Tips for Happy Tails

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Tips for Happy Tails

Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Find Out WHICH Ones

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Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Which peppers can dogs eat? And specifically can dogs eat BELL peppers? In general, dogs can eat any kind of sweet peppers but should avoid the more spicy peppers.

Here we’ll explain which peppers are good and what their nutrient benefits are, how to prepare them, and which ones to avoid due to dogs having sensitive digestive tracts not designed for hot spicy foods.

Canine nutrition is important for a long, healthy life, it’s important to remember they have slightly different dietary needs from humans.

Can dogs eat bell peppers? Green, Yellow, Red

Dogs can eat any color of bell pepper – not only green, yellow, and red, but also orange, purple, and striped ones! However, red bell peppers contain the most vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients, being especially high in Vitamins A and C.

In fact, did you know that red bell peppers have nine times the amount of beta-carotene as other colors of bell peppers? Something else useful to know: the riper the pepper, the more nutritious.

What about bell pepper seeds, stems, and pith?

are peppers good for dogs

Eating the stems would be like eating wood! Dogs don’t have the right kind of grinding teeth for chewing bell pepper stems. They don’t have the digestive enzymes to process them, either. The seeds produce GI (gastrointestinal) upset in some dogs.

The pith is the soft, spongy, light-colored center of the pepper. Did you know that it’s also called the placenta because it attaches the seeds to the body of the pepper? It’s generally tasteless in bell peppers, but in the hot varieties, it’s where the most heat is concentrated.

Glands producing capsaicin, the irritating component of chili peppers, line the pith.

How do you know if your dog has indigestion?

Bloating and gas are two signs that might indicate indigestion. The gas might smell different from its usual odor. Some dogs might exhibit discomfort in the abdominal area. More severe cases can result in vomiting and diarrhea.

Many veterinarians recommend giving your dog cooked, pureed pumpkin — either canned or fresh — for a few days to help soothe the digestive tract and ease any offensive substances out the back door, so to speak.

Can dogs eat bell peppers raw?

Yes. Because raw bell peppers are crispy and crunchy, they may help satisfy your dog’s natural instinct to chew. Be sure to wash them well first to rinse off any residue of pesticides or soil that might contain parasite eggs. Using organic produce is always recommended but you still want to wash it to be sure it’s clean.

How often can dogs eat bell peppers?


Canines are omnivores, meaning that they eat a variety of foods that include both animal and plant materials, but the bulk of their diet needs to contain protein and other nutrients that aren’t readily available in the right balance in most plants.

Dogs can eat bell peppers often, even daily, but in small amounts. Any new food needs to be introduced gradually over time so you can check for indigestion, allergic reactions, intestinal blockage, or any other problems. Large dogs can have up to half a bell pepper daily, while smaller dogs can have one to three slices every day, no more than a fourth of the pepper.

The nutritional benefit of bell peppers

can dogs et sweet pepper


Bell Peppers are full of Vitamins, minerals, beta carotene, and other good things that canines need. At the same time, they’re low in fat, sugar, sodium, and calories. After you read this, you’ll never ask “Can dogs eat bell peppers?” again!

  • Vitamin A: Good for eye health, skin, and coat
  • Vitamin B6: Necessary for a healthy nervous system
  • Vitamin C: Although an antioxidant that supports the immune system support, dogs’ bodies make their own vitamin C so they don’t need much from outside sources
  • Vitamin E: Aids in healthy skin, coat, and immune system
  • Vitamin K: Helps blood clot and form scabs to aid in healing
  • Carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene: Antioxidants; convert to vitamin A during digestion
  • Pantothenic acid: Vitamin B5; Plays a role in energy metabolism and synthesis of proteins and fatty acids
  • Capsanthin: A carotenoid that promotes eye health
  • Quercetin: Antioxidant; anti-inflammatory effects beneficial for arthritis and some heart conditions
  • Potassium: Mineral that helps transmit electrical charges in the heart, muscles, and nerves; also aids in maintaining appetite and energy
  • Magnesium: Mineral with many functions found everywhere in the body; helps metabolize protein and carbohydrates to produce energy and manufacture fatty acids; vital for bone and cartilage in joints.
  • Manganese: Mineral necessary for digestion and enzyme functions
  • Carbohydrates: Sugars, starches, and fiber that provide short-term and long-term energy as well as aid digestion

How to make stuffed peppers for your dog

can dogs eat red peppers


Your dog is going to love you for this! Your dog adores you anyway, but will adore you more for a unique meal filled with a variety of odors, flavors, and textures, especially with the added ingredient of love! Dogs are like us in that they love variety, so that means you can also create variations on basic recipes.

For example, with this recipe, you can cut the stuffed peppers into nuggets to freeze for later. You can also add more protein by including hard-boiled eggs and any kind of boneless chopped, cooked unprocessed meat such as chicken, pork, or fish, especially salmon.

Felissa Elfenbein, in sharing her recipe, comments that “the one downside to stuffed peppers is that I’m a clumsy oaf. It’s pretty much impossible for me to eat them without spilling all over myself and dropping a good snack on the floor for my dogs to clean up.”

Dog-Friendly Stuffed Peppers

INGREDIENTS:

5-6 medium red or green bell peppers
3/4 cup uncooked rice or quinoa
1 lb. extra lean ground beef or turkey (or beans for the vegetarians in the crowd)
8 oz. roast red bell pepper sauce (make sure it’s pure roast pepper with no added seasonings)
½ tbsp. each fresh basil, oregano & thyme
Pinch of salt
¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese [mozzarella contains less fat]

INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove tops, seeds and skin from your peppers. Drop peppers in the water and cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove and put in a cold water bath to stop the cooking process.

