Cute Puppy Pictures ~ National Puppy Day ~ Puppy Love ~ Things to Consider When Getting a Puppy

Who can resist the allure of an adorable squirming puppy? And there is no better day to give in to the urge than on March 23^rd, National Puppy Day!?! National Puppy Day was set aside to celebrate the unconditional love and magic that these cute little furry bundles of joy bring into our lives.

But even more importantly, it is a day set aside to make the world aware of the horrific conditions that many puppies find themselves in when being raised in puppy mills. In an effort to put an end to the atrocities of puppy mills, they are also working to create a nation of puppy-free pet stores. Although National Puppy Day does support responsible breeders, it enthusiastically encourages the public to choose adoption first, and purchasing second.

Puppy Mills are bad enough for the puppies, but imagine the poor neglected mothers of these puppies. They never escape these conditions. I adopted one such mother that was rescued from a puppy mill. Her name is Angel. When she was rescued, she had no fur. When I got her, it was starting to grow back, but it took me more than 12 hours over a few days to brush all the scabs from her fur as her skin healed. And vets cannot tell me how old she is because she doesn’t have enough teeth. Her canine teeth are half worn away vertically – probably from chewing on her cage wires! She is the sweetest and most personable dog I have ever had. The thought of what she had to go through absolutely breaks my heart.

National Puppy Day has been celebrated since 2006 when Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist founded this day to bring these puppies’ plight to the public’s attention. National Puppy Day is part of her non-profit organization Animal Miracle Foundation & Network.

• Breed of Dog - Research dog breeds before adopting. Consider temperament, size and other breed characteristics, activity levels, etc. Also take your family’s lifestyle and home environment into consideration when making your decision. Ask to spend time alone with the puppy you are interested in, and question staff about the puppy’s personality.

• Kids and Puppies - Stress to children in the family that the new puppy needs to be treated with love, respect and care. Children should understand that they cannot pull on the puppy’s tail or ears.

• Age of Puppy – Puppies should be 12 weeks or older if small children are in the home.

• Consider the Cost – consider the cost of food, especially as the puppy becomes a dog. Don’t forget about yearly veterinary costs, not to mention the occasional unexpected trips required with injury and illness.

• Grooming Needs – When choosing the breed, consider also the breed’s grooming needs. Are you willing or able to do it yourself? If not, can you afford to have it done? Does the breed require frequent brushing?

• Activity Levels - How much exercise does your puppy need, and do you have the time to meet those needs? Frequent and shorter walks are recommended.

• Teething – provide acceptable items for your puppy to chew on. Puppies will chew when teething to relieve their discomfort.

• Potty Training – Make very frequent potty runs outside. Do not yell at, spank, or rub puppy’s nose in it. Never leave puppy unattended on carpeted areas. If puppy is caught in the act, immediately pick him up, calming and firmly say, “No! Outside.” Then put puppy on lease and take outside. Guide puppy to a designated potty spot. In a calm and friendly voice, repeat a phrase over and over that you want to teach the puppy to understand, such as “go potty” or “get it done”, remembering that you will have to use this in public spaces at times. Give the puppy 5-10 minutes to accomplish his task. When he does, praise him profusely. Make the experience fun, maybe even providing a reward so he will want to repeat the experience. In the event of accidents, Nature’s Miracleand other enzyme-based odor removers work very well as long as they are allowed to thoroughly dry.

Anxiety and Fear Issues

• How to relax anxious dogs

• Dog Fears and Phobias

Bathing Your Dog

• How to Bathe a Big Dog Afraid of Water

• To Bath Or Not To Bath: For Stinky Dog Owners This IS The Question

Housebreaking Your Puppy or Dog

• Dog Pee - How To Get Rid Of A Troublesome And Sometimes Difficult To Eliminate Odor

• How to Best Potty Train a Puppy

• How to Train a Puppy to Potty and Poop Outside

Behaviors and Issues

• Socializing Dogs at Off-Leash Dog Parks

• Why Does My Small Dog Shake or Tremble?

• How to Help a Grieving Dog

• How to train your dog not to be food aggressive

• Dog Behavior: How to Stop a Dog From Being Protective on Walks

• Dog Behavior: Why Dogs Behave in Certain Ways

Training Your Puppy and Dog

• The Positive Reinforcement and Negative Reinforcement Sides of Dog Training

• Stop that barking dog. Dog training for behavior problems.

• Dog Training: How to Shift From Compulsion to Reward-Based Training

• Puppy Training - How to Teach a Dog Tricks

• Crates: How we ruin our relationships with dogs.

• Bella
• Bandit
• Charlie
• Cassie
• Duke
  
• Dutchess
• Houston
• Jasmine
• Laddie
  
• Lela
• Maggie
• Marmaduke
  
• Molly
• Sophie
• Snoopy
• Spike
• Winston
  
• Tillie
• Truman
• Zeus

Are you looking for other names for your new addition? Check out Naming Your Dog: Popular Dog Names.

• Ten Mistakes New Puppy Owners Make

• The Best Chew Toys for a Teething Puppy

• Teething Puppies

• How to Keep Your Dog Happy on a Long Car Journey

• How to Train a Puppy to Potty and Poop Outside

• How to Best Potty Train a Puppy

• Dog Pee - How To Get Rid Of A Troublesome And Sometimes Difficult To Eliminate Odor

• Stop that barking dog. Dog training for behavior problems.

• How to Keep Your Dog Happy on a Long Car Journey

• Clicker Training Using the Karen Pryor Method - I Love Super Happy Funstick!

• Pet Supplies for Dental Dog Health

• Dog Training: Talk to Your Dog!

• To Bath Or Not To Bath: For Stinky Dog Owners This IS The Question

• Dog Behavior: The Issue of Puppies Being Removed Too Early from Their Litter mates and Mom

• Puppy Temperament Tests

• How to Identify the Breeds in a Mixed-Breed Dog

• Empty Nesters Can Find Comfort in Dachshunds (Photos Included)

National Puppy day encourages you to always consider adoption first. There are many purebred puppies that are available for adoptions nationwide. However, if you choose to purchase a puppy, visit the breeder. Observe their dogs and the conditions that their dogs are kept in. Be wary if any of the following conditions are observed:

• Unhealthy conditions in the kennels
• Bad odor in the kennels
• Puppies who are lethargic or have weepy eyes
• A puppy who is skinny or underweight
• A puppy who is limping or is otherwise injured
• A breeder who will not let you see the puppy’s parents

• Welcome to PuppyFinder.com - The Most Comprehensive Online Resource for Finding and Raising a Puppy! PuppyFinder.com - The most comprehensive online resource for finding and raising a puppy! This easy-to-use resource has something for everyone, from puppy breed selector, expert puppy advice and tips to a comprehensive breeder directory and current

• ASPCA | Find a Shelter Are you looking to adopt or foster a pet? Want to volunteer to help homeless animals in your community? Need to report an animal you’ve lost or found, or contact an animal control officer about animal cruelty in your area? Your local shelter can help

Spend time with your favorite puppy. If you don’t have a puppy, enjoy your dog. Give him a hug and lots of loving for the amazing puppy he once was!

• 15 Adorable Pictures of Puppies Eating Ice Cream

• National Puppy Day! March 23rd! Celebrate the Puppy and shut down Puppy Mills!

• National Puppy Day - petcentric by Purina

• National Puppy Day