Loni Jay, yes. Every adoption from this shelter comes with it being fixed. It's their policy but I would have done it anyway.
So by the time I am allowed to pick it up, it'll be pushing 3 months old since they fix them at 9 weeks and hold them for a week to make sure there are no complications. I've read besides preventing puppies, it helps prevent cancer in both genders as well as further mellows males out. If I have a female, she won't have periods so that will be easier to help her maintain.
No problems here. It's still young enough to train and adapt, but old enough to get a more secure idea over their disposition. And I can always withdraw my bid for the dog or ask them to pair them with an older dog to guide them.
Going through the shelter is going to be the most economical and secure route to secure a dog in my location. Breeders are too expensive and I don't really want the first dog to be from craigslist or something because of possible health problems. Accidents happen, but at least if I get a shelter dog, the risk is slightly lower due to all their medical inspections.
I highly doubt my girlfriend will loose interest. I am more concerned about me shanghi'ing what is supposed to be her pet as my buddy. But either way the dog will win.
I've started investigating the house for potential problem areas. We have tile throughout most of the house. Thank god the shelter workers will show me how to trim claws before we go home. The back fence is solid unless it's a digger. Then I'll just have to plant a decorative rock garden in front of the fence. I don't have anything fancy fruniture wise, the kids are great about shutting doors behind them, so that's better. I may just put a baby gate across the bedroom hall until it's housebroke since most of the carpet is that way.
Fellow dog owners, how did you house break your dogs?
"Oh wait. She doesn't have a... Forget what I said, don't catch the preggo. Just wear her hat." - Question Marc
I think ours was still technically a puppy, but the breeder had done all the housetraining.
Fresh-eyed movie blog
Reverse the Curse
I can't remember every detail, but I do recall that for the first few months, until she learned to wake one of us up and lead us to the back door, mom had Bandit sleep in a newspaper-lined crate in the master bedroom.
Febreeze might help in this endeavour.
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!
Void Waiter
Personally? I had mine since they where 3 and 8 days old, so when they started eating goo food I just picked them up after feeding, took them outside, and waited till they relieved themselves then made noises of approvals. Then once they got old enough to walk around on the floor for extended periods I just followed them around and when they went on the floor I would make noises of disapproval at them pick them up and take them outside. Sometimes they would continue and more noises of approval would follow. Eventually they made the connection and would whine when they had to go.
This begins the age of whining untill they got big enough to use a doogy door. At this point they began pissing on everything in the backyard. The trick here is to follow them and put them down in a spot you want them to poop on.
Some people train there dog to go poop on walks. I think that's weird, but to each there own. From what I am told was at the stage I was training mine to poop in the far corner is when you start saying a Command word everytine they pooped. Eventually they should poop on command. Then you scold them when they poop when not on command. Then you only let them poop on the times you walk them.
Who has a life that is so unchanging that dog walks happen twice a day on time? Not I. Maybe you do, so it might be worth knowing.
edited 5th Nov '12 9:24:39 AM by InfalliableLiar
Stop caring and embrace nullness.
Zzzzzzzzzz
Mr Maddy and I got a pup at about ten weeks, used pretty much the same routine as Infallible and Furiko combined.
Take him out right after he ate, telling him to "do your business", then lots of approval when he peed and pooed in the back yard. Take him out about every hour, just in case.
No scolding when he made a mess inside, unless we caught him in the act.
He spent the nights in a milk crate lined with bathtowels, and one or the other of us slept on the couch beside it until he could make it through the night without needing to go.
If he whined or whimpered, take him outside.
Later we added teaching him "Show me" — if he whined, we said "show me" and let him lead the way. Wherever he took us was what we gave him — if he went to the door, we let him out. If he went to the bowls, we refilled the water or fed him if it was nearly feeding time.
And baby gates are a wonderful thing.
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
My boyfriend did something similar with his dog. It helped that he had an older dog to show her the ropes.
But he also until this day does not leave a continous amount of food out. He portioned her meals to match him being home. This worked not just with helping with accidents, but she's part lab. Labs are the only dogs I know that will eat themselves to death sometimes. Now she is on a routine in both eating and relieving herself. He has a lot of playtime timed to not interrupt her digestion, and it keeps her at a healthy weight.
He also trained her not to go for food until he gives permission, even her own food bowl. She's good enough you can leave a meal and she won't touch it, which has helped to teach her paitence. It didn't happen overnight, but he kept the routine consistant as much as possible so she's been sweet.
Her birthday is today actually!
"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
Zzzzzzzzzz
Yeah, none of our dogs got at-will food. They were fed morning and evening, and they were taught to wait until they were told "Okay" after the bowl was set down before they could dive in. Both were (well, Clint still is) Shepherds (Taiga was German Shepherd/Husky, Clint is a Belgian Shepherd/maybesomethingelse) that weighed in the 90-pound range, so teaching them not to be pushy was really important.
