May 2008

If you’re going to get a dog there are several things you need to think about first. Buying the wrong dog could be a bad decision that you’ll regret for a long time to come. Just keep these things in mind and you’re sure to find the best dog at the best breeder.

The first thing to consider is the breed and size of dog you’d prefer. These things will be dependant on the type of dog that has the look you want. Also, remember that your family needs to have some input, and that certain dogs have health problems that you might not want to take a risk on.

Many dogs that are larger (like Golden Retrievers) are more prone to getting things like hip-dysplasia. This is a disease that negatively affects the hip joints of the dog. As the dog gets older their hips won’t be able to sustain their weight. This is a sad thing, but it will affect their ability to walk and stand. Surgery is one option that you may or may not want to consider down the road.

You might be thinking that if large dogs have these problems you might just opt to get a small dog instead. Unfortunately, they come with their own problems. If you get a dog that is in the ‘toy breed’ category then you may find breathing problems. These are dogs like the Pug, Pekinese, and Lassa Apso. The reason for these problems is because of their small muzzle and lack of sinus and nasal development.

If all dogs have their problems then where are you to turn? The best thing you can do is gather information to make an informed decision. One idea is to ask a friend or family member who has experience with the type of dog you are considering. Whenever you get into a conversation with someone ask them if they have any dog experience. You’ll find that people love to talk about their pets.

Another amazing resource for dog information is researching on the Internet. You can search by dog breed and find a wealth of information that you never thought possible. Print out and highlight key information that you’ll use in making your decision.

Additionally, you can buy books on the breed to learn all you can about them. These books are often a fascinating read and can uncover a lot of information you didn’t know before. If you fill yourself with information before heading off to the breeder you’ll be a lot more likely to make the right decision.

When you are ready to go to the breeder be sure to come with a list of questions in hand. These breeders should be very excited and willing to answer your questions. There are some things you should examine about the environment as well.

• Are the dogs clean?
  
• Are the kennels clean?
  
• Are they well cared for?
  
• Are the mother and father well cared for?
  
• What type of food are they eating?
  
• Have the puppies had their shots?

You’ll find that a good breeder will go above and beyond to make sure that their animals are top notch and well loved. If you can find a good kennel that meets all of these criteria you’re a lot more likely to find the perfect dog.

Do be careful! There are breeders out there who are just in it for the money. They do not pay close attention to what the dogs need, so long as they bring in money at the end of the day. Avoid these breeders because you will just find ill dogs. Many breeders will sell puppies as early as 5 or 6 weeks old, don’t buy from them. A good breeder will not remove the puppy from the litter until 8 weeks.

If you want to make sure you’re well protected you should find a breeder that has a 72-hour return policy. This is enough time to take the dog to the vet to make sure everything is in order. You should also get a 2 year OFA guarantee with breeds that are prone to hip problems.

Researching your dog and finding the right breeder are surefire ways to make sure that the dog you come home with is the right one.

A new client of mine named Charlie has a small Yorkie dog and they’re best friends. He takes the dog to the park to play and often finds a stick for his pup to play with. Charlie tries to make sure the stick is small enough that the Yorkie can catch it. He asked me if this is OK to do?

If you own a small dog you might have questions just like this swirling around in your head!

Having a small dog has its perks. They are often cute, cuddly, and full of affection. Due to their physical size there are some things you should be extra careful about. One of them is finding safe toys for small dogs. Just like Charlie is starting to wonder about the sticks he throws his Yorkie, you should consider if you know enough about small dog safety.

The first thing to realize is that dogs need toys and need to play. When they are out in the wild they are often playful and even make a game of finding their prey. While you take care of your dog’s food needs, that instinct to play doesn’t go away.

The trouble is that there are so many choices. Go to any pet supply store and you’re likely to find several walls full of dog toys. These include rope toys, balls, rawhide chews, squeak toys, treat puzzles, and the list goes on. Since you’re an educated consumer it’s time to learn about the best toys for small dogs so you can make sure your little one will stay safe for a long time to come.

General Safety Guidelines

There are some general dog toy rules to consider first. For example, no matter what the size of your dog you should never give him toys with missing parts. The stuffing or other pieces could come out and choke your dog. Things like small glass eyes are a particularly big problem.

