It’s NATIONAL DOG WEEK! How will you spend your celebration? Wait, your dog didn’t tell you? Well, for Bravo, it’s “dog week” every week of the year, but the “official” celebration takes place the 4th week of September every year — and has been celebrated since the first event in 1928.
Captain William Judy, a WWI veteran (Silver Star recipient) and dog lover, launched the first week-long celebration to honor the loyalty and service of our canine companions. He purchased and continued to publish Dog World magazine, and advocated for dogs his entire life. National Dog Week every year offers a focus for doggy fundraising activities, adoption ops, volunteer assistance programs, and canine education for everyone who shares their life (and maybe a pillow) with a dog.
I’ve offered puppy proofing tips for National Puppy Day and posted a popular roundup back in 2012 from my puppies.about.com features. But the popularity ranking has changed. So now I’m celebrating National Dog Week with this roundup of my latest top 6 puppy posts on the blog. Some of the popular (or is that pup-ular?) content may surprise you.
#1: Puppy Diarrhea
Yes, the top performing post on my blog these days is all about puppy diarrhea, home remedies, and when to call the vet. This post explains the various reasons behind the problem, with some home remedies. It also offers guidelines how long you can safely wait before you must call the veterinarian. Puppies are fragile little critters and diarrhea and/or puppy vomiting can turn deadly very quickly.
#2: Swallowed Objects
Oh my, this is a real concern at my house these days! Bravo-Pup must have something in his mouth, it seems, pretty much all the time. We go outside for a potty break, and he first must find a stick or rock to carry around. In the house, his chew toys must be supervised to be sure small pieces aren’t ingested. This post details the dangers of swallowed inedibles, the signs of problems, and what you can do if you see your pooch gulp the wrong thing.
#3: Dog Tail Injuries
This topic ranking so high in popularity surprises me. There must be a LOT of happy tail-waggers out there! If your Labrador or other tail-injury-prone pooch needs trauma attention, this post offers some tips for treating your pup’s injured ass-ets.
#4: Puppy Temperament Tests
When you’re looking for that next pup-of-your-dreams, how can you predict personality? The answer — you can’t, not with any guarantees. That said, there are well-known breed tendencies, and temperament tests performed correctly also offers insights. Read this post to learn what puppy temperament tests can (and cannot) predict, before your next furry wonder adoption day.
#5: Introducing A New Puppy to Cats
Yep, lots of folks acquire youngsters while they have resident pets. Proper intros can make the transition go smoother. At our house, we had to introduce Bravo to Karma-Kat and teach him that kitty is the boss and can whip your furry tail into shape (he still does that, even though Bravo now outweighs Karma more than 10-to-one).
#6: Puppy Development: Birth to 2 Years
Well, there are a lot of new owners out there who want to know what to expect. Did you know that different breeds mature at slightly different rates? Or that newborns can’t regulate body temperature–in most cases that means they can die from hypothermia (the cold) but in this heat wave I suspect newborn pups might also be at risk for heatstroke.
It follows, I suppose, that folks want to know what to expect AFTER the adoption. How old was your pup when he came to live with you? Magic was 8 weeks old, but our first shepherd came to live with us at five months, and Bravo arrived at 12 weeks. And when does junior-dog become an adult? When can you expect juvenile delinquent behavior to kick in?
Okay, it’s your turn. What do YOU have planned for National Dog Week? Why do you think these subjects top the popularity list? Have you had issues or interest with any of them? What are other subjects that deserve more attention? I’m scheduling my puppy-licious writing calendar for the future months, so please send me suggestions!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!
Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
As always,,thank you for all of the great information.
@Amy Shojai, i love your works. you are a great puppies lovers…
Thank you Aslam.
None of my dogs have had bloat, but one of my grandfather’s dogs died from it. He was away, my folks were feeding her for him and noticed something wrong, so she was rushed to the vet. They said her stomach had flipped over, and there was a surgery that MIGHT save her. Might. But it was very expensive, and I guess in the condition she was in by the time we got to her, it was already so far in that her chances for survival were still slim. My parents had to make a phone call since it wasn’t their dog and not their decision. Mind you, this was a BEAGLE. Who was up to then completely happy and healthy. Our vet’s office had never seen it in a beagle before… not like that with stomach twist and all. Nobody’s quite sure what happened. :
Oh Karyl, how heart breaking. I’ve never heard of a beagle suffering from this, either. Some of Magical-Dawg’s relatives have died from hit, though, so we’re very careful with him.
It’s funny… I had this strange feeling I should bring my sketchbook along. Started drawing her in the waiting room. Then… well… turned out to be the last time I’d get the chance. : Poor pup.
I AM glad to know there’s a preventive surgery though, especially since I LOVE big dogs.
Amy, nice intro on puppies lives in the beginning. I was lucky to watch my dog give birth as a child and pick out the puppy to keep. That was long ago and I dont recall much about taking care of them. I love dogs (but not so keen on the care involved!) but have been thinking of getting a rescue doe that is trained. Our friends got a lab mix rescue dog that has been amazing with their kids. I wonder what is the best way to assess a rescue dog that is a good fit for a family?
Hi Donna, Rescue dogs typically live with a foster family for a while. So ASK! They should be honest and tell you the dog is best as an only-pet, or likes cats, or loves/hates kids. And visit with the pet. There is so much variation it’s impossible to say what would be best in a given circumstance. Typically the retriever breeds have very soft mouths (for retrieving) and have historically been good with kids because they’re a bit bigger and can take the rough housing, but easy going.
Still–sometimes dogs that have behavior challenges end up in rescue. So do your homework. *s* Hope you find the dog of your dreams! An adult rescue dog should be a known quantity in terms of care, temperament, and training, yes.