Happy Halloween!

An important note to remember this Halloween is keeping all that delicious candy away from your canine friends. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, especially dark chocolate! If your pets get into any candy this year, you can call your veterinarian or contact the folks at The Poison Petline. Watch for a rapid heartbeat and/or anxious/erratic behavior! The smaller the dog the greater the chance for toxicity so please keep your pets safe this holiday!

On a more fun note check out this great Halloween grooming job!

Zombie Poodle

Purebred or Mutt?

You have already decided to add in another member of the family. So now what? Do you go with a purebred dog and a mutt from the pound? There are pro and cons to both

If you want a dog with predictable looks and predictable temperament then perhaps a purebred dog is right for you. The benefit of a purebred dog is you know what you are getting into. However you must do the research to determine if the dog is right for you. Just because you like the looks of a Siberian husky doesn’t mean you are prepared to have one.  Can you deal with the energy level?  Animal Planet has a good breed quiz to point you in the right direction. http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html

Choosing your dog's food

Let’s face it the pet food industry is just as commercial and competitive and the human food industry. No doubt you have seen dozens of ads about food for your dog. Which one is best? Sadly there is no definitive answer to that. Just like people every dog is different. Some dogs have allergies or medical conditions that require a special diet. Some dogs are intolerant or don’t like certain ingredients. So how do you determine what is the best food for YOUR dog? I’ve compiled some tips.

Potty Training Basics

Caring for a dog can sometimes be a very frustrating thing.  The impulse of an instant friend soon becomes and dark cloud of responsibility. Not only do you have to feed him, but also he needs training and healthcare and entertainment. The realization of it can become very daunting. Chances are if you are reading it you just took on this same responsibility. That is why I have compiled a list of ‘Doggy Basics’

Whether you just got a puppy or adopted an adult dog, chances are he is going to need some training. Training is also a great way to build a healthy relationship with your new canine friend. It builds trust and love between the both of you.

First on list is potty training. Unless you want to clean up after your new friend daily, it is an important lesson.  Here are a few tips for successful potty training.