Author: Dana

 

Inspired by Patrick McDonnell’s heartwarming comic strip MUTTS featuring Mooch and Earl, the Mutts Adoption Event – brought to you by the Petco Foundation – celebrates the love that can change the world for pets without a home. And your life just might be changed too! During this national event, thousands of pets will be waiting for you at Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores across the country, waiting for a home… waiting for the love that will change their lives. Who knows—you might find your very own Mooch or Earl and fall in love!

 

Why MUTTS in May? Recently award-winning artist and animal advocate Patrick McDonnell, creator of the MUTTS comic strip, turned a visit to New York City’s public open-admission animal shelter, Animal Care Centers of NYC, into a week’s worth of MUTTS comics called ‘Shelter Stories’. He focused on not just the animals in the shelter, but the selfless volunteers, the incredibly caring staff, and future pet parents that came in looking to fill their heart with love. Patrick captured the essence of love in not only the animal’s eyes, but also in their new pet parents and families hearts.
Patrick’s journey is featured on Shelter Me, an inspiring series that celebrates shelter pets by telling positive and uplifting stories, proudly supported by the Petco Foundation. Check your local PBS station or visit shelterme.tv for airtimes then visit your Petco store to begin your own story.

Cartoonist Patrick McDonnell’s Experience at New York City Animal Shelter Inspires his MUTTS comic strip, “Shelter Stories” from Steven Latham on Vimeo.

 

The Petco Foundation believes love has the power to change everything. How has love changed you? Share your stories on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #lovechangeseverything!

 

 

Animal rescue groups do amazing things for homeless pets every single day. That’s why Pro Plan wants to say “Thank You” in a big way! For every thank you card shared through the end of the year, 10 pounds of Purina Pro Plan (up to 25,000 pounds) will be donated to Rally to Rescue groups! Check out the heartwarming video of adopted dogs be reunited with their rescuer below (it’s so sweet!), and then visit proplan.com/thankarescue.

 

Aww, surely she doesn’t mean it, right? Jokes aside, aren’t your pets ALWAYS in your prayers?

RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.

RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.

Spring is here and we’re loving the great weather and flowers blooming all around us! But, some of those gorgeous plants are actually toxic to pets. Did you know that these Spring plants are toxic to pets? SHARE to keep other pet lovers in the know!!! You can like and share this and more great cartoons and images on our Adopt-a-Pet.com Facebook page here (cartoon from our fabulous friends Redandhowling)

Dog Chow is excited to introduce the Puppyhood program – your one stop shop to help raise your puppy right from the first bite.  With a wide range of educational content as well as interactive tools, Puppyhood is the go-to destination to help guide you and your pup through puppyhood.

 

TIPS AND TRICKS

Whether you’re looking for information about teething or potty training, finding the perfect vet or teaching your pup some basic commands, Puppyhood provides tips and tricks in the form of articles and videos.  With special sections dedicated to “Nutrition”, “Grooming”, “Exercise”, “Health”, “Behavior”, “Training”, and “Puppy Planning”, the Puppyhood has tips and tricks for everything your puppy goes through in the first few years.

 

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

Joining the Puppyhood not only grants access to some great special offers, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of our exclusive online tools that will help your puppy grow up happy and healthy.  You’ll be able to sign up for video hangouts with our panel of experts, use our “Near You” tool to find puppy destinations around your location, and track every stage of your puppy’s development using our Milestone Tracker.

 

INTERACTIVE DOG WALKS

Part of the Puppyhood program is a great feature called The Dog Walk.  The Dog Walk helps people learn more about puppies through a 360°, interactive puppy world that offers up articles and videos about puppy topics along the way.  It makes learning about your new puppy fun and engaging as your explore!

 

PUPPY PLANNER

One of the truly unique aspects of the Puppyhood program is that it caters to those still considering pet adoption – which we of course love here at Adopt-a-Pet.com!  The Puppy Planning section has everything you need to know before getting a furry friend to ensure you’re ready for your new responsibility.  The breed selector even helps you pick just the right puppy to fit your lifestyle.

Join the Puppyhood today and get customized learning, helpful tools, and exclusive benefits and coupons on your puppy’s journey to doghood.

Your pet may be a rescue, but let’s be honest… Who rescued who?

RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.

TRUTH! Once you’ve had the love of a dog (or ANY pet) it’s impossible to live without it. Pets make life so special. Ready to experience that feeling for yourself? Millions of amazing animals are awaiting adoption right now. Search for them at Adopt-a-Pet.com! If you like this cartoon, like our Facebook page at Adopt-a-Pet.com  for more cartoons like this one from Redandhowling.

BullRun / Adobe Stock
As pet parents, you can have just as much fun coming up with names as human parents do. Plus, the process allows for more creativity; you don’t have to worry about mean playground rhymes or making relatives happy. If you’re leaning toward getting creative with your pet’s name, wait and get to know their furry little personality first. The Rottie mix that you were going to call Bonesaw might turn out to be more of a Muffin. Just remember that the name you choose has to be something that your partner and kids are comfortable calling out in the local park — “Cleopatra” or “Cupcake” might be too much for your teenage son. In this guide, we’ll explore how to choose the perfect name for your pet.

Tips for picking your new pet’s name

Avoid confusion

If you are going to practice verbal recall training with your pet, choose a short name that is easy to call out at a distance. Something like “Mac n’ Cheese” might be hard to call out quickly, so if you opt for a longer name, consider a shorter nickname. Don’t choose a name that sounds like a command, such as Beau or Noah (“No”). Names that sound similar to important cues could lead to mixed signals for your pet.

Be happy

You don’t have to change your dog’s name if you like the one they were given by the shelter or foster home, but it’s important that you are happy with your pet’s name. The name you choose should put a smile on your face. Avoid names that are upsetting or offensive to yourself or others. Bonus: when you’re happy, your pet is more likely to respond to you.

Think ahead

Select a name that will grow with your pet. “Fluffy” might seem right when your little ball of fluff is a puppy, but if they hit 80 pounds it might not seem like such a good fit anymore.

Seek inspiration

If you feel you need a little inspiration in choosing a name, browse through hundreds of possible pet names.

Teaching your pet their name

If you do plan to change your pet’s name, then positive reinforcement is a great way to train them to respond to their new name.

1. Start associating the name with positive experiences. Say the name in a cheerful tone, and then immediately follow it with a treat, praise, or a favorite toy. This helps your pet connect their name with something enjoyable.
2. Consistency is key. Use your pet’s name regularly throughout the day, especially during interactions or playtime.
3. Always associate the name with positivity. Never use your pet’s name when you’re upset or scolding them.
4. Every pet learns at their own pace, so go at your pet’s pace.

This article is an excerpt from Adopt-a-Pet.com’s book. For more great tips on all things dog, order the book now on Amazon.  If you click on one of these affiliate links, we may receive a tiny commission.

Given that a well-trained dog can learn to differentiate between, and respond appropriately to, hundreds of commands from her human family, it is only right that we should make an effort to understand what our canine companions are trying to say to us. We all know that a growl is a warning, and a yelp is a sound of distress, but there are so many verbal signals in between those two sounds, and they all communicate different messages. There are also many nonverbal signals our pups give us before they make a peep. Below are a few of the most common bark signals and some body language cues, to help you to understand what your dog is trying to say.

Verbal:

Nonverbal:

This article was originally published on October 8th, 2015

Parts of this article are excerpts from Adopt-a-Pet.com’s book, The Total Dog Manual. For more great tips on all things dog, pre-order the book now on Amazon!