Caring for Dogs and Puppies
72Dogs and Puppies
Dogs can be the highlight of your life if you give them the chance. But not just any dog will do. You can't just grab up a dog from the street and assume it'll be your best friend forever. I mean, yea, it's possible, but it's not always the case. Usually, there's a dog for each person.
Because dogs have general characteristics by breed, some of those traits just fit better in your life than the traits of another breed.
I suggest doing plenty of research before bringing a pet home. I suggest that with any pet of any species. Yes, dogs seem pretty simple- you feed, walk, and train them. But, what you don't know is what will cause concerns when you bring the new pup home.
How to Choose a Dog
When trying to find a family pet, you may be leery of particular breeds from the stories from the news. Well, I hate to break it to you, some of those breeds make great family pets. There are a few different ways that you may want to consider before picking a dog breed for your family.
Before choosing a dog breed or a mix of a particular dog breed, you should do your research about the breed. Although, not all dogs within a breed will have all the characteristics, it's best to know what the typical breed characteristics are before choosing a dog that you can't handle.
Find out the typical breed characteristics and basic problems you may encounter with the different dog groups that are classified by the AKC. These traits are generally present in both pure bred dogs and mixes.
When choosing a new puppy, or dog, you may want to try out these temperament tests to determine dependence, independence, submissiveness, dominance, prey drive, sensitivity to sound, and retrieval drive. These different temperaments will determine which puppy will be best for you and your family.
There are so many myths about adopting dogs that it's rather ridiculous. Generally speaking, though, find out the basic pros and cons for adoption and purchasing.
Check out a few pros and cons towards mix breed and pure breed dogs.
Puppy Tips
Puppies are probably one of the cutest baby animals, domestically speaking that is. Find a few puppy basics and several cute puppy pictures.
Be aware of the online puppy scams before you agree to pay for a puppy that you've only seen online. Unless, you have worked with the breeder in the past or know someone who has, I'd be very wary.
Most kids beg and beg for a new dog, but on most occasions, the parents absolutely refuse. Find out a few tips that may (or may not) help you to convince your parents that it's time for a dog.
Puppies seem simple, but what all should you consider before getting your new puppy. Learn vital tips for preparing for a puppy- the do's and the don't's.
When training a puppy, it's best to know how they learn. You won't be teaching an adult how to sit, stay, and roll over, so it's best to know how to work on their level in order to have a successfully trained dog.
House training a puppy can be hard work. The most effective house training method is crate training, but there are a few alternatives that you could try. Just remember that you should never punish your dog for an accident and never push his nose in the soiled area.
Puppies can be pretty expensive with initial purchases of the bed, collar, leash, toys, treats, etc. But then you have to think you have to buy larger collars, new toys, more treats, dog food, and vaccinations. Puppies can get pretty expensive over time.
Thinking about getting a puppy or just recently brought home a puppy? Well, find out what shots your puppy is going to need and why.
All puppies go through the God awful teething phase, some worse than others, but it's always there. Find a few tips to dealing with this phase before you lose all your new shoes.
Puppies tend to get into everything, and in order to prevent your loveable, yet smelly furball running throughout t he house and stinking up everything, you may want to give him a bath. Well, what are the rules about bathing puppies? It can be hard to distinguish sometimes, but you don't want to ruin your pup's experiences with getting a bath.
Dog food is a very important part in ensuring that your puppy grows healthy and happy into an adult dog. You want to make sure that you know and understand how to choose the right food for your new pup.
This is a great supplement for you new puppy. It's even good for pregnant dogs. K9 Puppy Gold will help your dog's growth and development.
Dogs Advice
It can be a rather traumatic time for your dog when you find out that you or your female companion- whether wife, roommate, girlfriend, etc- is pregnant. You want to ensure that your dog is prepared for the change when it happens, as it will happen. You want to make sure that the new baby in the house will be welcomed bby your dog and not hated and envyed.
It is essential that you know how to size your dog properly for his dog crate. You don't want to leave you pup in a cage that is too small, and a cage that is too large can cause house training concerns.
When choosing a new dog bed for your dog, you want to make sure that you take into account your dog's age and size. Check out the different types of dog beds that you can choose from.
Find out how to use and train your dog to using underground pet fences.
Try out these fun games with your dog. They are great methods to help expel some of that extra energy that is driving you nuts.
