1. Good management skills: Puppies can get into trouble very quickly. A new puppy owner needs watch her puppy all of the time. When you can not keep an eye on your puppy, it is a good idea to use some type of confinement. I like to use crates. A crate is a great way to manage your puppy’s behavior when you are not home. As a former animal control officer,

I have seen many young dogs that have been injured when left on their own. Almost all dogs at some point in their lives will be exposed to a crate. An overnight stay at the Vet’s office, a grooming appointment, or if you have to travel will all require your dog to go into a crate. It is much better to teach your new puppy to love her crate than it is an adult dog.

2. Start training early: For many years dog owners have been told that they could not start training their puppies until they were six months old. This is just simply untrue. A good reward based puppy class is the most important thing that you can do for your young puppy. Your puppy will become well socialized and many behavior problems can be prevented before they ever start.

3. Socialization: You can never over-socialize your puppy. The first four months of your puppy’s life are the most impressionable. To become a confident and stable dog, a young puppy needs to be exposed to many different people, dogs, places, sounds and scents. Bringing your puppy in for grooming is a great way to introduce him/her to new environments, sounds, smells and people.

4. Puppy proof the house: Anything that you value should be put away until after the puppy stage. Also, keep a close eye on you puppy around electrical wires. Puppies love to chew on wires. A crate is a great way to keep your puppy safe when you can’t be right there to watch her.

5. Going to the vet’s office: Drop by the vet’s office when you don’t have an appointment. Most veterinarians will allow this but give them a quick call before you come by. When you get to the vets, give your puppy some treats and have the office staff give some treats also. For the rest of your dog’s life going to the vet will not be a chore. You can also do this at a grooming shop.

6. Consistency: Have a game plan for everyone in the house to follow. Bad habits develop and many dogs become confused when half the family allows the puppy onto the furniture and the other half scolds the puppy for being on the furniture. Consistency is very important in training your young puppy or dog.

7. Take lots of pictures: You will be amazed at how fast your puppy grows and changes. You will be thankful down the road for those pictures.

Although most people think of a Labrador Retreiver and Pointer, when the subject comes to hunting,
Spaniels have always been favored buy some because they make exceptional all around gun/bird dogs.
Not only can they be trained to locate and retrieve game, they are excellent at “flushing out”
game birds such as grouse and pheasant from the low ground cover that makes for their habitat.
In addition, most spaniels are proficient swimmers and can be used to flush and retrieve water-fowl.
Although breeds like the Cocker Spaniel
and Springer Spaniel are seen often as
pets these days, they have
nevertheless retained their strong hunting instincts and most (with the proper training) can excel at
the tasks they were originally bred for.
My personal favourite is the “cocker”, to which I have an special fondness, due to memories of my youth when my father
and uncle used to hunt pheasant on the Yorkshire Moors. I gave up hunting years ago, but since those days I’ve always
owned a Springer or a Cocker Spaniel
Nowadays, they are amongst the most popular pet dog breeds and it’s not a wonder - with their shiny coats (which come in
an abundance of colours) and big beautiful eyes they are difficult to resist.
Playful (they make good throw-ball dogs), loyal and ever by your side they also make great companions for the entire family.

Guinea pigs love to play and have fun and that is why guinea pig toys are so important. Toys make guinea pigs fell secure in their home and keep them occupied at the same time. Just remember to purchase safe toys for your guinea pig. Some great toys for guinea pigs are tunnels and hideouts. These will keep your guinea pig stimulated and happy for days on end. Do not keep to many toys in their cages as guinea pigs need lots of space to roam around without toys getting in their way. The best thing to do to prevent boredom is to not keep the same toys in there cage at all times …. Swap out different toys now and then to give your guinea pig some variety. There are some toys to avoid with guinea pigs, especially exercise wheels. They have been known to hurt guinea pigs spines and feet. A guinea pigs body was not designed to use wheels or exercise balls. Also be sure to avoid to small of toys that your guinea pig could choke on. To ensure that your guinea pig lives a long, happy and prosperous life it is essential that your guinea pig maintains a healthy diet. A typical guinea pig food diet consists of fresh water, hay, pellets, vitamin C and some fresh vegetables. When selecting the proper food for your guinea pig be sure to read the ingredients carefully. Look for a guinea pig pellet food that has vitamin C in it, and avoid foods with a high amount of corn. Typically a guinea pig should eat 1/8 of a cup of pellets a day (check the package for recommended serving sizes) along with hay and some vegetables. Food should be stored in a cool dark place for proper preservation of freshness. Most guinea pig pellets are primarily alfalfa which is great for young guinea pigs, and pregnant guinea pigs. Once your guinea pig has reached a year old switching to Timothy pellets is a good idea as it is lower in calcium which will prevent any issues with urinary-tract infections. I hope this article helps you with caring for your guinea pig properly!