When you make the decision to get a new household member of the small fluffy furry kind there are several things you should know about taking care of a new puppy before you go and look at them.

You first of all need to decide what breed of dog you want although taking care of a new puppy of any breed requires the same attention when they are young but they do grow very quickly and you do not want to get a breed that will grow into a big dog if you feel that you will not be able to take care of it as you did when it was young.

When you bring a puppy home, he or she will usually be around 8 weeks old. Most good breeders will not allow them to leave their mother much before this date. Taking care of a new puppy at this young age requires a warm room and a warm place to sleep. You will also need to have several supplies for taking care of your new puppy. At that time, you will find that you need to make sure that you have several supplies ready. You should have a place that the puppy can be during the day, where he can play, eat, and piddle, without a problem.

Young Puppies:

If you are taking care of a new puppy that has just been born and is still with the mother you need to have an environment where you can have the puppies where you can easily control the temperature, and you have to be sure that the puppies are warm. You also should provide a place that is safe for them so that they don’t get hurt by accident. You will also need to make sure that the mother is comfortable with fresh drinking water at all times. Taking care of a new puppy at this stage must be carefully monitored to ensure that the mother does not accidentally trample on or suffocate her new puppies.

One of the best general puppy care tips in taking care of your new puppy is that you need to remember to socialize your puppy. No matter what kind of puppy you have, you will see that it is important you socialize them all of the time. Your puppy will be fine around anything you want, as long as you expose them to these things when they are young. This means that you have to let them be around children and babies and other animals to make sure that they are socialized but only when they reach about eight weeks old.

Safe And Healthy

When taking care of a new puppy there are many general puppy care tips that involve keeping your dog safe and healthy. You will need to take your puppy to the vets so that he or she can be checked over and weighed and given any appropriate medication. You will also be given advice on taking care of your new puppy with the type and amounts of food and exercise you should be giving to him or her. The vet will also advise you when its vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are due.

One of the best general puppy care tips that you can get is to make sure that your puppy has the proper amount of love. It might sound silly, but a puppy needs love to thrive on more than anything. You have to be sure that you are always being kind and gentle with your puppy, because that is the best way to have your puppy grow into the dog you want him to be. Taking care of a new puppy is hard work and it will require commitment and training from you but the rewards of taking care of a new puppy far outweigh the work involved. You must remember that one day the little puppy will grow into a dog and will be relying on you for the next 10-15 years.

Sharon Price
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/taking-care-of-a-new-puppy-tips-and-advice-on-what-to-expect-147304.html

Dogs are not only part of your family but the most loyal and loving companions that you will ever have. They stay by your side when you are happy or sad and love you unconditionally. If you go out for as little as ten minutes, they let you know how much they missed you when you come back. Our responsibility, as a dog owner, is to provide our dog with everything it requires, to live a healthy, happy life.

Always feed your dog a healthy diet, as you do not want them to become overweight or underweight. Dog treats are great but stay away from ones that contain a large amount of sugar or salt. Be aware that there are people foods potentially fatal to your dog. Some of these are chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, coffee and certain mushrooms. Give your dog only food and treats that they make specifically for dogs. Never give your dog chicken bones, fish bones or pork chop bones. There is a possibility of the bones splintering into very sharp pieces and lodging in your pet’s throat. Have fresh, cool water available at all times.

Dogs need daily walks, exercise and play time, so be prepared to spend time doing this. A fenced yard is great but some dogs are fantastic escape artists, so make sure your property is secure. A dog kennel that is large enough for your pet to get fresh air, look around with enough room for some exercise, is a great option for people with unfenced yards.

Dogs require grooming but how much will depend on the breed of dog or coat type. Some dogs with long hair require an hour or more of grooming daily while grooming once every few weeks is fine for others. There are dogs that require haircuts, as their coats grow continuously, such as poodles and miniature schnauzers. You should consider this when selecting a dog because, unless you cut your dogs hair yourself, it can become a little costly.

Depending on the breed, bath your dog when necessary or a few times a year. Dog’s coats contain oils that protect and keep their coats clean. If you bath them too often, this can remove these oils causing the dog to have more of an odor. Bath dogs, which require haircuts, every six or eight weeks before grooming them. If you are bathing your own dog, brush or comb a longhaired dog first, as it is very difficult to untangle damp or wet hair. Start at your pets head and work your way back. A little apple cider vinegar on cotton balls works great at keeping water out of your pet’s ears. When there is no time to bath a smelly dog, try rubbing a little baking soda into their fur and then brushing it off.

