Best Puppy Tips

Exercise, exercise, exercise.

Build it in to your lifestyle. Get up early if need be, go out late for a walk if that’s what fits your schedule best. Just do it! Plan on exercising your puppy vigorously at least three times a day. If your puppy is exhausted and naps quietly after exercise three times a day, you are right on schedule.

Why is this important? When your puppy is happily tired, it won't be focusing on destructive behaviors and boredom-induced behaviors. The puppy will have a good association with lying down and relaxing while in the house after exercise times. That is a strong foundation for more good household behaviors. In the wild, puppies rarely have a dull moment - this is critical to their development, both physical and mental. Puppies that are not getting enough exercise tend to be unruly, bored, destructive and overly vocal - don't set your puppy up for this!

Take your puppy out on a leash often for neighborhood walks. Be careful to avoid other dogs and areas frequently trafficked by dogs too where dog urine and feces can be present, until after the puppy has completed all the needed shots at your veterinarian's office.

Manage your pup's environment.

If your dog never gets into trouble, he won't even know how to do naughty things. Make this a reality by supervising your puppy all the time. When you can't be there, confine the puppy in a safe kennel or playpen where he can't reach electrical cords, your belongings or anything of value.

Your puppy should be welcome in the house any time - with good management you will have no need to scream at your puppy! Do not let your puppy have the run of the house! Even at six months of age, puppies are not really fully housetrained so plan on keeping up on the supervision through the first year.

Use a tie-down to keep your puppy within your view and out of trouble for short sessions while you prepare meals, do housework and socialize with friends and family. Tie-downs are not for use over an extended period, just for when you are there to supervise but you need your hands free.

A tiedown is a two-foot length of coated steel cable that has a clip on one end for the pup's collar. The other end attaches to an eyehook in the floor or wall, or to a very heavy piece of furniture. Give the puppy lots of toys to play with and tasty snacks while on the tie-down. Your pup will learn that the best thing to do is relax, lie down, and play with toys while he's in your home. Don't forget to praise him and give him treats for lying quietly!

Encourage your puppy to bring found objects and toys to you.

Always lavish praise on the puppy for bringing you anything - even a yucky thing. Why? Puppies like to pick up and eat anything they find. You will find your puppy with anything in its mouth from cigarette butts, litter, broken glass, mud and animal droppings. If your pup knows that you would like to know about these things, it's much, much easier to keep him safe if he's not running away from you with that stuff locked in his teeth.

So, teach your puppy that you like to be brought dog toys and anything else - eventually you can cut back on the praise for the yucky things, and the dog will self-select to just play with nice things that you like him to play with. It works!

Another benefit of this is that your puppy will be right on the way to learning "fetch". This skill is one of the best ways to exercise your puppy or adult dog. The sooner your puppy learns to fetch, the better. Even non-retrieving breeds can do it if they are taught how - you'll be glad you did.

Let your puppy have lots of supervised playtime with other puppies.

There are few things more important to your dog's development. Immediately find a playgroup or "puppy class" to involve your puppy in. Contact your veterinarian, boarding kennel, animal regulation office or humane society for tips on who to call. Your puppy will need to have had all its shots already, avoid delaying on doing that - two weeks are needed after the last booster shot for full immunity benefits to kick in, so plan ahead!

Letting your pup play with others of the same age give it so many valuable lessons about how to play and get along. Play is an enormously important stress reliever for your puppy. Playing with other puppies is much better for your pup than playing with adult dogs. Do whatever it takes to join a supervised puppy play group - you both will learn a lot, guaranteed!

Anticipate lots of chewing.

All dogs, regardless of breed, need to chew hard and often when their adult teeth come in. This process starts at 3 months of age and continues through the first year and even longer in large breeds that take more time to mature. Stock up on durable chew toys so you can have plenty of them in any room or area your puppy is allowed in.

The need to chew is strong, so be ready! Don't scold the puppy if he finds something undesirable to chew on - just scold yourself for letting it get within reach! If your puppy really seems to be in pain from teething, soak a heavy washcloth in chicken broth-tinged water, roll up tight and freeze. Your dog will have a great tasting chew toy that will help numb his sore gums, and it's even reusable! Take it away after 20 minutes or so as it starts to thaw. Refreeze and do it again.

