Author: Petland

So you’re the parent of that preppy new pup? Congratulations! You’ve gotten his crate, a couple of matching leashes, favorite chew toys, and stocked up on the best foods you could find. Great! Now that you’ve found your perfect pup, it’s time to schedule a vet appointment. Because, as cute and energetic as Boomer can be, he can feel less-than-awesome sometimes. Hence, your cute Boomer is going to need a team to keep him healthy. 

Say hello to the Vet Clinic!

However, the first trip to the vet can be stressful for your little fluff ball if he isn’t prepared for it. It’s his first time after all. You want to make the experience as smooth as possible and less daunting, there are a couple of habits you need to inculcate before dropping by the vet’s office. 

If you’re a new proud parent, here are few tips to help you prepare your pup for a visit to the vet:

1. Accustom Your Puppy With Car Rides

It’s a bad idea to only take your pup for a car ride only when it’s a trip to the vet. Soon enough, he will associate car rides with fear and scary shots. 

Make brief trips to enjoyable places such as a park or just sightseeing. If you’re concerned about the safety of your buddy during the trip, you can place him in a crate or use a canine harness restraint. Let him play with one of his toys to cheer him up. 

And if you want to take it up a notch, you could spritz calming fragrances in the car. This kind of scent would relax them as dogs possess a powerful nose.  

2. Introduce The Vet Clinic Beforehand

Visiting the clinic ahead of time may be difficult if you’re busy, but your pup would appreciate the effort. It’ll make an enormous difference to your dog’s real appointment. 

You can get to the clinic when it’s less busy and crowded with ‘strange’ dogs. Let your pup get familiar with the waiting room, the exam room, and the staff. The team will most likely say hi to your dog and drop a few treats. Since there will be no procedures and lots of people eager to play with him, the clinic won’t provoke fear for your pup.

You can even take the time to fill out the necessary paperwork. 

If possible, take two or three trial runs before the actual appointment for maximum results.

3. Remain Calm On The Big Day

Dogs are quite sensitive. 

It’s a known fact that pups pick up the energy of their owners and act accordingly. Meaning, yes, your emotions are contagious. If you’re making a fuss, your pup is likely to as well. 

Get all the information and items you need to prepare in advance from the clinic—a list of medications, stool samples, urine samples, etc.

Don’t change your routine, and remain cheerful so your baby knows nothing is wrong.

Since you absolutely adore your bundle of fluff, you would want to keep her safe by ensuring she learns basic obedience to commands.Dogs easily fall prey to distractions. One moment Betsy is chewing on her favorite toy in the park, the next, she’s running fast ahead, chasing a butterfly. 

Teaching your Betsy basic commands will prove useful to keep her away from potential danger and of course, skunk attack!  Another upside is the fact that you can take the leash off of her and have a successful outing.

To help you make that dream come true, here are basic tips on how to teach your pup to answer commands:

1. Get All Your Materials Ready

To start on the right note (or nose!), you need to get the necessary tools that are required for successful training. You will need a leash, a proper collar, and, of course, a large supply of treats for positive reinforcement.

Having something to eat motivates every dog. 

2. Speak In Clear Tones

When uttering commands to your little pup, you need to speak in a normal, rational tone—that inspires trust and confidence. 

Yelling passes the message that you’re upset and it could stress her out, making her more anxious. It could even risk damaging the precious bond with your puppy.

Use an excited voice when you want to praise your dog for following commands. When you want to deliver a correction, employ a growly tone. But when you want to issue commands that speak with more authority and less correction, use a flat, low-pitched tone. 

3. Use Concise Commands

Choose commands that are not just clear, but easy to remember for consistency. This will prevent your dog from being confused. Some common commands include:

• Sit
• Stay
• Heel (to keep her walking at your side)
• Down (to lie down)
• Stand 
• Come

4. Have Brief Training Sessions 

Dogs have a short attention span, therefore, it’s advisable to have brief training sessions that span around 10-15 minutes. Introduce the commands bit by bit. 

