Category Archives: First Time Owners

Do I do right by my dogs?

Daisy and LucyI certainly am one of the most loving of all dog owners.  I have two dogs, both from the local Humane Society, your basic mutts.  I pay more attention to them then just about anything in my house.

I pet them, play with them, talk, sing to, treat, and look after them as best I can.  Yes, my dogs are happy dogs.  When I come home, even from a short trip to the store, it’s a huge delight for them.  Their tails wag like crazy and I get the warmest, happiest welcomes.

But here’s where I fail them.

I don’t walk them often enough.  Most of us have careers, long work hours, duties at home, etc., sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day.  I don’t think once or twice a week cuts it.  I have to be more diligent and more responsible to THEM.

Today it was enough of excuses, I got out the leads and off we went.  They sure were happy to go, and when we got back, both of them curled up for a snooze.  I’m promising myself and my dogs, to get out there with them more often!!!!!

 

Saturday Survey: Where Will You Get Your Next Dog?

Our Top Ten Tuesday post this week focused on questions you should ask a breeder before picking out a dog, which got me to wondering, where do my readers get their dogs?  Whether you plan on getting your next dog in a week or in ten years, what’s your plan for choosing the best dog for your family?

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Tuesday Top Ten: Health-related questions to ask a breeder

Choosing a new puppy can be nerve-wracking because you want to find the healthiest possible puppy.  You may have a number of other concerns such as temperament and “fit” with your family, but the number one concern should be the health of the puppy.  How to make sure?  Start with the following ten questions which you can use to interview a number of breeders before deciding which one you will work with.

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Tuesday Top Ten: Watch Dogs

Most of these dogs are from the terrier group, and all but the Airedale and the Standard Schnauzer are small in stature, but big in personality.

Keep in mind that the watch dog is NOT a guard dog.  The difference is that a watch dog will warn you there’s a stranger around, but a guard dog will go take care of the problem.

Obviously, this means that watch dogs will typically be barkers.  If you live in a small apartment or have close neighbors, you’ll want to think twice before getting one of these breeds.

Click here for more information on watch dogs.

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Tuesday Top Ten: Dogs for Allergic People

With this hot summer weather, my allergies have really kicked into high gear, so it’s a good time to talk about dogs for people who suffer from allergies.  Although no dog will be totally un-allergenic, there are several that are less likely to produce severe reactions in most people.

For a complete list, check out our short article on hypoallergenic dog breeds.  Here are my top ten choices.

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Tuesday Top Ten: XL Dog Breeds

What’s that saying about if you can’t play with the big dogs, stay on the porch?  For those of you who are looking for a really big dog, check out our top ten list of XL dogs (otherwise known as giant breeds).  Dogs who weigh over 75 pounds as adults are generally included in this group, although many weigh close to 200 or more!

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Tuesday Top Ten: Dogs for Apartment Dwellers

Many people focus on size alone when selecting a dog to live in an apartment, but there are other considerations equally, if not more, important.  Activity level, ease of housebreaking, and the amount of noise a dog is likely to make should also be considered.  Here’s our top ten list for the breeds that will do best in apartments. Continue reading Tuesday Top Ten: Dogs for Apartment Dwellers