Cook rice or quinoa according to package directions and set aside. Brown turkey, beef or beans in a skillet. Drain off fat, and then stir in rice/quinoa, roast red pepper sauce, cheese and herbs.

Stuff peppers with your filling, being careful not to break the pepper. (If you do, you can wrap them with kitchen twine to ensure they don’t fall apart on the grill.) Store in refrigerator until ready to cook.

When you’re ready to cook, heat the grill to medium and place peppers directly on the grill. Cook until skin has browned (about 20 min), turning frequently. (If your grill is too hot, they’ll start to fall apart a bit. Just wrap them in foil and keep going)
Remove from heat and serve! Top with more roast pepper sauce, if desired.

Notes: If you prefer to bake them, preheat your oven to 350. Put a little water in the baking pan and pour over some sauce. Bake around 45 minutes, covered with foil during the first half of baking time to prevent over-browning.

How to prepare peppers for your dog

  • Can dogs can eat bell peppers raw? Here’s how to prepare them: Wash them well to remove traces of pesticides, etc. Remove or puree the skin, then cut into pieces. Raw bits of skin can become trapped in the gums. This is less of a concern if you brush your dog’s teeth. If you remember a time when you had a paper-like sliver of pepper or peanut skin in your teeth, then you know how uncomfortable it can be.
  • Pureed bell peppers: Wash thoroughly, then remove the stems, pith, and seeds. Use a blender or food processor, adding meat or vegetable broth for extra nutrition and flavor. Serve as is or add to kibble.
  • Never: Never add seasonings except those that are vet-approved to be canine-friendly. Plants from the garlic and onion family, which includes leeks and chives, are toxic for dogs. You may have heard people laughingly assure you that “Oh, I give my dog that stuff all the time and he’s fine!” He’s not fine.
  • He can’t communicate the discomfort he may feel. In addition, a toxin may not kill but it may cause damage that adds up over time. It also can weaken the immune system so when your dog is exposed to a germ or a parasite, he’s unable to fight it off efficiently.
  • Cooked bell peppers: Cooking makes bell peppers softer and more digestible, but overcooking destroys some of the nutrients. Steaming is the best cooking method for preserving nutrition because there’s no boiling water to leach out the vitamins. Roasting is similar but often produces scorched areas that are tough to chew.

Can dogs eat bell peppers in treats?

can dogs eat green bell peppers

Can dogs eat green peppers, you asked? By now you see that they certainly can, but red peppers are better for them. Here are two different recipes to share with other dog lovers:

Red Bell Pepper Dog Treats from DogTipper

INGREDIENTS:

3-1/2 cups rice flour
1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup minced carrots
1/2 red bell pepper
1/4 cup homemade chicken broth (without any onion or garlic)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons plain low-fat yogurt
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wash red bell pepper and discard the stem, pith, and seeds.
Add broth, eggs, yogurt, and olive oil to flour; stir slowly. Add chicken and vegetables, stirring until mixed.
Use a melon ball scoop or spoon to divide the dough into golf ball-sized balls. Roll, then flatten with the back of a fork on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely on a drying rack, then refrigerate.

Dehydrated Vegetable Dog Treats from Kiki Kane

You can dehydrate any dog-safe veggies and fruits but in this recipe we walk you through the processing technique for dehydrated bell peppers.

INGREDIENTS:

2 red bell peppers

INSTRUCTIONS:

Rinse all your veggies well.

Prep sweet bell peppers by removing seeds and white pith. Slice into 1/4″ strips.

On a large cookie sheet or sheet pan, place a clean dry tea towel or two layers of paper towels. Place veggies onto the dry towel, adding another towel on top and another layer of veggies on top of that until all the veggies are nestled in. Pat or squeeze gently.

Layer dried veggies onto dehydrator trays, taking care to make sure nothing is touching.

Dehydrate between 110-140 degrees for at least 8 hours.

You can use your oven instead of a dehydrator, set to the lowest possible setting. Start checking dryness at 4 hours and every 30 minutes or so thereafter.
When fully dehydrated, allow veggies to cool to room temperature, then pack loosely in an airtight container or bag.

Veggies dried crisp will last longer than veggies dried to the chewy state.
Chewy veggies should be eaten in the next couple of days or kept in the fridge ideally.
Crispy-dried veggies should last 2 weeks in an airtight container.

Can dogs eat green peppers?

Absolutely yes, but only bell or sweet peppers, nothing hot with capsaicin. Be sure to wash them clean of pesticides, agricultural wax, soil, and other contaminants.

Can dogs eat jalapeño peppers?

can dogs have jalapenos

Absolutely not! No! Never! All hot peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that is very irritating to mucous membranes in the eyes, nasal passages, mouth, and all along the digestive tract. It will definitely cause your dog pain, later if not sooner.

What about chili peppers?

No. Granted that people in Mexico, Indonesia, and other places feed their babies hot peppers from infancy on, but humans have different digestive systems.

Is raw or cooked bell pepper better for dogs?

Raw peppers are crunchy and retain more nutrients but contain more indigestible fiber. Cooked peppers are easier to digest but heat breaks down the chemical bonds of some nutrients. Pooches who aren’t accustomed to eating vegetables or fruits might like cooked peppers, especially with a doggy gravy or sauce.

