Puppy Party [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

by Artist Not Provided

Puppy Party is over an hour of adorable pups from a wide variety of breeds doing what puppies do best - exploring, playing and snoozing the day away. This doggy DVD is perfect background viewing for a relaxing afternoon, entertaining for the dog who gets lonely when you're away from home.

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132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

by Artist Not Provided

Because during regular broadcasts, you don't get to see the whole shebang, the thoughtful folks at The Westminster Kennel Club put together a two-disc set featuring the entire 132nd Dog Show, including bonus content and stunning footage of some 2,600 AKC Champions.

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Puppies for Dummies

by Sarah Hodgson

This is a book you will love and it is a must read for every soon to be puppy owner. It will walk you through everything you need to know about raising a puppy. It helps you discover how to choose the perfect puppy for you. Raise a well mannered pup. House train, quickly and effectively. Provide proper care and nutrition and to keep the peace between kids and puppies. The book is written for those novices in mind. It offers very highly practical clues like playing classical music while owners leave their dogs alone. Guides you through puppy socialization. Everything you need to know is in this fun friendly guide. It focuses on behavior and relationship and Sarah Hodgson will help your puppy grow up to be a healthy wonderful dog.

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Finding the right toys for your new puppy is important and the best toys for puppies may be different than toys for dogs. This is largely due to the size difference between a puppy and a fully mature dog, but is also somewhat related to the activity levels of puppies and dogs. Puppies, at least in most breeds, will be more active chewers than adult dogs, particularly around teething time at three to five months. Some breeds, however, will stay active chewers all their life and these dogs will need durable, strong and safe toys for puppies as well as toys for dogs.

Safe Toys For Puppies

The key factor in selecting toys for puppies should be the safety factor. Children's toys are not acceptable as toys for puppies since they have too many loose parts or accessories or pieces that can easily come off and pose serious choking and splintering problems. These sharp pieces of plastic can easily cut the inside of a puppy's mouth, throat, esophagus and even perforate the stomach, intestines or bowels. They can also lodge in the puppy's teeth and cause painful lesions on the gums. Toys for dogs should also be likewise considered for safety factors.

Some suggestions for safe toys include:

• Kong toys of the correct size for your puppy.
• Nylabones given to the dog when the owner is present to supervise
• Dog quality stuffed toys that have no easy to dislodge pieces or parts
• Rubber toys
• Durable made for dog use balls of different sizes
• Heavy rope toys that cannot be pulled apart into strings
• Rubber, heavy canvas or nylon teething rings that can be filled with water and frozen

Toys To Avoid

There are a great number of toys for dogs and toys for puppies that owners need to keep well out of reach of their pets. These toys are either too small and may easily be swallowed whole, causing choking risk to the dog, or are actually edible toys that can cause serious health risks for both puppies and dogs.

Perhaps the most widely sold toys to avoid that are found in almost every pet store, department store and feed store are rawhide toys of any type. Rawhide poses risks because:

• It is edible but not digestible, resulting in intestinal blockages
• It swells in the digestive system and can cause choking
• It may contain pesticides, poisons, growth hormones, chemicals or medicines
• Dogs see it as food, not a toy

There are some of the more expensive types of rawhide toys that are made from shredded rawhide that is then pressed together using a gelatin like glue to make bones and toys. This is safer than the large pieces of animal hide that is made into toys of various shapes, however it is still not recommended in any form as toys for puppies or toys for dogs.

When prospective new owners are thinking about different breeds of puppies, it is important to look at what the average puppy behavior is for that breed, plus what the strengths are for the breed once it matures. This is an essential component of selecting a dog breed or type that is going to suit your family, activity level and your desires for your interaction with your canine companion.

Activity and Playfulness

Puppies, regardless of the breed, are typically going to be more active, more mischevious and more challenging to deal with that mature, well socialized and well trained dogs. However some breeds stay puppy-like in their behavior much longer than others. Understanding how much time you have to invest in training including housebreaking and obedience training is essential when you are selecting a dog breed. While activity may be considered one of a puppy's strengths, if you live in a small apartment or don't want to have to walk the dog multiples times a day these breeds won't be a good combination with your lifestyle.

