Meet Gideon Wolverine -- our newest adventure. A maltipoo puppy, born February 11th. After years and years and years of not being able to have a dog due to severe allergies, we discovered that there are hypoallergenic puppies!
What does it mean if something is hypoallergenic? If you have allergies, you likely look for products marked “hypoallergenic” to avoid triggering an allergic reaction. Hypoallergenic means a product contains few allergy-producing substances known as allergens. link
Having spent many nights and days in the emergency room, including celebrating New Year's
Eve 1999-2000 listening to the nurses and doctors celebrate the turn of the century, I have learned to avoid dogs completely. Suddenly, a whole new pupper world has opened up.
While searching for a puppy to start our adventure, we started with a google search. This is the point at which a remind people to beware of puppy SCAMS! We were very close to being a victim of this ruse. So excited to becoming puppy owners, we bit on a scam site offer. https: //ihearts family .com/
Beware of this site, they are STILL selling the same 'nine week old' puppies as we looked at a month ago. Photos on this site were taken before these puppies could have even been born.
Tips to avoiding puppy scams.
1. If they are asking for money with no personal contact. STOP and think about that. Are you really willing to send hundreds or thousands of $$$ off site unseen?
2. Puppies are too available. Real puppy breeders have waiting lists!
3. Meet in person...don't bring money with the first day.
4. True breeders should be as concerned about your ability to take good care of the puppy as you are concerned about getting a good dog.
When we first brought Gideon home, we searched for information on raising dogs. First we looked on Audible, mainly because I have available credits. I picked out the Audible book, Maltipoo Bible and Maltipoos. Sadly, I was not very happy with this choice. There is too much emphasis on what can go wrong, including illness and puppies impending death.
After that disappointment, I searched for the best dog book. What came up was
Both a book and series of youtube videos, this audio book is currently free on Audible. It is being sold on Amazon in physical book form for $19.99. So very much a better read than our first attempt.
In amongst learning about our new furry family member, leases, potty pads, treats! and poop bags, we set up an appointment at our chosen Vet. In our case it is Euclid Veterinary Hospital in Ontario. Being concerned about the incredibly infectious Parvo, we are required to wait for over to 2 weeks after the puppy arrives before we can have him in for his first visit.
Parvo is the canine parvovirus (CPV) infection, and it is a highly contagious viral disease in dogs. There are two different forms that this disease can take. The most common type is the intestinal form. This has symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and weight loss.
Vaccination card in hand, his first visit is successful! Be sure to get vaccination information when purchasing your puppy! Gideon's next appointment is already set for three weeks from now. More vaccinations to keep him healthy.
One of the most important things we have discovered is YES, he is hypoallergenic enough to be a pleasant addition to our little family.
