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What qualities or behaviors do you look for in a new pet?
What qualities or behaviors do you look for in a new pet?
We will probably wait until the holidays are over to get a new puppy. We may even get two puppies. We want to make sure they are healthy.
)Oh, verjoy, there is nothing like a new little life to bring joy into a home....especialy after a difficult loss.
I hope that you will pick up a book by the Monks of New Skeet called The Art of Raising a Puppy. It gives many tips on choosing a pup.....and what behaviors indicate later traits. For example....a pup that won't let you roll it over and scratch its tummy without a struggle is an alpha. They have a stronger will and will require a firm hand but are usually highly intelligent and best choices for guide dogs, trained police dogs and other specialties, or owners who know how to train.
For a loving noodle of a home pet choose one who exposes their tummy willingly for a tickle or scratch. They will let...and want you to be the boss and will be eager to please.
Whatever you do make sure that your pup is old enough to leave its litter. Anything before 8 weeks , and some people say before 10 weeks is too soon. It is very important for a dog to socialize with other dogs between birth and 16 weeks, otherwise you will most probably have a dog that is aggressive toward other dogs. This happens a lot with pet shop purchased pups who are taken early and isolated in a cage. It also happpens often with tiny breeds. The pup is so small that the owner is afraid to let it interact with bigger dogs for fear of it getting squashed. I can't tell you how many miniture dogs I have seen with a really bad attitude toward other dogs. Some people call it a Hitler complex but, early socialization ( or rather the lack thereof) is really the issue.
Best of luck!
I hope that you will pick up a book by the Monks of New Skeet called The Art of Raising a Puppy. It gives many tips on choosing a pup.....and what behaviors indicate later traits. For example....a pup that won't let you roll it over and scratch its tummy without a struggle is an alpha. They have a stronger will and will require a firm hand but are usually highly intelligent and best choices for guide dogs, trained police dogs and other specialties, or owners who know how to train.
For a loving noodle of a home pet choose one who exposes their tummy willingly for a tickle or scratch. They will let...and want you to be the boss and will be eager to please.
Whatever you do make sure that your pup is old enough to leave its litter. Anything before 8 weeks , and some people say before 10 weeks is too soon. It is very important for a dog to socialize with other dogs between birth and 16 weeks, otherwise you will most probably have a dog that is aggressive toward other dogs. This happens a lot with pet shop purchased pups who are taken early and isolated in a cage. It also happpens often with tiny breeds. The pup is so small that the owner is afraid to let it interact with bigger dogs for fear of it getting squashed. I can't tell you how many miniture dogs I have seen with a really bad attitude toward other dogs. Some people call it a Hitler complex but, early socialization ( or rather the lack thereof) is really the issue.
Best of luck!
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
verjoy - first congrats on the thought of getting a new pup; I know you will be happy with the pitter patter of little feet in your house.
I am a dog trainer and have been professionally training dogs for obendience training and behavioral problem solving for 15 years.
I highly recommend that you reconsider the idea of getting two pups at once. When you get two pups at once, they tend to bond with each other rather than you and are much harder to train. If you want two in the long run, I strongly suggest getting one, training it and getting it through the puppy stage then getting the second one. The first one will help you with the second one. Almost every client I work with that gets two at once always tells me, "If I would have known, I would have done it differently and only gotten one to start with."
As for picking a puppy, I recommend an even temperament...not too hyper and not too calm. You don't want one that sits off by itself and doesn't seem to interact with the others nor do you want the one that is bullying the others for food. The puppy temperament testing is a good guideline and your gut will tell you alot.
Good luck in your decision and make sure not to let your puppy do things when it's little that you don't want it doing when it's older and full grown.
What kind/size are you thinking about getting?
I am a dog trainer and have been professionally training dogs for obendience training and behavioral problem solving for 15 years.
I highly recommend that you reconsider the idea of getting two pups at once. When you get two pups at once, they tend to bond with each other rather than you and are much harder to train. If you want two in the long run, I strongly suggest getting one, training it and getting it through the puppy stage then getting the second one. The first one will help you with the second one. Almost every client I work with that gets two at once always tells me, "If I would have known, I would have done it differently and only gotten one to start with."
As for picking a puppy, I recommend an even temperament...not too hyper and not too calm. You don't want one that sits off by itself and doesn't seem to interact with the others nor do you want the one that is bullying the others for food. The puppy temperament testing is a good guideline and your gut will tell you alot.
Good luck in your decision and make sure not to let your puppy do things when it's little that you don't want it doing when it's older and full grown.
What kind/size are you thinking about getting?
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
Thanks everyone for the info. Our previous pup, Phoebe, was 10 weeks old when we got her. I chose her because she sat quietly on my lap and looked up at me with wide eyes as if she understood everything I was saying. The other puppies squirmed and looked down.
I didn't know to expose her to other dogs after we took her home and she became timid of other animals. Other than that, we lucked out and she had a perfect temperament. At 3.5 to 4 pounds she was very tiny and delicate, so I would like a dog that gets to be 5-10 pounds. We had a Sheltie and I love them, but grooming them can be a chore. We also had a mostly pekinese (with a little poodle and yorkie sprinkled in), he was very cute but ornery.
