7 Reasons Why Every Family Needs a Dog
There are many pleasures that we may enjoy life but one that most of us would never live without is having a dog by our side. Not only are they a loyal companion, they provide more love to us than we could ever hope to give back to them. These are the most obvious benefits of having a dog but there are many more reasons why you should have a dog as part of your family. Here are 7 reasons why every family needs a dog in their life:
Dogs Are Always Happy to See You – When you or any member of your family walks through the door, the dog is always going to be the most excited individual in the room. There is nothing quite like coming home after a difficult day and being greeted like you are the best person in the world! After all, you are the best person in their world.
They Protect Your Children (from Allergies) – Most people will automatically assume that dog-related allergies will be a problem in their household. In reality, the opposite may actually be true. According to a study by the Department of Pediatrics at the University Of Wisconsin, children who lived in a home with a dog as newborns were less likely to experience wheezing and eczema by the time they were three years old. Early exposure seems to be a factor and it is thought to be associated with how quickly the immune system develops in a child shortly after birth.
Play Time Is Anytime – It doesn’t matter what you might be going through in your life, you can always count on the fact that you can take a moment out of your day and enjoy some playtime with your dog. This is also something that you will come to love about having a dog around your children as well. There is nothing quite like sitting on the floor with your kids and having some fun time with the dog.
You Will Be Healthier – Dogs provide many benefits to our health, including reducing the risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, dogs provide many benefits to their owners, including engaging in physical activity. In addition, people who had a heart attack were more likely to survive when they own a dog. You can’t argue with the numbers.
You Will Understand “Dog People” – There is a measurable phenomenon that occurs when people own a dog. Suddenly, they become dog people and it seems as if their entire life is surrounded by that beloved pet. Some people may tend to look at them as if they were a bit unusual but once you are a dog person, you will understand.
You Bond with Your Dog over Everything – It doesn’t matter if you are curled up on the sofa with your dog watching TV or if you are taking them to obedience training classes, the bond between the two of you will just continue to grow stronger. Dogs are naturally eager to please but as the bond grows, you will find that it runs in both directions.
Dogs Keep You Safe – There are certain dog breeds that are well known for providing security to the family but regardless of the dog that you have as a family member, they will add to your safety. In part, it is due to the fact that they will hear and see things that might escape your notice. Additionally, dogs keep you safe by providing you with companionship and when you have a dog around, you will never be alone.
For additional information and tips, please check out this website http://www.lovealldogs.com
Tails Untold is very happy to have this great Guest Blog from Tim Shank. Please consider adopting from a Shelter/Rescue first. We want every dog, cat and all pets to find loving and forever homes.
So your favorite pooch looks lonely, or you love them so much that you want to get them a friend, or you come across a stray at a shelter and have got to give them a forever home. Any one of these scenarios, and many more, may make your household go from a one dog home to a two dog home.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, and no one will ever complain about a shelter dog finding a place to call home, but there are some things to consider. Firstly, you may think that as pack animals, dogs would just naturally get along. After all, you are just bringing home a member of the pack, so all should be good, right? Secondly, even in packs out in the wild, there are rules and regulations that apply to all of the dogs that are banded together, and if these rules are not tolerated by single members of the pack, they will be expelled. So, keeping all of this in mind, here are some tips to make sure that you’ll have an easy time managing two dogs in the house.
You are the Alpha of the Pack
Every dog pack or clan has an alpha female or male that lays the groundwork and the rules. In your home clan, you are the alpha dog and what you say goes. You should not play favorites and treat each dog as equals. A stern “NO” will keep either of the two dogs in place, and fighting between dogs is absolutely not allowed. (Of course, play fighting doesn’t count.)
You rule, and you enforce the rules, and if you have to when one misbehaves, send them to the crate or their bed for a few minutes to teach them that what they did is not acceptable.
Feeding Time
A lot of fights and bad manners happen around feeding time, so keeping them separate during feeding is a very wise choice. Always feed the calmest member of the two first, and make sure you keep the other dog’s attention away from the first dogs food.
Fair is Fair
Make sure you divide your time equally between the two dogs, Fair is fair and neither one should feel neglected by you for the other. If one begs for more attention, make sure you reciprocate in kind to the other dog so they both see there are no favorites.
My Space, Your Space, Everyone’s Space
Unless there are dedicated bedding spaces for each dog, or dedicated crates, then all the space around the house should be shared equally. If one dog lays on the bed the other should be allowed that luxury too. If one likes to sleep on the couch, then let the other one sleep there as well. Obviously, if they have
their own beds that’s something else, but then just make sure they each have their own bed. If you can make them feel equal, you won’t have to worry about one or the other trying to take control.
