Puppy Culture

Munchy Monday Review - Pet Botanics Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:58:00 +0000

This weeks Munchy Monday treat review is of Pet Botanics Training Reward Treats. These little treats are great for working on new tricks with your puppy.

I would recommend these treats for medium to large dogs if you are working on fast repetitive training. They are bite site but may take an extra chew for a smaller dog. The treats are nice and moist so big or small your puppy will be ready earn one of the delicious morsels. You will also be able to break these treats in half if you really need to for an even smaller size.

They come packaged in a bag with the resealable zip lock feature on the top. This helps keep the treats fresh and moist. The bag also makes for easy grabbing if you don't have a treat training pouch. Be sure to check that it has a tight seal before putting them away. The plastic zip feature can be a bit tricky if not lined up and pressed firmly.

Our pups give these treats 3 paws. they love the taste, which comes in 3 different flavors. They also love that they are bit size and get more than one.

Do you want to give these treats a try, for Free? At the end of every month we will randomly select a winner to receive a package of one of the treats we reviewed that month. To enter simply subscribe to our blog and post a comment every Monday that month about the review.

Food Safety Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:48:00 +0000

One big concern for many owners is what dog food to buy for their pet. We all care about our dogs and want them to be happy and healthy. We also worry about what treats to give them and what they may eat around the house that they think is a treat. It is important to look around for things your puppy might mistake as something yummy to eat that may actually be harmful.

Because there are so many different dog food brands out there I have a few tips to help you pick the right one for your pet. It's important to look for a food that will match up well with your dog. If you have a puppy then buy a puppy formula to help your puppy grow. As they get older you can switch to an adult brad dog food. Talk to your veterinarian to figure out the right time to switch your dogs diet.

When you do decide it's time to make the switch remember it is important to mix the new food in slowly over the next week to help your dogs stomach adjust to the new food. Switching your dogs food to fast may cause bowel problems or cause your dog to vomit. This is also important to remember when switching dog food brands. A gradual switch will help your dogs digestive system switch over to the new food better.

When choosing wet or dry food there are some important things to consider depending on your dogs breed. Some dogs are at a high risk for bloat. This is when extra air is trapped in the dogs stomach and makes it hard to breath and can cause it to twist. (If this happens seek a veterinarian's help right away.) There are some things you can do to help prevent this in breeds that are at a higher risk. the first one is to do a food test one night on the dry dog food brand you are going to give your dog. Fill a bowl with the dry food and add a cup of water to it; let it sit over night. In the morning you will be able to see how much the food has expanded. This is the approximate size it would be in your dogs stomach. If it expands to much you may want to consider a different dog food brand.

Other things you can do is feed your dog smaller meals instead of one big meal a day. You can also mix canned dog food with dry to help moisten the food before your pup eats it. If your dog eats to fast he can ingest a lot of air as well. Try and train your dog to eat slower or by a food dish that encourages slower eating.

The last option I have for you today is home made dog food. Remember that you can always cook food for your dog and store it so that your dog can eat as healthy as you. If you don't want to do this full time consider it as a once in a while treat for your pet. Many foods can be great for your dogs skin and coat. If you choose this option be sure to check out what foods are ok for your dog to eat. There are some items that can be poisonous to your pup. I've listed some foods to avoid below.

Alcohol
Moldy foods (If you don't eat it then your dog shouldn't)
Coffee (grounds and beans) and tea Tea (caffeine)
Candy (chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
Onions and onion powder
Salt
Fruit seeds and pits
Avocados
Grapes, Raisins
Macadamia nuts, Walnuts
Mushrooms
Yeast dough
Potato leaves and stems, Tomato leaves and stems, (green parts)

Don't forget to stay up to date with the news in case there are every any pet food or product recalls. You can also check out our website for important information such as recalls. I hope that helps you and your pup find the best food product that is good for the both of you. Happy chow time!

Munchy Monday Review - Nature's Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:12:00 +0000

Today is Munchy Monday here at the Puppy Culture blog. We are going to start reviewing food and treat related items for your pup every Monday.

