Pup-Pup enjoys her holiday gift 

Safe holidays for the Dogs

Here are some tips about how to make the holidays safe and fun for the family dog, as well as for yourself. First, be aware of holiday hazards and supervise your dog when she's exposed to them. For example tinsel, Christmas lights, wires, glass ornaments and holiday decorations can be deadly to pets. Don't leave Pup-Pup alone with any hazardous materials, not even for a minute! Make sure your holidays aren't interrupted by an emergency visit to a veterinary hospital.

To help Pup-Pup share in the fun, place dog-safe toys and ornaments on the bottom branches of your tree, and let her play with them. Attach them with string, not wire hangers. And beware of chewing on evergreen branches or pine needles, for they can make her quite sick.

Of course, she'll make every effort to convince you to share your Christmas pudding. Don't give in! Cakes, pies, puddings, and especially candies contain ingredients that dogs can't digest (rich, processed fats, sugars and dairy products). At best, such ingredients cause diarrhea; at worst, they can be toxic (for example chocolate is a big "no-no"). Does Pup-Pup deserve her share or holiday treats? YOU BET! For yummy holiday treats fit for Fido, check out The Dogfather Bakery on Main Street in Westbor (next to the Bagel Bistro); Pets Gone Healthy on route 20 on the Marlboro/Northboro line; and Pet Source, in the RK Mall in Marlboro, next to Hannaford's Supermarket.

The Doggie Den Homepage

Holiday puppies a No! No!

By now, your local puppy store is in high holiday gear. They want to convince you that puppies make the perfect holiday gift. What could be cuter than a new puppy on Christmas morning?

Actually, it would be hard to make a worse choice!! Reputable breeders are loath to sell in December, because thy know that by February the puppy is likely to find himself relinquished to a dog shelter or, if he's lucky, returned to the breeder. The holidays are a busy, stressful time. If you're like me, you're already exhausted. It's a time when we struggle to meet our on-going commitments, along with preparing for the holidays. It's certainly not a time to take on the work of a new puppy!

A couple of weeks into January, the kids will be back in school and mom and dad will be rushing off to work every morning. The weather will make you want to hibernate. Just when everyone could use a break, adorable puppy will be soiling the carpets, chewing on furniture, stealing food, throwing up on clean clothes, and acting generally out of control.

If your family is ready for a dog, Please! wait until February or March when things will have calmed down, and Spring is on the way. Winter weather makes house training difficult, if not impossible; and the spirit of the season prevents you from making a realistic decision about a new dog. In the Spring your family will have more time outside, and a greater inclination to train the new family member. If you don't train him, he will quickly metamorphose from cute puppy to black sheep!!

The Doggie Den Homepage