INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you want your jasmine to grow freely up a wall or fence, your supports should be far enough out that the vines can twine around the supports and grow loosely. Generally, the lowest wire or wooden batten of your support structure should be at least 12 inches (30cm) above soil level. This will help prevent excessive dampness and rot, and make it easier for you to prune the lower parts of the vines. Jasmine plants typically are started in pots, then transferred to the garden once they've started growing vines. Set bamboo canes directly in the pots, and twine the young vines around these canes. Vines should start to appear within 4 weeks. Allow the plant to grow until its roots fill the starter or seedling pot, then move outside in early spring. Leave the vines trained around the bamboo canes when you move your jasmine outdoors. When you plant your jasmine, set it out 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30cm) from the supports to make sure the roots of the plant will be exposed to adequate rainfall. Make sure the plant is 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46cm) away from the wall or any solid structure, so it has enough room to develop a complete root system. Take the bamboo canes from the potted jasmine and weave them through the wires or wooden battens of your support to help train your vines in the right direction. Adjust the canes into a fan shape. This will give each of your vines room to grow before they start crowding and tangling with each other. Establishing a strong pattern early makes pruning easier as the plant grows. Tie the bamboo canes into place on the trellis or other support using gardening twine to help them stay in place. Once you've established the shape for your jasmine to grow, get rid of any outgrowing stems or branches that don't contribute to that shape. Trim once a week or so until the first flowering season to keep the jasmine growing in the direction you want. You may find you need to add a new row of bamboo canes to help train new growth. Remove the bamboo canes when your jasmine has formed thick woody stems. From this point, it should climb in the right direction on its own. Although winter jasmine can be grown vertically, it isn't really a climber. Tying vertical branches to a fence or trellis helps encourage the plant to grow upwards and cover the structure. String or twine are effective to tie in winter jasmine. You can also use twist ties. Be careful not to tie so tightly that you damage the plant.

SUMMARY: Set supports about 2 inches (5.1cm) away from the wall. Start young plants on bamboo canes. Use the canes to angle the vines up the support. Prune away weak growth that detracts from your main framework. Tie in winter jasmine to train the growth.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start your dog on a diet, check with the vet. Many clinics run a dog weight loss program where your pet is weighed and you can get specific instructions about how much to feed your dog. These regular weigh-ins, firm target, and moral support can make you more likely to succeed in putting your dog on an effective diet. Your vet may recommend one of the following diets: High Fiber/Low-Fat Diet: These contain fiber which expand in your dog's stomach, making him feel full. The package instructions should clearly state how much to feed your dog based on a target (goal) weight. Metabolic diets: These are more high tech and feed the genes that improve your dog's metabolism. Increasing metabolism can make your dog burn more calories, causing him to lose weight. Pay attention to how much you're currently feeding your dog. If your dog is fed twice a day, weigh out the total amount so you know how much he's eating. However, if your dog has food constantly available, it's harder to determine how much he's eating. This makes it more difficult to know how much to cut down. If this is the case, look at the food package and see how much it advises feeding a dog at your dog's target rate. For most dogs, the package will advise a weight range. For example, 300 to 350 grams of food a day. You'd want to choose the lower amount of 300 grams. Once you've determined how much your dog needs to eat a day, reduce the amount by 5 to 10%. For example, if you are feeding 300g of kibble a day, 10% of this is 30g, so the new amount is 270g. Feed this reduced amount for one or two weeks and weigh your dog. Hopefully, he loses weight, but if he hasn't, deduct another 5 to 10% from his daily food amount. Weigh your dog again after feeding the reduced amount for another week or two. Don't be upset or worried if the portion size looks small or your dog pesters you for food. This is a normal concern when putting a dog on a diet. If you're really unsettled, you may want to feed a prescription weight loss diet instead. Since you'll be cutting back on your dog's food and increasing exercise, you'll need to offer positive encourage every so often. While you can praise your dog, you can also give him the rare treat. Just be sure to offer something healthy that will also make him feel full and satisfied. Some good options include: Bran or grated vegetable mixed with his food French or runner beans, raw Apples (in moderation) Bananas (in moderation) Get your dog involved in earning his food, rather than just set it out in front of him. Buy a puzzle or activity feeder that you can fill with food. Your dog then moves shapes around or rolls balls around to get the food inside to fall out. This can make your dog more active and mentally engaged. Try to prevent boredom while your dog's on a diet. Keeping his mind occupied will prevent him from thinking about food. Training is also a great way to keep a dog active and prevent boredom. Of course training depends heavily on rewards, so take some of his dinner kibble and set it aside for rewards or give him lots of praising. Weigh your dog once every week or two so you can track any weight loss. This will also indicate whether your diet and routine are working. If he isn't losing, then you can reevaluate what you're doing. Make sure your goals are reasonable and that you're consistent with the regimen. Don't expect sudden drops in weight. Instead, look for slow and steady weight loss which is more sustainable. Smaller dogs should aim to lose no more than four ounces a week while larger dogs can aim for one pound per week. If you have a large dog or do not have access to scales, use a tape measure. Chose a point on the dog such as his girth or his waist and measure around it. Make a note of any landmarks the tape passes over, such as a particular pattern or spot, so you place the tape in the same place each time.

SUMMARY:
Consult with a veterinarian. Determine how much food your dog eats a day. Reduce the amount of food you feed. Offer healthy treats occasionally. Make your dog work for food. Monitor your dog's weight loss.