Tail Wagging Goodness Exploring the Nutritional Value of River Run Dog Food

Dog Tail Signs: What That Wagging Means

You can understand a lot about your canine companion from his dog tail signs. That wagging or thumping on the carpet? You know your pup is feeling great. That feeling of dread when you walk through the front door and that same tail is tucked low? That tail tells you something has been destroyed by a bored pup while you were away. Whether you consider yourself fluent in wag or you're still learning how to decode dog tail language, read on to learn more about how your pet communicates.

Spotting the Signs: A Guide to Dog Tail Language

A dog's tail originally evolved to help him stay balanced, like a tightrope walker's pole. It serves as a counterweight to the front part of his body when he's making a high-speed turn while hunting and helps keep him from falling off narrow walkways.

Now that a dog hunt generally involves finding the last piece of kibble that fell behind the bowl, that wagging tail is largely thought of as a communication device. Here are five key things the placement of a dog's tail can tell you, according to the Center for Shelter Dogs at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

1. Circular swish: A dog whose tail is swishing back and forth or in a circular motion is one happy and relaxed pup.
2. Lowered or tucked tail: A dog who is frightened or feeling submissive will often lower or tuck his tail between his hind legs.
3. Tail wagging stiffly: A dog who is excited may wag his tail stiffly while jumping, spinning or sticking his rump in the air. His excitement may be from a positive source like an upcoming walk or a negative source like an intimidating stranger.
4. Tail held horizontally: A tail held straight out indicates a dog who is attentive and alert or perhaps curious about something nearby. Traditional hunting dog breeds like pointers or setters also hold their tails out straight when they point at an animal or object.
5. Sudden tail raise: When a dog moves his tail from a down position to a vertical or raised position, it could indicate he is feeling aggressive.

Reading Wag Speed

The speed of a dog's wagging tail might also give you an indication of his mood, Psychology Today reports.

1. Quick wag: A short wag usually happens during greetings when a dog is feeling tentative.
2. Big, broad wag: This indicates a friendly dog who is not threatening anyone.
3. Slow, reluctant wag: This might indicate a dog who is feeling anxious. Other signs of anxiety include avoiding eye contact, refusing food or ignoring what's happening around him.
4. Tiny, high-speed wag: A tail that moves in short, vibrating bursts can be a sign a dog is about to run or fight. Be careful!

Dog Tail Language Barriers

Some dogs wag with long, expressive tails, but what about dogs with small, stumpy tails or no tails at all? A truncated tail may make it more difficult for dogs to communicate with their pet parents and with other dogs, writes Psychology Today. An observational study of more than 400 dogs greeting each other off-leash in a dog park showed a higher number of aggressive incidents involving dogs with short tails. This doesn't mean that your corgi will inherently pick more fights than your shepherd mix, but it could be something to watch out for. Overall, the study found that only 12 percent of dog park incidents resulted in any kind of aggression. That's a sign that dog communication has a pretty high success rate.

The tale of the tail? Dog tail signs help pups communicate not only with us, but also with other dogs. Knowing the meaning of how a dog is using his tail can go a long way to showing you how your pet is feeling.

Contributor Bio

Kara Murphy

Kara Murphy is a freelance writer and pet parent who lives in Erie, Pa. She has a goldendoodle named Maddie.

Unveiling the Nutritional Excellence of Ol Blue Dog Food: A Tail-Wagging Review

Every pet owner wants the best for their furry companions, and providing them with a well-balanced and nutritious diet is at the top of the list. With a plethora of options available in the market, finding the perfect dog food can be a daunting task.

One brand that has been gaining attention for its commitment to quality and nutrition is Ol Blue Dog Food. In this blog post, well take a closer look at what sets Ol Blue apart and why it might be the ideal choice for your canine companion.

Quality Ingredients:

Ol Blue Dog Food prides itself on using high-quality ingredients that are carefully selected to meet the nutritional needs of dogs. From real meat sources to wholesome grains and vegetables, each ingredient is chosen with the well-being of your furry friend in mind.

The brand places a strong emphasis on providing a balanced and complete diet to support overall health and vitality.

Nutritional Excellence:

One standout feature of Ol Blue Dog Food is its commitment to nutritional excellence. The brand understands that dogs have unique dietary requirements at different life stages, and their formulas are crafted to address these specific needs.

