What Makes Organic Food, Organic?

Let’s face it. Organic food products are high in demand. You’ll see people walking down mall aisles looking for those organic food product sticker labels, a practice set by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration.

The organic food must pass a stringent set of requirements set by the FDA. For example, the food must be grown with any use of chemical additives. Another example is that the livestock cannot be given growth hormones and antibiotics. These are but a few of the long list of requirements.

What are some requirements for organic food?

Because the demand for organic food has risen, the government has stepped in to make sure no one is needlessly dying. They’ve given out a standard saying that organic food must be pesticide and chemical fertilizer free, among other things.

The entire production chain must meet the FDA’s requirements. How the seeds grow, how they’re maintained, and how they reach consumers – all of these must pass stringent standards.

Even all the suppliers involved in organic food must pass their appropriate requirements. These include the seed providers, farmers, food processing companies, food retailers, and restaurants.

An interesting thing to note here, is that the requirements differ by country; what may be allowed in the United States, may not necessarily be allowed in other countries.

Basically, there can be no influence of synthetic products anywhere along the production chain. Whether it be the use of chemicals, pesticides, food additives, or even the use of sewer sludge (as fertilizer) it will quickly exempt a company from earning a certified organic food provider label.

Production Participants Have Standards, Too

Every company involved in the making of organic food must pass their own meticulous standard. They must keep strict records of production and sales. They must also record every equipment type involved in production. They must also maintain a solid border between the organic production areas from the non-organic production areas.

The company fields must be kept free of pesticides and other chemical additives for a set number of years. Normally, this number if three, but it varies by country.

All the land is subject to periodic inspection. This is necessary in maintaining the title of a certified organic food producer.

Due to these high standards, certified organic food providers must take that extra mile to ensure quality products. Although it may seem cumbersome, the certification process ensures the health promised by organic foods.

September 5th, 2010 by 12oclock in Organic Articles | No Comments

Impactful Crate Training For Your Golden Retriever

Want simple and effective methods to crate train for your Golden Retriever? Newbie tips for your golden puppy is essential for long term impact!

When we attempt to use a crate, it may seem cruel from the outside perspectives. Some owners may have abused the use of such crates to the extent of animal abuse and aggressive punishment in some extreme cases. However, the main purposes of the dog crate training is far from being used in cruelty punishment but rather the emphasis is in the form of safety aspects for your dog. A crate gives him an area of warmth and a safety zone where it can feel comfortable to go into his retreat. A well prepared crates gives the golden a safe place while also satisfying his own territorial instincts for his own place. On one way, it also gives the confidence to your puppy early development while eliminating confusion to his new surroundings.

Introduction to crate training gives further benefits. First, it helps to cater for early potty training. This is essential while it teaches the dog to be trained in a way to hold its releases, while it also prepared them not to dirty their own places. Second, it helps to pick up dog obedience training. While the crate serve its benefits, you have to be careful for the over reliance and the attempt to place your golden retriever in the crate for too long, which ineffectively backfires and develop other withdrawn dog behavioral symptom.

Dog behavior problems can be serious in the growth stage of the golden’s life. Golden retriever crate training, on the other hand, also required you to improve your communications skills and your observation skills. The potential action or signs by your golden retriever is critical in determining when they want to “relieve” themselves.

At the initial stage of crate introduction, plan your place allocation accordingly to the movement in the household. It will be inappropriate to setup of in an area of frequent movement which will directly affect your golden’s rest and behavior. The place should be at an easy accessible location especially to allow them for easy relieved.

When your puppy is brought home the first time, let him find time to adapt to his new surroundings. The objective is to allow him search for his own path towards his own crate. Remove obstacles around the crate while leaving the crate’s door opened. This gives the golden retriever an opportunity to familiarize, while he will attempt to wander in/out and around the crate. An effective dog training method is to use treats by tossing into the crate. When the golden acknowledges and enters, use a short command like “In”, “Inside”, “Home”, to capture his attention. It will be a positive impact and give him an extra incentive to follow suit the next time if you introduce another treat or toy for him. Practice the next step in the closing for the crate, while learning how he reacts and behave accordingly. Do not remove your golden immediately when it was showing signs of discomfort. Instead, the rule of thumb is to stay calm by extending your physical presence and contact through the opening of the crate. Your fingers or touch can give assurance to the pet everything is alright while removing them after a sometime of settling down.

