A New Breed of Guard Dog Attacks Bedbugs

CRUISER made four house calls on a recent rain-soaked Tuesday. There were two happy endings and two unhappy ones, a fairly typical outcome for a typical day in the life of a bedbug-sniffing puggle.

“Except that there’s nothing typical about this business,” said his handler, Jeremy Ecker, 35, whose six-month-old company, the Bed Bug Inspectors, has vetted hotels, college dorms and Midtown office buildings, suburban homes, bare-bones Brooklyn rentals and tony Manhattan co-ops. (Mr. Ecker, who charges $350 for a residential inspection, is an independent inspector, meaning he has no affiliation with an exterminator, though many hire him to check a property they have treated.)

Increasingly, real estate lawyers are urging buyers in contract to inspect apartments before they close, and in their advertising, many pest control companies exhort would-be tenants to “inspect before you rent.” And dogs like Cruiser can inspect a room in minutes, whereas lesser mammals like human beings need hours to conduct a visual inspection.

Bedbug-sniffing dogs, adorable yet stunningly accurate — entomology researchers at the University of Florida report that well-trained dogs can detect a single live bug or egg with 96 percent accuracy — are the new and furry front line in an escalating and confounding domestic war.

To read the rest of the article, check out The New York Times

Massachusetts Bans Pet Rental Companies

Did you catch last week's entry on the dog rental company, Flex Petz? One of our readers (Thanks, snickdog!) tipped us off to the fact that Flex Petz will not be opening in Boston as planned, because Massachusetts passed a bill in September banning pet rental companies because of "public health, public safety, consumer concerns, and ethical issues."

What do you think? Is paying a price for part-time pet ownership better than nothing, or is it ethically unsound?

[Source: The Boston Globe]

Rent a Dog for a Day

Sarah Stevenson scampered through a heavy rain one recent Friday evening, arriving at a Manhattan rental agency just before it closed. Ms. Stevenson, a 26-year-old nurse’s aide from Brooklyn, had reserved a compact cutie with a lot of spunk for tooling around on the weekend. The man behind the counter went and fetched it from a pillow in another room.

“Hi, hi, hi,” Ms. Stevenson said with a smile that kept getting wider. “How have you been, my handsome boy? I missed you.” Ms. Stevenson picked up Oliver, a 3-year-old cockapoo — half cocker spaniel, half poodle — whom she had rented before. “Last weekend, I didn’t want to bring him back because we were having the best time,” she said as she ran her fingers through Oliver’s tan curly locks.

The agency was Flexpetz, which rents dogs that have been rescued from animal shelters in the hope that they will eventually be adopted. Flexpetz operates out of the Wet Nose Doggy Gym at 34 East 13th Street, which provides day care and boarding for dogs. The company started in San Diego and now has branches in Los Angeles and New York. It plans to expand to Boston, Washington, San Francisco and London.

“There are a lot of people out there looking for companionship,” said Chris Haddix, 28, who runs the New York branch of Flexpetz. There are usually five or six dogs available for rent, many of them on display in the Wet Nose storefront window, attracting crowds.

Ms. Stevenson explained why she was a customer: “I’m single and moved here from Scotland two years ago, and it’s been difficult to meet people because everyone in New York just kind of goes about their business. But when I’m walking around with Oliver, I seem to get into so many conversations about him. It becomes a nice way to meet people.”

Anyone interested must first register at flexpetz before meeting Mr. Haddix. “I ask them a lot of questions,” he said. “I want to know if they have ever owned a dog, why they can’t own a dog full time, how renting a dog benefits them, stuff like that.”

[Source: The New York Times]

Dogs Trained for Hearing Impaired

China's first center for training hearing dogs for deaf people will be set up at Beijing Union University with financial support from Samsung, an official partner of the 2008 Paralympics, a spokesman for the firm said Thursday on the sidelines of the Games.

Park Keun-hee, president of Samsung China, said the company will donate 1.4 million yuan ($200,000) to establish the facility at the university, where more than 300 students with hearing problems are following courses in higher education.

