Articles
Graduating your dog to house freedom
07/17/2009 - 16:38
So… you’ve used a crate to manage your puppy and now you’re wondering how to start giving him more freedom. Well, if you’ve done your foundation work and haven’t let your dog pick up bad habits, transitioning to full freedom in the house should go pretty smoothly. Ideally, your dog should be past the puppy and juvenile stage. For small dogs, this probably …Read more »
Should you give your newly-adopted dog a new name?
06/02/2009 - 09:37
If you want to rename your dog, go right ahead. While it may take an older dog a while to figure out what you mean, he’ll get it eventually. Dogs don’t internalize a name the way we do; they don’t identify themselves with that particular combination of phonemes. They simply understand that when you make a certain sound, it means …Read more »
Tattooing: another way to keep your dog safe
06/02/2009 - 09:37
Developed by the founders of the National Dog Registry, tattooing is a simple, affordable means of permanently identifying your dog. It is painless to a dog because as dog’s skin structure is so different from a human’s that the tattoo marker doesn’t need to be inserted very deeply into the dog’s epidermis, or outer skin layer. The best location for …Read more »
Doggone myths: are mixed breeds healthier than purebreds?
06/02/2009 - 09:37
Does hybrid vigor, the notion that dogs which are less related have increased fertility and health, really exist? Sure. It just doesn’t occur quite as often as people think because it is more than a matter of not mating the same breed. People assume that as long as the female and stud are different breeds, the offspring will be healthy, but that’s …Read more »
Green Paw Print Tip #4: Don't Shop - Adopt!
04/24/2009 - 09:22
Looking to add a four-legged friend to the family? Adopt from a shelter, humane society or rescue group and give a pet that's already out there and in need of a forever home a healthy, happy life. Check out our Online Adoption Center to find your perfect match. Likewise, do your part in reducing pet overpopulation by spaying or neutering your pet. In …Read more »
Choosing the right food for your dog
04/24/2009 - 09:21
Most foods are available in specific formulations tailored to match your dog's age, breed, weight and activity level, called life-stage formulas. Most brands are divided by life stage into the following categories. Dog food Growth/puppy foods Puppy foods are intended to be fed to growing puppies. For small dogs, growth usually ends by 9 months of age and for giant breeds it …Read more »
Good habits every puppy and kitten should know
04/24/2009 - 09:21
We look into their eyes and they steal our hearts, but for that little bundle of joy to grow into the adult cat or dog you are hoping for, they need your guidance. Here are some tips to get you started: Potty training for puppies A puppy’s natural instinct is to keep his “den” clean. Using this to your advantage is the …Read more »
Love-at-first-sight: stories of Pet Parents who just knew
04/24/2009 - 09:21
Anyone who’s adopted a dog remembers that first moment when they saw their family’s pet and “just knew” that a particular dog was meant to be part of their pack. Here, three lucky Pet Parents share their own stories of the love, patience and ultimate enjoyment involved in giving a dog in need a forever home. Pharoah: from the racetrack to …Read more »
PetSmart Adoptions Agency Success Story - Blossom
04/24/2009 - 09:21
Originally adopted from PetSmart as a youngster in 1997, Blossom returned to Puyallup Animal Rescue after her adoring owner passed away, leaving the 10-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix with a family member who banished her to the yard. An unwanted Blossom went to live with volunteer Anastasia Gamache, who was amazed by the dog’s resilience. “Losing her owner was traumatic, …Read more »
PetSmart Adoptions Customer Success Story - Abby
04/24/2009 - 09:21
In 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, Pet Parent Reba’s 10-year-old mixed Shepherd suffered a stroke and had to be euthanized after a painful week-long struggle to save him. “I decided the pain of losing him was too much and felt I couldn’t get close to another animal,” she says. “A month after, I was at PetSmart,” she says. The Shelby County …Read more »
