Essentials For Your New Puppy

You have made the decision to bring home a bundle of joy in the form of a puppy! Before taking it home you should make sure that you have all of the essentials and accessories you will need to make sure they will be happy in their new home. It will also allow you to start bonding with your new pup straight away, rather than having to start shopping for supplies.


Of course you will need a great supply of puppy food. They need a different type of food than what adult dogs do, as they require a lot more nutrients. Although they seem to need more food, it is more a case of little and often than giving them giant sized meals so make sure to purchase smaller bowls. You will then want to upgrade to larger ones as they grow up. Make sure that you have a water bowl as well and that it is always topped up, try to change it so the water is kept fresh throughout the day and night, with it finally changed just before you go to bed.

A collar is a very wise item to purchase. As animals get older they may not appreciate you trying to put a collar on them, but if they are used to it from a young age they will not even notice they are wearing one. Get a tag made with your details on, contact information such as home address and telephone number, just in case your beloved pet gets lost or runs off. It is a good idea to purchase a leash at the same time as you buy the collar as these are very important and necessary for wearing them out with long walks once they are old enough to leave your house. Make sure they have had the compulsory injections if needed beforehand.

Every puppy needs some toys. There will be times where you may have to leave them in the house for half an hour alone when popping to the shops, and the best way to keep them calm and entertained are specially designed dog toys. Give them their favourite teddy as a treat and they should be kept happy until you return. It is also a fun way for you to interact with your dog and keep them healthy by taking a ball or Frisbee to the park. Make sure that after all that running around they have a comfy bed to come home to for a nice sleep.

Zoe Robinson is an enthusiastic writer in the subject matter of pets and pet food. The websites recommended by Zoe Robinson have been thoroughly researched and come highly acclaimed from direct experience. Take a look at a range of Eukanuba pet food today.

What Type of Pet Should You Get a Kid?

Getting pets for kids proves to be a perfect opportunity for parents everywhere to instill responsibility and nurturing in their kids. It is with the presence of an animal in the house where they can develop socialization skills, warmth and caring. Even with a pet around, they will learn how to value their own lives as they grow up, ensuring that they maintain proper health just as much as they would for their lovable critters. Of course, since your children are quite young, it is your duty as a parent to make sure that the kids are monitored and trained on how to handle the pets. Aside from this, it may also come to mind that there are a lot of choices to go for when it comes to getting children pets. In fact, this may be something that proves challenging. Thankfully, below is a list of pets that you can get your child.

Goldfish - Not requiring a whole lot of care or maintenance, it will help your child learn all about regular cleaning and feeding practices. Apart from that, these pets are rather affordable, and can prove valuable for your child who is still learning how to develop positive traits and characteristics.

Hamsters - These are brilliant pets to have, especially since they're pretty easy to maintain. You won't even need to commit to them on a lifetime basis, since they don't have a very long lifespan. With these pets, your child will learn how important it is to clean, exercise and look after someone or something. They're pretty affordable as well, and wouldn't require so much money on equipment and supplies.

Rabbits - Seeing as they are lovably fluffy creatures, they make for an ideal choice as pets for your kids. Having household rabbit is pretty much akin to having a cat around in the premises, and this makes them a nice addition to your household. They prove to be excellent for kids who wish to have furry pets but are still too young to have dogs around.

Dogs - These are the most popular pets for kids, although it would require a whole lot of effort on you and your child to look after them. Considered to be man's best friends, these canines are extremely loyal and affectionate, making them fit for being extra additions to the household. They require regular walking and exercise.

Best Tips for Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Due to several threats in recent years involving commercial dog food brands, many dog owners have decided to try different diets for their dogs. Very often these different kinds of diets include homemade dog food recipes. There is a great deal of information online, some good and others not exactly reliable. In order to make educated decisions about your dog's nutrition, there are a few things to consider.

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Become Informed

First of all, become informed. Even though it does make sense to feed your dog a good, nutritious diet, there is a lot of information online and you could unfortunately get some bad info. With that being said, it is vital to do research. You should learn what you can about the commercial dog food market. Become knowledgeable by speaking with your vet and find some good homemade recipes. There are many good and easy to make recipes on the internet and of course in books at the library.

Beware of False Information

Once you have read up on the commercial dog food industry, you'll discover that many of what you have been told for years about dog nutrition is false. The companies would like for you to believe that only food made in labs by scientists is healthy enough for your dog. They have long warned the population that feeding homemade food will result in an unhealthy pet. This is absolutely false. All that's required is reading the ingredients list of a package of pet food from a store and you will see that most of what goes into the major brands is lost calories and not at all healthy.

Provide a Wide Variety of Ingredients

What your dog will need to be healthy and to live longer, is a nice variety of nutritious foods. The recipes to look for should include a variety of ingredients including chicken, beef, pork etc. along with vegetables such as carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes and other tasty veggies. Include a dairy product like egg or cheese and you have a sure winner. Dogs love variety, that's why they beg for human food so frequently, so mix up the ingredients to keep your dog happy and wanting more. You should also consider supplementing the meals with calcium as well as a fatty acid such as fish oil.

Make the Switch Gradually

You should never switch your dog's food all at once. They should be eased into the change and there is a lot of helpful information on exactly how to properly undertake this on different websites devoted to dog food recipes. Some dogs will experience little if any problems with changing to homemade food, while others could take a bit longer to adjust. Some resources suggest adding the homemade food to your dog's current food and ease off the commercial food slowly over a few days.