Having positive reinforcement and praise is the key to give your dog the confidence for performing the task correctly. The word of caution is to exercise patience and refrain from using force or abusive/ harsh commands on them. Golden retrievers are intelligent animals and they will easily sense the emotional state and aggressive state of anger their owner shows.

As a responsible owner, you should exercise patience and maintain the enthusiasm to carry out the training steps. For any effective crate training to take place, time and patience are essential keys. Carry out a positive attitude during training so the impact can stay permanent before your golden start to resist the whole cycle of training process.

August 23rd, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

Gourmet Dog Treats

People love ‘mans best friend’ and they in turn love us back. Dogs become part of our families. They live with us, sleep with us, eat with us, protect us and give us unconditional love. We treat our dogs like children. Just hearing dog owners calling their pets at the park, and the affection they show them make you realize just how devoted they are. Many dog owners have special names for them such as ‘baby’ and call themselves mommy or daddy when talking to their pet. It is amazing how huge the market is for dog food, toys, treats and even clothing and jewelry. Nothing is too good for our dog companions.

Special treats

Dog treats are a great way to show our dogs how much we love them. We use treats to reward our pet for doing something special. Many dogs are like children and behave better because they want a treat.

Dog treats are available at pet stores, grocery stores, department stores and specialty shops just to name a few. There are dog treats flavored like beef, chicken, pizza, chocolate and almost any other food you can think of. They come in the shape of people, sausages, bacon and steak bones plus hundreds of other shapes. There are dog Christmas stockings and birthday baskets stuffed with dog treats. People take pictures of their pooches and put them on their Christmas cards. People love their dogs and in turn, their dogs love them back.

Gourmet dog treats have become very popular. Some people make their own while others buy them. Some of the reasons people are now turning to gourmet dog treats are:

o Overweight dogs – Making your own gourmet dog treats lets you control the ingredients in the product. For overweight dogs, making low calorie treats helps the dog stay healthy while shedding a few excess pounds. Instead of commercial dog cookies with sugar and salt added, making or buying gourmet cookies and treats means you can choose a treat with no sugar or salt added, or sweeten a cookie with just a touch of honey.

o Dog Allergies – Just like humans, many dogs have allergies to certain foods and ingredients. Some vets carry gourmet dog treats that are great for dogs with allergies or you can get a recipe to make gourmet treats without using the ingredients your pet is allergic.

o Sickness- Some dogs have diabetes or other health problems so they are not able to eat regular dog treats and cookies. There are dog treats available for dogs with health problems.

o Natural Treats – Many people, when they read what is in commercial dog treats, are not happy about the fillers and preservatives used so they choose to make or buy gourmet dog treats with only natural ingredients.

People nowadays are very health conscious and feel the same way about their pet’s diet. They want them to live long, healthy lives and providing gourmet dog treats is one way to help.

August 20th, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

5 Weight Loss Meals You Can Eat For Lunch Or Dinner

Planning weight loss meals may seem like a chore if you are stuck with the same few boxes of diet food day after day. While those cardboard freezer boxes may indeed be low in calories, they often lack taste as well. To top it off, they tend to have ridiculous levels of sodium. Here are five meals you can make that taste great and are good for you as well.

Organic Cobb Salad

I admit that I am a sucker for a good salad. I always stock my fridge with nitrite/nitrate free cold cuts, cherry tomatoes, peppers, hardboiled eggs, a few slices of precooked bacon and more. All it takes is washing my greens, dicing my pepper and slicing a cucumber. I tear up some cold cuts, add a bit of avocado, a hardboiled egg and a dressing of sea salt, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. Lunch or dinner, it is a treat.

Grill Me Meat

A steak, grilled to perfection out on the patio is another fine meal. I serve it with steamed broccoli, oven roasted root vegetables and a tall glass of stevia sweetened iced herbal tea.

Chicken Chili

If I have a busy week ahead, I like to cook in bulk. I dice several chicken breasts and brown them in coconut oil. Then I add tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, pinto beans and plenty of chili powder. I place it all in the slow cooker and head for work. At night, if I still want more carbohydrates I make a pot of quinoa. Now I have dinner for three nights with no more work.

