When most people bring home their cute new puppies, the furthest thing from their minds is the stressful time of teething. Just as with babies teething, puppies will want to chew on everything they can get their mouth on. This can lead to total destruction of your belongings, but there are tried and true ways to help prevent this from happening, and help you and your pup get through the teething period with ease.

Many people bring home their new pup and leave them out to romp around the house when they’re not home. Inevitably, this leads to chewing on shoes, books, socks, the couch, and any number of other things. The best way to prevent destructive chewing is to crate train your dog. To do this, you will need a crate that is just big enough for your dog to turn around in. Make the crate a safe and happy place for your dog. Provide him with stimulating toys while he is in the crate. Crate training your dog will not only prevent destructive chewing, but will also aid in potty training and create a positive and safe environment for your dog to be when you’re not around. Some people think that keeping a dog in a crate when they’re not around is cruel. This is not the case at all. Dogs by nature like small, darkened places and tend to feel very safe in crates. Almost all dog trainers today believe that crate training is a necessary and positive part of your puppy’s development. If your dog is crated while you are not home, they will not have the opportunity to chew on your belongings and other harmful things such as power cords.

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Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your dog’s reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

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Halloween is coming up and I’m getting lots of treats for my tricks! These are very tasty dog treats from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. This place has a lot of great treats for humans but this is just for us dogs. They are dog cookies dipped in a white chocolate that has no cocoa or caffeine, which makes it safe for us pups. (Chocolate is toxic to dogs.) I love them but they are a super-special-once-in-a-while-treat.

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Veterinarians warn about dogs slipping into the fleshy grip of the obesity epidemic, much like their owners. About 30% of the dog population is overweight. Fat dogs may suffer obesity-related diseases such as heart and circulatory diseases, joint problems and diabetes. Fat dogs are also more prone to respiratory problems, cancer, reproductive disorders and suffer a decreased quality of life. Overweight dogs need to be rehabilitated by: less calories from food and more exercise. It is that simple! A quick test for you to check upon your dog’s weight status is that it should be easy to feel the ribs and there should be no fat hanging from its abdomen.

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Here are the answers to just a few of the questions most commonly posed by dog owners.

1. What supplies do I need to have on hand before I bring my new puppy home?

The first thing you’ll need is a travel crate for your dog’s trip home. You’ll also need to buy some high quality puppy food and bowls for food and water. Your vet, breeder or shelter personnel can tell you which brands of food are the best. Other items you’ll need to get in advance of the new puppy’s arrival are: an adjustable collar, a leash, toys and bedding. Don’t forget to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your puppy’s first check-up!

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