Recall that these commands are habits that your dog needs to pick up. And like all habits, repetition strengthens them. Do 5-20 repetitions of one command before moving to the next one.

5. Practice Outdoors 

Practicing indoors with your little buddy helps her build behaviors without distractions. However, you need to certify that your dog can listen to commands in an unfamiliar environment. 

Hence, outdoor pieces of training are necessary. Here, your dog will understand that commands you issue inside or in your backyard, means the same in all situations. 

6.  Reinforce Good Behavior 

Positive reinforcements are meant to reward your dog and help her understand when she performs well. Reward her with treats, but ensure to keep it small; since you’ll be using them many times. 

Also, avoid treats she would need to actively break apart—it would only lead to distractions.

In addition, mix verbal rewards with food rewards; eventually cutting down on the frequency of treats.

What’s better than cuddling your dog in your home or walking them in the park? It’s seeing their furry cuteness on the big screen. These movies that depict dogs’ amazing qualities and their connection with humans are sure to make you laugh, cry and tug all your heartstrings. Here are the top five best movies that will guarantee your viewing pleasure. 

1. Old Yeller (1957)

Although released in 1957, this movie is sure to tug at your heart with the powerful depiction of a loving relationship between a young boy and a stray dog. The movie displays the fierce loyalty of a dog and would have you kissing your little pooch at the end.

2. 101 Dalmatians (1961)

Again, Disney doesn’t disappoint with this memorable story in 101 Dalmatians. The movie centers on Roger Radcliffe—A computer game genius and his dog, Pongo. 

Pongo, tired of the single life, goes to find a mate for both of them. Finding a match in the Dalmatian, Perdita and her owner, Anita, he stages an encounter. Soon, Pongo and Perdita have a litter of babies—101 puppies. This catches the attention of Cruella De Ville, who wants to use their fur to make a coat for herself.

But hey, this is Disney; so her plan doesn’t fall through. 

If you are a dog lover, this movie is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat, laughing out loud.

3. Lady And The Tramp (1955)

This iconic animated romance by Disney defined the childhood of many; and for good reason. It tells the story of two individuals—the Lady, (a classic spaniel breed) and the Tramp (a street dog)—from opposite ends of the world. 

The lady adores her family but starts feeling left out when her dog-parents decide to have a child. Soon after, she meets the Tramp who introduces her to the ways of the street. It’s a fun movie that takes us through their many perils, funny moments, and of course, Hollywood’s famous date scene—the spaghetti and meatballs trick. 

4. Marley And Me (2008)

This movie will make you fall in love with your fur baby even more deeply. It will also make you appreciate how much your dog makes life bearable when it throws you lemons. 

The story tells the tale of a couple who get a dog and try to be mature dog parents. Marley, in his free-spirited manner and mischievous antics, teaches them significant life lessons along the way. 

The movie is filled with hilarious scenes and tear-provoking moments, so you do need to get ready to wipe some.  

5. The Secret Lives Of Pets (2016)

If you’ve ever wondered what your dog does when you leave the house, this movie had the same thought and ran with it. 

It’s a movie that talks about a terrier, Max, who is living the best life with his owner. When she adopts another dog, Duke, Max wants him far away from his perfect life. The animation follows their misadventures and plans to beat a common opponent. The movie is hilarious, touching, and can be viewed by anyone.

If you own one of these fluffy angels, it’s only natural for you to want to know what they are thinking. Sometimes, you might catch them doing something weird or comical that makes you go, ‘Why on earth would you do that?’

Now, no two dogs are exactly the same. They each have their own defining personality. But all dogs share similar behavior patterns that give us an inkling of what they are feeling.

In this article, we discuss the different behaviors your pup can exhibit, in basic dog language, and what they mean.

1. Head Tilting

Cocking their head to one side is one of the cutest expressions that your dog can pull off. It’s almost like they are questioning what is going on. 

