Pup News

My dogs and I love to watch the birds and squirrels that come to eat at the feeders. I wanted a feeder that would stay dry and would be easy to keep filled and clean. I also wanted it to be visible from my kitchen window. So I came up with a simple and cheap design that is working well.

To make the feeder you need two of the same pie tins and a nail.

Nail one pie tin to a wooden stand or to a porch railing. The porch keeps the seed dry. The top tin that is not nailed down can easily be removed for cleaning and filling.

Chihuahuas. They look so innocent and cute, but don’t let them fool you. These little bundles of joy are very stubborn. To get along with a Chihuahua means that you have to be stubborn as well.

If you have no patience then Chihuahuas are not for you. If you want your little one to do something you have to keep asking until they comply. My little sweetie is Kylee. There are times when she decides that she does not want to relieve herself when I want her to. I have to stand outside sometimes for 10 minutes and have to keep asking until she finally gives up and complies.

Chihuahuas are kind of like cats. They want things on their own terms. Mine does not like to be bothered sometimes so she will run away from me. If she wants something she will whine until she gets it. The only time she wants to be held is if I have been gone a long time or if she is scared. She’ll sit on my lap only if there is not a better place to lie down.

Save for all this, Chihuahuas are super dogs. They are cute, cuddly and fun to be with. I get the biggest kick out of watching Kylee play with my Shepard/Collie mix, Jessie. Kylee can goes under things so Jessie can’t get her and it makes Jessie frustrated. Kylee loves everyone and is a hit everywhere I take her. Everyone that comes over wants to take her home. She is so cute, I just like looking at her. I also like holding her. Because of her small size she gets feisty if you play rough with her. Kylee loves to play fetch. She taught herself to drop the toy in front of me so I will throw it again.

So if you are in the market for a dog, consider a Chihuahua. They have great personalities, they are very entertaining and they are a bundle of love.

Thinking about getting a dog? Which size is better? I have had big dogs and little dogs and I prefer little ones. This is why:

• Little dogs cost less, period.
• They cost less to feed.
• They cost less at the vet and at the groomers.
• Little crates cost less.
• Little dogs are usually welcomed at apartments, rentals and lodgings.
• Little dogs generally live longer.
• They are easy to groom.
• They leave less fur in the house and less waste out in the yard.
• If they do have an accident in the house it’s not a major disaster.
• They clean all the crumbs off your floor. Even the little tiny crumbs.
• They take up less room in your bed.
• They are cute and cuddly.
• They are very playful.
• They like to sit on your lap and be held.

Some men think that small dogs are not manly. Well if this is the only reason to own a big dog it is the wrong reason. If you want a little dog that isn’t so cute and cuddly go for a boston terrier, a pug, a dachshund, or smooth hair Chihuahua. If you want a feisty dog, go for a miniature pinscher. Keep in mind that cute little dogs are girl magnets. Little dogs can’t put their noses in your guest’s crotch. They can’t reach stuff on counters, tables, grills etc. They can’t help themselves to water and ice from the door of the fridge. They don’t leave nose prints on windows. They don’t take you for a walk. They don’t knock stuff off of low tables with their tails. They don’t get in your way when they lay down in a room. They can’t knock you over. They don’t destroy stuff as quickly. You can pick them up to answer the door. If you believe little dogs are yippy, it is all in the training. If you still aren’t convinced go to an animal shelter and see how many little dogs are there. I doubt you will find a lot. Gee, I wonder why.

So, you’re ready to welcome a puppy into your home. Here are a few pointers that will help in choosing the right puppy that you will enjoy for years to come.

The first thing is don’t rush your choice. Don’t fall in love with the first puppy you see and take him/her home right away. Think about if this is the dog you want because in a few months that cute little puppy becomes bigger and not as cute. So figure out the type of puppy you want then go look at the puppies that match it.

Here are a few items to keep in mind:

• Think about the size of dog that is right for you. (See article on dog size.) Your home will probably indicate what size. Huge dogs don’t do well in small homes with little or no yard. Big dogs need space. Daily walks don’t make up for space. Also what do you want the dog for? If you want a guard dog then go for a bigger dog. If you want a lap dog go small. If your pet will travel with you go smaller. If you have children medium to large dogs hold up better to rough handling.
• Another thought is the breed of the dog. Mutts are best because they usually have less genetic health issues. Temperament is usually better also.
• Long hair gets everywhere and requires regular grooming and brushing.
• Male or female? I prefer females. They have a sweeter disposition, the maternal instinct helps, they don’t lift their leg or do other male dog stuff. Females also seem to be less psychotic.