Dog’s nails need trimming occasionally. If you want to do this yourself, have the vet or a professional dog-grooming person show you the proper way. Brush your dog’s teeth daily using toothpaste made specifically for dogs. This helps prevent dental problems as your pet ages.

Kelly Marshall
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/basic-dog-care-information-80751.html

I just moved to the Amherst, MA area and am looking for a nice place to board my dog when I travel for work. I really don’t want to just leave her anywhere and I am looking for a place that gives a lot of attention and playtime. Does anyone know of a good doggy babysitter in the area? Any info would be appreciated.

I am not from the area but try looking in a phone book for animal boarding places then call and stop by a few to check them out. Otherwise ask a vet in the area if they know of any good boarders. I am glad that you are looking into this and not just leaving your dog at any old place you see!!!Good Luck!

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Is your dog one of your best friends? If so, you’re especially motivated to want to take care of his health. As I’m sure you’re aware, your pet’s health is a very important part of your responsibilities as an owner.

There are a number of health issues that can affect your special pet.

For example, if your dog gets worms, you need to make sure that you take him to the vet if you can’t get rid of the worms by yourself. Worms come in several different varieties, such as roundworms, tapeworms and heart worms. It’s critical that you get rid of his worms as soon as possible before really serious health conditions arise because of these parasites.

You’ve also got to keep a close watch on fleas because they can really cause problems. You certainly don’t want your dog to suffer needlessly.

Make sure you keep your pet current with his innoculations and take him to the vet for periodic checkups.

If you can keep tartar from growing around your dog’s teeth, that would be best. However, if you’re not prepared to do that, be sure his gums aren’t infected with tartar that has gotten out of control. You’ll need to take him to the vet for teeth cleaning if you aren’t prepared to keep his teeth free of tartar deposits by regularly brushing them.

Brush your dog’s hair on a regular basis, especially if he is one of the long-haired varieties — like collies or shelties. While you’re brushing his coat, be on the lookout for skin growths or rashes that need medical care. The time you spend brushing his coat can be a special time of closeness between you and your dog.

Be careful not to give your canine buddy chicken bones which can easily splinter and get caught in his throat. In fact, don’t give small bones to him at all because of the danger of splintering with resulting internal cuts.

Be sure that your dog always has a fresh full bowl of water — especially during the hot summer months.

Choose a good brand of nourishing dog food instead of inferior brands. Don’t let him become overweight because that is a health hazard — just like in humans.

Be on the alert for symptoms that may show that your dog is in pain. If your dog refuses to eat, you need to take him to a vetinarian to see what’s the matter.

Older dogs often develop arthritis and there are special supplements that can be given to them that can help. Be sure to check with your vetinarian to see what treatment option would be best.

Be aware of where 24-hour emergency care is located. That way you’ll be prepared in case your dog needs immediate medical attention on a weekend or evening when the vet has gone home.

The suggestions in this article can help you to be a more informed dog owner, but there are a lot more topics relating to dog health that you need to research to help your dog be as healthy as possible.

Knowing that your buddy is healthy and happy will be your reward for being an informed owner.

Patricia Wagner
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/simple-health-tips-to-help-you-take-better-care-of-your-dog-79171.html

Have you ever come across a case where your dog is having awfully bad breath? So awful that you wish you do not own a dog? If it is the case, then it is time to take you pet to the veterinary. Like human, healthy dogs do not have smelly breath. According to a finding by the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs show some signs of gum disease by age three, a full grown dog. This shows the lack of oral hygiene in people having dogs at home.

Why dental care?
Lack of dental care can cause severe dental diseases in dogs, which can prove fatal. After dog finishes his meal, minute food particles remain inside his mouth. These food particles, and bacteria accumulate on the surface of the tooth causing plaque. Continuous formation of plaque can cause tartar (or calculus) to form, and the gums get swollen up and become red color. This stage is called gingivitis. If the tartar is not removed, it accumulates up under the gums, and this slowly separates gums from teeth. This encourages more bacteria. This stage is called “periodontal” disease. The dog has awfully bad breath (halitosis) at this time, and it is necessary to see your veterinary.

Worse, the bacteria in mouth pass to intestine with food, and can cause heart, liver or kidney failure in dogs. The bacteria in mouth can go to the heart through the blood stream. These bacteria cause valve failure in heart, and your pet will get severely ill. Diseases of mouth are very painful for the dog, and being a dog lover you would certainly not want your dog to suffer this torture. It is therefore important that you practice oral hygiene for your dog, and protect him from severe diseases.

