5 Tips All New Puppy Parents Need to Know

When the pandemic began, adopting a puppy was all the rage. Unfortunately, many of them are now being rehomed for various reasons, and new owners must learn how to help those puppies adopt a new home and environment. 

Bringing home a new puppy can be tricky but with the right puppy care, you can find that your puppy will start feeling like a member of the family in no time. 

If you’re getting ready to be new puppy parents, here are 5 important tips you need to know. 

1. Puppy Training

When it comes to knowing how to care for a puppy, puppy training should be a the top of your list. When your dog is trained well, you will feel more confident and they will be less destructive.

You’ll want to train your puppy on the basics like going to the bathroom outside, using a crate, basic commands like sit, stay, or leave it, and how to take a walk. A trained puppy will give you much peace and make ownership much more enjoyable. You can train your puppy or hire a trainer. 

2. Dog Food and Treats

The type of dog food you choose needs to be adequate for your dog’s size and breed. You’ll likely want to start your dog on puppy food if they’re under a year old and switch to an adult brand sometime after their first birthday. 

If you’re getting your dog from a breeder, ask the breeder what brand and type of dog food they’d recommend. With all the different brands and types available, it’s best to stick to a few choices and go from them. Training treats are also a necessity if you’re going to be training the dog yourself. 

3. New Puppy Goodies

While chew toys are a good choice for puppies, because they may be chewers, you’ll also want other items like food and water dishes, a crate, collar and leash, and an ID tag or microchip in case your puppy gets lost. 

4. Find A Vet

Your new puppy will need their first check-up as soon as you bring them home. If you don’t have a vet, do your research to find one that you like and that’s close to home. 

A good vet will be knowledgeable, experienced, and have emergency hours available. You’ll also want to make sure you can communicate well with your vet since your dog cannot tell you what’s wrong or what they need. 

5. Prepare Your Home

Puppies are notorious for getting into everything, so make sure all your valuables and dangerous chemicals are locked up or out of reach. If you have items that are valuable, consider moving them to higher ground so your puppy doesn’t think it’s fair game for chewing. Monitor your puppy closely so they don’t put anything in their mouths that could be harmful. 

You’re Ready For Your New Puppy

Having a new puppy is exciting and should be fun and not completely stressful. By being prepared and planning ahead of time, you can bond with your puppy and enjoy them for many years. 

Are you looking for more puppy tips? Visit our blog page today to learn everything about having a healthy puppy!

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The Big Benefits of Hats for Toddlers


The toddler development period features several milestones, including a growing need for independence. That’s why parents often encourage their children to dress themselves after they’ve turned two.

Hats for toddlers are an additional way that little ones can practice their independence and express themselves. However, toddler hats can also protect your child from excess sun exposure and cold conditions.

Keep reading to discover all the benefits of hats for toddlers!

Should Toddlers Wear Hats?

The human skull doesn’t fully finish fusing until you’ve reached young adulthood. That said, many of the fontanelles (soft spots in the head) close up before a child enters toddlerhood.

As such, toddlers can safely wear hats without risking skull damage. Besides, hats for toddlers are excellent ways to protect your child’s head and face from UV radiation, cool temperatures, and rain.

Toddlers don’t need to wear hats, but giving them a diverse selection of hats from which to choose has several notable benefits.

Benefits Of Hats For Toddlers

Toddlers look adorable in little hats, but cuteness isn’t the only reason to outfit your little one with toddler hats. Some of the most crucial benefits of toddler hats include:

Protection from environmental dangers
Encouraging independence
Improving motor skills
A form of self-expression

Let’s take a moment to explore these benefits in greater detail.

Protection From Environmental Dangers

The primary benefit of toddler hats is protection from environmental dangers. Hats can keep your child safe from excessive UV exposure, low temperatures, and heavy rains.

Like adult hats, toddler hats come in many styles, each suited to a specific purpose. Sun hats, for example, cover the head, neck, and ears to protect those sensitive areas from sunburn.

Investing in a wide range of hat styles ensures that your little one is prepared for all types of weather and conditions.

Encouraging Independence

Toddlerhood is a period marked by a growing sense of independence. Your child may suddenly develop opinions about what food they’d like to eat, what activities they’d like to enjoy, and what clothes they’d like to wear.