Today's review is about Nature's Recipe Training Treats for Dogs. These little meat shaped treats are perfect for training your puppy. Both our dogs love these treats. As soon as we reach for the can they are sitting at our feet ready to show us what they can do.

The size of the treat is perfect. We give our Ausie a whole one and it only takes one or two quick chews and he's ready for the next trick. For our little Pom we are able to break it in half because they are nice and moist. He gets a half a treat for every command he gets right. He can chew a whole one, they are not that big, it's just that it's much faster with a half a treat. Plus it lets us practice a little longer without disrupting his food plan for the day and it makes the treats last longer.

The container has a twist top and the large ones have a flip lid on the top so that you can easily pop it open and grab a treat. The tight lid also helps keep the treats moist and yummy. You can grab treats directly out of the can or pour a few into a training treat pouch for even faster grabbing.

Overall Puppy Culture gives these treats 4 paws. These treats are bite size, come in a container that keeps them fresh, and our dogs LOVE them! Oh and did we mention they are a good price too. You can find these wonderful treats at your local pet store.

Do you want to give these treats a try, for Free? At the end of every month we will randomly select a winner to receive a package of one of the treats we reviewed that month. To enter simply subscribe to our blog and post a comment every Monday that month about the review.

Who gets the Pets

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:54:00 +0000

When a couple, married or dating, brakes up they have to decide who gets the pets. This can be a very difficult situation if the pet was adopted during the relationship and both parties equally care for the pet. If the dog was your before you started dating then it's obvious that you should get the dog if you break up.

I was reading a news article posted by Fox news yesterday about Jon Gosselin sending his dogs back to the breeder. (You can read the news story here.) He mentions in the article that he thinks it's Kate's fault that he has to give up the dogs because she doesn't take care of them while he is away from the home. He also doesn't think his kids can handle the dogs. I'm sure with so many young kids it's hard to supervise them %100 percent of the time. Adding 2 puppies to the mix is a LOT of work.

I think it takes everyone in a house doing their part to care for a dog. I feel though that he could have taken them with him. If he really cares about the dogs he could have moved them to where he is staying in order to take care of them all the time. Also his oldest girls who were really excited about getting the dogs would be able to see them and still learn to care for them. I would imagine that it was hard for the kids as well as the dogs.

This case is unique in the fact that they opted to give up the dogs and it seems neither party wanted to keep them. I usually hear about a couple splitting up and fighting over who gets custody of the dog. It's important to remember that this break up doesn't just effect you it also effects the dog/pet.

What's your dogs story? Did you and your dog have to go through this as well?
E-mail puppyculture@gmail.com with your dogs story and tell us what happened.

Featured Dog - Satchel

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:54:00 +0000

The new dog of the month for September is Satchel. His owner should also be noted as owner of the month for this cute story. I quoted directly for most of it because he did a wonderful job telling his story.

I was starting a new job, with a new apartment in a new town, and on top of that with a new puppy... Since I now had a tiny roommate I decided that he should have a tiny room of his own. With that in mind, I turned the guest bathroom into a Boston Terrier sized master suite... I took the door stop off the bathroom door and duct taped towels to the floorboards and cabinets to prevent any unwanted chewing. Then I covered the tile with "piddle pads" recreating the most luxurious puppy bathroom one could imagine. After placing a bed, food, water, and several chew toys inside, it was time to fortify the entrance.

I erected a baby gate over the opening in the doorway and securely fastened it into place. Duct tape was then used again to reinforce the gate as I figured it was better to be safe than sorry when trying to keep the fury Houdini behind bars. After twenty minutes I climbed over the miniature plastic fence and stood back to marvel at my accomplishment. Admittedly, my puppy compound wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing design as scraps of duct tape littered most of the bathroom walls. However, what it lacked in stylish design it made up for in fortitude. I had successfully recreated a tiny Fort Knox that would hold even the most terrible of Boston Terriers.