He did not say when the center would open. The center will, however, be one of only a handful in existence around the world. Similar facilities exist in the US, the UK, Japan and South Korea, Park said. The center in South Korea was set up in 1993, and since then has trained 650 "assistant dogs" for a variety of people including the blind, the deaf and police officers, he said.

"Staff at the Samsung Assistant Dog Service Training Base in South Korea have a lot of experience in training dogs, and we hope to bring that knowledge to China to provide long-term support for deaf people here," Park said. The dogs, many of which are former strays, are provided free of charge. Samsung will provide financial support for the center's first three years of operation, he said.

Hearing dogs are trained to distinguish between different types of sounds, such as a telephone ringing, a knock at the door or a fire alarm. They then "touch" a specific part of their owner's body to indicate the particular sound. The Beijing center will train four dogs per year in the beginning, with the number growing over time, Park said.

Although China has more than 20 million people with hearing problems, there are just three hearing dogs working in the country, two of which were provided by Samsung in 2006 to two students at Beijing Union University. Dong Shan, one of the dogs' owners, said: "I've had my dog for over two years now, and it has become my close friend. "It has made my life much easier."

China's third hearing dog, also donated by Samsung, was presented Thursday to Qi Daxin, a deaf man living in Beijing. "Getting this dog in my 50s is great," the 53-year-old said using sign language. "It will help me to become more integrated in society."

[Source: China Daily]

Low Stress, Lots of Love: It's a Dog Trainer's Life

Angel Soriano can't recall a time he wasn't around dogs. When he was a boy in New Jersey, his dad always owned a couple of German shepherds. Today, Soriano has five shepherds at home. At work — at K9 University in northwest Oklahoma City — he's surrounded by all breeds of pooches. According to his business card, Soriano is president, chief executive, chief operating officer and master trainer. But the name embroidered on his company sports shirt says it all: "DogMan."

Soriano spends his days training canines in basic to advanced obedience, search and tracking, personal protection, police training, drug detection and more. His furry students range in age from eight weeks, the ideal time to start training, to 14 years old. "I can see the change in a dog the minute I start working with them," Soriano said. "I like the immediate day-to-day satisfaction." Conversely, when he worked a corporate job, he never realized his impact on the bottom line, he said.

Soriano has been in the dog training business for 23 years. He trained part time in California and Oklahoma before he and his wife, Lynn, started the business three years ago. At K9 University, he and six other trainers offer six-week, group obedience lessons, private lessons and a 10- to 15-day boarding school. A dog's bad behavior quite often is his owner's fault, Soriano said. "For example, dogs as puppies may have nipped at fingers or barked at strangers, and their owners thought it was cute and didn't correct it,” he said.

Soriano also teaches protection and advanced obedience to what he calls executive dogs, or primarily German shepherd or Belgian malinois breeds — to place with families with large properties and traveling spouses. He breeds dogs from imported European lines, and also imports 4-month-old to 2-year-old dogs to sell. Executive dogs sell for $20,000 to $35,000 each, he said.

Training police dogs - At Canine Unlimited in Tulsa, owner Oscar Hall also imports dogs, primarily shepherds, retrievers and Labradors from Europe and specializes in placing dogs with police forces nationwide. He places 30 to 60 dogs a year for around $10,000 each. Hall has been in the business 35 years. He's trained through the U.S. Customs and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, he said. Since 9/11, dogs who detect explosives are in demand, he said.

Dog training is a lot of hard work in all kinds of weather, but Hall loves it. The best part, he said, is hearing about his dogs' feats, like when Chico found a lost child. Hall recommends people who are interested in the dog training business mentor a trainer and train their own dogs to see whether they like it.

Kaylin Woshida of Piedmont did just that. Soon after she got her bull terrier puppy 15 months ago, she took a part-time job with K9 University. A few months later, she quit her five-year job in medical billing to become a full-time dog trainer, where she's exceeded her former salary. "My office job was a lot of stress,” Woshida, 29, said. She worked in a cubicle and had a long commute. "Here, my doggies love me. It makes me feel good to come to work.”

