Cat - Tips on Buying a Dog

Quality Cat Supplies available at Low Prices and Free Shipping! Beware Of The Impulse Buy It is hard to resist the appeal of a puppy in a pet shop window, especially if it looks a little bit sad and wistful. These pups have already had a change of home and often a long journey from their original breeder. Even though they may appear well, they could be carrying infections which may cause problems later on after you've taken the puppy home. A reputable pet shop should have the pups vaccinated by a veterinary, who will provide a certificate of inoculation. A Careful Choice Whenever possible visit the home of the breeder, or the owner of the bitch. You will be able to ensure that your pup came from a clean and healthy home, and also see what the mother is like, and maybe the father too. When I've purchased a dog for myself, I've always been lucky enough to see both parents which is very re-assuring. Beware Of Buying From A Newspaper Advertisement. Be particularly careful about buying a pup through a newspaper advertisement, without seeing it first. As the old saying goes 'buyer beware' and this applies especially to all kinds of livestock. If your new dog is ill when it arrives, or quite unlike the promises of the advertisement, you may find it difficult to get any satisfaction. Even in the case of a money-back guarantee, it is very little compensation for the disappointment especially where there are children involved. Buying From A Dogs Home. You may decide to get a dog from a dogs home. You will have the satisfaction of feeling that you are saving a life and giving some unwanted pet a home. It is well to remember though that young dogs that have been straying for sometime may have become hard to manage. In the case of a bitch she may turn out to be in pup and you will find yourself saddled with rather more dogs than you can manage. Don't just fall for the first dog that you see, talk to the officials at the home and try to find out the background of the dogs that you find the most appealing. Choosing A Healthy Pup. It is often difficult for a beginner to distinguish a healthy pup from a poor one - to them one attractive little bundle of fur looks very much like another - but really there is all the difference in the world. A healthy pup should be plump, but not have a swollen or blown-up stomach. Its skin should feel loose instead of seeming to stick to the bones. The coat should shine (unless its a wirehaired type) and of course be free from fleas or lice. The eyes should be bright and free from any sign of discharge. In addition it is wise to choose a pup which looks lively and readily comes to greet people. A timid pup may have a problem personality and be difficult to train. Finally, don't be surprised if a reputable dog breeder wants to ask a lot of questions to find out if you are going to be a suitable person to own one of their pups. Author - John Moore - Family man, and lover of all animals. Please use my link. http://www.pet-dog-cat.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Howard_Moore Cat - A Dog's First Toy Because of the dogs great interest in chewing on things it's a good idea to let him have one or two toys that he can keep in his play area. Give him a ball or had natural rubber, or a strip of hard leather. Wooden toys, soft rubber toys, or anything else that may be torn up too easily are on the forbidden list. Anything that comes loose in his mouth will be swallowed, and a piece of soft rubber can end up blocking his small intestines, which can either make a very sick pup out of him or kill him. The danger of wooden toys is obvious, what with the possibility of splinters cutting his mouth or lodging in his throat or stomach. Anything you get him should be thoroughly examined both before and after giving it to him. Before buying it, give it a thorough test with your fingernails. If you can pry up a bit of it that way, do not consider it. After you have given him something, watch carefully for a few minutes to see what he does with it. If he is able to chew small pieces off, take it away from him and throw it away. His chewing also serves the purpose of helping along his teething. An excellent toy to give him is one of the specially treated natural bones. You can let him have one of these in complete confidence, as it is impossible for him to hurt himself by chewing on it. And don't worry if his chewing seems highly violent and likely to knock out a tooth. Pups will lose two sets of baby teeth before they get their adult set. You can also give him a clean old rag to chew on, or an old sock with a knot tied in the middle of it. As a good general rule, do not give him anything as a plaything that may be forbidden to him. Old shoes or gloves may seem ideal, but he has no way of distinguishing between the old and the new shoes or gloves, etc. nylon rope toys are also safe and very effective in removing plaque from the teeth, and there pretty much indestructible. If you observe common sense in choosing him a toy, he will be safe and content for hours on end.