Unusual Pets: The Leopard Gecko

The natural habitat of the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is the dry grasslands and desert regions of southern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Iran, north west India and Vietnam. However, since it has become in great demand in the pet industry, domestic breeding is taking place in numerous countries around the world.

This nocturnal reptile emerges from under rocks or from dry burrows to hunt for insects at dusk. This Gecko is unique in that it is the only one to have movable eyelids, which helps it to keep its eyes clean in the dusty environment of its natural habitats. In addition, the Leopard Gecko is the only Gecko to have claws on its toes instead of the usual adhesive toe pads that all other Geckos possess. These claws aid the Leopard Gecko in digging insects out of the ground and in digging burrows to shade them from the burning sun.

At birth, the Leopard Gecko has no spots. Instead the body has alternating dark and light yellow bands as shown in photo one above. As the Leopard Gecko ages, these bands fade and by one year of age, the spotted body of an adult appears (see photo two above).

Like most lizards, the Leopard Gecko can release its tail if it is frightened or grabbed by a predator. The detached tail will continue to wiggle and thrash about which distracts the predator, frequently allowing the Leopard Gecko to scamper to freedom. A new tail will grow in about 40 days, however, the new tail is usually shorter and bulbous. It is therefore recommended that owners of Leopard Geckos refrain from grabbing their lizard by the tail as they will probably be left holding a spasmodic appendage.

The Leopard Gecko also uses its tail as a fat storage container. Every time a Gecko eats, it converts some of its food into fat which it stores in its tail. When food is unavailable, the Leopard Gecko uses the stored fat for nutrition, keeping it alive for several weeks. A healthy Leopard Gecko will have a tail that is wider than its neck and almost as long as its body.

Pet Geckos can be housed in aquariums, terrariums or vivariums. Depending on the number of lizards you have, the size of the tank will have to increase. Be careful what you use as a bottom covering. Leopard Geckos frequently miss their prey when they strike and end up with a mouth full of bottom substrate. If they swallow this bottom covering, it could impact in their intestines, frequently with fatal results. This is why many Leopard Gecko owners put newspaper, wrapping paper, paper towels, floor tiles or indoor/outdoor carpet on the bottom of their tanks. Mom and dad use indoor/outdoor carpet for “Sarah” their female Bearded Dragon.

Leopard Geckos should be fed insects such as crickets, meal worms and grasshoppers (from a pesticide free area), although any insect that is smaller in size than the width of your pet's head can be considered. Pinkies (baby mice without fur) can be fed occasionally but they tend to cause your lizard to become fat. However, breeding females can be fed pinkies regularly as it helps them produce healthy eggs. All insects given to your Leopard Gecko should be dusted with vitamin and calcium powder every second feeding for adults and every feeding for juveniles and babies. Feed babies and juveniles every day and adult Leopard Geckos every two or three days. You should also consider gut loading your insects with fruit, vegetables, grains, oats and seeds to ensure that your Gecko gets proper nutrition. Do not leave live insects in your pet's tank after he has finished eating. They could bite the lizard and cause an infection. Your tank should also contain a shallow water dish which should be cleaned daily to prevent algae and mold growth.

Leopard Geckos live about 15 years, although a few will live longer, with the oldest recorded one living to the age of 25 years. Breeding females usually have a shorter lifespan.

Your Leopard Gecko's tank should be equipped with a heat lamp at one end and a cooler area at the other. The heat lamp should be situated so that your lizard cannot come into contact with it as the lizard would be badly burned if contact is made. One area of your tank should have high humidity as this aids your lizard when he sheds his skin, which occurs frequently when he is growing and from one to three times a year when full growth has be attained. If the skin is too dry when shedding begins, the skin sticks to the body, particularly to the legs and toes. It could then restrict the flow of blood to these extremities resulting in loss of these digits.