[Source: NewsOK.com]

Options for Dog Owners When Traveling

The traditional procedure has been to board dogs in a kennel during vacations, but that experience can be mixed. "Dogs with behavioral issues, separation anxiety, or who don't like other dogs are likely to experience a lot of stress if kenneled," says Angela Speed, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Humane Society. "Likewise, older dogs who have never experienced a kennel may not adjust well."

Happily, new answers are appearing to the old question: "What do we do with Tippy during family trips?" The options fall into two categories: To take or not to take.

For Beth Maresh of Cedarburg, the answer is: "Take." Her family has two "well-traveled pooches." The whole pack has been to South Dakota, Custer State Park and Wyoming in recent years. The family is among the 29.1 million Americans who say they have traveled with a pet in the past three years, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Canines are the most popular animal travel companions, says the association. Here are some options for pet owners:

Do a pampered sleep-over: Several local dog day care centers offer extended overnight boarding with playtime perks above kenneling. Milwaukee's Central Bark downtown and north side locations, for instance, offer enough supervised exercise on playground equipment with other dogs to fill a six-hour day before lights out. Stays can range from overnight to three weeks. "The main thing we're trying to do is keep them mentally and physically exercised. We find they're happier all around," says Katie Wilke, Central Bark general manager.

Donnybrook Inn, located in Cedar Grove, offers themed luxury suites for dogs, including a "Harley Suite," and a "Patriot Suite" complete with themed toddler beds and covers, and TV sets to help keep Fido relaxed and occupied. The inn is set on 80 acres of land with several dog swimming ponds. Owner Lesley-Rae Karnes is a champion dog trainer. "There are no tears when the dog is left here," she says. "Kids get involved in selecting which suite the dog will use, and everyone feels good." It's about $22 a night. Information: www.donnybrookkennel.com or (920)668-6511.

Hire a sitter: Professional pet-sitting companies allow your dog all the comforts of home - because he is home. Professional pet sitters can be hired to do as many visits a day as needed (costs vary but are about $19 to $25 a visit). But be sure to plan ahead because most professionals need to meet with owners and pets ahead of time. "Pet sitters can administer meds," says Felicia Lembesis, executive director of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. "They need to know what should be done in an emergency, who the vet is, what the pet's habits are, the favorite toys. . . . Things like where there's a circuit breaker box in case of a storm."

Added bonus: Pet sitters can also make the house look lived in by opening and closing drapes, taking in the mail and watering the plants. A professional pet sitter should be insured and have references. For more information on what to look for in a pet sitter, check out information from NAPPS at www.petsitters.org.

Vacationing together: The Dog Days of Wisconsin is a pet/person vacation. For one weekend a year - Aug. 22 to 25 this year - the northern Wisconsin girls' camp becomes pet friendly. You and Fido can hike, swim and dock dive, make dog-themed crafts and compete together in talent shows. "People from the city really like it, because there aren't a lot of places you can swim off-leash with your dog," says Anne Hicks, assistant camp director. Fees run about $40 with a cabin rental and all meals, but you can also tent, bring an RV or stay in a local motel. More information: (800) 226-7436 or www.dogcamp.com

Are pets welcome?: A "no pets allowed" sign can ruin any vacation. One growing resource to avoid obstacles is Fido Friendly Magazine, which offers detailed information on hotel and recreational facilities that are pet-friendly. Each bimonthly issue includes hotel, city and state information and reviews; it's available at Borders and Barnes & Noble. Readers can also subscribe online at www.fidofriendly.com for $19.95 or join the Fido Friendly Travel Club, which includes six issues of the magazine and e-mail newsletter with updates as well as hotel discounts. You can also use the site's search engine to find dog-friendly facilities in your destination city.

