10 Best Fruit For Dogs

1. APPLES

Apples are a great treat for dogs. They contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Fiber. Apples can even freshen your dog's breath but be sure to remove the seeds, which contain cyanide, and the core, which may be a choking hazard to your dog.

2. BANANA

Bananas are packed full of nutrients that are important for both humans and dogs so they make a great snack for your pup. Bananas contain Potassium as most people may know but they are also rich in Magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Copper, Biotin, and Fiber. Bananas are also know to help ease minor diarrhea and increase growth of the healthy gut bacteria.

You can even use bananas to make a tasty "Ice Cream". Just freeze some bananas without the peel and when you're ready, throw them in the blender along with other fruit on this list or dog safe ingredients, like peanut butter, and you have yourself a banana "Ice Cream" that you can enjoy along with your pup.

3. BLACKBERRIES

Blackberries provide a good source of Antioxidants, Omega-3, and Fiber. Antioxidants are important in any diet because they offer many benefits such as: slowing the process of aging and protecting against cancer. All dogs can benefit from having berries in their diet since they all are great carriers of antioxidants.

4. BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are full of Vitamin C, Fiber, and just like Blackberries, they are packed with antioxidants that help fight off free radicals which cause cellular and molecular in dogs and humans alike. Some more benefits of antioxidants in dogs are the ability to help with skin allergies, asthma, and arthritis in dogs, so this is especially good for aging dogs.

5. CANTALOUPE

Cantaloupe is great for your dog in moderation. It contains high levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and Fiber. The high fiber content helps with your dogs digestive system and can prevent constipation while the Beta-Carotene promotes healthy eyes and good eyesight. Just make sure to remove the rind and seeds before serving to your dog as this may cause an upset stomach and may serve to be a choking hazard.

6. MANGOES

Mangoes are considered a very healthy and nutritious fruit and are packed with over 20 different Vitamins and Minerals. Among the top contenders is Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Fiber, and Antioxidants. This tasty fruit is a great way to boost your dogs immune system and is especially good for an older dog who may lack Vitamin C as this fruit contains double the daily recommended value. Make sure to remove the skin and the pit since it poses a choking hazard and contains small amounts of cyanide.

7. PEARS

Pears are a delicious treat for dogs in moderation. They contain Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Fiber, Copper, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B6. Vitamin K is especially important for bone health so it is a good treat for dogs that are very active or are older and prone to weakened bones. Potassium is good for the heart and promotes healthy cardiovascular function. Low Potassium levels may cause Arrhythmia, which is an irregular heart beat. Make sure to remove the rind and seeds which contain small amounts of cyanide which is poisonous for dogs. 

8. RASPBERRIES

Raspberries are another berry that dogs can eat and that provides them with plenty of nutrients such as Vitamin C, Manganese, Fiber, Antioxidants, Potassium, and Folic Acid. One thing to remember is to not feed your dog too many Raspberries since these fruit are high in the naturally occurring sweetener Xylitol which is harmful to dogs if too much is consummed. Keep Raspberries as an occasional treat and give in moderation.

9. STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruit for humans and there's no wonder why. They are delicious and contain many beneficial properties for a healthy diet. Strawberries are packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Fiber, Antioxidants, and Vitamin K. Just like their cousins the blueberries, Strawberries help boost the immune system and have all the antioxidant benefits as the other berries such as reducing inflammation and helping the body fight off infections.

10. WATERMELON

Watermelons are low in calories and a great way to hydrate yourself with all natural sweetness since they are 92% water. Watermelons contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Potassium. Remove the seeds and the rind since the rind can cause internal blockage and even choking in some dogs. The seeds may be tolerated by bigger dogs but may also cause intestinal blockage in small dogs so it's best if the are removed.

For yummy Dog Treat Recipes using some of the dog friendly fruit mentioned above, check out these: 7 Delicious Dog Treat Recipes!

Reasons Why Having A Trained Dog Is Awesome

Training your dog may seem like plain common sense to some dog owners but there are far more untrained dogs than there are trained dogs. Whatever the case may be, whether it is a time commitment issue or just not knowing where to start, there is always a compromise that can be made in your schedule where you can start the training process. Being a responsible owner means teaching your dog at least the basic obedience commands. It is necessary to have a well behaved dog when going out into public areas for many reasons. A trained dog will not chase after cats or run into the street, he will not bark at strange dogs or human, he will be calm and not pull on his leash. Imagine being out in public with a wild child that doesn't listen and causes commotion. The same way you would raise your children to mind their manners, should you raise your dog to mind his.

Puppyhood is of course the best time to start training but if you have an older dog don't think that all hope is lost. The saying “You can't teach an old dog new tricks” is not true. I believe that saying stemmed from a person who lacked patience and commitment. If you understand how to train a dog and use the skills you have gained correctly, you should have no problem implemented a plan and seeing results. Even if your dog learns more slowly than you would wish, he is still learning.

Now Do you really need any more reasons? Start training that dog ASAP and trust me, you will never regret it!

If you need help with the basics check out these articles for some tips:

My Basic Training Techniques

7 Tips for Training Your Pit Bull Puppy