Dogs

Never buy any pets on a casual basis. Purchasing any type of animals is a long-term commitment that requires a lot of time, care, patience, finance, energy, love and companionship. Always read and research information on the animal you are interested in, to make sure you can meet all of its specific needs that will enable you to provide your companion pet with a long healthy life.

          Dogs are unique in their own way and are great companionships for just about anybody. They’re loyal to their owners, they love human bonding and they can easily fill up an empty part of somebone’s soul. They love doing tricks for you, especially when they know there’s a treat waiting for them at the end. They like to cuddle and play, and are always eager for your attention. They are lovable, helpers, playmates and they deserve the same love, attention and respect in return. Owning a dog is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Your dog will be an additional part of the family for a great number of years, bringing unconditional love and joy on a daily basis. The whole family should be as involve when purchasing a puppy as to training and caring for them. It’s good for kids to be involved because it brings them a sense of responsibility.

General Information: Purchasing any animal is a long-term commitment. Dogs require a lot of time, care, patience, energy, finance, love and companionship. The owner should be fully committed to each of these when purchasing a dog. Different breeds may need different care. The ideal dog for one person may not necessarily be the ideal dog for another. Often, prospective dog owners will strictly focus their choice of dogs on physical appearance. You should avoid doing so at all cause since all breeds are quite different. You should always look beyond the picture of a dog you think looks right for you and research a little bit more on exactly the needs of this dog and the specific care they require.

          Different breeds have different energy levels, exercise requirements, playfulness, ease of training, watchdog ability, grooming requirements, temperature tolerance, etc. For those who live in an apartment will need to look for smaller dogs or for dogs with lower energy levels, unless, you as a owner is fully committed to a vigorous and regular exercise schedule. Dogs are very social and should not be expected to live outside alone, without canine and human companionship. For them, solitary living is very frustrating and is considered as a punishment, which eventually becomes very problematic in behavior such as aggression. They need close bonding with humans. If you intend to own a big breed that can physically withstand outdoor weather, they should be furnished with shade and a draft-free shelter.

          Regardless of the breed of dog, every dogs require an appropriate amount of exercise. The recommended amount of exercise given for a breed is usually an average for an adult dog. Never push a puppy to exercise more than they physically can. Such a thing could cause irreparable harm. And evidently, older dogs require less exercise than an adult.

          In general, any breed can be good with children if raised the appropriate way, and vice versa. Although, you will find that some breeds are better with children than others. That is usually based on the history of the breed. They all have their qualities and sometimes the development of that specific breed affects its interaction with children.

          Grooming is mandatory for all breeds and it should never be neglected. Some requires more than others, so depending on how busy your own schedule is, this is another important factor you need to consider when selecting a breed. Occasional bathing, ear cleaning, tooth care, nail clipping, brushing, etc. is all part of having a healthy dog. A very important factor that must not be overlooked is nutrition. The key to a healthy dog is good nutrition.

          When you first get your new puppy, you should always take him to a veterinarian for a checkup. Get you dog vaccinated. Proper vaccinations and annual booster shots will protect your dog from serious diseases. Vaccinations also protect humans from diseases such as rabies.

ALL PUPPIES SHOULD ATTEND PUPPY CLASSES. This will help with good behavior around children, strangers and other dogs; as well as prevent bad behavior problems.

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Things You Will Need:
Food: Pick out a high quality puppy food to ensure a healthy growth. The puppy formula should be fed till they reach a year old. Afterwards, you will be able to switch to the adult formula.

Dishes: Stainless steel dishes is a very good type of dishes to own. It can be cleaned very easily, it doesn’t attract bacteria’s and it comes in a variety of sizes to suit the size of your dog.

Leash, collar, and harness: Good, durable collars for walking or tying your dog outside comes in a variety of colors, patterns and models.

Tie out cable: Different lengths of cable are offered to suit any size of yard or play area. Make sure to get one that will have the capacity to hold your dog’s weight.

Treats: Nutrience offers a wide range of treat variety. Some for tricks, others for dental care, bad breathe, light formula, fruit flavored biscuits, derma for dogs that sheds a lot or that has dry skin... Always try to pick out healthy treats. Since you will be training and rewarding your dog with plenty of them, it’s best to use a healthy and none-fattening treats. Hard treats will keep your dog’s teeth cleaned and reduce tartar buildup.