Activity is not always related to the size of the dog. For example a small Jack Russell Terrier is much more active and requires more frequent exercise than a huge Mastiff. An Irish Wolfhound, on the other hand, needs to have room to roam but doesn't need a lot of structured exercise time while a Bassett hound needs to be routinely walked to avoid turning into a couch potato.

Puppy Abilities and Working Traits

One of the other major considerations is what you want the puppy to be able to do or achieve when he or she is mature. If you want a hunting dog, a Labrador, Golden Retriever, Springer Spaniel or Pointer breed is a good match, however not if you want a guard dog. Good breeds for guard dogs would include German Shepherds, Anatolian Shepherds, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers to name just a few. Herding dogs would include Border Collies, Corgis and Sheepdogs. Some breeds can cross over groups, however they will also have the strengths of each group that will influence both their puppy behavior and their adult traits and abilities. Mixed breed or hybrid dogs will have greater variation than purebreds in most cases.

Individual Puppy Strengths

Besides the puppy behavior and adult dog behavior within a specific breed, puppies will each have their own strengths and character traits that are uniquely their own. This may include the tendency to be fearless, bold and brave or the puppy that is constantly acting silly and clowning around. Some puppies may also be more curious and thoughtful, which can be strengths for dogs that are going to be trained in obedience and competitions.

Watching puppies interact with people, their littermates and their mother will help you determine both their strengths and what you can expect with regards to their puppy behavior.

Taking care of a puppy, especially a new puppy to your house requires a bit of getting used to. Puppy behavior may often seem to be illogical or rather random, however if you stop to think like a puppy you will typically find that it all makes sense.

Preparing For A New Puppy

One of the most important tasks you have as the owner of a new puppy is to actually take the time, before the puppy gets there, to puppy proof your house. You don't need to do the whole house; just the areas were the puppy will have free roam and access. Some of the key components to check for safety are:

• Electrical outlets that are not used need to be covered. Puppies often lick at the outlets, causing life threatening electrical shock.

• Electrical cords that are plugged into the wall may seem like dandy toys and chew items for a puppy, after all they look just like branches off a tree. Either plug things in and move furniture the puppy cannot get behind or under in front of the sockets or only plug in when in use then unplug and cover the outlet.

• Take all dangly items like tablecloths, curtains, pull cords for blinds or tassels that hang from curtains or furniture off. They are very appealing to a little puppy as part of puppy behavior is mouthing everything, which may result in pulling these items down on top of the puppy or getting caught in the cords, risking the chance of strangulation.

• Pick up all strings, threads and similar items from the furniture, especially the upholstered items. Often these cords and strings are on the underside, so you will have to either turn the item over or get down on your hands and knees and look underneath. These strings and threads pose a serious choking threat plus they can also cause digestive blockages.

Remove anything from the rooms your new puppy will be in that you really love and would be heartbroken if they are damaged or destroyed. Puppies don't even chew up your favorite shoes to get back at you for being left alone, but sometimes it may seem that way.

Your Yard and a Puppy

Your new puppy will need time outside in your yard, so there are a few simple puppy proofing ideas you can use to work with natural puppy behavior. The first one is to choose an area where you want the puppy to toilet, then keep bringing the puppy there and providing rewards. Soon he or she will know just where to go!

Other issues to make your yard safe for your puppy include:

• Have a secure, well made fence that keeps your puppy in and other dogs out.

• Use a locking gate latch that cannot accidentally pop open if the puppy jumps up.

• Check all plants in the yard to make sure they are non-toxic for dogs.

• Pick up all waste material on a frequent, routine basis.

• Remove any bones, toys or objects that may cause choking or splintering risks.

The key is to think like a puppy before bringing home your new puppy. Look at how the puppy behaviors will play out in the environment and ensure it is a safe place for your new addition to the family.