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Actually, everything looks really good – for a show breeder. And even better, what I really like is that she’s doing things with the dogs (using them in commercials) – which to me, suggests that the dogs she’s breeding should (in theory, anyway) have solid temperaments.

The only thing I really wasn’t crazy about is the way her dogs look. I don’t like the pigment or the luster of the coats. But really, that’s more of a personal preference, as I’m not a show breed judge.

I also like that she gets the pups started with crate training.

The main test I recommend is that you should cradle the pup in your arms, so that its feet are up toward your chin, and its back is cupped in your hands. The pup should lie still, like a sack of potatoes and just gaze sweetly up into your eyes. If he won’t let you turn him upside down, or won’t stop squirming… throw him back and pick another one.

If he passes that test, the next one should be to pin him on his side. He might squirm a little bit at first but then settle down and let you hold him in that position… at least for 10-20 seconds.

And finally, find a metal bowl… or something that makes a lot of noise… like a ring of about 20 keys… and while the pups are playing, toss the bowl or object about five feet from the pups (the breeder won’t like this, but ignore it, you’re picking a companion for the next 15 years, and you want to make sure you get a good one! So don’t ask permission… just do it!) Watch the pups. Good pups should run up to it to investigate. Weak pups will cringe and hide. Do not buy a pup that cringes and hides. If the dog just shows indifference, this is okay… but then I’m going to test to see if the pup is deaf or not. If he’s not deaf (clap, or shake keys behind the pup, when he’s not looking)… but he was still indifferent to the bowl drop… then the dog is still one I WILL consider.

This is really all you need if you’re choosing a dog for a pet. You can also test his ball drive, but to be honest, for a pet that’s just going to lounge around the house, a pronounced ball drive is unnecessary.

She seems like a good breeder, as far as one can tell from a web site. So, I’m sure she’ll help you out. Just be honest about what you are and aren’t looking for in a dog.

That’s all for now, folks!

Adam

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider’s Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History.” Get a free copy of his report “Games To Play With Your Dog” when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com

Bringing your puppy home from the breeder is an exciting time, but there are a few things you might want to consider beforehand. This move is strange and unfamiliar to your puppy, and could be somewhat overwhelming for him. You can help limit the stress and ease your puppy into his new environment by taking some time to make sure his new home is completely ready for him.

You will obviously need to have food, water, and toys for your new puppy. But you should make sure to by the same food the puppy is used to eating, because puppies have sensitive stomachs and may handle a food change well. Try this for the first week or so, then you can gradually introduce the brand of food you want to feed him.

When you actually go to pick up your new puppy remember to bring a comfortable dog bed along with some chew toys. You might use a puppy sized basket and place a comfortable blanket in there for taking him home in. During the ride home make sure to pet the dog and speak to him in a comforting voice to relieve any fears he may have.

Soon after you get him home your first job would be to introduce him to the other members of the family as well as to familiarize him with the new surroundings. Try to do this calmly – without any haste or excitement that may annoy him.

Every puppy needs his own little space and you should make sure you have all the right things before bringing your puppy home. You can do this by picking out a spot for him beforehand. Set down a dog bed, some toys, and a water bowl in an area you can devote for him. Gently encourage him to sleep and play in this spot, but don’t be too overbearing. Let him explore and claim it on his own.

Your curious pup, in all his excitement at this new world, might not think much about food at first. You can feed him a little on his first day, but don’t be surprised if he has other plans. Potty training is also vital to consider. Although it’s a slow process, start by placing the puppy outside periodically and keeping a careful eye on him. When he goes to the bathroom, be sure to reward him properly.

Before bringing your puppy home, make sure you adjust your schedule to allow yourself plenty of time to spend with your puppy on his first week, but don’t forget that puppies quickly tire and sleep most of the day. Take time to help the puppy begin to feel comfortable and safe in your home. Talk to him in calming tones and keep him close to you so that he knows he’s found a loving home!

At last, you are bringing your puppy home from the breeder! While this might be exciting for you, leaving it’s first home can be a daunting experience for the pooch so being adequately prepared for its arrival will help ease the transition, ensuring a comfortable calm environment.

You will obviously need to have food, water, and toys for your new puppy. But you should make sure to by the same food the puppy is used to eating, because puppies have sensitive stomachs and may handle a food change well. Try this for the first week or so, then you can gradually introduce the brand of food you want to feed him.