Experts say that they are trying to figure out what they are hearing and the location of the noise. Another reason they might do this is that they are trying to pick up some commands they’ve gotten accustomed to, maybe ‘heel’ or ‘walk’

However, if your dog cocks her head without a trigger or appears not to have control over it, it could be a health issue. You need to see your vet as quickly as possible.

2. Eating Grass

Yes, your pup eating grass is normal. However, this behavior is a sign that they lack some important nutrients in their diet. Another reason could be that they may be dehydrated or want to get rid of intestinal worms in their bellies. In such scenarios, it’s best you contact your vet for advice on their diet.

3. Constant Digging

Dogs dig a lot. And we’re pretty sure your pup is no different. They dig when they’re bored, or want to hide their important belongings, or when they need a cooler spot to stay. But, when they dig inside the house as well—couches and blankets—it can be a nuisance. 

This behavior is completely normal. Get your furry friend busy by engaging her with interactive games. However, if the digging really distresses you, you can employ the services of a trainer to reduce the habit.

4. Chasing Their Tail

Does your Goldie spin in circles, chasing her tail? It’s a cute scene to watch and a very normal activity. It’s just another fun way she releases energy. However, if she does the activity excessively, it could be a sign of an anal or skin infection.

If this progresses to something constant and extreme, your dog might have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Did your jaw drop? Yep, Dogs do have OCD. You will need to see your vet concerning the tail chasing.

5. Eating Poop

We’ve spoken about the cute behaviors, the weird patterns, and the funny ones. Now, it’s time for the ugly and downright gross behavior—eating poop. 

As grotesque as it sounds (or looks), your pup eating poop is actually quite common. The truth is, we may never pinpoint exactly why they do this. 

But different theories speculate that they do this because they may be hungry, anxious or stressed, or purely out of natural instinct.

You love your pup dearly and want to give her the best in the world; from the best toys to the tastiest treats.
As a dog parent, it’s important to feed your pup healthy foods and it is crucial to know what foods NOT to give them. In this article, we’ll be talking about  5 food items that you should never feed your dog. 

1. Avocado

Avocado is healthy for humans because of the omega fatty acids it has. But avocado also contains a toxin called persin that is dangerous for your pet. Dogs can develop breathing difficulties, stomach pains, and fluid buildup in the chest.   

The avocado pit is the most dangerous part of the avocado as it can cause a choking hazard and is loaded with persin.

Next time you reach for an avocado, make sure it’s nowhere near your fur baby.

2. Grapes And Raisins

Never feed your dog raisins and grapes. Not even a few. They can cause rapid kidney failure, and even a small amount can send your buddy to the ER. 

The exact mechanism and toxic substance behind this kidney failure are still unknown, but over 30% of dogs are victims of this every year.The initial signs of ingestion are usually vomiting, fatigue and diarrhea. 

So, it’s best to keep bowls of grapes, breakfast cereals, and raisin cookies (raisins are basically dried grapes) out of their little paws’ reach.

3. Chocolate

If you open a brand new chocolate bar, your baby pooch will come running to you. Yes, they love chocolate but chocolate is one of the most dangerous foods to feed your dogs even in moderate quantities. 

They contain theobromine and caffeine that are easily metabolized by humans but not dogs. The slow metabolism allows buildup to toxic levels and can cause diarrhea, stomach pains, and vomiting.

The severity of these side effects will depend on the size of your pup, and the type of chocolate ingested. The darker the chocolate is, the more dangerous it is for your fur baby; this places white and milk chocolate as the least toxic.   

Taking in too much chocolate could lead to tremors, internal bleeding, seizures, and even worse. We suggest avoiding it all together.

4. Chewing Gum, Toothpaste, And Candy

Have you thought of your pup smacking away at chewing gum? Funny, right? Honestly, not so much. Chewing gum, candies and even toothpaste contain an artificial sweetener called Xylitol that is lethal to dogs. 

It causes a rush of insulin and a significant drop in blood sugar. Symptoms can start within 30 minutes of ingestion. These include weakness, vomiting, seizures, and even coma.

