Finding a new companion to share in your life.
Picking the right companion for you is very important, whether we be talking about two-legged or four-legged. Today we will be talking about puppies, adult dogs, kittens, adult cats, rescues or adoption from home-to-home. I believe that the rules will be the same in any of these cases. Are you ready for a companion pet? Do you find yourself with time, space and a real desire to share your life with a pet? Are you ready to experience chewed slippers, TV remote, scratched furniture....or a loss of some kind? Will you dedicate time through out the day to love, train, exercise and interact with your new friend? Can you tend to their grooming needs of brushing, trimming nails, cleaning ears and teeth as needed? Are you prepared and ready to provide a forever home? Are you able to accept the financial end of vaccines, health checks, spaying or neutering, fencing, quality food, toys? If yes, you may proceed!
Finding the best companion for you.
Know what fits your life style.
If you are looking for a lap dog chances are you wouldn't want to start by looking at a Parson Jack Russell Terrier (they are VERY active). If you wanted a dog to go hiking and jogging with you wouldn't want to choose a Saint Bernard (they can overexert easily). If you are looking for a companion for a small child you would not want to pick an Italian Greyhound (they are generally too fragile for youngsters), and so on. With hundreds of breeds and mixes to choose from, finding the one with the right activity level, train-ability and other personality tendencies will take sometime but it will be time well spent. Each puppy, dog, kitten or cat is an individual, knowing what you are looking for is a great first step!
Questions to ask yourself when deciding on a companion.
What energy level are you looking for? How much and what kind of exercise will they require, how trainable is the breed, what was the breed (or predominate breed) bred for? Some breeds love to listen and please, some breeds are independent thinkers but can and will respond to the correct amount and type of training and some breeds have a mind of their own, and do really well with experienced owners that thrive on the challenge of loving and being amazed by these wonderful animals. Other answers to look for are how affectionate is the breed, how protective, how friendly, how watchful, do they play well with others, and oh yes, maintenance and grooming, healthiness and life span. At this point I would like to interject that you are never too old to give and get love, whether you have two legs or four. There are matches made in heaven just waiting to happen. What is on your list? Find out more about breeds by talking with local vets, trainers, go to the library or contact local shelters and rescues. There is an unending source of information on the Internet about finding the right one for you .... so happy searching!
Know your options.
Older pet companions are the best kept secret of the pet adoption world!
Puppies and kittens are fabulous for their own reasons, but an adult or senior dog or cat! Where do I start? You will miss out on the messiest and probably most challenging episodes of puppy and kitten deconstruction that can take from three to five years for some. They are usually more calm and better-behaved but if you want a challenge there are the older dogs and cats that have been tossed around or neglected so much that they haven't got a clue. In either case, the families we have spoken to consistently say the same thing....
"The rescued pets have an attitude of gratefulness. They know what it is like to be abandoned, alone, unloved and they are thankful you chose them."
The rewards of adopting an older companion is the same,
and when they pick you back, WOW!
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Getting them healthy and keeping them healthy....
Be a label reader!
Here at Green Cottage Pets,
it is all about turning the bag around and
reading what is in the food.
Ingredients you do not want to see on a label are wheat and corn, which can lead to allergies, plus choosing no wheat or corn keeps your pets food free of genetically engineered ingredients so often used in inferior products. The foods should not contain gluten, steroids, hormones, plus no by-products, added sugars, salt or chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin.
Ethoxyquin is a chemical they use to preserve tires. Gluten was one of the major causes of the pet food recalls that happened in the last few years.
Ingredients you do want to see when you read the label (and Tom has chosen from his very first day of business) are muscle meats (not by-products) such as lamb, beef, bison, venison, poultry (free-range when possible), fresh, wild caught, cold water fish, and for all foods to be made with whole grains or potatoes, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. The foods need to be high in omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, contain pre & probiotics for easy digestion and absorption of nutrients and be preserved with tocopheral, a derivative of vitamin e, vitamin c and rosemary.
Tom has used these standards from his very first day of business at Green Cottage Pets and they have proven themselves over and over to be 'The Standard' for choosing the healthiest and most trusted way to feed your pets.
There is a "new to us" pet food at Green Cottage Pets from The Blue Buffalo Co. It comes with their True Bluewe provide you with samples to try with your dog or cat before you buy. Promise...to provide the finest ingredients, containing no animal by-products, no corn, wheat or soy plus gluten-free.
More to come.
and Sweet Potato 