Rawhides and Greenies: Plenty of chew bones should be offered to keep your puppy busy chewing away from your furnitures. They will be teething for quite awhile and will be looking for something to relieve their gums. Look for Greenies. These bone are quite amazing. Most dogs adore this type of bone. They usually favor these over any other type or rawhide bones. It’s in a shape of a toothbrush because it does just that purpose; clean the teeth and freshen the breath.

Nylabone Dental Chew: This nylabone doggy bone is the only thing we recommend leaving with your puppy when unattended. Anything else can be chewed up into pieces and could be swallowed. This Nylabone Dental Chew is durable and will not break off easily, and the rigid texture will help relieve sore gums and clean the teeth. Soft treats or a little bit of peanut butter can always be rubbed on the bone to attract your puppy to chew on it.

Knot a Rope: This is basically just a rope that is tightly knotted that will strongly be enjoyed by your dog. A very good trick with these is to dip it in water and have it freeze in the freezer for a while. Just like a baby teeter, it will help relieve those sore gums. Also, it can be boiled in chicken broth for a little bit. After being cooled down, give it to your dog and the scent and taste will attract them to chew on this and not on your furnitures.

Toys and plush toys: Squeaky toys, rubber toys, balls, ropes, Kong’s, plush toys, there is so plenty to choose from that your dog will have hours of fun playing.

Repellent: Either in liquid or gel, this is used if your puppy chews, scratches a piece of furniture or there is a certain spot you do not want your puppy to roam around, you just spray the repellent daily for a few weeks and the scent will help keep your puppy away.

Shampoo: Tearless puppy shampoo is best for washing young puppies. It’s milder and tearless. Never wash your puppy more than once a month. Washing your puppy too often will remove the coat’s natural oil and cause itching.

Nail clipper: Regularly clip your puppy’s nails, but only the tip. You don’t want to cut too far. In case of bleeding, always have an antiseptic cream or powder on hand. This will immediately stop bleeding if it occurs.

Antiseptic cream or powder: You should always have some antiseptic cream or powder on hand to cease bleeding from a nail cut too short.

Brush: Dogs should be brushed regularly. Longhaired dogs will require more maintenance to prevent matting. Brushing regularly will also take out any loose dead hair.

Comb: Having a comb on hand will also help untangle mats, and if ever mats are really hard to comb out, using a detangle spray or cream will help untangle mats easily.

Detangler: Especially for longhaired dogs, a detangler spray or shampoo really helps untangle mats easily.

Toothbrush and toothpaste: Starting brushing your puppies teeth at an early age will be easier for them to get accustom. Regular brushing will health keep teeth clean and gums healthy. Never use human toothpaste. The fluoride is harmful for your pet. Chicken flavored toothpaste is available to make it more enjoyable for your puppy.

Tearstain remover: This is mostly for white or light colored dogs. Most of them tend to have tearstains under their eyes, and cleaning them weekly will help reduce and prevent stains.

Ear cleaner: An ear cream or liquid should be use to clean your dog's ears regularly. This will help prevent earwax buildup.

Perfume: Great for indoor dogs, when visitors is coming or it’s humid and you don’t want that doggy smell. Cologne drops are quite popular, there is three scents to choose from and just a few drops is plenty to give your puppy that clean scent.

ID tag and pet blinker: A pet blinker is most perfect for nighttime walks. It will make your dog visible to others and to oncoming cars. A reflector collar or leash can also be used when walking at night. And an ID tag is highly recommended. With your basic information like your puppy’s name and your home phone number on it will help someone retrace your dog back to you if you ever come in a situation where you dog gets lost.

Wee Wee Pads: These mats are excellent for training your new puppy. It helps speed up the process by having an ammonia smell that will naturally attract your puppy to it.

S.O.X Stain and Odor Eliminator: This is a non-ammonia base product that has enzymes that takes away any stain or urine odor. Since dogs are attracted to the ammonia smell, cleaning a spot on the floor or rug where your dog peed with an ammonia base product will only attract your dog to return to that very same spot. Using the S.O.X product will completely eliminate the stain and the odor. Your dog will therefore not be attracted to that same spot. It is also safe to use directly on your dog if ever a skunk would spray him.

Zodiac Flea drops or flea collar: Collars are good to prevent fleas and ticks, but the Zodiac Flea drops are a lot more effective. This will prevent any fleas from hatch any eggs on your dog. The only important requirement is your puppy needs to be at least 6 months of age before you can use this product.

