Dog parks are excellent ways for both you and your pooch to meet new friends and maybe even more!  Meet Tito and Takota, they are both fun loving American Pitbull Terriers looking for playmates and have found the dog park is the perfect way to do just that.  Every evening at 5pm sharp they anxiously sit by the door waiting for “dad” to come home so they can socialize with their buddies at the dog park.

The dog park they go to is divided into two areas.  The small dog section which is generally used as a time out area and the general play section.  Tito and Takota are familiar faces at the park; they go there daily and are much loved.  Occasionally there will be the odd person that criticizes them and for the breed of dog they are and won’t allow them make friends with their own dog. That doesn’t bother Tito and Takota however, because they have dozens of other pals to hang out with.

Tito is a big fan of freebie so he loves playing with a Great Dane and Beagle that also frequent the park.  They wrestle and chase after the freebie until they all fall over with exhaustion.  Tito will sometimes let the others win because he is a modest type of boy and feels it’s only fair.

Takota is more of a laid back kind of girl.  While she enjoys the company of the other pups she expects them to come to her, she’s a proper lady in that sense.  She usually finds company with a Boston Terrier and a Toy Poodle.  Her encounter with them usually consists of her laying there while they jump over her, pulling her ears and tail.

As Tito and Takota enjoy a full hour of playing with friends their human owners also get to socialize.  Many of the people that seem to frequent the park are singles.  As a matter of fact there have been a number of singles that have actually started dating other dog owners that they have met at the park.  There really couldn’t be much of a better setting as a matter of fact.  You always have something to talk about and the fact you are both dog lovers just gives you something in common with the other person.  If you’re looking for a great place for you and your dog to relax, socialize and have fun, consider your local dog park

Cats have been known to be the arch-enemy of your dog, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.  Cats and dogs can actually be great friends, playing with each other and keeping each other company when their owner is at work.  While there are varying factors on whether your dog would be a good fit for a cat buddy the best rule of thumb is to expose your puppy to a cat influence at an early age.

A perfect example of the beauty and benefits of the dog and cat friendship is of Sookie, the beagle and Baby Kitty the siamese cat.  Sookie was barely a year old when she was forced to be home alone from 9-5 each day while her owners were at work.  As beagles like to do she voiced her displeasure of being alone with hours of howling.  This howling became very problematic since the other tenants in the apartment building became quite angry with the noise.

For a brief minute or two a second dog was considered, however many dogs love to feed off of each other barking and howling, causing even louder and longer rounds of barking and howling.  The second dog option would have quite possibly caused an even bigger problem.  Quitting their job was out of the question for Sookies owners and there was no way finding her a new home was an option.  The decision made was to introduce a sweet little siamese cat into the family.

The friendship happened almost immediately.  They played together, ate together and even slept together.  When the owners were at work they kept each other company.  The apartment became silent once again and all was well.

If you have a pup that seems to have separation issues then before you give up your beloved pup or make the mistake of getting a second dog consider a cat.  If you’re a little unsure of if they will mix well with a cat bring them to a friend’s house and test them out around your friends’ cat. Smaller breeds of dog in general are pretty safe bets to have around cats; they learn their boundaries very quick once they’ve been given a swat or two.  Bigger dogs are only a problem if they have cat aggression issues or if they are too hyper to have around a cat safely.  In the end you will find that in most cases the cat and dog relationship can be beneficial for the entire family.

Picking out your new puppy is always fun but not nearly as fun as finding great new puppy accessories to adorn that beautiful few puppy with. Today you can get everything you can possible imagine for you new pet. Everything from puppy hair bows to puppy pants are on the market. Even those accessories are fun for the most part lets not forget the accessories that are necessities as well. Personalized pet bowls, pet beds, leashes and collars are also a part of the accessories that you will need to spoil your new pet.

