Bring Me Home! Dogs Make Great Pets, livre ebook

The book to bring home before you bring home a puppy or a dog!
Dogs are wonderful companions, but they need lots of attention and care. Are you up for the challenge? With this practical, hands-on guide, you'll know what to expect--cost-wise, care-wise, and chore-wise. You'll have information on choosing the right dog for your family, caring for it, and more. Information and interactive activities include:
Worksheets that help you make informed decisions, choose a breeder or a veterinarian, and more
Questions and charts to help you determine if your family is ready for dog ownership, whether to get a puppy or a dog, and more
Checklists covering how to puppy-proof a home, vaccinations your pet should have, items you'll need before bringing the bundle of joy home, and other aspects of being a responsible pet "parent"
* Dog care chore charts to keep you organized
* Suggested activities, including pages for kids to color
* Resources to keep with your pet's records and information
Bring Me Home! DOGS make GREAT PETS covers welcoming your new pet into your family, crate training and housetraining, healthcare, and more to help you make a happy home for your dog. Then she will faithfully welcome you home time after time for years and wags to come.
Introduction.

Chapter1:Are You Ready to Get a Dog?

Time Commitments and Inconveniences of Owning a Dog.

Financial Commitments of Dog Ownership.

Environmental Requirements of Owning a Dog.

Why You Should Get a Dog.

Chapter2:A Good Match—What Dog Is Right for You?

A Good Match?

Mutt vs. Purebred.

Small, Medium, or Large?

Male or Female?

Puppy or Adult?

Breed Overview.

Chapter3:Finding Your Dog.

Where to Find Your Dog.

Picking Out Your Dog.

Chapter4:Preparing for Your Dog.

Where Should Your Dog Stay?

Stocking Up on Dog Supplies.

Choosing a Veterinarian.

Chapter5:Dog-Proofing.

Dog-Proofing Inside the House.

Dog-Proofing the Garage.

Dog-Proofing the Backyard.

A Shopping List.

Chapter6:Bringing Your Dog Home.

When to Bring Your Dog Home.

When Not to Bring a Dog Home.

The Car Ride Home.

Next Up: The Veterinarian.

Introducing Your New Dog to Your Family.

Chapter7:Educating Your Whole Family.

The First Few Days and Nights.

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep with Your New Dog.

Establishing a Routine.

Basic Rules for Dealing with a Dog or Puppy.

Teaching House Manners.

Chapter8:Keeping Your Dog Healthy.

Feeding Your Dog.

Canine Health Care.

Exercising Your Dog.

Grooming Your Dog.

Socializing Your Dog.

Chapter9:Emergencies.

How to Recognize an Emergency.

How to Muzzle Your Dog.

Assembling a Canine First Aid Kit.

Handling Common Emergencies.

Family Disaster Planning.

Chapter10:Hereditary and Congenital Diseases.

What Are Hereditary and Congenital Diseases?

Elbow Dysplasia and Osteochondritis Dissecans.

Epilepsy.

Eye Diseases.

Heart Problems.

Hip Dysplasia.

Hypothyroidism.

Von Willebrand’s Disease.

Other Hereditary Diseases.

Chapter11:Crate Training and Housetraining Your Dog.

Common Housetraining Misconceptions.

Crate Training 101.

Housetraining 101.

Solving Housetraining Problems.

Chapter12:The Basics of Training.

Training Your Dog on Your Own vs. Hiring Professional Help.

What Should Your Dog Learn in Training?

Clicker Training.

Teaching Basic Obedience.

The Canine Good Citizen Program.

Chapter13:Problem Pups.

How to Recognize a Problem Behavior.

Is Problem Behavior a Biological Problem?

Don’t Take It Personally.

Types of Problem Behaviors.

What If It Doesn’t Work Out? Options for Dog Owners.

Chapter14:Teaching Tricks.

Deciding What Tricks to Teach.

Simple Tricks.

More Difficult Tricks.

Chapter15Your Dog as Part of the Family.

Identification.

Traveling Together.

At Work.

All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt.

Appendix: Useful Resources.

How to Use This Appendix.

Important Phone Numbers.

Vaccination Records.

Veterinary Record.

Chore Chart.

Daily Crate-Training Chart.

Disaster Preparedness Chart.

Pet Sitter Information Sheet.

Kennel Information Sheet.

Coloring Pages.

Index.