Symptoms of dental diseases
Bad breath is arguably the most common symptom of dental disease; there are many other ways to find out that your dog has a dental problem. Open the mouth of your dog, and check the teeth. If they are yellow colored, and have brown deposits on them, it indicates dental problem. Check if the dog gums are red and look swollen. More over, if the dog is unable to eat food, or cries in pain while eating, it means that there is severe dental problem with the dog.

Prevention and cure
You might already be wondering what could be the remedy. Well “Prevention is better than cure”. The best thing is to regularly brush your dog’s teeth. It is your first line of defense against plaque, and tartar. Regular brushing keeps teeth healthy, and stops bad breath. Start brushing teeth from the time your pet is young. This will make him accustomed to your finger, and the taste of paste. Later you can start using toothbrushes.

There are also a number of commercially available dog-foods approved by vets, and these can be provided sometimes to your dog. These foods are made such that your dog chews them well, and in the process, the plaque and tartar gets removed.

In case of gingivitis, and “periodontal” disease the vets give anesthesia to the dog, and mechanically remove the tartar. Scaling is often done to remove the tartar that is accumulated under the gums. Once this is done the teeth are polished so that it is difficult for bacterial to develop on the teeth. After treatment, you need to regularly brush dog’s teeth, feed hard food, and regular checkup is necessary.

It is therefore very necessary that you regularly brush your dog’s teeth just like taking care of our own and our baby’s, and maintain proper oral hygiene. Dental care is very important for the well being of your dog.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-guide-to-dental-care-for-your-dog-92589.html

Like a night guard. Or are the dogs kept alone in their cage thingys?

Depends on the Kennel. If you are considering boarding your dog, ask them what their overnight policy is.

I know there are several kennels near me that are actually part of the owner’s house/home, so they are there basically 24/7.

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Prior to bringing a dog home, it must be understood that there is a responsibility of someone who owns a dog to take care of it which will include feeding, providing shelter, health care and spending time with the dog. Here are some basic care that you should look into before bringing a dog home:

1. Home.
What kind of home are you going to provide for your dog? The answer to this question sometime depends on what kind of dog you have. Some dog will play most of their time outdoors while others in the house.

If you dog will live most of the time outdoors, then some kind of dog house or kennel will be needed. Fences may also be essential to keep the dog safely in the vicinity.

While for those who spend most of their time in the house, there are many kind of dog beds and indoor kennels that can suit your dog. Bear in mind that the size of dog bed or basket for a puppy might be too small for an adult dog. Find out which one is the most right for the type of dogs you are bringing home

2. Health Care
A new dog or puppy should be taken to a veterinary for examination of their health and they might need immunization against diseases. It is also of great significant to see the vets before bringing your dog home as you can get a proper information on suitable diet, exercise and grooming for your dog.

Your dog should be taken for a scheduled check up each year, some vet might suggest your dog to be spayed for female dog or neutered for a male dog. A healthier dog will certainly be a better friend for you.

3. Feeding
Before bringing back home your new dog, make sure you have some food, food container, water container ready. If it is a puppy, it is also good to have things it can chew on such as nylon bones, squeaky toys, and other toys that is not dangerous for chewing. Do not give them scrap bones as it might suffocate them and caused them injuries.

Regular nourishment is a critical part of taking care of your dog. This will of course be determined by the dog size, type of breed, health and activity level. You should find out information on proper diet and feeding schedule from the dog breeder or when you bring the dog to see the vet.

I do not really believe in buying any commercial dog food off the shelves as a lot of these foods mixed with poison that can kill your dog. Read the labels before buying. Getting out more from your vet is a much better and wiser decision when deciding which food to give to your dog.

4. Exercise
Adequate Exercise beyond any doubt play an important role to the positive growth of the dog. However dog owner should be watchful to match the amount of exercise to the age and ability of the dog.

Through exercise, dogs are exposed to interact more with people, surrounding or even other animals. It will extend the dog personality and skills which will make the dog a happier dog which will create a more positive and significant relationship with its owner.

5. Training
Training is important for the well being of the dog and the people around it. Obedience training is crucial in the early development of the dog. dog training can resolve just about all behavior problems that the dog will develop like aggression, biting, destructive chewing, jumping, etc.

The question will be, if you should manage your own dog training or leave it to the professional dog trainer. Since Dog Training is a life long course of dog ownership, it is necessary that you learn how to train your dog especially for basic obedience command and skills that the dog should has.

Skills like eliminating outside the house, staying still at your command. Getting a good dog training manual is essential as correctly training your dog will give you much satisfaction which will has incredible positive impact on your dog.

These 5 basic care should be prepared before bringing home your new found dog. Following these will prepare you for a more fruitful and joyful relationship with your dog.

Leo Enoch
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/5-necessary-care-for-family-dog-127799.html