Pet Goddess

 You can find breeders through referrals from friends and family.  If they are happy with the puppy they have, many will happily recommend their breeder to you.   The breeder may not carry the breed of puppy you are looking for, but they, in turn, can recommend the appropriate puppy breeder or a purebred rescue group looking for owners, a situation which is sadly all too common.  

Many people start out with a cute puppy, but end up with an adult dog they don’t have time for, or any interest in any longer.    One would think they would value something they might have paid literally thousands of dollars for in some cases, depending on the breed.   Still other people have changed circumstances, such as sudden bad health, and can’t keep the dog any longer. So keep in mind that most of the dogs in breed rescue are there through no fault of their own and are just looking for a second chance at love in a safe and happy home.   

Posted October 31, 2008 Comments(0)

You know that you want to have a puppy for a companion. But, where do you get a puppy? There are a few places that will provide a good variety of puppy breeds, and a few places that you should probably try to avoid.

Owners want a puppy that is happy and healthy. The health and temperament of your new puppy depends in part on how well he has been cared for before you acquire him.

Puppies that have been neglected or abused can become problem cases down the road. Also, if you are not prepared to put in the time and effort to train the puppy, you could be creating a problem that might literally come back to bite you.

One place to consider purchasing your puppy from is directly from a dog breeder. This is the most desireable scenario if you are really committed to gettting a particular breed of dog and are willing to pay money for it.

Reputable breeders make a point of giving their dogs the utmost care. You should ask to meet both of the puppy’s paretns, to ensure that it is not a puppy mill.

Confirm with the breeder that vaccinations and other preventive care measures such as deworming have been taken and that puppy has legitimate papers. Papers certify his breed as the correct one, with a pedigree, which is essential if you ever want to show the dog, or breed it yourself one day.

Posted October 29, 2008 Comments(0)

Here is a great article from PetPlace.com  on this topic.

Medicines dangerous to dogs 

Posted October 28, 2008 Comments(0)

Finally, before spending any money on a new puppy, consider going to shelters, or to breed rescue to see if they have any puppies, or young adult dogs of the breed you are interested in. Keep in mind that mutts are nice too! And need safe and loving homes also.

Every rescue dog I have ever ended up with has been toilet-trained already, well-mannered, and so grateful to have a human and home of their own.

Many of them are homeless through no fault of their own, and as the economy goes spiralling downwards, and the credit crunch has meant a great number of foreclosures, it is the dogs and cats who are ending up suffering. And being destroyed if there are not enough homes for them.

So if you are thinking of getting a new pet and are sure you can afford it and understand that it is a lifetime commitment for the life of the pet, however long that may be, visit petfinder.org and see if your new furry friend is waiting there for you.

Posted October 27, 2008 Comments(0)

To get an idea of what breeds of puppy other owners have chosen, look around the neighborhood, ask questions, look on line to find out more about the breed and personality of the type of dog you are interested in.Here is a list of the most popular breeds in the USA. It may help you choose the dog that is right for your lifestyle.

Ten of the most popular dog breeds:

* Labrador Retriever

* German Shepherd

* Golden Retriever

* Beagle

* Akita

* Poodle

* Yorkshire Terrier

* Brittany Spaniel

* Boxer

* Boston Terrier

The puppy breed you choose is something you should think about for some time. Don’t make a hasty decision when it comes to choosing your new best friend. An incompatible puppy or new dog could spell disaster for you and your new pet, who is relying on you to make the right decisions for it, so choose carefully.

Posted October 25, 2008 Comments(0)

You’ll also want to determine the gender of your new puppy. While in most breeds, the male is more aggressive, this is not true of all breeds. Males are thought to be more protective of the home and females as well as children, but both genders can have these characteristics.

Many people are reluctant to get females because of the need to spay the dog, but provided you plan for it accordingly, there should be no trouble. If you adopt an adult dog from a shelter, spaying and neutering will already be taken care of for you.

Plus, if you rescue your new furry chum, you will have the added advantage of knowing something about their personality from their assessment tests.

They are given by the shelters in order to determine if the animal is suitable for adoption, and to what kind of home, for example, one with children, other dogs, cats, and so on.