Flying dogs: For many years, pet owners lived with horror stories about animals dying in cold, unpressurized airplane holds. Some airlines have improved their pet care. But be sure and find out the specifics with each airline and each flight. Ask where the pet will be put, in what conditions it will be kept and what happens if the flight is delayed for long periods. Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines recently began a Premiere Pet Program. Dog show veteran Susan Kerwin coordinates the program and worked with the airlines to design special pet care, including in-cabin carrier placement for small pets and crating in a forward area under the pilots cabin for larger animals.

[Source: JSOnline]

A Guide to Dog Parks

This video has some great dog park etiquette tips for finding and attending dog parks.

Pet Health Insurance - Should You Get It?

Maintaining a healthy dog can be very expensive. Especially, if you take the dog to the vet 2 to 5 times a year. From shots to random injuries the cost can become expeditionary high. Although many people may think pet health insurance is an unnecessary expense, health insurance for your pet in the immediate can significantly save you money thereby helping you in times of emergency make decisions of life or death of your pet if serious health issue arise.

Veterinary cost are skyrocketing every day. Unlike regular insurance their is not a government assisted pet insurance program that can be used at a veterinary office. All visits have to be paid for upfront either routine or emergency. This can run into thousands of dollars.

Pet insurance is not as difficult to get as your may think. Just like personal health insurance, pet insurance for your dog has annual premiums and, of course a deductible. The deductible as well as the premium can range from policy to policy. But the rule of thumb is the premium price depends on the dog breed and type of policy. One positive though is if you have more than one pet, you can usually get a discount.

Deductibles typically range around $100 a year. There are many policies to choose from based on your dogs age, breed, lifestyle and prexisting conditions. Some plans cover most everything from annual checkups to vaccinations, spaying, neutering and any medications as well as sickness and, of course accidents. These policies, of course will be the most costly.

But if you can handle the yearly costs of a well dog just fine and want something just in case your dog becomes injured or sick, you can get a policy that will cover just these occasions.

Getting a new health insurance policy for your dog is similar to getting one for yourself - emergency coverage begins as soon as you sign up with your first payment and there is a 30 day waiting period for illness and other routine claims.

When considering health insurance for your dog, be aware that his age will affect the coverage. Most policies cover the dog starting at 6 weeks of age. On the other end, you may not be able to get coverage for your dog if he is more than 8 years old. Once your dog is covered, however, he will be able to retain coverage past 8 years of age.

[Source: American Chronicle]

Podiatrist's Poodle Sits with Patients

Jaden is the "therapy dog" at the New Century Podiatry office at 18564 Route 11 run by Dr. James P. Pelletier. The 6-year-old miniature poodle has been working at the office for about two years. "It allows me to see patients who are upset or frightened," he said. "He has a calming effect."

"I've never seen a dog more dedicated to his master," said Janice A. Crabb, a patient from Black River. "He's so well-behaved. He comes to the door to greet me and then goes to find Dr. Pelletier."

When Dr. Pelletier works on patients' feet, Jaden takes his lap position and patiently waits for the procedure to conclude as patients pet him. Sometimes the dog is lulled to sleep. "It's unbelievable how many patients make their appointments around him," said Yolanda M. Pelletier, wife of Dr. Pelletier and New Century's office manager. "They say, 'I'll be back if Jaden is going to be here.'"

Many times, Jaden — named after Mrs. Pelletier's jade jewelry that he took a liking to as a puppy — isn't in the office because he makes rounds to area nursing homes with Dr. Pelletier. "All the nursing homes encouraged us to take Jaden because the patients really enjoy it," Dr. Pelletier said. "The patients in the nursing homes sometimes handle him kind of rough because of their coordination. But he lets them flip him and everything."

The Pelletiers' daughter, Samantha, 12, is responsible for Jaden's career track. She noticed the Web site of a not-for-profit Syracuse-based organization that advocates for therapy pets. That organization, Sunshine Friends Inc., has 160 volunteers who bring their pets to visit residents at about 45 facilities in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Cortland counties.

