Force Free Pets

09/12/2024

09/12/2024

Important information for those who want a healthy pet.

Look at those nutrients. The vast majority of which are ONLY found in meat. The vast majority are absent in vegan diets.

If you're lucky, a vegan pet food manufacturer will include some D3 and taurine from a conical flask, as they're legally obliged, but what of all those other nutrients?! You think, despite all the science to the contrary, they're all just spare bits and bobs for the little meat-eaters? I'd say that's quite a gamble.

I mean, does your vegan kibble even contain a joint pack (glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, etc)? Critical building blocks of healthy joints, considered optional extras in kibble-land. This way, WHEN your dog's sh*tty joints are stiff with arthritis by mid-age, you can buy it from us then in capsule form!

What is the omega 6:3 ratio in your vegan kibble? Because the only non-meat source of DHA, an essential nutrient for dogs meaning it must be included, is algal oil. Some brands claim to use it....but it's pricey. So, ask yourself - how much omega 3 from algal oil is going in versus all the horrible, refined seed oils they used? I say ask yourself as the vegan kibble companies will not give an answer, and I've tried. Proprietary information apparently (you want between 3 - 5:1, for the record).

Blood is a fascinating one - EVERYTHING they need in its most bioavailable form. They LOVE it. You should see the difference between haem iron to plant iron when consumed.

And don't get me started on carnivore versus herbivore fibre (the subject of my talk at the Natural Dog Expo with Habib and co next year...I have found some VERY surprising things about plant fibre...).

Clearly, meat and fat and organ and bone and blood and hide all contain a whole BEVVY of nutrients that the pro-kibble lobby either don't know about or don't discuss, I'm not sure which is worse.

The truth is meat, pound for pound, is the best food source on the planet, by a very, very long way. The problem is it costs more than grain so manufacturers don't like using it. They want to use as much plant filler as possible. So they concoct a whole heap of stories to defend their use of it. And whatever they do include are utterly pulverised by the ultra-harsh processing procedures.

Tune in tmrw on The Den, where I give part 1 of a 2 parter on protein and dogs. In the first part, I need to get the basics done - what is protein, what does it do in the body, all that, but we also delve into how much protein does a dog actually need? I mean, do you fully understand where they got this 18% protein-in-dry food from?! You will watch those slides through the fingers of your hand, I assure you. We also touch on can dogs have "too much protein" and finally take a look at the impacts of cooking on meat protein.

There's absolutely no way I'm going to get done in 30mins but I love this topic.

That's tmrw, 1pm GMT, over on the Den, live, with QnA after. Hope you can join us!

08/12/2024

SHARE IF YOU AGREE - Starting your day with your dog is a better boost than coffee

&Don

07/12/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD–It’s time for our annual holiday sale, from Friday, November 29th, through the close of business on Saturday, December 7th. Twenty percent off cat and dog treats, toys, leashes, collars, and harnesses. – THANK YOU FOR BUYING LOCAL!

FMI–https://forcefreepets.com/gaks-nov24news/

05/12/2024

ForceFreePets.com and Green Acres Kennel Shop are two companies with one mission; to provide humane, ethical, and effective pet care and education based on science while prioritizing the needs and welfare of our client's pets.

04/12/2024

Dogs, babies and toddlers all need the ability to learn, grow and explore in a safe environment! 🐾 💚 👣

Management is incredibly important to help create this success! ✅

If the child does not have the ability to follow guidelines or regulate their emotions in the moment due to their age or other reasons like being over tired, there needs to be management in place to support success for EVERYONE!

When in doubt about the closeness or proximity of your dog, baby and toddler, space it out!

✏️ Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

04/12/2024

THE PERILS OF PUNISHMENT

It’s easy to stop or suppress a behaviour by using punishment, force or pain and say that it really works, so why even bother to do it differently?

Punishment based methods may well “fix” the behaviour quickly, are far easier, require far less effort, less knowledge, less education, or even just be based on traditional belief, but these methods come at a great cost - destroying trust, creating insecurity, fear, anxiety, provoking aggression, causing dogs to shut down or feel helpless and prevent dogs from learning an alternative, more acceptable behaviour.

There is so much modern, scientific evidence to support force free, positive reinforcement methods as being the most effective and successful way to modify behaviour.

There is nothing admirable, ethical or intelligent in physically or emotionally forcing any sentient being to comply.

Take the time and make a commitment to understand and learn about positive, force free, science-based methods.

04/12/2024

A Doggone Safe holiday season tip:

04/12/2024

03/12/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – Moving to a new home, whether it’s across the state or across the country, is always exciting and challenging. Not only do we need to move our stuff, but we also need to get settled into a new community. In addition to finding new healthcare providers for the human members of our family, we also need to ensure that our pets will receive proper care in our new location. There is a shortage of veterinarians in most parts of the USA, so many veterinarians are NOT taking on new clients. I encourage everyone to establish a relationship with a local veterinarian soon after your move so your pet will have a veterinarian when needed. Do the same with other pet care professionals your pet may need, such as a kennel, daycare, groomer, trainer, pet sitter, or dog walker.

02/12/2024

Your friends at Green Acres Kennel Shop and Force Free Pets are ready to help you and your dog become best friends for life.