Your Leopard Gecko will grow to a length of 8 or 9 inches, although some have grown as long as 11 inches. Do not put two male Leopard Geckos in the same tank as they they will fight. Because Leopard Geckos are nocturnal creatures, your tank should have hiding structures in both the cool and hot ends of the tank. These hiding places allow your lizard to sleep in a “safe” place during the day. DO NOT put a “hot rock” in your Leopard Gecko's tank as it could cause your lizard to be badly burned.

Leopard Geckos can be picked up and held, just be sure that you don't pick them up by the head or tail as they will panic. The best way to do it is to slowly slide you hand under the Gecko and slowly lift it up. Leopard Geckos seldom bite unless they are seriously provoked. Try not to move too fast when near your Leopard Gecko's tank so that you don't frighten him. If you would like to have an easy to care for lizard as a pet, then a Leopard Gecko is a great choice.

Until next time,

Teia

Your Dog's Sense of the World

Dogs have associated with humans for approximately 14,000 years. During that time we have been your companions, hunting partners, protectors and assistants. If you have spent a lot of time with your dog, he will treat you as the pack leader and look to you for direction as to what he is to do. Since you are his leader, then you should understand exactly how he perceives the world around him. In that way, you will be better equipped to provide the direction he needs to satisfy your desires.

Just like you, dogs have five senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch. However, your dog's senses are tuned differently than your senses. Because of this, our perception of the world is somewhat different than your perception. Let's explore this further, so that you can understand why your dog reacts the way he does.

SMELL

Smell is our greatest asset. This is why dogs are used at airports to detect drugs, explosives and other contraband. It is also why dogs are used in search and rescue. Have you ever wondered why dogs have such a superior sense of smell?

Both humans and dogs have an olfactory system which discerns smells. Part of that system is a centre located within the brain called the olfactory bulb. This centre receives signals from the olfactory nerves located within the nose and it filters these smell signals and passes them onto the brain. While a human's olfactory bulb weighs about 1.5 grams, our olfactory bulb weighs about 6 grams, with slight variations by breed. That is four times larger than a human's olfactory bulb. When you consider that our brain is about one-tenth the size of a human's brain, this means that the portion of our brain devoted to smell is about 40 times that of a human's brain. Given that comparison, it is no wonder that we have such a keen sense of smell. In view of the fact that smell is our greatest asset, you can see why our perception of the world revolves around what we smell.

SIGHT

A human's most vital sense is sight. What a person sees primarily creates their sense of the world. A human's eye is constructed so that it can detect the finest details. However, our eyes are constructed to detect movement. Their ability to detect fine details has been sacrificed in favour of the ability to track movement and to see in low light situations. This is why we can see things that are moving, in near darkness, when a human cannot see anything. Most humans have good depth perception, while we have poor depth perception. Our pupils are much larger, in proportion to the size of our eyes than a human's are. In addition, our pupils cannot constrict as well as a human's can. This feature lets in more light, sacrificing depth perception for the ability to discern things in low light conditions.

Have you ever noticed that our eyes shine when they are caught in a beam of light at night? This is caused by a reflecting mechanism located behind the retina which gives us an additional chance to see things in near darkness. Tests have determined that we can see things in one-quarter of the light that a human needs to see the same things. As a side note, cats only need one-seventh of the light that a human needs to see, which explains why cats can see at night.

HEARING

Along with our sense of smell, we have a much better sense of hearing than humans do. The difference is primarily in the upper frequency range. While a human can hear sounds with frequencies up to 20,000 Hertz, we are capable of hearing all the sounds a human hears plus we hear sounds with frequencies ranging as high as 47,000 to 65,000 Hertz, depending on our breed. To show this comparison in a simpler way, consider a piano keyboard. The last key on the right end of a piano keyboard vibrates at approximately 20,000 Hertz. If you add another 28 keys to the right of the current keyboard, then the last key of the addition would vibrate at approximately 65,000 Hertz. Humans would not be able to hear at least the last 20 of the new additions, and most wouldn't hear any of the new additions. This is why humans cannot hear dog whistles, but we can hear them fine. The frequency of these whistles is above the frequency that human ears are capable of hearing. Because we can hear things that humans cannot, we frequently bark at something that our owner is unaware of. This sometimes frustrates our owner because he or she cannot understand why we are barking.

