Aces in their Places. Taking a look at the important task of puppy placement.

Athletic and intelligent, the Dalmatian excels at many dog sports.

Learn more about this energetic member of the Non-Sporting Group in this week’s edition of “The Dish”.

While gifting a puppy as a Christmas present may not be a good idea, giving a Puppy Basket filled with essentials the new owners will need is!

This week's edition of "The Dish" will give you some ideas as to what to give expecting owners this holiday season.

Is getting two puppies at the same time a good idea?

Find out in this week's edition of "The Dish".

Let's answer some questions new puppy buyers might ask!

If you’re buying a purebred puppy for the first time, you might be overwhelmed with all the paperwork! Buying a puppy from a responsible breeder does entail a fair bit of documentation, reading and signing. This week’s blog looks at the paperwork that helps protect you, your new puppy and the breeder.

"The Puppy Blues"

Everyone compliments your puppy, and you know they are great, so why do you feel so overwhelmed, anxious, regretful, or down? It's likely something we call the “Puppy Blues". The condition is usually temporary and you can read more about it in this blog.

A popular tool that must be used with extreme caution
 
While I share a common bond with all dog owners, I have a few dog care (or rather, lack of dog care) pet peeves. One is seeing a dog with overgrown nails. Another is owners not picking up after their dogs. The third is the incorrect use of retractable leads.
 
Retractable leashes are incredibly common- you can buy them at every pet supply store, big box stores and online. It would be rare to meet a dog owner who hasn’t bought a retractable leash at some point in their life. 

When I was a child, my mother enrolled my American Cocker Spaniel “Peanut” and I in a dog obedience training course that was specially designed for. The course was taught by a man who owned 3 Samoyeds and brought them to every class to demonstrate exercises. Before the course I had never laid my eyes on a Samoyed before. I remember telling my mom that they looked like “stuffed animals and Christmas morning”! Since then, I have remained enchanted by the breed and am not alone. The Samoyed has fans around the world and for good reason - they are charming, intelligent and sensitive dogs.
 

Owning a dog in a city apartment takes dedication, routine and a good pair of shoes.

I live downtown Toronto with my Standard Poodle and my Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Throughout the years of condo living in the big city with dogs, I’ve learned how to live in a tight space while still taking care of all my dogs’ needs.  Here are some tips and tricks I have learned while owning dogs in a big city apartment. If you are a dedicated owner, you too can give your dog a great life in the big city.

Some lessons you’ll learn and mistakes you can avoid during the first year of owning a dog.

The first year of being a new dog owner involves a lot of loving and a lot of learning. Here are some lessons, common mistakes made and tips for your first year as a dog owner.

Careful consideration, trust and intuition is needed when hiring this member of your dog’s care team. 

Benefits of a Dog Walker
Many of us lead busy lives and work outside the home. It’s not unusual for a dog owner to be away from the home for 10 hours a day. I personally don’t think it is fair to leave a dog to be home alone for that amount of time, so for me, and countless urban dog owners, a dog walker is an important part of our pet’s care team. A dog walker is an individual you are giving a key to your home and leaving your dog’s care in the hands of. Needless to say, this is not a position you fill on a whim!
 

The dog show world is something I have always been interested in but never thought I would get the chance to be a part of. When my husband Ross and I brought our Lagotto Romagnolo puppy Hudson home last year, he brought so much love into our world and he definitely kept us on our toes…this particular breed likes to keep busy! 

Being aware of potential hazards can help you and your dog have a Happy Easter.

Many families and friends gather this time of year to celebrate Easter and included in that guest list is, of course, our beloved dogs. While Easter is a fun and cherished holiday, as with any gathering where food and a large number of people are involved, it can present some dangers to our pups. I’ve listed some items to be cautious of this Easter because when it comes to dogs, preventing a situation is a thousand times better than having to deal with one.

A few bits of advice to help those with a new puppy.

I’ve written several blogs on puppies and will probably write dozens more. Since new puppy owners don’t have tons of spare time, I thought I would put together a quick list of tips to help puppy owners during the first few special and challenging months with their gorgeous new pack member.

Signs to look for when buying a puppy.

If you look up the word “breeder” on Wikipedia you will find a definition that reads: “A breeder is a person who selectively breeds carefully selected mates, normally of the same breed to sexually reproduce offspring with specific, consistently replicable qualities and characteristics.” Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

How to pick a Groomer and maintain a good relationship with this important member of your dog’s wellness team

Many new puppy owners wait until a first hair cut is long overdue before they begin to look for a Groomer. But finding a good Groomer can be a challenging task, so you should begin your search early on. Many breeders also groom, so if this is the case with your dog's and you live fairly close by – lucky you (and lucky them as I’m sure they would love regular visits with your dog)! 

You’ve probably heard from other dog owners that crate training is incredibly helpful in housebreaking a puppy and you’ve definitely seen dogs at shows and trials in crates - but why should you crate train your dog? For one, it’s very natural. Crate training takes advantage of your dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is their home—a place to sleep, hide from danger and raise a family. If introduced properly, the crate will become your dog's den, where they can find comfort and solitude while you know they’re safe and secure. Crate training can save your furniture, your floors and even your dog’s life.

If you are lucky enough to have gotten your puppy from a breeder who started the crate training process before she sent her puppies to their forever homes, you will be ahead of the game. But for the purpose of this blog, I will start with the assumption that your puppy has had no previous crate experience.
 

It’s hard to imagine a more heart-warming sight.  As Christmas morning dawns, an excited child scrambles to the tree, unwrapping a large box tied with a bow.  Inside, his or her new puppy awaits.  Screams of delight ensue and the perfect Christmas morning Youtube video is born.

What a great present, right? Wrong. A dog is for life, not a holiday gift.

Puppies are not presents and should never be a surprise. Choosing to add a dog to your family is a long term commitment that requires lots of discussion, thought and research. So, whether you’re buying for a child or an adult, if you’re feeling the pressure to find the perfect last minute gift we recommend you consider a sweater instead. 

I don’t want homes for puppies, I want homes for adult dogs.  Puppies are easy to sell, ask any puppy mill or rescue. Puppies are snapped up in no time, then as adults they end up in rescue because the people who found the cutest puppy only wanted the puppy, not what the puppy grew up to be.

When people ask about my breed I tell them the good, the great and the not so great aspects of living with a dog this breed in particular.  I also tell them that they need to meet adult dogs and love them, really LOVE them before I will consider them as a home for one of my dogs...