New puppy?

Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1111753

Are you thinking about getting a new puppy? Summer is puppy season. And many people begin to think about adding a dog to their family during this season. But where to go to get the new dog? What kind of dog should you get? There are a lot of resources on the web about how to choose the correct dog for you. The American Kennel Club has a ton of resources about temperament, exercise needs and grooming needs of the recognized breeds. Shelters and rescues can be good for helping you determine the temperament and needs of an individual dog.

Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/530901

If you are thinking about purchasing a pure bred dog make sure you can go and visit the breeder. You should see a small number of happy healthy dogs that are allowed to socialize with the other dogs and humans in the household. You should be shown medical records for both the puppies and their parents testifying to the health of all of the dogs. You should go prepared to ask questions about inherited and genetic disease risks for that particular breed and the breeder should willing provide evidence of the existence or absence of those problems. Ask to see actual veterinary records or for a release to speak directly with the breeder's veterinarian about these concerns.

Here are some resources for researching inherited disease in various dog breeds.

Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) at http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/breeds.html

Canine Inherited Disorders Database maintained by the University of Prince Edward Island at http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/.

You can also check out more information on hips, heart and eye problems through the following resources:

Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) at http://www.vmdb.org/history.html

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) at http://www.offa.org/index.html

OFA's Cardiac Database at http://www.offa.org/cardiac_about.html

University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PENNHip) at http://research.vet.upenn.edu/pennhip/GeneralInformation/WhatisPennHIP/tabid/3232/Default.aspx

Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1258144

Perhaps you would like to adopt a puppy or even better have some interest in an older dog. Then you are likely to be looking into area shelters and rescues. Even here we can find problems with the management, care and adoption policies. Again, you should always be allowed to meet the dog you have interest in, even if they are currently being fostered. If you have other pets or children at home they should have some time to meet the pet before you take him or her home. Shelter or rescue pets should be spayed or neutered or there should be a refundable deposit to be sure that they are spayed or neuter soon after you adopt. There should also be some temperament testing done by the shelter or rescue agency. Ask if they have used the ASPCA's SAFER test or Sue Sternberg's Assess-A-Pet. Make sure the animals have continued to receive appropriate vaccinations, deworming and other veterinary care during their stay.

And finally, stay away from the Internet! Anyone can stage or Photoshop a photo. You have no idea of the conditions that your puppy was raised in unless you can view it yourself. You also have no first hand knowledge of the health of the parents, puppies or temperament of any of the dogs without meeting them. The most critical period of socialization for puppies begins before they leave the kennel and if they have been kept in a cage the entire time they may not be appropriate household pets.

Want more information? I just found the best website about how to research breeders, rescues, shelters and what red flags to look out for. Check out www.pupquest.org. Written by a veterinarian with extensive experience in animal shelters and rescues this website has a ton of information about finding the best source for you new lifelong companion.

Want more? Here is are two free downloadable books by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a notable veterinarian and animal trainer. http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BEFORE%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf

http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/AFTER%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/288602

Pet loss books for kids

I just wanted to share with you some of my favorite books to help you in your conversations with your kids about pet loss and grief. Most of these books will be available through your local library and all are available on Amazon.com. I have included links to Amazon if you would like to take a further look or read additional reviews.

The first is "Dog Heaven" by Cynthia Rylant. There is also a companion "Cat Heaven" book with a similar theme/premise. This is a good book for younger children, preschool and early elementary. It allows families to talk about what happens to our pets when they leave us. While it does introduce the concept of a heaven it is not overtly one religion or another, allowing parents to discuss their own personal views of heaven. It is a sweet book with a comforting image of where your beloved pet may now be enjoying treats, soft beds and lots of fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Heaven-Cynthia-Rylant/dp/0590417010/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309538695&sr=8-1

"Goodbye Mousie" by Robie Harris tells the story of a little boy who wakes up one morning to discover that his mouse has died. It does a great job of discussing the difference between sleeping and dead, since the little boy is initially convinced that his mouse is "just very, very sleepy this morning." This book also portrays a wonderful little memorial ritual that the little boy puts together for his mouse with special things to go with Mousie in his coffin including a picture so he won't be lonely. This book also addresses the anger that we all feel as a normal part of grief. It is good to give children the understanding that it is ok to feel angry and sad when our pets leave us.

http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Mousie-Robie-H-Harris/dp/0689871341/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_4

A book for slightly older children is "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney" by Judith Viorst. This book addresses the uncertainty of what happens after death. Is there a heaven? Do dogs and cats go to heaven? While it does leave that question open it has a wonderful story line about the cycle of life as Barney changes after being buried and helps the plants and flowers to grow. There is also a nice funeral/memorial idea that may help kids to come up with their own rituals for memorializing their pet. Funerals and memorials can be very helpful for children as an outlet for their grief and a good opportunity to discuss what they are feeling and to address any fears they may be experiencing.

http://www.amazon.com/Tenth-Good-Thing-About-Barney/dp/0689712030/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2

We can always count on Mr. Rogers to provide us with clear explanations of things that happen in our lives. While the pictures are out of date the clear simple explanations in Mr. Rogers' "When a Pet Dies" can help to address the realities of death: "there comes a time when it [your pet] might be too sick or too badly hurt...for you or even the vet, to be able to keep it alive.'' It also discusses the feelings that children will experience: sadness, anger, loneliness and encourages them to talk about these feelings with their loved ones. I also like how it makes it ok to sometimes need some time alone to think about what happened. This alone time can be especially important for slightly older elementary children as they struggle to process death and how they should react to it.

http://www.amazon.com/When-Pet-Dies-Fred-Rogers/dp/0698116666/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

And one final book to recommend. This last one would be most appropriate for older elementary age children or even teens and adults if they are willing to read a picture book. This book is about grief in general. It could easily be applied to loss of a family member, a pet, a divorce or even the grief we experience when we need to move away from everything we know. "Tear Soup; A recipe for healing after loss" by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen is a sweet story about a grandmother who has suffered an unspecified loss. She begins to make tear soup. It addresses that everyone grieves in their own time and their own way. It is ok to grieve even when others may want you to move along. As each ingredient goes into the soup, the soup becomes richer and opens doors to sharing the grief with others who are also grieving. There is a wonderful thread of hope and strength despite the grandmother's sometimes intense grief throughout this book. Grandy says that making tear soup has taught her that "there is something down deep within all of us ready to help us survive the things we think we can't survive."

http://www.amazon.com/Tear-Soup-Pat-Schweibert/dp/0961519762/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309538940&sr=1-1

If you would like some more recommendations for books to read with your children about pet loss you can find more resources at http://csuvth.colostate.edu/_docs/diagnostic_and_support/argus/argus_201101_books_children.pdf