How to Socialize a Puppy

Contribution from Richard Cross
Editor of TheDogClinic.com

Puppies that have positive experiences with a wide range of dogs, environments, people and objects grow up to be less stressed and more adaptable. This is why socialization is one of a new dog owner’s most important tasks.

It can be hard to keep track of your dog’s experiences though. To help new dog owners, The Dog Clinic has created a checklist for puppy socialization. This is great for printing and sticking on your fridge, so everyone in the household can see your dog’s progress.

Socialization isn’t just about giving your dog lots of experiences though – these experiences need to be positive and controlled. The article also contains a complete guide to safely socializing a puppy with almost any new experience.

Puppy Socialization Checklist
Click Here to Jump to Checklist

Tips for shopping for Toys for Chihuahuas

Chihuahua PuppySince our dog, Blue Belle, is a medium sized dog and not a Chihuahua we recognize that we don’t know much about how to take care of a small puppy.  Thanks to this post from Sara, we have learned about the needs of a Chuhuahua puppy. Sara tells us before you go shopping for toys for Chihuahuas, check out this easy guide. You’ll learn everything you need to know about what your Chi needs in a toy.

Guest Post by Sara, Freelance Writer ~ ILoveAll Dogs

What you should consider before buying Toys for Chihuahuas

We all want to give our dogs the best food, treats and toys that money can buy. But sometimes we’re not sure where to start. You might find yourself confused about what the right toys are when you’re a new dog owner. This applies for every breed but in this case, we’re talking about Chihuahuas.

As a parent to a brand new Chihuahua puppy, you want to start spoiling them right away. You want to get the best toys for them so that they can meet all their chewing needs.

But don’t go shopping for toys for your Chihuahua before you learn about the best toys for them. They’re little dogs but as puppies they can chew like any other breed. Here you will find everything you need to know before buying toys for Chihuahuas.  All your Chihuahua’s needs and what qualities to look for in a toy are right here.

Teething and Chewing

Chihuahua puppies love to chew but they aren’t the only ones. Even adult Chihuahuas enjoy chewing. Chi puppies start teething at around the age of 4 months. The reason for their need to chew is because they’re gums are itchy. They’re gums itch because they’re baby teeth are getting lose and their adult teeth are coming in.

It’s so important to have adequate toys for your Chi pup to chew on to relieve their discomfort. If you don’t provide good toys for them they’ll turn to chewing everything else in sight. This includes furniture, shoes and anything else they can get their paws on.

Below are some factors to consider before buying, courtesy of Petchidog.com. Continue reading

Well-Known Secret Behind Pet Stores

Please join me in welcoming a guest blog post by Dayton Uttinger who informs us about the new law being discussed in the New Jersey Legislature.  If enacted, it will prevent pet stores from buying animals from “mills”, only from rescue and adoption shelters.

Thank you, Dayton, for your article. – Julie

The Well-Known Secret Behind Pet Stores

By: Dayton Uttinger

Happy puppyThere are few things that excite a household more than bringing home a new puppy.  Everyone crowds around the new addition to the family. Some are eager for attention, others withdraw into the arms of whoever’s carrying them, but they are all small and fragile, no matter how large they’re destined to grow later.  However, depending on the dog’s origin, dangerous health problems can develop with time, especially if it came from a puppy mill.

Puppy mills have long been the bane of animal rights advocates.  Although 62% of American households own at least one dog, and we all tend to treat them like family, we don’t always investigate where they’re coming from.  We figure that we’ll be giving our pet all the love that they deserve, so really, we’re rescuing an animal from a puppy mill when we buy from a chain store, right? Continue reading

Smallest Puppy – Beyonce is a Survivor

Video from CBS Sacramento – rescue and rehabilitation ranch The Grace Foundation share the story of the rescue and survival of the tiny chihuahua puppy they named Beyonce.

Breaking News!
Update on Beyonce’s Adoption Status from The Grace Foundation Website

"The Grace Foundation is so grateful for the response we have received to our little Beyonce and her story of survival. We never could have predicted the amount of attention her story would receive or that she would become an international sensation.

Beyonce has become an ambassador for rescue dogs everywhere and has brought much needed attention to the plight of these dogs. In just two weeks this amazing little girl has put a face on the struggles that shelter dogs must face. Although some of them, like Beyonce and her family, are lucky enough to be rescued and find loving homes, millions more are euthanized every year. It is our hope that Beyonce will continue to encourage people throughout the country to adopt these rescue dogs, who are truly on their last chance at life."

Amazing Rescue Story – Fiona the Blind Dog

This amazing rescue story comes from Hope For Paws, a non-profit animal rescue organization, based in Los Angeles, California. Hope For Paws rescues dogs and all other animals who are suffering on the streets and in the shelters. They foster these animals in homes, cage free, until they can find them permanent, loving families. They can use our support.

DogBlog Pet Bed Review

Maggie, the DogBlog Dog from Boise, Idaho was pleased to test out a very special bed. Special, you say, what makes this pet bed so special? First of all, it is so comfortable it feels like an air mattress. She snoozes away, dreaming of squirrels up a tree and running like the wind.

Maggie is a dog who thought the master family bed was the only place she could sleep. This was until we got her this new luxury pet bed from Crypton Super Fabrics. Now she can stretch out and feel snug as a bug in a rug. OK, she might need a few toys to really feel snug, but even humans would enjoy sleeping on this bed.

The other advantages: Crypton says “if you have a messy pet, don’t stress”. Crypton Super Fabrics makes their machine-washable pet beds resistant to moisture, stains, odors and bacteria. Their impenetrable barrier keeps grime from soaking through the fabric.

Pet accident? No problem – just wipe away. For stubborn stains, they offer a complete Pet Stain and Odor Remover System. But the DogBlog hasn’t tested those products.

You can visit Crypton Super Fabrics online to create a customized bed for your pet, and view their blog – lifeoncrypton.com/blog – to find out about Life on Crypton and the Super Pooch, Molly B.

Please check out Maggie’s musical YouTube video review.

The dog bed that Maggie tested is a Molly B. Luxury Pet Bed – Herringbone Cardinal – Size 36″ x 44″ x 5″
Maggie and the DogBlog give Crypton Super Fabrics Pet Beds a WINNER Recommendation. This pet bed product is the best dog bed we have experienced.

Read more about Maggie, our family dog, rescued from a shelter, trained by prison inmates and now the best dog in the world (in our humble opinion).
Why we started our DogBlog – a sad story about losing our best friend and finding a new one.