The Perfect Dog

Life is full of "First's".  The first time you rode a bicycle, your first day of school, your first best friend, and of course your first pet.  The bond we form with our pets as children is a special and unbreakable one.  It stays with you forever, and in many ways it changes us.

I will always remember my first dog, Ginny.  She is what people would call my "Heart Dog", the one that grabs hold of your heart and soul and never lets go, never leaves you for the rest of your life.  As the youngest of 5 kids, I literally grew up with Ginny.  I hardly remember a day in my young life without her.

MY HEART DOG  

I was 7 when that fluffy bundle of joy, a Golden Retriever mix, joined our family.  She left us 17 years later when I was in my twenties.  Ginny was everything to me; my best friend, my respite from an otherwise chaotic household, and my protector.  She always "understood" me. She knew when something was wrong and when I needed someone to comfort me.

My childhood dog Ginny, my Heart Dog.  I will love you forever sweet girl.

I have so many wonderful memories of Ginny, she was truly a special dog.  I know we all say that about our childhood pets, but she really was!  She never needed any kind of training, she instantly grasped all the basic commands and never misbehaved.  Wherever you went Ginny always remained at your side.  She was super smart, friendly, always gave kisses in abundance, and was as loyal as any dog could be.  She loved everyone she met and everyone she met loved her!  I was so lucky and so blessed to have Ginny in my life.  To me she was the perfect dog.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF DOGS

When my older brother and I fought she would get in between us and start barking, like a Canine Referee.  We'd have to laugh and stop fighting!

When things got "heavy" at home and I was upset she'd come over and lay her head on my knee or nuzzle me to let me know she was there for me and that it would be OK.  

I was a teenager when an Uncle I loved dearly was in the hospital.  We didn't know if he was going to make it through a complicated surgery (he didn't), and I was left home alone while my parents rushed to the hospital.  I was sitting on a living room chair crying when Ginny came over and placed her head on my knee.  She licked my tears away as I hugged her vigorously.  She always knew when I really needed her.

Oh, how I wish I had a photo of Ginny dressed like Cinderella that Halloween I decided to bring her Trick or Treating with me and my friends!  I remember putting her in a blue Cinderella princess dress from my Halloween costume the year before - Ginny was nothing if not a cooperative dog who only wanted to please her owners.  

The neighbors got a kick out of this beautiful Golden Retriever dog who came to the door dressed as Cinderella.  In those days, we didn't dress our pets up or spoil and pamper them like we do today.  Although, my Mom did make her a bowl of meatballs and spaghetti so she could join in our Italian family dinners on Sundays!  Not giving the dog people food that could be potentially toxic wasn't of particular concern back then either.  My Father declared Ginny "An Italian dog" because of the way she devoured Mom's meatballs - she made the best meatballs!  Living in an Italian household, Ginny probably ingested more garlic than any other dog in the county, never mind that garlic is toxic to dogs!

Ginny loved running free through the woods next door to our house.

Like all our pets, Ginny was a shelter dog, and like many Long Islanders we got her from the Bideawee Home animal shelter.  I remember my Dad loading my brother and I into the car to "go get a dog" at Bideawee.  I remember looking into the cages and seeing a litter of adorable puppies, Ginny among them.  I remember the car ride home and how me and my brother fought to hold our new little golden ball of fur in our laps.  I remember the whole family, my parents and my 4 siblings, gathered around this new puppy in the family room brainstorming to come up with a name for her.  I don't recall who came up with "Ginny" but it was perfect, and to this little girl she was perfect.

PAW PRINTS ON OUR HEARTS

Ginny definitely had us all at "woof".  She captivated our entire family for 17 years.  Decades later I still think of Ginny and what she meant to me.  It's amazing that after so many years, I can still vividly remember the glorious experience of going to adopt my first dog, and so many of the wonderful experiences I had with her.  

I am proof positive that giving a child a pet can be the most wonderful gift of all. Pets can teach a child so much; Responsibility, Kindness, Empathy, and most of all Unconditional Love.  I'm filled with gratitude to Bideawee for giving my family the joy of our lives, a Golden Retriever mix puppy who for us was The Perfect Dog.   

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Do you remember your first pet?  Tell us about it in the comments!

WHY A PUPPY CAN BE THE WORST HOLIDAY GIFT

It's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us!  Thinking about giving someone a puppy for Christmas? Think again! It's a big decision that needs careful consideration. 

At this time of year we carefully consider holiday gift ideas for the people we love.  We rack our brains trying to decide on that perfect gift, a special gift, one that demonstrates how much we love them.

A puppy or dog may not be the best holiday gift! 

This holiday season many peoples' thoughts will turn to giving the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.  The one that can actually love you back - that's right, a puppy!   Before you say "Yeah, that's it I'll get the person I love a puppy for Christmas!"  HOLD UP!  Sure, it sounds like a great idea, but have you put enough thought into whether or not a puppy might give a little too much?  Will a puppy be more than the recipient is able to handle?

Everywhere you look they're tugging at our heartstrings!  Puppy stores, dog rescues, and animal shelters are full at Christmastime, and online ads for puppies kick into high gear all through the holidays.  Even at animal shelters people are often there to adopt a puppy or a dog for someone else. 

It seems like the perfect gift idea, you're so sure it's the right gift for that special someone. It will bring them so much joy, right? Probably, but it will also bring huge responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, to the new puppy owner!  

There's a lot to consider before you bring a puppy or dog into a home.  Even if someone constantly talks about how much they want a puppy and it sounds like they're on the verge of getting one, they may not be prepared for the responsibility at this time in their lives. So before you decide that a puppy is the perfect gift for someone else, be sure their lifestyle will support the lifelong commitment of owning a dog. 