Samantha, who hopes to be a veterinarian, began teaching Jaden things such as to sit on command, not to bark and not to be startled by noises and people's reactions. Mrs. Pelletier said Samantha followed guidelines posted for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test, which is used as a screening tool at many medical facilities. The family hopes to take Jaden to Syracuse soon so he can take the Good Citizen test at the Syracuse chapter of the AKC.

[Source: Watertown Daily Times]

Dogs Provide an Ear, Tool for Reading

In one hand is a book. While the other hand gently pets a therapy dog. Students at Curtsinger Elementary School in Frisco are practicing reading out loud, but with a twist. Instead of reading to classmates, they're reading to dogs. "They can hear you and they listen," says Zachary Guerrero, a third grader. Listening is the key.

"It's given him a lot more confidence because when he reads with the dog, the dog doesn't correct him, where when he reads with me I tend to correct," says Donna Guerrero, Zachary's mother. "He's more excited to read."

Zachary says reading to the dogs is simply fun. He says he's reading more and wants to come spend time with the dogs. "You get to read to the dogs and they listen to you and you get to sit by them and they are very soft," he says.

Curtsinger began the new after school program this month. It was developed by teacher Diane Gossett, a therapy dog owner. Volunteers from Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs bring their certified dogs each Thursday.

"Fortunately the administrators in our school are also dog lovers and animal people, so they were open to the concept," Gossett says. It's a concept that's been used in schools and libraries across the country for a few years, but Gossett believes Curtsinger is the first school in this area to use the reading dogs.

"I do know the power that animals have with kiddos," says Principal J'Lynn Anderson. The program works to make reading out loud more comfortable for these children, who often struggle in front of their classmates. "You can see the confidence on the kiddos face, that unconditional love, there's not a threat there, there's no stress," Anderson says. "They're just enjoying reading their books with a pal."

Twelve students are in this pilot, five-week program. The changes, teachers and parents say, are clear. "We have seen children that don't normally talk a lot, open up," Gossett says. "We've seen self confidence increase."

"Just being with the dogs, it just makes him feel calm and excited," Donna Guerrero says. "And they don't judge him when he reads. They just listen." Parents like Guerrero hope the program will lead to the children reading more, not only to the dogs, but eventually in class and beyond. "We want to them to perform a certain way, but with the dogs they just accept them the way they are and so they encourage them to read more," she says.

Video: Reading To Dogs New Teaching Tool

[Source: WFAA.com Dallas-Fort Worth News]

New Airport Hotels Just For Fido and Fluffy

A growing number of airports are seeing 24-hour pet hotels being built inside or near their compounds, saving travelers the headache of scrambling to drop off their dogs or cats at neighborhood kennels. "Given that more people have pets, it's just a natural progression of services that airports should offer," says Saq Nadeem, founder of Paradise 4 Paws, which will open next month near Chicago O'Hare.

Airports and their private partners are betting that 24-hour service and proximity to the terminal are enough to entice customers away from neighborhood kennels, which often close early and open late. The flexible hours led Bruce Hamilton, a television anchorman in Jacksonville, to board his dog, Marley, at Pet Paradise, which is open 24 hours. "It's extremely convenient that you can pick up and drive there anytime," Hamilton says. "I don't have to bring my dog a day before." Paradise 4 Paws will even operate a long-term, 22-spot parking lot on-site, so that its customers can take the shuttle directly to the airport.

Daily rates for dog hotels can range widely — from $15 a night for a cage at the local veterinarian office to $70 for a large room with extra perks. Pet Paradise, which has two locations within a mile of the airports at Jacksonville and New Orleans and plans to open at Houston Intercontinental and Houston Hobby, charges $30 per night for its basic package. The rate includes a $2 premium, compared with its in-town locations, for the extra hours, says Fred Goldsmith, CEO of Pet Paradise.

Airport pet hotels typically offer more upscale amenities than the average kennel, such as beds, non-caged rooms with outdoor access, and in-ground swimming pools. Pet Paradise boasts a dog-bone-shaped swimming pool and webcams that let owners check on their pets remotely. Paradise 4 Paws plans to install flat-screen TVs in some suites that would play DVD footage of customers playing with their pets. Slumber parties are available for pets that don't want to be alone.

