Category: Petcare

Choosing a pet eventually boils down to various factors such as upkeep requirements and space available, amongst others. These factors are of vital importance in the selection process, so, here are the major ones in detail:

Breed Type
Each breed comes with a unique set of characteristics such as size, temperament, intelligence, and general behavioral features.

Broadly, breeds may be classified as Designer breeds, Pure breeds, Small breeds, Medium, and Large breeds. To determine which is best for you, evaluating your needs and using that as a guide is ideal.

Upkeep Requirements
Some breeds require more frequent grooming than others. Some are high-energy and would need to be frequently exercised.

Others may need special foods kept out of their diets. These are all factors you should consider before choosing a new puppy.

Space Available
This factor mainly plays into the eventual adult size of the dog. If yours is a rural farmhouse with lots of space, you could opt for a large breed or one with lots of energy.

On the flip side, living in a metropolis, perhaps an apartment building, might require a considerably smaller breed size with low energy requirements. Designer breeds and small breeds could be a good call here.

General Needs
In addition to routine visits, how often would the puppy need to see the vet? What are their nutritional requirements? Does the breed require lots of physical attention? These are questions that fall into the general needs of the pup, and one you should consider closely. The idea is to opt for a breed that you can take adequate care of.

Dogs come in various breeds, sizes, colors, temperaments, and have various maintenance requirements. Ensure to go for one that suits your lifestyle perfectly.

The Siberian Husky is one of the most beloved dog breeds in the US. This comes as no surprise as they boast a lot of great qualities. This article highlights important and interesting facts about this exquisite breed.

History
The Siberian Husky’s origin can be traced to the Chukchi people of the Chukchi Peninsula located in eastern Siberia. They bear no relation to wolves.

In 1908, they were brought to Nome, Alaska to be used as sled dogs. The breed evolved and was developed to be used in sled dog racing. Over the years, they have evolved into beloved household pets.

Snow & Winter
The Husky loves snow and winter generally, and the white background makes for a picturesque one for Husky photography. They are biologically adapted to cold and can tolerate cold temperatures as low as -75°F (-59°C).

Coat
Siberian huskies feature what is referred to as a double coat. They have a top coat and an undercoat. This serves to keep them insulated or cool, as needed. The overcoat is long and water-resistant, while the undercoat is shorter and warm.

Colors
The most common coat colors of the Siberian Husky include the following:

• White
• Black
• Gray & White
• Sable & White
• Black & Tan
• Silver-gray
• Black & White
• Grey
• Red & White

Some huskies may feature some other colors, but those are quite rare. They also have spectacular eye colors.

Huskies have a common base eye color of brown. However, all Husky pups are born with blue eyes. This remains until they are about 1-2 months old, after which you can tell which would turn brown and which would remain lighter.

Some pups experience heterochromia which makes their eyes bi-colored or parti-colored. Some huskies also have green eyes which are pretty rare. Huskies are an interesting breed indeed; they are very playful, adorable, and make for great pets.

Designer breed puppies are taking the internet and in turn, households by storm for a range of reasons.

Top on these is the fact that they are bred from crossing two purebred dogs to retain some specific desired characteristics. In other words, these breeds are the elite. So, here are the top 5 designer breed puppies for 2022:

Teddy Bear (Shih Tzu x Bichon Frise mix)
With their round eyes, hanging ears, black, white, and brown colors alongside curly hair, you could mistake them for an actual teddy bear. The Teddy Bear is super cute, always ready for playtime, and is hypoallergenic.

Goldendoodle
This breed is quite popular owing to their adorable look and intelligence. They are after all a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The Goldendoodle teems with energy and is known to be thoroughly loyal.

Bichon Poo (Bichon Frise x Miniature Poodle mix)
These pups are small, happy, and super smart. They basically took the best qualities from both parents. The Bichon Poo are low-shedding, cuddly, playful, and while they might bark excessively, you can always nip that in the bud.

Pomsky (Siberian Husky x Pomeranian mix)
This breed boasts a whole lot of energy and loves to play. They have an independent nature, so you might spend some extra time training. However, the Pomsky’s lovable nature and cute size make the extra worth it.

Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Bichon Frise mix)
This is one playful breed! They are characterized by their friendliness, loyalty, and intelligence. The Cavachon aims to please, and take to training easy. To keep them happy, moderate grooming and exercise does it.

You know what they say about good things coming in small packages, this defines most designer breed puppies.

Deck the halls with treats and toys! Santa Paws is around the corner with his sack of gifts and your puppy has stayed off Santa’s naughty list. You are looking forward to sharing the festive spirit with Lucy but you have no idea what exactly to get her for Christmas. Does she want treats or does she want toys?

