A Note From The Editor

Hello & Welcome to Puppy Pawprints!

Happy June everyone!

Puppy parenting can be an uphill struggle sometimes, just like human parenting really! Some days it seems that you're 'furchild' is never going to 'get it' (and the 'it' can be anything from housetraining or learning basic good manners, to understanding that the garbage can/cat litter tray/laundry basket is NOT an alternative food bowl!)

At the same time, your little angel can melt your heart (and score extra treats) with one glance from those puppy dog eyes. It's a bit of a roller-coaster ride isn't it?

Here at The Puppy Dog Place, we want to make your ride a little smoother. We've 'been there, done that', and although we don't by any means think we know it all (how could we? There's always a puppy ready to disprove that particular theory), knowing that you're not the only one struggling with a particular puppy problem or behavior can be very reassuring.

We have several areas on our site where we invite you to participate by asking questions, giving feedback/comments, sharing your favorite puppy dog stories/poems/quotes etc., showing off your precious pup and more.

There are also several pages with puppy stuff that's just for fun, including... online jigsaws, a fun puppy personality test, adorable puppy videos, a way for single, puppy parents to meet other people who share their interests, and more.

Check out the links below, and have some fun while helping us to build an interactive, online community of puppy parents.

• Help inspire and encourage others to consider adoption when thinking about adding a new pup/dog to their family by sharing your puppy dog adoption story. You can also read the heart-warming stories other visitors have sent in, and add your comments or rating


• If you have a favorite puppy dog poem (and it can be one you've written yourself or one that you found in a book, magazine, online etc.) send it to us and we'll add it to our Puppy Poems page. The same goes for your favorite quote on our Puppy Quotes page.


• If you have a question that you just can't find the answer to (and don't think any question is too small/silly/unusual for us!), you only have to ask us!. You'll get a quick, personal answer!


• Everyone knows their puppy is just the cutest thing on four legs! Well, we're giving you the chance to prove it...by entering your furchild in our monthly, Puppy Photo Contest.


• If you like jigsaw puzzles, why not try your hand at the free, online jigsaws on our Puppy Jigsaw page? If you want some for the kids, try our Kids Jigsaws page. The best part? There's no fiddly little pieces to get lost!

Well, enough from me...enjoy this issue of 'Puppy Pawprints' and don't forget to check out the-puppy-dog-place.com regularly as we're constantly updating our site with new information, tips and resources for puppy parents.

Whether you're a regular visitor and receiver of Puppy Pawprints, or a brand new visitor, I want to extend A BIG THANK YOU for making my job so much fun and so rewarding!

Knowing that you find my site useful and interesting, helping people find solutions to their puppy care problems, and seeing all the adorable entries to our Pup Of The Month Contests (that arrive in my e-mail box daily) has been a wonderful experience.

You can subscribe to our rss feed by clicking on the rss box below the nav bar buttons on each page. That way, you'll definitely not miss out as you'll automatically receive all our updates and news items delivered right to your computer!

Traveling with your pup

If Fido or Fifi are a bona-fide, card-carrying, member of your family, you may think it important that they accompany you on this summer's vacation/road trip. And why not?

Well, in theory, taking Fido along for the ride shouldn't be a problem, but in reality it requires some degree of forward planning and preparation, patience, and possibly a few sacrifices.

Not everywhere (or everyone) will love dogs the way you do. If everyone is to have a good time, you'll need to plan your vacation around resorts/areas and amenities that are dog-friendly. Turning up at your chosen hotel to find that they won't allow Fido across the threshold isn't the most relaxing start to your long-awaited holiday.

So.... what can you do to make sure that your dog-inclusive vacation goes smoothly? Here's a few ideas.....

Plan Ahead

If you want sea, sun and sand, take the time to research the beaches in the area you're interested in. Make sure that there's at least one dog-friendly beach in the vicinity.

The same goes for national parks/hiking trails etc if you're planning on taking a vacation which involves these activities.

When it comes to accommodation, it's vital that you ensure your hotel/condo/b&b etc. welcomes dogs. You can find the best in quality, dog-friendly accommodation (search by state or even by country) by clicking on the banner below.

Be Prepared

Here's a few suggestions of items you may want to pack in Fifi's suitcase -

• Enough of her regular puppy/dog food to get you by until you can find a store that stocks it. A sudden change in diet is pretty much guaranteed to cause a tummy upset, and that won't be pleasant for anyone!


• Her food bowls/toys/blankets. Your pup will feel more at home if she's surrounded by her familiar things, so take along her favorites.


• Collar & Leash. Make sure that Fifi is wearing a well-fitted collar, complete with id tags. If she gets lost or wanders off while in strange surroundings, she'll need help to find her family again. It's also a good idea to take a spare collar (with tags) and leash with you, just in case!


• Medications/Grooming Supplies etc. If your pup has to take any medication on a regular basis, don't forget to take it with you. Also, water, wind, sand etc. can play havoc with his coat, so throw in the brush, comb and a gentle shampoo too.


• Don't forget the 'pooper-scooper' and some baggies, so that you can clean up after Fido 'does his business'. It's important for dog owners to be responsible about this, so that other vacationers don't have any reason to complain about the doggie visitors. Taking a roll of kitchen towels and some dog urine cleaning stuff is also an excellent idea.


