Are you thinking of getting a new addition to your household that will love you unconditionally? Lots of consideration is needed when choosing the perfect companion to fit your lifestyle.
The empty nest syndrome hit full force a couple of years ago. My adult kids just didn’t need my mothering instincts following them through life and being a grandma wasn’t happening for a while, so a furry new baby came to live at our house. He LOVES being doted upon and has captured all of our attention and extra time! I am quickly realizing, though, that as he nears his 2nd birthday, he receives far less disciplining than our children did! This is not necessarily a good thing.
Summer has arrived and that means time for new puppies. Those first few weeks you have your new puppy are so very important. When you receive your new little bundle at eight weeks of age, you have approximately four weeks to get them well "socialized." What does that mean? That means that this is the time to get them out in the world and seeing everything there is to see. Puppies at this age are eager to explore, meet peoplem, and try new things. That is why this is the most important part of a puppies life.
Walk beside you on a leash?…No way! Running and sniffing is much more fun. Come on, let’s go! Puppies are not born knowing all the rules we humans have for living together. As a responsible owner, it is up to you to teach them how to coexist peacefully. When you come home from work, no doubt, your puppy is going to be excited to see you. So like any normal dog, he wants to jump and kiss your face. No self-respecting puppy would greet his new parent any other way, of course. Don’t worry; contrary to popular belief, he is not, in fact, trying to dominate your world.
When Yelling "Stop Doing That!" Isn't Working: Distract and Redirect
Your dog can exhibit a number of behaviors that you would prefer they didn’t do. They bark at people as they walk down the street, they charge the delivery man as he brings your packages; they chew on shoes, and steal our socks. The list could go on and on. There are thousands of things you don’t want your dog to do. That is why it is so important to teach them what you DO want them to do. You could spend your entire day yelling at your dog to stop doing this, don’t do that, but what fun is that?
My Sirius Life: Sirius Proves (Once Again) He's One Champion Dog
When I am training, sometimes it is necessary for me to take along a dog with me. I have the perfect dog for that. I was working with the most loveable boxer the other day that also happens to be leash aggressive. This is such a shame. Some people, but mostly dogs, don’t get to see how cool this dog is because he scares them away before he can show them. So, we had done several weeks using "Rowdy," my life size stuffed toy lab, and he was showing real progress. It was time to bring in the big guns. This is where Sirius comes in.
We just had to say goodbye to a dear, furry family member after almost 13 years of constant companionship. Not just any dog, but a Golden Retriever named Skipper. I remember driving through a blizzard to pick him out 13 years ago. He was the slightly older puppy that followed my shoestring and sat in my lap. He stole my heart, and I think he knew he was meant for us. He helped me raise 4 little children.
This was the summer of the puppy. I told my kids I was going to adopt a new family member once they both were off to their various institutions of higher learning in the fall, and they said, "GET ONE NOW!" But why now? We won’t be able to go on vacation if we get a puppy. The whole summer will be all about the puppy. Both the Kid and the Girl protested- If you get a puppy after we leave, it won’t know us. And, they reasoned, if you get a puppy now, you’ll have two extra people with flexible schedules to help you care for it and potty train it. Yeah, right, I thought.
"What is this little guy’s name? I can’t get close enough to see her tag." she asked. I looked down at the little min pin who was quietly standing near her. She looked a little nervous about being at doggy daycare and a little on edge. While I was thinking of the dog’s name, the girl started walking quickly towards the dog (because the dog was trying to move out of her reach). With hands outstretched, she grabbed her collar, picked her up, and held her up to her face so she could see the tag on her collar. "That’s a good way to get a good bite in the face!" I said.
