You want mans best friend to eat right. You should be aware of the added benefits of a healthy and nutritious dog diet, but where do you look to find the best food for your pet?

There are so many good types of dog food on the market today. You can buy bags or cans of dog food easily from your local grocery or department store. Store chains are now offering varieties of dog food that are of a higher quality and at lower cost to you.

If you don't want to purchase dog food from the grocery store, you might think about stores that sell feed for other animals as well. Businesses like TSC regularly deal with customers that are interested in good healthy nutrition to their pets. They should be able to help you decide on which specific brand of food will suit the needs of your dog's diet. Some of these higher quality dog foods are available at such stores and you may not find these higher quality foods at your local Wal-Mart.

Many Businesses on the internet sell their organic and natural dog diets. You should look online to find the type of dog food that feels right to you. Some of these merchants will even deliver the dog food to your home. Your dog's diet has never been as convenient as this to obtain. The internet has made it possible for pet owners to widen their choice in their dog's diet.

Your vet can advise you about the best types of dog diets. Your vet may sell specific brands or varieties right from their surgery. Once you have decided on what diet is best for your dog, You should consider purchasing it when you bring your pet in for a checkup. A vet would not offer you any food that is not right for your dog's diet, so this may be a good place to start from. If your vet advises on a particular type of diet for your dog, this may be due to health reasons, then your vet may be the only place to find the exact food for your dog's diet.

Some pet owners prefer to cook for their dog. A dog's diet needs meat, vegetables, and grain. Selected meats, grains, and vegetables can be prepared at home, this will make sure you provide excellent nutrition for your pet. If you have green beans or carrots that you have grown in your garden, then consider adding these to your dog's diet. This way you will know where the food has come from and how it was prepared.

A healthy dog diet can come from your butcher. If you do make your own raw diet at home, always remember that ground turkey or chicken breast fresh is always best health option.

Regardless of what type of food you decide on for your dog's diet, you must always consult with your vet before making any changes or alterations in the diet. Once you have made your mind up on a specific diet for your dog, then you need to take advantage of the healthiest and most convenient method that is available to you.

When picking out a dog for your family, there are more important things to consider than just looks. Ease of training, compatibility with children, dominance traits, and aggression should be your top priorities. I've compiled this list based on the following:

- Which breeds do well left alone at home
- Overall intelligence
- Amount of exercise needed
- Attitudes with children, strangers, and other animals
- Health problems
- My personal experience
- Typical breed standards
- The American Temperament Test results

Small Breeds
 

Havanese
This breed is the classic lap-dog. They come from the line of Bichon Frise and Maltese but are more compatible with children. They are generally well behaved, loyal, quiet, and submissive. They're easy to train, hypo-allergenic, and do not shed. They can weigh between 8-13 pounds and live about 14 years. They're perfect for apartment life and are content with indoor exercise. They aren't very athletic, so they need an easy-going family. They are a long-haired breed, so a 'puppy cut' is easiest to maintain (as seen in the photo). If you're looking for an adorable, compact, perpetual puppy, the Havanese is for you.

Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are small bundles of joy. They live to learn, love people of all ages, are effortless to groom, and require little exercise. They are perfect for indoor life. They weigh from 10-20 pounds and live up to 15 years. They do well with other pets and love to be where the action is. Their coats are glossy and short so they are very easy to groom, but they do shed. Bostons have very short muzzles so they may breath loudly, snore, or drool. Because of birthing difficulties (often by caesarean), I recommend finding your Boston Terrier at a local rescue rather than a breeder. There are several Bostons available for adoption on petfinder.com.

Cockapoo
The Cockapoo is one of my favorite breeds because even though they're small, they're quite athletic. The Cocker Spaniel traits give a robust and hardy quality and a love of sports - frisbee, fetch, swimming, and hunting (to name a few). The Poodle traits lend a dignified and intelligent demeanor unlike other small breeds. Cockapoos are not nervous or skittish, but they do best when around people all day. They're attentive to their masters, very easy to train, and adore children and other pets. They are also hypo-allergenic and do not shed. They can weigh between 6 to 25 pounds, depending on whether or not the poodle parent was a toy or miniature. Life expectancy is about 14 years. They come in many colors and their coats can be shaggy or curly. Some breeders will dock their tails but ask yours not to - they have the most lovely, plume-like tails!
 