Choosing and Understanding Dog Breeds

Genetically Modified Organisms!

Humans, over centuries of controlled breeding, have engineered all of the ancient and contemporary domestic dog breeds known today. The results are dogs that have overwhelmingly strong instincts to perform desired helpful tasks with excellence due to their specifically developed physical and mental traits. All information in this article applies to mixed breeds as well, since one or more breeds are usually dominant in the mix and will exert powerful influence. Mixed breed dogs can sometimes be trickier to understand since latent influences may not be expected. Please read on:

 Understanding dog breeds is a life or death matter...

Many thousands of dogs each year wind up as unclaimed strays in animal shelters, or are brought in and surrendered by frustrated owners due to unacceptable behavior. This usually is due to the breed being unsuitable for its owner's lifestyle. Dogs have been taken to shelters due to the following

• Runs away from home - no surprise since the dog is an un-neutered hound breed, engineered to dig, escape its leash, leap fences, chase prey and follow his nose!
• Bites the neighbors - no surprise since it's an unconfined, untrained guarding breed!
• Destroys the house while alone all day - no surprise since the dog is a high-energy herding breed, engineered to take orders and to work all day, every day!
• Won't listen - no surprise because the dog is a hardheaded, single-minded terrier, bred to hunt down and kill rats independently, with no supervision!
• Is a lousy guard dog - again, no surprise since it's a companion breed expected to be friendly and to love all visitors politely!

What does it mean to me?

The task which each breed has been engineered to do has a profound effect on the dog's outlook and skills. For example, a dog developed to be an excellent guard has a powerful bark and bite, keen hearing and is suspicious of strangers. By contrast, a breed developed to be a royal lady's companion dog has a sweet, cuddly, infantile psychology fits into a dog carrier and is friendly by nature. A dog designed to herd livestock must have unflagging high energy, an uncanny ability to read body language, and a keen desire to take direction from its handler. Further, a breed of dog developed to provide entertainment by fighting other dogs has no need to be attuned to the wishes of humans, but instead has innate and intense aggression towards other dogs, a high pain threshold and a devastating bite.

Additionally, many breeds are notoriously in need for specific extra attention lest serious medical concerns arise. For example, many people fall in love with the wrinkles of breeds like the Pug, Shar-pei and Basset Hound. But those cute wrinkles often harbor fungus that, when unchecked, often can trigger ulcers, foul odors and other problems - health concerns that could mean big expenses down the road - are you OK with that?

Learn about dog breeds - and stay out of trouble!

With this in mind, find out all you can about a breed of dog before you take the plunge and get one. This is also true even of mixed breed dogs, since one or more breeds will still have a large influence over the mixed breed dog. Develop a sense of the tasks you would like your dog to do BEFORE buying. Would you like your dog to guard the house - or be friendly to all visitors at your home office? Would you like your dog to follow along while you ride your Segway - or be happy in a tiny apartment? These kinds of thoughts and planning ideas are critical to your dog's happiness with you. Simply put, don't plan on making your dog into something it is not. It probably won't work.

Where can I start learning about it?

Your local animal shelter is an excellent source of information. Ask questions, get phone numbers - and listen to the true stories - shelters are where problems resulting from poor choices come home to roost. Tragically, the innocent animals always pay the price of human errors. Benefit from these people's experience and you won't be part of the problem! Keep an open mind - try to avoid cruising the kennel area at first. Don't fall in love until you are well versed on your situation and your needs.

Keep learning until you feel informed about dog breeds, and about your choices. The knowledge you gain will be insurance towards a healthy and satisfying long-term relationship with your dog.

The Internet and the library are also wonderful resources, especially information from the many rescue groups that specialize in handling one certain breed - often these people know all about that breed and will be very happy to share what they know. Many of these groups have extensive Web sites and newsletters with stories of successes and pitfalls with regard to their focus breed.