Fish Night

Find whatever wild caught fish turns up at the store this week, and a nice sized slab is the basis of a great meal. Whether grilled, oven roasted or even microwaved, most fish cook in a few minutes. Some fresh herbs, a stir-fry of veggies and a side of brown rice and I am set for dinner. If I am feeling more like a cold meal, I will prepare my fish in advance and let it cool in the fridge. I mix up some organic yogurt with some homegrown dill and I have a great cold lunch for a picnic or at work.

BLT is a Breeze

Keep some nitrate/nitrite free bacon around at all times, as well as a loaf of sprouted grain bread, a nice heirloom tomato, red leaf lettuce and an avocado to round out the meal. Fry up your bacon, slice the tomato, avocado, and wash the lettuce. Toast the bread, place some slices of avocado and tomato on it and garnish them with a touch of sea salt. Top it with the bacon and lettuce. Easy and delicious – my family begs for these.

How Could This be a Weight Loss Menu?

Proper weight loss is as much about what you eat as it is about how you eat. Good foods that are grown organically are full of fiber, lean protein and nutrients that will retrain your body to burn fat efficiently. With a bit of protein in every meal, you will feel better, reduce sugar spikes and be sated longer. There is so much more to learn, but start with these few weight loss meals, and always make sure to get the whole story.

August 15th, 2010 by 12oclock in Organic Articles | No Comments

Organic Puppy Food Vs Commercial Puppy Food

In this day and age, organic puppy food is becoming more popular. In fact, organic food is becoming more popular for both people and animals. The price of organic food is no longer so high that it stops people from buying it. It is finally affordable enough for the general population to try it out. In addition, people now understand the benefits of naturally grown foods and are willing to pay the little extra it costs so they can feed their pets the higher quality food that comes from organic puppy food.

Commercial Puppy Food Vs Organic Puppy Food -

While commercial food is acceptable, it contains a variety of poor quality ingredients. In many cases, this includes animal carcasses. You can tell because it says so right there on the label.

The ingredient lists call it animal by-product. By definition, animal by-product can contain waste products not suitable for human consumption. This ingredient is used in many dog foods and can mean a lot of different things. This can even mean “waste” from the animals. Animals that have died from natural causes can be used in dog food. While this is not allowed in human food, it is considered acceptable for many types of pet food.

This is not acceptable for organic puppy food. Organic puppy food only uses meat that is USDA approved. If it is not good enough for human consumption, then it is not good enough for pet consumption either.

Puppies Do Not Have a Strong Immune System -

Just like children, puppies are not born with a strong immune system. This means that a puppy will need to build up their immune system over time. You need to feed your puppy an organic puppy food that will allow the immune system to grow. Her immune system does not have the tolerance to deal with the pesticides and herbicides. This puts an unhealthy strain on your poor puppy’s immune system and overall health.

Reports have turned up countless times of outdated food being on supermarket shelves. Now, this is not the fault of the commercial brands. However, if you do choose to purchase commercial brands, then you do need to be careful to buy only the fresh food. Just like any other food, even commercial dog food brands can go bad and you need to shop carefully to make sure you give your puppy the best shot to stay healthy and safe.

Organic puppy food is readily available and affordable on any budget. It is safe to say that your puppy will be happier and healthier eating fresh and organic food. Give your puppy the fresh start it needs. Your puppy will be glad you did.

August 2nd, 2010 by 12oclock in Organic Articles | No Comments

Using Dog Treats As an Effective Training Tool

A dog is a mans best friend because he can be trained to obey commands. While all breeds of dogs are easily domesticated, we prefer that the dogs living with us follow some rules and project the right behavior.

Thus, we train them. Everything you do with the pet dog should be fun and training should also be the same. However, any dog owner would say that training is a difficult process. Your dog has to respond to the training positively.

To help us achieve this, many trainers use treats as a form of positive motivation. Some dogs are content with a pat on the head while others need some other incentives. Treating your dog reinforces the good behavior in him. Do this by giving him his favorite things as treats.

The treats can be some food or his favorite toy. This method must be used together with a lot of praising for something the dog has learned and done well.

Treats make the dog look forward to the training and open to learning new things. They become highly responsive when they are having a good time. The key thing to remember while training the animal is to be consistent.

