Do Your Truly Want That Puppy? Be Prepared for What They Don’t Tell You!

It drives me crazy when people get dogs and are not prepared, and then get rid of that dog without thinking much about it. I bet you know someone that has done it. “the dog just didn’t work out”, or “it was to much work”, “he was crapping all over the place” etc. Where do you think those dogs go to? Given to someone else that does the same thing? Dropped off at a shelter? All because the first person expected that puppy to come home, be cute and be no trouble. That is not fair to the dog that they took the responsibility to care for. I’m not trying to scare you into not adopting a dog, I just want you to know what to expect. After reading this, I might also suggest reading my article The New Puppy Checklist! Are You Prepared? When you pick up your new...
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Safe Summer Fun; Life Jackets for Dogs

The beginning of summer often means aquatic sports for both humans and their beloved canine companions. Most dogs absolutely love the water and can’t wait to dive right in. Maybe it’s a family picnic at the river or lake, a day out on the boat or perhaps even the pool in your own backyard that you choose to cool off form the warm summer sun. Perhaps you’re lucky and have a doggy aquatic center specifically meant to help your dog get some aquatic aerobics as another means of exercise and fun. No matter where you decide to go swimming with your dog, precautions should be taken to keep him safe. A life vest made just for dogs is one way to keep your dog’s head above water while he enjoys his doggy paddling exercises. There are many to choose from, you can find a whole list of them HERE. It’s...
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The New Puppy Checklist! Are You Prepared?

When you bring home a new baby from the hospital, you probably already have a nursery with brightly painted walls, a dresser full of clothes, a crib with cute bed linens and a mobile.  You also will probably already have a bin full of soft, safe plush toys for your little newborn to cuddle.  Bringing home a new dog, at any age, is not really much different.  Your dog will need toys to play with, a place to sleep, his own dishes and and more.  Are you truly, fully prepared to bring home your new furry baby?   It’s So Confusing! Being new dog owners, it can feel very complicated. Don’t become overwhelmed with the vastness of the pet supply market when trying to decide what you need or don’t need for your newest pooch.  If you already know the size and age of your newest family member, picking out...
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The Cost of Owning a Dog; Can You Afford It?

When I adopted my first dog, I was ecstatic to find that he was free to a good home.  He was being given away to anyone who could give him the exercise and training he needed as well as care for him on a daily basis.  No problem, I thought. Two meals a day, a bowl of water and a collar and leash and he would be just fine and dandy! How hard could it be to keep up with his care?  I learned the hard way. Like us on Facebook and let everyone know, I Heart Dogs! Even if your dog is free initially, there are costs that will very shortly follow your decision to adopt him.  Vet care needs to be provided within 3 days of bringing home a new puppy.  This includes a fecal exam to check for parasites, worming medication, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention...
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Keeping Your Dog Flea Free

A large variety of products on today’s pet market can easily confuse any dog owner as to which is the best route to take to keep their canine companion free of those pesky fleas and ticks.  There are just as many different options and opinions as there are products as you will find if you ask other pet owners, veterinarians, trainers, pet store employees as well as your friends and neighbors.  The method you choose should depend on your dog, your comfort level, and of course your ability to pay for it!  Not all dogs can have the same preventative plan, some are held back due to their health and age, others due to their breed! You must make the right choice that fit your dog. Spot On Options The spot on flea and tick preventative is a oily mixture of pesticides and other ingredients that you put on your...
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Why Even Small Dogs Need Training

We’ve all experienced it: we’ve all walked into a friend’s house, an owner of a tiny pocket dog, and had that dog jump up on our legs, on our lap. Small dogs can often be the most aggressive, and while some people may chock this up to a Napoleon Complex, it does stem for an actual evolutionary need. Because of small size, they have to make up for physical dominance with personality dominance. And while some people believe this to be cute, most people are disturbed and annoyed with these small dogs. Though they have small jaws, their bites and barks can be just as bad as a large dog’s. In addition, small dogs are far more likely to jump up onto a lap and demand attention than large dogs are. This can be extremely annoying to visitors, especially if they do not like dogs, or if they have an...
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Shock Collars For Dogs, Everything You Need To Know About Them

If you are looking for information on shock collars for dogs, you have found the right place. Some swear against shock collars being used on dogs but if used in the correct way, they are a life saver. Is your dog defiant, know your command but doesn’t listen? Or are you field training your dog for hunting? We are going to go over everything you need to know about what I call dog electric training collars, it sounds much better than shock collars for dogs… We will go over: What these collars should be used for and what they should not be used for Different kinds of shock collars What to look for when buying one (they are not all created equally) My views of using them Tips on using the collars What they should be used for It is common sense why you are looking for a dog shock...
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Keeping The Dog Off The Bed

Does your dog sleep in your bed or take your spot when you get up in the middle of the night? Some people do not mind their dog sleeping in bed with them, others hate it but can’t keep them off. In our case, we do not mind Rosco sleeping with us but like him down by our feet. A 100+ pound dog doesn’t belong between us! No matter if you mind it or not, I suggest training your dog so that he knows that your bed is not always his bed. When not trained, a dog looks at your bed as your den, the place you all cuddle and sleep. For my wife and I, it is also the place where our dog thought he had the right to take anyplace on the bed he wanted which usually ended up being the warm spot we got up from to...
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Don’t Be “That Owner” – What You Need To Know Before Getting a New Dog

Thinking about getting a dog? Have the opportunity to rescue a puppy, wanting to buy a toy breed to carry around with you everywhere you go or just decided the kids need one? Rescued or purchased, there are things you need to know to set yourself up for success. See, many people go out and run into a cute little puppy and fall in love at first site. It seems like fate. You think, how couldn’t this cute little thing be just what we need with us? The last thing on your mind is how life really works. I don’t want to bust any bubbles or stop anyone from rescuing any dog (its a great thing!) but some people just don’t think about what they are actually doing at the time. What, you mean puppies chew and will chew on anything they can? They crap in the house, need to...
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Why Chew-Proof Dog Beds are Worth Every Penny

Have you heard of a chew proof dog bed? If not, this is for you. If so, see below for a couple reviews of the best I have found. If you have large, nervous dogs like I do, you know that at any time of the day, you might be in danger of discovering something has been chewed up. We have a large German Sheppard mix and a smaller, but more nervous blue-heeler/St. Bernard mix, both of whom like to get their teeth into things. Luckily, my dogs have been trained to the point that they usually only chew the little plastic ends off of shoelaces, however, especially if I have to leave them home alone during the day or sleep through their yipping in the morning for breakfast, there is still the possibility that their old habits will return and I will find something chewed to pieces. One of...
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