According to experts, chewing gum containing Xylitol is a hundred times more dangerous than chewing regular gum. 

5. Garlic And Onions

Garlic and onions are two combinations that are guaranteed to give you dragon’s breath, but they do more than that to your dogs. Onions contain substances that cause irritation in their gastrointestinal tracts and damage their red blood cells. If the onions are a lot, it could lead to anemia. 

Garlic has the same effects as onions but is considered five times potent than onions. It causes oxidative damage to the red blood cells, nausea, weakness, irritation, and elevated heart rate.    

Other foods that could possess a threat to your fur baby include:

• Alcohol
• Salty foods and snacks
• Fruit seeds (peach, plum, apple, cherry)
• Macadamia Nuts
• Raw meat and fish

We suggest asking your veterinarian for a list of approved, pet-friendly, human foods before sharing snacks and meals with your furry friend.

Visiting the dog park for your dog is like going to a party where you get to meet cool people and hang out. Dog parks offer a super nice environment where your pup can go off-leash and finally experience a measure of reckless freedom for a while. 

However, dog parks also feature the presence of other dogs, hence, the need to behave right, respecting other dogs and dog parents present. So, here are a couple of appropriate dog park behavior tips that you should know about: 

1. Always Be In Control 

You need to exert your authority as the alpha animal at all times, and no, this doesn’t mean you should be mean. Your pup just needs to know that you are in charge and this is essential especially when other dogs are around. 

You need to train your pup to respond when he’s called. The idea is to use a phrase or a word that wouldn’t be commonplace at the park; consider it your secret code word. When he responds, reward him with treats during training; this is great for reinforcement. 

2. Observe Before Entry 

A great dog park with proper planning would have a double entrance and sport two gates. Don’t just breeze through the gates without taking a look around first. 

Keep your dog on a leash through the first gate and ensure that the conditions are optimum; nothing that would spook your pup before releasing him. If there are a lot of dogs swarming around the gate or there’s a scuffle, pause at the gate so that the other pooches get used to yours so that they don’t get overly excited. 

3. Keep an Eye Out for Signs

A big part of being a pup parent is being able to look out for signs; reading canine behavior. When dogs are playing, they typically have their ears relaxed, their tails wagging, and would occasionally lower their front end to the ground to “play bow.” 

For riled dogs, the whites of their eyes become more obvious with the shrinking of their pupils, their ears stay firmly pinned back, and their tails would either be between their legs or stand at half-mast. 

Snarling is pretty commonplace, but snarling with the lips curled back calls for extra attention. In cases like this, you can use a treat to distract or break it up with a loud clap or noise. 

4. Watch Your Dog Closely 

Recall that the dog park is about your dog and not necessarily about you. It might seem like a good time to get on your phone and reply to texts, but this might not be a great decision. 

You should keep an eye on your pup to ensure that he doesn’t wander off or get in trouble with other dogs. Similarly, you would have to pack up your dog’s business. While most parks provide plastic bags, taking your own isn’t a bad idea either. 

Also, if you notice your dog chewing on something that didn’t come from you or sniffing in suspicious areas, it might be time to call him back. 

Dogs provide us with unconditional love, companionship, comfort, and a whole lot of wet licking too. Your dog’s exciting welcome at the end of a long day does a great deal of cheering you up, and having a pup who relies on you gives you a sense of parenthood. 

In addition to these, did you know that owning a dog also does wonders for your health? Studies have shown that owning a dog improves your physical and mental health significantly. Here are some of the most common health benefits of owning a dog:

1. They are Great for Your Heart 

Perhaps the most essential benefit on this list, dog owners typically have lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels relative to non-dog owners. This is a clear indication that owning a dog helps to significantly lower the risk of heart diseases and ensure general heart health. For senior citizens, they help maintain joint health since you would have to do a bit of extra moving around if you have a pup. 