Pet tricks like sit roll over and fetch are common place with most pets these days. The new fad in pet tricks is the edgier more outrageous tricks. Everyone has seen the commercials with the dog that skateboards, and videos with dogs skiing and everyone still loves to see the occasional dog singing act. Many times all it takes a great imagination in the owner and a willing and trainable dog to do just about anything. Even driving a car has been seen on funny videos.

Taking a stern approach to pet training is not always the best route. Taking time and being patient can be far more beneficial for your new puppy and you in the long run. Training is hard and if you are struggling on your own with books and manuals it may be time to seek professional help. Training places and classes are offered in most local cities and local pet stores are a good place to start looking. The cost varies depending on the type of training you are seeking and the time you want to dedicate to the discipline. Make time in your schedule and participate in one class per week to and the benefits out weigh the issues you will have later on in the life of your new puppy.

It is nearly as hard to choose the perfect name for a pet as it is to pick the pet itself. Names can mean so much about the pet, everything from personality to demeanor. Choosing the right name will also help your pet also. Make it a name that is easy and simply understood when spoken. Also chose a name that does not sound like another command that you want to your new puppy to learn. You don’t want them to be confused about what they are hearing or this will cause issues with training. There are numerous books just like baby name books, there are pet name books. If you really want a name that fits the pup well take a few days to decide on the name so you have the chance to interact with the pup for a few days before deciding.

It is time for shaking off those winter blues and Springing forward into Spring. Taking more walks getting out in the fresh air, looking forward to hot summer days and most of all, spending more time outside with our pets. They love to be great walking partners, running enthusiasts and most of all spending time with you. So plan more park outings for Saturday, and longer walks in the evening but make sure you take your dog with you. If your pet is an older dog and has trouble walking to long distances be inventive. You can now get puppy strollers to take them with you and still have a good time. In fact some businesses in addition to the local pet stores, allow you to bring your pet with you as long as they are in a carrier. What better way to take them with you then in a stroller.

Is someone trying to tell you something? You know that puppy that is sleeping next to you. Are you putting too many hours into work and not enough into the fun you could be having with your new puppy? Take a break! The weather is warmer, the sun up longer, so take just a few minutes a day and step outside with that new puppy. Talk a short walk, or if life just won’t let you “come out to play” then take the laptop outside and at least watch the new puppy playing and enjoying the evening. Take the moment to just refresh. Everyone needs it, and your puppy will thank you for the exercise.

With all new puppies when you first bring them home your attention is directed towards their care and well being. As a part of the care you administer to this new pet play time is as vital as training. Taking the steps now to teach the youngster what to play with and when it is time to play will help everyone be content. Keeping the puppy active is key, however teaching him or her when to play is just as valuable. No one wants a new baby who is used to playing at 3:00 a.m. when you want to be sleeping at that time. So remembering that during the time the youngster is training, you keep the schedule stringent. If your new puppy has a potty call at 3:00 a.m. take him or her out then put them right back to bed. If you don’t you could spend the next year waking at 3:00 a.m. when your toddler pup thinks it play time.
Play time should be taught with key skills that your toddler will recognize. Whether it is a key word or phrase or just simply you taking their toys out to play with, teach them the same action repetitively so they understand that those signs mean “Let’s Play”. This will also help with any other training you provide you pup. Repetitive actions are the key to success with teaching any new behavior not just new tricks.

While some dogs are constantly on the move and ready to go just by the mere mention of the word outside, others may not hold this type of enthusiasm. Taking your dog for regular walks and exercising your pet is a true must. Figuring out how much is too much and how much is not enough is the tricky part. Somewhere in the middle of house training, feeding cycles, and nap time its the owners job to determine what amount of exercise and when is best for your pet. The age old question of who rules the roost is the only viable answer. You decide how much and when. Just keep in mind if the amount that you chose seems to still leave your dog overly excited it may not be enough for his or her breed. Exercise is good for everyone so just add a few more minutes to the walk or a few more throws of the Frisbee to the regimen and hope that it is a quick fix for the problem.