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LunaHound wrote:If i raise one starting from a puppy , what do i need to consider?

A place for it to sleep , 2 clean bowl for food and water. what brand? dry or wet food?

I'd avoid wet food if possible. Dogs that eat wet food will often only want to eat wet food. Dry food is better, and if they are really picky, you can mix in a little wet food, but try to wean them off it over time.

The brand of food isn't so important as that it's a quality brand, such as Eukanuba or Science Diet, something from a pet shop, not something from a grocery store. No-name or cheap brands are usually full of fillers and will make your dog have a coat that looks poorer and sheds more. I have a bulldog, and give her Science Diet, but again, it doesn't matter that much, so long as it's quality

What IS important is not to swap them abruptly from one brand to another, if you do swap: they will get diarrhea . do 25%, then 50%, then 75% etc over a few days.

They should have a kennel which you can close at night. People who are not familiar with dogs think putting them in a "cage" is cruel, but it's not: it's a den, and dogs are den animals. Leave it open in the day and they will know they have a safe refuge.

a collar , a leash , a chew toy , some dental bone treat. do puppy drink same milk we drink? no chocolate right? and no sea food?
At vet: Immunity shots? some sort of ID?

Collar yes (harnesses are better for puppies), leash yes, chew toy yes (no rawhide for puppies under a year), dental bone treats yes. Puppies should not be drinking milk at all - any puppy you get should be 8 weeks old, and eating solid food. Dogs lean towards the lactose intolerant and should not be given cow's milk. No chocolate, it's toxic, but you knew that. but also no raisins or grapes, which are similarly dangerous.

Seafood, so long as it's boneless, is fine in moderation. They shouldn't really be having more then 10% of their diet in "people food".

Shots should be kept up to date by the vet, yes. They also should be microchipped - a RFID chip about the size of a grain of rice is injected at the base of the neck under the skin, and you register it. If the dog wanders off, most shelters now scan for the chip.

How often do they need to be washed as a puppy? if they have medium length hair?
Do they sleep alone at night? or near me?

Not very often, unless they get really dirty. Medium length hair should be brushed every few days.

My house is surrounded by 2 giant dogs , will they effect the mentality of how the puppy grows?

Any more info dakka dog owners want to share?

As far as the giant dog question, it's impossible to say. It depends on the personality of the dogs. My neighbors had a great dane, and my bulldog got loose once when she was a puppy and immediately ran over. I was scared, but it turned out the great dane was a huge pushover and my dog shoved it around (and unfortunately, I regret to say, briefly humped it's leg - she's a girl and was 1/10 of the great dane's weight) for as long as she could avoid me leashing her.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, also, this is helpful to do: when they are very young, lean over and take their food away shortly after they do it, briefly. If they growl or act possessive, discipline it. If they do not, put a treat in the bowl too. Food aggression can be bad especially if they are going to be around children, so it's best to break them off that as early as possible.

I cannot strongly enough recommend this book, which can be gotten very cheaply used.

Cheese Elemental wrote:Veni.

And, yep, a little more puke.

For God's sake, make sure you train it consistently and give it plenty of companionship. I'm currently at war with my next door neighbors because they just throw their three large dogs out of the house for the entire day, every day. And they bark and bark and bark. And howl. At everything and nothing. And my idiot neighbors won't even so much as check on them or try to stop them, at least they didn't until we got the local Animal Control on their case. Things are improving now.

Oh, and get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Medium sized, very loving breed. You really need to be on top of their leash training though, as they were bred to be bird dogs and love to chase things.

LunaHound wrote:How do i know during a jog that it wouldnt suddenly step into the same space im about to step on?

Dogs learn how to keep out from under you pretty quick. For a little while, depending on the pup, they may well be crazy reckless because they just don't have any danger sense, but their bodies are built to take a few hits when they're young. As a pup my dog ran down a storm drain, attacked a swan and jumped out of a moving car, but he got through it and learnt to be more cautious. I also learned a whole lot about being more cautious for him.

