Dogs

Take a Just-Before-Bed Potty Break  Take your puppy out right before bed so that he has one last chance to potty. This should be a short outing, just long enough for him to go to the bathroom. If timed well with dinner, he will hopefully both urinate and defecate during this potty break.  Even if you do take him out just before bed, expect to take your puppy out a few times during the night the first few weeks he’s with you. While it’s recommended to take a new puppy to potty every 1.5 hours during the day, overnight they can usually go about 4-6 hours.  ,Know That Your Puppy Will Cry It’s very common for puppies to cry their first few nights—or weeks—at home with you. Up until now, they’re used to being surrounded by their mom and siblings all night, every night. When put into this perspective, it’s easy to see how they could be anxious and lonely their first night. So if your puppy’s whining in his crate his first night, this is considered normal; he’s adjusting to his new home and family.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your new puppy feel more comfortable in his new home:  Putting the crate in your room can help your puppy feel closer to you, while also providing him with the safe space of the crate.  Consider putting something in his crate that smells like you, such as a sweatshirt or T-shirt you recently wore, to help make him feel like you’re close.  It’s important to distinguish between a puppy’s anxious crate crying versus potty break cries. Typically, anxiety and stress crying occurs early in the night when your puppy is first put into his crate. If he starts crying in the middle of the night, he might need to go to the bathroom.  Bringing home a new puppy is a major lifestyle change for both of you. But once the first few nights are through and your bond grows, puppies can be some of the best companions—and their love is worth all the sleepless nights.  Featured Image: iStock.com/whitebalance.oatt ,Bringing home a new four-legged family member is such an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming—especially for your new puppy. Not only is your pup in a new home with new humans and possibly new animal friends, but this may also be your pup’s first night away from his family, so he may need a little extra TLC.  But if you know what to expect, there are several things you can do to make your puppy’s first night at home more comfortable. 

Known for being the most willing and hard-working sled dogs, Siberian Huskies are also fun-loving, adventurous, alert and independent, according to Discovery.com. While their agreeable personalities make them a great all-around dog, their incredible endurance and mischievous nature requires proper training, the right dog food, and lots of exercise in a well-fenced area.,Determining what type of dog to get can be difficult: aside from the cuteness factor, there are a lot of breed and personality traits to be considered when finding a perfect match. If you lead a very active lifestyle — or have kids who can’t stop moving! — a pup with high energy may be a perfect fit. Here are 10 of the most energetic breeds out there.

Yep, dogs—and puppies—can eat popcorn, but only if the popcorn is air-popped and plain. That means no butter, no salt, and no other toppings that are harmful to dogs. Can dogs have other kinds of popcorn, like caramel popcorn or kettle corn? Here’s the verdict: Can dogs eat caramel popcorn? No, dogs should not eat caramel popcorn because it’s very high in sugar. Even a few pieces of caramel popcorn can cause your dog to feel ill. You should also avoid feeding your dog “sugar-free” caramel popcorn as it likely contains an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Can dogs eat kettle corn? No, dogs should not eat kettle corn because it also contains a lot of sugar and other preservatives that are unhealthy for pups and can cause gassiness, stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting. Can dogs eat popcorn with butter? No, dogs should not eat popcorn with butter. While a few pieces may not cause harm to a healthy dog, eating butter regularly or in large amounts can cause upset stomach, obesity, or pancreatitis. Can dogs eat popcorn kernels? No, you should keep whole or partially popped kernels away from your dog. The kernels can get stuck in your pup’s teeth and cause dental issues. They also can pose a choking hazard. Can dogs eat popcorn chips? No, dogs shouldn’t eat popcorn chips. While it’s probably not dangerous if you happen to drop a popcorn chip on the floor and your dog snatches it up, popcorn chips often have added ingredients and flavorings that are not good for your dog to consume, like salt and seasonings such as onion and garlic powder.,Jump to section Can Dogs Eat Popcorn? Is Popcorn Good for Dogs? Is Popcorn Bad for Dogs? How Much Popcorn Can Dogs Have? How To Safely Feed Popcorn to Your Dog Store-Bought Popcorn Dog Treats and Toys FAQs About Dogs and Popcorn