> If the person you are giving a puppy to travels frequently it may be an issue.  You need to spend time with a new puppy!  They have to bond with their new owner and family and the pup needs training.  Who will care for the dog while they are at work or traveling?

> If the they live in an apartment complex or a neighborhood with a Homeowners Association (HOA) there may be restrictions on the breed or size of dog they can have.


> If the person lives with someone else such as a roommate or their parents, those folks must all be consulted before bringing a new pet into the home.  

> Are there other animals living in the home already?  If so, that is a big consideration. You don't want to upset the dynamic of the home.  A new pup has to be a good fit for existing pets and must be properly introduced to resident pets when you bring him home.

> Assess the ability to afford ongoing costs of dog ownership, especially vet bills every year; annual vaccinations, checkups, and visits to the vet for occasional illness or injury.  What if they need to spay or neuter the dog themselves?  That can be a significant expense.  Are you willing to pick up the tab for that?  

> Training for both a puppy and an older dog are essential. Training can be expensive!  Including a gift card towards training is an excellent addition to your gift of a puppy or dog.

> Make sure  no one in the household is allergic to dogs!  Even the so called "hypo-allergenic" dogs can be an issue.  There really is no such thing as a totally hypo-allergenic dog.  Many breeds have hair rather than fur which is helpful, but some people are still allergic to them.

> Everyone in the household should be on board with adding a new dog, and responsibilities for pet care should be clear and realistic.  If the recipient is your own child, make sure responsibilities of caring for the puppy are well thought out and that it’s the right time to add a dog to your family.  Caring for a pet is a great learning experience but don't expect a 7 year old to walk and feed a dog on a daily basis!

Although it sounds magical, I'm not a fan of surprising someone with a puppy or dog as a gift. A dog is a living being that will require lifelong care.  Bringing a dog into your home is not something to be taken lightly.  

Once you've gone through the above considerations and you're reasonably sure a canine companion would be the right gift, help them make the right decision about what kind of dog to get.  It will be just as wonderful a surprise to thoughtfully gift wrap a stuffed animal dog, an animal shelter gift card, a photo of a cute puppy, or even just a leash.  Watch their eyes fly open wide as you tell them that right after Christmas you’ll be taking a trip together to pick out a dog! 

Spend a cozy evening together with a hot cup of cocoa deciding whether to get a puppy or an older dog, and what type of dog would best fit their lifestyle.  

Their excitement will continue to build as they prepare to add a new furry member to their family.  Make an adventure out of searching for just the right puppy or dog together. Visit a pet supplies store together, or shop online, to select all the basic things needed for a new puppy or dog.  The time you spend searching for their new best friend together will be a gift in itself, and a treasured memory!

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Puppies are irresistible, but is a puppy the right Christmas gift?

Please Adopt rather than Shop if possible, or be sure you select a dog from a reputable breeder.  Avoid online ads for puppies and do some research to help ensure your puppy isn't from a Puppy Mill!

Did you know there are breed specific rescue organizations for just about every breed of dog?  What better gift than not only giving a dog, but saving a life in the process!

Visit our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs and Dog Lovers to find the perfect gift for all the dogs and dog lovers on your Christmas gift list!

What you need to know before bringing home a new puppy or dog 

Have you ever given or received a pup as a gift?  Leave us a comment and share your experience and advice!

Ten's of Thousands of Puppies From One Dog; Spay Neuter Awareness

February has been a busy month in terms of pet awareness and action.  We've been communicating about several things throughout the month including Dog Training Education, Pet Dental Health, Spay/Neuter Awareness and Responsible Pet Ownership:

Me with just one of the hoards of puppies the shelter takes in every year

These are all important things to remind people about.  As a shelter volunteer, the one I probably communicate about the most is Spay/Neuter Awareness.  February is designated Spay/Neuter Awareness Month by the Humane Society of the Unites States (HSUS).

According to the Humane Society:

> The average female dog produces 2 litters per year, each litter containing 6 – 10 puppies. 

> If that one dog remains UNspayed and breeds for six years, that’s 72 to 120 puppies born! 

> If that dog’s offspring also remain UNspayed they could produce tens of thousands of puppies over a 6 year period! 

It's astounding to me that so many people still refuse to spay and neuter their pets.  Even though most shelters offer low cost, free, and mobile spay/neuter services, many people don't do it.  Is it culture, religion, fear, greed (breeding revenue) or just plain foolishness and disregard for animals that causes this resistance?  I wish I had the answer.

Recently, I was talking to my hairdresser about a camping trip she had been on with relatives.  They each brought their dogs on the trip, 3 dogs in total.  She told me that her dog, the only male, had been misbehaving while playing with the females and they had to lock him in the camper. 

SHOULD YOU LET YOUR NEW PUPPY CRY?

When you get a new puppy, there are so many things to learn.  Everyone has an opinion and everyone has “expert” advice to share, from friends and family to experienced dog trainers.  I read lots of books articles about puppy training before bringing Icy, our beautiful Siberian Husky puppy home, so I felt well prepared for Puppy Parenthood. 

Icy with my husband, at 12 weeks old.  She was such a little darling!

Little did I know that sometimes the "expert" puppy training advice you receive turns out not to be so smart. 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Dogs Wearing Glasses

I had the opportunity to write a post on a dog biscuit by Purina's ALPO this week.  I had a fun idea for an Info board with Phoebe wearing glasses, so I spent a day training her to wear glasses and took some photos.

I thought Phoebe looked so stinking cute in her red glasses I had to share this photo with you!   How cute does she look with glasses on?!  BOL!!!!!!!!!!!

You can see the full post by clicking HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!!!