Choosing a new pet so that your other pet will have some company while you are at work is a fantastic idea. Just keep in mind that your costs of owning a pet will be double – including food and veterinarian bills.

Of course it is important to choose dogs that are peaceful and make easy friends with other dogs. It would be a bad idea to combine a Yorkshire Terrier with a Rottweiller for example, as the Rottie may perceive it as food. You are much better off to pair that Yorkie with a Dachshund who is very sociable with other animals. However just because an animal is small does not mean it is more sociable. Jack Russell Terriers have been known to kill other pets simply because they are jealous of the attention they are getting from the owner.

There are some dogs that are hard wired to see smaller furry creatures such as cats as prey

Watchdogs and guard dogs do not necessarily make the best pets. For one thing, the instincts that make them such good guardians are the same ones that compel them to attack strangers or even a member of your family who may accidentally come too close to you.

The best guardians are usually the dogs that qualify as alpha dogs. They respond well to training but untrained they can attack loved ones and strangers, make a shambles of your house and yard and incur lawsuits for noise, injuries and damage to other people’s property.

Guard dogs and watchdogs usually comprise the larger breeds such as German shepherds, Bull Mastiffs and Akitas. This means that they can easily overpower a small animal or child. Most of them also tend to shed quite heavily and do not make great house residents.

Some smaller dogs such as Maltese, Daschunds and Yorkshire Terriers do make keen watchdogs but they are not really capable of defending you in case of an attack. In fact some little watchdogs, such as the Pomeranian are more likely to sound the alert and then make friends with the intruder.

The key is to choose the dog according to what you need as security. As a rule of thumb the larger and more “alpha” the dog is the better he will be at protecting your person and your property. The smaller the dog the more likely he is to sound the alert not only when real threats appear but also when he perceives just about anyone approaching you or your yard. Some animal owners find this tendency for small dogs to bark at the drop of a hat to be very irritating (and so do the neighbors.)

Owning a pet requires self-discipline and responsibility. Unfortunately many people adopt athletic larger dogs that need plenty of exercise and then drop the dog’s walking schedule as easily as they do the latest fad diet. If you are going to adopt a dog of a breed that requires plenty of exercise then make sure you are ready to commit to walking it at least three times a day for the span of its entire life.

0 to 7 Weeks: This is a period when the environment opens up for a puppy. His eyes and ears are excited to experience the sights and sounds of the world around him. This is a strong socialization period as a bond grows between his litter mates and mother. These bonds lead to a healthy, well-adjusted temperament. By day ten, however, the puppy should experience the touch of human hands and feel comfortable when being handled. This is a critical period for a puppy’s physical and emotional growth. The mother passes on 65 to 75 percent other temperament to her puppies. If she is calm, she will have a calming influence on a hyper puppy. The mother also passes natural antibiotics to the puppy through her milk during these weeks.

8 to 12 Weeks: Like a sponge, puppies at this stage absorb everything around them. They are curious and anxious to learn and play. At this age, puppy kindergarten can begin. It’s important to begin training but more important to create confidence. The training should be fun, not overly strict or aggressive. Negative experiences at this age can create impressions and behavior that can last the pup’s lifetime. Because this is such an impressionable stage, have a positive attitude when working and playing with your puppy. Build a foundation for him to develop positive patterns in his behavior.

3 1/2 to 4 Months: Puppies at this age are losing their baby teeth - you can feel good that those razor-sharp puppy teeth will soon be gone if your hands are still holding up. With any physical growth, there is a surge in hormones which affect the pup’s behavior. If your puppy is hyper to begin with, he will become 30 percent more hyper during this period. If he is shy, he may become 30 percent more shy. Through this period, you want to stay with a consistent training schedule.

4 to 5 Months: At this age, an owner becomes mystified with his puppy’s behavior. For example, your puppy may be housebroken one day, but urinate all over the floor the next. This is a common problem for many dog owners. Puppies are not being defiant at this stage, so never punish them. The problem is they are getting a surge of hormones which confuses them. The best thing to do is take a few steps back, and reinforce the housebreaking pattern you will learn in chapter four after this happens.

5 to 6 1/2 Months: Puppies go through a noticeable growth spurt during the fifth month. Spaying or neutering during this stage doesn’t help - they will still go through a transitional phase.

6 1/2 to 7 1/2 Months:Your puppy will settle down for a while, allowing you to breathe a sigh of relief. But don’t relax just yet!

8 to 9 Months: This is the final hormonal surge within your puppy, when items around your house, such as remote controls, begin to disappear. This is a very challenging stage for owners because a puppy’s temperamental behavior will increase - a pup will be approximately 50 percent more aggressive, more shy, or more hyper. It is during this time that male dogs will begin to lift their legs when urinating. Attention, not punishment, is what your pup needs during this time. All the training you have done will seem to have gone for naught. Owners get panicky and frustrated because they think their pup should know better.
About the Author

Author: John Edwards

For more information and advice on dog giving birth to puppy visit http://www.dogcaretraining.com, a website that specializes in providing tips, advice and resources on dog care and training.