Useful website - Finding the right dog for you

Sometimes dogs come into our lives with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes our dogs choose us!

But for the most part it's wise to choose a dog that will fit into your life and be a good match for you and vice versa.


When you are thinking of getting a dog there are certain questions you need to ask yourself.

1. How much time do you have for a dog?
2. How much space do you have? Apartment? House? Land?
3. How much energy do you have?
4. What is your lifestyle? Do you travel a lot?
5. Are you willing to groom? How often?
6. Do you or anyone in your home have any allergies?
7. How confident are you? Can you be a leader to a dog?
8. Do you want a guard dog?
9. Will you have other pets?
10. Do you have children?

While all dogs need exercise, the amount can vary quite dramatically. It's beneficial to choose a dog with the same or less energy then you. A bored dog is a destructive dog. Getting to know what the average energy level of the breed you are interested in can be very useful. Of course within every breed and every litter the dog's energy and dominance will differ.

Infodogs is a website that is dedicated to sharing information about dog breeds. There is a comprehensive  list of breeds with details based on the following:

• Origin
• Height
• Weight
• Breed history
• Description
• Personality
• Grooming
• Living Conditions
• Training; and
• Usefulness

There is also a dynamic app that shows the dogs that match the 11 criteria you choose as you choose them.

Doing your research before choosing a dog will help ensure that you choose the right dog for you. If more people did that, instead of basing the decision purely on looks there might not be as many unwanted animals in shelters.

Useful gifts and gadgets from Gizoo

Road Refresher

Dogs are not the most dainty when it comes to drinking water. They are in fact, quite the opposite. Now there is a dog water bowl that won’t spill, even in a moving car. This unique bowl for dogs is designed to limit the amount of water your dog can lap up so it’s perfect for even the messiest drinkers. The non-spill design is ideal for home and travel. The floating plate inside will restrict the water flow if moved. And the Velcro base fixes to many surfaces. And if that’s not enough, it comes apart for easy cleaning and simply clicks back together.

gizoo.co.uk/Products/HomeGarden/PetGadgets/RoadRefresher.htm

CarPet Pet Hair Remover

As dog owners, having hair everywhere in our house and on our clothes is inevitable for most of us. We learn to accept this because we love our dogs. But there is a product to help alleviate this. It’s the CarPet Hair Remover. It has a rubbery surface that is ideal for attracting the hair from surfaces with minimal effort and is easy to clean. Now your guests won’t leave your house with half your pooch on them.

gizoo.co.uk/Products/HomeGarden/PetGadgets/CarpetPetHairRemover.htm

Surviving the Puppy Years - Practice, Patience, Consistency

Training your puppy can be very challenging at times. I'm sure all you puppy owners out there have good days and not so good days. That's ok.

Our energy and emotions have a huge impact on how our puppies act. They are well aware of how we’re feeling and act accordingly. To be a good leader for your dog you have to be calm, assertive and fair. You can’t fool your puppy, if you are angry, sad, anxious or frustrated you will have a harder time getting him to respond to you.

Practice

It takes a lot of time and practice for your puppy to become a well mannered and behaved dog. The saying “practice makes perfect” is very true. It’s important though to start practicing commands in areas where there aren’t a lot of distractions. Start inside your house and practice in every room. Then eventually move outside, to parks, on your walks and even busy places like downtown. Don’t assume that just because your puppy follows your commands in the house that will be do the same in a new area. Introduce distractions gradually as your puppy improves. Don’t go from your house straight to the dog park. You will likely be disappointed.

Patience

It takes a lot of patience to raise a puppy. If you find yourself losing your patience, take a deep breath and relax. Take a break from training and try again when you’re feeling calm. It will make the world of difference. Learning anything new is always more effective when done in a positive environment. This is true for dogs and humans.

Consistency

You have to be consistent with your puppy especially when they are young and impressionable. If you aren’t consistent you will confuse your puppy and likely not get the results you want. For example, if you want your puppy to sit and wait for his food, then never put the bowl down until he is sitting. If you are consistent he will eventually learn that meal time always starts with him sitting down nicely.

