If you think you just have to get through 6 weeks of puppy classes and a few months of house training before you can kick back and relax with the perfect dog, then you are very much mistaken. In fact, as your sweet pup goes through an interesting dog adolescence, you might yearn for the days when you had to get up 3 times a night to stand outside in the cold while your puppy decided whether or not she really needed a wee.
Plenty of people love dressing up dogs in clothes. And it’s not just the Paris Hiltons of the world. Dog clothing and accessories is a growing industry with everything from cutesy tutus to goth hoodies available. Then there are the Halloween costumes. Many pet parents put as much thought into their pet’s costumes as their own. Dogs dressed as Superman or rocking spider costumes are cute, but are they happy?
Toys are a vital part of dogs’ lives, so ensuring that you buy the best quality you can afford is important. It’s equally important to be strict about the types of dog toys that you purchase because the wrong toy for your pet’s size or breed can have dire consequences. In fact, some dangerous dog toys can be fatal.
The more scientists learn about dogs, the more we discover that our kinship with them is closer than we first imagined. Psychologically, they share many traits with us. One of these traits is the capacity to experience stress. And, like us, prolonged stress causes them to get gray hair.
It’s easy to forget that your pet also has to cope with a new addition to the family when you bring baby home. Your house fills with different sounds, sights, smells and routines, and pooch has to adjust as much as you.
Dogs are our long-time faithful companions, but they can also be mischievous critters if left completely to their own devices. It’s important to realize that you have a responsibility to your dog and anyone who comes close to your dog. This makes training good manners and self-control and providing mental stimulation to keep your dog out of trouble during the day very important. You wouldn’t let your kids get away with not saying please and thank you, after all. So invest in dog training classes and enjoy life with a well-mannered pooch.
Let’s face it, when your dog bites someone, your concern is not solely reserved for the bite victim, but also for your dog. That’s not to say you don’t feel any concern for the person who was bitten, and of course your first priority is to treat the bite as best you can. But a moment of madness from your pooch, who may only have been lashing out in self-defense, can cause problems far beyond whatever injury was inflicted by the dog bite.