Feeling overly confident I hoisted the little trouble maker over the fence and plopped him gently onto his bed. Smiling to myself, I challenged the little fellow to do his worst. My eyes were met with a confused look from the tiny prisoner as he struggled to comprehend why his new environment strongly resembled the inside of a space station. I gave him a little pat on the head and then scurried off to work.

After reading this part of the story I was very impressed with his puppy suite. having to leave a puppy home while you go off to work or even to the store can be a challenge. No matter what room you put them in they usually find a way to chew on something. It still amazes my sometimes that they fin mop boards and the floor to be so entertaining. duct taping the towels down around the edges is a great idea and if they do get board they rip that off and not the walls. Back to the story though. :)

Amidst a busy day of orientation, timesheets, and sexual harassment seminars, my mind wondered back to the puppy sitting in the bathroom. I suddenly began to feel anxious and I envisioned myself returning home to find the entire apartment in shambles and a hole in the back door shaped like a Boston Terrier. A few deep breaths later I felt better and I reassured myself that both the puppy and my security deposit would be safe thanks to my precautionary measures. I took every conceivable scenario into account and was certain that I would be able to outsmart a two month old puppy.

Upon returning home I felt anxiety creep over me again as I fumbled with the key in the door. I pushed my way inside and hurried to the guest bathroom. As soon as I turned the corner into the hall I was immediately met with confusion. I stared dumbfounded at what could only be described as a scene from a Robert Frost poem as my hallway and bathroom had been covered in what appeared to be a thick blanket of snow. Upon further examination I discovered the "snow" to be nothing more than tiny shreds of toilet paper. The entire hallway and bathroom looked as if it had been victimized in some horrible Halloween prank.

There was bath tissue in the hallway, in the fence, stuck to the walls, and covering every inch of the bathroom floor. I stood there in awe until a little whimper from inside the bathroom caught my attention. In the middle of the two-ply carnage sat a wide eyed puppy with a piece of toilet paper clinging to his nose. Once I saw how adorable he looked I realized that I wouldn't have the heart to scold him. So I swallowed my pride and humbly spent the next forty five minutes picking wet clumps of toilet paper out of the carpet.

As frustrating as it can be sometimes with a new puppy it is great to have that kind of attitude when these things happen. It's funny because I myself have overlooked the TP in the bathroom only to find it later completely unwrapped and flooding the bathroom. It's not to bad to pick up and if it kept your puppy busy while you are at work then it's a good thing. I would much rather pick up scraps of TP than have to pay to replace flooring or mop boards.

Remember if you have a new puppy to make sure you check their play pen area for hazards to them and also things that they might damage. It's important to provide a safe place for your puppy while you are away. Try not to get to mad at the mess when you arrive home. He/she was only trying to amuse himself because he was board without you. ;)
Please send sorties and pictures about your dog to dogofthemonth@puppyculture.com

Say Ahhh

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Some owners forget that brushing their dogs teeth is very important. Just like us your dog needs to brush his teeth to keep them healthy and clean. Of coarse he can't do it himself and will need you to brush them for him.

He may not be able to brush them himself but he can chew on a few different treats that will help keep his teeth looking their best. Some of those products include dry dog foods, raw hides, and hard bones that have been marked with a healthy teeth logo on the packaging. Rubber toys and bones are great as well and some have been specifically designed to rub against the teeth helping to clean them as they chew. These are not a substitute for brushing your dogs teeth and should be used in addition to a brushing routine.

It is important that you brush your dogs teeth at least 1 to 2 times a week. Some small dog breeds need their teeth brushed every day to every other day. It depends on the breed and amount of tooth problems they are predisposed to. The more you can brush their teeth the better. Just like how we brush 2 times a day you really should strive for once a day with your dog. If your dogs teeth get really bad buildup on them it will have to be removed by the vet. Buildup on teeth can also lead to gingivitis and other diseases that can spread to parts of the body. Brushing their teeth can help save your pet from unnecessary pain and you from a pricey vet bill to take care of their teeth.