Ensuring they have multiple hats from which to choose can foster this sense of independence. When little ones feel like they can accomplish simple tasks like dressing themselves, they’re bound to feel more confident.

Improving Motor Skills

Toddlers might not have the best control of their bodies, but they’re learning refined motor skills. For this reason, many of the most popular articles of toddler clothing feature large buttons, clasps, and zippers.

Giving your child a hat to wear can also help them develop their motor skills and coordination. After all, it takes a little practice to put on a hat and take it off, especially when you’re still learning about your own body.

A Form Of Self-Expression

Being the parent of a toddler can be challenging. Having your little one throw tantrums, tell you no, or refuse the most straightforward requests can make you feel more than a little crazy.

But it’s crucial to remember that toddlers are going through many physical and mental changes. One of those changes is the formation of a self-identity.

Offering your little one multiple opportunities to express themselves may help them feel more secure and confident. Hats are an excellent form of self-expression, as they come in many styles and colors.

Types Of Hats For Toddlers

Toddler hats come in several styles, each one suited to specific situations or weather conditions. For example, sun hats are a must for sunny summer days, while winter hats can keep your little one warm in cold weather.

Some of the most common types of hats for toddlers include:

Baseball caps
Bucket hats
Sun hats
Winter hats
Formalwear hats

Let’s take a moment to discuss these different hats. That way, you’ll be able to choose hats that fit your child’s needs and preferences.

Baseball Caps

Baseball caps are some of the most popular types of toddler hats. They feature long brims that can keep the sun out of your child’s face, and they’re fashionable.

Both boys and girls can feel comfortable wearing toddler baseball hats. For example, this pink baseball hat is adorable, soft, and customizable. Little ones will love seeing their first initial printed on this hat.

Bucket Hats

Bucket hats are stylish, typically featuring colorful patterns that appeal to toddlers. They’re also far easier to put on and take off than baseball caps, as they don’t have adjustable bands.

Choosing a few bucket hats for your toddler is an excellent way to help them practice their independence and motor skills. Because bucket hats come in so many colors and styles, they’re also an opportunity for self-expression.

Sun Hats

Sun hats are similar to bucket hats, but they offer better protection from the sun’s rays. Remember, sunny days might be an excellent opportunity to spend time outdoors, but a toddler’s skin is more sensitive than an adult’s.

As such, a few layers of sunscreen may not be enough to keep your little one from developing a sunburn. Sun hats cover the head, neck, and ears for extra UV protection.

Winter Hats

Winter hats help reduce heat loss while protecting your child’s head from ice and snow. In addition, hats with ear flaps are handy, as your little one’s ears may be prone to ear infections and aches due to their size.

Formalwear Hats

Taking a toddler to a wedding or formal party can be challenging, as toddlers are often sensitive to new places and people. Additionally, toddler-sized formalwear can be uncomfortable for little ones.

However, offering your toddler a lovely formalwear hat might make a significant difference in their attitude. For example, a comfortable newsboy cap can make toddlers feel grown-up and cool.

Choose The Best Hats For Toddlers

Investing in a few hats for your toddler is an excellent decision. Hats for toddlers can protect your little one from environmental threats like UV radiation and cold weather.

Toddler hats can also encourage your child to become more independent and express themselves. In addition, the act of putting on their little hat can also help toddlers improve their motor skills!

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our related fashion articles.

 

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5 Quality Moving Tips To Aware Of

Moving can be an extremely stressful time, especially if you have children and are putting the pressure on yourself to try and do it alone. The process of moving is even more stressful than beginning a new job. This is one reason my husband and I joke about hiring movers t

I strongly suggest that you hire a moving company to make the process less stressful, and a little more enjoyable for your family. However, it can be extremely challenging and nerve-racking to find a moving company that is reliable, trustworthy and able to do the job correctly and efficiently. My husband and I have been praying for the right time for us to move, but first, we need to be sure that we can find a quality company to help us! 

  1. Licensed Movers

One easy way to make sure you are hiring a reliable moving company is to ask for any certificates or license. If they don’t give you a good indication that everything is up to date or can’t be provided, then you can look at the U.S. Department of Transportation number. The Motor Carrier Safety Administration issues each department a moving company and any legitimate movers will have it ready for you if you ask for it. Another piece of advice would be to ask if they are also a member of the American Moving and Storage Association. This guarantees that they comply with federal moving and storage laws. 