The big thing to understand is that it'll be full on at first. As a puppy he’ll be a poo and wee machine, full of energy and mischief. You also won’t be able to take for proper walks to burn off energy either, as he needs to be indoors until his parvovirus vaccinations are complete. But in a few months it’ll be over, you'll be able to walk him to tire him out, and in time he'll mature and learn the houserules. It'll feel impossible at first, but it gets a lot easier.

I agree with Ouze that the best dogfood is offered at the vet’s, but it’ll be at a crazy inflated price. Better to find out what brand they recommend then source that stuff off the internet – my seb is on a type on weightloss food, and buying it on-line saves about 70% of the price I’d pay at the vet’s.

Oh, and look into pet insurance. It’s pretty cheap, while the operations a dog might need can be insanely expensive. It means you’ll never be forced to choose between putting your dog down or finding a few thousand dollars.

LunaHound wrote:

Manchu wrote:

LunaHound wrote:How do i know where they'll walk when i take them out for walks? Im worried that i might step on them or kick them by accident if we start running and im not looking at where im stepping next.

What?

How do i know during a jog that it wouldnt suddenly step into the same space im about to step on?

They will. You will both learn.
The important thing is lots of walks-like DAILY. Not just around the block but real 30- minutes to an hour. They need toys and play. Take them to real dog parks to socialize. Show them love and don't be mean to them.

Hey, I never said to get it at the vet. That would be insanely expensive. I said something from a pet shop, not from a grocery store.

Funny note, on your dog's storm drain story - My friend's dog, a Jack Russell Terrier, once got attacked by a raccoon in a storm drain when he was a puppy. He was alright, but for the rest of his life, would not walk within 30 feet of a sewer outlet, which I discovered when dogwatching for a week once.

MeanGreenStompa wrote:I'd recommend the following:

Get a rescue dog, save a dog that needs saving from the pound.

Ensure you spay the dog. There are far too many unloved and wasting away in pounds. The world does not need new puppies, it needs people prepared to show love and care to animals that idiots have bought on a whim and then rejected.

Inoculate your dog, ensure it gets all the meds it needs.

Understand you are make a 16 year + commitment. You are basically adopting a child that will need attention and exercise all those years, there is no question that you must walk the dog on days when the weather is horrible.

Understand the breed or size requirements of the animal you select.

Understand dog psychology! This is very important, understand that you eat before the dog does, that you have control. You must be the alpha in it's wolfpack or it will be miserable and so will you as it misbehaves due to conflicting messages you give it about who is in charge. Be a firm but gentle alpha dog, your dog will be thankful for it.

This. Rescue dogs are the single best thing that ever happened to me.
The best idea, before getting a dog of your own however?
Volunteer at an animal shelter. You get to learn the ins and outs without having to commit anything other than your free time. You also get to figure out if you can handle dealing with a buttload of wild animals.

I think Kanluwen has the best answer to OP's question so far. Luna: Take heed!

So let it be written! So let it be done!

So says Commander Guile!

And M(anchu) Bison!

I think it's generally better to get a mongrel than a purebred dog too- they tend to suffer from fewer genetic disorders, they're usually free, and the also tend to be less neurotic.

As for food, we feed ours with table scraps supplemented with a bit of dog food every now and then, and they have no health issues. Our collie lived to 15 without any trips to the vet at all, and was fairly hale well into old age.

If you're going for a purebed, be careful on the choice. Do research into the breed. Some breeds are bred for hunting, and will want to hunt all the time. Other are working dogs (collies are the best example of this) and can be obsessive if not given work to do (they will often make jobs for themselves that they take seriously too, like gaurding the house, or chasing cars, fetching and returning things all the time etc.)

I second the thing about it being a full time commitment, and think it's worth stressing again that dogs aren't people and shouldn't be treated as people. I'd also say that dogs shouldn't be indoors much at all. Oh, and they should socialise with other dogs AND humans.