Cage: A cage is one of the most important tools. This should be used for traveling, for sleeping at night and whenever the puppy is left alone at home. Using a crate will help save your furnitures and increase the training process.

Dog bed: A nice comfy dog bed is always nice to have in a corner for whenever your dog wants an afternoon nap.

Book: Different breeds require different needs and care. It is very important to know the breed of dog you have or want to purchase. There is a wide variety of dog breeds and there is numerous books on each specific breeds and on general care and training. Don’t hesitate to read up and learn all you can on your companion.

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General Care: Key to a happy, healthy dog is a clean dog. If done properly, the grooming process can be enjoyable for both of you. Slowly increase the length of the time you spend grooming your puppy. Don’t forget to praise him for good behavior. Dogs love to be shown how happy you are. You can also reward him with a little treat at the very end. He must be taught to accept your manipulations without any fuss and learn that you are not doing this to hurt him.

          Occasional brushing will help get the dead hair out and prevent matting. Finding the right brush or comb for your dogs’ hair will help facilitate the task immensely. For long haired dogs, you’ll want to give a good brushing at least once a day, or every other day. When it comes to grooming, long haired dogs need more care than short haired dogs. Always brush following your dogs’ natural line, going from head to tail.

          Occasional bathing removes oil and debris that creates matting. There’s a wide variety of dog shampoo and conditioning products formulated for different types of coat. Long haired dogs also require bathing more often than short haired. However, bathing too often can create dry skin and irritations. Bathing an average of once a month is sufficient. Always brush your dog to untangle any matt before batting. It may worsen if the tangles are not groomed out before. Try to create a fun atmosphere without making it too long. Wet him entirely, apply a small amount of dog or puppy shampoo and lather well. Make sure to rinse really well afterwards, or your dog might scratch himself from shampoo residue. Dry him with a towel or if you choose to use a hair dryer, make sure the temperature setting is not too hot. Also, make sure to keep your dog inside until his coat is fully dry. Don’t forget his treat!

          Regular grooming keeps your dog looking nice. Pet owners can buy the proper grooming equipment and learn how to groom adequately themselves. If you want your adult dog to be more cooperative when it’s time to visit the groomer or when you do it yourself, it’s best to introduce it to them at a very young age. Otherwise, some dogs aren’t too fond of the whole idea.

          Dental care is also very important. Tooth and gum disease may occur if their teeth aren’t kept clean. For brushing, never use human toothpaste. The fluoride in the product is toxic for your pooch. Always use toothpaste made for pets. It’s safe and can be swallowed. You can even get chicken flavored to make it extra special. Brushing should also be introduced when they’re puppies. Adult dogs may not be too willing to cooperate. Dry food is the first step for healthy teeth and gums, and numerous products like dental treats, bones and toys will help prevent tartar buildup. All dogs need tooth care, although, you may want to pay extra attention to toy breeds considering many suffer from tooth loss gums disease.

          Regular nail clipping should also be performed. Be careful not to trim the nails too short because of the circulating vessels. Have your local veterinarian or pet shop retailer cut them for you or have them instruct you on how it has to be done. If you do it yourself, always have an Antiseptic cream or powder on hand to stop the bleeding rapidly if ever it occurs. Always use a nail clipper that you are comfortable using and that is suited for the size of your dog.

          You’re minimizing the risk of irritation or infection by cleaning your dog’s ears once a week. A small amount of earwax will help protect the ear, but too much can lead to problems. Pay extra care to dogs with drooping ears.

          Newborn puppies should also be dewormed, usually around 6 weeks of age. Always treat your dog twice a year afterwards.

          Your new puppy should always go for a veterinarian visit around 6 weeks of age to receive his booster shot. Annual shots should always be given to your dog afterwards. Doing so will help eliminate the risk of numerous diseases that your new puppy or dog could easily catch.

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Nutrition: A blend of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water is vital for your dog’s diet. Always offer fresh water along with their food, daily. A healthy life for your dog is what you want. A proper diet will provide your dog with a shiny coat. By offering a highly digestible diet, such as NUTRIENCE, you are preventing itching, dry skin and excessive shedding. Dogs has different nutritional needs at different stages of their lives. For instance, a puppy will require more fat and protein than an adult will. On the other hand, an older, less active dog will require less and glucosamine will need to be added to their diet for their bones and joints. Also, they require different amounts of food intake depending on the breed, age, weight, amount of exercise and energy level. You will find behind each bag of dog food a chart that will help you give the recommended amount to your dog.