Start when your dog is a puppy gently touching their mouth and teeth with your fingers to get them used to the sensation. You don't want brushing their teeth to be a battle. As they become used to your finger probing their teeth add one of those finger tooth brushes that you can find in the pet isle. Those finger brushes usually come in a pack with an actual brush and toothpaste as well. Use the finger brush only without toothpaste for a while until they seem used to it.

The next step is using the toothpaste and actual brush. You can use whatever combination of the brush or finger brush that make it easiest for yo to reach all their teeth. Don't forget to get the back molars! Please do NOT use human tooth paste on your dog. Human toothpaste it meant to be spit out, NOT swallowed. Dogs do not have control to spit out the tooth paste while you are brushing. There are plenty of dog safe tooth paste brands in the pet isle. You can even pick out a tasty flavor for them so that they enjoy it even more.

Make sure you put everything away where your puppy can't get to it. Mine was smart enough to get inside a cupboard and chewed on the finger brush some. I guess he definitely liked the peanut butter toothpaste I got him, I don't think he wanted to show me he could brush his own teeth. Although, that would be something to see.

Send pictures of your dogs smile to puppyculture@gmail.com and he may be featured on our site.

Pet insurance, do you have it?

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Insurance for ourselves and our families is an important part of our life. You need to be able to have access to medical care for your family. As the health care debate rages on there is one family member that I feel has been left behind.

Medical advances are being made in the animal world that are providing many options for you to keep your pets healthy. Some things that were once for humans are now available to your pet. Treatments for cancer, injuries, and even allergies are available to your pet. There is also the opportunity to screen your pet for diseases and start treating ones that are caught early.

Even though this medical breakthrough is great for keeping your pet healthy and happy for many years, it may also come with a large price tag. Many procedures can cost in the thousands and it may be hard for some families to afford that kind of care. It's awful to have to put a price tag on your beloved pet who is just another member of the family. It's like asking how much is your pet worth to you?

Many pet insurance companies have started popping up to help you provide care to your pet. Many people with pet still don't have insurance for them. At one time it wasn't needed and you ended up paying a lot of money for a plan that was not going to cover your pet properly. As more of there insure companies have started to grow it gives owners more options to find the plan that will work for them.

It is important that owners become more aware of this problem and look into pet insurance. You don't want to be thinking how much is this going to cost when your puppy has an accident and all you want to do is give them the best care possible. I think it would be great if in the future you can name a pet as a depended and your pet could be included in your families insurance. After all, they are a member of your family, who wouldn't want to provide medical benefits for the their family member.

Recently our puppy slipped off the bottom of our outdoor steps and broke his right back leg. It was an unexpected freak accident that I would not want anyone else to have to go through.

With the economy low and jobs hard to find it can be very scary to have to worry about where you will get the money to provide care for your pet. I was very concerned about not being able to afford the care and wondering if they would just turn us away if we couldn't afford it. Lucky for us the emergency vet provided a credit card called Care Credit that is provided by GE Money. We were able to get approved in a few minutes after filling out the forms and put the whole bill on that card. They have payment options that are interest free for 3, 6, or 12 months depending on the amount charged.

I wanted to use this post to remind owners to think about care for their pet if an accident were to happen. Look into pet insurance BEFORE you have an accident that makes you think about it. I hope my experience can help save someone else the worry about affording care for their pets. Ask yourself questions now. "How would I pay for an accident?" "How long would I provide treatment for a terminally ill pet?" While these may be sad to think of now it might help you enjoy the time with your pet in the future if you have already thought about the answers.

Please e-mail puppyculture@gmail.com with your stories or opinions about pet insurance. What companies do you think work well?

Review - Simple Solution Economy Puppy Training Pads

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:15:00 +0000

Theres nothing like watching your new puppy pounce and sniff around his new home. I mean you have just brought him home and he is so excited about the new squeaky toys you got him .

He's sniffing around his environment when Oh NO! On the pad please! Yup you guessed it, he starts to squat and go. Hopefully in your case you have already put down a brand new puppy pad and set the pup down on it go potty. Puppy pads are a very important part of training you puppy to go where he is supposed to. Also they are a lot messier than plain old paper training.