Reward the dog for a good deed immediately. If you reward for something later, he will not remember what it is for. He may think that it is for something he has just done that my have not been a good deed at all! It is better to have only one master training the dog rather than all the members of the family. All members should be made to follow the same set of commands so as to not confuse the dog. Ask them to reward him for good behavior.

July 30th, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

Gourmet Dog Treat Packaging

Your dog treat packaging is a very important consideration in building your dog treats. We have put together some thoughts and options perhaps you have not considered. Take a look.

In selecting your gourmet dog treat packaging, some things to keep in mind are:

1. This is the first impression that a customer has of your product and your company.

2. Your packaging is a great place to advertise.

3. Different types of packaging may appeal to different consumers.

#1 – Your Package and First Impressions

When a potential customer finds your website, or your dog treats in a pet store, they may very well see your dog treat packaging first. And let me also say, the pet treat industry is very VERY competitive. If your packaging looks like the majority of other packages, then most likely a consumer will purchase based on price. If your packaging looks cheap, the customer may decide that your product is cheap, even if it is the best gourmet dog treat going.

Some things that consumers prefer are being able to see the product. You don’t need to use a completely clear bag, but if your customer at least can see some of your treats, that is nice. If you go with a box, try to select one with a clear window in it. If your treats are not very attractive, then you may not want this option. Color is always a good thing for packaging. Consider professional, creative, clean looking lines but not distracting or confusing. If you like lime green and fuchsia that’s great – but be objective when evaluating your package. Will those colors be more distracting and bring negative attention to your package? Or does it look nice and appealing.

Remember, your packaging reflects your company and your business. Is your business light-hearted and fun? Then use fun packaging. Is your business health conscious? Then use packaging that says that. Is your business about making the best, highest quality most elegant dog treats? Then you guessed it, use packaging that is elegant and very high quality. Putting your fine gourmet dog treats in a clear cello bag may not reflect what you are trying to communicate.

#2 – Your Package is an Advertisement

Don’t forget to use your packaging as a place to advertise. And again, keep the tone of your advertising in line with the tone of your business. There is potentially a lot of space on certain types of packaging – use all of it so that everywhere a customer may look on your package, they are getting great information about you, about the product, about your company.

#3 – Remember Who Your Customer Is

Different types of packaging may appeal to different customers. Not all package types will appeal to everyone. Target your dog treat packaging to the right customer. If you are focused on healthy treats and your target market is environmentally focused, then offering a big plastic bag in a big plastic fish bowl may not make sense. But a carton from recycled paper may be very appealing to this group.

Some customers may want containers that they can re-use, or refill such as cookie tins, or canisters. Some customers may really not care about the package other than the impact it has on cost.

Bottom line – know who you are trying to sell your treats to, and build your package to meet their needs. Be aware of picking things you like, but that your customers don’t really care about. Put your best paw forward in growing your business.

July 22nd, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

Give Your Dog Treats, But Don’t Overdo It

Dog treats are a great way to encourage your dog to behave, aid in training, –whether it’s complicated tricks and behaviors, or just potty training and the standard “sit and stay” commands. Then you can just give your dog a special treat now and then to let them know you love them, and that not chewing up your new pair of leather pumps was a smooth move on his part. Plus, many dog treats are optimized to contain vitamins to improve their digestive system, or strengthen and clean their teeth. However, there is a lot of hazard in giving your dog too many treats, and although spoiling the animal is a concern, there are also others, such as severe possible side effects of a harmful ingredient in the treat that your dog has been repeatedly exposed to. Making your own dog treats is very beneficial, –because you know what’s going into the food, and can control what the animal is exposed to. But it’s still important to ask a vet what ingredients you should not put in the treat.

Nutritional And Health Concerns

Throughout recent years, many foods and treats sold on mass scales especially for dogs were found to contain many ingredients that are actually poisonous to the animal, more so if they have been eating the food their entire lives. Even today, treats and foods for dogs can include dairy products, garlic, or onion, wheat gluten, liver, and salt. Chocolate is also poisonous for dogs, but rarely ever found in treats or food, and should never actually be given to a dog. All of these can cause numerous diseases in animals, from obesity to heart failure, when given to the animal in large quantities. Reading the ingredients panel of your dog food, or brand of dog treat, might just save your pet’s life, or you could even skip the store bought treats, and make your own at home. Some items, like raisins and popcorn are frequently given as treats to dogs; but raisins are poisonous, and popcorn should remain unsalted.

