The cute, loveable puppies you see prancing down the street with their owners has got you thinking. You want a puppy. You want the unconditional love and happiness that caring for a puppy can bring. However, you are not quite sure where to start your quest to find the perfect puppy. Friends and family have told you that different types of dogs are appropriate for different life styles. How can you figure out how a puppy will fit into your life? It is as simple as listening to the following audio books and podcast for guidance.
You might be tempted to buy the first puppy you see and not take the time to prepare yourself for the process. You could spend time reading books on various puppies, but why not listen to advice from the experts instead? You can listen to dog related audio books when you are commuting in your car, riding on the train, or walking in the park. You could even head down to your local dog park and listen to the audio book while you observe the behavior of many types of dogs.
Begin your pooch quest with the audio book, "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by The Monks of New Skete. This audio book provides guidelines for every stage in the puppy raising process from adopting your puppy to watching them grow into healthy adult dogs. This comprehensive guide details how a puppy can fit into your life and the proper care you should engage in to keep your puppy in peak spirits.
After you have learned the physical aspects of raising a puppy you can explore the mind of your pooch. Check out, "The Hidden Lives of Dogs" by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. This audio book discusses the ages old mystery of how dogs think. Do they dream? What goes on between their perky ears and black noses?
Any dog aficionado loves to listen to amusing dog stories. Listen to "Tales from the Barkside" by Brian Kilcommons. Delight in stories about the love and courage of dogs as told by two dog trainers. As a new dog owner you will create stories with your dog that will unfold as you bond. The relationship between pets and their owners is strong and at times moving.
You have the comprehensive dog guide, understand the mind of your potential puppy, and have listened to amusing stories by dog trainers. This information will help you to become a wonderful dog owner. Why not add to your inventory of knowledge weekly by listening to the "Pet Talk Radio Podcast" by Dr. Harry Cooper? This show originates in Australia and can now be heard around the world. Listen about many different pets for fun and entertainment.
Have your puppy listen to these audio learning resources with you or at the very least snuggled up to your feet while you listen.
About The Author: Jillian Gregory writes for LearnOutLoud.com, an online portal for educational and self-development audio and video material which can be found at http://www.learnoutloud.com For the HTML version of this article complete with links to the titles that were mentioned, please visit http://www.learnoutloud.com/puppy01


A Step-By-Step Guide To Puppy Picking
With hundreds of breeds to choose from, how do you decide which one is right? Narrow down the choices in a few simple steps.

Size Matters
First, consider your available space. If you live in an apartment, you can rule out large dogs. Look for dogs in the Toy group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Miniature Schnauzer.
If you have children, you may want to rule out very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Maltese. They are delicate and can be accidentally injured by young children. On the other hand, very large dogs, such as Boxers or Saint Bernards, can be overly boisterous and can accidentally turn your child into a human bowling pin. Consider medium-sized breeds, such as Fox Terriers or Lhasa Apsos.

Exercise Essential
Next, consider how much exercise you can give your dog. If you have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get some exercise on his own.
However, dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups are very high-energy animals, and they will need intensive daily exercise. Plan to take a lot of long walks with your dog or go for a daily romp in the park. After all, these dogs were bred to work hard, and they don't do well unless they have a job to do or a way to burn off excess energy.

To Groom Or Not
Also, don't forget to consider grooming needs. Some breeds need only half an hour or so of grooming a week, while others require an hour a day. If you are short on time, don't buy a Standard Poodle or a Maltese -- unless you plan to take your dog to a groom. Breeds like Boston Terriers or Whippets are good choices for people who don't have time for a lot of grooming.

Puppy Problems
Once you decide which breed you want, you will need to consider the age of the dog. Many people opt to buy a cuddly little puppy instead of an adult. While puppies have the advantage of not yet having developed any bad habits, it will be up to you to be sure your puppy is housebroken and obedience trained.
Do you want to buy a puppy? If so, you will need to find a reputable dog breeder who has a litter of the appropriate breed. Often, a good breeder will have a waiting list for puppies.
If you aren't the patient sort, you may be tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store. A word of caution -- many pet store puppies come from puppy mills and have genetic health defects, bad temperaments, and other problems. It is usually safest to buy a puppy directly from the breeder.