TASTE

If you examine the dog food section of a major supermarket or a pet store, you will see a vast array of dog food with all sorts of flavours. However, according to my veterinarian, I gulp my food down so quickly that I don't have much chance to taste it and I seldom chew it either. This trait is probably linked to my instinct which dictates eat quickly or your competition will take it away from you. Possibly dogs in a one dog household eat a little slower, but I doubt it. As they say...it's in my genes. So why all the variety? Actually, the smell of the food is what attracts us most. Our sense of taste is limited by the fact that we only have about 1700 taste buds while humans have about 9000.

TOUCH

Dogs have different degrees of sensitivity on different parts of our bodies. Our nose and muzzle as well as the pads on our feet are quite sensitive to touch. Some dogs become upset when you rub around their nose or mouth or the pads of their feet. Others enjoy a rub on the nose or around the mouth. Mom and dad had a German Shepard cross that loved to have the pads on his feet rubbed gently. His brother did not like to have his feet touched at all. I don't mind it sometimes, but I'd sooner get a tummy rub.

Our whiskers are very touch sensitive, because they are deeply imbedded in the skin covering the area above our mouth. Because of this, our whiskers amplify the slightest touch. Studies have determined that 40% of our brain area devoted to touch is dedicated to this area of our body. Interestingly enough, most groomers shave this area of us which greatly diminishes our sense of touch. My whiskers are shaved every time I'm groomed, so I frequently have to rub my face fairly vigorously on something so I can get a sense of what it feels like. On the other hand, I don't get food all stuck on my whiskers because they are shaved off.

In conclusion, we both have five senses that we can use, but humans mainly rely on their vision for a sense of the world while we rely mostly on smell. The other four senses are used by both to varying degrees. The other difference between us is that humans just don't understand how much you can learn by licking and smelling each other.

Until next time,

Teia

Breeding Golden Retrievers

Most people can breed mongrels as all you have to do is introduce a male dog to a female in heat. However, people who buy Golden Retrievers only want top quality dogs. To do this, it is a complicated process and as a result, for beginners, breeding Golden Retrievers is nearly impossible. You should never attempt to breed unless you know a lot about requirements for hobby breeders, as it is simply unfair to the breed and your potential customers if you have a litter of puppies that simply aren’t what they should be. This is why you shouldn’t attempt to breed just to have puppies or make a few bucks.

Breeding Golden Retrievers is a very serious hobby, one that should be left to those who know how to make the right choices. Because Golden Retrievers are very popular, it is imperative that litters be of good quality to maintain the breed standard. You should be aware that there is a certain amount of cost and care involved with breeding, especially if you want to ensure that you maintain the breed quality. There is also a lot of responsibility involved as well, because you do not want to be known as the breeder who lowered the quality of the breed. Furthermore, proper breeding of popular breeds can take quite a bit of time as well.

Breeding may help to fulfill the needs of a Golden‘s owner, but if a dog isn’t bred, it will have no knowledge of missing it, no regrets, or no guilt toward living a life without having been bred. Frequently, pregnancy causes a Golden Retriever female to develop health problems; it has no known health benefits.

If you wish to become a quality Golden breeder, you will have many choices in front of you. You will need to determine the mother and the father that will produce the best litter. To get the highest quality possible from the litter, you will need to determine the traits of both dogs, their temperaments and how well they seem to react to one another. You will also need to determine in either of the dogs has any type of health problems, to prevent any diseases or ailments from being passed onto the litter. Once you settle on a female Golden, you will have to thoroughly examine her and determine how close she matches the breed standard. If you notice any shortfalls, then you will have to find a male that is strong in these areas. In this way, you can have a better chance at a good litter of puppies.

Sometimes, when breeding Golden Retrievers, the mother of the litter will prove to be poor at motherhood, which will require more work for you. If the mother isn’t doing her job of nurturing her young, then you will have to assist her to ensure the puppies live. This can be the most time consuming aspect of breeding, because you will have to feed the young and make sure that they turn out as healthy as possible.