Play Time
Playful dog fighting is common, and biting necks, tails, jumping and mouthing each other is all a part of the game. But make sure to watch them for the first several times they play together. If one tries to assert dominance and turn a play into genuine rough housing, you have got to be able to nip that behavior in the bud. If you don’t, you’ll have all kinds of trouble down the road.
Treats
Dogs love treats and you probably love to give them treats as much as they like getting them. But never tease one or the other and never ever show a preference for one getting a treat while the other just watches and gets nothing. If one gets a treat they both get a treat, and that way there will never be any animosity towards each other
Twice as Nice
If you use the tips above, both of your dogs will become great friends, they will respect you as a leader, and they will both do their best to please you any which way they can. That’s twice as nice for everyone.
About Author
A special thanks to Mary Nielsen who is a passionate dog lover, blogger, and part-time music teacher. She started MySweetPuppy to share her ups and downs of being a pet parent to a bunch of adorable mutts. When she is not playing with them or teaching, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen. Here is the link to Mary’s website website: http://mysweetpuppy.net
Holiday Tails Untold Personalized Pet Book donation recipients:
Please consider adopting first! Boxer Rescue L.A. www.boxer-rescue-la.com ASPCA-www.aspca.org Little Shelter http://littleshleter.com Bideawee www.bideawee.org North Shore Animal League www.animalleague.org
When it comes to adopting a new cat or kitten, the question often arises is it better to adopt two so they can have companionship when we are not home? There are certainly some advantages to having two cats:
-they can chase away more spiders and mice
-you have more to snuggle up with or to pin you down in your bed
-twice the entertainment factor as they chase each other and swat tails or fall all over each other
-they can keep each other company when you are away
-they provide each other with exercise and mental stimulation
-the happier and more confident they feel together decreases the chance for behavioral problems
The disadvantages are that it does cost more for veterinary care, food, pet supplies, boarding over vacations and emergencies. Then there are the day-to-day clean up chores like changing two litter boxes, sweeping up extra cat hair and the occasional furballs or dead critters they have bestowed upon you as gifts. Additionally, cats often mimic each other, so if one scratches the furniture or marks its territory on your bed, the other may follow suit.
If you decide to get two cats, know that cats that are familiar with each other will get along easier and be more adaptable to their new home with you together. Often the shelter you adopt from can tell you two cats or kittens that appear to be compatible. They will provide you with suggestions for introducing them at the same time into your home. Kittens from the same litter have already been socialized together. They tend to know each others limits when it comes to play and tussles. They come from the same background. For example, if they were strays, they will have the special sense of survival bonding.
If you already have an adult cat at home, look for a companion with similar habits and personality. There are many websites that can help you with step by step rules for introducing a new pet with an already established one. This will ease the transition and make life enjoyable for all of you.
The best thing about adopting 2 kittens or cats is that you are saving two lives. On top of that you are enhancing your own with the fun and laughter that comes from watching them get crazy with each other!
Photo: Courtesy of a repin on Pinterest from Rapidnewstweets
Tails Untold is very proud to have made a donation to the New Rochelle Humane Society, thanks to Stella, who just went on a Tails Untold Personalized Pet Book Adventure in New York City.
For more information, please visit: www.newrochellehumanesociety.org
Founded in 1911, the New Rochelle Humane Society is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing individual loving care for lost, abandoned, injured, and mistreated animals. We service 17 communities in Westchester County including Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Harrison, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck Village, New Rochelle, Pelham Manor, Rye, Rye Brook, Scarsdale and Tarrytown, and rescue over 500 dogs and 900 cats each year.
About 50% of the shelter’s funding is from services provided for animal control (rescuing homeless cats and dogs). The other 50% comes from donations, wills and bequests. We do not receive any state or federal funding.
We love to surprise our favorite person with an unexpected gift. Imagine finding a brand new car in your driveway! With children, we think of a special gift of a new pet. Having your child run downstairs on Christmas morning or the first day of Hanukkah to find a cute little kitten or puppy with a red bow under the tree or by the menorah sounds so exciting! But, and there is always a but, there are several ways you can give a child a pet. Putting a live pet under the tree or by the menorah on the 8 days of Hanukkah can have its problems. Many children are too young to know what caring for a pet means. Especially children under 10 years old. It is not a wise idea to get a pet to teach your child responsibility. A child who is not usually responsible may not know what it means to care for a pet. What is a better idea is to have a pet be a reward for demonstrated responsibility.
There are many other things to consider. The cost of having a pet can run as much as $400. a year for a cat and $500. for a dog. They need food, supplies, basic shots and other vet care. Having a pet means a great deal of commitment, considering the love, care and time to play with him. Then there are the inevitable accidents, furniture damage and other requirements to make a home pet-safe. The average cat or dog can live 12 to 15 years or longer. They need the security of committed owners with the ability to accept the bumps along the road.