Can dogs have peppers in stir-fry?

Yes to all bell peppers but no to any hot peppers and no to garlic and onion. Some cooking oils are very beneficial for canine health, and you can add most kinds of low-fat, unprocessed meats as well as clean seafood. Dogs enjoy many kinds of vegetables as long as they aren’t gas-producing or too starchy.

Can dogs eat black pepper seasoning?


No. Black pepper should not be fed to dogs because their digestive system isn’t designed to process it. Black pepper isn’t even related to bell peppers but is a dried seed from a totally different plant. When in doubt, remember that any food that bites, stings, burns, or fumes is not good for your dog.

How many BTUs are in bell peppers?


No pepper contains any BTUs, which are British thermal units measuring energy required to raise the temperature of water. However, in 1912 Wilbur Scoville devised a scale to measure the amount of spicy pungent heat generated by the capsicum in peppers.

The scale is based on Scoville heat units or SHUs. Bells, sweet banana peppers, and pimentos rank 0-100. The hottest peppers rank over 1,000,000 SHUs.

Do dogs need variety in their diet?

Yes. Nutritionally they need variety to be sure they get an adequate amount of the right nutrients. Psychologically, as intelligent beings they need stimulation and new experiences.

BEST NATURAL DIET FOR DOGS

What’s the difference between capsaicin, capsicum, and capsanthin?

Okay, so maybe this isn’t a frequently asked question but the answer might be helpful to know. Capsaicin is a compound made by plants of the Capsicum genus that causes a sensation of heat and stinging. In some countries, a bell pepper is commonly referred to as a “capsicum.”

Capsanthin is a natural red dye found in certain Capsicum species including red bell peppers, some chiles, cayenne, and paprika. It also is a nutrient promoting eye health.

Concluding Thoughts

are bell peppers safe for dogs

In answer to your question – can dogs eat bell peppers? – the answer is a big YES for several reasons. Being pack animals, and you being the pack, your dog loves to share activities and foods with you. It’s bonding.

We’ve discussed some ways you can give your dog bell peppers, but we haven’t suggested how much it would mean to your dog for you both to eat the same meal together. Bell peppers are good for both of you.

Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box? INSTANT Fix For This Problem

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Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box? You and your cat are good buddies with a special relationship. You know what to expect from each other. At least you used to know! All of a sudden your cat has been peeing outside the litter box. What’s up with that? In this article, we’re going to examine litter box behavior. After answering your question — “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” — we’ll provide you with some solutions.

First of all, don’t get mad at your cat! It could be a result of a medical problem, so contact your veterinarian right away. Behavioral issues can also show up as peeing outside the litter box, so let’s examine both root causes. Dr. Cathy Lund of City Kitty in Rhode Island says that “Anything that changes a cat’s feeling of wellbeing can create a change in behavior, and in cats, that means litter box habit changes.”

Medical Causes For Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box

First you ask your cat’s vet, “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” He or she will ask you about details of the problem: how long it’s been going on, how often it happens, if there are changes in eating or drinking habits, and anything else significant. Medical causes could include any of the following conditions:

  • Bladder or kidney stones
  • Bladder or kidney infection (often called “UTI” for “urinary tract infection”)
  • Other kidney disorders
  • Diabetes and other metabolic disorders
  • Pain

How To Collect A Cat’s Urine

Provide ample fresh water and make sure no other pets, including you, are around. Here are a few tips if you don’t have a cat urine collection kit:

  • Have a clean medicine dropper and small leak-proof container handy.
  • Wash the litter box thoroughly, shake it dry, and return it empty to its usual place. Hopefully, the cat will pee in it without litter.
  • Same as above, but add a few shreds of clean paper to make the box more inviting.
  • Instead of paper, sprinkle a small amount of non-absorbent litter (yes, there is such a thing!) into the box.
  • Double-bag the urine sample in a bag or another container and put it in the refrigerator immediately. Deliver it to the vet’s office within 24 hours or less.

If your efforts are unsuccessful, the veterinary staff is experienced at specimen collection. You may need to leave your cat overnight.

Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box: Behavioral Reasons

Cat Urinating in house suddenly

If your cat’s health checks out, then you’re still left asking, “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” No worries: there are other causes to explore. According to the Only Natural Pet team, “studies have shown litterbox aversion counts for 50% of all cat behavioral issues and is the number one reason for surrender of cats to shelters.”

The Scent of Old Urine

Cats have a very acute sense of smell, so it’s no surprise that they’ve evolved to take advantage of scent as a means of communication. If humans can detect cat urine scent, we often respond with, “Eeewwww!” To your cat, though, sniffing a pee spot is like spending time on social media and it’s natural to want to post back!

Be aware that human attempts to mask the smell don’t remove it. When introducing a new cat to your home, ALWAYS start with a new box and clean litter. As a matter of fact, if you have multiple cats, it’s a good idea to periodically replace the old litter box with a new one. Imagine how you feel sharing the same toilet all the time with other people, especially if it isn’t clean!

Stress Due to Change

Some cat whisperers believe that anxious cats might find the scent of their own urine comforting to be around because it’s familiar. It reinforces their sense of security that they’re on their own turf without invaders and challengers. Consider how it feels to be a cat: you feel safe in familiar surroundings because you know what to expect.

