How to Pick the Best Dog Name for Your New Pup

You lock eyes with your new furry friend at the shelter or an adoption event. You know it’s meant to be, so you scoop them up and take them home.

There’s so much to do! Paperwork, vet appointments, new dog gear—toys, beds, treats, and home decor are a must! And of course, you have to name your new family member.

Like two-legged kids, you don’t have a lot of time to get your know your new addition before giving them a moniker. For us, Yellow Dog and Sundown were fairly easy to name, but Mocha—now affectionately and more aptly named Squeak—was more difficult to pin down.

Maybe you’re like us and are indecisive about your new dog’s name because you just don’t know their personality yet. Or maybe you want something unique. After all, some of the most popular names might be getting old—who wants to be the third Cooper or Bella at the dog park?

Either way, Shutterfly’s dog name generator can help.

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How to Pick the Perfect Dog For Your Family

Who can resist that squishy pug face? Or those stubby little doxie legs? How about those piercing blue Huskie eyes?

When choosing a dog for your family, there is so much more to consider than looks. Choosing your dog based solely on looks could be disastrous—if you choose a dog ill-suited for your lifestyle, he may end up in a shelter and your family heartbroken. So before you impulsively pick your new furry family member, make sure you take into account these four major issues.

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How to Avoid Dog Predators in “Free to Good Home” Ads

It’s one of the most gut-wrenching decisions you may ever make: surrendering your dog. There are a number of reasons you may have to give up your beloved pet:

  • Your new landlord doesn’t allow pets
  • Your dog has a litter of puppies you can’t keep
  • You can’t afford to provide the care your dog needs

So you list your dog or dogs in a classified ad for free, hoping to find him a new loving home. But sadly, some dogs are targeted in “free to a good home” ads and can end up in the wrong hands.

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Battle Over Adoption Rights to Retired Military Working Dogs

They’re the unsung heroes of war—military working dogs (MWDs) who serve alongside our troops, sniffing out explosives and standing watch to protect their handler and their units.
MWDs will often serve multiple tours of duty, usually with different handlers. But what happens when the dogs are retired from the military? Popular opinion is the dogs should stay with their handlers, but that doesn’t always happen.
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Can the ThunderShirt Cure Your Dog’s Anxiety?

*Note: this is NOT a paid endorsement. All opinions are our own.

Does your dog howl or hide when 4th of July fireworks go off? Does he cower when thunderstorms hit? Does he dread the car and even have accidents on car rides? Can he not stand when you leave his side and destroy things while you’re gone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the ThunderShirt might be for you.

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The Pros and Cons of Treating Your Dog Like a Baby

Most pet parents are guilty of it at one point or another—babying your dog. Whether it’s extra cookies, carrying them around, dressing them up in cute outfits or just plain letting them get their way, we can treat our furry friends the way we would treat our toddlers. But could this be making a good dog go bad?

San Francisco based dog trainer Beverly Ulbrich is helping us outline the pros and cons of treating your dog like a child.

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How to Pick the Best Food for Your Dog

Do you grab a big bag of pet food from your local supermarket without looking at the label? Or are you overwhelmed by the seemingly countless number of ingredients you can’t even begin to pronounce or recognize?

Picking the best food for your dog can be a challenge. Some subtle—and not so subtle— ingredients in your dog’s food could be depriving him of proper nutrition or even be making him sick. We talked to holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney to break down the hidden dangers lurking in pet food and lay out some simple steps to improve your furry friend’s diet.

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How Doggy Breath Could Save Your Pet’s Life

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional veterinary help. See your veterinarian for advice suited specifically to your dog.

If you’re like most pet parents, you probably think your dog’s stinky breath is normal, so you ignore it. But doggy breath is an indication of infection that can be deadly if left untreated.

Dental disease is one of the most widespread issues plaguing dogs today—in fact, roughly 90% of dogs will have some degree of dental disease by the time they are just three years old, and often it arises even earlier. PetMD says neglecting dental care is the #2 cause of earlier death in our dogs.

We talked to one of the world’s leading pet dentists, Dr. Brook Niemiec, who is shedding light on why dental disease is so prevalent and what you need to be asking your vet about your pet’s oral health.

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4 Signs Your Dog Was Exposed to Pool Chemicals

By: Vee Cecil, Guest Writer

You can take every precaution in the book to keep your dog out of harm’s way, but as any owner of a curious pooch knows, they’ll do their best to get around the obstacles you put in front of them. That was the case last summer when my parents’ dog found his way into the small shed where they keep their pool chemicals.

Though my parents always kept the door locked, on this occasion the last person out had forgotten to latch the door. So it didn’t take long for their always curious dog to find his way into the space that he’s normally locked out of.

By the time my mom found him, he’d already managed to knock over the chlorine container. Of course, my parents were extremely worried about the possibility of a chemical poisoning. They immediately researched what symptoms to look out for and monitored their dog closely.

Knowing these symptoms is important for all dog owners. Immediately recognizing what signs indicate a poisoning instead of wasting critical time researching could save your dog’s life. Here are key symptoms of a chemical poisoning.

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