Pet Goddess

What will you call your new companion?  He may be brown with long ears, short, with a coat like snow, or tall and muscular. So you might want to name it according to what it looks like, Patch, Snowy, Snoopy.  

Whatever you decide, the fact is that choosing a name is a big decision.  Whatever you call the dog, that name will belong to your dog for the rest of his life, and wil be the one you have to call and it has to answer to as you train it to be a happy and well-adjusted animal. 

As humans, we select names for our children based on heritage and meaning.  You can do this with your puppy, but it is not necessary.   

Puppy doesn’t care that “Lily” is a beautiful flower or that “Jack” has English origins.  He just wants to know what you want him to respond to when you call. 

One rule of thumb for puppy naming is to keep it simple.  It may be cute and unusual to name a dog “Crouching Tiger”, but it isn’t practical.

Posted November 10, 2008 Comments(0)

 If you work with registered breeders, your kennel club will most likely offer health and dog insurance in case of accident or loss.  With pet shops or side-of-the-road breeders, you may not know what you are getting until it is too late, there is no ‘money-back guarantee’, and you might get stuck with all sorts of vet’s bills.    The most important thing is not the dog’s looks, but that it is healthy, and you have the ability to raise It  to be a happy and well-adjusted animal.  Knowing where to buy a puppy is as important as what breed of puppy to buy.   Take advice from trusted friends about reputable breeders.  If in doubt, visit the humane society or dog rescue groups.  They will be glad to help in your search for the perfect puppy companion.   And don’t forget to consider a young adult rescue dog.  There are many rescues available through the economic crisis, who are homeless through no fault of their own.    Go to http://www.petfinder.com/ for more information on shelters and breed rescue groups in your area. You could just find the puppy your adult dog of your dreams sooner than you think. 

Posted November 8, 2008 Comments(0)

 No one wants to have to give a dog back, of course, but you also need to know what your limitations are and what is practical for you depending on your personal situation. A lively puppy may not be a big deal if you live in a house, but it can be a nightmare in a small apartment. 

In your puppy search, steer clear of pet shops and puppy mills.  Unfortunately, pet shops are usually supplied by puppy mills.  These breeders do it purely for the money. 

They treat their dogs like livestock, keeping them in cages, breeding the females over and over again in order to produce more puppies.  

You might get  a good dog cheaply if it is a male, and many of the females end up in rescue when they are seven or eight and no longer able to produce large litters of pups. 

In some cases, they are ignorant of any knowledge about the dogs they breed, and give only a minimum amount of veterinary care.   

This could spell doom for your puppy if he is predisposed to any life-threatening diseases.  Veterinarians can perform preventive care on breeds that can suffer certain conditions.  You need to thoroughly research the breed of dog you are interested in, in order to become aware of any major cause of health concern before you get your puppy. 

Posted November 6, 2008 Comments(0)

 The advantage of getting one from a shelter is that they are often put through many tests to determine their character and temperament, so you will know a lot about them prior to adopting them.  

Are they good with kids? Cats? Other dogs? Lots of people and activity in the house?  This will not be like getting a puppy and having no idea what its personality will be.  

The humane society shelters puppies that are waiting for you to give them a good home.  You may even find a purebred amongst the group. Choose carefully.   

Don’t choose a large breed puppy because he gives you the “sad eye” and then later find out that he barks all night to your neighbors’ dismay and your own misery. 

Posted November 4, 2008 Comments(0)

 Many puppies are dropped off by owners at the humane society.  The humane society has gotten a bad rap as a place for unwell strays and difficult dogs.   

This is NOT always so.  Many puppies end up at humane societies because their previous owner didn’t take their decision to have a pet seriously.   

Again, they go for dogs based on looks rather than personality and how they will fit in with everyone’s generally busy lifestyle. 

Many times it’s something as simple as the previous owner has become sick and can no longer care for the animal properly. Otherwise the animal is healthy and was well cared for and loved prior being taken to the humane society.   

There can be many other reasons a puppy may end up in a humane society, so be sure to ask lots of questions about any puppy you may be considering getting. 

Posted November 2, 2008 Comments(0)