AWWWWW…who can resist the innocence of a small puppy? Puppies can provide so much joy and companionship in a person’s life. As they say, dogs are man’s best friend. Doing some research before getting your puppy could save you a lot of aggravation and unnecessary frustration. If you plan properly, you will be very happy with your choice.

Some of the questions that might be important to you could be: are you planning to breed the puppy, are you planning to show the puppy, will this breed of puppy be good with children (if there are children or will be children in the house), what purpose would you have for the puppy, whether it be for hunting, guarding the house, or simply a house dog, these are all questions that you need to think about.

Visiting some pet stores to see if they have the breed available would be a start. Checking online for particular breeders would be another option. Checking your local SPCA would really be a help not only for the puppy, but also for the facility.

Puppies with AKC (American Kennel Club) papers can be very costly depending on the breed and the line from which the dog came from. Puppies that are for show must be certified with papers, so if you are planning to show the dog, you have no other alternative but to purchase your puppy from a breeder or pet store that provides papers for him. If your puppy is for your child, and not for showing, it would be a better choice to either adopt from the SPCA or buy one without papers; the cost will be greatly reduced.

Once you find the puppy you wish to buy, immediately take him to your veterinarian to have his shots and check-up. Secondly, sign him up for puppy training classes, this way, as an adult dog, he will have manners and possibly know a few tricks!

Be sure you get the same kind of puppy food that the previous owner (whether it is from a breeder or a pet supply store) fed the puppy. If you want to change his food, do so gradually by mixing some of the current food with the new kind you want to switch to. This not only helps to avoid diarrhea, but doesn’t shock the puppy’s system.

Also, be sure to register him for a license for the state in which you live. You must register each dog you have on an annual basis. The fee is minimal (especially for the dog that is sterilized) but the violation or citation if you are caught with an unlicensed pet is extremely costly. Be sure to also buy some personalized identity tags for the pet with his name, your name, address and telephone number. You will be thankful you did in case he happens to dig a hole under your fence and wander around the neighborhood.

Have lots of fun choosing your puppy, he will be part of your family for a long time!

Gary Nave helps consumers choose the right puppy for their needs.

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Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting experience! The puppy is excited, you are excited, but what about your older dog? You remember, the one who has been an only dog for years. It can be done and fairly effortlessly at that.

Dogs, for all their domesticity, still have a pack mentality. You, of course, are the alpha, or head dog. Your older dog will be the beta, or second in command. When bringing a new dog into the pack, your established dog may feel threatened. Be mindful of this. While you do want your newest addition to feel loved and welcomed, you also want your older dog to know that it is still loved very much and its position in the household is secure. There are a variety of things you may do to make this transition from a one dog to a two dog home go smoothly.

Go slowly! This is a brand new place for your puppy and a new situation for your older dog. Don’t rush them into any kind of relationship. Let the puppy explore. Allow them to get acquainted. I would advise here, to stay in close proximity when the dogs are just getting to know each other. Sometimes fights do break out and you won’t want either dog injured.

Spend quality time with each dog separately. This allows you to bond with your puppy and also shows your older dog that it is still an important part of your life. A caution here, don’t spend all of your time with them in separate situations. This may breed jealousy and ill will between dogs.

Play is important. Play with your dogs separately and also have playtime together. Make sure they have plenty of toys and chew toys. Once they begin having fun, it won’t be long until they are playing together and you are the one left out!

Reward good behavior. As mentioned, this is a new situation for both dogs. Reward them with playtime or treats so that they know that they are moving in the right direction.

This all may sound like a lot of work, but it truly isn’t. Once your dogs develop a relationship, your diligence will be awarded with twice the love!

Nikola Marshall lives in Oklahoma with her Boston Terrier and Chihuahua. She enjoys spending time with her dogs, scrapbooking, reading and volunteering. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Housebreaking a puppy or dog of any age can be a daunting task at first. However, it really can be done so take heart.

Usually puppies respond well to housebreaking training when six to eight weeks old and the keys to successful results are confinement, training, timing and praise.

A dog does not normally like to soil the area where it sleeps so it’s wise to keep your puppy confined when unsupervised. Know its schedule and teach it a designated “restroom” area. Take it on a leash outside to his area immediately after it wakes up, after a meal, after a play session and before it goes to bed at night.

Praise your puppy as it eliminates and you may even wish to use a trigger word.

When your puppy is not confined, be alert to signs that it needs to use its facilities such as a sudden stop of play, circling and sniffing, and running out of the room. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating in the house, scold it, and take it outside immediately to his “restroom” spot.

Really no good results come from correction long after the act. What’s done is done so it’s best to clean up the accident with a vinegar and water solution to remove the scent; otherwise the puppy will continue to use that place to do his business.

What about “submission urination”? This is urination during an excited greeting and is an involuntary, natural behavior in dogs. It can mean that the dog recognizes that you are the leader of the pack or alpha dog. Reprimanding your dog at this time may only worsen the situation, as this may cause it to urinate more in order to show further that it views you as the one in charge. Usually this behavior stops by the time a dog reaches two years old.

Remember, a dog is a social animal. Long periods of confinement can lead to hyperactivity, excessive barking, elimination accidents and destructive behavior. With proper training, your puppy (or even older dogs) can become delightful, faithful companions.

Reggie Andersen is a small business office advocate and pet owner. Check out his dog resource sites: Housebreaking Your Puppy or Dog

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