Medium Breeds
 

Miniature Australian Shepherd
Aussies are extremely intelligent and devoted to their masters. They do best with a medium to large yard and an active family. Because they are herding dogs, they need plenty of exercise or else they become bored, hyper-active, and destructive. About two hours of rigorous exercise a day is ideal. They can weigh from 20 to 40 pounds and live about 13 years. They are a beautiful breed, coming in a variety of colors, and at times may have bright blue eyes. Their coats are thick and they shed year-round, so daily brushing is recommended. Their coats are insulators so they do not need to be shaved - although you may give them a short 'puppy cut' during hot months. They are usually a quiet breed but may bark at strangers. Unless properly socialized as puppies, most Aussies are wary of strangers and visitors.

Keeshond
Keeshonden are energetic and lively dogs who are devoted family companions. Though not as smart as other breeds, they can be well-trained with consistent, firm discipline, and plenty of positive reinforcement. If you like the looks of Huskies and Akitas, the Keeshond is a better choice for children. They weigh 30 to 60 pounds and live about 13 years. They do well indoors but need about an hour of exercise a day. A small yard is sufficient with this breed. They love to 'smile' at people and when excited, they spin in comical circles. Because of their thick coat, they are average shedders and do best in cooler climates. If in a warm climate, they can be given a 'puppy cut' during hot months. Daily brushing is ideal. They are great watchdogs so they tend to bark often, which might upset close neighbors.

American Pit Bull Terrier
The Pit Bull is the most controversial breed of our day and you may be wondering why this breed would show up on my list. But in the hands of a responsible owner, I believe they can be one of the best family breeds available. They are loving, amusing, intelligent, and faithful to the end. As pups, they can be aggressive toward other dogs or small animals, but this can be easily and quickly trained out of them. Pit Bulls are so well-mannered that they are often chosen to be service, rescue, or police dogs. Although their short coat is easy to maintain, they do shed. They can be a bit clumsy indoors, but regular exercise (about an hour a day) and a proper weight can reduce this. Pit Bulls are prone to be overweight, so do not over feed. They can range between 30 and 60 pounds and live about 12 years. It's important to train a Pit Bull to walk properly on a leash at a young age or they may become too difficult to walk when older and stronger.

Large Breeds
 

Collie (Rough or Smooth Coat)
The Collie is another fabulous family companion. Like the Australian Shepherd above, they are a herding breed, so they are exceptionally intelligent. Eager to please, snuggle, and protect, they are loyal and dignified pets. They weigh 50 to 75 pounds and live about 15 years. They make great watchdogs and are natural 'babysitters' for the children in the family. Rough Coated Collies do not need haircuts - they do fine in warm months, as their coat acts like an insulator from the heat. Although they can overheat if exercised too much during hot months. The Smooth Coated Collies have a shorter coat, so they do well in any climate. Both are average shedders. Collies need about two hours of exercise a day and a large yard. Country life is best for this breed, as they love exploring the world.

Golden Retriever
Happy, fun-loving, and loyal, Goldens are one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They love people, so although they may bark when a stranger approaches your home, they would sooner invite a thief in rather than scare him off. They weigh 50 to 80 pounds and live approximately 11 years. They are average shedders and benefit from daily brushing. Because they are retrievers, they need at least two hours of rigorous exercise a day, either swimming, playing fetch, or running beside you as you jog. Some do not do well left alone and become destructive. Although they are vastly intelligent, they are being bred to have more dominant traits which can make training difficult. With firm and consistent discipline, Goldens can be refined pets, but inconsistent training will lead to an out-of-control dog that will take about 4 to 5 years to settle down.

