top 10 must have’s for new dog owners

There is a maze of products out there for new puppy owners but here are the top ten most needed for your new pup and your sanity!

10) Chew toys. The first thing those little darlings want to do each day is play and chew. From furniture to ankles, they will bat around and bite anything in their way. A good quality, interesting chew toy is an essential. I have found that the Planet Dog (www.planetdog.com) toys are especially durable, bouncy and minty, too! They have a wide selection in various interesting shapes - strawberry & artichoke to name just a few. who knew!  And they are 100% recyclable and eco-friendly.

9) Soft training treats. Soft training treats have a few advantages over regular treats 1) they are small enough to give repeatedly (and you’ll need that) 2) they are moist so he won’t wander off looking for a drink. The best I have found are Simon & Huey’s soft training treats (www.simonandhuey.com). All natural and human grade  - super tasty and super healthy. 

Spot and Stain remover. Sorry but it’s necessary. Before you are able to train your dog to share their excitement outside, they will share it inside - invevitably on your favorite rug. I found that good, old Resolve Spot and Stain remover is the best. It even gets out stains you didn’t get to immediately (behind the sofa?). Don’t forget to blot and not rub.

7) Healthy food. With all the food recalls last year, food manufacturers are getting better at regulating themselves but they have a long way to go. A listing of “by-product meal” can be any part of the chicken from feet to intestines. I found some exceptionally healthy food through a company called Pet Lane.

6) Dog shampoo. Not people shampoo but dog shampoo. People shampoo is PH balanced for people and not for dogs and it can dry out and damage your dog’s skin. The resulting itchiness can cause scratching and irritation and set the stage for bacterial infections. So wash that muddy puppy but use the right shampoo - I like Happytails sparkle & shine shampoo (www.happytailsspa.com) - their products are all natural and luxurious.

5) Good scooper. It’s a necessity. I tried buying lots of cheap, plastic ones but once I spent a few extra dollars on a metal/wood one, I was sold. I have been using it for years now and it hasn’t let me down (nor broken my back). The Scoop Pooper by Flexrake has served me well - each and every day. I use the scoop & spade. Find it at www.petsmart.com.

4) Training classes. Don’t wait until your puppy is 4-5 months old to learn the best ways to train him. You will want to understand a dog’s perspective from the very beginning. I unexpectedly found exceptional training at my local PetSmart but have also heard excellent success with Bark Busters (www.barkbusters.com) - great for behavioral issues at any age, too.

3) Crate and blanket. While I loathed the idea of putting my dog in a crate (or “cage”) it really is necessary for your sanity and for their happiness. My dogs loved it and really considered it home. Besides being an effective housebreaking tool (because dog’s are generally reluctant to have accidents where they sleep), it can also help to reduce separation anxiety, prevent destructive behavior (such as chewing furniture) and to keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items (i.e., poisons, electrical wires, etc.). Be sure to choose one that will grow with your dog. And don’t forget - never use it for punishment.

2) Training booklet - While there is a vast array of training books on the market, which, if you’re like me, you don’t have the time to read all 300 pages, I found a 23 page booklet loaded with pertinent and concise information. Way To Go! by Patricia McConnell (www.patriciamcconnell.com). A PHD certified applied animal behaviorist, Dr. McConnell has been working with treating serious behavioral problems since the eighties and now has a collection of useful booklets, DVD’s and more. She is truly an expert on the subject!

1) Taste deterrent. All the wood in my kitchen at ankle height has seen better days before the puppy chewing began. It’s partially a boredom thing and partially a teething thing and partially and new taste sensation for puppies but regardless, there had to be a better way. And there is…a bitter way to be exact - Grannick’s Bitter Apple (available at major retail stores, even Walmart). I’ll warn you, it doesn’t always work for everyone but our lab tests in Henry’s Lab had a tremendous success rate and showed that this is the one product most likely to deter your pups from chewing on your furniture - and even their own coat.

Don’t forget to see the Puppy Survival Kit in Henry’s Store for a great gift for yourself or a friend who is a new puppy owner! It’s chock full of the perfect (and necessary) products - you’ll thank me later.

Check out some other great top ten lists (like Top 10 Smartest Dogs and Top 10 Most Dog Friendly Cities in America) at toptenz.net.

help with rescue dog

Just read about a new book - Rescue Me! It is a guide to selecting, adopting and caring for a shelter or rescue dog. The book is also filled with real-life rescue success stories and heart-warming happy endings - how wonderful is that?

a baby story

Like any new mum, I had much anxiety about bringing my new baby girl home. The worst of which was how were my four legged babies going to react to a new, noisy one in our home. I had researched much about it and the best, simplist and most realistic things were to A) bring home a blanket the baby had been in to let the dogs get a good sniff ahead of time and B) to have someone else carry the baby in the house. The theory being that the dogs would think that someone had brought this little, noisy bundle of sunshine in our house and left it there and now we need to care for it - which I find a very sweet notion (wonder what Cesar would have to say about that one!).

Well, I’m not sure if those two things worked but I’m happy to say that our expanded home is still happy. Our brave Henry was terrified of the tiny, seven lb. baby and our Jess, having so much of the mothering instinct, just couldn’t love and kiss her more.

 Whew!

It’s a scary thing when you love your dogs so much and you are faced with a possible decision where they would have to leave your family and go to live with someone else. I can’t even think about it now, it upsets me so. My advice, if I may, to those who are planning to have a family eventually and want to get a dog now - try getting a family friendly dog (lots of wonderful, available mutts out there from the dog pound or animal rescue) - or watch lots of the Dog Whisperer! http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/