Get a Pet!
(MSN Health & Fitness - Prevention's Anti-Aging Guide)

Open up your home and heart to "Prince" or "Princess". Owning a pet reduces the number of visits to the doctor, prolongs survival after a heart attack, and wards off depression, says James Serpell Ph.D., director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. (His family has a cat, a dog, a large green iguana, a bearded dragon, and a dozen fish.)
Pet ownership also protects against a major problem of aging: high blood pressure. In one standout study at State University of New York, Buffalo, stockbrokers with high blood pressure adopted a pet. When they were faced with mental stress, their BP increased less than half as much as their counterparts without animal pets. But pick your pet with care. (That's where we can help you find a high quality puppy and give you all the help you need to raise your puppy properly.)

10 Reasons to Have Two Puppies:

1. You're receiving double the love.
2. One puppy can become lonely.
3. One puppy can just drive an older puppy nuts.
4. Two puppies will "self-train".
5. They help each other burn off energy.
6. Fewer behavior problems with two puppies.
7. Curiosity overcomes "food finickyness".
8. They act as pillows for one another.
9. Having two puppies is insanely fun!
10. They will each have a friend for life...

Stages for Small Breed Puppies:

Birth to 2 weeks: Neonatal Period
Puppy is most influenced by his/her mother.
Senses of touch and taste are present at birth.

2 to 4 weeks: Transitional Period
Puppy is most influenced by his/her mother and littermates.
Eyes open, teeth begin to come in and senses of hearing and smell develop.
Puppy begins to stand, walk a little, wag tail and bark.
By the fourth or fifth week, eyesight is well-developed.

3 to 12 weeks: Socialization Period
During this period, puppy needs opportunities to meet other dogs and people.

3 to 5 weeks: Puppy becomes aware of his surroundings, companions (both canine and human) and relationships, including play.

4 to 6 weeks: Puppy is most influenced by littermates and is learning about being a dog.

4 to 12 weeks: Puppy reamains influenced by littermates and is also influenced by people. Puppy learns to play, develops social skills, learns the inhibited bite, explores social structure/ranking and improves physical coordination.

5 to 7 weeks: Puppy develops curiosity and explores new experiences. Puppy needs positive "people" experiences during this time.

7 to 9 weeks: Puppy is refining his/her physical skills and coordination and can begin to be house-trained. Puppy has full use of senses.

8 to 10 weeks: Puppy experiences real fear involving normal objects and experiences; puppy needs positive training during this time.

9 to 12 weeks: Puppy is refining reactions, developing social skills with littermates (appropriate interactions) and exploring the environment and objects. Puppy begins to focus on people; this is a good time to begin training.

3 to 6 months: Ranking Period
Puppy is most influenced by "playmates", which may now include those of other species.

Puppy begins to see and use ranking (dominance and submission) within the household (the puppy's "pack") including humans.

Puppy begins teething (and associated chewing).

4 months: Puppy experiences another fear stage.

5 months: Puppy may be reaching adult weight and height.

6 to 18 months: Adolescence
Puppy is most influenced by human and dog "pack" members.

7 to 10 months: Puppy goes through a second chewing phase, part of exploring territory.

Puppy increases exploration of dominance, including challenging humans.

If not spayed or neutered, puppy experiences beginnings of sexual behavior.

It is highly recommend to have your puppy spayed or neutered. It highly reduces potential health risks.

If you neuter your male puppy at 5 to 6 months, he will probably never learn to hike his leg or mark territory.

Male VS. Female

Did you know?

That Male Dogs are better companions than Female Dogs?

Female Dogs are great companions too but studies show that Male Dogs are better companions.

Dogs are a "Man's Best Friend"...