Aside from that, as a breeder, you will face many costs. As well as the cost of food and vet bills, you will have to pay stud fees for the male if you do not have a suitable one of your own. When you add up all of the costs, you will quickly realize that breeders do not make much money when they make a sale. In fact, most breeders do it as a hobby, not as a money making proposition. Quality breeders usually are not concerned with money as much as they are with the quality of their litters. Quality is better than quantity, as even the best breeders have problems selling puppies from time to time.

Although breeding is fun for hobby breeders, it is something you really should not be doing if you do not have the experience. If you are very sure that you want to breed your female Golden Retriever, then find a knowledgeable breeder who will give you the assistance you will need to ensure you end up with a healthy litter and that you do not endanger your pet’s health. If you are the least bit unsure about breeding your female, then I advise you to get her spayed so that you do not end up with a litter of unexpected mongrels. A purebred Golden Retriever should be bred only with dogs of her breed, to help preserve the breed and keep their bloodline going. If you have thought about breeding in the past - you should study long and hard before you actually make it a reality, because there is a lot of work and responsibility that you must undertake when you do it.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets: Peafowl

Peafowl belong to the Phasianidae (Pheasant) family. There are two species of Peafowl, the Green Peafowl and The Indian Peafowl. The Green Peafowl is native to Myanmar, Thailand and China and the Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl is native to India. The males, called Peacocks, are famous for their glamorous tail and the crown on their head. The females are known as Peahens and are brown or grey and brown in color.

Green Peafowl are on the verge of extinction because of massive hunting and depletion of their natural habitat. Green Peafowl have three subspecies called P. M. muticus, P. M. imperator and P. muticus, however, some breeders claim that there are actually more subspecies. Green Peafowl are more expensive to buy as they are not available on a large scale and they are very temperature sensitive. The Indian Peafowl are hardy and are less expensive to purchase. They are quite popular with breeders and can be found in most places in the world, including North America.

When in full plumage, the tail of the Peacock is a beautiful sight. It fans its tail to attract females. The male will also call out to the female with a unique vocal sound, which is quite loud and difficult to describe. The first time mom and dad heard a Peacock they were startled by the sound.

The feathers of the Peacock are sold all over the world. At one time, Peafowl were fancied for their meat. However, when turkeys were domesticated for meat, Peacocks were only kept as pets. They were first kept as exotic pets in China and later in Europe. Peacocks have been a symbol of pride and good luck for many.

Pet owners who have bought a Peacock because of their beautiful tail, should pair it with a Peahen. Without a Peahen around to impress, the male will not spread its tail. Most Peacocks have plumage which is green, or blue green in colour. The upper feathers are very elongated and there are a series of eyes, which look very beautiful when the tail is fanned. The more rare Green Peafowl have plumage that is brilliant green and a golden colour, but the upper feathers are shorter in length.

Peafowl are very easily to maintain. They do not develop illnesses easily because they have natural resistance to many diseases. Peafowl, which are kept in areas that have very cold climates have to be housed in heated buildings when the temperature goes below zero degrees Centigrade. Friends of mom and dad have a family of Peafowl at their petting zoo adjacent to their Bed and Breakfast north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which certainly has extremes in temperature. Wind chill temperatures here can drop as low as minus sixty to minus seventy degrees in the winter and temperatures as high as ninety-five to one hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit in the summer are quite common. Because their Peafowl are housed in the barn in the winter and kept in the shade in the summer, they have no problems at all, although they do have to keep an eye out for packs of coyotes looking for a tasty meal. However, Peafowl do best in temperate climates. They must be protected from temperature extremes or they could either freeze to death or die from heat exhaustion.