Another outstanding way to get top-notch information about dog breeds is to travel to a large dog show and spend the entire day. Walk the back paddock and bench areas, talk to the breeders and handlers and take pictures! The show people and their dogs will most likely be very busy and distracted, but there is a wealth of information and observations to be gathered by visitors who are patient, polite and friendly.

What makes dogs happy?

Exercise

Dogs that are frequently on the move are generally very mentally stimulated, happy and healthy. Give your dog as much exercise as you possibly can! Your dog should get at least 60 minutes of good brisk walking a day or more, every day. Having access to a big yard generally is no substitute for active, directed walking, running and fetch.

There are great gadgets that can help quite a bit with exercising your dog such as the Frequent Flyer dog toy or a tennis racquet for good long throws of a tennis ball. To get your dog or puppy interested in fetching, use treat as a reward and keep the distance very short at first - like under a foot so you can be quick to offer a treat reward for picking up the ball. Then as the dog catches on, increase the distance and substitute another throw for a food treat - your dog will be addicted to fetching for life and you will have an easy way to keep the dog moving without wearing yourself out.

Chew Toys

No puppy or dog should be without a large selection of chew toys. In the wild, puppies play with inedible remains of a kill such as hide, bones and horns. In addition to fun and games, this helps them to establish dominance relationships with their pack mates. It also is very important for healthy gums and emerging teeth. Encourage this natural tendency in your home with good-quality, safe dog toys that your dog can call his own.

Dogs that get into trouble for chewing on inappropriate things such as curtains, shoes, etc. often have been deprived of appropriate toys - don't fall into that trap - get some dog toys and praise your dog for chewing them!

Being part of the pack

In the wild, being left alone means most likely that the dog will die. That is not an overstatement. Predators, starvation or exposure kills dogs shunned from their pack, usually. For this very good reason, puppies and adult dogs that are left alone are very distressed and often destroy things, dig, scream, bark and yodel so that the pack can find and rescue them. Deal with this natural behavior by minimizing the time your dog is alone and by training your pet to calmly accept alone time. Crate training is the best way to accomplish this.

Don't treat your dog like a criminal by penning him outdoors! Being indoors with you tells your dog that it is a valued member of the family - please don't plan on penning your dog outside so that it feels excluded, or problem behavior is guaranteed. The saddest dogs we have ever seen are outdoor-only "hunting dogs". Often they chew bloody wounds into themselves, are infested with fleas, scream and bark night and day, pace in endless circles and moreover are absolutely heartbroken and have to live like criminals - it's not fair to exclude a dog from your "pack" like that.

Flea Control

Oh, the torture of flea bites! Infestation of fleas can lead to serious health problems like anemia, bloody sores from chewing and severe allergies causing loss of hair, body odor and "elephant" skin. Don't let this happen - nowadays there is no excuse! Talk to your vet about the new systemic flea repellant products - it simply could not be easier to keep your pet and your home totally flea-free. These easily applied products are affordable and well-tolerated - there is simply no excuse any more for having fleas on your dog.

Flea control is now finally simple and easy - pet owners rejoice! Talk to your veterinarian today about modern flea control if you are not already using it.

A Job to Do/Training and Praise

Domestic dogs are genetically engineered to perform an intense task, whether it's herding livestock, fetching in icy water, digging into rat holes or providing full-time companionship. For a dog to sit alone all day doing nothing is extremely unnatural. It's so unnatural that it drives dogs crazy and makes them chew themselves bloody, bark all day, dig holes, run away from home or other destructive behaviors.

You can make your dog very happy and fulfilled by giving him a job to do, training him to be a good citizen and giving him lots of happy praise. Dogs are insecure - let them know how much you love them by lavishing them with praise whenever they do something that pleases you. Don't hold back!

Besides the necessary formal obedience training, teach your dog how to do a trick just for fun, such as how to sit up on his hind legs for a treat or to shake hands. Teach him to bring in the morning paper or roll over. Having a job to do for you - and the resulting warm praise - will be very psychologically satisfying for both you and the dog. Dogs love to do the right thing for people - please teach them how.