There are a few different brands that you can buy when looking to purchase training pads. Many say they have a sent that makes dogs want to go on them, although I don't find this to work for all of them.

Simple Solution Economy Puppy Training Pads can be found at many pet stores like Petsmart and Petco. You can pick up a few or go for the big box of 150. If you want to test them out get a smaller pack to see how your puppy takes to them. Mine uses them just fine so we bought the 150 pack when we ran out. The price for the amount of pads you get is great. It's about $30 for the 150 pack depending on where you buy them and they last a long time, assuming you are taking your puppy out regularly as well.

These pads are thick enough to keep liquid soaked on the pad and not leak through, but also thin enough that you are not wasting them or trying to get your moneys worth if you throw them away after one potty use.

The 150 pack is called the Value Pack and that is exactly what it is. Lots of pads for the money and they work great too. Seeing they are just used as a floor saver for your puppy to start training with or for an older dog that can't get out in time they are perfect. These are my puppy's go to pads.

Cutest Dog Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:19:00 +0000

I recently came across the Cutest Dog Competition. You can enter your dog to win 1 Million dollars. It's free to enter all you have to do is submit your photo and wait about 24 hours for it to be approved.

Each week they select the photo with the highest votes as the winner. The winner for that week gets $500 and becomes a finalist for the million. The contest runs for 12 weeks and will select a winner each week to compete for the million dollars. So far the winning dogs received votes in the thousands. Did I mention the voting stats over every week. You that right they wipe the board clean and it starts all over again.

Be prepared to be a dedicated voter or hassle your family and friend to vote for you if you plan on trying to win this contest. seeing it's free to enter why not give it a shot right.

Check it out here.

Speaking of contests i would like to start featuring pets on the puppy culture site. Send in a photo a story relating to one of the posts or just because your puppy is so darn cute and he may be featured as puppy of the month.
Send photos and stories to: puppyculture@gmail.com

Keep cool in summer

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:37:00 +0000

Not only do you need to stay cool during the hot summer months, your dog does too. I've listed some tips below to help keep your pup cool in the summer and avoid over heating. Many places have just hit the summer heat and are only going to get worst as we move into august.

First remember to keep plenty of water around for your dog. Check the dish daily to make sure it gets refilled as soon as it's empty. You can even fill it up when it's low so that you don't have to worry that your pup has been without water. If you are going out on a hike or having playtime in the park remember to bring an extra water bottle for your dog. If you are bringing water for you then your dog will definitely need some too.

Make sure you provide shade if you will be out in the sun for a long period of time. You both need somewhere shady to avoid the mid day heat and stay cool. If you give your dog time to play in the yard make sure you have trees or an open sheltered area where they can stay cool like a porch roof. A dog house will not due because they are small and closed off to breezes. It can get even hotter in there than it is out in the sun.

Another great way to cool off is heading to the beach, pond, or even your own pool. Some dogs LOVE the water and it's a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. If you don't have any of those options near by you can always use your hose to spray down your dog and have some fun. Maybe a nice cool bath is just the thing he needs. After the bath or water fun spend some time in the shad drinking water to hydrate both you and your dog.

Remember that just like you your dog can get a sunburn. It's important if you will be out for a long time to put some sunscreen on sensitive areas like the nose and ear tips. Careful not to put it to close to the dogs moth as he could lick it off and ingest some. If you shave your dog think about putting a light layer of sunscreen on if you will be able to watch him. You do not have to shave your dog as their coat is also designed to keep them cool. Regular brushing and bathing will help remove dead skin and extra fur that is shed during the summer to stay cool. They will get back that thick coat in the winter months. So until then find a way to stay cool with your pal this summer so that you can both enjoy your time out together.

If your dog appears to have heat stroke or blistering due to a sun burn please seek veterinarian care.

Puppy Streaming Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Sites like Ustream offer people a chance to post 24 hour live streaming videos of anything from puppies to information and entertainment. There are a lot of Puppy cams in their pet section and it's a pretty big hit with people. There was an e-mail sent out at work about some of the cute puppies on the site. Who can blame them puppies are adorable. After watching some of the adorable puppies they have on Ustream, I thought to myself why should breeders be the only ones to profit from this media. I think shelters need to get in on this and post up videos. I know it's not just the videos as some (shelters) already use those. It's the whole networking of social sites in order to get their organization out there.