Peafowl are omnivorous and feed on mixed grains, flowers, green leafy vegetables and game bird crumbles. In the wild, Peafowl are known to hunt and eat insects, amphibians, reptiles and arthropods. When on a healthy diet they can live for many years. They are usually allowed to roam in an open garden. For healthier breeding, they should be given freedom of movement. They can be kept in pens with closed tops, but if penned, they should be let out daily for exercise. If this is not possible, then the pen they are kept in should be extremely large. In captivity, they need lots of room to roam about, because they enjoy this kind of exercise. Another reason is that they are inquisitive pets, so they need lots of space to satisfy their curiosity. They should have a house or barn that has facilities for warming and it should be insulated, in case of a temperature drop. Peafowl should be left on their own with minimum human interference. They can be mixed with other poultry, as they are very safe pets. They do not attack any bird, animal or human. However, cats and dogs can attack the Peafowl. As mentioned above, coyotes enjoy Peafowl meals, so if you live in an area that has coyotes, you will have to be especially careful.

Peahens nest on the ground, although they stay on low raised branches most of their lives. Peahens take care of the Peachicks for only a short time after which they drive them away. The Peachicks can then be brought up in an electric brooder like any other poultry. Because of their hardiness and intelligence, when compared to other pet birds, they are very easy to breed and raise. Peafowl are also known as urban guard dogs because they make warning cries when they see strangers approaching the premises. Their high-pitched vocals can be disturbing in a densely inhabited area.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Behaviour: Understanding Why Cats Fight

If you have a household that contains more than one cat, you probably know that from time to time catfights break out. Even if your cats usually get along, at certain times, they will still fight. While you may not understand why they are fighting, cats have their reasons. Some of these reasons are similar to the reasons that humans have disputes. Cats express their discontent with other cats by picking fights. If you know the reasons why cats fight, it may help you stop your cats from fighting in the future.

Fighting for territory.

Many cats fight because they feel that another cat has invaded their territory, even if it is a cat that has lived with them for a long time. Cats are much more territorial than dogs and the gender of the cat has very little to do with it. Contrary to popular belief, female cats are sometimes just as territorial as their male counterparts. If you have two cats in your home, you might notice that one cat hisses and swats at the other whenever he feels his territory has been invaded. This can also happen if you bring a new cat into the home. The reason for the fight - they are simply defending their territory.

Social ranking.

Male cats frequently threaten and fight with each other for social ranking. Despite what you may think, even neutered males may do this. If you have multiple cats, especially more than one male cat, one cat is usually considered the “alpha male” and will be at the top of the cat hierarchy. Two cats might posture their bodies, then begin howling and screaming at one another. If one of the cats walks away or backs down, then the catfight is usually avoided. However, if neither one wants to back down, then one cat will attack the other by jumping forward and attempting to bite the neck of the other cat. Usually the other cat will fall on his back and try to bite, or scratch the attacker with his hind legs. The two cats might go through this several times before walking away. There are usually no serious injuries sustained in these kinds of fights. You may even notice that kittens or young cats play with one another this way. Most of the time you will not need to interfere. The reason for the fight - setting up or maintaining social ranking.

Aggression.

Cats also fight because of some kind of redirected aggression. This is quite common, especially with indoor cats. Your cat might be looking out the window at another cat or dog crossing “his” yard. Your cat begins to feel territorial and aggressive, but since this other cat cannot be reached, he may instead attack another family cat. The reason for the fight - pent up aggression

Jealousy.

Like all animals, cats can become jealous. It may be jealousy caused by one cat feeling that another is getting more attention than it is. Or is could be that one cat feels that another is getting more treats or better food than it is getting. These type of fights are frequently accompanied by a lot of loud growling and yowling. The reason for the fight - jealousy.

Your Reactions.

If you find your cats fighting occasionally, do not become alarmed, as this is common and quite typical of cats. Most of the time, you will be able to tell whether or not your cats are fighting for “blood” or just playing around. The time to stop a fight is when it gets nasty and it appears that one of the cats is getting hurt. Otherwise, allow your cats to work it out themselves. If you feel the need to stop a catfight, then you should do it carefully. Even the most loving cat can bite or scratch you in aggressive passion. To stop a fight, you should make some kind of loud noise, such as a handclap. Since cats are startled by loud noises, they should both stop to see what is making the noise. You can also spray water on them from a plant mister. This will usually stop the aggressive behaviour.