If you’re suddenly transported to a different setting, you don’t know whose turf you’re on, you no longer know what threats await you, and you don’t know where it’s safe to hide. If you’re able to put yourself in your cat’s shoes, you can better understand the reasons for certain behaviors.

WONDER WHAT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET IS ON HEALTH

Cat Communication With Humans

Among each other, cats use scent and body language as communication. The more you interact with your pet, the better you’ll be able to “converse.” The other thing to remember is that they are predators; their world focuses on prey, territory, and the safety of their young. You and your cat aren’t fluent in each other’s languages, so it’s natural for both of you to attempt to find creative ways to send messages to each other.

Cat urine is an alphabet! The smell, the location, the concentration, and the frequency all provide information. By now you realize the answer to your repeated question “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” Your cat is trying to tell you something very specific!

Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box But Pooping Inside

cat won't pee in the litter box but will poop

Instead of asking “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” maybe you’re fine-tuning your question. Urine marking is often communication in response to territorial triggers such as a household move or the presence of a new animal. Since urine has a much more powerful scent, pooping is usually just for elimination. Most cats bury their feces, which greatly decreases the scent. Burying it also minimizes the chance of spreading intestinal parasites to other cats and kittens in the colony.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere All Of A Sudden?

If it’s not due to a new medical problem such as a UTI, sudden new peeing everywhere might be caused by a new cat in the household or the neighborhood. A new pet of any kind might trigger territorial behavior to announce the true owner of the turf. Another cause might be the tension of separation anxiety.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box At Night?

Again, consider the situation from your cat’s point of view. What is different at night? Try cleaning the litter box right before bed. Pay attention to what kinds of sights and sounds are present at night but not during the day. And vice-versa. Maybe another pet is bullying your cat at night when you’re not awake to stop it. Maybe your cat needs a night light. Provide a new litterbox in a different location and watch what happens.

What Is My Cat’s Opinion Of The Perfect Litter Box

Cleanliness: Cats prefer a large, uncovered box in a sheltered spot with room to turn around as well as to bury their leavings. Large or exceptionally fluffy cats don’t appreciate being cramped any more than you do in a tiny bathroom, especially if more than one cat uses the litterbox. You’ve heard the saying about someone acting as though their poop doesn’t stink; with such sensitive noses, cats definitely have opinions about what stinks! Scoop daily or more often – compare it to flushing your toilet.

If you use a mat around the litter box, sweep it often and wipe it down as needed. Do a monthly scrubbing of the litter box with a gentle cleanser. Strong chemicals are unpleasant to cats, often even toxic. Bleach, for example, when combined with the ammonia in urine, releases poisonous gas!

Location, Location, Location

Location, location, location: Find a quiet spot, away from food and water, that provides a privacy screen of some kind. Your cat looks to you for safety, though, so don’t isolate the box in a place where they might feel cut off from you or trapped. There should be no disturbing or sudden noises nearby. The litter box should be easy to find, especially for a cat who has arthritis or impaired vision. A box on each level of the home is ideal.

The right litter: Just as chefs and wine connoisseurs discuss mouthfeel as part of the tasting experience, cats would discuss “pawfeel” with you if they could. Kittens start learning about pawfeel from their mothers when they’re about three weeks old. Clay litters, ground corncobs, and shredded newspaper all feel very different to sensitive cat paws. Some cats can be induced to switch after gradually mixing a new kind of litter with the familiar, but others will simply seek a new toileting spot.

ONE LITTER BOX PER CAT!!!

Vet recommendations: One box per cat; more is better because some cats include litter boxes in their territorial claims. Leave clay and crystals in the past and choose natural litter. A few cats like to use one box for pee and another for poo. Remember to scoop, scoop, scoop!

A happy life outside the box: Cats need playtime, stimulating toys, hideyholes, places to climb, and windows for watching the goings-on. And they definitely need your love and attention.

Ways To Reinforce Training

All of us need reminders and brush-up training, and cats are no exception. If you have kittens or feral cats around, you’ll find it beneficial to reinforce litter box training. NEVER punish a cat for peeing or pooping outside the litterbox. Yelling, spanking, or rubbing their nose in their waste will break the bond of trust you share. Providing frequent gentle reminders of the location of the clean litter box will be much more effective. You can also leave a bit of fresh poo and a urine-soaked piece of paper towel on top of fresh litter to create a scent message.

How Do I Clean Invisible Pee?

cat peeing outside litter box after move

On a garment with a fresh stain, rinse well with cool water. Add a cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar before machine washing. Repeat with an enzyme cleaner if you can still detect the smell. Dry without heat to prevent the scent from setting permanently. Don’t forget to wash your laundry basket.

If the stain is on cloth furniture or carpet, use a similar method. Some experienced cat people use a 1:1 solution of water with white or apple cider vinegar (half water, half vinegar) after blotting first with cold water. Repeat as needed. The acid in the vinegar will help offset the odor. You can also sprinkle on baking soda, leaving it for at least an hour before vacuuming. The trick is to neutralize, not deodorize. Here’s another trick: a black light will illuminate invisible urine stains on floors and carpets.

After cleaning and neutralizing, cover urine-marked areas to prevent further use. Place food and water bowls to indicate that the area is for dining rather than toileting. You can also try placing cotton balls soaked in a citrus-scented liquid such as lemon juice or lemon oil as a deterrent. Your vet might suggest other scents that smell good to humans but deter cats from marking.