When you actually go to pick up your new puppy remember to bring a comfortable dog bed along with some chew toys. You might use a puppy sized basket and place a comfortable blanket in there for taking him home in. During the ride home make sure to pet the dog and speak to him in a comforting voice to relieve any fears he may have.

Although it might be hard to control your excitement, try to stay calm during the introduction of your new puppy to other family members or pets. Hold him gently in your arms as you give him a tour of his new home. This will help him feel more at ease in the new surroundings.

Every puppy needs his own little space and you should make sure you have all the right things before bringing your puppy home. You can do this by picking out a spot for him beforehand. Set down a dog bed, some toys, and a water bowl in an area you can devote for him. Gently encourage him to sleep and play in this spot, but don’t be too overbearing. Let him explore and claim it on his own.

Your curious pup, in all his excitement at this new world, might not think much about food at first. You can feed him a little on his first day, but don’t be surprised if he has other plans. Potty training is also vital to consider. Although it’s a slow process, start by placing the puppy outside periodically and keeping a careful eye on him. When he goes to the bathroom, be sure to reward him properly.

When adopting a puppy, you want to be sure to set aside more time than usual during that first week to spend with your new pup. This shouldn’t be too hard since most anyone I know who has a new puppy can’t wait to spend time with him! By clearing your schedule before bringing your puppy home, you will insure that you have enough time to spend making him feel like a safe and secure member of the family.

Every puppy has to go through the teething process, but unfortunately most owners are relatively uninformed about the whole process. It can be uncomfortable for your dog and trying for you, which is why puppy teething relief can provide sanity for the both of you.

Puppies actually teeth twice in their lives. The first period is at around 3 weeks of age. They get their baby teeth then. Generally, this process doesn’t cause as much discomfort or chewing behavior as the adult teething period later on. Sometimes owners may not even notice that their puppy is getting his baby teeth.

Adult teeth begin to appear in your puppy around the time they are 6 months old. First the canines will appear, then incisors, then finally the pre-molars.

Dogs might have discomfort from teething, using your shoes and furniture as chew toys. You can help prevent this by providing some much needed puppy teething relief.

You’ll no doubt notice that your dog is suddenly chewing on everything at this time! Neither your clothes nor your furniture is safe. Many people pass it off as being part of puppyhood, but you can be assured that it means he is getting his adult teeth, and gnawing on your stuff is the way he’s trying to alleviate the discomfort.

Chewing is something that all puppies do naturally and there are some things that can be done to help your puppy and your furniture. There is some gel medicine that you can get from your vet that might help the puppy’s pain. When the puppy feels less pain they will chew less. Get new chew toys and only allow the puppy to play with those. If the puppy is chewing on a chair leg for instance, take a chew toy and place it in front of the puppy, more likely than not the puppy with take the chew toy and leave your chair leg alone.

When your puppy is teething, give them cold things to chew on. The cold feels good on the gums, helping to reduce pain and inflammation. Place their chew toys in the freezer overnight so they’ll be ready in the morning. Keeping a supply in the freezer is a great idea, so you always have a cold chew toy to offer when your puppy needs a distraction from teething pains.

While the teething period is short, it is very uncomfortable for your puppy. You can help him through this time with puppy teething relief products. If you’re lucky enough to still have an intact pair of shoes, be thankful. You’ll need them to train your dog to walk on a leash!

Bringing home a new puppy is fun and exciting, but also comes with responsibilities. Your new friend is depending on you to help grow in to a healthy, happy dog so learning how to care for a puppy from day 1 is key. Here are 5 things you can do to help ensure the health, safety, and comfort of your new family member.

1. Comfort

You need to prepare for your puppy even before you bring him home. He’ll like a comfy dog bed and toys. You’ll also need to purchase food and water dishes.

Besides that, you should make sure you leave plenty of time to spend with your puppy in order for him to know you and feel safe and secure when around you. Make sure he knows that you are there to take care of him. Don’t forget that your puppy has just been stripped of his mother and siblings and the only home that he has ever had. In order to feel safe he is going to need a little reaffirmation.

2. Feed Him Right

You should remember that a puppy is a baby dog and he should be treated much the same way you would treat a young baby. You will not want to give him grown-up dog food for a while and you should check with a vet or the pet store or his previous owner to see what he has been eating. If you would like to feed him a different kind of food, do not just chance it quickly because he may stop eating or even get sick. Gradually replace your food with what he has been used to eating and he will learn to like the new food. Remember to treat him like the new baby he is and you will get along well.

When he comes home, your puppy may want to eat your table scraps, but you should introduce these foods slowly. His stomach will need to adjust before it can handle a lot of “people” food.

