Real People. Real Experiences. Real Helpful.
Got a new dog? Congratulations! These are the bare minimum things you need to know as a new dog owner… How to prepare for YOUR DOG’s FIRST DAYS at home, plus tips for surviving those sometimes challenging first weeks with your new dog. See what you should do before you even bring your new dog home — including how to puppy proof your house (inside and outside) to ensure that your dog’s world is completely safe. Tips for renaming a dog — how to change your dog’s name and get them to learn their new name quickly. Dog necessities — the best dog training collars, dog training leads, dog food & water bowls, and how to choose the best dog house (or build one yourself). How and why to come up with a puppy feeding & potty schedule for your new dog, plus the best dog potty training tips that work! How to start teaching your dog good manners — the 5 easiest dog training commands to teach your dog first (even an 8-week-old puppy). How to train your dog to live in a crate for their first year — so they can safely live inside your house for the rest of their life. What to expect from dog daycare if you go that route instead of leaving your dog home alone. And how to find a pet sitter quick — because you shouldn’t leave your dog longer than a few hours at a time. (See also “Dog Breeds,” “Raising Two Or More Dogs,” and “Adopting/Rescuing Dogs”)
A well-socialized dog will be much more relaxed in the world and less likely to have unwanted behaviors. Socializing your dog — as a puppy — is definitely a win-win for both you and your dog!
We got a new German Shepherd/Labrador Retriever puppy. Here are some of the things we considered that might also help you when naming your dog…
These 3 videos contain information that is helpful for new dog owners as well as lifelong dog owners — like myself. I learned so much from these DVDs… and I’ve had dogs all my life! I predict these Cesar Millan DVDs will be a lifesaver for lots of dog owners — especially those who have reached their peak level of frustration and don’t know where else to turn.
Did you know that owning a dog costs about $1000 for the first year alone? Then, it costs about $500 each year after that — and that’s just for the basics! Here are a few ways to save money when you own a dog.
If you have pet-proofed your home, then you have taken very important steps to ensuring the safety of your pet. However, if you have not pet-proofed your yard, your dog could still be in danger.
There are a handful of great websites devoted solely to pet sitting and overnight boarding for dogs. Through some of them, you can also find specific services like house sitting, walking your dog, grooming, dog training, and more. Here’s the scoop…
Here’s why we will only order dog tags from Tags For Pets – aka American Pet Classics…
Aside from the typical poisonous plants, antifreeze, and chocolate that we dog owners hear so much about, there are a number of far more common household dangers that dog owners should also be aware of. Here are some other household dangers you should consider:
Have More Than One Dog?… There are a few important things you need to consider before bringing another dog home. Because two (and especially three) dogs under one roof comes with its own set of challenges. Been there, done that! Here are the 3 most important things you need to do when raising more than one dog together.
