Welcome to PickMyPuppy.com – The #1 Resource For All Things Dog Related!

Treat your best friend how you would like to be treated.  Here, you can find helpful tips and advice on how to keep your dog healthy, happy and in the best shape they can be.  You will also find information on how to train your dog to be the well-behaved companion that is friendly and charming.

 

Dogs can be your best friends and companions throughout your life to make the good times even better, and the rough times easier.  Simply put, dogs are well known to make great pets and family members.  Whether they’re begging for food, barking at a stranger or simply greeting you when you get home, dogs will always find a way to put a smile on your face.  All throughout history, dogs have made their owners happy and provided a best friend through both good times and bad.  In addition to being great companions, dogs have also performed many different roles for people such as hunting, herding, protection, assisting law enforcement and even aiding the handicapped.

 

Dog Health

Keep your dog happy at every stage of his life, from puppy to adult, and enjoy the experience of a well satisfied best friend.  Just like humans, dogs can suffer from a wide range of ailments.  From their digestive system to their skin, your companion will require careful monitoring and preventative measures to allow them to lead a long a fulfilling life.  Depending on the breed of your dog, you should find out if they are prone to certain hereditary or genetic conditions.  Learning how to identify and treat your pal’s ailments is essential to preventing long term health problems.  Since you dog can’t actually talk to you and let you know what’s bothering them, you’ll need to be aware of any behavioral or physical changes that are abnormal in their development.

 

Dog Training

Proper training is essential for a long, happy and safe relationship with your dog, setting the foundation to ensure your dog stays physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy.  To make dog training an enjoyable and fulfilling activity, your approach should be positive, rewards-based, fun and engaging.  Dog training should begin as soon as your puppy is able to interact with you and start playing simple games.  Early development is essential in your dog’s future obedience, as they will remember activities even into their adulthood.

 

Teaching Your Dog New Tricks

You should teach your companion how to think and communicate with you early and promote a relationship of mutual respect and trust.  Often time’s adolescent dogs are very similar to young children.  They are brimming with curiosity and eager to test out the new world that they have arrived in.  Like children, they will also test their boundaries and your reaction to their behaviors.  Your dog will respect and admire you for setting firm, but fair, guidelines early on in their life so that they will view their owner as the “pack leader.”  Typically, all dogs respond best to positive reinforcement and reward-based exercises.

 

Early in their life, a dog will learn to associate behaviors with reactions.  The behavior may invoke a positive, or negative, reaction depending on the situation.  Training your dog early to associate good actions, such as learning to sit or knowing when to bark and when not to, will carry your companion through the rest of their life.  They will instinctively know when they have done a good deed, or a bad deed, and will seek your praise when they are proud of their good behavior.

 

How to Know When Your Dog is Showing Affection

After a long day in the office, there’s nothing quite as fulfilling as a dog happily running to you when he hears his name.  It’s even better when he’s in the middle of chewing a favorite toy or investigating a fascinating scent, and drops whatever he’s doing to come and greet you.

 

In the human world, we usually make eye contact to show that we’re engaged and paying attention to someone.  That’s not the case in the dog world.  When two dogs lock eyes with each other, it’s often considered rude or aggressive.  It’s a different case with humans though, and when a dog stares at their best human friend it’s usually a sign of deep affection.  You’ve probably heard the term, “puppy dog eyes.”  Well, when you are looking at your dog’s eyes and he is gazing back, with large relaxed pupils, then it typically means they are very comfortable and happy with you.

 

Tail wagging may seem like an obvious sign of love, but this behavior is more complex than you may think.  A tail wag can have a lot of different meanings, and they’re not always friendly.  Thankfully, when your dog gives a full-body wag with the tail held at mid-height, accompanied by other signs of positive body language, the message is pretty clear that they are happy and excited to see you.

 

Benefits of Owning a Dog

Dogs have worked tirelessly over the past 15,000 years to earn their title as “man’s best friend.”  They not only offer their unconditional love and affection, but have worked side-by-side with owners for thousands of years successfully.  There have many studies conducted over the years to find out if there is significant link between dog ownership and physical or mental health benefits that follow.

 

Physical benefits of dog companionship:

• Research has shown that dog ownership increased the odds of survival in people who have had a heart attack from 1 in 15, to 1 in 87.
• Lower cholesterol and negative triglycerides.  People with pets have been found to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared to people who did not have pets, even when matched for weight, age, diet, and smoking habits.
• Pets can decrease blood pressure and reduce stress.  Studies of people undergoing stress tests or physical examinations have demonstrated that the presence of a dog lowered their heart rate and blood pressure during testing.
• Increase physical activity and functioning.  People who own pets often have better physical health due to the need to exercise and care for their pet’s health.

 

Emotional benefits of dog companionship:

• Dogs have shown to help humans adjust to various ailments or cope with the loss of a loved one.  Children often turn to a pet for comfort if someone close has passed away.  Even adults were shown, when lacking a source of human support, found comfort and relief of depression from spending time with their dog.
  Generally, people tend to be less anxious and feel safer when owning a dog.  Pet owners tend to feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when walking with a dog or having a dog in the home.
• Relax and reduce everyday stress.  Pets can help us relax and focus our attention away from our problems and worries.
• Dogs can lift our mood and help us feel less lonely.  Pets decrease our feelings of loneliness and isolation by providing companionship and comfort.
• Having something to care for increases life satisfaction.  Everyone needs to feel needed and have something to care for.  Many elderly citizens or people living alone will tell you their pet gives them a reason for living.

 

Choosing the Right Dog from the Right Breeder

Knowing how to select the right breeder is just as important as picking the right breed of dog for you and your family.  Never be afraid to ask a breeder plenty of questions when seeking to determine if they are reputable.  A careful dog breeder should be willing to present documentation that their dogs have been screened for genetic disease in their family line, and that they breed only the healthiest pups.  Ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in their lineage and what they passed away of.

 

Don’t be put off if a breeder isn’t immediately responsive.  Often time’s hobby breeders have full-time jobs and they don’t have all of the answers handy.  Be selective, and find a breeder who is knowledgeable and make sure you’re comfortable with them.  Visit the breeder’s home or kennel and ask to see at least one of the puppy’s parents.  Get an idea of what the future holds for your dog in terms of temperament, appearance and friendliness.

 

No matter how good a breeder may be, sometimes nature just takes its course and a puppy can develop various conditions, despite exceptional breeding practices.  Never fear if your new companion falls ill.  Advances in veterinary science means that in most cases your dog can still lead a happy life.

 

Dog Adoption

Many people choose to adopt a dog from their local pet shelter and help save an animal in need.  This is a noble cause and can help a previously neglected pet find a new, safe home.  Before considering adoption, you should plan and prepare for period of adjustment.  Dogs actually have a very good long term memory, and if they were abandoned or mistreated, they will often have certain reservations, even when given a comfortable environment.

 

The first few days in your home are special and critical for a pet.  Your new dog will be confused about where he is and what to expect from you.  Setting up some clear structure with your family for your dog will be paramount in making as smooth a transition as possible.  Be sure to dog-proof the area where your new friend will spend most of his time during the first few months, and avoid them possibly chewing up furniture or stealing your dinner off the table.  Remember, moving to a new home is stressful, even for humans, and your new dog will feel the same way, but will not have the capability to tell you about their worries.  Give him time to acclimate to your home and family before introducing him to strangers.  Make sure your children know how to approach the dog without overwhelming him with attention.