The Best Litter For Cats Who Pee Outside The Litter Box

cat keeps peeing outside litter box

Before we go on, here’s a trivia question for you: Who invented cat litter? Answer: Edward Lowe, back in the 1940s, came up with a way to help a neighbor whose cat was tracking ashes all over the house. Until he came along, people put ashes, sand, or dirt in their cat’s boxes.

Consider litter from the feline viewpoint. With their incredible sense of smell, they prefer a clean, natural, unperfumed material for toileting. Baking soda and charcoal additives absorb the scent for humans but not for cats; the best scent control is frequent scooping. Cats also like something comfortable that doesn’t kick up dust when they paw through it.

Rule out clay and crystals. Clay is cheap but it turns gluey when wet. In addition to being dusty, clay often contains silicates which are bad for the respiratory system. The dust clings to fur where it later is licked off and swallowed, later leading to digestive problems. Crystal litter contains sodium silicate, the same chemicals labeled “DO NOT EAT” in little packets meant to absorb moisture. The crystals are also hard and sharp on tender paws.

Here are some natural, biodegradable litter ingredients you’ll want to look for because they’re better for your cat as well as the environment:

Biodegradable Litter Ingredients

  • Recycled corn cobs, kernels, or husks: Usually flushable, dust-free, clumping, absorbent, providing good odor control
  • Wheat and other grains: Usually flushable, dust-free, clumping, absorbent, providing good odor control; some pets might find it tasty, though!
  • Pine, cedar, and other softwood shavings and pellets: Low dust, absorbent, deodorizing, may be flushable in small amounts; turns to sawdust when wet – often used with a special filter so the sawdust falls below the screen for easy emptying
  • Grass seed: Clumps fast and hard, flushable, dust-free, providing good odor control
  • Recycled paper: Dust-free, doesn’t stick to incisions or wounds

Remember that the best litter in the world won’t make your cat happy unless you scoop daily. Scoop three times daily! Scoop the litter every time YOU go to the bathroom and your cat will love you!

A Note About Cat Poop

Because cat feces can transmit the bacterial disease toxoplasmosis to water and soil, never flush it. Dispose of it as regular trash. For the same reason, to prevent any risk of contamination, never use any cat litter as compost for edible crops.

Final Thoughts: Now Here’s Your Chance To Play Detective

To quote Sherlock Holmes, “the game’s afoot!” If you don’t know what that means, the famous English detective said those words when he was about to jump to the challenge of solving a mystery! After being informed through this post about cat psychology and behavior, try tuning into your cat by becoming aware of the subtleties. Amazingly, this will help you in every other area of life as life; hence, the conception “Animals are our teachers ~ if we are so willing”.

Where Should You Attach A Leash to A Choke Chain Style Collar?

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Where Should You Attach A Leash to A Choke Chain Style Collar? Choke chain collars often get a bad rap as people use them incorrectly. The purpose of a choke chain should always be to train a dog without pain or punishment, but far too many people fail to understand that or educate themselves on the use of a choke chain collar. If and when used correctly, the choke chain is an effective teaching and restraint tool that does not hurt your dog. Happy Tails wants to educate dog owners on how to use a choke chain the correct way so that both dogs and their owners can feel good about the training process and the use of these collars.

The Choke Collar and the Prong Collar

Some people would argue that the choke collar and the prong collar should never be used. The truth is that these two collars are effective training tools when they are used for short duration. They are NOT collars for everyday use or everyday wear! People who are against these training instruments are against them because of the brutality of the use in dogfighting and training dogs for fighting. That’s not what they should be used for.

Additionally, a lot of cases of animal abuse record dogs who are left outside or left in cages with these kinds of collars permanently in use on the animals. Again, it cannot be emphasized enough that these collars are training tools–NOT regular collars! If you are using these collars for an hour or less daily for a few weeks to a month, you are using them correctly. All other uses are incorrect.

The choke collar is a series of links that connect to each other and tighten up when an owner pulls on the collar or uses a leash to pull on the collar. The prong collar is similar, except that it has several long prongs that face inward on the dog’s neck. When an owner pulls on the prong collar, the prongs create a slight pinch that should result in an immediate obedience reaction from the dog.

How to Use a Choke Collar or Prong Collar for Training

These collars “reward” the dog with negative reinforcement for a behavior you want to stop. Typically they are used for dogs that try to pull free when you are walking or dogs that like to walk their owners rather than walk with their owners. If you know how to use a prong or choke collar, you can effectively train your dog to walk alongside you, sit when told, and stay when told.

To start, you introduce the collar to the dog. Let the dog smell it and explore it. Then put the collar on. Take the dog for a typical walk. These walks may require more time in order to train your dog while the collar is in use. Every time your dog gets too far ahead of you or tries to pull hard against the leash, use a short, quick jerk on the leash. This activates the collar and utilizes the pinching mechanisms of these collars.

NEVER pull back hard or for very long. It should be a simple, short jerk. Stop walking when you do this. Do not continue walking until the dog has stopped and comes back to you. Use praise, pets, and holistic healthy treats to encourage the dog to obey so that you can use the collar less and less. It takes a lot of patience, and some breeds of dogs learn faster than others. Eventually, when your dog walks alongside you and does not lunge forward or lunge against the leash you can swap the collar out for a harness.

How to Place a Choke or Prong Collar on a Dog

how to put on a choke chain

A choke collar is pretty simple. If you get the correct fit, you can pull the collar up and over the dog’s ears and let it sit behind the lower jaw and just behind the dog’s ears. It should NOT hang loosely around the dog’s mid to lower neck!