          When bringing a new dog home, it’s always best to know what the dog initially eats and have some on hand. Then if you decide to change the diet to a higher quality, it will have to be gradually mixed together to avoid upsetting or irritating his stomach. It’s recommended to mix together, half and half, for about 5-7 days.

          There are three types of dog food: canned, semi-moist, and dry.

          Canned foods are very moist, aromatic and appealing to dogs. It contains 75% of water, not leaving a lot of room for all the proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates…If feeding this to your dog, it should not be left in the bowl for more than 30 minutes, otherwise bacteria may develop. Because of the very moist texture, hard biscuits, nylon toys and rawhide chew sticks and regular brushing should always be offered to your dog to help maintain teeth care.

          The semi-moist food is better than canned food, except some brands can be very high in sugar and color agents. Even though they contain less water than the can food, you still need to offer hard biscuits, chew bones and occasional brushing to help maintain teeth care.

          Dry food is highly recommended over any other types of food. Because of the crunch the kibbles give, it will reduce tartar buildup and will help to keep healthy teeth and gums. There are a lot of different brands of dog food on the market. Not all of them are best suited for your dog. Some of them may seem good, but don't be infatuated by all the advertisement and the attractive packaging. Turn the bag around and take a look at the ingredients list and the guaranteed analysis. The guaranteed analysis lists the maximum fiber and water content and the minimum fat and protein content in the food. You will then need the ingredient list to identify the quality of protein and fat listed. Learning how to read dog food labels can help you find just the right dog food for your dog. Some ingredients cannot be digested at all by your dog, while other ingredients are easier for them to digest. In a dog food list, a meat ingredient like poultry or chicken should always be the first or the second ingredient. Also look for quality fats such as poultry fat rather than unspecified "animal fats".

          It is very important to remember that dogs require a nutritionally, well balanced diet suited for THEM. When a dog eats table scraps, it causes gas and the food doesn't have time to break down because they have a shorter intestinal tract than us. Even though dogs might enjoy table scraps, you shouldn't feed it to your dog. It doesn't meet their nutritional needs.

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Nutrience:
Why should NUTRIENCE be your top choice?

          NUTRIENCE is an exceptional quality pet food, which offers a complete and balanced nutrition. They use dehydrated chicken, poultry meal, chicken fat, essential levels carbohydrates and beet pulp. All combined with numerous natural herbs that have long been relied upon for medicinal purpose. Thousands of plants help combat illness and help maintain good health. NUTRIENCE uses these natural herbs to promote better health at every stage of your dog's life. Not only do these herbs also enhance the flavor of the food, but it also acts like a preservatives.

• Puppy Transition - from 6 to 16 weeks
• Puppy Small Breed - from 4 to 12 months
• Puppy Medium Breed - from 4 to 12 months
• Puppy Large Breed - from 3 to 18 months
• Adult Original - 1 year and more
• Adult Derma - 1 year and more
• Adult Supreme - 1 year and more
• Adult Active - 1 year and more
• Adult Light - 1 year and more
• Senior - 8 years and more

• Chicken Meal: Exclusively skin and flesh with minimal bone.
• Dehydrated Chicken: Exclusively air-dried. No skin or bone.
• Dried Eggs: 100% biological value.
• Corn and Rice: Optimal carbohydrate digestibility and void of irritating fibers associated with wheat, oats and barley.
• Chicken Fat: Single source fat; highest in linoleic and arachidonic acids.

• It contains high quality proteins.
• The high quality chicken fat helps keep healthy skin and a shiny coat.
• It contains lutein that helps boost your puppy's immunity system against diseases and helps optimize healthy eye function and vision.
• The unique blend of herbs helps your puppy's growth such as: Dried Carob stimulates the growth in bones and the development of the articulations; Dried Fennel helps to calm the stomach and evacuate gas; Dried Ginger contributes at the digestion process; and Dried Fenugreek helps to treat anæmia, diabetes and weight loss.
• Yucca Schidigera reduces the production of ammonia in the stool and bad odors.
• Dried Kelp increases appetite, improves digestion and promotes a healthy skin and coat, it's also a very good source of protein-bound iodine and a great source of highly digestible chelated minerals.
• Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate is added to the Puppy Large Breed formula to help the articulations and the development of the cartilage because of their rapid growth.
• Cayenne Pepper increases blood flow, activates and optimizes digestion, tones the nervous system, revives appetite, and helps respiration.
• Dandelion is an excellent tonic and detoxifying agent and it also helps heal skin problems such as eczema, when mixed with turmeric and fenugreek, it reduces the risk of diabetes and it also helps control excess weight gain.
• Fenugreek is also known to promote milk production.
• Oregano helps to prevent respiratory and digestive spasms.
• Rosemary's essential oils (extracts) are recognized for their anti-oxidant properties and it also increases bile production, which favors the digestion of fats.
• Thyme is used for its toning and antiseptic effects, especially at the respiratory level, it also has a very important deodorizing property.
• Turmeric protects the liver, increasing bile secretion and preventing gall bladder stones, it is also anti-arthritic (anti-inflammatory.)
• Valeriana Root acts has a natural tranquilizer and has important calming effects on the nervous system, and it also reduces anxiety.
• Chelated minerals, herbal antioxidant, prebiotics and probiotics help digestion and intestinal stability.

