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What is the best food for a new puppy? Unless you have a Great Dane puppy, it is important that you feed your dog puppy food. Puppy food contains more fat and protein to maintain proper growth. Knowing the ingredients is important. A lot is being written about dog food containing cheap fillers such as corn, wheat, soy and by-products. Recent research shows that many dogs are allergic to these fillers. Some of the symptoms to watch with allergies are feet licking, excessive scratching, dry skin, change in skin color, watery eyes and stained tears. We always suggest our customers check out www.dogfoodadvisor. com and www.seebeyondthebag.com websites for quality ratings and ingredient information. Feeding quality food does not need to break the bank, either. Speak to your local stores to find affordable food that fits your budget. Quality food means less feeding and healthier pets. Is there a proven method for house training a new dog or puppy? Routine is the operative word here. Establishing a routine is important. is should cover feeding, walking, playing and exercising. Check out the website www. humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/ housetraining_puppies.html. Housetraining takes time, but proper training will give you a lifetime of unconditional love from your pet. Confinement or crating will help eliminate some of your frustration and may be something to consider, too. is video helps you understand what to do: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNCK- bj4dQI. Are there any indestructible dog toys? My dog destroys everything he plays with. Our most requested items, by far, from our customers is for indestructible toys. e bad news is that there is no such thing. Dogs are descendants of wolves; instinctively, they want to kill those annoying squeakers and un-fluff a toy. ere are toys to consider … Kong-type of toys, filled with peanut butter and frozen, are always favorites and keep dogs entertained. Antlers will give your puppy or dog hours and hours of chewing time, with no smell or splinters to worry about while cleaning the plaque on your dog's teeth. Supporting local vendors, we are also great fans of Savannah's Fluff and Tuff toys, www.fluffandtuff.com. How much exercise is necessary for a puppy? Establishing an exercising and socializing schedule is important in your puppy's growth. Regular walks should be included in your daily routine. Hey, this way, you can get some exercising as well. Cesar Millan, the National Geographic's dog trainer guru, always believes an hour a day, away from home, is necessary. Here in Macon, we have a great dog park on the corner of Chestnut and Adams streets. You can use the small- dog area for your puppy to socialize with other dogs. e philosophy is that the more exposure your puppy has with other dogs, the better he'll be later. is is also a good way to network and socialize with other dog owners in town. Most importantly, know that tired dogs are good dogs. M FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 33 PETSPERTS Answering questions about your four-footed family member TailsSpin staff, le to right, Joey Betancourt, Britt Hallmark, Daniel Polk, with owners Jeff Manley and Jusak Yang Bernhard. EDITOR'S NOTE: Gateway Macon's "Macon Mogul Challenge" offered to help finance the location of a business in Macon's downtown. TailsSpin, a pet store with locations in Savannah, won the challenge with the best business plan, according to the judges. Macon Magazine is happy to provide a forum for the store's owners, Jusak Yang Bernhard and Jeff Manley, who have offered to answer readers' questions about pet ownership and care. Send your questions to maconmag@maconmagazine.com or post them on the Macon Magazine Facebook page. In their first column, they have answered questions they often get at their stores.