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Magpyex
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Magpyex is offline  
Location: North-East Birmingham, UK
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,122
Female 
 
03-11-2011, 12:57 AM
- Read GOOD books on positive training methods & body language. Don't wait until you have a problem to learn how to solve it.

- Consider a rescue. Consider a puppy. Use your head and not your heart and decide which is realistically suitable for your situation.

- Same with breed - is the dog you want REALLY suitable for your lifestyle? Be honest with yourself.

- Hang out with people with dogs! Look after one for a week if you can! Walk daily with someone with a dog (preferably in winter) to make sure you can handle doing daily walks in potentially horrid weather.

- Don't get a dog because you have ulterior motives. 'I want to walk more, I should get a dog to make me walk more!' is not a good reason to get a dog. If you fail & realise you don't like walking who is going to walk your dog for the next 15 years?

- Be realistic and honest about what you can offer a dog. Don't say you can offer 4 hours of exercise a day if realistically you think you will only manage an hour and a half. There's no shame in wanting a dog that needs less exercise, just be honest about what you can manage.

I'm sure there are more but I think those are the most important things
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Vorlich Lad
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Location: Bishopbriggs, Scotland
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 32
Male 
 
21-11-2011, 03:35 PM
Socialisation, socialisation, socialisation. Please socialise your puppy right from day one. With as many People, especially men and children and as many other puppies and dogs as you can find. Your pup will grow into a lovely well behaved dog in the future
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Patience
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Location: UK
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 16
Female 
 
21-08-2012, 02:40 PM
A big one for me when I got myself a dog (and then another) that I had not thought about was:

Be prepared to be embarrassed in public by your dog.

It does not matter how well behaved/trained your dog is, they will find a way!
It sounds silly but it really is true.
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Chris
Dogsey Veteran
Chris is online now  
Location: Lincolnshire
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,921
Female 
 
21-08-2012, 03:01 PM
What does a novice owner need to know?

All breeds are different

Out there will be a breed that suits your lifestyle, but you need to be clear what your lifestyle is to find that perfect breed for you

Dogs cost money - food, toys, bedding, vet bills etc

Dogs live a long time and deserve to be in a home for the duration of their life.

Dogs are not a throw-away commodity. Your decisions could cost a dog's life

Dogs, like children, need boundaries and it takes time and patience to guide them into accepting their boundaries. If you haven't got time, or don't want to commit, don't get a dog

When they get old, dogs can become incontinent, less active and need extra care and attention

However:

Dogs provide years of smiles and happy memories

They get you out of the house even on the days when the weather is truly horrible

They listen to your worries without comment or condemnation

They are a companion, a best friend, a partner

Most of all, what you give a dog, you'll get back ten-fold so remember to be kind to your new companion and treat him/her with the respect and compassion s/he deserves
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Muskrat
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Location: N.Yorkshire, UK
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 250
Female 
 
21-08-2012, 03:03 PM
Mostly just that getting a puppy really isn't the only way to a loving, loyal, well balanced family pet. Most rescue dogs have sound temperaments and are there through no fault of their own, they're not second best.

Puppies are cute but they're also time consuming, stressful, expensive and irritating!
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rune
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Location: cornwall uk
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,132
Female 
 
21-08-2012, 03:10 PM
Follow on from my post on my novice brother getting a dog.

They got an undersocialised blue merle farm collie aged 1 and a half from a friends friend who breeds and show shar peis. They thought because the person had show dogs they would have been a good home---which they probably were as long as you didn't want to take the dog anywhere!

As it happens he is a great dog for them and they are working on his issues and doing really well. We have had some strange conversations though. It is interesting to realise how little they knew, very like other novice dog owners.

The difference it has made in their lives is huge, they both adore the dog and both walk him and play with him and are committed to doing it. My brother even bought himself waterproof trousers which he offered to lend to my SIL---her reply was that she'd rather get wet! She has a little way to go yet

I think the biggest thing new owners have to understand is the committment---the dog needs things doing for it every day, not just when you might feel like it, when it is warm out and when it is convenient.

rune
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grommit
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Location: uk
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,963
Female 
 
22-08-2012, 09:20 AM
Expect the unexpected!!

Figure insurance into your sums. It could be the most important thing in the world to you on one horrible day.

Dogs need walks, if you dont want them to eat your house and you have any love for them this needs to be done regardless of how tired you are, how rainy it is or how cold it is.

Think rescue, there are way too many waggy tails and massive hearts out there, stuck in kennels waiting for their hero to arrive.

Think about holidays and days out, where would your doggy be? Can you afford kennel fee's on top of holiday money? What happens if they are too old or poorly to go in kennels, can you give up your lifestyle to fit in with theirs if needed?

There are aspects of my life that are difficult because of my dogs... Would i be without them??? Never ever ever. They bring love and light into every dark day.
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yorkshiregal
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Location: Florida, USA
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 20
Female 
 
01-09-2012, 03:01 AM
Think about whether you can really afford a dog. There are a lot of expenses attached to bringing a new pet into the family and they can be very daunting especially if you don't have spending money.

Figure out your routine. Do you really have enough time to take your dog on walks, groom your dog, take care of training, shedding, and everything that comes along with it? Your dog needs to fit into your time. Otherwise you should reconsider whether you should get a dog.

Research the breed you want to get in-depth and make sure that it fits your lifestyle. There are some breeds which are easier for novices. There are some great books and resources about breeds out there.
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