How to Choose a Puppy
by Evamarie Spataro
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Picking a puppy
is not as easy as you might think.

The number one rule is, don’t pick the shy puppy. No matter how sad they look, they create trouble. The shy puppy generally will not want to be with you, and has a chance of getting aggressive at around two years.

Here are some tips:

• So, when you go to the breeder (or possibly the pound) see if the puppies come up to you. If decide to go to a breeder, see the mother AND father of the puppies. Play with the adults to get a feel for the way the grown puppies will act.
• See how all the puppies interact with each other as well. You don’t really want the one who is terrorizing the other pups or a shy puppy.
• If a puppy stares at you straight and tracks you with his or her eyes, stay away from that puppy. It could mean that it is aggressive.
• Make sure you don’t pick up a puppy first. There is a very good chance you will become attached and that puppy could be the wrong one for you.
• Check the living conditions of the pups. Make certain that the water and food are clean, not filled with bugs and/or plants. Look at the ground, to see if there is poop on it. The poop carries bacteria and can be harmful to puppies if ingested.
• You must also check the health of the puppies. The first thing to look at is the coat. It should be glossy and the skin should smooth, but not dry. A pup ’s nose should be cold and wet. Make sure there is no drainage coming out of the puppy’s eyes. This could mean he or she has an eye infection.
• Also, another thing to check is how the puppies walk. You want the steps to be nice and even. If they are clumsy and are kind of wobbly, this could be related to a spine or leg problem.

Now, after you have checked all of these things, you can pick up a puppy. When you pick up a puppy, put it on it’s back and on your lap. He or she will squirm at first, but then it should relax. See how the puppy interacts with you. If the puppy just walks away from you doesn’t seem interested in you, that puppy will not be a good family pet.

Recently, my family and I purchased a new puppy. We did lots of research on what breed would be good for us. After we had done research, we decided we would go with a Basset Hound. My mom called various Basset breeders. We found one breeder that seemed to really love his puppies. We drove two hours in our car, and then we finally made it.

I first met the father of the puppies, Reddie Freddie. He was the cutest dog! The only problem was that he didn’t realize how big he actually was. He put his front paws on my lap and knocked me over (he weighed over 75 pounds). I didn’t really get a chance to play with the mother, but I saw her.

The breeder, Mr. Dabs, showed us where the puppies were kept. I looked in the penned in area the puppies were kept in. As soon as the pups saw me, they came bounding towards us, like a huge wave.

We walked into the pen to see the puppies. The ground was clean AND the food and water were immaculate. All the pups piled up on my feet, and feasted on my shoe laces. There wasn’t one shy puppy in the pen, thank goodness. My sister, Joanne, picked up one little girl puppy, that was almost completely tan. Everyone really liked her.

After looking at the puppies, which were in perfect health, we decided to take home the puppy that was almost all tan.

We took her home and, decided to name her Emma.

The First Days with Your Puppy
by Evamarie Spataro
Okay, you went to the puppy farm, and picked the best dog ever.
Good! Now what?
Learn more about correct potty training, grooming, the all important obedience training to get you and your puppy off on the right foot. (or is it paw?)

Adopting a new pet
Adopt rather than buy, and save a life!
by Paula Colvett
So you've decided to obtain a new pet for your household. Before you purchase a new pet, why not check out your area animal shelter or humane society? By adopting from a shelter, you not only save the life of the animal you adopt, but also the lives of all those animals awaiting a vacancy in the shelter so they will have a place to go. Here are some tips and tricks so that both you and your pet will be happy!!

The Art of Raising a Puppy
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Puppy Training

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
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The Basset Hound Owner's Survival Guide
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FREE Breed Profiles
The Secret World of the Basset Hound

The Essential Puppy
by Betsy Sikora Siino

Part of the Essential Book series, this book tells you about selecting a puppy; companionship; information on feeding, grooming, traiing and healthcare.

The Perfect Match:
A Dog Buyer's Guide
by Chris Walkowicz

The most authoritative book of its kind. Nearly 150 breeds are presented with a full photo for each and a complete checklist including personality and physical characteristics, as well as both positive and negative attributes. Never before has there been the depth of truth and authority that is given here, highlighting each breed's unique qualities along with a look at who should not own the breed. Photos.