Anna Hart asked:


Labrador puppies, especially little black ones, have become very popular in the U.S. Breeders, pet stores, animal shelters, and humane societies are good places to get Labrador puppies. If you do not need an AKC registered puppy, you might consider giving a loving home to one of those in a shelter.

Cost of Labrador Puppies

If you decide to get Labrador puppies from a breeder or pet store, be prepared to pay $400 or more for each puppy. Show quality Labrador puppies may cost as much as $1,000 each.

That is, of course, only the beginning of expenses involved in raising Labrador puppies. There are accessories!

Labrador Puppy Accessories

Labrador puppy accessories can cost a great deal or they can be minimal. You should determine your budget and actual needs before visiting the pet store to avoid buying unnecessary accessories for your Labrador puppies. The list below is meant only as examples of Labrador puppy accessories you may want.

1. Collars: Labrador puppies need collars, but be aware of two things. Labrador puppies outgrow collars rapidly. You should not use a chain collar on a young puppy, as it could damage his windpipe. Choose flat fabric or leather collars until your Labrador puppies are at least 5 months old.

2. Leashes: You should train your Labrador puppies to walk on the leash, even if they have plenty of space to run in safety. There will be times, such as visits to the veterinarian’s office when you will be glad they are accustomed to the leash. Unlike the collars, leashes for Labrador puppies should be chain so the puppies will not chew them.

3. Crates: It is a good idea to have crates for your Labrador puppies before you bring them home. Crates become the puppies’ dens. If you are away from home during the day, you can leave your Labrador puppies in their crates to keep them safe, comfortable, and relaxed. Since they will be relaxes, they will not need to relieve themselves as often. The crate will be sure they do not use an inappropriate spot when they do relieve themselves. At night, Labrador puppies in crates sleep better – and stay out of mischief. Select crates that provide just enough space for a full-grown Labrador to stretch out when lying down.

4. Bowls: You can spend a lot of money on fancy bowls for your Labrador puppies, but it really is not necessary. Plain steel bowls are sturdy, unbreakable, and can be cleaned well. If you use plastic containers, Labrador puppies will chew them, possibly ingesting pieces of plastic. Some feed and water bowls are said to be spill proof. This is a good idea when you have energetic Labrador puppies.

5. Toys: Resist buying chew toys simply because they are cute to humans. Your Labrador puppies will chew aggressively. They can easily destroy plastic pet toys and, if no one is there to watch carefully, could choke on small pieces. Give your Labrador puppies sturdy Kongs and Nylabones to chew.

6. Playpen: Since Labrador puppies will try to eat anything they find, it is a good idea to provide a playpen while they are young and learning. This is especially recommended if the puppies are to be outside unattended for any period of time.

7. Brush: Until your Labrador puppies are older, and begin to shed more, use a bristle brush for weekly grooming. The brush will remove dirt from the puppies’ coats and keep them smelling good.

Puppy Food

Food cannot really be classed among Labrador Puppy Accessories, but it is one more cost to anticipate when buying Labrador puppies. Ask the breeder or pet store clerk what food is best. If you know what the puppies are accustomed to eating, you may want to use that kind at first until they are comfortable in their new home.

There are many other accessories available for Labrador puppies, and if your budget will stretch you may want to consider some of them, but these should get you started.

Anna Hart asked:


Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption are often purebred, and every bit as wonderful, loving, and energetic as a puppy you would buy. Why go to a pet store or breeder when you can find Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption? Often free!

Places such as “Labrador Retriever Rescue and Adoption” have pure and mixed-breed Labrador Retriever puppies. When we went looking online briefly, we found Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption that were 9 weeks old and 12 weeks old.

In a “Yahoo Pets” classified ad, we saw 10 beautiful little Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption in Colorado. The Hoobly classified website had 3 Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption in Idaho.

Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption are also available at Humane Society and independent animal shelters.

Who Would Adopt Labrador Retriever Puppies

You might adopt Labrador Retriever puppies if:

1. your budget does not allow an investment of $400 to $1500 for a puppy
2. you have compassion on unwanted puppies

Many people have big, caring hearts. They know the Labrador Retriever puppies at the breeder, with their fancy papers, will find homes. Life is not as certain for rescue puppies. They have been given up for adoption because the owners would not or could not care for more dogs.