You can never go wrong with toys. Toys keep your puppy busy and playful while taking her attention off some other things.

Self-amusement toys
These are more durable toys your Lucy can play with while she’s alone. You can get bone-shaped chew toys.

Training toys
These are toys that help with teething and help your puppy know what is okay to chew on. This includes chewing toys and balls.

Comfort toys
These toys are typically plush items your puppy bonds with. This includes stuffies Lucy can snuggle with.

Interactive toys
These toys help build and strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. A tug rope, a pacific loop, or frisbee fit into this category perfectly.

Treats
No doubt, aside from toys, Lucy deserves special treats for Christmas. After all, Christmas is the season of giving and no one is more appreciative than she is. You indulge in a lot of goodies that can’t be shared with your puppy. Instead, treat your puppy to a stocking full of treats for Christmas.

To start with, you can get your puppy different treats. These include dental treats to keep your puppy’s pearly whites in the best shape, training treats, bones, and fake bones.
As an excellent puppy parent, you should not just get just toys or just treats for your puppy. Find a good mix of toys and treats instead!

Christmas time is a time to indulge. It’s expected that you want to spoil your puppy too with some extra treats during this period. 

However, most of the foods you enjoy eating during Christmas aren’t necessarily good for your canine buddy. You need to be extra careful because this period can bring along extra dangers you need to look out for. 

Here’s your puppy’s “DO NOT EAT” list for the holidays.

• Chocolate

Chocolate is a common treat for many during the holidays. However, chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Ensure you keep it completely out of your puppy’s sight and reach.

• Onions

Onions are commonly used in Christmas stuffings. It contains thiosulphate, a substance harmful to dogs. Ensure you avoid onions in your puppy’s diet. 

• Grapes

Grapes can be highly toxic to dogs and just one or two, if consumed, could turn out fatal. Make sure you keep them away.

• Raisins

Just like grapes, raisins can be highly toxic to dogs. Stay vigilant so your puppy does not eat any treats containing raisins.

• Granulated Sugar

Sugar is generally bad for dogs and is unhealthy. Sweeteners like xylitol, common in peanut butter, are also dangerous to your puppy’s health.

• Raw Potato

Raw and green potatoes contain solanine in their skin which can cause poisoning.

• Garlic 

Garlic belongs to the same family as onions, leeks, and chives and is equally toxic to dogs.

• Avocado

Avocados make a nice addition to human dishes but can be fatal for dogs because of a toxin called persin.

• Macadamia Nuts

Sweet macadamia nuts are a common snack during Christmas. They can however be dangerous for your canine buddy.

• Caffeine & alcohol

Leaving cups of alcohol, tea, or coffee around with dogs in the house is never a good idea. Dogs are sensitive to alcohol and caffeine in coffee and other drinks.

Playing dress up with your pup can be so much more fun than you can imagine. This is because there’s such a wide range of clothes and accessories to explore. Jackets, shirts, bows, scarves, sweaters, leashes, tags, designer handbags! There’s so much that the ideas just keep flowing.

If you’re looking to dress your pup up and turn Ruby into a fashion icon, here are some pretty remarkable ways to go about this:
Matching Outfits
Do you think you have a pretty epic fashion sense? Then perhaps dressing your pup to match your outfit isn’t such a bad idea. This is definitely one that would turn heads.

‘Cool’ Get-Ups
Sunglasses, bandanas, dog booties, floral shirts, bow ties, if dogs could vote, your pup would definitely cart away the top dresser of the year award. In addition, outfits and accessories like this look awesome in pictures!

Matching Kids’ Bows and Dogs’ Bows
It’s not uncommon to see parents dress both pups and kids in matching bows. They’re both such sweet babies after all, and they do look absolutely adorable.

Designer and Blings!
Who says only humans get to wear designer clothing and expensive jewelry? You can get designer clothes and bags custom made for your fur baby. You could also take it a step further, investing in a nice necklace suitable for your pup.

Jackets, Sweaters, and Scarves
Winter is coming! How best to keep your pup warm outdoors than by opting for clothing options that are practical, yet fashionableInvesting in some cuddly and fashion forward sweaters, jackets and scarves make for Ruby looking like an elegant lady.

Beyond looking great, always ensure that your pup is totally comfortable in any outfit or accessories. This is primary.

