A dog for the holidays?

This is the time of year when a lot of people get a dog for the holidays. The holiday season makes a great time to get a dog, whether as a gift for a child, or loved one or as a companion for oneself. The problem is that some people get caught up in the idea of the gift and do not think about the responsibility of owning a dog.

We are very large proponents for dog ownership!! We love our dogs and dogs in general. Dogs are truly man’s best friend. That being said, it is very important to wait until you are ready for a dog. There is a lot of responsibility, and training that goes in to owning a dog. Not to mention the amount of time that must be committed when the dog is a puppy.  

The puppy stage, while it’s the cutest stage of a dog’s life it is the most difficult. Puppies have to be trained to go to the bathroom outside, which requires a lot of effort. They need to be let outside quite often. This means a lot of attention from you the owner!! Getting a puppy when you work 10 hours a day and have no one that can check on the dog is probably a bad idea. Puppies also have a lot of energy they need to burn off. They will become very hyper and want to run around, followed by an hour nap! If you are going to get a puppy be sure you have enough time to get them outside to run around and burn off the energy.

There is always the idea of adopting an older dog that has already been trained to go to the bathroom outside. Don’t let this idea fool you, adopting an old dog is still going to require some work from you. More often than not older dogs have had more than one owner and may be a little nervous. With an older dog, you must gain their trust and they must know you are their master. This is something that will require lots of love and attention. Also an older dog with bad habits will require a lot of work.  We are very much for adopting older dogs from local shelters, as they need love too!!! Just keep in mind that it will still require a lot of effort in the beginning.

We believe that everyone should own a dog, because you will never know unconditional love like that of a dog!! This is just a caution for those who may be thinking about getting a dog for the holidays, just make sure you are ready for the responsibility of pet ownership!! It requires a lot of work, but it is also the most rewarding work you will ever do and very much worth it. Please enjoy the holiday season, and be sure to look at your local shelters if you are in the market for a new companion. Some of the best dogs are waiting for a family this holiday season, why not yours? 

Thanksgiving Has Gone to The Dogs

Now that we have reached November, I am curious whether or not people spoil their pets on Thanksgiving or not? I have done some research and will share! The results were pretty much as expected.

I know that when it comes to my household the dogs are very spoiled around the holidays! I usually don’t feed a lot of wet food to my dog, but when I do my pup loves the stuff. Last Thanksgiving I switched from a canned food (Merrick Thanksgiving Day Dinner) to one of the new “Tubs” available at Poudre Pet and Feed Supply. There are quite a few different brands who make a tub, but for Thanksgiving it only made sense that I give my dog the “Earthborn Holistic Toby’s Turkey Dinner.” This was great because my dog ate what my family ate on Thanksgiving! The Toby’s Turkey Dinner has Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans, and Apples. It was a nice way to make the dog part of the family.

My neighbor on the other hand takes it to another level. He like me rarely feeds wet food. But on Thanksgiving Day his dogs eat very well! He makes his dogs a plate of human food. He doesn't go too crazy just a plate of Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, and Stuffing. I have seen this happen and while probably would not feed human food to my dogs, I could see how happy his dogs were and how it made them part of the family.

I asked a co-worker what she did for her dog on Thanksgiving, and she told me she fixes her dog a plate of turkey, sweet potatoes, and stuffing. Apparently I am the only one not fixing my dog a plate of food.

I decided to do some internet research. It would seem that a lot of people give their dogs a plate of human food on Thanksgiving. In fact if done properly it can be a very healthy snack and a great way to include your pet in the festivities. Many of the items we eat are actually good for our dogs. The pumpkin is great for digestive health, Cranberries are great for urinary tract health, and green beans are a great source of fiber. If you treat your dogs to the proper things on Thanksgiving you can actually be helping their health! Things to avoid on this day would be turkey bones!! They are very similar to chicken bones and can splinter and chip which can hurt your dog.

People definitely enjoy spoiling their dogs on Thanksgiving, and it would seem some people take it further than others. There is nothing better than spoiling your dog especially around the holidays. We are always open to more ideas for spoiling your pets, so feel free to send some our way!

http://www.varietypetfoods.com/1282/how-to-make-thanksgiving-a-treat-for-your-dogs/

http://fourmuddypaws.com/blog/thanksgiving-traditions-your-dog-will-love