Training your dog is probably the best relationship building between you and your dog. It's also one of the best measures to ensure dog safety and good behavior.
When you breed your dog, even if it's just once, you let out a littler of puppies ranging from 1 puppy to potentially 10 or more. Now, what happens if all of those puppies end up having just one litter of puppies, and so on. That's a lot of puppies, and there are already so many unwanted dogs that are euthanized annually, that unless your dog is seriously something special and falls in a pedigree of champions, you probably shouldn't breed him.
Dog Health Advice
Find out why you really shouldn't let your dog eat chocolate. Also, make sure that you know what signs to look for in case your dog eats a good bit of chocolate on accident.
It is very important that you pay special attention in how you treat and care for your senior dog. You may consider making a few changes around the home so that you make your dog a little more comfortable.
It's very important to know how to prevent dog obesity as the health risks that can be associated with an overweight dog can cause extreme pain and discomfort.
Heartworm disease is a fatal disease that you can easily prevent. You want to make sure that you understand how your your dog can heartworms, how you can diagnose it, treat it, and prevent.
Having a good flea control is important for the health of your dog. A bad flea infestation can cause devastating health reactions. You want to compare the most popular vet approved flea and tick control before choosing one.
What really happens when you decide to have your dog's ears cropped or his tail docked. I mean some people claim the dog doesn't feel any pain, but does he?
Homemade Dog Treats
We all love our dogs, but t o what extent? Would you be willing to go shopping for ingredients to make your dog his own, homemade dog treats? I know I would. I mean I've done it. Ha. It may sound pretty crazy, but my dogs love regular ole milkbones and natural dog treats, but they're favorite treats are the homemade ones that I bake on occasion.
Here's a list of some treats that you may want to try.
Dog Grooming
Because grooming your dog is very important, you should know all the tools that you'll need to do so properly. Remember that not only are you making your dog look better, but you're making him feel better by setting up a grooming routine.
Miscellaneous Info
The right dog collar is an important choice to make, so you want to understand the different types of basic and training collars that are available for you.
Find out which are the best GPS tracking systems for your dog. What are the benefits of the individual systems, and which will be the best for your buck.
This is a growing hub about the different "tough" dog toys that I've tried on my APBT puppy. She's a tough chewer, and I have yet to find a toy that is 100% undestructable. I'm still working on it, so check back often to find out which toys have succeeded and which have failed.
Find the latest in fashion for your prissy pooch. Don't have a prissy pup? Well, find a few rocker T's or jock jerseys. You're dog may look at you like, "are you serious," but you know he's cute. You know you're protecting him from the cold.
Try checking out these fun and interesting do books. They'll help you out with raising puppies, training your adult dog, tricks, nutrition, health, and so much more.
Check out these rather interesting gadgets for dogs. Some of them may surprise you, where some of them are pretty obvious.
Find leashes, collars, pet carriers, and dog coats all made in your favorite Coach patterns and materials. These are high-quality accessories for your dog.
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Comments
Thanks. It was a long one to gather up all the previously written hubs about the subject, and as you can see I have 3 more on my que to write up (plus a few APBT ones not listed here).
I think it is sad that people are having to put their dogs up for adoption because of foreclosures. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do it. There's not much that would make me give up my dogs.
Hi Whitney,
Great tips and ideas. Our dog is thirteen and starting to lose her hearing. Last year the vet said she probably had another two years - so we are enjoying her. One of the best dogs I ever had was a mut that was dumped in front of our house the day after Christmas.
Mix breed dogs are wonderful dogs.
Great job on this. I am quickly learning here on hub pages and your hubs are helping out with that a lot. Thanks so much for another great one.
Loved this hub, very informing for someone whose thinking about getting a dog and good points to take into consideration.
working
Write On! says:
2 months ago
Whitney -
This is an excellent overview of how to choose and care for a new puppy, or dog. Great links for everything a perspective pet owner will need to know to get things started.
I am all about pet adoption. So many pets need homes today. I recently heard a local report in California about this very need. Apparently, Riverside County is having the worse time nationwide with foreclosures on homes.
This has created a huge problem for the county. People have been abandoning thier animals left and right... just like the homes that they can no longer afford, nor choose to be accountable for. Pretty sad, huh?
Great hub.
Write On!