When you find your cats fighting, you should not punish them. Cats do not understand punishment and fighting is a natural instinct in cats. The best thing to do is only interfere when necessary. If you find your cats are fighting more than they should, it is time that you find out why. Do they fight over a litter box, a food bowl or a prime window location? Make sure each kitty has his or her own “things” and a place to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed by other pets in the house. This will go a long way in preventing real catfights.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: The Papillon

If you have ever had experience with the toy dog breed called the Papillon (French for butterfly), you know that it has a high level of energy, an engaging personality and a sweet nature. This breed, possibly the oldest toy breed in existence, is immediately recognizable by its butterfly-shaped ears. However, even if you can recognize the breed on sight, you might not know some of the most interesting aspects of this dog. I’d like to share some of them with you.

Appearance

Papillons are considered to be white with markings of any other colour, or parti-coloured. As a result, an all white dog or one with no white is disqualified from the show ring. However, the following colours can be registered, even if some of them cannot be shown.

White with black, white with lemon, white with red, white with sable, white with black and tan, white with black and brown, white with red and black, white with brown, white with fawn, red, white with red and sable, sable, white, white with liver and white with silver.

The Papillon’s large ears should be fringed with coloured, not white, silky fur. The coloured hair should also cover both eyes and the front and back of the ears to produce the distinctive butterfly effect. A solid coloured head is acceptable, but a white blaze and a noseband are preferred. The nose, lips and eye rims should be black. Paw pads should be pink or black, but slight variations are acceptable.

Breed History

Like other ancient breeds, the Papillon can be seen in various artworks throughout the pre-modern world. Toy spaniels that greatly resemble the Papillon in size and profile can be found as early as 1500 in Italian art. However, a drop eared breed known as the Epagneul Nain Continental (Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel) which looked somewhat like the Papillon, appeared in church frescos and paintings as early as the thirteenth century. In fact, in non English speaking countries, the Papillon is still called the Epagneul Nain Continental (ENC). There are actually two versions of the breed, the Papillon with the erect butterfly shaped ears and the Phalene with the drooping ears. Both versions are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

When they first became popular, Papillons were also known as Belgian Spaniels and Dwarf Spaniels. There was even a time when they were known as Squirrel Spaniels, because their tail, like a squirrel’s, curves over their backs.

Papillons were very popular with aristocrats as King Henry II, King Henry III, King Louis XIV, Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette apparently owned these playful dogs.

Characteristics and Temperament

Despite their dainty and aristocratic appearance, Papillons are known for being small dogs with a big attitude, or as some refer to them, big dogs in a little dog suit. They are quite energetic and can often trot for miles before getting tired. With the advent of dog agility competitions, these athletic dogs have come into their own. Their natural agility and speed, combined with their small stature gives them considerable advantage over larger breeds.

Although these small dogs are well suited to agility competitions and running around large yards, they also adapt to apartment life, provided that they get to go for frequent walks or romps in off leash dog parks. They are quite social and love fluttering from person to person. However, some of them can be a little temperamental when it comes to children. Papillons are quite intelligent and they learn very quickly. The Papillon is also noted for its psychological abilities. It is able to perceive the emotional needs of its owner and adapts its personality and behaviour to meet that need.

Health Concerns

Papillons are generally healthy unless they come from a “Puppy Mill” environment. However, like many small dogs, Papillons can develop kneecap and hind leg problems, especially as they get older. You may find that they are no longer as capable as they were when they were younger when it comes to jumping. You may even find, with severe cases, that you might need to install dog ramps at certain points throughout your home.

Some of these dogs may suffer from a small opening in their skull at the crown, but this will usually correct itself over time. Like other small animals, this breed should be watched closely when it is under anaesthesia.

