5 Things to Help You Successfully Adopt a Dog

5 Things to Help You Successfully Adopt a Dog So You Want to Adopt a Dog? Read This First! Adding a dog to your home is a wonderful experience. Before you do though, there are a few things to consider to ensure you’re making the best choice for you and your new forever dog. It’s true; dogs offer us unconditional love and companionship. But they also come with added responsibility and commitment. Whichever dog you decide to adopt (a puppy or a senior, large or small); you will also be accepting the responsibility to provide them with the best quality of life through their entire life. So before you give in to those magical puppy eyes or sweet puppy breath, keep reading to make sure you’re prepared for the long-term commitment of dog ownership! 1)  What’s the Perfect Size for YOU? Unlike many other pets (cats, fish, hamsters, etc.), theRead more

You Have Adopted A Shelter or Rescue Dog, Now What?

You Have Adopted A Shelter or Rescue Dog Now What
You Have Adopted A Shelter or Rescue Dog, Now What? Health Check & Baseline Bloodwork This can be a great inside look into your newly adopted adult pet.  Bloodwork can show potential issues before symptoms even start to show.  If everything is normal with your pet’s bloodwork that is reason to celebrate!   These values can also help to give your veterinarian invaluable information in the future if problems arise. Vaccinations We recommend that needed vaccinations are up to date.   Most shelter or adoptive dogs will have received their required vaccinations.  We recommend that your pet be 100% healthy and a strong immune system is established before future vaccinations are given. Bordetella (kennel cough), Leptospirosis, Canine Flu vaccine & other optional vaccines should be researched based on lifestyle & location. Can too many vaccines be a bad thing? Vaccinosis can be a real danger to pets. Dr. Richard Pitcairn defines vaccinosisRead more

Successful Dog Leash Walking Made Easier!

Training Tools for Leash Walking
Training Tools for Leash Walking Perfect Pace Head Training Collar Do you dread taking your dog for walks?  Do you feel guilty because it isn't enjoyable?  Do you avoid it at all costs? The fact is if your dog is a leash-puller, lunges or is leash reactive, they do not get walked as often.  This is a tragedy!  An enjoyable dog walk is great for you and your dog and there are easier ways to solve this problem!   The Perfect Pace™ is a simple no-pull training tool offering effective and gentle control to instantly stop your dog’s bad habits. Walk in Perfect Pace with your dog. Our Goal Is For Your Dog To Get Out and About but Stay Safe too! The Perfect Pace™ No-Pull Dog Halter is an effective tool in helping to teach dogs not to pull and lunge.  This will keep your pet and you, asRead more

HELP! The Honeymoon is Over with My New Dog!

The Honeymoon is Over with My New Dog
HELP! The Honeymoon is Over with My New Dog! Image by alitdesign on Pixabay Someone once said, “All good things must come to an end.” But before you give up on your new K9 family member, there IS help for Creating Your Forever Dog! It’s really not unusual for canine personalities and temperaments to slowly change and emerge as your new furry friend becomes comfortable in their new home (usually around weeks 3-6). Even humans tend to “push the envelope” once we feel safe and at ease in a new situation. Adult Dogs & Issues If you adopted an older dog from a shelter or rescue, you may actually begin to see the problems or issues that actually landed them into the shelter. Always inquire about a rescue dog’s history to understand the challenges you may be taking on when you take Fido home. In addition, if there was pastRead more