 

  1. Keeping your Belongings Protected

Hiring a reliable moving company should have various forms of protection for your belongings. The most basic protection is called an Alternative Level of Liability. This means it is no cost and the movers assume liability for no more than 60 cents per pound, per article. If you have priceless items, they should also offer a Full Value Protection plan which means that any items that are damaged or lost within their possession from your home to your new location will be fully repaired or replaced at no cost to you. This is critical especially if you are moving across the country and have items that you know are in need of TLC. You want to make sure that the company provides you with explanations of their policies before you move so you can make the proper decision on what protection plan is best for you and your belongings. 

 

  1. Payment

A move can be a big investment. Most moving companies can offer a non-binding estimate or charge you by the house. Some even offer you to put a deposit down if they are popular among the area. This deposit should be refundable for a certain amount of days before the moving date just in case you need to cancel them for any reason. A piece of advice, never trust a moving company that is only cash. Truly the most respected and trustworthy businesses will accept any form of payment for you.

 

  1. Check References, Review & Team

If you are thinking this might be the company for you, you’ll want to check their employees, references and reviews. Look for positive testimonies on their website or if any neighbors or friends have shared positive reviews about them. This should be accessible for you to view and see right up front. Look for any other evaluations and anything previous customers will share about their reputation in order for you to make an educated decision. Another good indicator that you are going to hire a moving company is that they are staffed with full-time employees. They should be well trained, educated and friendly to help you every step of the way. They should be able to provide you with any details you wish to ask, training their employees go through and if they carry worker’s compensation with them.

 

  1. Be Present & Compare Lists

Once you find a reputable company that meets everything on your checklist, things should run pretty smoothly when it comes to your actual moving process. Problems can still occur so in order to make sure it works in your favor, be present for the movers when packing begins. You can be there to help answer questions, check with any major decision making and guarantee with your own eyes that everything is packed to your satisfaction. Make sure our movers have an inventory list as well which helps streamline the moving process. Compare your list with theirs to make sure everything is there as well as when you get to your location that everything is off the truck.

A secure and trustworthy company in the Ohio area is called Bearded Brothers Moving Group LLC are efficient movers that not only provide you quality service, but also affordable prices. If you have a large number of heavy items or even just small items that need to be moved, they are the ones to help save you time, energy and your sanity by moving it all for you. These Youngstown, Ohio furniture delivery company can assist you with any of your questions, concerns and moving preferences so give them a call and save the stress for someone else!

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Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs

When we first got Leia (our morkie puppy), I didn’t know much about what was best for dogs except to make sure they were trained, taken to the vet, fed kibble, (and didn’t eat table scraps or they’d get belly aches). Within the first few months I noticed she was really itchy. She would bite at her feet, scratch her ears, and overall just be really uncomfortable. I bathed her in an oatmeal bath, started using natural flea prevention, and though she seemed a bit better, the itching continued.

I started doing more research and realized some of her allergy/itch could be coming from her kibble! Something in her food was causing an adverse immune response, which caused her to be so itchy and miserable. That’s when I started to do more research on the benefits of a raw diet for dogs.

So a few things I learned in researching the benefits of a raw diet:

Easily Digestible  

Dog’s thrive (digestively and otherwise) on a diet that is rich in protein, and low in carbs, sugars, and wheats/grains. Dogs absorb the nutrients better from whole foods vs synthetic, just like we do.

Healthier Teeth & Gums

Kibble and other canned foods can lead to plaque, tarter and bad breath!The high sugar content in these foods also is an ideal place for bacterial growth which causes several different dental issues. Raw food also contains natural enzymes which promote a healthy mouth.

Helps with Allergies 

So this is what really got me thinking; just like with us, a major cause of stress on the immune system is from poor gut health. Inflammation. Many fillers used in pet food are not meant for dogs and can cause digestive issues, and over time turn to an allergic reaction. Rashes, itchy paws, ear infections—you name it! A natural raw diet can help reduce or eliminate these allergy symptoms (BINGO!)

Healthy Skin  

The nutrients in raw food are easier to digest than commercially prepared food, which allows the organs (i.e. skin) to absorb the necessary nutrients more efficiently. They also contain active enzymes that help a dog breakdown and consume the nutrients—without those enzymes, it’s hard for your dog to absorb starches, fats and proteins, which can lead to dry skin, thin fur, and dandruff. With a raw diet you’ll notice a difference in their skin—and less shedding!

