The pooch that you bring into your family is an important choice to take seriously. Getting the wrong kind of puppy can mean a mismatch between your family and your dog, creating a need to rehome your confused dog at a later date. If you want to avoid the heartbreak and frustration, you’ll want to remember these tips when choosing the right dog breed!
Tips for choosing the right dog breed
These tips will help you find the perfect dog for your family, whatever it might be! The right match starts with answering these kinds of questions.
How do you spend your time as a family?: There are some dog breeds that are more energetic than others. For instance, a French Bulldog is known as a couch potato, whereas a husky is going to be a high energy dog. If you spend your weekends on the couch watching movies and playing games as a family, a husky won’t be a good fit. Likewise, if you enjoy hiking 9 miles every single day, a French Bulldog won’t be able to keep up!
Do you have kids?: There are some dog breeds that are especially great with kids and others that prefer to be in a more adult-oriented household. For instance, beagles and pugs are well-known for being your child’s absolute best friend for life and enjoy spending their time together. Toy dogs such as chihuahuas, however, find most children annoying and can be known for biting and attacking persistent toddlers and children who just want to play.
What are your preferences for size?: If you want to be able to control your dog at all times, you’ll find smaller breeds such as terriers and collies will be a good match for you. If you love the big gentle giants because of their attitudes, however, a Bernese Mountain Dog or a Great Dane might be a better match.
Do you want to show your dog?: If you are looking at getting a dog for your family but you also want to look at the world of competitive dog shows, you’ll need to find a breeder that is going to help you reach the standards that you need purely in the form of certifications. While most families want a dog that will be a great family addition (which can be done through adoptions and rescues), there are some that want to go the purebred route simply because they want the option to enjoy the idea of showing their dog, professionally.
Rescue dogs vs. Breeder dogs
Rescue or adopting a dog means that you don’t know here it comes from, genetically speaking. Many people refer to these dogs as “muts”. Breeder dogs often are often purebred, or their crossed lineage can be traced back easily through paperwork so that you know exactly what you are going to be bringing into your family. Both offer great kinds of dogs!
When in doubt, allow us to help you select the right dog breed so that you can get the right dog for your family long-term. The right dog breed for you really will make a positive difference and will be sure to keep you and your new dog happy and healthy long-term!
=====================================================

Blog 2: Tips for Pet DIY Pet Grooming at Home

Your dog is going to get dirty no matter how careful you are! If you want to make sure that you can do everything possible to keep him clean and healthy, pet grooming is one of those essential tasks that you can do right from the comfort and safety of your home. However, dog grooming can often be a lot easier said than done, especially if you’ve never had a dog before!
Tips for safely grooming your dog at home:
Whether you’re a newbie or just a dog owner that is getting back into dog grooming after a bit of a break, here are some of the top tips to grooming your dog at home to maximize comfort and even help you both enjoy yourselves a bit more.

● Desensitize him to the brush and other cleaning tools: If your dog has never seen a brush or smelled shampoo before, it’s going to freak him out the first time that you use it! Make sure you desensitize him to it by allowing him to sniff both liberally and then get him used to how the brush and shampoo are going to feel when you use them. Your dog will be uncertain at first, but will adjust if you do it nice and slow, at your dog’s speed. Then he won't fear either!
● Start early and make it a habit: If you get your dog as a puppy, the earlier you start grooming and washing him, the better! This basically makes it into a habit instead of just something that you do randomly. This, too, will help him to understand that it’s just a routine thing instead of something to be fearful of.
● Stay calm and positive no matter what: Even if your dog makes a mess, scratches you, gets water and fur everywhere and so on, always keep a positive tone and stay calm. Your dog doesn't understand these inconveniences, remember. He is going to be fearful or getting groomed again by you if you yell and scream at him for “making a mess”. He’ll associate the fear and your anger to the grooming, not the mess! Proper training will help him keep still when grooming, too.
● Check with your vet on the tools and products you use: Not all dogs react well to all brushes and shampoos. Check with your vet to see just what the best products are for your dog breed and your actual dog, in particular. Make sure that you always follow your vet’s advice, too, on products and tools. The one ones can cause an allergic reaction (always serious in dogs) or can hurt their skin and damage their fur.
Need some more advice? Check in with us to help you out with your pet grooming at home for the best stress-free results for both you and your dog! While grooming may not be something that you are used to doing for your dog, it’s a great opportunity to bond with him and help him to enjoy his own personal massage right there in your home!