If you really wish to surprise someone with a new pet, consider this alternative. For adults you can purchase a pet gift certificate from Petfinder.com. This way, the gift recipient can search for more than 350,000 adoptable pets. For children, you might buy a stuffed dog or cat, equipped with supplies like food dishes, leashes, collars and treats. Then you can attach a note saying that the family can go to pick out the pet after the holidays. This way the whole family is involved in choosing the type, size and breed of the animal you’re considering. Explore websites that identify breeds that work best with your family’s personality. Kids will enjoy being part of the process and you can teach them what the responsibilities of owning a pet include.
Finally, keep in mind that animal shelters are great places to go for a new pet. The cost is low and they often have discounts on spaying and neutering. Petfinder.com allows you to search by breed, location, size and more. With this kind of planning, your family can have a wonderful longtime family member that brings joy throughout the years!
Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that rescues Golden Retrievers who have lost their homes through no fault of their own. Through adoptions, we seek to place them in their forever homes from NJ through ME.
Everything you need to know about Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue can be found via the various links and pages of our site. Our website is frequently updated to provide you with the most current information about our organization and available dogs. If you are visiting for the first time, please be sure to visit our information page and various other pages to learn more about what we do.
When you are in the market for a new dog, you may wonder about adopting the pet or getting it from a breeder or pet store. Some people fear that if a dog is in a shelter or with a rescue organization that there must be something wrong with it. While this can be true, there are many different reasons why dogs are put in shelters. It can be due to illness or death of the owner, a move that will not allow for a dog, or someone in the family is allergic to the pet., among other reasons. On the negative side, the owner couldn’t take the time to properly train the dog so it was given up.
Just the act of adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization is rewarding and fulfilling, knowing you have saved a dog’s life. You may need to invest a lot of time initially in training your newly rescued pet. But once over the hurdles of ridding excess doggy baggage, the love and bonding you have from your pet is priceless.
If you go to a shelter, interview the staff and volunteers about the pet’s personality and habits. They will usually tell you if the dog was a stray or had to be given up by its previous owner. Ask about the reasons the dog was given up. Ask about health or behavioral issues that have been evaluated. Work with the staff to figure out which dog is a good match for your lifestyle and personality.
Often shelters or rescue groups have covered the costs of spaying or neutering, vaccinations and flea or tick treatments among other things. This can save hundreds of dollars over the initial vet costs you would pay for a purchased puppy. Adoption fees vary but are much less than the cost of a dog from a pet store or breeder.
Remember, when you buy your dog from a pet store, thinking you are freeing it from life in a small cage, you are actually perpetuating the puppy mills. These are dog breeding factories with overcrowded and less than healthy environments. Often these dogs are inbred and may have genetic problems. Mixed breeds, which make up about 70% of a shelter population, are less likely to have inherited genetic diseases since they are not inbred.
Dog rescue organizations often save a pet from euthanization, which is common in over-crowded shelters. These rescued dogs may then live with a foster family who can take the time to assess behavior and do any training needed before the pet is adopted. There is also the added benefit that if for some reason the adopted dog does not work out for you, the rescuers will take the dog back.
Whether you adopt from a shelter or a pet rescue organization, you are saving a dog’s life. Plus, you are creating an opening for another dog that needs rescuing. It is a win-win situation for all of our abandoned friends!
The ASPCA is sponsoring a three-month competition which challenges 49 shelters from 33 states and territories across the United States to increase lives saved in order to win some of the $300,000 in ASPCA prize grants, including a grand prize of $100,000. Shelters have one more month to save more animals for a chance to win much-needed funds.
During the first weeks of the challeng, many shelters stayed open around the clock for 24-hour adoption events, offered unique promotions and discounts on adoption fees, and more.
The shelter with the largest increase in animals saved will win a $100,000 grant. The agency that gets the most community members involved in saving animals will win a $25,000 grant, and those organizations that do the best in their regions will be eligible for between $5,000 and $25,000 in grants.
To locate a 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge contestant near you, check out challenge.aspcapro.org/challenge/contestants.
Do you know of a shelter or rescue group that is participating in this challenge? Let us know and we’ll feature it on our blog.
My friend Serena DeJesus www.facebook.com/serenalovespitbulls, seems to attract stray animals and their “owners” who cannot keep them. She does everything possible to find them homes. Right now she has a neighbor who is moving and cannot keep their pets. She is looking for a home for an adorable Black Chow Chow puppy and a 2 year old small, white male dog who is very well behaved and quite handsome. Serena will provide you with pictures. In addition, she has 4 black and white kitties who are tiny, sweet and need homes. Please spread the word. Thank you!
| Name: | Weezie |
| Nickname(s): | The Boss |
| Gender: | female |
| Characteristics: | One eye, white face, very large pointy ears |
| Personality: | stealthy, determined, quiet, funny |
