You are viewing all 'Dog Selection entries.
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Meeting the parents of your puppy in the hope that observing their traits will inform you about what lies ahead for your pet isn’t always useful. The parental traits that are passed down to one or all of their offspring are random and unpredictable – as is true for many animals, people included.
Man O’ War’s parents didn’t have any more foals like him and none of Mozart’s children were musical geniuses. Take a deep breath and accept fate – anyone who hopes that researching the daylights out of a puppy’s heritage will help to produce an amazing adult dog may just be barking up the wrong tree.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website |
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People mistakenly believe that the few breeds of dogs with no hair might be good choices for those with allergies to dogs, but just the opposite is true. These dogs still have the two things which people are allergic to: skin – which sheds dead cells, or dander and saliva, which they deposit on their skin when licking themselves.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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If you want more than one dog you need add them to your life one at a time – even though you may want two dogs so they can keep each other company. The best way to get things off to a successful start is to first get one puppy – or one older dog you rescue – and concentrate on molding that dog into a delightful companion who respects your rules and learns the rhythm of your world.
Wait at least six months before you get another dog – if you want to have them both start with you as puppies, then consider waiting a year for the second puppy, the age at which the small or medium breed puppy enters adulthood. The first dog will show the ropes to the younger one, who will learn by example. Turn your first dog into a stellar role model and take half the work out of raising the second puppy.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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We all know the many items on the list of “how to choose the perfect dog for you,” including size of house and yard, energy level, and time available. One thing we don’t usually consider is the match between the dog and our climate. Now, in our mobile society, it’s true you might be in Florida one year and in Missouri the next but chances are you’ll gravitate toward the climate you like.
It’s fairly easy when choosing a breed (when adopting a mutt, determine which breed he looks most like) to think about climate. There’s length and thickness of coat, undercoat or not (Chows keep warm with an undercoat), whether they have fur (i.e. the Mexican Hairless), and what they were bred to do. A dog bred to work outdoors will tolerate many temperatures. A dog bred to sit on your lap will probably prefer to stay indoors during a cold rain. Of course, we mustn’t forget that dogs are very adaptable creatures and there’s always the Spongebob dog sweater to keep them comfortable.
Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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Dog people across the country may finally get definitive answers to the one question they hear everyday at the dog park – “cute dog, what kind is it?” Thanks to a handful of new DNA testing programs, you just may even be able to answer it, or at the least learn what breeds dominate your dog’s family tree. But with up to four competing DNA companies who promise to analyze doggie cheek cell swabs or blood samples, how do you choose which test is most accurate?
That’s where Paula Szuchman and The Wall Street Journal come in. Szuchman had her pup’s DNA tested with four popular dog DNA services. See her full article on the topic here, as well as her helpful chart on how the tests compare.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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When you don’t have the ability to have a dog in your life full time, there are options out there: pet sitting for family and friends, even volunteering at shelters or clinics that care for homeless pets. Ben Stein is right. A good dog can make most problems seem not so bad.
Can’t get one? Then borrow a dog from a friend or volunteer your time to help with homeless pets. You’ll be glad you did. |
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This week we’re exploring ways to have a dog in your life if you don’t have or can’t have a dog of your own. I bet you have family and friends with dogs. (And if you don’t, perhaps step one is to expand your circle of friends!)
Pet sitting or checking on a friend’s dog when they are away would be a nice thing to do and give you some quality time with a dog. Your friend would probably even let you walk their dog now and then or take their pup to the local dog park for a play date. To make sure everything goes well, be sure you stay in line with your friend’s disciplinary philosophy so you don’t confuse Fido or upset your friend. |
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Actor and commentator Ben Stein says the solution to every problem is to “get a dog,” but what if your apartment is too small or you can’t handle the expense? Or if there are any other number of reasons you can’t have a dog?
This week we’ll explore ways to have a dog in your life when you can’t have a dog of your own. This way you, too, can take advantage of Ben Stein’s miracle cure for just about everything – a dog! |
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Meeting the parents of your puppy doesn’t have much practical application since the parental traits that are passed down to one or all of their offspring are random and unpredictable – as is true for many animals, people included. Man O’ War’s parents didn’t have any more foals like him and none of Mozart’s children were musical geniuses. Take a deep breath and accept fate – anyone who hopes that researching the daylights out of a puppy’s heritage will help to produce an amazing adult dog may just be barking up the wrong tree. |
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If you want more than one dog you need add them to your life one at a time – even though you may want two dogs so they can keep each other company. The best way to get things off to a successful start is to first get one puppy – or one older dog you rescue – and concentrate on molding that dog into a delightful companion who respects your rules and learns the rhythm of your world. Wait at least six months before you get another dog – if you want to have them both start with you as puppies, then consider waiting a year for the second puppy, the age at which the small or medium breed puppy enters adulthood. The first dog will show the ropes to the younger one, who will learn by example. Turn your first dog into a stellar role model and take half the work out of raising the second puppy. |