Disadvantages of Labrador Retriever Puppies for Adoption

Labrador Retriever puppies that have been given up for adoption may have hidden problems. You will not know about the temperament of the parents. Nor will you know whether either parent has health problems that will be inherited by the puppies. If you find Labrador Retriever puppies in an animal shelter, chances are good that the staff knows little about them.

Labrador Retriever puppies in a shelter often lack bonding opportunities. People come and people go, but no one has time to teach the puppy how to get along with human companions.

You risk getting a puppy that has learned to bark loudly for attention – in a room of loudly barking dogs. Labrador Retriever puppies from shelters will take more than a few days of adjustment to un-learn some bad habits.

Some of these disadvantages are overcome if you get Labrador Retriever puppies through a rescue network. Most networks place their adoptive puppies in foster homes. This avoids many of the animal shelter problems.

Some rescue networks are also able to find out more about the puppies’ background. The foster “parents” can evaluate the puppies’ temperaments and health. They can begin basic training and socialize the puppies. They can make sure the puppies get a good start in life while they wait for their permanent homes.

Advantages of Labrador Retriever Puppies for Adoption

The advantages of getting Labrador Retriever puppies that are available for adoption may outweigh the disadvantages for you – especially if you can get the puppies through a rescue network.

1. You are giving a good home to Labrador Retriever puppies that might otherwise not have one.

2. You are gaining loving, faithful companions, who will do anything to please you, as long as you teach them what that is.

3. You are paying only a small adoption fee (or getting them free). Yet your Labrador Retriever puppies will be every bit as loving as those costing hundreds of dollars.

Helpful Tip

You can find Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption on the Internet. Simply type the phrase “Labrador Retriever rescue” into your search engine. Locally, watch newspaper classified ads or visit your animal shelter.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

Anna Hart asked:



Places such as “Labrador Retriever Rescue and Adoption” have pure and mixed-breed Labrador Retriever puppies. When we went looking online briefly, we found Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption that were 9 weeks old and 12 weeks old.

In a “Yahoo Pets” classified ad, we saw 10 beautiful little Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption in Colorado. The Hoobly classified website had 3 Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption in Idaho.

Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption are also available at Humane Society and independent animal shelters.

Who Would Adopt Labrador Retriever Puppies

You might adopt Labrador Retriever puppies if:

1. your budget does not allow an investment of $400 to $1500 for a puppy

2. you have compassion on unwanted puppies

Many people have big, caring hearts. They know the Labrador Retriever puppies at the breeder, with their fancy papers, will find homes. Life is not as certain for rescue puppies. They have been given up for adoption because the owners would not or could not care for more dogs.

Disadvantages of Labrador Retriever Puppies for Adoption

Labrador Retriever puppies that have been given up for adoption may have hidden problems. You will not know about the temperament of the parents. Nor will you know whether either parent has health problems that will be inherited by the puppies. If you find Labrador Retriever puppies in an animal shelter, chances are good that the staff knows little about them.

Labrador Retriever puppies in a shelter often lack bonding opportunities. People come and people go, but no one has time to teach the puppy how to get along with human companions.

You risk getting a puppy that has learned to bark loudly for attention – in a room of loudly barking dogs. Labrador Retriever puppies from shelters will take more than a few days of adjustment to un-learn some bad habits.

Some of these disadvantages are overcome if you get Labrador Retriever puppies through a rescue network. Most networks place their adoptive puppies in foster homes. This avoids many of the animal shelter problems.

Some rescue networks are also able to find out more about the puppies’ background. The foster “parents” can evaluate the puppies’ temperaments and health. They can begin basic training and socialize the puppies. They can make sure the puppies get a good start in life while they wait for their permanent homes.

Advantages of Labrador Retriever Puppies for Adoption

The advantages of getting Labrador Retriever puppies that are available for adoption may outweigh the disadvantages for you – especially if you can get the puppies through a rescue network.

1. You are giving a good home to Labrador Retriever puppies that might otherwise not have one.

2. You are gaining loving, faithful companions, who will do anything to please you, as long as you teach them what that is.

3. You are paying only a small adoption fee (or getting them free). Yet your Labrador Retriever puppies will be every bit as loving as those costing hundreds of dollars.

Helpful Tip

You can find Labrador Retriever puppies for adoption on the Internet. Simply type the phrase “Labrador Retriever rescue” into your search engine. Locally, watch newspaper classified ads or visit your animal shelter.

