to even be done twice daily during those times.

Some people prefer not to deal with shedding at all. In which case, some breeds of ‘non-shedding’ dogs may be the ideal solution, particularly for allergy sufferers. These dogs will still shed, though the amount of hair that they shed is about as much as your own, which is barely noticeable. These are dogs who don’t have much of an undercoat, and they have the type of coat the requires regular clipping.

These include Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, and Schnauzers. Other breeds that shed little to no hair include the following:

Affenpinschers, Airedale Terriers, American Hairless Terriers, Australian Terriers, Basenjis, Bedlington Terriers, Belgian Shepherd Laekenois, Bergamascos, Bichon Frises, Bichon/Yorkie mixes, Bologneses, Border Terriers, Bouvers des Flanders, Brussels Griffons, Cairn Terriers, Cesky Terriers, Chi-Poos, Chinese Cresteds, Cockapoos, Coton De Tulears, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Doodleman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Hairless Khalas, Havaneses, Irish Terriers, Irish Water Spaniels, Italian Greyhounds, Kerry Blue Terriers, Komondors, Labradoodles, Lagotto Romagnolos, Lakeland Terriers, Lowchens, Malteses, Malti-Poos, Manchester Terriers, Mi-Kis, Miniature Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Peruvian Inca Orchids, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens, Poos (Poodle Mixes), Portuguese Water Dogs, Pulis, Schnoodles, Scottish Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Shepadoodles, Shichons, Silky Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Spanish Water Dogs, Standard Poodles, Standard Schnauzers, Tibetan Terriers, Toy Poodles, Welsh Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Wirehaired Fox Terriers, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, and Yorkshire Terriers.

Miniature dog breeds are defined as any breed of dog weighing less than 11 pounds and standing less than 11 inches at the shoulder. There are many different breeds coming in many different shapes and sizes. To name just a few, there’s the Affenpinscher, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund, English Toy Spaniel, Havanese, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Toy Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Further, miniature dogs come in a variety of activity levels. Don’t be fooled that, just because a dog is small, his activity level will be small as well. While there are some lower energy small breeds, such as the Pug, many can be pretty high energy, including the Australian Terrier, Beagle, Cairn Terrier, Italian Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher, and Wire Fox Terrier. All miniature breeds will need some amount of exercise, such as a walk with their owner or a romp around the yard or a large garden.