"The last time we went to go pick up Marley, he didn't want to leave the other dogs," Hamilton says.

[Source: USA Today]

Dog Modeling Agency Opens in Slovakia

It's a dog's life as Slovakia opens its first canine model agency attracting ambitious pooches hoping to make it to the big time. The pampered pets are trying to claw their way to the top in the bitchy world of modeling. The modeling agency aims to get man's best friend contracts to feature in advertisements and possibly gain international fame from its base in Bratislava.

Love on a Lease: Renting Man's Best Friend

Looking for a golden retriever, schnauzer or poodle to keep you company, but afraid of having to walk your dog in the rain or feed it while out of town? You're not alone, and now there may be a solution -- for a price. A small, but growing industry now allows want-to-be pet owners across the country to experience the joys of owning a pet, without the long-term, day-to-day hassles.

Earlier this year a San Diego-based company called FlexPetz started renting man's best friend for pet lovers who might want to take a dog on a long walk and maybe play a game of fetch, but don't have the time to own a pet full time.

The first store opened in San Diego in April, quickly followed by a second location in Los Angeles and then a New York store in September. FlexPetz founder Marlena Cervantes plans to expand her privately-owned company to several other cities, including San Francisco, Washington D.C., Seattle, London and Tokyo.

Consumers have long been able to partially own condominiums through timeshares. And in recent years, fractional jet ownership programs have ballooned and ZipCar has given city residents the opportunity to rent cars for just a few hours at a time. Perhaps it was only a matter of time before companies like FlexPetz provided the same concept for pets.

Cervantes came up with the idea of sharing dogs when she was working with autistic children. She first shared her own dog with the kids and then adopted two rescue dogs to share. The cost of keeping the dogs, however, became prohibitive. So she decided to turn the sharing idea into a business.

"In order to make this work, I would require financial contribution from the families I worked with," she said, "I didn't want to do that -- it was meant as a service."

FlexPetz offers different types of dogs in each location. The company conducts surveys to find out which dogs potential customers want. Larger breeds are popular on the west coast, while smaller dogs are in demand in New York.

FlexPetz members might as well get what they want for the hefty price they pay. Members are charged a one-time-$150 initiation fee, followed by a $49.95 monthly membership fee for the right to limited visitation. But the fees don't end there. There's a $99.95 annual maintenance fee and, of course, the actual charge to rent the dog: $39.95 a day on weekends and $24.95 per day on weekdays.

[Source: ABC News]

Hip Hop Mogul Speaks Out Against Dog Fighting

Russell Simmons, a hip-hop mogul and co-founder of Atlanta-based hip-hop label Def Jam Records, is speaking out against dog fighting. He recently shot a public service announcement for the Humane Society of the United States and the BeKIND Foundation.

The public service announcements will run on YouTube and on the organizations’ websites starting Tuesday. The ads feature a muzzled dog being thrown into a fighting ring, and Simmons saying, “There is nothing slick, cool or glamorous about dog fighting.”

This is not the first time that Simmons has spoken up against animal cruelty. In 2005, he joined the ASPCA and launched a national campaign to help raise awareness of and eliminate animal abuse and neglect. Simmons said, “There is nothing cool about being cruel to animals, they have no choice and no voice. Animal cruelty happens every day in America and people just sit by and do nothing.”

Kudos to you, Russell Simmons!

[Source: Itchmo.com]

Cheap Drive-Thru Rabies Shots for Pets

What do you usually get from a drive-thru? Coffee, late night fast-food, your prescription? What about your pet's rabies shots? That's exactly what pets were doing on Saturday afternoon at the Baptist School of Nursing.

The Humane Society of Saline County in Arkansas sponsored a drive-thru rabies event this past weekend. Instead of waiting at a vet’s office, dozens of dogs and cats got their rabies shots while waiting in the car. Not only was the rabies shot convenient for many pet owners, it only cost $10.

