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HEALTHY NUTRITION
FOR YOUR WESTIE
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February 20, 2007 - By KATHY SMITH.
“Mom, what’s for dinner? Am I going to eat chicken by-products
or chicken meal? Will my food have corn meal? Will you give me something with sunflower oil?” Our speaker, Kim Mann of Nutro Products, Inc., explained the ABCs of healthy feeding and eating.
Understanding the label of a dog food is an essential step in feeding your canine companion. Look for the sources of protein,
carbohydrates, and fat.
Imagine eating ground up feet and intestines! The
word by-products mean you might be feeding this type of protein to your beloved Westie. The ingredients label lists components in order of weight, so if "chicken meal" is at the top of the list,
you know the water has been drained from the meat, and the skin and bones have been removed.
This means your companion is getting higher quality protein than if "chicken" is at the top of the list (suggests the
full weight before the water is drained and bones removed, which might otherwise make it the fourth or fifth ingredient).
The carbohydrate, cornmeal, leads to difficult digestion, while oatmeal and rice can aid in this process. These alternatives
give your Westie more of that energy we all love in this breedJ. Look for sunflower oil on your
label, too. This fat is good for your Westie. Joint health can be improved with ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin. Kim suggested we watch out for additives – they can discolor those precious show
beards!
Looking for a natural food? Kim talked about the Nutro® offering, Ultra®, that includes
natural ingredients such as tomatoes, cranberries, garlic, and salmon. Sounds like a meal fit for royalty – and our
dogs are just that. These foods contain amino acids, lycopene, and Vitamin C, important ingredients for a long, healthy royal
life!
Kim mentioned that Nutro® offers three
product lines for dogs, so we can find just the right formula for our Westie’s needs. To give us a start on all that Nutro® offers, Kim supplied us with samples and t-shirts. Thanks, Kim, for a “delicious” evening!
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Our thanks to Stella and Bill Blackwell for hosting our February meeting at their home, and
to Mellodee White, co-host.
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Greg and Kathy Smith won the special door prize given away at our February meeting: a tapestry
tote bag.
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SUPPORT WESTIE RESCUE
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Jim Burwell presents his
"Petiquette" training program
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March 17, 2007 - Our club members enjoyed a special treat at our March meeting with a presentation
by Houston's
own "dog whisperer," Mr. Jim Burwell. Jim has been providing Houston pet owners with obedience training services and behavior counseling since 1988.
His accomplishments include founding Rover Oaks Pet Resort and Texas Dog Training. Jim has trained dogs for both television
and theater. Most recently, Jim and his wife, Leila, established Petiquette, which offers individualized, in-home training
using The Burwell Method. Jim was kind enough to share his expertise in canine behavior, and showed us some
easy training methods that we can use with our dogs as well as some general house rules we all should follow with our dogs. Jim explained how teaching our dogs a few basic commands can make the difference
between an uncontrollable dog and a well-behaved companion. The Burwell Method
stresses positive reinforcement while focusing on three specific areas in the human-canine relationship: leadership,
exercise and training. You can find out more
about Petiquette, Jim Burwell, and The Burwell Method at www.petiquettedog.com.
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Below, members
and guests pick up
valuable training tips
from speaker Jim Burwell.
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A special thanks to Sandy McDonough for the fabulous job she did with
refreshments for the meeting!
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