Tail Wagging Nutrition Elevating Your Puppy s Diet with Ava Puppy 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.
- Circular swish: A dog whose tail is swishing back and forth or in a circular motion is one happy and relaxed pup.
- Lowered or tucked tail: A dog who is frightened or feeling submissive will often lower or tuck his tail between his hind legs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Quick wag: A short wag usually happens during greetings when a dog is feeling tentative.
- Big, broad wag: This indicates a friendly dog who is not threatening anyone.
- 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.
- 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.
AVA Puppy Food Review
Find out if Ava puppy food is good enough to provide all the nutrition that your growing puppy needs, as we take a close look at the ingredients.
Advanced Nutrition Vet Approved known as AVA is a high-quality premium brand which is produced by Pets at Home.
Designed to support wellbeing and health, as well as provide superior nutrition, AVA puppy food has a special blend of nutrients to support your growing pup.
Pets at Home produce a range of other foods and products; theyre not just a retailer.
They have created AVA to be a particularly gentle and natural addition to their products, perfect for pooches who are on the sensitive side.
AVA puppy food includes both wet and dry food so you can select the option that suits your pet.
But what do the AVA puppy food reviews make of this product?
Heres a look at whats inside the packaging.
Range of Foods
When you purchase dog food, some brands offer different options depending on the size of your dog.
AVA goes one step further and caters specifically for certain breeds, such as Shih Tzu, Yorkshire terrier, and many more.
Thats not the case with their puppy food though; this more selective type of food is only available with AVA adult dog food.
AVA puppy food is available in either a wet or dry format. The whole range is made from premium, natural ingredients only and is completely free of pork, soya, dairy, wheat and gluten.
Therefore if youve got a dog whos prone to allergies, this puppy food could be a top pick.
The wet puppy food they offer includes:
- Chicken pate
- Chicken and lamb pate
And their dry puppy food:
- Small breed chicken kibble
- Medium breed chicken kibble
- Large breed chicken kibble
Both 2kg and 15kg size bags are available.
The kibble is sold in bags for either small, medium and large breeds, which is a simplified version of their breed-specific adult food.
Its important to pick the type that corresponds with your poochs breed because the individual kibble will be sized for your dogs mouth.
Kibble which is too small wont feel satisfying for your canine, and if its too big, they may struggle to eat comfortably.
Recommended:We take a close look at Burns puppy food in our latest guide.
Health Benefits of Ava Puppy Food
No matter which type of AVA puppy food you select, your dog will be enjoying natural ingredients with no artificial additives.
The formula focuses on skin, coat and digestion to help your dog look and feel their best.
Puppy food has very different requirements than adult dog food and AVA has received official approval from vets.
It has been formulated to deliver a high-calorie diet which is rich in important nutrients to encourage healthy growth and development.
The protein is carefully chosen to be easily digestible by immature canine systems. It contains slow-release carbohydrates to support steady energy levels plus soluble and insoluble fibre to aid digestion.
Ongoing brain development, kidney health plus skin and coat conditioning are supported by nutrients which include Omega-3 and Omega-6.
Recommended: Dont miss our Acana puppy food review next.
Beneficial Ingredients
AVA is a dog food which aims to go beyond just providing good nutrition; the blend of ingredients help to improve your poochs health and get them in tip-top condition.
It does this by not only relying on the highest quality proteins and ingredients but including their own special blend of nutrients.
Known as +Imuvita, this collection of extracts has been carefully selected to boost your dogs wellbeing. It includes green tea extract, cranberry, beta-glucans and pomegranate.
Brewers Yeast is also included as an ingredient because of the health benefits its linked with. In dogs, Brewers Yeast is believed to promote healthy function of the eyes and liver, plus boost the hair and skin.
Brewers Yeast includes B vitamins as well as a whole host of minerals including chromium, selenium, zinc, potassium and iron.
These are good for your canines body in many different ways, such as supporting the immune system and helping with the production of red blood cells.
