Animal shelters in general give homes to those pets that are lost or abandoned by their former owners. Sometimes depending on the condition of the dog when it is brought into the shelter it may have to be put down – although the shelter will always do the best it can to keep the animal healthy and find a new loving owner. This varies from shelter to shelter, with some having a time limit on new ownershiop before the dog is put down while others will keep any dog that isn’t in distress due to injury or illness.

To help dog shelters you could could consider adopting a dog rather than buying a puppy, or by donating to help them stay open. To find out more, have a read of 100 ways to help a dog shelter.

First of all, if your dog does get aggressive towards another dog always stay calm. Dogs can sense the mood of their owner, and if you behave in an anxious manner this will only make your dog more aggressive. On the other hand, if you stay calm it is likely your dog will find it easier to relax.

If the dogs are still being aggressive towards one another and a fight does beak out never get between the dogs to try and break it up. In the heat of the moment the dogs may bite you as they are already in an aggressive frame of mind. Instead, try to distract your dog. Again it is important to stay calm as becoming outwardly anxious will only make things worse. Most dog fights don’t end up with any serious injuries, and you should never risk your own health to try and break it up.

If your dog has been aggressive towards another, remember not to pet or praise it to try and comfort. Dogs don’t think like humans and will assume that they are being praised for their aggression. Accidental positive reinforcement is one of the most common mistakes dog owners make when trying to prevent their dog being aggressive.

Above all, training your dog in the basic commands such as “sit”, “stay” and “come” can avoid almost all confrontations between dogs. Just remember to train your dog to respond to these commands even with distractions.

The detractors of positive dog training argue that how can you use it when your dog does something wrong? However it really can work even in this case. You simply issue a command to stop what your dog is doing (i.e. down if the dog is jumping up) and reward it when it happens.

The reason positive dog training is so effective is that the dog quickly learns which actions means he gets treats. It’s human nature to want to punish a dog after it does something wrong, but in reality this only causes confusion as the dog won’t know what it has done wrong. If you come home to find a mess in the house because of the dog then punishing him won’t do any good. He simply can’t relate the punishment to the earlier action.

That leads to an important point – always give the treat or reward immediately after the correct action to make sure your dog associates the treat with that behaviour.

Remember when dogs to misbehave it is usually to get your attention. If this happens, just ignore the dog until it stops and then turn your attention back to it. It won’t take long for the dog to realise what you want.

There are many places you can buy a dog and a lot of them provide a great service and wonderful dogs, but it’s important to make sure your breeder cares about the dogs it sells rather than just using them as a money spinner.

Once you’ve decided which types of dog you want to get it will narrow down your search considerable. Try talking to a few reputable breeders who specialise in your breed. You can either find them through dog welfare organisations or online. If you are looking for an adult dog then consider visiting some of the local shelters.

Should I Buy Dogs From The Internet?

For various reasons it is probably not a good idea to buy a dog from the internet. You should always meet with the current owner and see the dog before committing.

A Breeder Is Selling Lots Of Litters – Is This A Good Or Bad Thing?

While some might say that if a breeder has lots of litters it is likely to be experienced, it can also show that they are just in it for the money. Be careful with these kind of breeders and make sure the dog you are buying is healthy.

A Breeder Won’t Let Me See The Dog, Is This Normal?

All good breeders will encourage prospective owners to meet their puppies. If they care about their dogs then they will want to know they are going to good homes. Good breeders will also know lots about the breed of dog they are selling, so don’t be afraid of asking questions.

Some breeders also try to pass off mixed breed dogs as pure-bred, so be extremely cautious if a breeder won’t let you see the dog first.

Do Shelter Dogs Make Good Pets?

Many dogs from shelters can make wonderful pets, but they are likely to be more nervous than other dogs because of their time confined in the shelter.

Dogs are also classed as pure-bred or mixed-breed. A pure-bred is a dog whose ancestors are all of the same breed, while a mixed breed dog has parents of different breeds.

The breed of your dog determines many things such as size, appearance and even personality. Spend time picking the right breed for you and your family.

Toy Breeds
Examples: Chihuahua, Pug and Yorkshire Terrier
Description:
Toy dogs are usually small and live for a relatively long time. They have been bred as human companions, and as such make great pets. In general they require the least amount of exercise of any of the main groups.

Sport Breeds
Examples: Labrador and Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel
Description:
These dogs were originally bred for use in hunting or sports (as the name suggests). Because of this they require a lot of exercise – but are also very intelligent.

