Having a pet could be the key to fighting family flab and getting kids off the couch and into the park, according to a research project carried out by a pet food manufacturer.

With an international study claiming that British children are amongst the laziest in the world, the findings offer crucial information in Britain’s high profile fight against flab.

The research claims that over four in ten families have found that their kids play more actively now they have a pet. Over a quarter of those questioned reported that their children’s interest in sedentary activities such as TV watching and playing computer games had decreased since their pet’s arrival.

It is widely accepted that dog ownership leads to greater levels of exercise, however, the research shows that increased levels of active play and a decrease in sedentary activity are apparent amongst children who own dogs.

In addition, pet ownership could be the key to improving family stress levels. Over a quarter of pet owners questioned admitted that they have been less stressed since having a pet in their lives.

80% of parents believe that their pet has made their children very or extremely happy. Nearly half of all respondents think that their pet has made their child feel loved, more friendly towards others and relaxed. Whilst nearly three quarters of respondents felt that their children were more caring as a result of having a pet.

Mums as well as kids feel that they benefit from pet ownership with over a half admitting that their pet plays a crucial role in offering them emotional support and companionship.

Specialist in Human Animal Companion Bond research, Dr June McNicholas is not surprised by the results: “This survey shows that pets may help combat some of the “modern” problems of childhood, such as obesity and lack of exercise. Pets really do help motivate children to get away from the TV or the computer and take an active role in exercising and caring for their pet. The more involved children become in learning about their pet’s needs for a healthy diet and exercise, the more they can learn about keeping themselves healthy.”

Justine Hare, spokesperson for the pet food company that carried out the survey, comments; “It is clear from this research into pet-owning families that the benefits of having a pet permeate throughout the family and are tremendously positive, dynamic and more far-reaching that perhaps one would first think.”

It's not just humans who are struggling to beat the bulge. There is widely circulated data now showing that dog obesity is set to claim more canine lives than ever before.

For those of you lucky enough to be K9 Magazine Premier members, here's what you've got to look forward to in the next issue (no 49) of K9 Magazine (and for those of you who haven't yet seen the light...go here, sign up and enjoy the full benefits for a special price!)

Spot The Symptoms of Canine Cushing's Disease
Puppy Paper Training: An Introduction
Older Dog Care
K9 Health: Skin Problems in Dogs
Dog Spaying & Neutering: A Surgical Guide
How to Dog Proof Your Home
Can Dogs Get Fleas in Winter?
Is Your Vet Ripping You Off?
Dog Cold Weather Care Tips
K9 Kitchen: Healthy Homemade Dog Treats (Part III)
Tellington Touch For Dogs (special members-only report)
100 Ways to Extend Your Dog's Life (you can buy this book for £14.99 - or get it for FREE as a K9 Magazine member)

K9 Magazine Premier members receive a FREE eBook and a special canine report every month, along with a whole host of additional member benefits as well as K9 Magazine delivered monthly.

If you have a dog that suddenly develops a higher than normal thirst level or urination, it's important to keep a close eye for signs of diabetes.

Many people are unaware that diabetes in dogs is a serious and potentially fatal disease, but it can be prevented if the symptoms are recognised early.

Excessive drinking and urination are two of the first signs to be aware of.

Even the colour of the dog's urine can offer a tell tale sign as a symptom of diabetes mellitus and canine diabetes insipidus.

Sudden urination in the house should be referred to a vet for closer inspection.

Diabetes can be more common in older dogs and often this new habit of suddenly urinating in the house can lead owners to mistakenly believe the dog is simply showing signs of old age.

In actual fact, the onset of urination in the house can be a result of the dog drinking more, which in turn can be a symptom of canine diabetes itself.

Dogs suffering with diabetes can be prone to becoming dehydrated, particularly in hot weather.

Spotting The Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs:

- Sudden weight gain
- Sudden excessive thirst
- Increase in panting and wanting to go outside to urinate

These three common diabetes pointers can be harmless, symptoms of nothing more than ageing. But if it is an early pre-curson to diabetes, spotting it early and getting it treated can very well save your dog's life.

K9 Magazine's Ryan O'Meara:

"Diabetes is killing more dogs than it should. Knowing how to spot the signs and working to ensure your dog's diet and weight are properly matched to their age, breed and lifestyle is something well worth talking to your vet about."

- Article distributed by petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Inside K9 Magazine issue 47 we've got a veritable treasure trove of useful articles and information.

Take a look....

Night time dog walking safety tips
http://www.k9magazine.com/k9-insider-september/

Our pick of the best dog collars for 2011
http://www.k9magazine.com/best-dog-collars/

How to teach the recall using a whistle - K9 Magazine's Ryan O'Meara tells us how to teach a dog to recall using the whistle
http://www.k9magazine.com/dog-whistle-training/

Dog personality test: how well do you REALLY know your dog?
http://www.k9magazine.com/dog-personality-test/

Why our friend the dog is the world's greatest salesman
http://www.k9magazine.com/dogs-in-advertising/

How much you should you be feeding your dog?
http://www.k9magazine.com/how-much-should-i-be-feeding-my-dog/

K9 Kitchen: Make your own healthy homemade dog treats
http://www.k9magazine.com/homemade-dog-treats-part-ii/

I find dead people
We spend a day with a cadaver dog handler

A dog who is prepared, willing and able to jump a fence poses a real problem for us owners.

The thought of losing our dog this way or of our dog going on to do something that could cause problems, harm or upset for our neighbours or the general public could land us in hot water legally.