When either collar is properly placed and worn correctly, your dog’s throat and windpipe will not be harmed. The pinching effect occurs only on the loose scruff of the skin located behind the ears and behind the lower jaw. Proper fitting and use is key to protecting the physical well-being of your dog when you use either of these collars for training.

Where These Collars Should Sit on Your Dog’s Neck

Because these are training collars and not regular collars, they are meant to sit up a little higher than most. If the collar you use is not sitting behind the dog’s ears and lower jaw and on top of the scruff of the neck, the collar is too loose. A choke or prong collar that is too loose will not be effective and can cause harm. Since that is not your intention, fit the collar so that it sits exactly where it should and does not slide backward or hang loosely on the dog’s chest.

Standard collars and training harnesses are allowed to sit lower because they are not irritating to your dog. The harness may be used for training once your dog understands that it has to obey leash and hand commands. A regular collar is used all the rest of the time that these training collars are not in use.

To make sure you have the correct size of choke or prong collar, measure up around the dog’s head, behind the ears and just behind the lower jaw. There should only be 1-2 chain links’ room for your fingers once these collars are on your dog. It should be able to move only slightly without slipping off. If it seems too loose, you can remove a link and hook remaining links back together. Otherwise, buy a smaller collar.

What to Do If the Dog’s Collar Keeps Loosening

Even the best initial fittings of choke and prong collars don’t always lead to a perfect fit. If the collar you fitted seems to be loosening often and dropping to a level on your dog’s neck where the collar shouldn’t be, remove a link and reconnect the remaining links. With a prong collar, this is easy enough to do.

The prong links pop apart and slide back together similarly to that old kids’ game “Monkeys in a Barrel”. You can unhook the prongs from one end of a link and then unhook the U-loop of that same prong link from the link above it. Re-hook the remaining links together.

The choke chain is different. You will need to thread another loop link through the chain’s round-end link. Turn this link such that it cannot pass back through the round-end loop. It should hold. If it doesn’t, buy a smaller choke chain.

How Tight Should a Choke or Prong Collar Be?

A prong collar, because of its prongs, should initially be flipped inside out so that the prongs face outward until after you put the collar on the dog. It too should go on the same way you put on a choke collar and sit exactly where you would place a choke collar. Once the prong collar is on the dog, flip it over so that the prongs are facing inward on the dog’s scruffy neck fur.

Keep in mind that these chains are not meant to inflict pain. They should never be on your dog longer than the training time you use them for. Ergo, they should only be tight enough to lightly pinch when you reflexively and lightly jerk the leash.

If you’re not sure, place your fingers under the collar once it’s on your dog. You should be able to slip two fingers side by side under the collar without much struggle. The collar should not be looser or tighter than the “two fingers” rule. It ends up being counterproductive if it’s too loose and too painful if too tight, which really doesn’t help in the training process if your dog can’t tell the difference between short pinches and never-ending pain.

Where Should You Attach A Leash to A Choke Chain Style Collar?

Using a choke chain to train a dog

As you prepare to use a choke or prong collar to train your dog, you might be wondering, “Where should you attach a leash to a choke chain style collar?” This is a valid question since these collars are not like the regular woven collars you normally use on your dog. With a prong collar, there’s only one obvious loop for attaching the leash clip, and that loop should always be at the top of the dog’s head.

With a standard choke chain, you have two options for attaching a leash. the first is the end of the choke chain that hangs down past the rest of the collar. You really only want to use this end once your dog has learned most of the obedience commands you have given him or her but he/she still needs further training.

The other spot is a secondary ring that should be facing toward the side or the top of the head of your dog, depending on where you are with your dog’s training. These rings should never be on the front of the dog’s neck, or down by the dog’s chest! Adjust the collar if the rings for the leash are not where they should be.

Be Your Own Dog Trainer For Beginners Start NOW

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How to Make a Choke Chain Collar

If you’re the artsy-crafty type, you can actually make your own choke chain collar. Knowing the materials and knowing how to use the collar you make helps alleviate some discomfort owners have about using these training tools. Additionally, you can use animal-friendly and all-natural materials to make a choke chain collar and leash combo tool.

Paracord has recently become very popular. People are making belts and bracelets from paracord, with the ultimate intent of unwinding the paracord to use as a lifesaving device in emergencies. Once you learn how to braid and knot paracord, you can make an open-ended loop of braided paracord to fit around your dog’s neck.

Use two D-ring metal loops on the ends of the collar loop to secure the paracord braid. Then use a small bit of heavy-duty metal chain looped through the D-rings and connect the ends of the bit of chain with metal o-rings. A leash clips onto the two o-rings that hold the paracord and chain choke collar together. Some people find that this type of homemade collar is safer because only a limited amount of chain touches the dog and the collar can be worn like a regular collar.

If you are the super earth-friendly, holistic type, buy paracord made from hemp. It can be dyed any color you want or left natural. It will not irritate the dog’s skin and may even be soothing while training your dog.

Understanding That Your Dog Needs to Be Trained, and Use of These Collars Can Be Effective

All dogs need training. You should never feel squeamish about the training process, or your dog will never learn to obey. Cesar Milan emphasizes this fact in reminding dog owners that they have to show who’s the “alpha dog” or “pack leader”. These training collars, when used correctly, quickly show your dog who’s boss. Then you will have a loving, loyal, and obedient friend for years to come.