Tone

Tone is so important and can make a huge difference with your puppy when used correctly. It can be fun and upbeat, encouraging, calming, soothing, firm and insistent. Be careful though, a tone that is frustrated and angry can have the opposite effect. Think back to when you were a kid and your Mom or Dad was yelling at you to “get over here”!!! You knew you were in trouble and going to find out just how much was the last thing you wanted to do. It’s the same with your puppy. It is to your advantage to associate coming to you with a positive outcome. I know how hard it can be to do this, especially when your puppy is just not listening to you. But it’s worth the effort on your part in the long run.

Training Methods

Whichever training method you use, you have to feel good about it. If you do, virtually any method will bring results. There are many to choose from like treat training, non-treat training, clicker training, positive reinforcement training or a more correction based training. Some trainers believe you must be the leader, some believe in a more relationship based approach. I like to take from each what I like and feel works for me and my dogs. I believe a lot has to do with the dog. Some dogs require a strong and firm leader and others don’t. That being said I do believe the human should be the one in charge. One good way to ensure that is by using the “Nothing in Life is Free” approach. It’s very simple, your dog has to essentially ask or “say please” for things he wants. Your dog’s wants are food, toys, to go outside, to play, etc. He can say please by performing all the commands she knows like sitting, lying down, shaking a paw, barking on command, rolling over, etc. Dogs are very smart and will pick this up quickly if you are consistent.

Raising a puppy is a journey that will teach you a lot about yourself. Be open to what you learn whether good or not. Take the opportunity to improve. It's not easy but if you keep trying and strive to be the leader your dog knows you can be, it will be so rewarding for both of you.

Surviving the Puppy Years - Destruction

I have heard so many stories about people's puppies eating their shoes, destroying the drywall around the house and it makes me wonder; where were the humans when this was happening? Do they let the puppy go wherever she wants? Is the puppy not in a crate when they go to work? How come they aren't seeing this destruction happening?

Since getting a puppy I am a firm believer in limiting their freedom in the house and back yard. This wasn't always the case. I once saw a neighbour with a puppy on leash in her backyard. Where I live we have huge backyards and my first thought was how cruel to have a puppy on a leash when the yard is so big. Now that I have a puppy I understand perfectly. She was probably training her puppy to go to the bathroom in a particular place. Or preventing her puppy from destroying her garden, etc. by teaching her where she can or can't go. If you’ve never had a puppy, that might be difficult to understand. It’s now crystal clear to me.

Puppies are very curious and therefore want to explore everything. A problem for us humans is that the way they explore is with their mouth. That is ok when they are exploring their chew toys, but not so great when it’s time to learn about your furniture. And until your puppy learns the rules, she is going to think anything is acceptable.

My puppy is very rarely out of my sight, especially inside the house. I am reluctant to let her go wherever she wants because I know what can happen. Don't feel bad if you have to leash your puppy inside the house. You are teaching her rules, boundaries and patience. You can either tether a leash to a table, couch or anything that can withstand her weight. You can have a bed set up with a toy for her, that's what I do. Or you can attach the leash to yourself. I personally find that my puppy calms right down when put on a leash inside the house. Of course if you haven't exercised your puppy enough, you may find her not responding the same way.

Of course the goal is to have her free in the house just like my other dogs. I adopted them both when they were 8 years old so this was never an issue. They were both calm and never once did anything to make me even consider confining them. So I know there's a light at the end of this tunnel. And the constant supervision is all for the best.

Our first puppy training class is starting tomorrow. I am excited to learn someone else’s training methods and introducing my puppy to another new experience. I am always happy to learn new things about dogs since I love them so much.

Happy puppy training.

Dog Artists

Most people are camera happy when it comes to their dogs. We want to capture all of those special moments to remember. Doesn’t it just seem like your dog is posing for you? They warm your heart with their silly antics and often look like they are smiling. I wonder if they know how darn cute they are.

These days it’s easy to have your favourite picture turned into a beautiful oil painting.

Dog Artists are based in London but deliver world-wide.  Their artists are “top dog”! You can even have them work from several of your favourite pictures to create the perfect portrait of your best friend. It’s a wonderful way to commemorate the special bond you have with your dog.

Check out the blog for interesting articles about the portraits. Or the FAQ section to learn everything you need to know about acquiring a portrait of your dog. If you’d like to see some of the work of the artists, go to the portfolio. You will get a good idea of the quality work being done and what you could expect to get.  Choose the portrait style you like and find out which artist would best suit your preference. The price guide is also listed so there’s no guessing. Shipping is free anywhere in the UK.

Create a masterpiece that will last a lifetime.