Just be a little strict when it`s a puppy. When you play, you play, and when you`re serious, you`re serious. Take many walks so it get to use it`s energy, and be really strict about biting, or else it will become a problem. Good luck

I atm own two dogs that I have raised from puppies(a year and a half apart) and am about to get the third and final. I own a Miniture Pincher, and a Teacup chihuahuah, but the thrid is going to be a full size pincher. Small dogs, and large dogs have a TON in the diffeerences to upbringings. I agree with the other posters do not get wet food as it is incredably fatty and will make your dog a big one!!! Also talk to your vet as some dogs especially pure breeds have a lot of medical problems and that can lead to foods that help their joints, and excess doc visits.

As a puppy they need to go out every 2 hours, and at the most 15-20 minutes after they eat or finish playing. This is because as puppies they still cannot control their spintures(their butts), as well as their bladders. At first a leash is not nessicary, but if you live in a busy area then most definately train them fast.

Often the best way to train dogs to like their leashes to to get a cheap on cut it a foot or two, and just clip it onto their collars.Leave it on their and only take it off at night as this will enable the animal to learn to deal with the leash.

You can bath a puppy the first week you get it really though I would wait till they are at 10-12 weeks old. You shoudln't be getting the puppy before 8 weeks as it will not have the strength to be away from it's mother yet. If a breeder trys to sell it to you before 8 weeks then find another breeder because their are problems. When bathing start with the sink and put in lwarm water. Remember puppies are just like babies and can burn easy so watch the temp.

As the dog grows the other dogs will affect it since it will want to play(we hope). This is normal and at that point I recomend training. The dogs should also not be nuetered until 6months at least and if you are smart get a dog vet plan at a PetSmart. They are 36 bucks a month but welllllllllll worth it. It covers nueturing, dental, and all shots the dog will need for a year.

As for bones do not go raw hide. These have been proven to get caught in their bowels and kill them. Their is a plastic looking one at pet stores that dogs love that is degradable in their stomachs.

When it comes to sleeping that is entirely up to yo. I say start them on the floor and let them work up to sleeping with you. They need lots of blankets and heat in those early months, and love so I hope you have the time, because it isn't a joke that dogs are huge responcibilities!

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

P.S DO NOT SPANK THE PUPPY as this can cause serious problems in the later for you.

Also, if you get a puppy--they think they're people. Don't encourage it too much, but also don't try to be completely asinine about it.

Because then you miss opportunities like this

OO ya and males like to mark....once they learn how to lift their legs it's like they invented the wheel!

or this

"Quickly waiter bring me my snacks. Those munchies aren't going to get themselves. Chop Chop!

Says it all.

"What? You want me off of MY bed? YOU CRAZY?!"

I don't see anything wrong with using a physical reprimand with a dog from time to time. Don't overdo it, and always have a reason for it, but it doesn't psychologically damage them. At least, of all of our dogs, not one has every been vicious and any I trained were very well behaved and loving.

(Although, I think the same thing about kids more or less. Boot up the arse never did me any harm as a young fella.)

LunaHound wrote:If i want to be a responsible dog owner , what do i need to do / know?

Get a cat.

Sorry, had to be said.

If i raise one starting from a puppy , what do i need to consider?

Train them, train them from day one. Do not, do not give the thing a pass "until its older." When its older its too late.

Boo for cats! Cats suck.

Da Boss wrote:Boo for cats! Cats suck.

True facts.

Lies, I have three cats.

Now on the subject of dogs, I enjoy it grilled with chips on the sid-...oh your talking about having a dog as a pet. Well I dont know about that.

Cats can make a choice if they like you or not, usually not. Dogs are too stupid not to like you.

Although the Emperor created dog primarchs to guide humankind, fully half of them betrayed him and all of humanity. These once-noble creatures were corrupted and twisted by Chaos. We know them now as cats.

I never said they weren't an evil hateful race.

Tyyr wrote:Cats can make a choice if they like you or not, usually not. Dogs are too stupid not to like you.

That's a common misconception. You're anthromorphosising both animals.

You're taking very mild internet trolling FAR too seriously.

Probably. It's a pet hate of mine that people think dogs are dumb though. Cos they really aren't.

I dunno, I've known one or two who were pretty ing stupid.

Tyyr wrote:Cats can make a choice if they like you or not, usually not. Dogs are too stupid not to like you.

I admit, cats are smart. That's why they prefer dumb, easily manipulated people.