Consequences In Behaviour

Dogs can be spoiled just as easily as children can; if you give them a reward all the time, soon, good behavior will have lost all meaning, and they will act out regardless of prior training. Children however, can be verbally corrected. Dogs don’t speak our language. So if you give your dog a treat all the time, the idea of getting a treat will have lost all meaning. Spoiling a pet and then punishing your animal for misbehaviour also leads to a lot of avoidable confusion. Train your pet wisely, and keep the treats for the times when you feel your dog deserves one, or now and then for just a little gift.

Make Your Own

Making your own dog treats is tricky, and you should always check with your vet before giving your animal anything to eat that is not specifically “for dogs”. If you plan to bake treats for your pet, also be sure of what vitamins are going to be in them, -that way you know just how this will affect your dog’s nutrition. Try the recipe below if you want to make a homemade batch of dog treats. But also check ingredients with a vet first, –your pet may have allergies or other health issues that might cause unhealthy reactions.

Homemade Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 325 F.

1 Egg

1/2 cup margarine

3/4 cup cornmeal

(Garlic powder has been removed from this recipe because it is unsafe for dogs, but as an option and if your vet does not object, add 1 tsp of garlic powder.)

1 tsp chicken bullion (unflavored with onion or garlic, preferably)

3 cups flour

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 cup of oatmeal

3/4 cup milk

Combine all liquid ingredients in one bowl, and set aside. The combine together the cornmeal, cheese, chicken flavor, (garlic powder if you’re using it), and the grated cheese in a larger bowl. Not the flour. Afterward, pour the liquid mixture into the dry mix, and stir evenly. The add half a cup of flour at a time, stirring evenly after each addition. Use cookie cutters to make doggie friendly shapes, or just drop a couple teaspoons at a time on a baking sheet like cookies. Bake for 30 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet, and remember to let them cool for at least an hour before giving them to your dog.

July 17th, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

Raw Homemade Dog Treats

Homemade dog treats don’t have to involve any cooking or baking. There is an increasing trend in feeding dogs a raw diet that consists of uncooked meats and vegetables. One popular version of this diet is known as the bones and raw foods (BARF) diet. This diet places an emphasis on feeding your dog only natural foods that have not been cooked or otherwise processed. You can follow the principles of this diet to provide your dog with homemade dog treats that don’t involve a great deal of work.

The BARF diet includes the use of raw, meaty bones and includes items such as chicken wings, necks and backs. It is important to note that while it is safe to give your dog raw chicken that includes bones, it is not safe to give them chicken that has been cooked that includes the bones. The bones are softened during the cooking process making them brittle and a choking hazard for dogs. However, raw chicken bones are not likely to splinter and create this hazard and are therefore safe to give to dogs.

Purchasing a bag of frozen chicken wings is one way to provide your dog with incredibly simple homemade dog treats. These treats can be as simple as removing a chicken wing or two from your freezer and distributing them to your dog.

July 12th, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments

Keep Your Dog Healthy With Natural Dog Treats

Taking care of your dog is very important. We all, dog owners, want what’s best for our dogs. You know as well as I do that once you become a pet owner that that animal is no longer just a pet but a member of the family. One of the most important thing that you can do for your dog is give them a lot of love, proper exercise, keep them mentally stimulated and make sure that they get all the nutrition that they need to grow up and live happy and healthy lives. This doesn’t just mean getting them healthy dog food but it also means that you need to make sure that everything that your dog eats is good for them and won’t cause them any health problems, whether it be short term or over time.

Have you ever check exactly what is in those dog treats that you often feed your dog. If you read the ingredients many of them are filled with garbage that isn’t very healthy for your dog. Even if these treat aren’t harmful to your pet, they certainly aren’t providing he or she with any nutritional value. I urge any pet owners out there to be careful of what you feed your dogs and make sure that you only give them all natural dog treats. This will help ensure that they stay healthy.

Natural dog treats are treats that are not filled with toxic byproducts and made of only the best ingredients that are truly good for your pet to eat.

July 7th, 2010 by 12oclock in Dog Treats Articles | No Comments