Labrador Retriever
The Labrador is the most popular breed in the United States. Their friendly, energetic, and loyal dispositions make them excellent family pets. They are wonderful with children and enjoy the water, hunting, fetch, Frisbee - just about anything you love, they'll love! Although their coat is short, they are average shedders. They can weigh 50 to 100 pounds and live about 11 years. Like Goldens, they do well indoors but need two hours of exercise a day or they may become destructive. Without proper exercise, Labs can become overweight, which can lead to joint problems. Because of over-breeding, American Labs are typically hyper-active and rarely submissive. These Labs will be rambunctious and difficult to train for the first four to five years. Since Labs are the most popular breed, they are also one of the most popular breeds found in shelters - so check your local rescue before visiting a breeder.

Please understand that even though I am including Golden Retrievers and Labradors on this list, I tend to discourage families from purchasing them because they are being over-bred due to high demand and popularity. This over-breeding creates unhealthy and extremely hyper dogs, which then results in either: 1) euthanasia due to expensive vet bills, and 2) abandoned dogs at shelters because of hyper (and destructive) activity. There is no question that both breeds can be excellent family companions, but I encourage every family to consider other, equally wonderful breeds before Goldens and Labs. If you must have one, check your local shelter, rescue, or petfinder.com. Please be aware that even the sheltered or rescued Goldens and Labs will most likely be over-bred, so training and tolerance is a must. Together, we can decrease the popularity of this breed and put an end to over-breeding.
 

Giant Breeds
 

American Mastiff
For those partial to giant breeds, I recommend an American Mastiff. Calm, dignified, and gentle, these dogs are patient and loving with children. They can weigh 140 to 200 pounds and live up to 12 years. As with most giant breeds, Mastiffs do not need a lot of exercise and do well indoors or with a small yard. But because of their inactivity, they may become overweight. Mastiffs get along well with other dogs but should be supervised around other types of animals. They can be very protective but rarely aggressive unless threatened. As puppies they can be rambunctious and clumsy because they grow rapidly during the first year, but they mature quickly. And even though they are one of the gentlest breeds, their size can be intimidating - so always keep your Mastiff leashed in public.

Remember, there can be exceptions with each litter so make sure you research breeders and always insist on meeting the parents to determine the general temperament of the litter. With adoption, research breed characteristics thoroughly before bringing a dog home. Even mixed breeds can be properly researched - just check out the traits of each breed in their bloodline. For instance, if you're looking at a Labrador/Mastiff mix, a good rule of thumb is to combine the traits from both breeds, so you know what to expect.

Dogs are been man's best friend all the time and man has tried to teach and train dogs the ways he can. Here are some ideas to make dogs to listen to man and make them have a nice good behavior.

First of all what ever people do at the begging, that is going to give dogs the first impression. That's how Dogs are going to make up its mind that this how this people are going to act and this how I should behave. So what is all the first impressions we are going make it is very important.

The first thing that you should understand is that the dog is not born with the knowledge that what they are doing is wrong when they relieve themselves in inappropriate locations around the home, or yard. When they have to go, they just do it.

This is especially true if they have had no previous lessons on the fact that there is a certain area to relieve themselves. You should designate an area in the yard for the dog to do his business. It is important, when you walk the dog, and take the dog outdoors, that you visit this area frequently.

If the puppy has an accident indoors, you should immediately take them to this area. Eventually, they will begin to understand that this area is the location for relieving themselves.

The next thing that you should do to successfully housetrain your puppy is to develop a schedule that your pet can use. You should feed your dog at certain times of the day, and then set certain times when you walk the animal.

If you pamper the dog sometimes and shout at it when it does something wrong, dogs will keep the grudge some times. So it is very obvious that man should behave very calm.

Dogs will learn very well if you give them some time to learn and make them feel like you are his very best friend.

Once you see your puppy using the area outside the home that you have deemed appropriate when it comes to relieving themselves, it is important for you to praise the dog. This may include talking in an upbeat, friendly tone, patting them on the head, or simply playing with them or giving them a treat immediately thereafter.

Specifically showing them where they have to eat and sleep and poop... bringing them in your bed room is going to make them feel free to do anything which is going to ruined dogs behavior.