Buying a new puppy can be an exciting time. Today I had the opportunity to give a friend of mine some advice on picking out a new Maltese Schnauzer to bring home.

When buying a puppy, be sure that all the stake holders involved in the decision are on board with the decision. I’ve seen many families get a “suprise” puppy and with in a year the dog is neglected and lonely. Everyone in the family should be committed to caring for the new addition to the home.

Additionally, you should consider the gender of puppy you want to get. While both males and females not meant for breeding need to be “fixed”, personalities between genders can differ greatly. For example, I advised my friend to consider who the dogs primary play pal will be – male dogs tend to be more hyper and playful and female dogs tend to be more calm and social.

Finally, be sure that you know what immunizations the puppy you are getting has had, or will need. For additional information on puppy care, check out the puppy section found on this site.

Last night I was playing a little game of tug-o-war with a fiesty little Dachshund. With nothing more than an old sock and some slick tile, we had Winnie growling and tugging and enjoying herself a great deal.

Dogs love to play and play is a great way for dogs to get the exercise they need.

The amount of exercise required by dogs varies from dog to dog – smaller dogs, like my little Dachshund friend Winnie, get plenty of exercise just playing with an old sock on the kitchen floor, while larger dogs (like my old pal Murphy, the Irish Setter) need room to run and stretch their legs.

But regardless of how big or small your dog is, it’s important that they a get regular, daily opportunity to run. Outdoor dogs can get plenty of exercise just doing their normal routine, while indoor dogs can be encouraged to exercise by providing them with toys.

Responsible pet owners that are not interested in breeding their pets should help control the pet population in their neighborhoods by spaying or neutering their pet at the proper time. To properly spay or neuter your pet, you should follow these guidelines.

Dogs

Male dogs should be neutered at 6 months old – delaying neutering beyond 6 months increases the likelihood of testicular and prostate cancer.

Female dogs should be spayed before the puppy’s first heat cycle – delaying spaying beyond the first heat cycle increases the likelihood of breast and uterine cancer.

Cats

Male kittens should be neutered very early in life. Male kittens can be neutered as soon as they are at least two pounds in weight and have two descended testis. Delaying neutering increases the likelihood of testicular and prostate cancer, and can result in a pet population explosion in your very own neighborhood.

Female kittens should be spayed before the kittens first heat cycle – delaying spaying beyond the first heat cycle increases the likelihood of breast and uterine cancer.