Puppy ownership is a huge responsibility. You are the one that must provide care and safety for your furry friend. He depends on you to provide him with food, water, a comfortable environment, and so much more.  Dog owners come from every walk of life with varying expectations of their pets.

Some dog owners want their pet to be of show quality, some want a hunting companion, others want a dog that can protect their home and yard, and still others simply want a pet that they can count on for friendship, love and loyalty. Read the full article

Every dog owner finds that there are times that a leash or dog lead is a useful and important part of his dog supplies. After all, we love having our best friends with us as often as possible and many places now have leash laws. That means besides our own yard, there are few places that we can let our pets run free.

While dog leads are a simple concept, a strap or chain intended to restrain the animal, there is much more to choosing the one that is right for you and your dog than you may think. This becomes obvious as you begin shopping for a dog leash. Even the smallest pet shop will carry a variety of leads, in varying lengths and made of anything from plastic to metal. Read the full article

We all know that puppies go through a phase of chewing on things. They will chew on practically anything in sight; this includes dangerous items like electrical cords and poisonous plants. That is why we have to puppy-proof our homes before we bring home our little baby. But unfortunately, puppies also seem to love nipping at our ankles.

Whether it is our ankles or the ankles of other pets in the home, the new puppy is likely to ‘attack’ each time we walk across the floor. Although this activity is cute and even adorable at first, it can become quite annoying in a short period of time. Not only is it irritating but it can also become a costly and hurtful experience. Read the full article

If you have done any research or read any books about caring for dogs you have undoubtedly heard the term ‘socialization’ and know that it is important. Socialization refers to providing your puppy or dog opportunities to learn how to behave friendly and in an appropriate manner.

In the ideal case this socialization will begin in the earliest days of a dog’s life. That means the responsibility begins with the breeder. Puppies should be handled on a daily basis. The breeder should spend time holding them, talking to them, and playing with them each day. They should introduce the puppies to new sounds and sights, as well as allowing them to meet other people and animals. Read the full article

Ask any dog owner what is the most important thing that their new dog learns and 9 out of 10 will say that they want their dog to be housetrained. The problem is that there are more dogs that are not housebroken than are. The reason for that is because many dog owners are not patient enough to train their dogs, so they give up. Dogs actually do want to please their owners.

They are pack animals and because you are the one that provides food and shelter you are the alpha dog; you are the pack leader. But you have to think like a dog and work with them. Read the full article