Start walking the puppy in small increments of time 20 minutes to start is best. When the puppy starts to respond positively to leash training the owner can walk the puppy longer. Reward the puppy with positive praise and puppy training treats. When exiting the home to begin the walk make sure you the dog owner have the puppy sitting before you open the door. This can take a very long time to achieve but is a very important part of the leash training process. When the puppy is sitting patiently reward puppy with a treat. Owner must walk out the door first with the puppy following the owner, not the other way around. Always be leading the puppy on the walk, if puppy is in front of the owner while walking, the puppy will think he is the leader.

Practice makes perfect when leash training be consistent.

I found this great “Bill of Rights” online, explaining what an adopter has the right to feel and experience, as well as the obligations of the shelter offering the pets for adoption.

Being that adopting a pet can be an emotional experience, it wouldn’t hurt to print this out and take it with you. It is very easy to become quite distracted by all the fuzzy faces eagerly hoping that you will want them. It is also easy to get caught up in a “hard luck” case that may or may not be the right type of pet for you and your family.

I would recommend that you make a list of “absolutes” to take with you to the shelter. There should be two sections: One section of qualities you absolutely must have, and one section of traits you absoloutely will not tolerate. For instance, a heavy shedder might be an absolute no if you have a family member with allergies. Another example could be that the pet must be of a size to sit on your lap. Some people have definite feelings about male or female dogs and cats.

Whatever you want (and don’t want) is your right. Remember Fido or Tabby will live with you for a long time. And making yourself happy with your choice will also make the pet you adopt happier and healthier.

Bill of Rights for Adopters

Thinking of Adopting a Cat?

Thinking of Adopting a Dog?

The thinking behind this drug is that as Americans gain weight, so do their pets. Food equals pleasure according to some, and therefore if we are loving our dogs enough, they may very well be overweight. And an overweight dog has the same health issues as an overweight person.

What I don’t get is the whole reasoning behind this. The dog may not feel full and want to eat, but he can’t really call and order and pizza, or stand in front of the refrigerator for hours grazing on this and that left over from a previous night’s dinner. And he certainly can’t buy a healthclub membership so he can work off his extra pounds.

Part of the responsibility of owning a dog (or any other pet) is feeding it properly so that weight isn’t a problem. And much of the fun of having a dog is that you always have a partner to go for walks; no matter how much a friend might not want to go out on a cold and gray day, you can count on your dog to walk with you.

Perhaps these pills will have some use for dogs with medical conditions that cause weight gain. But for the vast majority of the dogs who need to drop a few pounds, the answer can be found in owners who feed responsibly and play with abandon.

FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug For Dogs

My cats are strictly indoor residents so the risk of them getting outside and becoming lost are slim. But it has happened. One of my good friends had a beautiful purebred Maine Coon cat escape through the smallest opening possible near an air conditioner. Seven days later we had all but given up hope. The hundreds of “Lost Cat” posters she had put up finally paid off one evening, with a late phone call, that resulted in Trevor returning home. He had lost weight, brought along a few hundred of his new flea friends, and had ear mites. But no matter. Trevor was home and some good meals and minor vetting had him in tip top shape in no time at all.

My Pembroke Welsh Corgis are only outside on a leash. Again, the risk of them becoming lost is minimal but leashes can break. Dogs that are in a fenced back yard can come up with the most cleaver methods of escape as well; Houdini would have been impressed at some of the escape antics I have heard about.

So how do you prevent this problem? How do you do everything you can to avoid that sinking feeling the first night that you go to bed not knowing where your lovable best friend is?

This problem not only applies to all of us with our beloved pets, but is an issue for purebred dog and cat breeders. Animals that make regular appearances in the show ring, or that are used for breeding, can be at high risk for kidnapping. This is not only an emotional issue, but a financial concern as well for the professional breeder.

Four basic tips that are the smartest ways to begin with identifying your dog, or cat, are featured by Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer. These tips are easy, inexpensive and can save lots of tears and worry. They can also save your pet’s life.

Four Tips on Dog Identification

Microchips: Common Questions

Global Pet Finder – GPS for Your Dog or Cat

One of the most popular blogs by pets, is authored by Max. Max is a golden retriever living in North Carolina. He has a good readership too, judging from the amount of comments posted on the blog.

So why do pets have blogs? Psychologist Larina Kase of Philadelphia says it is, “21st-century dog walking.” It creates social bonds between pet owners; who better to socially network with than a person who is devoted to their pet as you are? Interestingly, dogs blog a lot more than cats. 34,000 dogs visit “Dogbook,” (like our “Facebook”) daily but cats are clocking in at approximately 20,000 fewer logins each day.

Larina Kase also believes that pet blogging gives pet owners a way to connect with what their dogs or cats might be feeling and experiencing. “Pets are part of the family, yet we can’t communicate with them about many things, so pet owners may blog about their pets as a way to better understand how their pets think and feel,” she says.

