Is a toy poodle a good first dog choice for a beginner pet parent?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Any of the following brands can be fed so long as it is puppy food for small dogs. The food needs to be slowly transition over 7-10 days introducing the new food in about 20% increment every other day. For detail, contact your veterinarian on how to transition the food. Recommended brands are Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams. Choose one, and stick with it until about one year of age. After that, transition to an adult formula for small breeds from the same brand. Void feeding anything other than the dogs food and a few treats made specifically for dogs. Hopes this helps!

Hi there! Congratulations on your new puppy, Genisis. I would first start by having Genisis in to have a vet visit. This way, the veterinarian can make sure Genisis appears healthy, doesn't have any heart murmurs, or other abnormalities that need monitoring. Puppies can start with their distemper vaccine at about 8 weeks, which also includes an inoculation for parvovirus, which is a very dangerous and contagious gastrointestinal virus that puppies can acquire. Depending on the recommendations for the number of boosters in your area, your vet will let you know how many of these vaccines Genisis will need until being able to be safely let out into the environment to walk around outside and socialize with other dogs. Until he is fully vaccinated, I'd definitely keep him inside, and away from other animals, especially those with unknown vaccine histories. Your veterinarian will also recommend de-wormings and a fecal test at some point to make sure that your new puppy is parasite free. All puppies will have roundworms, and these worms can be transmissible to people, so I always recommend using good sanitary practices - ie wash hands after handling feces, and avoid kisses on the mouth and face. There is also the bordetella vaccine for kennel cough, and the canine influenza vaccine for the influenza virus. I will usually recommend those in my area. What isn't very prevalent in my area, is the leptospirosis bacteria, but I think in Arkansas it can be an issue, so I'd definitely ask the vet about that. Aside from that, I recommend a small breed puppy food for the first year of life - nutro, nature's recipe, royal canin, science diet, or purina are great brands. And I would also have Genisis neutered around 6 months of age to avoid health issues later in life, like an enlarged prostate. I'd look in your area too and see if there is a reputable dog trainer who can come to the house to start some puppy classes for you as well! I hope you find this information helpful! Best of luck!

Hello. I would start with having a good health exam done by your veterinarian. He/she will recommend any diagnostic tests such as a fecal, starting appropriate vaccinations, recommend when to neuter ( if you desire ), & heartworm preventative. Congratulations on your new puppy. Hope for many happy & healthy years. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congratulations on your new puppy! At first, I would recommend feeding Lola what she has already been eating at the breeder. Changes in diet have to be done gradually to avoid GI upset, so typically continuing to feed the food they were already on helps to make the transition to the new home easier. In terms of treats, she will be very small, so training treats (small bite sized pieces) would be a great option. Toys are variable depending on which type she enjoys. I would get a couple options and see which type she prefers; just remember not to leave her unsupervised with any toys that have a squeaker, as she may be able to chew it open and eat the squeaker! At first, she won't need to have her teeth brushed, as her adult teeth won't have come in yet (she will still have baby teeth). Getting her used to having your fingers in her mouth and manipulating under her gums will help prepare her for tooth brushing when she is a little older. Congratulations and enjoy!

If you are living in a small apartment, then a small breed dog would honestly be a better choice; in addition, smaller breeds don't need as much maintenance as a medium breed dog. You could consider a pug, a pekinese, a French bulldog, or even a chihuahua. These breeds need a minimal amount of exercise, and are very happy being lap dogs.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Starting gentle grooming at a young age is a good idea to train Mimi that grooming is OK and good. I would start by just having the instruments (clippers, nail trimmers, etc) near her, and touching her, but not on and not actually trimming or clipping. With this include lots of positive praise and treats. Playing with her toes and nails with your hands on a regular basis helps as well. You can then start grooming in small unstressful bits of time. Best of luck with Mimi.

Well, I am partial to a Cocker Spaniel! Mine just turned 15; she was the first dog that was all mine. I got her from a good breeder that wasn't breeding a ton of dogs (which could mean they are just doing it as quickly as possible rather than with intention). She has had only a few ear infections in her lifetime, and I am not sure if it is due to good genetics or the fact that I keep the hair on her ears trimmed so they don't get heavy, which could reduce airflow around the ear canals. I do not pluck ear hair either. Cockers are a great breed for a house companion. They can be taught basic commands, and more if you want! We did some basic agility training. I would say bulldogs aren't great for first-time pet owners. We like to say bulldogs keep vets in business! In my experience, they tend to have more than average health issues, and frequently they can be tricky to manage. They can have respiratory difficulties due to their anatomy. They can have skin issues from the folds in their skin. They tend to have severe food and environmental allergies. I am not a fan, but my clients who own them are in love! Either way, we are always here to help!