          These are only some of the special ingredients that are beneficial for your puppy or dog's health. NUTRIENCE offers a wide range of food design to offer a complete and balanced nutrition for every stage of your dog's life. They are all chicken flavored except for the Derma formula; which is lamb and rice. And different herbs are added in each and single formula. However, they do not consist of the exact same herbal blend. Each formula meets a specific need.

          The most important stage of your dog's life is his puppy years. Puppy Transition offers an even richer diet for his first month ½ to 4 months. It includes ingredients that stimulate the immunity system's defense. It comes in smaller kibbles for your small puppy or in larger kibbles for your slightly larger puppy.

          Puppy formulas are richer because a puppy requires more fat and proteins than adults do. Puppy Small Breed or Puppy Medium Breed should be fed till they are a year old. For Puppy Large Breed, Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been added to help the articulations and the development of the cartilage for the reason being that in large breeds, there's a period where they grow a lot quicker than smaller breeds. Puppy Large Breed can be fed till 18 months of age.

          After your dog's first birthday, you can choose from Adult Original, Derma or Supreme. The Original formula is chicken flavored for generally any dog. If you find that your dog sheds a lot or has dry skin, you can choose the Derma formula because Omega + 3-6 are added for the skin and coat. Derma is the only formula not being chicken flavored. It is actually Lamb and Rice. The Supreme formula contains more natural herbs than any other kind, to help the digestion process. For dogs that have sensitive stomachs, this one is designed for them.

          Then there is the Active formula that is usually fed to working dogs or even slay dogs that spends a lot more of their energy on a daily basis. The Diet formula is lighter. It contains less fat to help an overweight dog safely reduce weight. When feeding Diet formula, you feed on three months intervals. After the first three months, you continue with his regular food such as Original, Derma or Supreme, even if your dog hasn't lost all the weight recommended. If your dog needs to shed off more pounds, after another three month of his regular food, you can feed him the Diet formula for another three months. Always mix both food together for 5-7 days when switching to diet or to regular.

          As for older dogs, usually 8 years and up, you can feed the Senior formula. Usually senior dogs are less active than puppies or adult dogs, for that reason this formula is less fattening and Glucosamine is added for the joints and articulations.

ALWAYS REMEMEBER to mix together both food for at least 5-7 days whenever switching from one stage to another.

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Training: Training should be a positive experience! It's natural for a puppy to chew and soil, its part of what a puppy does. Instead of using aggression, it will only confuse and alienate your puppy. You want to try to modify bad behavior. It's just like potty training a 2 years old child. You have to be patient and understanding! Training can take anywhere from 1 month, to 3 months, to even 6 months. It may vary depending on the breed of dog you own, some can be a bit more stubborn than others, and it also depends how assertive you are with your training method.

An important key in training, whether it's to house-train your dog or to simply teach some fun tricks, everybody in the family should be involved and should participate using the same training tips to avoid confusing your dog.

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Crate-training: You should have a good quality crate ready and awaiting your new puppy at home. It must consist of an appropriate size! Not too big, however big enough for when they reach their adult size, they can comfortably stand up. This will be their room, their protective place and their security "blanket". We have to understand that this crate it is not cruel nor a punishment for your dog. Crate training is one of the best ways to manage puppy hood. Not only does it facilitate house-training but it also provides a safe place for your puppy to go to when nobody's home. Young puppies cannot retain urine or feces for more than several hours, so they should not be left in a crate for extended periods of time.

