Copr Bobbie1964/via Flickr

#1: Puppy Development: Birth to 12 Weeks

Well, there are a lot of new owners out there who want to know what to expect. Did you know that different breeds mature at slightly different rates? Or that newborns can’t regulate body temperature–in most cases that means they can die from hypothermia (the cold) but in this heat wave I suspect newborn pups might also be at risk for heatstroke.

#2: Puppy Vomiting

Ewww! All I can say is there must be a lot of URKING going on. This article explains the various reasons behind the behavior, and some home treatments for it. When your dog was a pup, did s/he vomit a lot? Do you know when it’s sorta-kinda-normal and when it’s an emergency?

#3: Puppy Development: 10 Weeks to Adult

It follows, I suppose, that folks want to know what to expect AFTER the adoption. How old was your pup when he came to live with you? Magic was 8 weeks old, but our first shepherd came to live with us at five months. And when does junior-dog become an adult? When can you expect juvenile delinquent behavior to kick in? Actually I’m a bit surprised this article isn’t the most popular, or at least #2 in the lineup. But I guess it’s hard to beat vomit.

#4 Introducing A New Puppy to Dogs

Yep, lots of folks acquire youngsters while they have resident pets. Proper intros can make the transition go smoother. At our house, we had to introduce Magic to the Queen Cat and teach him that kitty is the boss and can whip your furry ass-ets into shape (she still does that, even though he now outweighs her more than 10-to-one. We may, in fact, need to put these tips into practice down the road since we do have plans to bring another canine furry wonder into the house (stay tuned!

#5 Bloat In Puppies

Oh my, I pray that folks who made this the #5 pick on the list just wanted FYI information! A round tummy can be caused by many things but “bloat” is a serious life-threatening condition that needs emergency vet care. Have any of y’all had a dog suffer from bloat? Did you have the preventive surgery done for your at-risk breed pup?

Okay, it’s your turn. Why do you think these subjects top the popularity list? Have you had issues or interest with any of them? What are other subjects that deserve more attention? I’m scheduling my puppy-licious writing calendar for the month and am a bit weary of writing about (ew!) parasites so please send me suggestions!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!