Dogs

Fostering a dog is a wonderful and rewarding experience. You give the dog a safe place to live until he finds his forever home, and in return, you are rewarded with the joys of having a fur baby in your home. If you're wondering, "Should I foster a dog?" remember the decision to foster is a commitment that requires patience, love, and a willingness to say goodbye when the pup's adopted. Here's a look at what it takes to foster a dog, so you can know if you're a good fit for this very important job.

Compared to the zest and rambunctiousness of older puppies, newborn puppies are pretty laid-back. Their eyes aren't fully functional, and their hearing isn't as sharp as it will be. They don't move much, except for some wriggling or crawling. At this stage, they mostly search for their mother's milk and making occasional soft sounds.

When you adopt a dog, you have a lot of decisions to make. Do you adopt a puppy or an older dog? What kind of dog do you want? Adopting a dog from a previous owner can bring a unique set of challenges, but you will make a huge difference in the pup's life when you choose to adopt an older dog.

When you bring an older dog into your family, you're giving a gift not just to the pup but also to yourself. You're also committing to caring for a senior dog through all of life's ups and downs. When you consider adopting an older dog, it's a good idea to look at all the pros and cons first.

Bringing home a second dog is an exciting decision for both you and your new furry best friend. There's some preparation you need to do to make sure you and your other dog are ready for the big change, such as making sure their personalities match and having a meet-up before move-in day. Here's how to prepare the perfect homecoming for your second dog.

Bringing home a rescue dog? No doubt, you want advice on how best to help your new pup feel safe, secure, and happy. Dog-proofing your house, providing a safe space to get away, and putting aside lots of time to play can help. The adjustment period may take some time, but with a little preparation, you can ensure everything goes smoothly and peacefully.

Puppies aren't born with the ability to walk. Like human babies, newborn puppies are quite fragile. But just when do puppies start walking? While human babies don't start walking until they're nine to 18 months old, puppies start walking much sooner, around three to four weeks old. It won't be long after that before they're playing, chasing, and just acting adorable all the time.

A dog crate is an enclosed pen that is just large enough for a dog to stand up and turn around in. Dog crates can be made of plastic, soft materials, or collapsible metal. Professional dog trainers and veterinarians recommend crate training as one of the fastest and least stressful ways to mold desirable behaviors in dogs. Crates help satisfy a dog's instinct to be in a den. For wild dogs, a den acts as their home, their safe space, and their place to raise their puppies.

Congratulations on adopting a puppy! Now that you're caring for a little warm bundle of love, you'll want to prepare for each stage in your puppy's life. At some point, your puppy is going to chew on everything. But just when do puppies start teething? Puppies get their first set of baby teeth when they're very young, but their adult teeth come in around three to four months of age. It's important to help your puppy however you can during this time.