Puppy’s are sweet to have around, they are not only beautiful to cuddle, but also make great company, to ensure that they are in the best of health and live long, a well balanced puppy meal is mandatory. But then what things need to be considered when choosing a good puppy diet? Always consult your vet before shopping for a puppy’s diet. Puppy’s dietary needs are different from mature dog’s dietary needs. You should therefore avoid grocery store trips to grab that easily available dog food which might not be suitable for your puppy’s diet.

There are many options to select from when feeding your puppy, here are some; natural and organic puppy diets are quite popular these days and you should consider getting some. A number of pet owners like feeding their puppy raw diet. Others may select kibble as their preferred dietary component for puppy food. With all these reasons valid, let’s focus on the last one.

As you introduce the puppy to solid food, remember that good quality puppy feed with little kibble is ideal. Good puppy diet should incorporate all the vital vitamins for it to form a healthy diet capable of excellent growth. Puppy mealtimes are best given three to four times a day. If your puppy finds it hard eating the diet you give, try to soften the food by moistening it a little with water so that the puppy can eat it easily, but a point of caution is to avoid moistening puppy food with milk because milk acts as laxative in the puppy’s diet. Water is better because it creates a softer and easily chewable cuisine for your little friend.

As the puppy grows and gets used to feeding on kibble as a daily part of his/her diet, you should consider slowly reducing the amount of water. If you intend to feed the puppy on dry dog food until it fully matures, then you should plan your diet switching earlier than later. Do away with dog food moistening because it could make diet switching a difficult task later on in life. Six weeks of age should see your puppy feeding on solid kibble.

Give your puppy all the kibble he or she desires during the early stages of weaning. Always remember to feed the puppy on the new diet of dog food at regular intervals. When the puppy approaches his or her fifth birthday, reduce the diet from the previous three to four times a day to only two mealtimes a day. By this time you should be well accustomed to the feeding culture and should have figured out the right day rations of food quantity necessary to give your dog a healthy diet and stable weight.

If you are not confident about the dietary needs of your puppy, then consult your pets vet for advice. Majority of puppies have a round, cuddly and cute demeanor at one point in their young lives. At times it can be very hard to tell whether your puppy is overweight. Your vet is the best and easily obtainable help you have when it comes to answering this question. Seek his assistance concerning weight issues.

Providing a healthy diet for your puppy should not be a difficult task. Seek your pets vet for advice, guidance and any information you may need to ensure that you provide the best diet suited to your pet’s special needs, whether it’s a senior dog, adult dog or puppy. Remember to choose your pets food wisely because poor nutrition can do a lot of damage to your pet’s health. Good puppy diet in the early stages will provide a very good foundation and will propel his/her growth significantly.

Choosing the right dog for your family is a bigger decision than you may initially think. There are about 330 pure breeds and almost another 80 that were developed by breeders by mixing different combinations of pure breeds.

Some breeds were mixed in ways that kept the characteristics, yet caused the dogs to be larger or smaller than the original breed. With so many choices, you have to think of each dog breed as having specific characteristics, temperament, size, function and abilities.

Each dog within that breed will share some common elements. For example, some dogs who were hunting dogs in times past have been bred differently to reduce the hunting instinct and make the dog more suitable as the pet for a family whose only “hunting” is stopping at grocery store or fast food to bring home dinner.

Major categories of dog breeds include: toys, companions, guards, working, spaniels, terriers, sighthound, scent hounds, spitz and herding. This doesn’t include the famous “Heinz 57″ - or pound mutt, whose exact heritage is unknown.

Each of the breeds is known for its ability to perform certain jobs. Historically, all dogs were working dogs - helping with sheep herding, cattle tending, fetching game, guarding property or tracking escapees.

House pets were not common as they are today. Each dog breed still carries the genetic code for its original type of work. You need to know how that dog is genetically programmed before you bring him home.

The dog that’s naturally a watchdog won’t be the cuddly playmate for your small children. The greyhound, particularly the rescued greyhound, is gentle and quiet, but they must have plenty of outdoor time to run. As a dog that can gain speeds of up to 45 mph, the greyhound is not a dog for couch potatoes.

If you want a medium to large dog that will be easily trained and protective over your children, then choose a pastoral or herding dog like the Old English sheepdog, Collie or Welsh Corgi. The instincts they have for keeping sheep in the pasture adapt to keeping your children inside the backyard while keeping intruders outside.

When having a dog means a smaller pet that’s purely for amusement with little expectation, then look at the toy dog breed. Among this group, you find Chihuahua, Poodle, Manchester Terrier, Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and King Charles Spaniel. Don’t expect any work from this group. Toy dogs are masterful at finding ways for you to work for them.

The hunting breed has a proud tradition as the faithful companion and partner to hunters. These dogs include the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, English Setter, Irish Setter and Cocker Spaniel. Even if you don’t hunt, give these dogs the kind of open field exercise that makes them feel useful in the way that’s part of their heritage.

Some breeds require space, while others need primping for show that rivals what you see among fashion models. Perhaps the easiest breed to bring home and love is the “pound mutt.” In all shapes and sizes, these dogs have endured hardships that landed them in the shelter, when all they want is a family to love. Bring one home and you’ll have a friend for life.