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 the puppy. It will take training of both,  your child and dog as well as adult supervision in the beginning in order to create  a safe environment for both the puppy and your child.

You must also consider your dwelling, do you have enough space to allow your dog to be a dog? Educate yourself about the specific breed of your dog either by reaching out to dog breeders, or researching reliable sources on the internet to get a good understanding of the needs of your specific dog breed as far as space requirements, and optimal living environment such as indoors versus outdoor.

Most importantly , you should know that pets will need you to spend quality time with them, they will require training, patience and routine. We also want to emphasize the need to purchase dog health insurance as veterinarian bills can be very costly.

You shouldn’t  ignore your child’s request for a pet companion as there are many good things that can come from owning a puppy.  But don’t forget that dogs and puppies are not accessories, they are living mammals just like us and if you decide to own one make sure this decision is not based only on your child’s request for a puppy.  Understand that this is a long term commitment and responsibility.  

How to Get Your Dog to Pee Outside?

Having a dog to take care of can be fun, but there are things to remember in terms of habits. One important thing is how to get your dog to pee outside. It is preferable to get your dog used to peeing outside from the first day you bring him home. Your dog will need time to adapt to his new environment. Immediately start changing bad habits into good habits, the sooner the better. Good habits must be practiced consistently, and this will require your patience as your dog adapts. Training a dog does not have to be a difficult task but it does take time, consistency and patience.

Train your dog to pee outside at specific times of the day when you are available to walk him.
For example:

- In the morning, when your dog wakes up because usually they will pee after long night sleep

- At night before going to sleep (remember what time your dog begins to sleep normally)

- After feeding him

- After going for a run

- A good peeing schedule should be at least every 7-8 hours

Getting my dog off the couch to pee outside!

Your dog will get used to his peeing schedule and will stick to it! Notice if your dog’s behavior when they want to pee, like whimpering, making circle pattern, these may be your dog’s way of telling you he needs to pee.  Provide your dog with sufficient time to pee and poop outside; do not rush him, as he may need to go more than once during one walk.

Rewarding your dog for not peeing indoors also works, he will do anything for that treat, once he associates that he gets a treat every time does not pee indoors, he will wait for his walk to pee. Always remember that rewards work better than punishments. If you find your dog peeing inside the house, do not punish him, you need to find ways to meet his need of peeing during the day, and having a consistent schedule is the best way.

Acupressure for dogs

After the great posting from our friends at the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute about Acupressure for dogs we have received many inquires about the difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture. Lets first state that they are not the same thing but are close in nature.

Acupressure: Has been in practice by the Chinese for many centuries, its done by applying pressure with your finger tips to certain parts of a dogs body called Acu-points to release blocked or trapped energy.

Acupuncture: The use of small-gauge needles are applied to various Acupuncture points on the canine body to stimulate nerves,  increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and reduce nausea. The needles can be used with or without an electric current.

Stay tuned as we are awaiting an article from a Vet who practices Acupuncture for dogs to tell us more in depth about the art of Veterinary Acupuncture

Local Dog Breeders

When you have decided on the dog breed of your liking your next step is to find a dog breeder usually searching the web for dogs for sale or puppies for sale by dog breeders or adoption agencies. When doing so I recommend solely using local dog breeders who allow you to meet the parents and can give you a tour of the facility.

Seems really basic but yet many of us are guilty of just falling in love with the puppies and not caring about who we are purchasing from and the establishments breeding techniques. I look for the following when dealing with a local breeder for dogs and this can vary and as I said this is what I look for….

1. Quality over quantity – I don’t support puppy mills and let me make this clear to every one not every local dog breeder is a puppy mill so stop the hate mail and emails because you are only annoying people (let me get back to the article lol)
2. AKC certified – Shows me they try to bred to higher standards
3. How long they have been breeding – I want experienced folks who know how to care for the Damns and Sires
4. How often do they breed – If they have to many litters I cant seem them providing the right attention to the puppies so I wont consider
5. Disease Control – A good dog breeder to me is only going to breed from healthy adults
6. Questions – I want the local breeder to ask me questions about where the puppies are going shows me they care about their pups new home.

Just hanging out

Remember this is my opinion and not a standard in which everyone should follow but helpful if you are in the buying process and dont have one.

Regards
Jason DM | DogCulture.net

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