Are you considering bringing home a new furry friend? Get your new companion from a friendly source

Making the choice to bring home a canine is a life-changing decision that will enrich you and your family's lives for years to come, but where you find your new companion can affect his animal wellness, demeanor and behavioral training. According to TCPalm.com, there are a few places you should be sure to skip and a few locations that are preferred to give your new pooch a happy home and a bright future.

A professional breeder is the ideal place to find your new dog, and while it may be a bit more expensive, you can be assured that he is up-to-date on all of his shots and pre-screened for genetic and health issues. The dogs are also brought up with their fellow siblings and are typically more sociable around other dogs and humans in the early stages of their lives. Perhaps most importantly, a responsible breeder will take back a dog if he doesn't adjust well to your environment or if he just doesn't seem like a natural fit.

A local rescue group is also a wonderful location to find your new companion, and you can find a wide range of breeds that can make a smooth transition into your home. Much like a professional breeder, these canines are highly socialized and spend a majority of their time interacting with shelter workers and other dogs. These rescue organizations are dedicated to saving the lives of every breed and making sure they are caught up on vaccinations and spayed or neutered before being placed in a new home.

Large pet stores should be avoided at all costs, as they merely encourage the commercialization of animals that live in cramped conditions for a majority of their young lives. Many of these puppies come from large-scale breeding operations that care about quantity rather than the health and well-being of the dog. With such a traumatic beginning to their lives, these canines could suffer from behavioral and health problems and endure a much longer period of adjustment to your home.

Bringing home a dog is a huge step in your family's lives, but you need to make sure that you're getting him from a place where dog wellness is a top priority so he can live a healthy and engaging life.

To know more about the Hartz flea & tick  products for your pets, please visit www.hartz.com

Dog groomers can help spot flea problems before they spread

In the warmer parts of the United States and even in the milder areas of the country, fleas are still a huge problem. As the winter frost sets in, many of these pesky critters move indoors and are much more aggressive at this time of year. While keeping up with your flea prevention products is wise during the winter, taking a regular trip to the dog groomer can improve your dog's overall well-being, and he may be able to spot the initial signs of a flea infestation, so you can act accordingly.

Many dog groomers know the tell-tale signs of an infestation, and can spot fleas, eggs, larvae and their leftover filth as soon as they begin washing your pooch. Additionally, a groomer may also be able to notice flea bites, which can only be found at the skin level and could be a sign of a bigger problem in your household. Most professionals also have flea shampoo and other anti-flea products that will begin the process of eliminating these insects, so making an appointment is a wise choice for any pet owner during the winter.

A groomer's helpful eye could also come in handy to find any hot spots or signs of dry skin that may be apparent. This could be an indicator of allergies, poor nutrition and countless other factors that a trained eye can pick out. Simply put, grooming is a necessary factor in your canine's overall health, and it comes with its own unique benefits.

Of course, you don't want to deal with the embarrassment of bringing a flea-ridden pooch to your local groomer, so be sure to keep up with your monthly flea treatments. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Drops are applied at the skin level in between your dog's shoulder blades and dispensed down the length of his back to the tail. This will kill fleas at any stage of their life cycle, as well as ticks and mosquitoes on contact for up to 30 days. This simple procedure will spare your four-legged friend and your home from the risk of a flea infestation.

Visiting your groomer can be a worthy complement to your flea care, and it could be a crucial step in spotting and eliminating fleas and their larvae before they have a chance to spread to the rest of your home.  

To know more about the Hartz flea & tick products for your pets, please visit www.hartz.com