We are thinking about another Yorkie, but also maybe a Cairn terrier (we had a cairn-poodle mix once and he was a sweetheart), but any small preferably non-shedding dog will do. I want to check the local shelters to see if they might have a little rescued older dog also. We don't want to have to fence our yard-it is too steeply terraced. Rescue organizations often require a fenced yard, so that may be a problem with that idea.
Thank you so much NothingTL, I definitely will NOT get two puppies at the same time. I am so glad you warned me. When we get the puppy I will try to learn to post photos.
Just thinking about a new pet makes me smile!
I didn't know to expose her to other dogs after we took her home and she became timid of other animals. Other than that, we lucked out and she had a perfect temperament. At 3.5 to 4 pounds she was very tiny and delicate, so I would like a dog that gets to be 5-10 pounds. We had a Sheltie and I love them, but grooming them can be a chore. We also had a mostly pekinese (with a little poodle and yorkie sprinkled in), he was very cute but ornery.
We are thinking about another Yorkie, but also maybe a Cairn terrier (we had a cairn-poodle mix once and he was a sweetheart), but any small preferably non-shedding dog will do. I want to check the local shelters to see if they might have a little rescued older dog also. We don't want to have to fence our yard-it is too steeply terraced. Rescue organizations often require a fenced yard, so that may be a problem with that idea.
Thank you so much NothingTL, I definitely will NOT get two puppies at the same time. I am so glad you warned me. When we get the puppy I will try to learn to post photos.
Just thinking about a new pet makes me smile!
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I am not sure if you are anywhere near ST Louis but I found this resuce. They take puppies and mommies from puppy factories. They have a ton of puppies that need good homes. I found them on Petfinder.
http://www.poshpuppiesrescue.org/
http://www.poshpuppiesrescue.org/
I would also suggest that you get a breed book and research the breeds you are interested in. A dogs characteristics should match your own..ie if you like to walk, run, excercise a Dalmation would be great but if you are a couch potatoe a Dal would be a bad choice.
Not every dogs fits the standard exactly but they will have those traits. Knowing what those traits are before hand can save you a lot of work later on.
A rescue dog is a great idea. There certainly are tons out there just waiting for a loving home. If not and you are set on a pure breed, make sure you find a breeder with a good reputation and one that is willing to open their kennel/house to you.
Good luck and can't wait to see pics of your new addition!
XOXO
Bug
Not every dogs fits the standard exactly but they will have those traits. Knowing what those traits are before hand can save you a lot of work later on.
A rescue dog is a great idea. There certainly are tons out there just waiting for a loving home. If not and you are set on a pure breed, make sure you find a breeder with a good reputation and one that is willing to open their kennel/house to you.
Good luck and can't wait to see pics of your new addition!
XOXO
Bug
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
The two books I highly suggest to people (and always give to my friends that are getting new pups) are: Good Owners Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons, and I Just Got a Puppy What Do I Do? by Matthew Margolis.
Be sure if you get a "breed specific" book that it's not one of the ones that says the exact same stuff but has different pics in it because alot of them do that.
I always suggest www.petfinder.org to people looking to adopt or all of the breeds have breed rescue groups if you are looking to rescue a pure breed.
Good luck.
Be sure if you get a "breed specific" book that it's not one of the ones that says the exact same stuff but has different pics in it because alot of them do that.
I always suggest www.petfinder.org to people looking to adopt or all of the breeds have breed rescue groups if you are looking to rescue a pure breed.
Good luck.
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
I cannot stress enough doing breed research and determining the right breed for your lifestyle BEFORE going out and looking. Do not stray from your research. All puppies are cute but they also all grow up to be dogs.
Hubby and I have had so many people want to give their dogs to us because they didn't know what they were getting into.
(He had a client that gave her australian shepherd prozac to quiet his herding & protection instincts. I honestly hate this woman. She bought the dog for it's coat color and didn't know anything about the breed. She tried to give him to us a few times.)
In terms of temperament, what kind of lifestyle do you lead?
Are you out walking, jogging, hiking a lot?
Do you have children?
Are you a couch potatoe?
Do you vacation a lot?
Do you have an apartment, a house, a house with a yard, a house with a fenced in yard?
You should answer all of these questions before you make any decisions.
Once you decide on a breed or two, look for:
a social puppy that is fat and happy and not scared or hand shy. Also look for clear eyes a clean nose and easy breathing.
Good luck!
Hubby and I have had so many people want to give their dogs to us because they didn't know what they were getting into.
(He had a client that gave her australian shepherd prozac to quiet his herding & protection instincts. I honestly hate this woman. She bought the dog for it's coat color and didn't know anything about the breed. She tried to give him to us a few times.)
In terms of temperament, what kind of lifestyle do you lead?
Are you out walking, jogging, hiking a lot?
Do you have children?
Are you a couch potatoe?
Do you vacation a lot?
Do you have an apartment, a house, a house with a yard, a house with a fenced in yard?
You should answer all of these questions before you make any decisions.
Once you decide on a breed or two, look for:
a social puppy that is fat and happy and not scared or hand shy. Also look for clear eyes a clean nose and easy breathing.
Good luck!