2. They Get You Exercising 

Most dogs generally have high energy levels, and they wouldn’t reduce their activity for you to keep up. Rather, when you’re out on walks, you would find yourself striving to keep up with their pace. This helps you to get some exercise in and truthfully, it is a lot more fun than taking a walk or jogging in the park alone. Similarly, older adults who walk their dogs regularly are more mobile and tend to have a lower body mass index compared to non-dog walkers. 

3. They Keep Depression at Bay 

Playing with a pup helps improve general mood and reduce tension as well. This is a result of a release of serotonin and dopamine within the body system which are neurotransmitters that make you feel good. You would get a feeling of calmness and peace. Therefore owning a dog keeps depression away and it is a great idea for people who suffer from mild to moderate depression.   

4. They Help You Get In Shape 

In addition to hitting the gym and getting a lot of cardio in, another way to drop a few pounds is by owning a pup. Since walking them involves physical activity on your part, you burn calories while doing this. Similarly, they might force you into a sudden sprint sometimes, all of this physical activity ensures that you start dropping pounds in no time. 

5. They Give Purpose and Meaning 

Not having someone to love or be responsible for takes a toll on mental health sometimes. This is particularly evident in the lives of retired folks. Owning a pup makes you have to do certain things, these come in the form of responsibilities that you would absolutely enjoy. If you’re feeling down, you would still have to walk your dog and the outdoors would most likely improve your mood. Being a pet parent staves off isolation and loneliness which helps keep cognitive decline at bay. A pet gives you a reason to get going in the morning because they are practically helpless without you and trust you 100%. 

If you talk to any pet parent, they would definitely have something to say about what they did to get their pups where they are now. Some would give you general tips that work, and also mention some that are specific to their pet which they discovered along the line. 

However, the fact remains that certain tips are bound to make your journey as a pet parent an extra pleasurable one. And this is exactly what this piece seeks to cover, so, here are some vital ones:

1. Knowledge is Key 

Before bringing your pet home, it is essential to find out if they suit your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re on the move for significant periods, a low-energy dog would be ideal. 

Since he doesn’t have high energy levels, a 20-30 minute walk and he’s good. A high-energy dog on the other hand would require a lot of time to burn off nervous energy, or he might take it out on your apartment, haha! 

Care requirements are an important factor too, learn about that and determine whether or not you can deal with it. 

2. Environmental Enrichment 

Even if you don’t work long hours, there is practically no way you’re home 24/7 with your pet. And this is precisely why you need to get your pet toys and other products that work as stimulants for their senses. 

For pups, food-dispensing toys are a great idea and would keep them occupied for significant periods. To distract them even further, you can get other toys that are really attractive but would engage their attention. This also helps them develop mentally. 

Furthermore, consider the aesthetics of their environment, decorate their room or favorite spot tastefully. 

3. Maintain a Schedule 

Pets can derive plenty of benefits when you create a routine for them and stick to it. Activities like mealtimes, bedtime, bathroom break, and playtime should happen at the same general time every day. To build a  routine for them, you can make use of reminders on your mobile phone to notify you at the precise time. 

Another benefit this offers is that you’re able to perfectly organize your schedule around your pet’s with no clashes. Since you get to fix the times, some tips are fixing meal time before you eat so that you don’t get your pup looking up with gooey eyes and timing their first bathroom break just after you wake up. 

4. Proper Identification 

While you might not picture it possible for your pup to up and wander off one day, it doesn’t hurt to prepare for the likelihood of this. This keeps you on the safe side as compared to not preparing at all. Your pet could break rank outdoors in pursuit of an interesting subject like a butterfly or maybe you forgot to shut your door firmly. 

Important tips include keeping recent pictures of your pet, microchipping for easy tracking, knowing the process to take for reporting a missing pet amongst others. 

Needing some time to adjust to a new location also applies to your pet. Matter of fact, it might take a bigger toll on Cecil because she thrives on the familiar; familiar places, intimate knowledge of room locations, all of that stuff. 

So, uprooting her from the familiar and taking her to an all-new location might have her acting up; it can even be downright traumatic. This is why you need to make sure that she gets used to the new conditions as quickly as possible. Here are some tips that can help: 

1. Create Familiar Feelings 

If you’re moving to a new home, the biggest mistake you would make is tossing out all of your dog’s toys, thinking you would get her new ones. 