When researching raw diet foods, I found a great brand made in the USA—100% harvested raw beef that they dry freeze for optimal nutrition. Their meat is never mixed with grains, fillers, or any chemical additives found in traditional kibble or canned food. It’s called TruDog.

Want to know what’s great about TruDog besides no GMO’s, grains or fillers, no by-products, no high-heat processing? It’s affordable.

You can buy individual meals, treats, supplements, or meal toppers; or you can subscribe to the meal plan. With a meal plan subscription you can enjoy several benefits such as double reward points on every purchase, additional savings on every order, and auto delivery! You can set up delivery for your meal plan and not worry about running out—they will auto ship your dog’s tailored food plan on the schedule you choose!!

What’s great about TruDog is they give you options that fit your budget—you can choose Feed Me or Boost Me, or mix it up!  Try out different flavors and treats until you find the perfect combination that your dog loves! 

For a limited time you can get 10% off your purchase using coupon code: ALLINADAYSWORKDOG from now until 1/31/2022

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The Ultimate Baby Shower Checklist


Having a baby shower can be one of the most exciting parts of preparing for your new little one. Celebrating with family and friends, playing games and the special gifts make baby showers a truly special occasion. Whether you are having a traditional baby shower, or a second (or third) baby ‘sprinkle’ there is a lot of work that goes into making sure that this is a memorable event.

6-8 WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOWER

If you are throwing the shower and you’re not the mom-to-be, confirm  the date with the mom, her mom, sister, bff, mother-in-law, etc.  Set the date and time, and decide on the venue.
Choose a theme. This should be gone over with the mom-to-be , you can find amazing ideas on Pinterest (which I will refer to several times over the check list!)
Make a guest list – check with Mom-to-be to see if she wants a co-ed baby shower, kid free, etc. This is HER day, so let her decide what works best!

3-5 WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOWER

Plan the baby shower events; like games and food!  This is the fun stuff! You can’t forget games like toilet paper rolls and the mom’s pregnant belly, candy bar ‘diapers’, so many! Here is a great reference for baby shower games, even some fun baby shower games for men who might attend your shower!
Besides games, there’s other things you don’t want to forget that will be super memorable for the mom to be.  Having your attendees fill out a ‘advice for Mom to be ‘ card, a ‘place your bets’ for delivery day , photo shoots with Mom to be (don’t forget family photos with her, her mom, her grandma, sister, mother-in-law, etc). You can rent a photo booth, or put someone in charge of photos. Don’t forget a good backdrop!

3-4 WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOWER

Buy party supplies! You may need to order somethings online (think Etsy!) to match your theme, or do something special for the mom-to-be.
Make or assemble all party decor, especially if you are DIY any project.
Purchase baby shower favors, as well as prizes for games.

Invites are especially important; you have to make sure it fits your theme, and represents the mom-to-be. Companies like Poster My Wall offer templates to help create a great baby shower invitation that goes with your theme in no time!

PosterMyWall is an amazing graphic design tool to customize thousands of different templates from baby showers, to birthdays, and even weddings! They are also great for small businesses. From my experience, ordering printed personalized invitations when time is of the essence (especially in todays market) being able to design and print your invitations from home is a no brainer!

Right now you can get 20% OFF on both 12 month plans using promo code: AIADW20! (offer ends 2.15.2022)

1-2 WEEKS BEFORE SHOWER

Shower food is very important – depending on the time of the shower, you may want to serve a light lunch/brunch, or even just appetizers – and of course sweets! There are some super cute and creative ideas, such as MOM-osa’s,  punch, fruit trays, skewers, veggie tray, and soo many cute treats like these baby rattle oreo pops . pacifier cupcakes, and the list goes on and on! Be sure to check with the mom-to-be about her and her guests dietary needs.

1 WEEK BEFORE THE SHOWER

Contact any guests who haven’t RSVP’d. Their invite could of gotten lost in the mail, opened by a kid or husband (I have had this happen!) you don’t want anyone missing such an important day , or feeling left out, so don’t forget this important step.

Lastly – enjoy! You put a lot of work into this shower, now enjoy the mom-to-be, and all the memories!

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