Grooming Requirements

When it comes to grooming, Papillons are quite easy to maintain. They are clean and odourless animals. As long as they are given a quick brushing each day, they will remain quite handsome and neat. They have a fine-haired, single-length coat, which is shed twice a year.

You must remember to keep the nails on this breed well clipped, as failure to do so could lead to injury or infection.

Suitability

Overall, you will find that Papillons are an excellent breed of dog. If you think that this breed of dog may be nice to have as a pet, you should do a little more research and also talk to someone who owns one. I am quite certain that you will find that a Papillon will make an excellent addition to your family.

Until next time,

Teia

Bedding For Your New Puppy

Bedding for your new puppy is very important, as this is where she will be spending quite a bit of time - especially at night. The ideal bedding for your puppy should be a natural fibre, such as wool, because wool absorbs moisture and it will keep your companion warm. When you go to buy your blankets, you may want to try thrift stores, as their blankets will be relatively inexpensive. Puppies love to chew, so you don’t want to buy expensive blankets. They can chew or tear blankets in a very short time, so expensive blankets would be a waste of money.

When you bring your new puppy home, you may find that she is a little stressed by having to leave her mom and the others of her litter and by being in a new environment with strangers. The scents and memories that she came to know and love are now being replaced with new ones. If you are going to get your puppy directly from a breeder, take an old towel with you when you go. Before leaving the breeder, rub the towel on the mother and other pups in the litter. This towel can then be given to your puppy to sleep with. It may help to ease the transition from her original home to yours. If you get your puppy from a pet store, towels, even if they do not contain the scent of her mother and litter mates, when wrapped around a windup clock, are a great way to help her relax and sleep.

You should keep her food and water near her bed, so if she gets hungry or thirsty she can get what she needs. In addition, you should plan to take her out between one-half hour and one hour after she has eaten. You should place a puppy piddle pad about 6 feet away from her bed so that she can use that in emergency situations. You will have to place her on the pad whenever she shows signs that she needs to go to the bathroom. (Some puppies turn in circles just before they relieve themselves, so keep watch for this.)

If you are planning to have your puppy sleep with you, you must be ready to get up once or twice during the night to take her outside to go to the bathroom. You don’t want her to have an accident on your bedding.

If you decide to leave your puppy outdoors, you’ll obviously need to use a different style of bedding. Doghouses are essential for dogs who stay outdoors, as it helps to keep them warm and protects them from inclement weather. Inside of the doghouse, most people tend to use straw so the puppy can make a bed out of it. You can also use a blanket or quilt as well, so that your puppy can wrap herself up in it should she get cold.

If you do not want to use straw, you can consider using wood shavings or newspapers as they also work quite well. Note that newspapers tend to get damaged much more quickly than other forms of bedding, so they will have to be replaced more frequently. You must provide something other than the wooden floor or bare ground for your dog to lie on. Dogs that lie on the ground or cold wooden boards tend to develop arthritis more quickly than dogs that have soft absorbent bedding.

In northern climates where the temperature drops below freezing, puppies should not be left outside in a doghouse in cold weather because they have not been exposed to it during the time they spent with the rest of their litter mates and they could succumb to it. Wait until the weather warms before putting your puppy into the outside doghouse.

Although having an outdoor dog works great for some families, you should still take your dog for walks on a daily basis and let her join you in activities that she finds enjoyable. This way, you can build a unique and lasting friendship with your pet. A dog can quickly become the best friend you have ever had - as long as you take care of her. Making sure that she has proper bedding is a great place to start.

Until next time,

Teia

Six Ways to Make Your New Puppy Comfortable

If you are considering bringing a puppy home and have never done it before, there are some important things you need to know. A puppy is a new member in your household, just like a new baby and therefore needs your care and attention just like any other member of your family.

The puppy has just left its family and is going to be very lonely and just a little lost. As a result, whenever it is awake, it will seek company and a caring touch. If you are not able to provide these crucial elements, plus food and water, maybe you need to reschedule the 'bringing home' event.