Veterinarian Kim Miller said many of the animals that received rabies shots would probably never have gotten the shot if this drive-thru service was not provided. At the vet, rabies shots can run as much as $65.

[Source: Today's THV]

Pizza for Shelter Dogs

A Chicago pizzeria has been offering up some delicious dinners to homeless dogs at a local shelter.

Ted Lownik, a partime deliveryman at Barracco’s pizza, has been making special deliveries to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago since hearing about outbreaks of tainted pet food on the market. Instead of throwing away extra food in the garbage, Lownik has brought over 4.6 tons of beef, gravy, and pizza scraps to the shelter dogs. The Animal Welfare League was forced to destroy most of their stored food after many animals were killed by the tainted products. Now that's what I call good eating!

National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

October is generally accepted as "National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month", where pet businesses make an extra effort to encourage Americans to adopt a lonely dog instead of buying a puppy (besides, you can find puppies at shelters also).

Most dogs in shelters are happy, healthy pets who were guilty of nothing more than being unloved. Making matters worse, is that they don't have long to live, with most shelters killing dogs that don't get adopted in a matter of days.

If you've been wanting a dog, please visit your local animal shelter and give a four-legged bundle of happiness another chance at life.

For more info on finding a list of shelters in your area go here

The Do's and Don'ts of Purchasing a Dog

Whether you are thinking of adding a new furry member to your family, or you already have one and are planning on adding another, here are some do's and don'ts to follow when purchasing a dog:

Definite Doggie Do's
1. Do Your Research — No matter what the dog, it is important to research the right type of dog for your home, and the right source, whether breeder or adoption center, to get the dog. Be patient, it may take many trips to the adoption center, or visits with various breeders, to make the right match.
2. Prepare your Home — Each dog has individual needs in a home, but all dogs will need a food and water dish, and a crate. Dogs are comforted in a den-like environment. It is their personal space until the dog is ready to make the entire house their home. Also plan to bring a dog home when you will have a few quiet days, such as a weekend, to spend with your new family member.
3. Obedience Training - Training is really important to do in a class environment, so they learn socialization. Dogs adopted from the ASPCA, and many other shelters, have already had basic obedience and are offered free training courses run by the shelter.

Definite Doggie Don'ts
1. Do Not Buy Online — The Internet is a great place to begin your search for information about breeds, breeders and shelters. However, you should always meet and speak with the person you are buying a dog from, and never order a dog over the Internet.
2. Never Before Eight Weeks — Any responsible breeder or shelter will not let you take a puppy when it is too young to leave its mother. Many small dogs need to wait until 10 weeks for the puppy to be able to leave the mother.
3. Do Not Go to a Pet Store - While you may have gotten your guppies from the local pet store, and you will definitely need a pet supply store shopping spree before you bring a dog home, do not buy a dog from a pet store. Dogs at pet stores are often prone to genetic problems, because they are often bred at so-called "puppy mills" that value quantity over quality. These dogs do not come with the socialization or guarantees you get from a breeder or shelter.

Playmates Wanted

Are you at a loss to finding playmates for your pooch? There is a website called Meetup.com where you can find others in your area with similar interests. In New York City, there are over 50 groups for dogs and their owners to meet up and play. You can find groups by neighborhoods or breeds or by general size. It's a great place to meet pooches and interesting people.

Swimming Classes for Pampered Pooches

A while ago, I posted a video about a dog spa in California raising the bar in dog pampering. Now, New York is showing its own sign of pampering. According to this article, there's a place that offers swimming lessons for those dogs who are less prone to be nautical than say, a lab. I suppose a person can look at that and remark that it's silly. But actually, I find it to be an idea of good taste. The lessons seem to cost about $15 dollars, and the instructors, according to the article, are very caring with each dog they instruct. Not to mention all the benefits that come from the exercise. So at this point, I say "why not?" If dogs are getting facials, and horoscopes, why not spend a little money to pamper them in a way that will make them both happy and healthy?