          A puppy views its crate as its "den", and usually, puppies try to avoid fouling their own den. If taken immediately outside after being out of the crate, most puppies will relieve themselves within a few minutes. If so, praise your puppy for the correct behavior. Whether or not you reward him with a treat, praise him and don't be afraid to show him how happy you are. Dogs love nothing more than to see you happy. Roll on the grass with him if you need to. Hugs, kisses and good words are really helpful! Note that puppies need to be taken outside every 2 hours throughout the day. If the crate is too big, your puppy might be tempted to relieve himself in a corner. A crate space that truly feels like a den will discourage this behavior.

          An important step to take is to make sure that the first few crate experiences are positive. Feed your puppy inside the crate and when you are home, leave the door opened in a secured position. If an inviting bed is made up inside, many puppies will want to use it for occasional naps. The first few confinements should be just for a few minutes with a biscuit or a chew bone, and then praise your puppy for quiet behavior. Do not release your puppy when he is making a fuss; this may teach him that he can bark to make you let him out. Gradually increase the length of the confinements until your puppy is comfortable in his new home.

          It's recommended to let your puppy sleep in the crate at night for at least the first year, but in some case, the "house-training-challenged" dogs, like the hounds for instance, may need to sleep in the crate for a lifetime to prevent night accidents in the house. Many dogs need crate confinements for the first year or so to prevent any fouling, chewing, destroying furniture's and the house itself for whenever you leave to go to work or simply for short errands. The less accidents that occur in the house, the faster and more reliable will be the house-training.

          First thing in the morning, right out of the crate, always bring your dog outside and then 20 minutes later. This is especially true if the puppy has just been fed; your puppy should be taken outside immediately after feeding and then again 20 minutes later. After that, you can take your puppy outside at least every 2 hours. Follow the same rule for the noon feeding and the evening meal. Also take your puppy out again just before bedtime.

          If your puppy does have an accident inside the house, do not dispute him unless you actually catch him in the act. Otherwise, they really do not get it. As for rubbing their nose in it, it has absolutely no meaning to your puppy or dog. If you do catch your puppy in the middle of an accident, firmly say "No!" and take him outside immediately, or the Wee-Wee pad, which ever method you will have chosen.

          Immediately consult your veterinarian if you really have trouble house-training your puppy. Some develop a urinary tract infection, which makes their bladder control difficult, or diarrhea can occur and interfere with house-training. No puppies can be expected to avoid accidents if they have such a problem.

*Never leave any bones or chew toys in the crate with your dog if unattended. He could easily swallow a small broken piece and it could be dangerous.

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Wee-Wee Pads training: This is an exceptional way to house-train your small to medium dog. What it consists of is a mat, somewhat like a diaper, that you put on the floor. It doesn't take up a lot of space and you can bring it with you pretty much anywhere. There's a specific ammonia smell implanted in the pad. We don't notice the scent at all, but with their intensified scent ability, dogs can easily smell it. This smell attracts your puppy to the mat. Whenever they pass by, the smell reminds them to relieve themselves.

          This is the reason why you must use the S.O.X Stain and Odor Eliminator and never any ammonia-base cleaning product when your puppy accidentally relieved himself in the house. Since dogs are attracted to the ammonia smell, cleaning a spot on the floor or rug where your puppy peed with an ammonia base product will only attract your dog to return at that very same spot.

          When you first bring a puppy home, it's best to put at least 2-3 mats around the house. With all new surroundings, you want to make it easier for them and help them get accustomed to their new unknown environment. Every week or two, you will take one mat away until you are down to one.

          Once your puppy is fully trained on Wee-Wee Pads, meaning they always go relieve themselves on the pad only and they don't go anywhere else, there is two ways to go about this; if you have a small dog, you can keep using the pads for a lifetime if desired. Most people leave the pad on the bathroom floor and the dog goes on its own whenever they need too. Or, when he's fully trained on the Wee-Wee Pads and you would prefer that he'd ask for the door to go outside from now on, just bring the pad a little bit closer to the door each day, until you finally take it outside. If down slowly and the proper way, your puppy will recognize that he needs to asks for the door.

          Even if you are using Wee-Wee Pads as a training tool, it is still strongly recommended to have a crate for nighttime and whenever you need to leave your puppy alone in the house for a few hours.

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Little helpful tips: Here are a couple of simple tricks you can add with the crate or Wee-Wee Pad training, to help your puppy learn right from wrong.