Many shelters already post pets up on petfinder.com and other shelter sites. It wouldn't be to hard for some shelters to give people an opportunity to see a dog in action at different times of the day. There is a shelter back in my home town that built a brand new cat sanctuary for their building. I have also seen shelters that have glass cat rooms that house multiple cats and would be a great place to put in a web cam for people to watch the cats and get a sense of their personalities. Are they playful and feisty, or do they sleep all day? Shelters need to be out in the public eye in order for people to realize how some pets need your help and a loving home.

I know this would be harder to do for dogs but I think that if there was enough room in a shelter to have a dog play room they could feature a few dogs at a time every day. It would be good for the dogs, getting them socialized and may even help place more pets by spreading the word on the net. I know this is much harder to put into action as it sounds, especially for over crowded shelters but it would be neat to try and see how it develops in shelters that already have the room. I'd love to get this idea up and running in a shelter. It would be great to help with and try out. Especially if it helps pets get adopted or sponsored.

Anyone have any ideas or thoughts on the subject. Feel free to comment or e-mail me at puppyculture@gmail.com

Here's a great link to find information about shelters near you. Just put in your zipcode and the distance to see a shelter list. Animal Shelters

Pinups for Pups!

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:59:00 +0000

I know a lot of people who like the modern pinup style. It's very glamorous and elegant. Now add your favorite pup in the mix and what a picture. The organization Pinups for Pups makes a calender to help raise money for shelter dogs. Their goal is to help educate people about the responsibility of caring for a dog and how important it is to adopt from shelters.

Visit Pinups For Pups

You can sign up on their site to stay updated with events and calender information. I just ordered my 2009 calender even though the year is almost up. It's for such a great cause. Check out some of the pictures on their site of the past calenders. You can also post your own dogs on the site and meet other dog rescuers. Plus they are taking photos for 2010, so go grab you favorite pooch and strike a pose.

For the sake of animals

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:29:00 +0000

While browsing around the net today I came across a great YouTube video that was made to help shelter animals. It shows pictures of animals that need to be adopted in kill shelters. It's their last chance to be sponsored or even saved completely from being put down. Take a few minutes to watch and see if you can help them. I think this is a great idea and so far the dogs have not been put down because people have offered to help.

The web brings new ways to help those in need. It's nice to see that it's able to help animals as well as people and that people are taking the time to showcase these important animals. Check out the link below to see the video that was created to help these animals.

For the Sake of Animals

Here are a few quotes from the site about why it was started.

"I created this channel to save as many animals lives in overcrowded shelters across the country as I can through making these videos and uploading them here on YouTube. Public announcements if you will."

"For almost two years now I have been trying to help animals in high kill shelters across the country by networking with rescues and shelters. I occasionally volunteer to transport as well moving animals out of areas where adoptions just rarely happen."

"I finally decided since shelters are overcrowded and mostly underfunded and rescue groups are in the same shoes that it was time to bring the problem back to the public where it originates."

Crate training will help you housetrain

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:30:00 +0000

I'm a big believer in crate training your dog. If you start when you first get your puppy it helps you house train faster and control unwanted behavior when you have guest. I know some people fear that using a kennel or crate
is to harsh a punishment for their puppy. Have no fear I say because a crate can be a special place for your dog that he looks forward to spending time in.

Using a crate will save your carpet and your time. It's important to create a safe happy place inside the crate for your puppy. Have your puppy spend some time in the crate with his favorite treat. Do this for an hour at first during the day while you can watch and be near by. You can increase the time and start leaving him longer. Try to put him in the crate at the same time every night for bed. I did this with my puppies and my new puppy Duncan will go into the crate on his own now at around 10:30 some nights. It's so adorable and I just close the door before I go to bed. He really loves his crate. He can even make it through the night without using the puppy pad in the crate. That may take a while with small dogs, just remember to take them outside when you let them out of the crate. Even if they relieved themselves in the crate they need to go out and try outside. Plus once he makes it through the night he will have to go potty first thing when he is let out. Trust me have your shoes on already cause he may not be able to wait once you let him out of the crate.