<<Visit our Canine Nutrition post to learn about the Importance of a Nutrient-Dense Diet >>

 

 

Be Your Own Dog Trainer For Beginners Start Now

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Do you want to create the ultimate bond with your dog? Being your own dog trainer creates an extraordinary bond with your dog that expands into every area. Training your dog yourself rather than sending your dog out to a trainer establishes the ultimate connection with your dog. Through this bond, you become the pack leader. Thus, changing your dog’s negative behaviors into a reciprocal relationship.

This means no more pooping in the house, no jumping up on friends, NO MORE jumping up on YOU. No more tearing through the house jumping on and over furniture and surfing the kitchen counters. Asking your dog to sit before it eats should be routine rather than a power struggle.


Being your own dog trainer offers all dog parents a unique approach to the creation of positive behavior. Being your own dog trainer will teach your dog love, trust, and respect. Create the zen dog, that is, ultimately a relaxed, happy, and calm dog.

Being Your Own Dog Trainer Creates The Zen Dog

Have you ever experienced being around a stubborn dog? Have you ever had a dog that cannot protect you in case of danger? Do you have a dog with destructive behaviors? These are some of the reasons why you need to be your own dog trainer, creating your own dog training school just between you and your dog!

Brain training for dogs can help in training well behaved, loving, and obedient pets. This DIY (do it yourself course) helps in bringing out the hidden intelligence inside dogs. All Dogs have a hidden intelligence that seems elusive to you. Especially after repeated attempts to get your dog to obey the simplest of commands. There is hope! and a way to understand your dog. It really boils down to speaking to your dog in his or her own language. Dogs are pack animals and obey according to pack rules. You can be your own pack leader whether you have one dog or five dogs.

Beginners Ways to Train Their Dogs

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It is simple to correct the destructive behaviors of dogs. The brain of the dog has neuroplasticity. Therefore, the brain can change and learn new behaviors and ways of responding. The brain of the dog is like plastic that can be remolded. The brain has the ability to create and change new habits and behaviors. Harvard university research has proven the ability of the brain’s neuroplasticity to create new neuropathways.

When you use the right mental stimulation and training, you will be in a position to train your dog. The dog will be calmer and open for training. Your pup will be receptive to learning new things. Therefore, the dog will ultimately listen to you and follow what you tell it to do. It will be desirable to learn, and with time, the destructive behaviors will slowly fade away.

Be sure to check out our PETS AND THEIR NEEDS Category for more ideas on the best care for your pets.

Start Now Being Your Own Dog Trainer

With this brain training course for dogs, you can start training your own dog right now. You don’t need to send your dog out to ‘doggie boot camp’ or to a trainer for 30 days. Its Your dog . . . . build the bond, use the tools, repeat and re-enforce the training and create your zen dog.

Become Your Own Dog Trainer Today and Eliminate Negative Behaviors Now

Why Do Cats Lick Each Other? Nothing But Love

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Why Do Cats Lick Each Other? Cats can be funny, curious, sweet, and entertaining pets. Those who own cats and love cats love most of the things that cats do. However, cats still have some unique behaviors that not every cat owner understands. One of those behaviors includes licking each other or licking their owners. There are several reasons why cats lick each other (and you!).

It’s a Grooming Thing

All cats, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, and other wild cats, spend countless hours grooming themselves and other members of their respective groups. Since domesticated cats are descendants of wild cats, it shouldn’t surprise you that this grooming behavior also called allogrooming is innate. It cannot be trained out of your feline friends. Cats are among some of the animal kingdom’s most fastidious beasts. They prefer to be as clean as possible rather than the least bit dirty.

As for licking humans, it’s still a grooming thing. At least, part of licking a human is grooming, since a cat considers you a close personal member of its feline family. It’s said that you can adopt dogs, but it’s cats that adopt you. That is proven in whether or not your cats want to lick you as part of their grooming behavior. There are other reasons why a cat might lick a human, and many of those reasons are the same for licking another cat.

Cats licking eath other ~ It’s an Affection Thing

why do cats groom each other then bite

Cats only lick other cats that they like. You won’t see two cats that clearly don’t get along participating in the licking behavior. Just as humans exchange hugs and kisses, cats demonstrate their most heartfelt affection for other cats and humans by licking. If your cat regularly gives you “kitty kisses” with his or her tuna breath, consider it an honor and a sign of devoted affection.

If you have any doubt that this is an affection behavior, just watch two cats that are bonded and inseparable. They will spend hours cuddled together on their favorite piece of furniture, frequently waking from naps to lick each other and then go back to sleep. They will also wake from naps to bathe each other at length, a sign of their affection for each other. Cats that are mating may lick each other too, but that depends on the temperament of the mating cats.

It’s a Mating Thing

Cats that are well-suited to each other’s temperament will attempt to mate. As part of the mating ritual, one cat will attempt to lick another cat to see if the second cat is receptive to the sexual advances of the first. If the licking behavior of the advancing cat is not met with swats of paws, hissing, biting, and/or a catfight with claws, the advancing cat will attempt to assume the mating position.

For females, the mating position is the presentation of the derriere with an uplifted tail in a submissive position. For males, it is attempting to climb on top from behind while either nipping or licking while trying to get into position. After mating, some cats may cuddle up together and continue grooming (i.e., licking behavior). Others will not. It just depends on the cats.

