Some Puppy To Love

Everyday there are countless, gorgeous and loving animals available in local shelters, yet when many people considering getting a dog, they think of buying one from a store first. I would like to change that. The first step is awareness. Some people just do not realize what a great dog they can find in a shelter or how they will be saving their lives (not to mention helping put the stores which profit from puppy mills out of business!). My Hayley and Django were both adopted and they are the sweetest animals in the world! I am so lucky to have been able to find them.

The recent studies out on dog cognition include many things that us dog lovers already know: mainly that dogs understand us and feel emotions. Anyone who has lived and loved a dog knows this instinctively. Of course, I'm very glad that these observations are being up by scientific facts, and proving what incredible and special animals dogs are. What's exciting are the studies coming out which give us a glimpse of things we might not know about our beloved companions, like they actually prefer human companionships yet don't feel guilt. I am continually intrigued about the various cognition leaps and bounds being made.  Purina Pro Plan who has taken a lead in researching the science behind why dogs do what they do,  has a list of dog cognition facts on their website. It's a good read, and there is also a test you can take about dog cognition (which leads you to a money saving coupon). In addition, you can find a Dognition Assessment which is a set of 2

Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that the most critical time of a puppy's life is potty training. How well you potty train your puppy will set the tone for your dog's lifetime potty habits...and if not done properly, can result in a stressful (and messy) existence for you both. I am a huge believer in crate training. When I adopted my pup, Django, we started her on crate training immediately. She was 8 weeks old and just forming habits. She trained quite fast. In those first few days, I would never let her roam around freely unsupervised, and I put her out in our yard countless times a day. When I couldn't watch her, I would put her in her crate many times a day for short periods of time which worked incredibly well because puppies sleep so much.

Many dog owners have witnessed their pet excessively scratching their ears or rubbing their head on a hard surface. Some owners may even notice redness, swelling, or odor in their dog’s ear canal. Although we may do everything we can to keep our dogs clean, these common signs could be a result of a canine ear infection. According to Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, canine ear infections are common and can be caused by multiple factors.  “There are several contributing factors associated with the development of ear infections in dogs,” she said. “Some factors, such as excess hair in the ear canals, excess wax production, and increased moisture, can contribute to the development of ear infections; however, they do not solely cause the infection. There is generally an underlying cause, such as parasites, allergies, or foreign bodies. Other causes include hormone imbalances, benign or can