Dog owners today have become more wary about the type of dog food they feed their beloved pets, after recent contaminated dog food scares. For many, natural dog foods have become the products of choice, not only for their safe, healthy ingredients, but because they are just as easy as traditional commercial products.

One of the best ingredients for natural dog food is meat. Dogs require protein in their diet and the best source of it is meat. Select fresh meat from the butcher or a meat processor. You'll be able to get bulk quantities at better prices and you can have the meat cut or ground to your specifications.

Natural dog food helps your pet maintain better health. There are a number of ingredients to choose from when natural dog food is made. Meats can be used, although it is preferable that they be boneless. Grains are also a great ingredient. There are also certain vegetables that are beneficial for your pet.

Some vegetables should be selected to add. Cucumber, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, squash, parsnips, yams, beets, sweet potatoes and broccoli are some of the best vegetables for your dog. These vegetables provide the nutrients necessary for your dog. Choosing vegetables that are fresh is also very important.

Produce can be added as a supplement to the meat. However, a number of vegetables which humans can digest properly will not agree with your canine companion. Spicier items including onions and peppers are known to cause stomach problems. In extreme cases, animals have suffered internal damage from the wrong vegetables.

It is best not to over feed your dog. Determine how much to feed your dog each day by taking its weight and activity level into consideration. Aim for a consistent amount of food fed at consistent times each day. This will develop a routine for your pet. Many people cook their own dog food using recipes for dog food that were found on the internet. Just like people, controlling the ingredients and eliminating the fillers and preservatives will improve your dog's health.

If you want your pet to have food that is higher quality, try Sojos food. The food produced in higher in vitamins and minerals that other prepackaged dog food. The ingredients are food grade and the preparation methods used preserve their nutritional value.

Meat is considered the best natural dog food. Meat protein is required and preferred by dogs. A butcher or meat processor will be able to give you the freshest meat. Other advantages are that you will be able to buy in bulk and get a better price, and you can have it cut in any way your like, or ground, as per your dog's preference. You can make his meal by chopping meat and vegetables up into small chunks and serve it raw, you can find many recipes for dog foods on the internet. If you want your pet to have food that is higher quality, try Sojos food.

- Melinda Smith

Dating And Courting… What's The Difference?

Christian dating and Christian courting are often thought of as one and the same. However, dating is a more casual relationship that is done for the fun of companionship while Christian courting is the serious and active pursuit of a serious relationship with the ultimate goal of marriage.

So how do Christian singles decide whether they want to participate in Christian dating or Christian courting and how do they know the difference?

When Christian singles begin to date it is assumed that the relationship is to be casual and fun. There is no pressure to become serious or discuss serious issues. To do so would be to talk about commitment and those involved in Christian dating relationships are generally opposed to discussions of commitment.

Couples involved in Christian dating relationships usually spend a lot of time alone with each other. This opens the door for temptation.

Most dating relationships, including Christian dating relationships, usually involve a high level of physical intimacy. Holding hands, deep kissing and even some pre-sexual acts are often part of the Christian dating relationship. These acts satisfy the desire for intimacy and can preclude getting to know someone on a deep and spiritual level. The need for physical intimacy becomes the ultimate goal of the relationship, not the desire for the closeness of marriage.

As opposed to Christian dating, Christian courting begins as a quest to get to know each other well enough to know whether or not they are compatible enough to consider marriage. Quite often it begins as friendship and progresses slowly as couples get to know more and more about each other.

Emotional intimacy is stressed in a Christian courtship rather than physical intimacy of a Christian dating relationship. Rather than spending their time alone, a couple spends time together in the company of others.

The other people could be a group of friends, another Christian couple or even one of the individuals' families. It does not matter who the couple spends time with, it only matters that the couple does not spend too much time alone with each other.
By spending time with other people, the couple keeps the temptation to get involved in a physical relationship at bay. Unlike Christian dating, Christian courting should allow the couple to enjoy each other's company without the pressure to 'take things to another level.

Without the pressures of a physical relationship, a couple can explore the important issues related to marriage. These issues include such important factors as relationships with Christ, life goals. Also important is the issue of children, not just whether or not to have them but also how they will be raised. Factors such as education and discipline style should be addressed at this time to avoid conflict in the future.

Additionally a couple should discuss such important issues as denomination preferences and family traditions. Getting these issues settled before marriage can stave off many disagreements in the future.
While the Bible does not specifically address Christian dating or Christian courting, Christian courting comes closer to the Biblical pattern of finding a spouse. Courting allows the Christian singles to get to know one another in a safe and moral setting. It eliminates the pressure that physical intimacy can place on a relationship and helps keep emotion from clouding their judgment.

Christian singles should carefully examine the differences between Christian dating and Christian courting. If they are currently not interested in marriage, perhaps they should avoid all relationships other than friendships with members of the opposite sex. And if they are serious about marriage, they should give Christian courting a try.