To create a sense of familiarity, you would need objects that your dog was familiar with previously such as her toys, bed, feeding and drinking bowls, the cloth she liked to tug on, her favorite ball, all of these things. 

This way she isn’t thrust into an all-new experience that is difficult to handle. 

2. Extreme Patience Would be Needed 

Your pup would be getting a new location for her bed, her feeding and drinking bowls, different-smelling grass, basically a whole new environment. It would therefore take some getting used to for her, it might take a while to get a perfect peeing spot, so, you would have to sit tight while she circles round and round. 

She has to test out all the corners before selecting her favorite, might not like the location of her bed, etc. New preferences take a while to establish, and you would have to be patient through all of this. 

3. Spend Quality Time With Cecil   

Of all the familiar things you brought along, the most familiar remains your face, your scent, your touch, your voice, everything about you. So, a great deal of her getting adjusted to a new environment lies on your shoulders. 

Spend time playing catch outside so that she gets used to the sight and smell of that and start taking regular walks along the same path so that she adjusts to that gradually. Once the feeling of familiarity starts to return, she would be less tense and carefree once again. 

4. Maintain Your Routine! 

Doesn’t it surprise you sometimes that at exactly 5:45, your dog is at the door waiting and wagging its tail to welcome you home? 

While dogs may not understand passing time, they do have a perception of it and if you have a routine, it’s easy for them to catch up to it. In a new location, do your possible best to maintain your routine because Cecil thrives on it. 

Wake up at the same time, go to bed at the same time, breakfast, walk Cecil, playtime, all of these using the former schedule. This easily recreates the sense of routine and allows for easier adjustment.

Opening up your home and your heart to a new puppy is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have. The feeling of the warm, fluffy, pulsing mass of life (super adorable puppy in other words), is nothing short of an incredible one. 

But before the puppy arrives, you would need to ensure that your home is in the right state to accommodate a puppy. What does this mean? It simply implies that you would need to answer the following questions and tick them off your checklist:

1. Is Your Home Puppy Proof?  

The first step before bringing your puppy home is ensuring your home is safe. Your puppy would tend to wander around the house a lot, getting familiar with the surroundings and on his quest, might decide to explore interesting subjects. 

These subjects may range anywhere from dangling fabrics, strings, or wires to small objects like paper clips or even furniture! So, you would want to protect your pup from swallowing stuff he shouldn’t while preserving your property too. 

2. Have You Gotten Supplies?

Food and water bowls, and of course, food are primary supplies you need. For feeding, 2 or 3 times a day is ideal while your pup’s feed should be recommended by a veterinarian. 

You would need to get a collar and leash, and toys too! Your puppy would have a lot of nervous energy and wouldn’t you rather he took it out on toys rather than your furniture. 

Furthermore, your pup would need a place to sleep, just like you do, and a crate would do just fine for this. It would also serve as a secure location for times when you’re leaving him on his own. As a rule of thumb, the crate should have enough space for your pup to stand and turn around. 

3. Have You Decided On Limits?

Puppies are just like babies, they watch your every move and easily pick up on routine or rules. However, inconsistency is one factor you want to avoid. If it’s cool for them to go in a room one day, and it’s not the next, you’re sending mixed signals and this is confusing. 

Before bringing the puppy home, decide rooms where he’s allowed to enter, whether or not he’s allowed on the furniture and other decisions in that line. Consistency is key!

4. Are Your Family Members Prepared Too?

Preparing your family members is just as important as preparing your home itself. If you have kids, they need to know that the pup isn’t a toy, and should be treated gently. 

They should know the basics about puppy care; how to relate with the puppy, knowing better than to not disturb the pup when he’s sleeping or eating, amongst others. 

Create a routine for your pup and let your family members know about it so that they can keep up even in your absence. These preparations go a long way into making the obedient dog that you want later in the future.