Recommended:Make sure to check out our Bakers puppy food review after this.
Is Ava Dog Food Good Value for Money?
AVA puppy food is geared towards dogs who have sensitivities and owners who want to ensure that theyre buying high-quality, all-natural ingredients.
This means its not aimed at the budget market and is competing with other premium brands.
Compared to other puppy foods which have a similar profile, AVA is middle of the range.
Its not the cheapest food nor is it the most expensive. Broadly speaking, its on a par with brands such as Iams.
Are There Any Negatives?
Although Brewers Yeast is associated with many health benefits in dogs, it can be problematic for some.
If you notice your dog is suffering with more gas than usual or is bloated, this could be due to the Brewers Yeast in the food.
Most dogs only suffer from mild symptoms which quickly pass but for others, the problem can be quite severe.
This is more likely to occur in dogs which have known digestive difficulties or a breed which has a tendency to bloat.
Larger breeds with deep chests are more likely to have tendency to bloat (such as St Bernard, Weimaraner, Irish Setter and Great Dane).
Brewers Yeast also has the potential to interfere with any medication your dog may be taking.
This is especially the case if the medication includes any Brewers Yeast already. Although the amounts involved are quite small, its best to clear it with your vet first.
Conclusion
AVA puppy food is one of the premium brands from Pets at Home that offers dog owners the opportunity to buy a natural, hypoallergenic formula which has been carefully blended to provide optimal health benefits.
Compared to lots of other dog foods, AVA stands out for its commitment to quality, receiving vet approval on the formula.
AVA dog food puppy reviews reflect this fact with the majority of owners praising it, and describing the positive effect on their canine.
If you want a dog food that will deliver a real bargain, AVA probably isnt what youre looking for.
However, if youre searching for a premium puppy food that contains high levels of protein and no hypoallergenic ingredients, this formula is very affordable.
Alternatives to AVA include Iams, Eukanuba, Skinners and Autarky, which range from cheaper than AVA to more expensive.
However, even with the alternatives, there are very few which are high in protein, a complete food, and hypoallergenic in the same way that AVA is.
For this reason, its widely rated by veterinary professionals as a top food for your pup.
Puppy food
Puppies need nutritional support to grow up as healthy and happy dogs. This is why our Purina experts have created a range of high-quality puppy food made with natural ingredients and all the essential nutrients a growing puppy needs. Our puppy food is carefully designed to keep their teeth and bones healthy and strong as they grow up. Plus the tasty puppy food recipes can boost their natural defences and giving puppies the energy to explore the world every single day. With Purina, you can be sure that youre giving your pet nutritious dog food in a complete and balanced meal that is also tail-wagging delicious.
Is puppy food good for senior dogs?
Feeding your senior dog puppy food is usually not a good idea. Keep in mind that pooches in their golden years have different nutritional needs compared to their younger counterparts. Puppy and senior dog food contain different levels of nutrients and formulas, meaning that feeding your senior dog puppy food can lead to some health concerns.
Is puppy food higher in calories?
Yes! Puppy food contains a much higher amount of fat and protein. Puppies use much more energy than senior dogs, which is why puppy food has more calories as well as giving them all the nutritious support they need. Find out more about a puppy's nutritional needs with our guide.
Is puppy food necessary?
Yes. Ensuring your puppy has a balanced diet is vital for your puppys growth and development during their early years. It is recommended that your puppy be fed puppy-specific food up until they are around 1 year of age. Puppy food is formulated to support the nutritional needs of your growing pup.
Should puppy food be softened?
When it comes to feeding your puppy, there are no set rules to follow. However, it is recommended that you should soak your puppys food from 3 weeks to 12 weeks of age. Softening your puppys food will be softer on their mouths during teething periods.
Can puppy food make a dog hyper?
Puppy food contains a lot of calories and a high level of protein to aid puppy development and growth. These high levels could give your senior dog more energy, therefore making them much more hyperactive.
