A Note From The Editor

Hello & Welcome to Puppy Pawprints!

Happy Holidays 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!


• For non-emergency, puppy health issues that require professional help, you can get a quick, expert opinion on our Ask A Vet page.


• 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!

Winter is almost here....... and Christmas isn't far behind!

But remember, Fido and Fifi feel are liable to feel the cold too, and those items are probably pretty high on their 'wish lists'.

Winter can be lots of fun, with all those winter sports outside and the hot chocolate and log fires inside - not to mention the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. But it has its' share of risks as well.

For humans there's the very real risk of over-indulging (in just about any way you can imagine), breaking our bones on the ski slopes, and putting ourselves in some serious debt as we speed-shop through the Malls.

Your puppys' risks are different, but just as real, and as he's totally dependent on you for his health and safety, here are some winter-time safety tips to get you started....

How To Your Pup Safe This Winter

• Keep them warm
  Dogs feel the cold, just the way we do, and although a Husky may be able to play outdoors for hours, a Doberman Pinscher (or other smooth coated breeds) can't tolerate the cold for long. Small, tiny and toy breeds are also at high risk of hypothermia if they spend too long outdoors.

  For these dogs, wearing a cozy, Polar Fleece Reversible Dog Coat and some Muttluks Dog Boots can make all the difference.

  Remember that small dogs have short legs, and while you may easily be able to step over the snowdrifts, Fifi may be wading through them instead!



• Keep their skin protected outside
  Although your pups skin is covered in fur, it's still at risk of getting over dry and irritated in the winter, or worse getting frostbitten or burned by snow, salt or chemicals.

  Protect your pups feet by making sure he wears his boots whenever he's been outside. If he does go out without them, be sure to wipe his paws off well when he comes inside. Snow and salt, and the chemicals used to counteract them, can burn his skin. It also helps if you can keep the hair between the pads trimmed short in winter. Otherwise ice and snow can get trapped and form hard lumps which are painful and can injure his pads. To help protect his little paws, use Safe Paw Ice Melter around your home. This non-toxic product is guaranteed not to irritate pet's paws or skin, and it works in temperatures as low as 2° F. Timed-release formulation helps prevent re-icing for up to three days

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• Protect their skin from the inside too
  Cold, dry air outside and dry, centrally heated air inside can play havoc with skin (yours and your pups!). Help avoid itchy, flaky skin by giving your pup a daily dietary supplement that contains essential fatty acids. Dr. Harvey's Health and Shine for Dogs will help keep your pets coat shiny, and his skin healthy and supple.


• Keep holiday food and decorations out of his reach
  We love our turkey and dressing, chocolates and candies, and all those twinkling lights and poinsettias. But for your pup, these have the potential for serious injury or worse.

  Turkey bones should never be given to a pup or dog. They're much too soft, and those canine teeth can easily break and splinter them. Of your pup swallows the fragments, he could choke or even puncture his intestines.

  Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and even a fairly small amount can cause serious issues. Other candies and gum often contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is also toxic. Make sure you keep all those Thanksgiving and Christmas goodies out of Fido's way, and keep the Animal Poison Control Hotline number close to the phone, just in case he does ingest something he shouldn't. You can find this number, plus tips on what to do in an emergency, on my Dog Poisoning page.

  A list of foods/items that you often find in our homes at this time of year, but that are dangerous/toxic to your pup, can be found on my Poisonous Foods page.



• Car safety in winter
  Everyone knows that it's not safe to leave your pet in the car on a hot day, but did you realize that it's dangerous to leave them in the car when it's freezing cold outside too?

  Just as your car can heat up like an oven in summer, it can act like a refrigerator in winter, and if you leave Fifi in the car while you disappear into the mall to finish your holiday shopping, it could get so cold that she'll get hypothermia. So leave her safe and warm at home instead.

  Your car can pose another, less direct, risk to Fido's health in winter too. Did you know that the anti-freeze you use to keep your car running in cold weather is very, very toxic to dogs? Just a few drops can be fatal. What's worse is that antifreeze tastes sweet and will be very attractive to your pup if he finds a few drops, or a puddle, of it on your garage floor. So, always store anti-freeze well out of your pets way, and clean up any spills immediately.