3. Veterinarian

Knowledge and regular practice of veterinary care are of foremost importance when learning how to care for a puppy. You should remember that puppies often need to be wormed and adequately vaccinated. The new puppies must be taken to a Veterinarian for vaccination as well as for scheduling regular check ups. This will keep the puppy in good health.

4. Keep Him Sage

Just as you “child proof” your home before you bring home baby, you should “puppy proof” your home before you bring home that new addition to the family. Puppies are naturally curious about their new world, and need to be protected from danger. That danger not only comes from what is in your home, but also from older and/or stronger pets who want to play too rough with the puppy. Also, make sure that any young children are taught that the puppy is a real live creature, because many puppies have been injured by a child who thinks they are a stuffed animal.

5. Train Him Properly

Obedience training for your puppy is critical as it will help him turn into a well behaved dog. Not only will this insure that your dog is a pleasure to be around but it will also allow you to keep him safe. If your dog is obedient you can easily call him back if he is heading into danger. It’s never too early to start training your dog so you might want to have a plan for this before you bring your puppy home.

Learning how to care for a puppy isn’t hard, but it takes a bit of planning and commitment on your part. Don’t worry, if you plan it properly and give your puppy lots of love, you will be amply rewarded.

Fleas and ticks are usually more active in the summer but that doesn’t stop them from spreading around other times in the year. This is especially true if your puppy is exposed to another dog that has either fleas, ticks, or both. If you suspect that your friends have a dog that has fleas or ticks make sure you act quickly because all it takes is one visit to bring this on. All it takes is just a bit of close contact to have your puppy get infected. It’s something that you wouldn’t see coming until it happens to you. There are many flea and tick medications but most of them are not suitable for use on a puppy that hasn’t even matured yet.

There are many things that you can do to prevent these infections from happening. One of the most beneficial would be to give your puppy weekly or biweekly showers. For one thing, it will help keep them clean and smelling great. You really can’t keep an eye out on them all the time and there will be times where they get into things that aren’t exactly great. Giving those weekly showers is a great way to keep their coats shiny and fresh as well as flush out anything that might be infesting them as we speak. When you shower them, make sure you use soap that is appropriate for their age and coats. When you have the soap in your hands make sure that when you massage it in you go against the hair in order to try and loosen up anything that might be there.

Another thing that you can also do is invest in a brush that you can use to groom them. It doesn’t matter if they have short hair or long hair. It is great way to brush lose anything that might be lingering on his skin and coat. Keeping them clean and healthy is something that shouldn’t be skimped on.

This author lives in Flemington, NJ with her husband and 5 month old daughter and is an expert contributing author for a luxury dog feeders boutique offering variety of dog beds and personalized dog beds.

Every puppy will go through a teething stage. Learning some simple puppy teething relief techniques can make this painful time easier on both your puppy and you.

There are two stages at which a puppy has teeth coming in. The first stage is when, at about three weeks old, they get their baby teeth. This first set of teeth is generally not as prone to problems as when the adult set starts to come in. They will most likely appear without you even noticing.

Your puppy will begin to get adult teeth at 6 months of age. The canines come in first, followed by the incisors and finally the pre-molars.

Dogs might have discomfort from teething, using your shoes and furniture as chew toys. You can help prevent this by providing some much needed puppy teething relief.

The chewing of anything by your puppy is a sign of discomfort. Many people will consider this normal, however, it is a sure sign of teething

Chewing is something that all puppies do naturally and there are some things that can be done to help your puppy and your furniture. There is some gel medicine that you can get from your vet that might help the puppy’s pain. When the puppy feels less pain they will chew less. Get new chew toys and only allow the puppy to play with those. If the puppy is chewing on a chair leg for instance, take a chew toy and place it in front of the puppy, more likely than not the puppy with take the chew toy and leave your chair leg alone.

One thing that will feel good on your puppy’s gums is the cold. So try freezing some of his chew toys overnight and offering them to him in the morning. This will hopefully lessen both the swelling and the discomfort in the gum area. It’s best to have a large selection of dog toys and always rotate them through the freezer so there is always a cold one ready and waiting for your puppy.

Puppy teething lasts a minimum amount of time, but is very uncomfortable and painful for your puppy, not to mention the stress on you. Try easing the pup’s discomfort by offering him an old shoe to chew on for some old fashioned puppy teething relief. Save these old shoes as they will come in handy when you try to teach your puppy proper leash training at a later time.