Pet Goddess

Bowls for water and food are needed for feedings.  One set will do and they don’t have to be fancy, just durable.  Place them in the area where puppy will regularly receive his meals, and try to keep to a feeding schedule and routine.  Again, read his bag of kibble, measure out the portions as indicated for size and breed for a day, and have the dry food at the ready for him. You puppy or new dog should NEVER be fed table scraps. Puppy will also need somewhere to sleep.  It may be cute the first few weeks to have puppy in the bed with you, but that can get rather annoying, especially if he soils in the house, and can often lead to mixed messages.     Puppy can toss and turn as he likes in his own bed.  Puppy may go through several beds before it’s all said and done, with chewing, pee and poo, and so on, so spending a lot on the first one is not advised.

Posted November 20, 2008 Comments(0)

Bringing puppy home is a momentous occasion.  Everyone looks forward to the new addition to the family.  But, before your new puppy or dog comes home, there are a few things you need to make sure that you purchase. Most of the items that you purchase for puppy will be one-time purchases.  Acquiring these items on sale at pet department stores can save a ton of money.  Clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper will provide cost-cutting savings for you as well.  Puppies need a balanced diet.  Don’t buy puppy food because the commercials say that pets deserve gourmet food.  It does not know the difference, and does not need variety.  A simple bag of high-quality puppy formula kibble will do, so long as the dog does not demonstrate allergies.  If it throws up, refuses to eat, or is generally very gassy, you may have to think about changing its food. Some dogs can react to poultry, while lamb and rice is generally considered to be a hypoallergenic food suited to all stomachs. Dry food is recommended for puppies rather than the wet, which might spoil if it is not all eaten.   The brand that you choose should be based on nutritious ingredients, and as Whole Dog Journal recommends, single source protein and carbohydrate, as opposed to a huge long list of ingredients including meat by products, is ideal.  If you are not sure which to choose, find out what your dog was eating before it came to you, or ask your vet for suggestions.

Posted November 18, 2008 Comments(0)

One other thing to consider is to ,make sure the name is easy to spell and pronounce, when you take him to the vet or have to board him, and always make sure your animal is wearing a tag.  

You might even consider microchipping your dog just to be on the safe side, so if it ever wanders, it can be reunited with you easily so long as someone turns it into a vet or shelter. 

Take your time when naming puppy.  Consider his behavior and personality, but above all, treat him with dignity when it comes to naming him.  He’ll thank you for taking the time to consider a good name for many years to come.

Posted November 16, 2008 Comments(0)

Dog experts recommend short names that end in vowel sounds.  Most commands don’t end in vowel sounds, so puppy won’t get confused when he’s called.   If you own a Dachshund, you can name him “Hero” like a hero sandwich.  These dogs always remind me of a sausage without the bun.  The name is short, easy to remember, and not disrespectful to puppy. Actually, it is quite a brave name for your little guy.Below is a list of the more popular names for dogs.  Choose a name from this list or come up with your own.

* Max

* Lady

* Lucy

* Princess

* Rusty

* Rocky

* Buster

* Shelby

* Jake

* Ginger

* Sandy

* Sophie

* Sparky

* Buddy

* Missy

Posted November 14, 2008 Comments(0)

If names are too long, puppy won’t remember it, and others might not either.  One simple rule to make choosing a name for your puppy easier is to keep it to three or less syllables. One syllable is ideal, especially if you have to call the name quickly. Also, think about what your puppy’s name may sound like to him or her.  If it sounds like a command, he may take off running or jump at the mailman instead of sitting down.   

Puppy names that are similar to the commands you give can be confusing to your pup.  If you use these commands:  sit, run, stop, quiet, stay, heel, roll over, and fetch, don’t use puppy names like Fletch, Kit, Sun, Bill, and Cole.  Pets are not people, but they do deserve respect as another member of the family.  You are supposed to be welcoming them into your home and your life.  Names like Butt, Loser, Dummy, and Nitwit are demeaning. Four letter words are also inappropriate, and not ones you want to shout when you are walking down the street or in a crowded park. 

Nasty names encourage teasing from others who come in contact with your puppy, and disrespect.  Most animals don’t like to be teased, especially dogs.  They can respond by biting or pouncing on the unfortunate teaser.   They can also sense the energy behind the way you speak to it and the words you use, so anything negative should be discouraged. 

Posted November 12, 2008 Comments(0)

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)