Play Time with Other Dogs

The one thing that people can't do for their dogs is to be another dog. Many communities have "dog parks" - fenced, safe areas where dogs can lawfully run off-leash, play and socialize. If you are lucky enough to be near one of these parks, support it by picking up extra droppings while you are there and helping to spread the word of it's availability among other dog owners. If your community is lacking a dog park, be an activist toward starting one by contacting other dog owners via your local pet stores, veterinary hospitals, boarding kennels and your local parks and recreation department.

If this is not possible, find some compatible playmates for your dog in the neighborhood so that he can romp and play with other dogs. It's very healthy for your dog to engage in the kind of dogs-only, boisterous play that they love and it cuts way down on any aggressive tendencies that a dog may have against it's own kind.

Remember, dogs do things together that can be embarrassing to people but are perfectly natural for them. They like to sniff each other, play rough, mount each other and roll around in the dirt - just let it happen! Don't yell and try to boss him around or "censor" your dog's behavior at the dog park - just smile and let your dog be a "real" dog when he's playing with his best pals.

Elder Care

Dogs age at the all-too-rapid rate of approximately seven years to each one human year. Inevitably your dog's elderly years will be a part of your life. Make this time a great part of your dog's life by planning ahead. Your dog will likely become incontinent (wet the bed) and may need help getting up the stairs and into the car. Spend time discussing treatment options with your veterinarian when your older dog begins to experience stiffness, vision loss, hearing loss, excessive gas or other common age-related health issues.

New Sights and Sounds

A well-socialized dog is relaxed most of the time in any situation. The essence of socialization is to expose your dog to a wide variety of people, places and situations while showing by example that everything is fine. Dogs look to their owners for an example and so your calmness during times of stress is a key factor in socialization.

Unfortunately, owners can unwittingly reinforce skittishness by stroking the dog and saying "good dog, it's OK" when the dog shows fear, in an attempt to be reassuring. This inadvertently trains the dog to be afraid. When a large passing truck unsettles your dog, for example, that is the time to insist on good behavior and act casual. Smile and say your dog's name while asking the dog to be still or to sit. Praise the dog for showing the desired attitude - bold, willing, relaxed and attentive.

Let your dog think that a noisy delivery truck is a lucky charm by giving him a treat as it goes roaring by. Give your dog plenty of chances to learn about this by walking on busy city streets, near livestock and other dogs, and where they can be around strangers. The more friendly people your dog meets, the better. If someone you encounter is not at all interested in the dog, make that OK too by calmly walking by. There are lots of non-dog-lovers out there and they should be given a wide berth.

We have all seen dogs that are terrified by commonplace events and sounds. It's sad, and it can be corrected with the owner's time and firm patience. Failure to properly socialize your dog makes it much less fun for the dog to accompany you on trips and errands and can be a real liability if your dog snaps at people when it's afraid. Spend the time needed up front to develop a confident, socialized dog and you will both reap the benefits for many years.

A Comfortable Bed

Yes, it's true, dogs love to sleep. Many adult dogs enjoy calmly sleeping for many hours of the day if they get enough exercise. For that reason, get your dog a good-quality bed. Make sure that it's large enough that his head does not flop off the side all the time as he stretches out. Make it a soft bed with lots of padding to protect the dog's elbows and hips as it gets older. Keep the dog bed very clean and fresh smelling.

A bed with a removable, machine-washable cover will be very easy to clean. Many times the dog's bed is a source of unpleasant doggy odor throughout the house, so make cleaning the bed a part of regular housekeeping.

Puppies have a tendency to chew lovingly on their beds. For puppies, often an old towel and newspapers will suffice inside their kennel crate until they cease chewing.

If your dog is crate trained, as many of the happiest dogs are, provide a removable soft, machine-washable crate pad to keep the crate comfortable and inviting inside. Make sure that any dog bed or crate is positioned away from drafts and from too much foot traffic so the dog can really relax and get some peace.

In a household with children, it is imperative that all children be strictly disallowed from teasing or pestering the dog while it rests in its bed or in its crate! Doing so can result in a bite wound to the child as it gets on the dog's last nerve. Teach children and their visitors to steer clear of the dog's bed entirely.