Terrier Breeds
Examples: Scottish Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer
Description:
Terriers were originally bred for hunting small animals. Because of this they are lively dogs. Sometimes a little too lively for owners to cope with!

Hound Breeds
Examples: Beagle, Basset Hound, Greyhound
Description:
The hound group of dogs have been bred to hunt – either by site, scent or both. All require reasonable amounts of exercise. They are generally good natured and affectionate.

Herding Breeds
Examples: German Shepherd, Collie
Description:
These dogs were originally used on farms to herd livestock so are intelligent and easily trained. They are often friendly dogs (although there are exceptions). They require a lot of daily exercise.

Working Breeds
Examples: Boxer, Rottweiler
Description:
Working dogs are exceptionally strong, powerful and clever. They usually make fantastic and loyal pets, but do require experience. They are not a good choice for a young family pet because of their size. They need a lot of exercise.

Non-Sporting Breeds
Examples: Poodle, Bulldog
Description:
These are dogs that don’t specifically fit into the other groups. Because of this there is a wide range of personalities, sizes, appearance and behaviours associated with this group. If you do decide to go with a non-sporting dog then make sure you research your particular breed thoroughly.

Some of the basic questions you should ask yourself when thinking about getting a dog are:

• Does your work or lifestyle allow you to give them time needed to a dog?
• Do you have enough money to support a dog?
• In ten years time, will you still be able to care for a dog properly?

The first point it probably the most important. A new dog needs lots of love and attention if it is to be happy. Do you have enough time to feed, exercise and train a dog? Not to mention spending time with it generally to form a strong bond. Dogs are sociable animals and hate to be on their own, so if your lifestyle means you won’t spend much time with the dog it may not be a good idea to get one.

Most new owners also don’t fully realise the financial cost of owning a dog. When doing the maths to see whether you have the money available you need to think about food, grooming costs, training equipment, toys and medical costs. Generally a dog will end up costing more than you budgeted for because of the small things like leads and toys, so make sure you remember that.

The last one is especially hard to answer as who really knows where they will be in ten years time? A lot can change in a decade, but it is important to consider that a new dog is likely to live for at least this long.

Training a dog can often be frustrating – not to mention tiring! However it is essential if you want your dog’s life to be a happy and fulfilled one.  Training should start as soon as possible and should be a daily event. If you don’t think you’ll have enough time to train or exercise your dog each and every day then that could be a problem.

Having a dog is great most of the time, but you must be prepared for the occasional inconveniences. They can be fantastic pets and wonderful companions but as an owner you must be willing to accept responsibility for the dog – through good and bad times.

All dogs – especially when they’re puppies – have a lot of energy which can get them into some dangerous situations sometimes! Try to think of your puppy as a human toddler – very inquisitive and full of energy.

Potential Hazards Outdoors

• When your dog is a puppy it should never be left outside unsupervised. Always make sure that you have a securely fenced off area for your dog to go in – you never know when a dog could get the urge to roam.
• If you have even a small pond it should be fenced off before the dog or puppy is allowed outside.
• Small, sharp objects can be a major danger to dogs as they tend to try and eat most things! Before you let your dog out for the first time you should check around the garden for anything that might be harmful.

Potential Indoor Hazards

• Like you would for small children, keep all medicines out of reach and secure.
• Be careful when your dog goes under the table when you’re eating. Apart from it being a nuisance, it’s very easy to forget the dog is there and lean back on the chair, only to come back down right on the dog.
• Make sure all small objects are kept well away from the dog at all times.
• Make sure the house is secure when you can’t see the dog. That means windows, doors and even cat flaps.
• Don’t feed your dog any human food unless you are absolutely sure it is safe for the dog to do so.
• If you have to leave your dog unsupervised for any length of time make sure it is in a secure place.
• Stairs can be dangerous, so make sure they are properly closed off with a gate. Especially when your pet is still a puppy.

These are just some of the potential hazards in the average home, but if you really want to make a secure and safe environment for your dog you need to regularly check for any new dangers.

This is a big question and shouldn’t be answered lightly. All breeds of dogs can take up a large part of your time. They need exercising, feeding, health care and not to mention a large amount of love and attention. Getting a brand new puppy can be even more time consuming as it involves a lot of training.
Until you’ve had experience living with a dog this can be a difficult question to answer, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow.

