No Paws from Santa Claus

The Holidays are coming and children have thought long and hard about the gifts they would most want to receive this year. Trucks, trains, Groovey girls and scooters are popular gifts this year. Each year lists are filled with the "most popular" toys of that year. There is one thing each year that can be found on many children's lists. A puppy. The image of a bright eyed plump adorable pup dressed in a red bow is an irresistible one. Or is it? Giving a life for a gift is something to think very carefully about. Puppies grow up quickly, cost a lot and need a life long commitment.

As a Professional Dog Trainer and Breed rescue volunteer, I have seen many sad endings for these once so irresistible pups. Spring comes around and the pup is now sixty or so pounds and full of unappreciated energy and spunk... The issues of teething and housebreaking are sore subjects for the entire family. The pup is out of control and no longer the highlight in the kid's day. Many times this leads to a decision to "re home" the pup. This is the worst case scenario. Unfortunately it is all too common. Preparing ahead of time is essential to the success of a new puppy in your home.

If your family has made a decision to get a puppy please keep several things in mind. Getting a puppy is at least a 13 year long commitment depending on the type of dog. The most enjoyable dogs are well mannered. It is advised you seek out a dog trainer for instruction that suits your needs... All dogs need monthly heartworm prevention as well as yearly medical check ups. Please research the type of dog you are interested in. Different breeds have traits specific to them. Find traits that suit your family's lifestyle there are many options for where to get a dog or puppy from. The internet is a great resource of information on this. Most breeds have a rescue group of some kind. There are many wonderful dogs that are without homes.

So, if you see a puppy on the top of your child's list this year. Might I suggest that you go out and purchase the cutest stuffed puppy that you can find? Get it a leash and collar with tags. Get a food bowl and some biscuits for effect and then research together the many options you have in deciding when and what type of furry family member you would like to bring into your family. Preparation, Education and dedication are the best recipe for a perfect happy ending for all. Happy Holidays

About The Author

Jennifer Shryock, Canine behavior consultant - http://www.familypaws.com

U.S. Coordinator for http://www.doggonesafe.com

Jen@familypaws.com

In The News:
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081015/circuit-city-launches-one-price-promise-to-assure-consistent-dependable-pricing-in-all-sales-channel.htmcid=1257778047ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNFF8aUUqFBBxnS5kJ1ugZ67cHnWGAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=AEmR6TzLaQoJimgurl=www.ibtimes.com/data/prnews/110.jpg width=79 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2International Business Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/business/15retail.html%3Femcid=1257778047ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNHilhkmYgA9PDctml4rB8wX6RwRQQGadgetry Takes a Hit as Nervous Consumers Plan for Lean bHolidays/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The bholidays/b are a critical time for sales of electronics and in-home entertainment products. The video game industry traditionally does 50 percent of its b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://uk.sys-con.com/node/710485cid=1257778047ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNE9Z3qaOA7VUfij9qYDdoqMilTJPQCircuit City Launches #39;One Price Promise#39; to Assure Consistent b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSYS-CON Media/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257778047hl=ennobrall 105 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/travelers-kick-off-holidays-savings/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B6DEF6EF7-DB88-43E2-AFB6-F26590C5C70F%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1258228055ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNGFzD_q9jzu_y9E7lVb1uOP5P6HKwTravelers Kick Off the bHolidays/b With Savings From Funjet Vacations/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1MILWAUKEE, Oct 15, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- With the bustle of the bholiday/b season just around the corner, travelers can book a Funjet Vacation to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/just-time-holidays-virgin-mobile/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BA77FF080-19C6-47C5-A309-C8FFA40A28D6%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1258199252ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNF2kCtlua5PNFl9FWoTaDQg5Ie8_gJust in Time for bHolidays/b, Virgin Mobile USA Lowers Prepaid b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1, , ) has unveiled new prepaid international calling rates to Latin America, Asia, Brazil and other markets across the globe for as low as two cents per b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.browncountyindiana.com/main.asp%3FSectionID%3D1%26SubSectionID%3D1%26ArticleID%3D11875%26TM%3D57391.47cid=1258247248ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNEX5LY8s4Nzqys-nC-eXgeLO_mm8wChamber facing changes, working on bholidays/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBrown County Democrat,nbsp;INnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bHoliday/b promotions abound with hopes of dissolving the outsiders#39; view of Brown County as a tourist destination that goes into hibernation once the colorful b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wbbm780.com/Daley-Orders-Temporary--Partial-Shutdown-Of-City-S/3134518cid=1257744911ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNFN10uzKYAXlV1-EXbSVdODCcrfNwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=U0h0nAIvgkwJimgurl=imgsrv.wbbm780.com/image/DbGraphic/200810/1086782.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2WBBM780/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail%3FcontentId%3D7650841%26version%3D1%26locale%3DEN-US%26layoutCode%3DTSTY%26pageId%3D3.2.1cid=1257744911ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNGnDHbO4-BuexmU_HmQK32GvAX_rgCity Government Will Close Around 3 bHolidays/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMyFox Chicago,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Ironically, the idea of a bholiday/b shutdown originated with organized labor, said Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wbbm780.com/Daley-Orders-Temporary--Partial-Shutdown-Of-City-S/3134518cid=1257744911ei=0pz2SOaXGY_u6gPnzoWWCQusg=AFQjCNFN10uzKYAXlV1-EXbSVdODCcrfNwDaley Orders Temporary, Partial Shutdown Of City Services/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWBBM780/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257744911hl=ennobrall 5 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
holidays - Google News

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