Pampered Paw Gifts

We all buy our dogs gifts. Pampered Paw Gifts not only offer unique gift ideas for your pooch, they also give back to numerous organizations that help save animals. They donate a portion of their profits to their local animal organizations.

Having three dogs of my own all from shelters it is so great to know that there are companies out there who care so much about animals.

They believe we can all help and they are right. Here is a list directly from the Pampered Paw Gifts website to show you how easy it can be to help an animal.

Donate items to your local pet rescue or shelter

  

• Blankets to use as pet beds
• New/used leashes, collars, cat and dog toys, crates, training equipment, baby gates, play pens, treats and food, cleaning supplies

  

Donate money to your local dog rescue or shelter

• $50 can help spay or neuter a cat or dog
• Planned giving—leave money to your favorite pet charity in your will
• Fundraise for a specific shelter by setting up an online fundraising page

  

Offer Your Professional Services

• If you’re a trainer, donate time to help with obedience training.
• If you’re a vet, give a discount for your services for rescued animals.
• If you’re a groomer, donate your services to pets awaiting adoption.
• If you’re an event planner, help dog rescue organizations with event coordination and outreach.
• If you raise livestock, provide access to your flock to train herding dogs!
• Volunteer your time

  

Foster a pet

• Volunteer to transport dogs — to events, to prospective homes, etc.
• Post flyers for pets awaiting adoption
• Forward emails to your network of family, friends and colleagues
• Volunteer at or attend adoption days and events
• Help bath pets for adoption days
• Spread the word about pet rescue and pet overpopulation
• Walk a dog at the shelter or play with some toys with a kitty
• Call an animal shelter or rescue — ask at your local shelter how you can help.

  

Take action

Suspect a dog is being neglected or abused? Report it! Trust me you can make a difference, I have and it is so rewarding!

Make a difference http://www.pet-abuse.com

Sponsor a Dog

• Contact a shelter to learn about pets in need
• Choose a cat or dog to help and learn that kitties or doggies' story
• Set up a personal fundraising page for that cat or dog using firstgiving.com
• Send that page to all your friends and ask them to keep forwarding
• With a little help from your friends you can help pay for an expensive surgery that might not have taken place without your efforts

Help to spread the word by posting the list on your blog or website.  Together we can stop the suffering of innocent animals everywhere.

Website:
http://www.pamperedpawgifts.com/community-corner.html

Surviving the Puppy Years - Off Leash Dog Parks

I cannot say enough about off leash dog parks, especially since getting a puppy. Our other dogs have enjoyed going to the local dog park over the years but I've never considered it a lifesaver until now.

If you have a dog park near you or within a short driving distance, I highly encourage you to try it out. It's like an intense workout; it drains energy and is fun all at the same time.

We have been taking our puppy to our local dog park as often as we can, mostly on weekends due to work and time constraints. I can tell you that an hour or so at the park and you'll have a puppy that is too tired to get into trouble. The saying "a tired dog is a good dog" is very true.

The dog park is fun for us too, it's good exercise, we're out in the fresh air and surrounded by dogs. We have even started recognizing the regulars and they us.

Socialization

All dogs need to be socialized. It's one of the most important things you'll do for your puppy. It's so important for them to meet other dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes. And the bonus is they will also be exposed to all the different dog owners as well.

Play time

Play time is a big part of socialization. Your puppy will be meeting so many different dogs, dogs with different temperaments and tolerances. That is so valuable for your puppy to learn that not all dogs want to play at the same intensity as them or at all.

At times you may see things at the dog park that seem aggressive or unfair but for the most part the dogs are taking care of things the best way they know how, without our interference. That being said you should have control of your dog and be aware and ready to intervene if things do get out of hand. Inevitably there are incidents but they are few and far between.

It's interesting to watch and see how your puppy interacts with different dogs, especially when they first approach each other. Without being leashed with anxious or tense energy from us, they are free to meet each other their own way.

I have seen many dogs not appreciate the approach my puppy sometimes takes. She's a runner and loves to pounce on other dogs. This is cool with many dogs as it usually prompts immediate play but not so cool with others and they let her know it. This is valuable information for her. She lives with two senior dogs and is sometimes just too excited to respect them. But the more she learns at the dog park, the more she will bring those lessons home.

Keep socializing your puppies!

My puppy looking for some dogs!

Two of my dogs enjoying a quiet moment at the park.