  If the worst happens, and your puppy ingests some, take him to the vet/animal hospital IMMEDIATELY and tell them what's happened. If you're quick enough there may be time for the vet to give him an antidote. It's also useful to know that you can buy a far less toxic form of anti-freeze from the Sierra Company, and you can reach them at 1-(888)-88-SIERRA.




Protect 'outdoor' dogs
If your dog lives outdoors, before the bad weather sets in make sure he has a warm, dry bed to shelter in. Try to elevate it by placing it on bricks, or a wooden pallet or something similar. Hay makes a nice warm, comfy bedding and can't be dragged all over the yard and chewed up the way a blanket can!

Also, check his water regularly during the day and either use a heated bowl, or break ice and replace with fresh water two or three times a day. When it comes to food, bear in mind that in cold weather your dogs body uses up more fuel keeping warm, so increase his food intake accordingly.

Obviously puppies shouldn't be left outside for long, if it's too cold for you - it's too cold for little Fido. And don't put an 'inside dog' outside in winter weather, he won't be accustomed to the elements and needs at least a month for his body to adjust before exposing him to really cold temperatures. Small breeds, and smooth/thin coated dogs such as Greyhounds, can't cope with the cold and should stay indoors all year round.


• Keep Your Indoor Dog Comfy
  Although your pup is indoors with you, he still needs a warm, dry and draft-free spot to call his own. A nice, cozy dog bed is just the place to spend those long, winter evenings and by giving little Fido his very own bed, you won't have to keep pushing him off the sofa! Check out West Paw Holiday Nature Nap Fleece Bed , available in a size to suit XS to XL dogs or all shapes and sizes. When it's cold outside, and it gets dark early in the evening, do be sure that Fido always wears his ID tags, and that you keep him on a leash at all times. If your pup runs off in a storm, or when it's snowy or icy outside it will be more difficult for him to find his way home, not to mention that he could freeze to death in a relatively short time.

Santa Paws is coming to town!

• For that perfect gift for your friend's new puppy, check out my New Puppy Gift page. There's tons of great gifts for under $20.00 - even the economic roller coaster we're all on can't ruin Fifi's Christmas now :o)


• If you've still got a few dollars in your pocket and are looking for something that bit special, try my Special Puppy Gifts & Baskets page. From the delicious, doggie-spa gift basket to the adorable Puppy Crib for that four-legged baby, there's something for everyone.


• If it's a toy that you're looking for, check out my Indestructable Dog Toys page. These are especially good for 'power chewers' who destroy toys in a single bound (err.. I mean bite!), but their strength and durability makes them a safe, and entertaining, choice for any pooch on your list.


• A new collar is on every best-dressed-dogs' list. For the little Princess in your life, check out my Pink Leather Collars page, for little boys, my Cool Dog Collars page is just the ticket.... and if you want something just a little bit different, check out my Fancy Dog Collars page too.


• And, if there's one (or several) dog-lovers that you need to buy for, you're bound to find something on my Unique Dog Lover Gifts page.
• If one of your children is the dog-lover in the family, a subscription to Dogs For Kids magazine would be a great stocking stuffer, or give a dog-loving friend or relative a gift subscription to Dog Fancy magazine. They'll love you for it.

Shopping online can be a bit daunting if you're not used to it, but it sure beats braving the icy roads and still-high gas prices. So, if you'd like to buy some of your pets gifts online, check out my new

That's where I've compiled a list of some of my favorite online stores, which I use myself and can recommend.

Whether you want some Gourmet treats for Fido, a luxurious holiday outfit for Fifi, or the best natural pet products on the market - it's the place to find them all.

My most popular pages

There may well be one (or several) that have the information and advice you've been looking for!

Puppy Diarrhea
Puppy Shots
Adopt A Puppy
Puppy Development
Dog Food Ratings
Dog Illnesses
Puppy Health
Puppy Blog
Puppy Worms
Best Dog Breeds For Children Fun Puppy Stuff

Cute Puppy Alert!

November Puppy Photo Contest?

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

Please Vote For The Puppy Dog Place!

The site with the most votes at the end of the contest wins the right to proudly display the PawsUP! banner of recognition. I would love to win, so if you've enjoyed my site, subscribe to my rss feed, read my blog, get my newsletters (or all of the above!) please vote for The Puppy Dog Place, by clicking on the banner below.

Thanks!!

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

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Please visit us at The Puppy Dog Place soon!

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