Here are a few tests to see if a puppy will grow up to be a great dog:

• The puppy should come to you when you call her. Puppies should want human interaction.
• Hold the puppy around her chest then hold her in front of you above your head. Then hold her the same way facing away from you a few feet off the ground. She should not squirm or act afraid. If so she may have been dropped or mishandled and will be fearful of being held.
• While holding her, squeeze the skin in between her toes slowly adding more pressure until she indicates it is becoming uncomfortable or you know you are squeezing pretty hard. Puppies that yelp right away will be harder to groom and less tolerant of pain in general.
• Cradle the puppy in your arms like you are holding a baby. She should just lie there and be happy. This shows whether or not the dog will be calm or hyper.
• Find out if the puppy has been well taken care of and socialized. Ask the owners if the puppy has all its shots and has been wormed. Make sure the puppy looks and acts healthy. Her ears should be clean inside. Her eyes should be bright with no discharge. Check to make sure she has no fleas or ticks. This will indicate how well she has been taken care of.
• If you are looking at a puppy from an animal shelter ask if the puppy has been spayed or neutered already. I have found that dogs should be altered at 6 months of age and not much earlier. Dogs that have been altered too soon don’t have the hormones to help the dog develop normally. The best place to go get a puppy is someone’s house.
• Avoid mall pet stores that carry lots of puppies. These puppies are raised only for profit. They are raised in cages with no socialization. The mothers and the fathers also stay in cages all their life. They are not bred to improve the breed nor are they bred to bring out good characteristics such as even temperament. If you buy a puppy from such a place you are keeping these money-hungry people in business.

Above all, make sure that this is the puppy, and ultimately the dog that you will want for her lifetime.

You know how when you give a child a gift they would rather play with the box than the toy? Well the same applies to puppies.

My puppy’s favorite toys are common things that I don’t have to buy. Her very favorite is a cap off of a water bottle or milk jug. She will toss it around and play fetch. When she has “killed” it she starts to chew on it. At that point it gets thrown away.

Another favorite is cardboard boxes and paper towel tubes. My pup loves to lay and play in a cardboard flat. Old socks and towels are fun for them to shake and play tug of war with. Pups love shoes so why not give them one they can chew on.

Mother dogs give their puppies things to play with which explains why a pup will ignore a toy she already has until you go and pick it up. Whenever I empty a box or find something puppy safe I give it to her. Letting puppies play with a variety of items also helps with their development. They need to discover all kinds of objects so they won’t be afraid of new things in the future.

I was using a large dog crate at night ini the basement but I needed something to keep my tiny chihuahua/pomeranian puppy, Rosie, in during the day that would protect our wood floors. I didn’t want another crate because it’s very hard to get a pup in and out of them and they are a bear to keep clean. I also don’t believe in keeping a pup in a small crate in case they do need to go. When looking at metal cages, we noticed that she might be able to get her head through the bars. There were no other options and I left the store empty-handed. I figured I would have to use the crate.

I went to my friend’s house and saw that she was keeping her new pomeranian puppy in a large rabbit cage. It was perfect! There was enough room for a bed, accident spot and food and water bowls. The cage has a large door on the top and a side door also. The plastic bottom goes up several inches and is curved for easy cleaning. The wire part comes off easily for cleaning and the whole cage is very lightweight. Unlike crates, the wire allows the pup to see and experience things in her environment which is very important during the first few months of bringing a pup home.

I put a small dog bed, a dish that has both water and food so it’s not easily spilled a big nylabone and a dishpan for accidents. The pan can be lined with newspaper. The pan keeps the accident contained. When Rosie was very young I would drape a baby blanket over the top of the cage where the bed is. This made her feel more secure and gave it that den feeling. My friend draped her coat over her pup’s cage. Her scent on the coat was a comfort for him.

When she stopped crying at night I let her sleep in the cage on the first floor instead of the crate. She also goes into the cage when we leave the house.