By: Anna Hart

Dog Food Secrets!

Connie Limon asked:


House training a Shih Tzu puppy is one of the first, and one of the most important things, that any new Shih Tzu puppy owner must do. It is easy to get frustrated if you do not understand the basics of this important process, so we have put together a few tips to make the process of house training your Shih Tzu puppy a little easier.
It is vital to establish good toilet and hygiene habits in the Shih Tzu puppy when he is young, since the patterns that are established in those first few months can last a lifetime. When you consider that house training issues are the number one reason why dogs are surrendered to animal shelters, it is easy to see why house training is so extremely important.
In most cases, a Shih Tzu puppy will not be completely house trained until he or she is six months of age. That is because Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months often lack the bowel and bladder control that they need in order to be reliably left alone in the home all day.
Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be confined to a single, small Shih Tzu puppy proofed room any time the owner is not available to supervise the animal. The entire floor of the room should be covered in newspaper or other similarly absorbent and cheap material. At first the Shih Tzu puppy will go everywhere and anywhere in the room. As the Shih Tzu puppy gets older and begins to display better bladder and bowel control, the amount of paper used is slowly reduced, until the puppy goes only on the established “toilet” papers. This toilet area will form the basis of later house training.
House training the Shih Tzu puppy – what to do:
Provide the Shih Tzu puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the toilet area that has been established.
Take the Shih Tzu puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes when you are at home.
When you are away from home, or when you cannot supervise the Shih Tzu puppy, it is important to confine the Shih Tzu puppy to a small area that has been puppy proofed and covered with newspaper.
It is important to be sure that the toilet area does not resemble anything in the home, such as carpet or hardwood floor. Once the Shih Tzu puppy is used to eliminating on a particular surface, such as grass or blacktop, he will want to eliminate on that time of surface.
Always provide lots of praise when the Shih Tzu puppy does its business in the established toilet area. The Shih Tzu puppy needs to learn to associate eliminating in the established area with positive things like treats, toys and praise from you.
It is important to keep a set schedule when feeding the Shih Tzu puppy, and to provide ready access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times. Providing a consistent schedule for feeding will help you learn to anticipate your puppy’s toilet needs.
Using a crate can help the Shih Tzu puppy to develop much needed self control. Shih Tzu are naturally very clean animals, and they will try their best not to soil their bed area.
And finally, it is vital to employ patience during the house training process. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem Shih Tzu.
House training the Shih Tzu puppy – what to avoid
Do not punish or reprimand the Shih Tzu puppy if it makes a mistake. The Shih Tzu puppy will not understand the reason for the punishment, and he may become nervous and agitated. This could set the training back even further.
Do not give the Shih Tzu puppy constant access to food. Keep the Shih Tzu puppy to a set feeding schedule instead of leaving food out all the time.
The Shih Tzu puppy should not be given the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.
House training a new Shih Tzu puppy is not always easy, but it is important to persevere. By exercising patience, and rewarding your Shih Tzu with lavish praise every time he does the right thing, you will have your Shih Tzu puppy house trained in no time at all.

Dog Lovers Mega Pack

crjourdenais asked:


I am fully aware of all of the fantastic benefits of adopting a rescue dog, going through animal shelters, etc. All of the dogs and cats I have had have been adopted from shelters. However, I would like to raise a puppy and I would like the puppy to be a golden retriever. Names of breeders would be helpful, or just contact info for people who have a litter would be great as well. Thanks!

Dog Food Secrets!

mayra asked:


A cute little puppy is a great addition to your house. This cute cuddly wonder will fill your house with happiness. If you are thinking of bringing a puppy to your home, you could adopt a puppy from a local animal shelter or you could get a puppy from a reputable breeder. In this article we are going to focus on adopting a puppy from a shelter.

There are several animal rescue centers that provide dogs to people who want to adopt dogs. These dogs require home and love. If you think that only ‘problem dogs’ are available in these shelters, then you are wrong.

It is sad but true that many older and adolescent dogs are thrown into these shelters every day. These also include unwanted puppies and puppies abandoned by their mom-dogs. You would be surprised to find purebred dogs and puppies in most of these animal shelters.