Even squeak toys are often a no-no because they can trigger a dog’s natural sense of “search and destroy.” Use your best judgment and supervision on this one. Remember our friend Charlie the Yorkie owner? The answer to his stick dilemma is that they are potentially dangerous because of the risk of them breaking off and becoming lodged in your dog’s throat. This is an even bigger risk with smaller sticks because they are generally more fragile.

Beyond those guidelines you need to be careful that the toys or objects you give your small dog are not toxic. There are some household items (like socks) that are not safe for your dog no matter how safe they may seem. There are small fibers or other unseen things that can really be harmful.

Temperament Specific Guidelines

As a pet owner you’re probably well aware that different dogs have different temperaments. Small dogs are well known for being quite playful but you’ll want to check with other dog owners or your vet to learn about your specific breed.

Beyond knowing about the breed, it’s important to know all about your dog’s individual personality as well. Just because most of a certain kind of dog are one way doesn’t necessarily mean that they will all be. There are different personality types for dogs and it’s important to figure out which one matches your dog.

You might have a low key dog. These are classified as only wanting to play for a little while, then getting bored or going to sleep. You can give these small dogs things like stuffed toys and squeakers because they aren’t likely to get too worked up over them.

You might have a medium key dog. These dogs might want to play for an hour or so but then take a rest. They are generally more hyper than low-key dogs and play more roughly with their toys. You might want to stick with things like rope toys, balls, and rawhide.

If you have a high-strung dog (as many smaller dogs are) you’ll want to be extra careful with its toys. Nylon bones and treat filled toys (like Kongs) are a good idea.

Toy Suggestions for Small Dogs

Balls (large enough so they can’t get lodged in your dog’s throat)

Kongs or other treat filled toys

Rope Toys

Nyla Bones

Have a Backup!

There are times where your small dog will scoot right by you and find something they’re not supposed to get into. In this case you’ll want to make sure you have a backup plan. If you cannot easily get a toy or object away from your dog you need to get a treat out and entice them away with it.

Then you can grab the object and put it away. Otherwise even the friendliest of dogs could get mad and harm you in some way. The simple reason for this is that their natural instincts of protecting the object might kick in.

If your dog is constantly getting into things and showing true possessiveness over his toys you might want to see a trainer to correct that problem as soon as possible.

It’s that time of the year again, here is some information you need to know.

Most people know that it’s important to stay away from ticks. Part of the reason for this is that they can carry many different diseases. What people might not be aware of is that ticks are multiplying in number all across the United States.

Experts agree that as the number of ticks in the world increases so do the chances that your dog will be infected with the diseases ticks carry. This is a very scary thing for those who love their pet and don’t want to see anything bad happen.

One reason that many more ticks are popping up is because woods and farmland are being developed. This leaves ticks with nowhere to go but on your poor pup. Another reason for the increase in ticks is because of global warming. Ticks like this new, warmer climate.

In fact, the warm climate means that whereas ticks would be almost nonexistent at some points during the year they are incredibly prevalent during other parts of the year. These days they are around all year long in some locations. That means that certain diseases are around all year long as well.

These changes in climate are not just affecting dogs. It is also changing the way that birds migrate. People are taking advantage of the warmer weather by taking the whole family, and their dogs outside. This means more exposure to blood sucking ticks.

Ticks can carry many different diseases. One of the most common is Lyme’s disease. Deer ticks often carry Lyme’s. Other diseases to lookout for are Mountain Spotted Fever, and Canine Ehrliciosis.

When ticks start their life they are larvae. This larvae hatches from eggs and then they want to find a host to attach to. Some of the first hosts are rats. These larvae then fall of, feeding on the decay on the ground. After the larvae are ready it will become a nymph and try to feed from a smaller animal. Finally, it is ready for more as an adult.

For this reason there are many deer that are affected. In fact, deer are a main reason that there are so many ticks. These animals give the ticks the blood they need to thrive.

There is not much you can do about the increasing tick population but there are things you can do to protect your pet. Veterinarians recommended using tick protection year round for your dog. It is a good thing that many heartworm medications also prevent ticks. Make sure you double check because you don’t want to take any chances.

The number of ticks in the United States is rising all the time. The best thing for you to do is to keep your dog safe. Check yourself and your dog thoroughly and you’ll be doing all you can to protect against ticks.