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Monthly Archives

August 2019

Aug 23
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Spotlight on a working dog: Golden Retriever

By | Alpha Feeds | No Comments

golden retriever, dog, working dog, gundog, gun dogGolden Retrievers are a gundog breed that were originally trained to find live game and retrieve any game that had been shot and wounded.

They first came from black Wavy Coated Retrievers crossed with the Tweed Water Spaniel, which gave them their distinctive yellow coat. In 1913 the Golden Retriever Club was formally recognised by the Kennel Club.

The fact that these dogs are incredibly easy to train, as well as calm natured, makes them ideal working dogs to work with people and other dogs. This includes roles such as guide dogs, tracking and explosives detection.

Fact file:

  • Lifespan – 10+ years
  • Height – Female: 51–56 cm, Male: 56–61 cm
  • Weight – Female: 25–32 kg, Male: 30–34 kg
  • Popularity – They are the 2nd most popular dog in the UK
  • Nickname – Goldies

Temperament:

Golden Retrievers are very hardworking, playful and loving dogs that are incredibly intelligent and easy to train. They are a popular family dog as well as a working dog, because of their gentle nature and are great with children, given early socialising.

They are described as very kind, as well as fun-loving and with a streak of mischief too. They seem to tick every box which may well be the reason they are the second most popular dog in the UK.

Exercise:

Golden Retrievers love frequent exercise and being outdoors. Their high energy levels, ability to track and love of water make them ideal dogs for hunting and exploring.

Grooming:

They have a very thick, medium length coat that requires grooming 2 or 3 times a week to keep it in tip-top condition. Their thick coats help to keep them warm all year round.

Working Roles:

Their ability to sniff out and retrieve downed game over both land and water gained them huge popularity as gundogs, but they also make excellent sporting dogs, assistance dogs, working with the police and military.

For any information on our range of working dog food and your local stockists, contact us or get in touch with us on 0844 8002234 for more information.

Aug 19
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Could your dog need a sensitive diet?

By | Nutrition | No Comments

dog, border collieSome dogs are born with food sensitivities, but other dogs can develop sensitive skin or a sensitive stomach later in life and gradually over time.

If your working dog has food sensitives to the current type of food you’re feeding them, then their symptoms will be constant, and it’s worth varying their diet to see if this helps settle symptoms.

What are the symptoms of a dog having food sensitivities?

Symptoms include:

  • Vomiting
  • Excessive gas
  • Soft stool
  • Diarrhoea
  • Frequent scratching
  • Hair loss
  • Red, inflamed skin
  • Chronic ear problems

When to seek attention from a vet:

If at any time your dog experiences chronic vomiting or diarrhoea that doesn’t clear up by itself in 24 hours, seek attention from a vet, so that they can help diagnose your dog quickly.

Here are some tips to help a dog with a sensitive stomach:

  1. Cut out scraps
    Once other serious issues have been ruled out, it’s time to simplify their diet. Cut out giving your dog any table scraps or multiple different treats.
  2. Make sure they’re not getting into anything they shouldn’t
    When out, where possible, try and prevent your dog from eating something they shouldn’t.
  3. Try a Hypoallergenic diet
    Test out new foods on your dog. Hypoallergenic diets are diets that are less likely to case reaction by eliminating ingredients like Wheat, Dairy, Eggs and Soya. Choose dog food that is designed for sensitive stomachs. It may take some trial and error to see which food agrees with them best, but once you find a gentle food that agrees with them, their symptoms should clear up completely.

Our Hypoallergenic range for working dogs:

Alpha Sensitive dog food has been nutritionally formulated with chicken and rice, which are carefully cooked to help optimise digestion.

Not only is our food hypo-allergenic, wheat and gluten free, but it’s also got prebiotics to help promote digestive health. It’s also free of soya, dairy products and artificial colours and flavours, which can all irritate the bowel and cause digestive issues.

Our food is designed to be easily digestible, well balanced, and high in protein – ideal for working dogs with sensitive stomachs and comes in a number of ranges:

  • Sporting Puppy
  • Sensitive Extra
  • Adult Grain Free
  • High Performance

Find out more about our sensitive diet food here – https://www.alphafeeds.com/product/alpha-sensitive-15kg/.