          (1) When you take your puppy outside and he poops or urinates, praise him and don't be afraid to show him how happy you are. Dogs love nothing more than to see you happy. Roll on the grass with him if you need to. Hugs, kisses and good words are really helpful! Then use a healthy biscuit treat that you'll use specifically for this purpose only. Show him that treat, praise him and give it to him. Now, let's say that you take your puppy outside, but he doesn't do anything, show him the exact same treat, look unhappy, say "bad girl/boy…." but DO NOT give him the treat, put it back in the bag. In order for this trick to work, it's important NOT to give the treat. Otherwise, it won't be effective. It will only confuse your dog if you give in sometimes by giving a treat even when he hasn't done anything, and it will not teach him what the correct behavior is.

          If this trick is done properly, your puppy will eventually learn to associate that to get that treat, he needs to relieve himself at a specific place; outside and not in the house.

          You can also use this simple trick when using Wee-Wee Pads. Whenever he relieves himself on the pad, praise him with words and follow with a treat. And if ever it happens that he does it somewhere else, like on the floor, a carpet or furniture, show him the exact same treat but do NOT give it to him.

          (2) Another really helpful trick that may be used when trying to house-train your puppy is, when you're bringing your puppy out every hour or so, and he doesn't do anything outside, bring him inside, but keep him on his leash. Once inside the house, tie the handle of the leash on a doorknob and leave him there for 5 minutes. Do not stay around him or play with him while he's there.

          Five minutes later, bring your puppy outside once more, and try to encourage him to poop or urinate for another few minutes. If again, he does nothing, repeat the same procedure. Bring your puppy inside, and tie the handle of the leash on that same doorknob. Leave him there for another five minutes, and then bring him outside once more after the time has elapsed. This exact same procedure has to be repeated until, and only when your puppy either poops or urinates outside. This is very important to follow these steps seriously, other wise, it will not only confuse him.

          Once your puppy does something, praise him and don't be afraid to show him how happy you are. Again, dogs love nothing more than to see you happy. Roll on the grass with him if you need to. Hugs, kisses and good words are really helpful! Show him that special treat designed for training, praise him and give it to him. When you bring your dog in the house, you may now leave him run free.

          If this trick is done properly, your puppy will eventually learn to associate that in order to be free in the house, he must relieve himself at a specific place; outside and not in the house.

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Internal Parasites: The two most common worms are the Roundworms and the Tapeworms. The Roundworms have a round body and can be up to several inches in length. They are of a whitish or pinkish brown color. It looks similar to a strain of spaghetti. As for the Tapeworm, it consists of a whitish colored segments. They can sometime be found joined together which can be up to 3 feet in length. The individual segments can be around one half of and inch in length, resembling a grain of rice. Roundworms are commonly found in young puppies while the Tapeworms are usually found in adult dogs.

          There is also Hookworms that are much less seen. They are blood-sucking worms, which can cause serious loss of condition. Whipworms are also another rare type of worms that can only be diagnosed by a veterinarian who needs to look for microscopic eggs in the feces. Even though they are a little less seen than Roundworms and Tapeworms, these types can still be easily spread to your dog.

          The Roundworms can be spread directly from one dog to another. The eggs are microscopic in size and are passed in the feces. Another dog just need to lick off some of the feces and he then ingest the eggs, which will then eventually hatch into larvae in the intestines of your dog. Tapeworms however, are never transmitted from dog to dog. They always go through an intermediate host, such as birds, mice, rabbits and lice. Your dog becomes infected, for example, by eating a bird or even a mouse that may happen to be infected. However, the most common intermediate host for the Tapeworm is actually the flea. It all starts by your dog having fleas. Naturally licking himself and swallowing the flea containing the larvae of the tapeworm, he then becomes infested.

          Symptoms may vary in their intensity of Roundworms, but usually abdominal swelling, loss of weight; vomiting and diarrhea can be some of the signs. In young puppies, the common sign is when they have a 'pot belly'. In adults, symptoms can be less visible except for seeing an adult worm in feces or vomit. As for Tapeworms, it is only when the worms are present in large quantities that they may interfere with normal digestion. They usually do not cause weight loss, however they usually cause some discomfort or irritation around the anus, leading your dog to rub his behind on the floor.

          Even if your dog shows no sign of being infected with worms, it is still absolutely vital to have them dewormed at least twice a year.

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Hopefully you have found our information enjoyable and helpful on dogs. Please, do not hesitate to contact us for any additional information or if you have any questions concerning your pet.