Most people see small breeds as big dogs in little bodies. Frankly, this is somewhat true for some. But there are other small breeds that enjoy calmer lifestyles.
Small breeds often get a bad reputation because of their personality. Yet, a lot of them make excellent pets for both individuals and families.
Not all small breeds develop the big-dog syndrome, particularly if they’re naturally happy and social dogs. There are a few small breeds that have amazing athleticism and are capable of running circles around big breeds.
If you’re searching for a small cute fur baby, here are 5 top small breeds you can consider:
Yorkshire Terrier
Despite having small bodies, Yorkshire Terriers have big personalities they aren’t afraid of showing off. Yorkies are brave and tend to stand up to almost everything they consider a threat and alert the household.

Shih Tzu
Shih-Tzus were originally bred as aristocratic companion dogs for royalty. There’s nothing they love more than being spoiled lapdogs.
They can be pretty stubborn, however, they’re quite easier to train than most other small breeds.

Dachshund
The Dachshund’s stumpy short legs and elongated bodies have earned them the name ‘wiener dogs’. Dachshunds can be very clever and smart dogs. But they’re stubborn and can be difficult to train.

Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are the world’s smallest dog breed. They have become infamous for the fierce loyalty they show their owners. They can be pretty feisty too.
Chihuahuas can be excellent companions and great pets for individuals and families alike, but they have to be socialized frequently and early to prevent territorial aggression.

Pomeranian
There are only a handful of dogs that are more recognizable than Pomeranians. Poms are famous for their spirited personalities and fluffy coats.

They require lots of training to avoid excessive barking. Other than that, they make excellent companions.

If you and your family are considering adopting a dog or getting a puppy this holiday season, we couldn’t be more excited for you! Dogs are some of the best companions and a testament to how magical unconditional love is.

Even with all the warm fuzzies you get from your pup, the messes and the midnight potty breaks can seem overwhelming at times. Plus, we know your vote probably isn’t the only one that counts if you share a home with other people.

There are lots of preconceived ideas about pet ownership. Whether you grew up with pets or not, you might have opinions and concerns about what it might be like to get a new four-legged family member and you’re not alone!

We’re here to help you figure out what breed is right for you and go over some of the most common reservations so that you can feel confident in your decision.

Keep reading for a list to help back-up your arguments in favor of getting a new fluff-ball of joy.

Let’s Start with the Basics

A simple list of why owning a dog is the best.

• Companionship and comfort
• Encourages a daily routine
• A source of positivity
• Demands a certain amount of exercise
• Endless humor (I mean the TikToks with dogs + voiceover get us through the work week – SO CUTE)
• Easily adaptable, dogs can adjust to moving homes or across states fairly easily
• Infectious energy
• Helps to fill out an aspect of life outside of work or family that isn’t easily replicated
• Long-standing commitment that fosters responsibility
• Boundless love

What Breed Is Best for You?

It’s imperative that you focus on the dog breed that aligns best with your lifestyle.

There are so many to choose from but it can be difficult to not be swayed by adorable little fuzzy faces, we get it. The daily routine each dog requires is a big part of what you’re signing up for and eventually the cuteness will not outweigh their needs. If you are extremely active, then couch-potato breeds like French Bulldogs are perhaps not the right choice.

Common Concerns

Shedding is a big concern for new potential pet parents. “What will it be like when my house is covered in dog hair?” Depending on the size and breed of dog you choose it could be much less of an issue than you think. Dogs with hair instead of fur only shed a fraction of the amount of their furry cousins. Even for the worst shedders, it goes through seasonal cycles and after a year or so of getting a routine down, you will have it mastered.

Behavior Issues are a potential worry, particularly for anyone who has had a less than friendly encounter with a dog before. Rest assured, there are lots of options for monitoring behavior and aggression in pets is usually easy to recognize and curb. There are options to adopt adult dogs whose temperaments are set and that will minimize any surprises along the way. You can also opt for a puppy of a notoriously friendly breed and take training classes so that you and your dog learn how to interact with other dogs of all backgrounds.

Budget. While you should ideally have a budget in mind for your pet’s initial cost, typical monthly expenses include food, waste bags, and toys, with things like vet bills, grooming, and boarding coming up various times through the year depending on your dog’s breed and the amount that you travel. If you’re concerned with establishing a realistic budget, definitely do your research and keep in mind that the AKC says the cost of dog ownership is roughly $121/month.

Considerations

Our main suggestion is that any barrier you may think stands between you and your furry friend is more easily dealt with than it might feel with proper research and training.

The only reason to avoid dog ownership is not wanting one! It’s always better to go with your gut and wait until absolutely sure before jumping into this exciting chapter.

We hope that if you’re considering adopting a pet to do your research and feel empowered to. And know that looking up how to be the best pet parent you can be is a great place to start!

Is it a labor of love? Yes, but surely beyond worth it.