Advancements in Dog Cancer Screening Tests Recent years have seen rapid improvements in veterinary oncology, especially in the area of early cancer detection. Blood-based screening tests are becoming more sophisticated, with some now capable of detecting risks for cancers such as lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. While no test can detect every type of cancer, the ability to catch some of the most aggressive and common cancers is a valuable advancement. Current research and technology are pushing the boundaries of what these screenings can detect. According to a study published in BMC Veterinary Research, cancer screenings in dogs can help identify cancer-associated changes in blood samples with high specificity and sensitivity. These tests can act as an early warning system, helping veterinarians make more informed decisions about next steps. Some at-home early detection test kits are beginning to enter the pet marketplace. However, it is crucial that pet parents rely on tests that have been vetted by licensed veterinarians and supported by peer-reviewed studies. Always consult with a veterinary professional before choosing an at-home product for your dog.,Providing Preventive Care for Your Dog Preventive care plays a key role in early detection of cancer in dogs. To ensure you’re staying on top of your dog’s wellness, it’s important to: Maintain regular wellness checkups (twice a year for senior dogs and annually for others), including appropriate blood and lab tests. Discuss breed-specific risks with your veterinarian and other reliable resources such as the American Kennel Club Breed Standard book. If you are unsure about the breed of your dog, consider a DNA test to help determine your dog’s breed and their possible health risks. Ask your vet about adding a cancer screening to your dog’s annual or semi-annual exam Monitor your dog for any behavioral or physical changes Consider pet insurance or a savings plan to prepare for future care costs,Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in dogs, with nearly 50% of dogs over the age of 10 developing some form of the disease. While a diagnosis can be frightening, advancements in veterinary medicine are creating new paths to early detection, offering hope for more effective treatments and better outcomes. One such advancement is the availability of non-invasive cancer screening tests for dogs that can help detect the risk of cancer before clinical signs become obvious to pet parents.

4. Practice Safe Transportation Most people aren’t lucky enough to simply hunt in their backyard and will need to travel—often long distances—to get to that perfect hunting area. And because you’re hunting with your dog, you’ll need to bring them with you safely. Safe travel practices are important, whether you’re taking your dog on a hunting trip or just driving down the road to the vet or dog park. Have a designated area for your pet inside your vehicle, such as a dog bed or blanketed area where you can secure your dog with a pet-safe seat belt. Never allow your dog to run loose in a vehicle—this could be distracting and dangerous. It’s also never safe for your dog to ride in an open truck bed. In fact, this might be the single most dangerous place for a dog to be in the event of an accident.,5. Make Sure Your Dog Is Trained to Hunt Dogs need to be trained to hunt. Some catch on faster than others, but all dogs will need to be taught what to expect and what is expected of them. It can be dangerous for the dog and the hunter to bring an inexperienced dog along on a hunt. The sudden and unexpected sound of a gunshot can be startling to a dog and may cause them to run off or hurt themselves. If your dog does not know what is expected of them, they may even ruin the hunt inadvertently by making too much noise or chasing the prey before it’s time. Be certain your dog is under full voice control, only pursues game on your command, and stops when you tell them to. Training your dog to hunt is an extensive process, but it generally starts early in life with basic training to the most common cues, such as sit, stay, come, and leave it. If your dog does not have a strong grasp of these basic training skills, it may be difficult to expand your expectations to include proper behavior and actions while hunting. The type of hunting training your dog will need depends on the type of game you plan to hunt. There are excellent trainers that make a livelihood training dogs for hunting, and many of these trainers are hunters themselves. Find a trainer both you and your dog like, someone you can work with who has extensive experience in your area. Featured Image: Getty/EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER,Humans and dogs have hunted side by side for thousands of years, but that doesn’t mean you can just bring your pup to the hunting field with no preparation. Hunting can be dangerous if you and your dog, even a dog bred to hunt, are unprepared.  Here’s how to keep your dog safe when hunting.

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Whether you’re crate training your newest family member or looking for a travel solution when taking your dog on vacation or to the veterinarian, the best dog crates offer a secure and safe space for your pup to hang out. Dog parent tested and Chewy pup approved, these top-selling dog kennels come highly recommended by pet parents like you. Just remember to pick the right crate size for your dog’s size—your dog should have enough room to be able to stand up and turn around while in their crate. The right size will ensure their dog crate is a happy place for them to call their own during dog training and beyond.

German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and high energy levels. As a big dog breed with unique health and nutritional needs, feeding them a high-quality, balanced diet is essential for their long-term well-being. Fresh dog food is gaining popularity among pet parents, and it can be an especially good fit for active breeds like German Shepherds. Let’s look at why.

When Rudette Plant saw the pink pulpy mass forming on her English Bulldog Lola’s eyelid she didn’t panic. A longtime volunteer for various animal rescue groups, Plant had seen the defect before—it was cherry eye in dogs. “I imagine it would be very frightening if you didn’t know what it was,” says Plant, a Garden Grove, California resident, in regard to the dime-sized, fleshy protrusion. When Deborah Turner, an animal rescuer and advocate with Friends of Long Beach Animals of Long Beach, California, rescued a cute, little brindle Boston Terrier, she knew the defect had to be fixed or the puppy would never find a home, so she paid for a procedure with her own money. For some particular breeds such as the Boston Terrier, cherry eye is common. Find out what cherry eye in dogs is, the causes of it and how to treat it.

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