Category: Puppies

A Fight in Phoenix: The Faces of Good and Evil

In December 2013, Phoenix city officials passed an ordinance prohibiting pet stores from selling dogs obtained from commercial breeders. The law forbids pet shops from selling dogs from sources other than non-profit rescue facilities and shelters. Phoenix is… Read More

Puppy Socialization Addendum

My recent article about the pros and cons of early puppyhood socialization solicited some wonderful comments, many of which were from trainers and breeders. Thanks to all of you who responded. Here are some take home messages from… Read More

Socializing Your Young Pup: Healthy or Hazardous?

If you want to make yourself a little crazy, ask a bunch of dog experts if it’s a good idea to socialize your youngster before completion of his or her puppy vaccinations. Guaranteed you will hear, “Absolutely!” from… Read More

Thinking of Breeding Your Dog?

For many people the prospect of producing puppies is ever so tempting. There are all kinds of reasons for wanting to bring new dogs into the world ranging from replicating that ideal dam or sire to the desire… Read More

A New Year’s Resolution

Happy New Year to you! In honor of this new year I have a rather bold request to make of y’all (having lived in the south now for more than a year I’ve earned the right to use… Read More

Dog Park Play: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Dog parks can be a fabulous venue for dogs to socialize, exercise, and get out their “ya ya’s”. Many dogs have a blast there, as do their humans who enjoy the opportunity to socialize with other dog lovers… Read More

Take the Pledge: A Quick and Simple Thing You Can Do Today to Help Make Puppy Mills Go Away

Would it surprise you to know that the vast majority of puppies sold in pet stores originate from puppy mills (large scale breeding operations where profit is prioritized over the emotional and physical well being of the dogs… Read More

Caring for a Rescued Puppy Mill Breeding Dog

As discussed in last week’s blog, rescued puppy mill breeding dogs come with a whole lot of emotional baggage. Fear is the number one issue- fear of people, other animals, and new sights and sounds. Should you decide… Read More

My Puppy Mill Education

After the November election, I learned that Missouri voters passed legislation known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act (Proposition B).  As I began surfing the Internet to learn more, I anticipated reading about strict new regulations that… Read More