Holistic dog care takes into consideration the whole dog – their dietary needs, their health care and their living conditions. These are all vital to a dog’s well being, but are not generally recognised either by the public or by mainstream vets.
First, let’s look at the ideal living conditions for a dog.
A dog is a pack animal. In the wild, and so their evolutionary history, they live in highly socially structured groups. They have the alpha pair, who are in charge. Then you have the various past years puppies. They are all lower in rank than the alpha pair. The males will normally leave the pack at full maturity. The females often remain and help out with the new puppies.
So the human practice of removing puppy from mother at eight weeks causes a huge amount of stress. But keeping them in isolation is tantamount to torture for a dog, especially a young pup. No wonder there are so many insecure and emotionally damaged dogs about.
If you have to have a young puppy, make sure you don’t leave them alone. You are now the puppy’s pack. Honour your role. Leaving them in the laundry at night alone or going out to work all day are highly stressful for dogs. If you are out at work all day, at least have another dog (adult) for company.
I like those baby playpens, for nighttime restriction. You can put them anywhere and line them with waterproofing. So the puppy can be near you, where they need to be, but you contain the inevitable mess.
Training is an Important Part of a Dog’s Life With Us.
Yet it needs to be structured to suit the dog’s psyche, not ours. There are a few people who are breaking the old mould of outdated dog training, who are gentle and humane. Jan Fennell The Dog Whisperer, is the one I admire as she embraces the concept of holistic dog care.
Holistic Health Care For Dogs
This needs to take into consideration the whole of the dog as well as how nature works. Rather than focusing on a disease or an infection, the immune system needs our attention. It is only when the dog has a disease or infection that you can tell the immune system is not working very well. Rather than suppress it further with drugs, it needs to be enhanced, supported.
Without any doubt, homeopathy offers one of the best holistic health care options for anyone, including dogs. Always seek a professional homeopath or homeopathic vet for chronic conditions. But you can learn to use the common homeopathic remedies yourself, to help with acute conditions – for all the family not just your dog. Homeopathy for dogs is as effective, fast and safe, as it is with us or any other animal.
Holistic Dog Food
Without any doubt, the best food for dogs is the one they evolved on, the one wild dogs still eat today. But sorting through those claiming to be holistic dog food brands, may lead you astray. Brands are corporations and mostly these are more concerned about their profit than about their product. Small, new companies may be honest and ethical. But with spiralling costs of food, they may be persuaded to buy in cheap, unhealthy replacements. And big companies often buy out their competition, so would you know if that happened?
No, it’s better to make your own. It’s not difficult, once you know what to do. You’re always sure of the ingredients. And it’s much more economical than buying any brand. But you need to know what your species requirements are before venturing down that road. Then, I can assure you, your dog will be healthier than they have ever been on commercial dog food.
Holistic dog care involves all aspects of your dog’s life. The whole dog. Examine them all in details and decide what needs to be changed. I suggest the diet is the number one priority.
In making radical changes in your dog’s life, you too will be radically affected – for the better. Natural dogs health means a healthy, happy dog. A healthy, happy dog won’t get diseases. They won’t need vets. You can keep your wallet in your pocket. And if you have priced any veterinary treatments lately, you’ll know that this is a potential saving of thousands.