Posted October 23, 2008 Comments(0)

Many people want a puppy companion, but don’t have the time it takes to tend to them properly, particularly yo groom them. In that case, a Boston terrier or beagle is a good choice, a Bichon or Peke would be a bad choice.

If you don’t want a puppy that will shed a lot, or if you or someone in your house has allergies to pet dander, a long-haired dog is probably out of the question as well. The puppy for you will have short or smooth body hair that only sheds on occasion, which will leave your home cleaner, or might be one of the terriers that needs to be ’stripped’, sort of like being plucked, because they have hair, not fur, which is quite wiry.

There are several hypoallergenic breeds of dog, like the Bichon, certain terriers, and other breeds with low shed volume, like cocker spaniels. Again, these dogs all have varying degrees of grooming required.

Learning to do it yourself is a great way to bond with your pet. Taking them for regular groomings can be an expensive proposition, especially when added onto the cost of overall good care for your pet.

If you want a long-haired breed of puppy, be prepared to vacuum often, maybe even every day in order to keep the hair under control.

Breeds like Weimaraner, Greyhound, Great Dane, Pug, and Dachshund have coats that are sleek and resist constant shedding, and are probably the best choice for someone who wants a short haired breed of dog. Obviously, some of these breeds are much larger than others!

Posted October 21, 2008 Comments(0)

Size is also a consideration with some of the more popular breeds like labradors and golden retrievers. If you are looking for a family-friendly puppy, you may not want to start out with a large breed puppy if you have small children. Large dogs can accidentally injure children and the elderly during play.

If the dog is territorial, like an Akita or a German Shepherd, they may make good guard dogs for your family, but will more than likely not be the best play companions for younger children. One bite or inappropriate teething could cause serious damage.

Small breed puppies are more compatible with children and small living spaces. They remain indoor dogs for the most part and as long as they get lots of love, attention and exercise, these smaller puppies do well.

Choose a breed like Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Beagle, or Pekingese. They love the attention they get from people and are overall friendly companions.

However, Bichons can be bossy with their humans, and beagles can be stubborn, and rather noisy, barking and even howling.

Posted October 19, 2008 Comments(0)

So, you’ve decided that you want a pet. And that pet will be a dog – a puppy to be more exact. Now it’s time for the bigger decision that needs to be made. What breed of dog will your puppy be?

The “breed” decision comes with many considerations. First of all, a potential dog owner needs to think about their own personality as well as the personality of their new best friend. Puppies and their owners should be compatible.

If you are an active, outgoing person, you’ll want a puppy who is the same way. Choosing a breed of dog that is, for lack of a better word, lazy or likes to stay in the house would be an incompatible decision.

A few good choices for an active person are breeds like Retrievers or Collies. These breeds of dog are loyal, like to run, and are friendly around other people, not just their owners.

However, they may also be TOO active, chasing cars, barking, and chewing.

Posted October 17, 2008 Comments(0)

To help have a happy healthy pet the whole family will enjoy, here are some litterbox dos and don’ts.

DOs
# Use a clumping litter (check with your vet for kittens younger than 8 weeks). They might eat it and get a gastrointestinal blockage which could prove fatal.

Also beware of the cedar sawdust litter—my cat would eat it as well because it smelled so nice.

# Scoop the litter box daily for feces and wet or clumped litter.

# Make sure the litter is deep enough, usually 3 to 4 inches. Cats like to dig.

# Make sure there are ample litter boxes in the house, especially if you are a multipet household. One box per cat and floor is commonly recommended.

# Place litter boxes in a quiet place that’s convenient for you too.

# Use a rug or litter mat to catch loose litter so it does not track all over the house.

# Consult your vet if your cat stops using the litter box; they may have a urinary tract issue.

DON’T

# Put the litter box in an open area where there is a lot of activity.

# Change the location of the litter box unless you have to

# Forget to change out your entire litter box contents once a week, or more often if you have a multicat household.

# Ignore changes in your cat’s litter box behavior. Such changes could be behavioral, or could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, or other gastrointestinal issue. If a cat stops eating or drinking for more than a day it can be a sign of something serious.

Posted October 15, 2008 Comments(0)