A crate also help when you have guests visiting. If you have the doorbell ring send the puppy to his crate right away. Then go and great your guests. If he is really excited when they come in give him some time to calm down. Once he has been laying down relaxed for a while you can open the door and let him come out. This will help with dogs that jump up on guest and/or bark. It helps to cal them down so that they can go over and get a good sniff without all the "no, DOWN!" comments. He will be nice and relaxed. Plus instead of charging at guests when there is a knock or bell at the door he will go straight to his kennel for some relax time before he meets the guests. Just remember that repetition is key to having this work well for you. Also call him to you and do not chase after him when he needs to go into the kennel or else he may think that it's a new game you are trying to teach him.

Check out How to crate/kennel train your puppy - and have him like it for more information and details about kennel training.

Thinking about a puppy?

noreply@blogger.com (Puppy Culture) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:02:00 +0000

I've realized over the last few years that a lot of people tell me how well behaved my dog is. I also get asked all sorts of questions about dogs and how mine was trained. So I decided that I would start a blog to share all I know about dogs with others, and maybe learn some new things in the process.

Here are my first few tips about getting a new puppy. (This is great to help kids see how much responsibility a dog is.) I figure we will start from the beginning. I like to think of my dog as my kid he is my "baby". I do this because it reminds me how much work and responsibility a pet is. Here are some things you should think about before you bring your new "baby" home. Why do you want to buy a puppy? Research what type of dog would be best for you, and do you have the time and money raising a puppy requires? These are all important things to look at BEFORE you bring home a new puppy.

Take time to list reasons why you want the puppy. For example, I want a running partner, a companion because I am living alone, buddy for the kids. Now list out the things that you will need to do in order to raise the puppy. Call it a puppy need's list. Vet bills neuter/spay, groomer, toys, food, bed, treats, leash and collar, walks. If you are doing this to help your kids see how much responsibility a dog is you can also sit down with a calender and help plan out chores that involve the care of the dog. When it's time to feed and walk the puppy and who is going to do it on what days. This isn't to deter anyone from getting a dog only to help remind you that they should not be purchased as a fashion statement or as a gift for someone who is unprepared to care for a dog. It should be a family, couples, decision because everyone in the house WILL effect the dogs learning and habits. Dogs are pack animals and your whole pack (family) will effect the dogs behavior.

Researching is another important thing you should do before you buy a puppy. Is a dog right for you? There are many different breeds of dog that were breed for doing all kinds of different jobs. (Breed List) It is important that you get a dog that fits into your life. If you live in an apartment you may want to think about getting a smaller dog, unless you have the time to go to the park and exercise your puppy. Think about important traits that you may need your breed to have. Start looking around on the internet for information about the particular breed of dog you think you might like. You can also check out shows like Animal Planet's Dogs 101, that has information about many different breeds. If you think you have found a breed that fits your lifestyle don't forget that you can look at adoption instead of buying from a breeder.

Finally don't forget to make a list of the things you will need to purchase when getting your new puppy. Dogs not only cost a lot in the beginning with shots and neuters/spay, they may also require a lot of money down the road if they get sick or hurt. Hopefully they will be healthy and happy, but it is something to keep in mind and have a little extra rainy day money saved up just in case. Our newest puppy Duncan needed to have 4 teeth removed because his adult teeth grew in and his baby ones did not fall out. I also recommend looking into the puppy plan at Pet Smart. Some Pet Smarts have a vet inside called Banfield. They have Wellness plans that you pay for monthly and include all the puppy shots, regular visits, and neuter. They also will give you discounts on certain medications and procedures for your pet.

Now that you have some information you can decide if you want to bring a new puppy home to join the family. A little information really does go a long way. Have fun with your new puppy and stay tuned for some puppy training tips.