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
Yes, seconding (or thirding) that it's important not to overfeed your pets. Animals will not regulate their own feeding properly if given too much food and will develop health problems as a result.
edited 5th Nov '12 5:57:01 AM by Talby
Great! My schedule is pretty set unless the kids start getting into some sort of social event, but that will be after school, so it won't effect the dog too much. That's another reason I hope to get one during winter break so it won't be home alone immedietly, but will have the kids to help it adapt.
I figured if I just get up a half hour earlier than what I do now and go to bed a half hour sooner, it'll give better timing for my dog to have breakfast and digestion time before my morning run, that way they can go with me. If the weather is bad, well, I'll have that extra time to wrestle or love on them during my breaks when working out inside.
I left a phone call with the dog trainer on base asking to go talk to him. I rather get all the tools in my box before I get the dog so if I get in a weird situation or my first idea isn't working, I can move smoothly to the next procedure.
My eldest is also teaching me the various dog commands in Romanian. Since that is the kid's first language and the one they're still more comfortable speaking in, I figured we'd use that as our command language. That way, should they get excited or scared and call to the dog, there isn't a language barrier for either party.
"Oh wait. She doesn't have a... Forget what I said, don't catch the preggo. Just wear her hat." - Question Marc
Void Waiter
One last bit of advice. Prepare to have to be strict with your family while training your dog.
Stop caring and embrace nullness.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
thanks, I didn't think about that one. I considered the kids slipping it human food, but I hope it's not worse.
Zzzzzzzzzz
^^ Depends on how you define "strict." Far more important is that everyone be consistent; that if you expect the dog to sit and wait at the door until given permission to go out, then everybody does, and so on.
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
Reverse the Curse
Maybe a family meeting before the doggy actually arrives? Sit down and decide how you want to discipline the puppy.
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!
A number
Wow, sounds like everything's pretty well planned out. I know I'm a little late, but I thought I'd chime in.
On the topic of breeds, have you considered getting a terrier at all? We've had German Shepherds my whole life and they're incredibly smart and affectionate dogs *. But I've also had experience with terriers, and despite their size I can assure you they're not lap dogs. They're smart, very loyal, tend to act like they're bigger dogs, and are very energetic.* Most of them were originally bred as work dogs, and some of them are ratters, keeping pests away as an extra benefit. They have all the benefits of a big dog in a smaller dog's body.
Otherwise I've found the hardest part about training a dog is being consistent and tough on them when the situation calls for it. Sometimes they look at you with those puppy-dog eyes after doing something bad, and you just want to forgive them or be half-hearted in your discipline. You absolutely cannot and must remember that to them you are the alpha. They're ultimately happier in well-disciplined living situation, so make sure you keep on it.
I'm working on it.
Thanks for the continued advice guys! I just got word from the animal shelter that they have a female pit bull that is pregnant. The pet was voluntarily given up because the owner just couldn't support the pet anymore, let alone with puppies coming in. She is really sweet and just a very gentle dog. The father is unknown, but the shelter owner is going to let me come in and observe the puppies when they're born and see if one maybe a fit for my family! I'm excited!
"Oh wait. She doesn't have a... Forget what I said, don't catch the preggo. Just wear her hat." - Question Marc
Uniocular
Judging from what you've said, I would really recommend against a pit bull. They aren't the devils people think they are, but they require very intensive training that I don't think a first timer could handle even with advice, and are extremely high energy (as in, they need much more than a morning run.)
And the puppies are like imps. Just... terrible. Worse than any other puppy I've had.
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."
Zzzzzzzzzz
Kind of agree. Pitties are sweet dogs if thoroughly and properly trained and socialized, but they're also scary-smart, stubborn, and strong in both will and body. There's virtually no room for error in the training or socializing.
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
I loved my pit. She was a pure bred too. So even if it's a mix it should be fine. The puppies will be born in a very controlled enviroment and you already said there is a dog trainer on base so I don't see why you would have to not consider them.
"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
Get a mutt if it's your first time around. They tend to be healthier than purebreds and you can judge based on the individual animal rather than on breed standards, so you can pick the right dog for yourself and your family.
That's all I have when it comes to the breed, but the care is an entirely different matter. You have to ask yourself these questions: Will I have enough money to pay for regular check-ups, food, toys, etc.? Will my family care for and love the dog throughout its entire time with us, and not just for a few months after receiving it? Is my home ready for and safe enough for a dog? The problem with gift animals is the loss of interest and eventual neglect of the animal after a while.
If you really think you're ready to take care of a high responsibility pet, then check out some foster dogs. Note the "dog". I have to say that I wouldn't recommend a puppy for a first-timer as they require a lot more care than a full-grown dog.