• Aim to put aside at least an hour a day to exercise the dog no matter which breed you get. The dog might need even longer than that if it is a large energetic breed.
• When you first get the puppy you should be aiming to do around half an hour training a day (split up into shorter periods).
• Every so often your dog will need to be taken to the vet which can take an hour or more.
• You should also remember that when you’re not around your dog will miss you! There isn’t much point getting a dog if you can’t spend any real time with it after all, so make sure you have enough spare time during the day to spend with the dog.

Spending time having fun with your dog is the best reason of all to get a new puppy, so if you have a busy schedule you should think carefully about whether you can devote enough time to your new pet.

2. Is my house big enough for a dog?

This is often overlooked, but dogs take up a lot of space! If you already have a cramped house getting a dog is definitely not going to help the situation.

This is where the right breed choice comes into play. It’s obvious that bigger dogs need more room in the house to be able to stretch their legs, so if you have a smaller house a smaller breed would be best. Of course if your house is overcrowded already then you’ll need to consider whether it is fair on the dog to keep it cooped up – and whether your family will be able to cope!

3. Can I afford a dog?

Another big consideration is whether you can financially support a dog on top of all your other commitments. It’s easy to underestimate how much a dog really costs, so here are a few of the things you’ll need to pay for if you get a new puppy.

• Dog Food
• Health Care
• Training Classes
• Toys and Equipment (i.e. leads, bowls, crates etc)
• Grooming (if required for your dog)

These can add up to a lot of money over time, so you need to be 100% sure you have the money available to care for a dog before you commit.

4. What do I want from a dog?

This is something only you can answer, but you should consider it carefully as it will affect which breed you get. There are many questions that you need to answer yourself personally. For example, do you have young children so need a small dog? Are you living in a flat? Do you live in the city or near woodland? Have you had experience training a dog or do you need one that is intelligent and easier to train? Do you have to have a pure bred? Do you want a house dog? Do you want your dog for protection?

Getting a new puppy is a wonderful time as long as you make sure you are absolutely ready for a pet in your life. I think that the love, effort and care you put into a dog is more than worth the reward you get form building up a wonderful relationship with your pet. However if you aren’t 100% sure you can support a dog then it could spell disaster for both you and the puppy. Try to answer the above choosing a puppy quiz honestly so you can gauge how ready you are to get a new puppy.

When you first get the kitten it is probably a good idea to keep it separate from your dog to start with. Let the kitten explore the house with the dog shut away to get used to the layout and distinguishing smells. This will help the cat get more comfortable in its surroundings as well as get it used to your dogs smell.

Now do the same with your dog so it smells the new kitten and gets used to it as much as possible before actually coming face to face.

It’s probably a good idea that when the pets first meet it is in a completely controlled environment. A good way to do this is to have a fence between them when they first see meet, which will allow them to smell and get used to each other without any danger of the dog being too rough with the kitten.

Take your time with all these stages so that your new kitten becomes part of the house in your dogs eyes before they meet with no “safety net”. You should slowly build up to them actually being in the same room so you can be assured it is safe to do so.

While your kitten is small it is a good idea to keep an eye on it at al times when it is with the dog. All animals are essentially unpredictable and while your kitten is young it is more vulnerable. It will take some time for the two animals to completely accept each other, and even then keeping a close eye on them when together is important.

All dogs are different, and some will never be able to fully accept a kitten or cat into the household. You can only try your best, make sure the cat is never in any danger and have patience.

If you have a male dog, here are dome male puppy names that you could use. These are just suggestions, so if you have any of your own favourites you could add them to the comments section below!

• Murphy
• Biggles
• Ace
• Cisco
• Hammer
• Chopin
• Sherlock
• Amigo
• Cody
• Cinder
• Darth (OK, I couldn’t resist putting this one in, sorry!)
• Pickles
• Baxter (Anchorman anyone?)
• Jasper
• Toby
• Rex
• Frazier
• Rover

As you can tell, I like my names to be a little different. There is always some classics like Rover though that can suit most male puppies. Names are so subjective and everyone has different tastes, so I’d love to hear yours in the comments section!

Personally, I tend to try and shy away from common human names, but sometimes you’ll find that it just fits the personality and look of the puppy.

Getting the right male puppy name is important, as changing it would only cause a lot of confusion for you and the dog later down the line! Dogs are creatures of habit and it would be very difficult to train a dog to use a different name if you decide you don’t like it.
What’s your dog called?