Paris Hilton may have started the trend with purse and toy dogs, however, there are some things to consider.

Small dogs are much easier to house and handle, especially for apartment city folks, however, please take note of the following.

Will a small dog fit with your family? A small fragile dog like a Chihuahua may not be suitable for children unless they're old enough to take care and play with the dog gently. Because smaller dogs have smaller skeletal frames, they're more likely to break bones and or have fractures, especially as puppies. For this reason, children must be very gentle.

Grooming for smaller dogs is greater than larger breed as their skin and hair require frequent grooming. In other words, budgeting wisely needs to be taken into consideration. It will cost anywhere between $50 - $150 for professional grooming every 5 - 6 weeks.

Long haired toy togs will require daily brushing either by a groomer or with a good quality brush that will cost anywhere between $20 - $30.

Small dogs require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs.

Anal glad issues are more frequent in smaller than larger dogs.

Long back breeds such as Dachshunds are more likely to slip a disk in their backbone.

Luxating Patella is a condition in which the kneecap slides in and out of normal position causing intermittent lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery, a huge cost to consider and factor when selecting a small dog.

Small dogs have a longer life span and or more likely to develop genetic and or environment health issues.

Tips for keeping your dog hydrated is more than just keeping a dish out for your pup.

Reward with veggies rather than sugar or salty treats.
Bring extra water on long hikes.
Add water in canned food.

Training your dog to soundly sleep takes a lot of patience and training just like with anything else. Puppies will need more training than adult dogs.

Take your dog out before bed as their bladders especially puppies aren't like ours nor do they understand holding it in which can be unhealthy for dogs.

Dogs will sleep 12 - 13 hours a day, here and there, therefore setting up a constant routine that involves, play, eating and washroom breaks sets a proper sleeping and daily schedule.

Set up a cozy sleeping area for your dog designated only for bed time.

Wear he/she out. In addition to walking, through a toy around the house for a while to get the energy level up so that he/she is tired for bed.

I found the following youtube.com link which was an inspiration to me and hopefully to the other readers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEU6oyzGSDs&feature=channel_page

Q: My cat seems a little over weight and i was jus wondering if this is because i leave her food for her out all day in her bowl and if i should jus take it away after she ate a little or what? she doesn't eat alot at a time so i don't no what to do cuz then she begs for human food and what should I do bout that problem? and does anyone no bout a good cheap diet cat food?

I think that owners whom let their cats get overweight are abusing their cats. Case in point is a clip the other day that I found on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTFfCXtX43k

Only put out a small amount at a time, Just like some people some cats eat out of bordom. Take your cat outside and play with toys to get his/her energy level up.

As far as I checked, I haven't come across any inexpensive diet pet food. Just like human food, the more fillers the less expensive, you pay for what you get.

As for human food, I strongly suggest not feeding her any and if she/he begs, ignore him/her. If it gets too much, give a small healthy cat treat. The whining will become annoying, however, once the cat figures she/he isn't going to get his/her way, this will stop.

Dear PetWellbeing,

My beloved "baby boy" and best friend, Link, passed away on December 31, 2008 from cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma). It was too late for your product; he was really sick when I found your site. I can not say your product worked for Link, but I can tell you it gave me hope, and that hope kept me going until the very end. For that, your product worked, and I thank you.Sincerely,

Kimberly Hicks

Although here in the main office we have been experiencing peaks of sunshine, in most of the province and states it's still very winter and cold. The following are helpful tips to winterize your canine.

Plan for more frequent short walks rather than the long leisure walk that you're used to.

Salt and ice can be hard on feet, therefore, you may want to consider winter footwear for the dog.

For outdoor housed dogs it's best to feed kibble rather than wet food as this stays in sub zero weather.

Heated water buckets from farming stores for outdoor housed dogs are a winter essential and will prevent water from freezing.

Hypothermia is possible for dogs, therefore, putting a fashionable sweater on your short haired toy pup is recommended.

Dogs should not be sitting in cars or open truck beds for extended periods of time.

Vitamins are vital for both cats and dogs. Before starting any nutritional supplement, please consult a vet as most vet prescribed foods are already balanced.

Neutracaeuticals are non drug classified supplements.

Antioxidants are Neutracaeuticals designed to scavenge free radicals and hazardous chemicals . Most healthy dogs will naturally receive adequate amounts of antioxidants.

Petwellbeing,com offers multi-essential vitamins good for over all health and well being for both cats and dogs.

Keeping your dog's skin healthy is important not only to look beautiful but for general health.

Both puppies and adult dogs are prone to different type of skin conditions which is why it is important to check regularly. Not only checking his general coat but also his/her bear belly important.

Fungal infections and or conditions can be transferred from one animal to another and from one human to an animal. Most commonly are yeast infections.

Please take your dog for a regular check up and make sure that your vet checks the skin.

Scaly areas
Bald Areas
Greasy or dry coat
Redness in ears
Lumps and bumps
Lesions
Bad odour

Excessive scratching is an obvious indication that there may be a skin problem. Fleas and Lice are most commonly associated with skin irritation, both can be treated and prevented with proper advisement and medications/treatments by certified professionals.