It’s a Tasting Thing

If cats smell something tasty on another cat or on a human’s hands, they will lick. They are trying to taste whatever they smell, even if there’s no remaining residue of the seemingly delicious smell available. Sometimes a sweaty hand with salty sweat on it is enough to encourage a cat to lick because it smells warm and salty. (Salt is something that cats and most living creatures enjoy the taste of, which is why a sweaty palm is a delicious thing to a cat!)

At other times, a cat isn’t trying to taste something good. It’s trying to ingest the scent molecules of something that’s no longer there. Ingesting the scent molecules allows the cat to figure out what he/she is smelling when the scent is too faint to decipher. Being curious and trying to figure out what a scent is involves a deeper investigation using the cat’s own tongue.

It’s an Identification Thing

why do cats lick each others heads

Likewise, with trying to identify a faint smell, a cat will lick another cat or a human to identify them. Every human and every other cat has its own “taste”, and a cat can identify who’s who by licking them. This is how cats tell identical humans and identical (or nearly identical) cats apart. The proof is in the licking; one set of human twins may look exactly alike to your cat, but one twin will “taste” different from the other, signaling to the cat which twin is the one he/she likes better.

Pheromones also exist in certain areas of the body in cats. For cats, the pheromones are located in the face, near the ears, and around the head. A licking in these areas helps one cat identify another and either be glad for the company or rebuff the company.

It’s a Marking Thing

Cats have dozens of little sandpapery “pockets” on their tongues. These “pockets help cats lap up water and food. The “pockets” also help store scent markers. When cats lick other cats, they are leaving their personal mark behind.

It’s like saying, “Hey, this other cat is my friend. Nobody better touch him/her!” Cats may even use this to mark friendly cats that they want to visit with later. You will notice that when a cat leaves its licking mark on another that it will return to smell that other cat later to see if the lick marks/scent is still there. It’s a territorial feature used by big cats in the wild to recognize and identify familiar cats with whom they are friends or family.

It’s a Nurturing Thing

allogrooming

Kittens are born wet, covered in a mucous-y slime, blind, and unable to get dry or cleaned up. Mother cats (a.k.a., queens), will clean the newborn kittens and dry them off so that the kittens aren’t cold or shivering. The mother cat licking the kittens also stimulates the kittens’ circulatory and respiratory systems. Both of these systems are vital to the kittens’ post-birth survival.

Kittens also do not know how to use their urinary or excretory organs to relieve themselves. Mother cats have to constantly lick genitals and anuses to encourage kittens to go to the bathroom. It’s gross, but true. If you ever have to raise kittens without a mother cat, you will have to frequently wipe these areas with a warm, moist cloth. This encourages the kittens to release urine and feces.

It’s a Helping Thing

You can’t wash all of your back without a tool to help reach certain areas, right? Even monkeys and apes spend time helping each other groom parts of the body they can’t reach on their own. It’s no less true of cats. They need help grooming areas they can’t reach, which is why cats spend time helping each other with the grooming process.

Sure, all that “kitty yoga” looks like it does the trick as cats can clean areas of their body like no other animal can. However, no matter how well a cat can twist itself into crazy positions, it still can’t reach a few areas. For that, cats will engage each other to finish grooming anything they themselves can’t reach.

Why do cats lick eath other? It’s a Healing Thing

You may not have known this, but cat saliva is antimicrobial. That means it helps wash away anything that could cause infection in a wound. If you see one cat constantly licking another cat in a focused area, it might be a good idea to take the licked cat to the vet. There may be a wound or some other unseen medical issue that the first cat is trying to cure for the second cat.

In short, the cat that is doing the licking is playing doctor. It’s telling the sick or injured feline friend that it is going to heal him/her. So it continues to lick areas that the second cat has a medical/health problem with.

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It’s an Emotional and Psychological Well-Being Thing

why do cats groom each other

Licking and being licked reminds cats of their loving mothers. They get a sense of warmth, safety, and security in that licking. An anxious cat immediately becomes calm, and cats are naturally happier when they are licking each other. While it’s unlikely that you are going to spend any time licking your cat, there is a holistic and simple way to reproduce this calming effect in and grooming behavior for the well-being of your cat.

Choose a soft-bristled brush with thick bristles. When you run it over your hand, it should feel like a softer version of a cat’s tongue. This is what you are looking for, and you should be brushing your kitty a couple of times a day to reproduce this relaxing sensation. It’s a far better option than feeding kitty anti-anxiety medications that have nasty side effects.

It’s a Dominance Thing

cats grooming each other dominance

You wouldn’t think that cat licking other cats is a dominance thing, but it is. If you have more than one cat in the house, the cat that has been in the house the longest is typically your dominant cat. He or she doesn’t like other cats in his/her territory but will tolerate other cats if the other cats allow licking behavior and accept the dominant cat’s assertion.

To dominate, the main cat will intentionally lick and groom all others. He or she is stating that this house is his/her territory. But that submissive cats are welcome as long as they submit to him/her. An occasional nip on the head or ears while the licking is occurring ensures that the submissive cats understand who’s dominant.

So, Why Do Cats Lick Each Other?

There’s almost no answer left to why do cats lick each other except to say that it’s just a cat thing. Dogs might do it, but you don’t see it often. Cats will lick each other and their people all the time. When you want to know why do cats lick each other, it helps to take into account the cat’s personality, habits, rank in the household, and what is typical for each cat.

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