Congratulations on adopting a new four legged member of your family!
It is certainly true that all the love you put in, a dog will give you back ten-fold. However, owning a dog can be hard work and having a dog is a big commitment that should be carefully considered;
There are many benefits of owning a dog.
I want my puppy to let me clip his nails when he’s older. How do I do this?
Start now! It is important to help your puppy associate nail trims with “good things” so one that they look forward to this time. This is accomplished by playing with the puppy’s feet one at a time while rewarding with food treats. Do not clip any nails at this time. The slower you progress without forcing the puppy, the quicker he will pick up the fact that “when my owner holds my foot, I get lots of treats!” You then gradually increase the length of time spent holding the foot, start touching each individual toe, then clicking the clippers (a noise that can be scary to some pups), then clipping a toenail! Do not expect to be able to clip all his nails at the same time or to reach this comfort level within a couple days. Give him plenty of time and treats!
When can I walk my puppy in the park?
Some dogs do not become adequately immunized against certain preventable diseases (parvo most notably) until 18 to 20 weeks of age. Therefore avoidance of locations where many dogs of unknown background congregate or have been seems to make sense. However, puppies do need to be socialized by being exposed to many sites, sounds and experiences so we recommend taking them to less “canine intensive” sites and exposing them to healthy, vaccinated dogs belonging to friends. Since some diseases and parasites are transmitted by exposure to feces, you need to control where your puppy puts his nose when he walks.
Why does my dog eat grass?
Grass eating by dogs and cats is considered normal by most veterinarians. Dogs in the wild do the same thing to supplement their diet with vegetation. You should only be concerned about access to grass that has been treated with herbicides, insecticides or fertilizers that might cause illness.
Are rawhide chews safe?
Rawhide chews usually do not cause a problem. Problems may arise if your do swallows them whole causing choking, gastritis or blockage. It’s usually best to supervise your pet when it is chewing on any toy.
What foods aren’t safe for my pets?
It is dangerous to feed any of your animals the following items: chocolate, grapes, raisins, currants, fatty table scraps, onions, garlic, compost, macadamia nuts, unbaked bread dough, alcohol, sugar-free gum, candy, xylitol, and any type of human medications or household cleaners.