According to a research conducted, there are around more than eight million surrendered dogs each year in the United States. Adopting these dogs will provide them a house of their own. These homeless puppies are innocent and want a loving home where they can get love from their family members. Many of these dogs are as healthy as you can buy from any breeder.

You need to spend a lot of money when buying a purebred puppy from a breeder. You may have to spend somewhere around six hundreds dollars or more. However, if you buy a purebred puppy from a dog shelter, you can save a lot of money. These puppies are available for anywhere between an amount ranging from seventy five dollars to a hundred dollars. You can pay even less for mix breed puppy.

You can also save a lot of money in other ways when you purchase a puppy from rescue center. First and foremost, these puppies are spayed and even provided all of their shots. You can also get discounts on several privileges including training classes for puppies.

Another important thing is that you would be giving a new life to someone. You may not know but the fact is that millions of dogs are euthanized each year. These dogs are perfectly fine. The only problem they face is lack of family and a home.

Once you adopt a homeless puppy, it will prove to be the perfect mate for you. You can adopt little puppies, adolescent ones and older pups according to your desire. This depends on whether you want to take care of the dog from a very younger age or buy a trained one to stay out of hassles of obedience training a dog.

Adopting a puppy will let you do something for a creature that is living in misery for no fault of his. It is a life saving matter. All you require to do is to give a home of some love to the adopted pup and it will prove to be a perfect mate for you.

So next time you decide to purchase a purebred dog from a breeder, think twice. Try to visit a dog shelter and have a look at some cute little puppies that are waiting for someone to take them home. Take home a friend for yourself. Adopt a puppy!

Start a Doggie Daycare

Connie Limon asked:


House training a shih tzu puppy is very important for the well being of both the shih tzu puppy and the owner. The number one reason that dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so it is easy to see why proper house training is such an important consideration.
It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the shih tzu puppy is young, since these habits can last a lifetime, and be very hard to break once they are established. It is very important for the owner to house break the shih tzu puppy properly. In most cases, true house training cannot begin until the shih tzu puppy is six months old. Puppies younger than this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true house training.
Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be confined to a small, shih tzu puppy proofed room when the owner cannot supervise them. The entire floor of the room should be covered with newspapers or similar absorbent materials, and the paper changed every time it is soiled. As the shih tzu puppy gets older, the amount of paper used can be reduced as the shih tzu puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area. It is this preferred toilet area that will form the basis of later house training.
The Do’s of House Training Your Puppy:
Always provide the shih tzu puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the established toilet area.
When you are at home, take the shih tzu puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes.
When you are not at home or cannot supervise the shih tzu puppy, you must be sure the shih tzu puppy cannot make a mistake. This means confining the shih tzu puppy to a small area that has been thoroughly puppy proofed. Puppy proofing a room is very similar to baby proofing a room, since puppies chew on everything.
Always provide a toilet area that does not resemble anything in your home. Training the shih tzu puppy to eliminate on concrete, blacktop, grass or dirt is a good idea. The shih tzu puppy should never be encouraged to eliminate on anything that resembles the hardwood flooring, tile or carpet he may encounter in a home.
Praise and reward your shih tzu puppy every time he eliminates in the established toilet area. The shih tzu puppy must learn to associate toileting in the established areas with good things, like treats, toys and praise from his owner.
Always keep a set schedule when feeding your shih tzu puppy, and provide constant access to fresh, clean drinking water. A consistent feeding schedule equals a consistent toilet schedule.
Using a crate can be a big help in helping a shih tzu puppy develop self control. The concept behind crate training is that the shih tzu puppy will not want to toilet in his bed area.
And finally, it is important to be patient when house training a shih tzu puppy. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem dog.
The Don’ts of House Training Your Shih Tzu Puppy
Never reprimand or punish the shih tzu puppy for mistakes. Punishing the shih tzu puppy will only cause fear and confusion.
Do not leave food out for the shih tzu puppy all night long. Keep to a set feeding schedule in order to make the dog’s toilet schedule as consistent as possible.
Do not give the shih tzu puppy the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.
House training is not always the easiest thing to do, and some dogs tend to be much easier to house train than others. It is important, however to be patient, consistent and loving as you train your shih tzu. A rushed, frightened or intimidated shih tzu will not be able to learn the important lessons of house training. Once you have gained your shih tzu puppy’s love and respect, however, you will find that house training your shih tzu puppy is easier than you ever expected.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress