Lara Shannon - Eat, Play, Love (your dog)

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Contents

Growing up I was fortunate to live in front of a river where I spent much of my early childhood out all day exploring and playing with carefree abandon. As an only child, much of my time was spend sharing these adventures with my first dog Rion, a black toy poodle with some serious attitude, who was my confidant. As a teenager it was Tosca, a kelpie cross who was there to help me through the trials and tribulations that come with those awkward, hormone-filled years.

When I left my home town of Adelaide, South Australia to pursue a career in the media and my passion for animal conservation I had to leave Tosca behind. But during those years (when I was out at work all day, socialising at night and living in rental accommodation) I realised that owning a dog would not be fair. Instead I adopted dogs in my neighbourhood whose owners were more than happy to have someone take them for a walk or look after them when they went away without wanting anything more in return than a happy, wagging tail and the canine companionship that I sorely missed.

Max, a cheeky 4-year-old Maltese, came into my life when I returned to Australia in my thirties. He was my four-legged soul mate who saw me through some tough times. Ultimately though, the toughest day of all was when I had to say goodbye as old age and ill health got the better of him. It was because of Max and his separation anxiety and other behavioural quirks that I decided to start working with dogs and become certified in dog training and behaviour.

As my understanding of why dogs do what they do became clearer, I became even more passionate about finding a way to help spread the word about the need to provide our dogs with the training and leadership they need to not just survive, but to thrive in this world.

This led to the creation of Pooches at Play so that I could reach as many people as possible through my TV show and other educational activities.

It also led me to find my next and current furry soul mate Darcy. I was studying dog training and creating a dog show, while minding and training other peoples dogs without one of my own when one day this wiry, scruffy little bitsa (bits of this, bits of that) showed up in my life after being given to a friend because he needed a new home.

From the moment we met I just knew he was destined to be part of my life. We forged a bond that was so strong that after a few years of hanging out, walking and minding him at any opportunity I could get, circumstances led to the offer of Darcy officially becoming mine. And, as they say, the rest is history.

With Darcy firmly by my side, we work hard to spread the message about responsible pet ownership, fly the flag for pet adoption and endeavour to communicate to as many people as possible about how to provide the love, enrichment, training and other care dogs needs for a safe, happy and fulfilled life.

Our pets play many important roles in our lives and there are numerous studies from all around the world that support what us dog owners already know dogs bring us companionship and joy, and their love knows no bounds.

Its no wonder then that they are the most popular pet of choice around the world, with 40% of Australian households, 38% in the US and 25% in the UK owning a dog.

They give us a sense of purpose and improve our physical and mental wellbeing. They reduce loneliness, help rebuild trust and connections, and assist many people with mental and physical health issues to live fulfilling, independent lives.

Through this book I hope you will come to understand your dog better and what they need for optimum health. EAT aims to unravel the overwhelming options of dog foods available and the things to think about when choosing the right diet for your dog. I also address the concerns and confusion that many dog owners have about todays pet food choices.

As our dogs rely on us to provide them with the mental and physical stimulation they need each day to be healthy and happy, in PLAY I talk about the important role of socialisation, training, setting boundaries and being a good leader for your dog to address behavioural issues. I have tried to help explain many of the common issues I see and areas in which many dog owners may still be getting it wrong through no fault of their own, other than a simple lack of awareness and old-fashioned training and behaviour techniques.

LOVE covers topics such as making the decision to become a dog owner, how to choose the right dog for your lifestyle, and how and where to find your next furry friend. I discuss the care you will need to provide through all of the life stages to keep your dog healthy and safe, how to deal with anxiety, multiple dog households and even how to deal with the sad decision you may need to make of saying goodbye. I delve into this and other information and advice to help ensure you are able to provide your dog with the love, care and attention that every dog craves and deserves.

For me this book sums up many of the important messages that I hope every dog owner and dog lover will take the time to read, put into practise and share far and wide, so that together we can ultimately make this a better world for our dogs and for ourselves as a result.

Given all of the unconditional love, devotion and joy they provide to us, its only fair and right that we return this to our canine companions tenfold.

When it comes to choosing the best food for your dog there are so many conflicting messages and options to consider that it can be downright confusing.

Historically, dry dog food (kibble) and canned dog food (wet) were the only commercial choices available to pet owners. However, we are now seeing an ever-expanding number of options as the pet food industry evolves to keep up with consumer trends and a greater focus on pet nutrition. Different food textures, new ingredients and diet types, and a plethora of marketing claims on the packaging (that may not have been substantiated) have made it harder than ever to navigate your way around the shopping aisles.

The best place to start is the ingredients panel on the back of a product to see if it provides a high quality, nutritionally-balanced meal. However, unless you hold a food science degree or specialise in pet nutrition, even looking at the list of ingredients on some products can turn your brain upside down if you arent sure what exactly you need to look for.