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Choosing a Reputable Breeder Instead of Dog Rescue

Photo credit: phaewilk from morguefile.com Last week we lost our puppy.  We decided to rescue a third dog (my birthday gift) and she was amazing.  She was with us for less than a week when she got sick.  She passed on a week later.  I’m still crying myself to sleep.  It’s awful.  Riley died from parvo and we’ve since learned many things about the disease, dog rescue, and shelters that made me understand another reason why some people are choosing a reputable breeder instead of dog rescue. A Few Common Reasons to Choose a Reputable Breeder Many people I know who purchased a puppy from a reputable breeder did so, because they wanted a pure bred, they wanted a particular temperament, or they wanted a show quality dog. I know that there are many more, but these are the ones I’ve always heard consistently. More Reasons to Choose a

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Home Remedies for Dogs with Fleas

Published on May 10, 2012 by

One of the worst things that your dog can pick-up outside can lead to some serious problems. Fleas are disgusting parasites that feed on your dog and a severe infestation can be started with just a couple of the tiny little bugs. According to an article on AnimalPlanet.com titled, “Home Remedies for Dogs with Fleas,” by Shanna Freeman and Dr. William Fortney, the authors explain the horrific negative effects of fleas on your dog—and on you. Fleas bite your dog, which can lead to severely itchy and irritating lumps. Your dog may also be incredibly sensitive to the saliva of fleas, and even just one bite can lead to flea-allergy dermatitis (FAD). This is a condition is which the raw, bitten skin becomes even more susceptible to bacterial infections and your dog may develop hot spots, which are areas of infection on the skin that can continue to

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Games We Play | From a dogs perspective

  Part of the fun part of having a human in your life and a “Forever Home” is playing games.  My human wasn’t talented at this, at first, but I have broken him in with some simple games.  Eventually, we moved up to the harder stuff!!   He’s a great guy and pretty trainable- most of that’s because he’s willing to listen and learn what will make our relationship healthier and happier.  I keep telling him “listen to me buddy and life will be grand!”  I get the oddest looks when I say that.     To start with, I took him out in the backyard after one of our long weekend walks and began to play “fetch.”  I brought the toy to him, he threw it, I went after it- you know the routine, I’m sure.  Except. Sometimes, when I bring him the toy, I don’t let go

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Canine Play Interaction | Dogs at play

Published on May 7, 2012 by

CANINE PLAY INTERACTION Playing with our pets is fun and amusing, however this is only a portion of the purpose of dogs at play. It is an important function in a dog’s life, for bonding with you, and keeping the dog from a life of boredom. Let’s look at a pack of wolves, the pups and the adults romp and wrestle to learn the tactics of the family and the hierarchy of the pack.Domestic dogs need this interaction, but with the owners. It is important to realize how to play properly with your dog.         Let’s begin with puppies, cute cuddly puppies. Some pups are ready to play immediately, some take a little coaxing. If the pup is shy, a helpful move is to get on the floor near the pup, lower your head to the floor. No eye contact, and hair accessible. Within a very short time

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3 Things to Help Dog Owners Let Dogs be Dogs

My Rodrigo with is friends Koda and Bro at the Strawberry Fields Dog Park 3 Things to Help Dog Owners Let Dogs be Dogs We love to take our dogs to the dog park and we tend to just let our dogs off their leash to go play with their friends and meet new friends. But I see many people bringing toys like Frisbees and Chuckit Ball Launchers to the park to make the experience more fun for their dogs. What I love are the games the dogs play.  It’s so much fun watching them chase each other, roll around,  and then start chasing again.  I think the dog park is a fantastic place where we can let dogs be dogs.  Let them growl and mouth each other, let them pretend to hunt, and let them get some much needed exercise. I’ve noticed that people who are new

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Ear Care for Dogs

Published on May 3, 2012 by

  Basic ear care for dogs is most successful when performed on a routine basis, especially for breeds that have a higher risk of infection, such as Hounds, Labradors, Shar Peis, and Spaniels. Some dog breeds also prone to hair growth within the ear canal, blocking airflow which can result in infection. Hair in the ears should be removed by a pet groomer or veterinarian every one to three months. Dog breeds that commonly suffer from this problem include Schnauzers, Maltese, and Shih Tzu’s. Ear infections in dogs are generally caused from a build-up of moisture in the ears. Fungus, such as yeast, can grow in the ear, causing black, dark brown or yellow discharge – as well as itching, inflammation, and odor. If not treated, a yeast infection can develop into a secondary bacterial infection, leading to erosions in the ear and pain for the canine. Chronic

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6 Mistakes Made By New Puppy Owners

Published on May 2, 2012 by

New Puppy Owners Avoid These 6 Mistakes     You’ve narrowed down the dog breed you desire than contacted rescues and interviewed dog breeders and now you’ve found the puppy of your dreams to complete your family and ready to bring home your dog …. Some new puppy and dog owners will make some mistakes that can make owning a puppy difficult, which can add frustration as well as resentment.  Be aware of 6 mistakes of new dog owners so you can have a more pleasant experience with your new puppy. 1.            House breaking or AKA potty training your puppy indoors on smooth bright white training pads  and then expecting him to automatically go outdoors when he is older. Routine and consistency is needed in your pup’s life. 2.            Sleeping with him on your bed for the first few nights and then expecting him to sleep on his 

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Can I Have a Puppy ?

Published on May 1, 2012 by

 Can I Have a Puppy? Everyone of us who are parents have been there,  the sweet words coming out of our children’s mouth saying can I have a puppy ? Before considering getting a dog determine as a family who will care for the pup?  Do you have the time to dedicate to this new family member? if so, start creating a way to share the responsibilities for caring for your new pet among members of the family.  Puppies and dogs require  a lot of attention, walking, grooming, and cleaning up after accidents are just a few of the many responsibilities that are in store. You will also need to think about keeping an eye on your  young children when they’re around your new pet dog . Kids often squeeze and hug pets harder than normal to express affection but this can possibly cause fear or even hurt

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Not Ready to Adopt a Dog? Why Not Foster a Rescue?

I’m going to warn you that when you foster a rescue, you risk your heart every single time.  Right now our second foster, Jovi (soon to be renamed Willow), is outside playing with our dogs and we’re less than 5 hours away from the 24 hour mark, which is when I fall in love.  Who am I kidding, I’m all ready in love, but I won’t admit it for a few more hours. It broke my heart when my first foster was adopted.  The feeling of finding Morgan his forever home was amazing; like not other.  But it hurt like hell too to see him go.  My boyfriend told me that we can rescue 1 more dog or we can rescue hundreds.  The idea of going through that a hundred more times wasn’t appealing, but when I received the email from Morgan’s (later renamed Buddy) new family, I

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Dog Facts Saint Bernard

Published on April 29, 2012 by

Dog Facts Saint Bernard The Saint Bernard breed commonly referred to as gentle giants can weight between 120-260 pounds and can be as tall as 2-3 feet. The breed got its name from the Saint Bernard Pass in Switzerland where it was originally bred as a rescue/guide dog for the patients of a hospice. In the year 1981 a Saint Bernard dog made the Guinness Book of World Records with a weight of 315 lbs.   Due to their enormous size Saint Bernard dogs move very slow and are prone to bone deterioration and other bone conditions. It is important to ensure that these dogs obtain proper exercise and maintain high levels of physical activity in order to strengthen their bones. Strong bones are necessary to sustain their weight and rapid growth.   Although they are large in size, Saint Bernards are gentle, obedient, and overall very social

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