Oprah also owns two other Golden Retrievers, but her beloved Cocker Spaniels, Sophie and Soloman both passed away in the last couple of years.

I’ve owned a rescue Cocker for the past 10 years, and while I wouldn’t trade him for a million bucks – they’re not the dog for everyone!

Well bred Cocker Spaniels are healthy, playful dogs with a great attitude as family pets. They do require frequent brushing at home, clipping by a groomer and regular cleaning to keep their ears healthy.

Unfortunately, there are still lots of poor-quality dogs out there from puppy mills or backyard breeders.  My elderly rescue Cocker is obviously not from a responsible breeder and has has a history of shyness, food allergies, joint problems and more.

Would I ever part with him?  No way! He’s a lovely little dog, flaws and all – but it pays to know what issues your breed has before you adopt one.

image: Picapp

Post from: Blisstree

Oprah has adopted a new puppy!

The ASPCA has just released a warning about a new scam happening on the internet, and even through newspapers.  The basic scam is you respond to an ad which states “puppy to go to good home”.  The person who is “giving away” the dog says that the dog is actually in another city, and you’ll need to pay for a crate and airfare or gas to get it to you.  Of course, once you’ve paid – the dog mysteriously disappears and you’re left with an empty wallet and no puppy.

This happened to a lady in my own city – not only did she pay more than $200 to the scammer, but they then contacted her again and told her that her puppy had been accidentally shipped overseas and would cost another $1000 to fly back to her!  She of course, realized it was a scam and contacted the police.

“ASPCA Warns Potential Pet Parents to Be Aware of Internet Puppy Scams
Don’t be fooled by Adorable Pictures and “Free to Good Homes” Ads

NEW YORK – In response to recent reports regarding the growing trend of
Internet scammers offering purebred puppies for ³free to good homes, the
ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®)
today offers potential pet parents some valuable tips to avoid such scams.

“The best way to avoid being scammed is to simply never buy a dog you
haven’t met in person,” said Cori Menkin, Esq., Senior Director of
Legislative Initiatives for the ASPCA.  “Internet scammers lure people with
cute pictures of cuddly puppies, but the Internet is a vast, unregulated
marketplace.  People need to do their homework before they decide to get a
pet through the Internet.”

There are plenty of responsible breeders who ship puppies all over the country and even the world.  But before they will sell you a puppy, they’ll spend time making sure you’re the right person for their precious puppy.  Just because your dog needs to be shipped to you, doesn’t mean it’s scam – but it’s buyer-beware these days!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

scary puppy-buying scams

Word is that the Biden’s will bring home their new puppy in late January.  And how could you resist a face like this after all:

image: Stock.xchg

Are you interested in buying your own German Shepherd puppy?  First of all, make sure you’re dealing with a responsible breeder!  At the least, their breeding dogs should have their eyes checked (CERF) and their hips x-rayed and certified by either Penn-Hip or OFA.

The American Kennel Club has lots of information about the breed.  The German Shepherd Dog Club of America is also a great resource for information.

German Shephards are high energy dogs that need daily exercise and a job to do.  One of the happiest GSDs I ever knew was a herding dog on a sheep farm.  He had a flock to take care of and was an amazing guardian.   It’s possible to have a happy German Shepherd in the middle of the city -they just need daily care and attention… like any dog

Post from: Blisstree

Joe Biden has chosen his new puppy

It’s time to catch up with the week’s doggy news!  What’s been happening to our furry friends this week?

• Why it’s important to microchip your dogs – a Dachshund is reunited with his owners after going missing five years ago.
•  Want to know why I recommend getting your purebred puppy from a responsible breeder?  90 puppies were rescued from a backyard breeder in Florida – mostly toy breeds.
• Did you know that dogs are trained to sniff for cell phones now?  A prison in New Jersey is using specially-trained sniffer dogs to find cell phones that have been used to smuggle contraband into the jail.
• Remember Uno, the Best in Show winning Beagle from the Westminster Kennel Club dog show?  Macy’s has commissioned a float especially for this year’s Macy Parade.  Uno will ride along with David Frei before attending the National Dog Show as a special guest.

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Dogs in the news

 ”I want a puppy for Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Solstice)!”  How many times has the average parent heard that request?

Unfortunately, the holidays aren’t usually a good time to introduce a puppy into a new home.  In fact, lots of responsible breeders won’t sell you a puppy during the holidays!

How come?

• Puppies need calm, quiet and a steady routine to help them settle into their new house.  The holidays tend to be filled with parties, late nights, house guests and lots of noise and bustle.  Fun, oh yes – but not for a little puppy who’s away from their littermates for the first time.
• House training a new puppy takes a lot of care and attention (and multiple trips through the night to make sure puppy doesn’t have an accident.  Do you want to add that extra stress into your busy schedule?
• Dogs are a commitment of ten, fifteen or sometimes even twenty years.  It’s a relationship that needs a lot of planning and preparation!

Your family has done their research, talked to a responsible breeder and is ready to bring a puppy into your home… after the holidays!  What are some options for something you can put under the tree?

• Buy a stuffed dog in the same breed as your new puppy.
• A nice collar and leash with a name tag.
• Photos of the puppy’s mother (dam) and father (sire).
• An age-appropriate book on dog and puppy care.

Take the time to introduce your new puppy into your family – and you can enjoy them next Christmas, and the next… and the next…

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

I want a puppy for Christmas!