Whether you have a playful puppy, an active adult dog, or a wise senior companion, Ol Blue has tailored options to ensure your pet receives the right nutrients in the right proportions.

Grain-Free and Limited Ingredient Options:

Recognizing the diverse dietary needs of dogs, Ol Blue offers grain-free and limited ingredient options. This is particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitivities or allergies, as these formulations eliminate common allergens and focus on providing essential nutrients without unnecessary fillers.

The result is a dog food that promotes digestion, reduces the risk of food intolerances, and contributes to a healthier coat and skin.

Supporting Joint Health:

As dogs age, joint health becomes a crucial consideration. Ol Blue Dog Food addresses this concern by including ingredients that support joint function and mobility.

Whether its glucosamine or chondroitin, these supplements are incorporated into the formulas to help keep your dog active and agile, promoting a higher quality of life, especially for aging pets.

Ol Blue Dog Food doesnt just stop at providing excellent nutrition for dogs; the brand is also committed to giving back to the community. Through various initiatives and partnerships with animal welfare organizations, Ol Blue demonstrates its dedication to the well-being of all dogs, not just those enjoying their premium meals.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right dog food is a critical decision for pet owners, and Ol Blue Dog Food stands out as a brand that prioritizes the health and happiness of your canine companions.

With a focus on quality ingredients, nutritional excellence, and a commitment to the community, Ol Blue is a brand worth considering for those seeking the best for their furry friends.

River Run Dog Food Review (Dry)

River Run Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: April 24, 2024

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Review of River Run Dog Food

River Run Dog Food receives the Advisors lowest-tier rating of 1.5 stars.

The River Run product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe below includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

River Run Hi Pro 27-15 was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

River Run Hi-Pro 27-15

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Meat and bone meal, whole ground corn, wheat middlings, rice bran, animal fat (preserved with BHA), corn gluten meal, natural flavors, salt, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex [source of vitamin K activity], biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, sodium selenite, iron oxide), propionic acid (a preservative), choline chloride

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is meat and bone meal, a dry rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.¹

Meat and bone meal can have a lower digestibility than most other meat meals.

Scientists believe this decreased absorption may be due to the ingredients higher ash and lower essential amino acid content.²

Whats worse, this particular item is anonymous. So, the meat itself can come from any combination of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats which can make identifying specific food allergens impossible.

Even though meat and bone meals are still considered protein-rich meat concentrates, we do not consider a generic ingredient like this to be a quality item.

The second ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.

The third ingredient includes wheat middlings, commonly known as wheat mill run. Though it may sound wholesome, wheat mill run is actually an inexpensive by-product of cereal grain processing.

Unfortunately, the variations in nutrient content found in wheat middlings can be a critical issue in determining their suitability for use in any dog food or even livestock feeds.³

In reality, wheat middlings are nothing more than milling dust and floor sweepings and an ingredient more typically associated with lower quality pet foods.

The next ingredient is rice bran, a healthy by-product of milling whole grain rice. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, fat as well as vitamins and minerals.

The fifth ingredient is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since theres no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from just about anywhere: salvaged roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat even dead, diseased or dying cattle.

For this reason, we do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.

Whats worse, this fat is preserved with BHA, a suspected cancer-causing agent.

The sixth ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.

Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

After the natural flavors, we find salt (also known as sodium chloride). Salt is a common additive in many dog foods. Thats because sodium is a necessary mineral for all animals including humans.

However, since the actual amount of salt added to this recipe isnt disclosed on the list of ingredients, its impossible to judge the nutritional value of this item.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With 4 notable exceptions

First, iron oxide is a synthetic color additive used in industry to impart a reddish color to food and paint. In its natural form, this chemical compound is more commonly known as iron rust.

Were always disappointed to find any artificial coloring in a pet food. Thats because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his food is?

Next, this dog food contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Since vitamin K isnt required by AAFCO in either of its dog food nutrient profiles, we question the use of this substance in any canine formulation.

In addition, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Judging by its ingredients alone, River Run Dog Food looks like a below-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 45% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the corn gluten meal in this recipe, and the soybean meal contained in another recipe, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Is River Run a Good Dog Food?

River Run is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of unnamed meat and bone meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 1.5 stars.

Not recommended.

Has River Run Dog Food Been Recalled?

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to River Run.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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