Monday 31 August 2015

I'm not Ready, so before I begin my journey, I need to READ!

Before we make our commitment, we need to decide if we are ready to adopt.  Here are the books I've read so far.  If you've taken the time to read what I have read, you will know what a daunting task owning a puppy or dog will be. 



Before & After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar
Free PDF downloads

How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves by Sophia Yin
Dr. Sophia Yin 
Puppy Socialization Checklist 

Clicking with your Dog: Step by Step in Pictures by Peggy Tillman

The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete (1st Ed.)

Train Your Dog the Lazy Way by Andrea Arden

The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones

The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller 
Peaceable Paws 

Dog Owner's Manual by Dr. Bruce Fogle

Puppy School by Maggie Holt & Stella Sweeting

From Nose to Tail - A Grooming Handbook
http://nosetotailbook.havanesefanciers.com/?q=thebook 

The Perfect Dog by Dr. Roger Mugford (inventor of the Halti collar)

Divine Canine by the Monks of New Skete


Decoding Your Dog by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists



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Reddit has been a great resource as well.  May new owners post their desperate appeals for help for their new dog or puppy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining
https://www.reddit.com/r/Puppy101


YouTube videos

kikopup's videos are awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup

Zak George
https://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21 



Friday 21 August 2015

Do we need pet insurance?

March 2, 2016

We made our first claim with Trupanion.  We'll see how long it takes to get our money.  Trupanion does not cover the exam fees, so we are going to re-evaluate and compare this with other insurance companies.  Petplan seems to cover exam fees.


December 30, 2015

We received a one month trial to Trupanion pet insurance from our vet and have decided to continue with the coverage.  Mochi is so full of energy and loves jumping from heights and mouthing everything.  I think we better stick with some insurance for now.


Sunday 16 August 2015

Where to take a puppy class to socialize?

We attended DogSmart's Puppy Smartstart.  It's a good place to start, but not enough time for Mochi to get friendly enough with other puppies. 

We are going to need a Vet.


Nov. 6, 2015

We visited about 3 veterinary clinics near our home.  We shortlisted one clinic we felt the most comfortable with, the South Burnaby Animal Hospital.  They are also voted best in Burnaby.  They are not the least expensive.  They provide a laser surgery option for $100 extra when we do spaying/neutering.  Should we go laser?


Tip:  be sure to check the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia website to make sure they are in good standing.