These are just a few suggestions to make your dog happy and content. What do you do to make your dog happy? Let us know in the comments below.

One of the first things to do after bringing home your new furry bundle of joy is to give it a name. Naming a dog can be a very personal matter as well as a very difficult thing to do. You probably want the name to be indicative of some of the traits that your puppy or dog exhibits such as fluffy if it is a very fluffy pup, Sir Barks-a lot if your new friend has a tendency to be very vocal, or flash if he or she zips around your home in a blur. If you’re just bringing your new dog home though, you probably haven’t spent enough time with him or her to really know their character, making naming him or her a difficult task.

A dog’s name is very important to both it and you. It will give the dog both an identity and a way in which it can respond to you when you call it. The name will last for the rest of its life time, and will more than likely be mentioned in dozens of Christmas cards and Facebook statuses. Its name will ultimately be a reflection on you. With that said, this is a very difficult task that is laid out before you. We’re here to offer a few suggestions with our new dog name generator. Hopefully some of these suggestions will strike the perfect chord with you and your family, if not, feel free to give it a few tries and possibly combine some of the names until you find one that works best for you. If our generator gives you a name that does work, please feel free to email us and let us know, we always love hearing from all of you.

‘Man’s best friend’: a term that apparently first originated in a courtroom speech made by George Graham Vest in 1870 as he represented a farmer whose dog was shot by a neighbour. Ever since then the statement has come to symbolise the everlasting bond that men make with their furry companions; the true friendship that is mutually shared between one man and his dog.

However, although we all know that a man’s best friend is undoubtedly his dog, it is still questionable as to what breed of dog that friend should be. Many would argue that the breed is often determined by what traits are required by the man from his dog such as protection, companionship or even a way to improve his credibility.

This blog will explore some of the top breeds that men choose to be their companions and will explain the reasons why.

The Husky

Formally the Husky originated from the Arctic where it was bred specifically as a tough dog to pull sleds long distances across tough terrain. Because of this breeding history, they are very energetic animals which make them very playful and lively. These days they are commonly kept as pets and are favoured because of their interesting working capabilities and their friendly personalities. However they are highly intelligent working animals and so do need to be trained and exercised regularly to keep them occupied. Interestingly if you are interested in getting a Husky, you could always teach it to say ‘I love you’ as showcased on YouTube, or as it is perhaps more accurately recorded ‘I wrove roo’.

Boxer

Originally bred in Germany, the Boxer has become a popular dog across the globe; especially in the United States. It is a short haired, sturdy dog which has a very distinct head which houses a strong bite. The breed has gained a reputation for being “headstrong” although this is usually because they have not been trained well by their owners or have been mistreated. Despite this they have a great temperament and are often great with children if trained well. They, like the Husky are active and playful and so they do need to be exercised regularly but their working capabilities explain why they are so popular. The Boxer is often prized by some men as a best friend because the breed offers them protection or it improves their street credibility in their area, making them feel safer, despite the dog being completely harmless.

Golden Retriever

Originally bred in Scotland as gun-dogs to bring back game that have been shot down during a hunt, the Golden Retriever has become a popular and well-loved family pet as their versatile personalities have made them well-suited to the home environment. Like most medium sized dogs such as the Husky and the Boxer, the Golden Retriever is an active and energetic animal which needs regular exercise to keep it occupied. Interestingly, the Retriever is a very intelligent animal which means that it can be used to support man in many roles such as acting as a guide dog, hearing dog or even as a search and rescue animal. They are loyal pets and have a beautifully coloured coat which needs taking care of by looking out for fleas and other infestations to ensure that your best friend does not fall ill.

Overall many people believe that the Golden Retriever is the perfect breed to be Man’s best friend; although it is of course up to him to choose his own pal depending upon what he wants from his pedigree chum.

Sally Dimmock is a writer who believes that all men should have a dog as their best friend. However, she recommends that if you do get a dog, it is vital that you check for fleas regularly and use Frontline flea dog treatment if you find any of the little critters on your dog’s skin or fur.