As one of the questions we've recently received from a K9 Magazine reader, we wanted to direct you to this excellent resource (How to dog proof your garden).

There is a two fold approach to curing the problem of the dog jumping the fence:

1. Behaviour modification - it's imperative to take this behaviour very, very seriously and to convey to the dog that jumping the fence (which is something many dogs will find to be a totally natural behaviour as they seek to explore what they consider to be THEIR environment - dogs do not understand boundaries as defined by the local authority housing planners!)

2. Make your home and garden as dog proof as you possibly can. Be prepared to make boundaries higher. Assume the unexpected (dogs can be very determined, particularly if frightened or stimulated).

Have a read of http://www.dogtips.co/dog-proof-home/ for the in depth guide.

How to stop your dog jumping the fence is not something you want to be searching for when it might be too late! Shutting the door before the horse has bolted is as good an analogy as any in this situation.

Ever wondered why dogs eat poop?

Perhaps you're the owner of a mucky pup who engages in this ever so unpleasant canine party trick?

Never fear. K9 Magazine has put together a special report containing the advice from three dog specialists on the habit known as canine coprophagia.

http://www.k9magazine.com/why-do-dogs-eat-poop/

In the report you will find out:

• Why dogs eat poop
• How to stop dogs eating poop
• The very serious health risks when dogs eat poop
• The methods you need to know to prevent your dog from eating poop

One of the most common puppy problems encountered by new dog owners is destructive chewing.

Thanks to our good friends over at DogTips.co, we can now provide some relief and assistance to anyone who's struggling with the problem of destructive chewing - particularly as it relates to puppies (cure puppy chewing).

Suddenly that cute new puppy has turned into a chewing monster; nothing is safe from his/her mouth. What is happening?

Puppies explore their world by means of their mouths. Chewing helps relieve the pain of teething and it is necessary for a dog’s physical and mental health. Chewing helps relieve tension and stress.

Since nature did not give dogs hands to use, their mouths are their source of exploration; their means to investigate new things, tastes, and it is a basic behavior instilled in dogs since the beginning of time.

Source...http://www.dogtips.co/cure-puppy-chewing/

Many dog owners ask us whether they need to supplement their dog's food in order to attain a level of proper dog nutrition.

If you use a good quality meat-meal based food you usually do not have to supplement your dog's ration. In fact, it is very easy to throw the formulation of some of the specialty foods out of kilter if you play with supplements.

Unfortunately, adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that is a cultural mentality handed down from the time when pet foods weren't complete and needed supplementation. Breeders often advocate supplements and many send their clients home with long lists of additives - vitamins, minerals, dairy products, oils and other lotions and potions.

Over the past 15 years there has been a rocket-like surge in the depth and availabilty of pet insurance policies in the UK. As pet owners are faced with more and more choices, so the pet insurance companies are faced with the challenge of making their policy stand out.

As a result, according to a new survey by K9 Magazine - a lifestyle magazine for dog owners - pet owners are often left confused and furstrated when it comes to understanding the fine print of each individual pet insurance policy.

One of the most common causes of frustration according to the survey, which spoke to 200 pet owners in the UK, is being unsure of whether a pet is covered for illness and injury for the duration of their life.

Lifetime pet insurance cover is where the policy protects the animal for all of its life. However, not all policies offer this and as those policies often have lower premiums, they can be attractive to pet owners who base their decisions on price first.

AJ Douglas, a PR rep for a Taxi software firm and someone who has recently researched pet insurance, commented:

"I found the sheer volume of policies on offer to be quite incredible. At first I felt this was a positive sign, but then I realised just how much attention had to be paid to what I can only describe as discreet clauses. Often, two policies would look almost identical and it was only when you really dig down that you see there are some massive differences in what is covered and how long it is covered."

K9 Magazine's survey showed that modern pet owners are more comitted to insuring their dogs than ever before, but they are calling for more transparency from insurers when it comes to up front information on the main / most important aspects of each policy.

Useful Link: BBC Watchdog show covering the topic of pet insurance

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Distributed by Mickel Anderz on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Pet's need no longer suffer with the perils of unncomfortable scratching as a dog shampoo for itchy skin aims to soothe the coats of Britain's scratching pets. As recently covered in the UK's largest pet business directory, the dog shampoo for itchy skin from Perfect Pet Skin is a product that many dog owners will benefit from.

K9 Magazine recently discovered via an online test sample, that thousands of their readers were searching for information on how to stop dogs shedding.

More than 4,000 people have accessed K9 Magazine's tip sheet on dog shedding and vet nurses have claimed that more of their customers are seeking advice and information on products that help dogs with coat conditions.

Vets are keen to stress that an itching dog should first be examined for parasites and other skin conditions, but access to a specialist product designed to ease the skin from itching and irritation can help pets in the short term and over a longer period.

K9 Magazine's associate publisher, Charles Vincent:

"We're always keen to hear and observe what pet problems are troubling our readers. When we noticed just how many people were accessing our articles on dog skin care, particularly topics on dog shedding, we felt it would be important that all pet owners get access to quality information on various products and treatments for dog skin care. Obviously we always recommend dog owners speak with their vet who can access first hand information, but it's very important for our readers to get up to date information on what's out there in terms of products specially designed to assist with a wide variety of pet health problems."

K9 Magazine conducts regular reader surveys and monitors pet industry trends via one of the most popular dog related websites online.

Useful Link: To find out about any dog skin conditions

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Distributed by Frances O'Haram on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.