Older dogs are usually housebroken and frequently have some obedience training. They are also less likely to be hyperactive and destructive. However, they can have behavioral problems or health problems that prompted the former owner to find them a new home.

If you are interested in an older dog, you may want to visit your local animal shelter or call a breed rescue. These groups evaluate the dogs' health and temperament before adopting them out.
Once you've picked the breed and the dog, you have one more important decision to make -- what to name your new best friend!
Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit new-pup to learn more about this subject.
Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.


Do I Have to Part With My Pet If I Have Pet Allergies?
Aaaaaaachoo!
Sneezing? Wheezing? Nose runny, eyes itchy? You may be suffering from the common cold. But if the condition has been hanging on for two weeks, or more, you may be suffering from an allergy as opposed to a cold. Your doctor may be the only one who can conclude if you are experiencing an allergic reaction.
There are many types of allergies but being allergic to animals is quite common. What happens if you discover you are susceptible to pet allergies?
Does this mean that your faithful dog, loving cat or beautiful rabbit has to go?
Some people that have allergies can continue to live with their pet. It depends upon the severity of your allergies and whether or not you are prepared to make some changes and live within a few rules. If your allergic reaction to your pet is on the moderate side, you may be able to reduce your suffering by reducing the amount of animal allergens you come in contact with.
Up to 15% of the population are allergic to domestic animals and approximately one third of those continue to live with their pet. For many the pleasure of owning a pet outweighs the burden and discomfort of pet allergies.
If your allergies make life miserable for you, but are non life threatening, you may be able to reduce the symptoms by taking the following actions.
If you suffer from allergies, and share your living space with an animal, it is extremely important to keep dust and dust mites to a minimum in your home. The microscopic skin particles that are cast off by dogs, cats, hamsters and other pets are known as dander, and can quickly spread throughout your home and cause allergic reactions for anyone who has a pet allergy.
Never sleep with your pet. You would be breathing in dander for the whole time that you are asleep. Best make your bedroom a no go area for your pets, keep your bedroom door closed and don't allow your pet in. Although you cannot completely prevent dander from getting into your bedroom, keeping the animal out will greatly reduce the level of pet allergen in that room. Buy a low cost vinyl encasing for your mattress, this will keep down the dander that resides within your bed. Wash blankets, sheets and pillow cases frequently.
Where you can replace your carpets. A non porous flooring such as hardwood, tile, vinyl or linoleum will contain far less allergen than carpeting. Where you do have carpets have them cleaned regularly and vacuum frequently - and use a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum filter.
Consider replacing fabric furniture covered for leather or vinyl furniture and replacing your curtains with plastic blinds, an expense but doing so will help reduce the effect of your pet allergies.
Bath your pet frequently, at least once a week and you will greatly diminish the amount of dander residing in your pet's fur (by up to 80%). Contrary to popular belief cats can be bathed, get someone to help and ask your veterinarian for advice on how to do this properly.
Damp wipe all surfaces once per week, pet allergens are airborne and will stick to most anything. Don't forget to wipe down your pet's toys they will be harboring allergens.
Washing off or changing the filter in your heating cooling system will help. Consider purchasing a HEPA air cleaner, they can reduce allergens in the home and increase comfort for those who suffer with pet allergies.
Talk to your doctor about your commitment to keeping your pet. If he/she considers that your pet allergy is not life threatening he/she may understand your reluctance to part with your animal companion. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may be prescribed and may help you, together with the steps above, to continue to enjoy the company of your cat, dog, hamster or rabbit.
Please feel free to use this article on your cat or pet related web site or in your ezine. Please keep it intact, (you may make minor formatting alterations,) and keep all links as hyperlinks. Thank you.
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