For the Love of Puppy

A gorgeous, delectable, cute new puppy given out of sheer love to someone can bring much joy and happiness to child or adult alike. The first five minutes are absolutely wonderful; up to the point when the new puppy fouls the living room carpet.

Firstly, many people in their blissful exuberance fail to realise that to own a puppy, comes with nearly as much responsibility as raising your own child. Secondly, one needs get out of one’s comfort zone to clean up after the puppy messes on the carpet. Thirdly, your new puppy needs the staples of life as would your own baby child.

A puppy cannot survive on love alone. The need to water and feed your new puppy will be one of the first considerations. You need to know how old your puppy is and at what stage of development he/she is, in order to feed your puppy the correct food. You cannot assume as some people do; that your diet is good. Therefore, it is a good diet to feed your puppy.

The right food is vitally important or you could find yourself up all through the night with a very sick and whimpering puppy. In addition the subsequent Veterinary bill can set you back $200.00 or more.

The puppy then needs somewhere to sleep and some sort of bedding. A basket or cardboard box lined with an old blanket works fine. Make sure the area is warm and there are no drafts. Puppies can catch colds, coughs and respiratory ailments just like humans.

You then need to be aware that your puppy needs a special environment in which to live. This living space must address his/her eating, sleeping and toileting needs. A puppy will not foul his/her living space; and this needs to be separate from the toileting area. A litter box placed in the opposite corner away from your puppy’s living and eating area should suffice. Some owners use a crate to keep their puppies in and the rules of toileting still apply.

When you observe your puppy needs to do its toilet; put him/her in their litter box and toileting area. Later you can move the litter box outside and show your puppy the new toileting area.

Like your child; your puppy needs to be bathed regularly. Again do not assume products such as family shampoos, soaps and dishwashing detergents are good for bathing your puppy. A small puppy can have allergic reactions and suffer severe skin irritations caused by strong chemicals and toxins. Suitable products developed especially for your puppy can be found at your local Veterinary Clinic, Pet Store and pet area at your local supermarket.

Above all; you need to be loving, sensitive, caring, and observant to your puppy’s every need. This is a trait central to socialization; to assist your puppy in obedience; learning commands; collar and leash training, as well as early potty training. Yelling at your puppy is not recommended or helpful in training your puppy. A Puppy can wander off and sometimes get into trouble e.g. stuck under the house and caught in a wire fence, or wander on the road into traffic. Your puppy can also swallow small articles whole and can choke.

Be ever vigilante that your puppy is toileting regular stools, if he/she does not it could mean puppy has swallowed a large solid object that has caused a blockage and the puppy cannot pass it normally. The short answer in this case is the Veterinary Clinic and resultant cost. Again I use the analogy as to be responsible and watchful of your own child.

Your puppy will also need regular exercise and play. This interaction teaches your puppy boundaries of both good and unacceptable behavior. Interaction with other dogs is also essential to help your puppy become socialised and friendly.

Be also aware that you need to find out when your puppy will need compulsory shots and vaccinations to prevent canine disease. Without vaccinations disease could prove fatal. You will also need to be aware of common infections such as Parvovirus and how best to recognise this. You can get all the relevant information and essential services from your local Veterinary Clinic.

Education is a lifelong learning experience. Having said that; there are many more things your puppy needs to learn. As like every responsible parent, you must also learn to adapt and teach correctly. Therefore, a good book on puppy training and/or puppy obedience training; is an essential aid to achieve success. This reference material is an excellent guide to revisit at any time and whenever the need arises.