My personal favorites for pet networking sites are Catster and Dogster. They are just plain fun sites and very informative as well. The interaction between the pet owners is great. I enjoy looking at the various photos and stories about the dogs and cats. You can meet three of my kitties there; one does have a diary but hasn’t made an entry for awhile. (Hey, her life is busy!!)

Personally were my pets to set up blogs, I believe it would be my cats. As I said the corgis aren’t focused enough yet. That will come in time. But my cats? They have much wisdom to share I am sure. Perhaps they could get together for a joint blog and appoint the polydactyl to the keyboard; with his opposable thumb, I would think he would be a natural!

Even Your Dog Has a Blog

Catbook

Dogbook

Catster

Dogster

Dog Blogs

Max, the Golden Retriever

Whimsey’s Place

The Iditarod is a race of over 1150 miles, from Anchorage in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast. Teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover miles of the most extreme terrain known to man.
Versus.com

If you have never watched or followed The Iditarod, be warned. You just might get hooked. There is something about this race that just can’t be duplicated in any other sport. Maybe it is the Alaska wilderness. Maybe it is the way the waiting crowds cheer just as much for the last musher as they do the first. Maybe it is the unbridled enthusiasm of each team of dogs. Whatever it is, once you watch the videos of this race, you will want to watch every year.

I can’t even imagine what it must be like to be all alone on the isolated landscape of an Alaska only other dogs and mushers have ever seen. To see that sky at night and to feel the rushing frozen air against your face as you push yourself further than you ever thought you could, must be the most exhilarating experience anyone could ever have.

To finish? A sense of accomplishment like no other. To win? What must it be like to win The Iditarod?

For two years in a row, Lance Mackey could tell us what it would be like. The first win, some thought was fluke but this year, Mackey proved that he and his team had the skill and fortitude to take this last great race, from start to finish, and be first in doing so.

NOME, ALASKA – (March 13, 2007)

Last year Lance Mackey proved the impossible is possible again. The Fairbanks Alaska musher is now in a league of his own. At 2:46 am Mackey (Bib #6) arrived on Front Street after a battle against Mother Nature and a huge field of ultra competitive athletes to claim the crown of Iditarod Champion for the second year in a row. He arrived in Nome with 11 dogs on his team taking 9 days, eleven hours, forty six minutes, forty eight seconds.

Mackey now has the distinction of being the only musher on the face of the planet to win back to back one thousand mile races (The Yukon Quest and The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race) two years in a row. Mackey set the pace in the 2008 Iditarod after taking his 24 hours in Takotna. From that point forward he kept his team together and in front of four time Iditarod Champion Jeff King.

Thousands of fans lined Front Street in Nome to get a glimpse of the 37 year old musher make Iditarod history in a big way for the second year in a row. Mackey was greeted by his family and friends. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin stayed up late and called to congratulate Mackey. He returned the favor and congratulated the Governor on her soon to be “addition to the Palin Family.”

Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo Representative Loren Prosser presented Mackey a check for $69,000. In addition, Mackey received the keys to a brand new Dodge Ram Pick Up Truck from Presenting Sponsor Anchorage Chrysler Dodge.
Iditarod Press Release

The race may be over, but your ability to check out the highlights isn’t. Versus.com, a sports network on the Internet will begin broadcasting tomorrow, Sunday March 16th, at 7pm EDT. The videos are free so check it out. These are one hour broadcasts and begin with the start of the March 1st start of the race.

The Iditarod Official Web Site

Versus.com Iditarod Race Coverage

Join! The Iditarod Insider – I have been a member for awhile now. This gives you full access to the Iditarod site, up to date information, and all the inside information. Join now and have access for the 2009 race!

How do you find a vet you can work with, respect, trust, and afford? The best way is word of mouth advertising; nothing beats the recommendation of a friend. But a little more information can be nice.

Vet Locator is the site for you. You can locate a vet easily and in advance of needing one. You can also use this site to find one quickly when you don’t have the time to research and talk to different vets. If you have a pet emergency, you need that animal clinic now.

For people needing particular services, Vet Locator can also help you find vets specializing in holistic animal care and who will come see your pet at your home. That is great for parrot owners or people who are unable to leave the house easily.

I ran a test of the site, entering my town’s zip code and found my very own vet’s office! It really is a wonderful site and resource. Check it out and by the way, if your animal clinic isn’t listed, let them know about this site. You can only help other pet owners!

How To Use Vet Locator

Vet Locator Main Site

Other times, you may have gone to the vet but it isn’t improving like you had expected. A second opinion might be a good idea. Perhaps just getting additional information to discuss with your current vet is what is in order.

A Web site is now available for these kinds of questions. “Ask a Pro,” is a site that will help you give your pet the best possible care and help you with your budget as well.

When you visit the site you will notice a lot of questions and answers. These are answers from veterinarians to give you food for thought with definitive facts and possible solutions. I found myself exploring the list of topics (indexed on the right) and touring the entire site.

Take a look if you have a concern or question about pet health. And be sure to bookmark this valuable resource!

Ask A Pet Pro