• A big bottle of fresh water. During the trip, Fifi will get thirsty, so have fresh water handy. However, don't allow her to guzzle a pint at a time! This will increase her chances of being motion sick, and obviously the number of potty-break-stops you'll have to make.

Top Dog-Friendly Cities in the USA

1. Boston, Massachusetts


2. New York City


3. San Francisco, California


4. Austin, Texas


5. Portland, Oregon


6. Northern Virginia (and Washington DC)


7. Orlando, Florida


8. San Diego, California


9. Dallas/Fort-Worth


10. Chicago, Illinois

Tips For Dealing With A Dog Who's Car/Motion Sick

It seems that some dogs are more prone to being car-sick than others. If your dog normally travels very well over short-medium range distances, chances are good that he'll also do fine on vacation.

However, if the 10 min drive to the veterinarians office normally has your dog panting and salivating, he probably isn't a great traveler. This doesn't mean he can't accompany you on this years vacation, but it does mean that you're going to need to be prepared.

Obviously, if your pup has a tendency towards vomiting in the car, you need to have a big roll of paper towels, fresh water, baby wipes, dog urine odor/stain neutralizer and an old towel close at hand. Being prepared to clean up if there should be an 'accident', reduces everyone's anxiety levels. I'd also recommend covering the seat (if your dog isn't crated) with an old blanket/towel to protect it. If you have a crate for him to travel in, some shredded newspaper in the bottom can help prevent a horrible mess!

There are two main reasons for a dog to suffer from vomiting in the car, one is true motion-sickness, the other is sickness due to excessive anxiety. Many dogs are sick due to the stress and nervousness that accompanies car travel, and accustoming your pup to short/medium length car trips (starting when he's a puppy) can go a long way towards eliminating this problem.

Herbal remedies such as Flower Essences (for Anxiety/Fear), Phero-Soothe sprays or herbal food supplements can all help. you can find a good selection of these products on my Dog Separation Anxiety Medication page.

For dogs who are truly motion-sick, limiting his motion/vision in the car can help. A travel crate (the fiberglass type), or using a dog seat belt next to a shaded window are good ideas. Dramamine (used for human car sickness) can be effective, but always consult your vet before giving your pup/dog any medication not specifically prescribed for him.

These simple tips can also help reduce the chances of Fido feeling sick within 20 mins of leaving home...

• Don't feed your pup between 4 and 8 hours prior to leaving on your trip. An empty tummy has less to expel! However, some dogs may do better with a couple of dry dog-biscuits given 2 hours or so before leaving. Trial and error is how you figure this out!


• Keep a constant flow of cool, fresh air in the car. Run the air-conditioning or keep a couple of windows open enough for air to circulate, but not enough for Fifi to stick her head out.


• Make frequent stops so that your pup can stretch his legs, get some fresh air and pee or poop if necessary. Offer your dog a small drink of water whenever you stop as this can head off car sickness too. Try to avoid really busy rest stops though as they can harbor the risk of diseases from other, un-vaccinated dogs. If possible, choose an area where you don't see a lot of other dogs roaming around.

Best of luck and happy traveling to you all!

Questions, questions and more questions.....

Many questions are variations on the same theme, but sometimes may require a slightly different approach. To make it easier for people to find answers to questions similar to their own, I have divided the existing questions by topic, and created three more individual question pages (with more planned for the near future).

• Puppy Health Problems - deals with all kinds of health questions, including puppy diarrhea, vomiting, eye problems, vaccinations, allergies, parasitic infections and more.


• Training A New Puppy - covers things like biting, chewing, barking and other common behavior problems, obedience, socialization and more


• House Training A Puppy - helps you with all aspects of potty training and crate training.

If you have a specific health-related or training question you can use these individual pages for research, or submitting your own question. The original puppy questions page is also still available for any and all questions!

Bathing A Puppy

It's generally best not to bathe a puppy who's less than 7 or 8 weeks old, unless it's absolutely necessary. That's mostly because tiny puppies don't regulate their body temperature very well, and can easily get chilled. Also, the momma dog usually keeps them clean herself.

However, if the mom isn't doing a very good job of it, the puppies have been rejected, or they're very dirty/smelly, sponging them down with warm water and then wrapping them in a warm towel can help. Always be sure to keep a puppy warm until it's totally dry.

Once a pup is over 7 weeks old, it's fine to bath him/her when necessary. The only caveat, is don't bathe too often! A puppy doesn't usually get very dirty on a regular basis, and over-bathing can cause excessively dry skin and irritation which leads to itching, discomfort and even infection if the scratching is really serious.

It's important to always use a very gently puppy shampoo, and not to use one with flea/parasite medication, on puppies. Hypoallergenic or oatmeal-based shampoos are always a good choice.

You can find lots of information, tips and advice on bathing a puppy on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Cute Puppy Alert!

May Puppy Photo Contest?

You can take a look at previous months entries, and see our slide show of winners here

Feel free to email us at Editor.PuppyPawprints@the-puppy-dog-place.com or go to our Contact Us Page

Our site is designed especially for puppy parents and is full of FUN, FRIENDLY and FREE information and resources on all aspects of puppycare.

Please visit us at The Puppy Dog Place soon!

If you enjoy our site, why not let your other dog-loving friends know about us? There's a simple way to spread the word and it'll only take a minute..just go to our Share This Site page and see what I mean.

Well, that's all for this month. Watch out for our next Issue of Puppy Pawprints... coming to your mailbox in July!