In the meantime, do some research on the kind of attitude you need to have when dealing with a new puppy and the kind of care you need to give it. One thing you can expect when a new pup comes to your home is restlessness and whimpering. You can minimize this discomfort. Let's look at the best way to do it.

The first way to make a puppy comfortable.

Do not get a puppy that is less than eight weeks old. All puppies need to be with their mother until they are at least eight weeks old. They need the nourishment, which provides the antibodies necessary to ward off disease, the security and the sense of identity that comes from being nursed by their mother.

The second way to make a puppy feel comfortable.

Since you must transport the puppy from the location where you obtained it, remember that it's a pup, so treat it tenderly. Bring it home as comfortably as possible. Prepare a basket with a cushion, a coverlet and some chewable dog toys. Put the pup in the basket and place the coverlet over it, if the puppy appears frightened. If it appears relatively calm, then leave the coverlet off. Make sure you caress the pup's head occasionally during the journey home. Talk to it. It will probably whimper, but your soothing voice should calm it down and make it feel less abandoned.

The third way to make your puppy comfortable.

Introduce the pup to your home. Carry the pup around your home. Introduce it to the rest of your family. Let them and the pup become acquainted with each other. Put the pup down and watch it when it goes exploring. Gently, but firmly, stop it from doing things that are unacceptable in your household. In this way, you will introduce it to your authority and your rules, which it will have to abide by for the rest of its life.

The fourth way to make a puppy comfortable.

Prepare its corner/basket/bed in a cozy place in the house. Take the same care that you did when you prepared the basket for the trip home. The place where you intend to keep the puppy depends on the rules of your house. Some people prefer to take the pup to their bedroom; others would have it in their kitchen, etc. No matter where you put it, your task is to check on it occasionally, caress it, talk to it (maybe you could name it right away) and to take it out whenever you think it might need to relieve itself.

The fifth way to make a puppy comfortable.

If the puppy has not been completely weaned, give it a bowl of milk and some water in a separate bowl. Keep these next to its basket. Coax the puppy to drink as much as possible. If the pup does not drink at all, you might want to use a dropper to feed it some milk and water. You might also try giving it something semi-solid, like bread soaked in milk. Keep the quantity small. Feeding it too much might cause an upset stomach and the puppy might throw-up. After all, this might be the first time that it has had anything other than its mother's milk. If the puppy has been weaned, fill the bowl with the type of puppy food it had been eating at the location where you obtained it. Do not try changing its food at this time, because the pup will be under stress and its stomach may be upset. Keep some soft paper towels with you to clean up any messes that you, or the puppy might make.

The sixth way to make a puppy comfortable.

The pup will need to relieve itself on its first night away from its family. It may not be possible for you to step out of your house in the dead of night for the sake of the puppy. If this is the case, spread an old newspaper near the pup's basket or provide “puppy piddle pads“ for it to relieve itself on. Whenever you see that the pup is getting restless, lift the puppy, put it on the newspaper or piddle pad and keep it there until it has finished its task. In this way, you will eventually train the puppy to go on an acceptable surface.

The first night with the pup is going to be mostly sleepless for you, what with the whimpering and the waking up. However, you won't mind because you love your pup, don't you? When mom and dad got their first puppy, a black miniature poodle named Mitzi, they had a box with the puppy in it in a corner of the living room. It whined loudly, so after a while the box was moved to a corner of the master bedroom. When the pup continued to whine, dad picked up the puppy and placed her on the bed. She settled down between mom and dad and that was the last time she spent a night anywhere else. Mom and dad are the first to admit that they are pushovers when it comes to animals. They feel that if you don’t make them part of your family, why have them? I’m afraid that I have taken unfair advantage of that feeling and so has my “sister.” We are probably two of the most spoiled dogs around. But hey, I’m not stupid, why not take full advantage of a good thing?

Until next time,

Teia

PS. When you start to get frustrated with your new puppy, just remember that we grow up and provide you with unconditional love and plenty of entertainment for our whole lives. Show us kindness and provide us with good nutrition and we’ll provide you with a loving companion and all the protection that our size will allow.