Benefits of Adopting a Pet

Are you thinking of getting a new pet? Have you ever considered pet adoption? Adopting a pet is a wonderful option for adding a canine friend into the family. Here are 5 simple reasons why you should choose pet adoption:

1. You’ll save a life Saving a life just may be one of the most rewarding actions in a person’s life. Some pet shelters have to put down animals if they do not get adopted. If you choose to adopt a pet from an animal shelter or animal adoption agency, you are not only saving a precious animal’s life, you are also greatly increasing its quality of life.
2. You’ll save money When you adopt a pet, you are actually saving a lot of money. Animals that have been placed in shelters or taken to animal adoption agencies are almost always spayed or neutered and vaccinated. Those preliminary, but necessary procedures add up when all is said and done. Also, it is relatively inexpensive to adopt a pet from an agency or shelter in comparison to purchasing dogs or cats from a local pet store.
3. You’ll receive a healthy pet As was mentioned above, pets from shelters and adoption agencies are almost always spayed or neutered, and have received their vaccinations as well. This ensures the health and happiness of your future pet. Also, in contradiction to popular belief, many pets who have been placed in shelters have not been mistreated or “done something wrong.” Many pets have been taken there because of people problems, such as divorce, a big move, or they are simply too busy to adequately provide care for a pet.
4. You won’t be supporting puppy mills Many pets that are sold in pet stores or newspaper ads sometimes come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are mass dog-breeding businesses that are harmful to the health of their bred puppies. These facilities sometimes house up to several hundred dogs at a time, thus compromising the health and well-being of a precious puppy. By adopting a pet from a shelter or a pet adoption agency, you are not supporting these often inhumane businesses.
5. You’ll have a large selection Because pet adoption agencies and animal shelters have many pets, there is a wide selection for you to choose from. To make pet shopping easier on potential parents, many pet agencies and shelters have websites that allow people to search for possible pets by their age, sex, size, and breed. This enables families to search from the comfort of their own homes; the hassle of going to noisy and overwhelming shelters and agencies is eliminated.

The satisfaction you will acquire when you adopt a pet is like no other; you will have received a healthy pet, you will save money, you will be supporting a healthy and just cause, you will get the perfect pet for your family, and you will have saved a life. Adopting a pet has lifelong benefits that you will not regret. Give these animals a second chance by allowing them to join your loving family.

Traveling with Your Dog Companion

As you might imagine there are tips for just about any type of pet care or dog care. You will find the following information provided is how to care for your dog during travel. There are of course several modes of travel so you will want to consider everything before taking your dog on a trip.

Dogs can become quite agitated when left alone for too long. They can also become anxious during travel. You need to learn how to relieve some of these problems by preparing for your vacation and the mode you will take. Traveling on a plane is probably the most difficult for a dog to handle. Most dogs will have to be caged, given a sedative that will last most of the flight, and then you will be able to help relieve their anxiety. Some of the smaller dogs can be brought with you on the plane and most often they will not be given a sedative, unless the vet thinks it is necessary. Dogs can get air sick as well so make sure you provide them with plenty of space and water. You may wish to feed them four hours prior to a flight in order to avoid discomfort.

When you are traveling you need to consider the area you are traveling to. There are certain places that cause disease your dog is not vaccinated for. If you have any questions about the vaccinations they have received and may need speak with your veterinarian. You will also want to see your vet about two weeks before you travel to ensure that they are healthy enough for the trip and that you have everything you need as far as vaccinations, medications, and tips for traveling with a dog.

If you are going camping you definitely want to make sure the dog has been treated with a tick and flea medication before leaving. These medications can be purchased through your vet or online from a pet store. Things such as Lyme disease, spotted fever, and other diseases can be on the road when you are camping.

Exercise is also very important especially if you will be traveling by car, truck or RV. They will need to have stops along the way as well as exercise outside of the vehicle during the trip. Even if it is a road trip you need to spend at least twenty minutes every three hours at a rest stop letting the dog out. They will need to have bathroom breaks, water and food during the journey.

Items that you may wish to bring should include: a crate, first aid kit, familiar toys- to relieve anxiety, dog food, treats, their leash, a spare collar, food and water bowls, their tags, vaccination records, and grooming tools. You may also want to have an extra set of tags just in case they loose their collar.

If you are going to leave them in the car during your meal breaks make sure you have provided them with enough air, food, shade, and water. It is best to park in the best-shaded area even if you have to walk a little to the restaurant. They are already going to be a little anxious so adding to it is not a good thing. You may want to bring them to the outside of the restaurant for exercise where they can see you and you can see them. You will of course need to make sure they are tied to a post of some sort. Taking your dog on a trip can be very demanding for them so you need as much comfort as possible.