Resources on owning a dog

[KingGheedora]

I'm getting a dog soon -- a puggle. Are there any guides books, or websites you have found useful to educate one on owning a dog? Pref. free.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Your local library.
The internet (google)
Bookstores
Friends
Family
Homeless people with canines

 

[DaTT]

I bet HappyPuppy can answer your questions....I think he's even potty trained.

 

[IronWing]

I bet HappyPuppy can answer your questions....I think he's even potty trained.

We have seen no evidence of that.

 

[waggy]

We have seen no evidence of that.

heheh i was going to post something like this.

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[thescreensavers]

OP google about dog food and please feed your pet some decent food and not junk. It might save you the vet bills and or issues. And prolong your pets life

check this LINK

And a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkkjsQN42wc

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Keep one thing in mind and you'll be a better owner than most. You are bringing an animal into your house. No matter what name you give him or, dress him in silly clothes, he will remain a dog. He won't think like you and he doesn't understand you. You can train him and he will understand the training but not the why. He will do it to please you and because you are dominant.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Puggle? Hate those dogs.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Certain dog strains don't like, um well, particular racial groups if you know what I mean. I guess they just smell different.

 

[Nintendesert]

Cool thing about dogs is if they overstay their welcome you can just put them in a bucket and toss them in a river.

So resource wise, I suppose a 5 gallon plastic bucket.



OK, you've just used up your mulligan on tasteless dog statements

Next one gets you tossed.


esquared
Anandtech Administrator

 

[HappyPuppy]

Cool thing about dogs is if they overstay their welcome you can just put them in a bucket and toss them in a river.

So resource wise, I suppose a 5 gallon plastic bucket.

PM me your address so I can smother your children, your siblings and parents. I will then poke your ears out with a dull ice pick and gouge out your eyes with my thumbs while I laugh hysterically!

 

[Nintendesert]

Please, he wants a puggle. River is appropriate for that breed of dog.





OK, you've just used up your mulligan on tasteless dog statements

Next one gets you tossed.


esquared
Anandtech Administrator

 

[thedarkwolf]

Don't call it a puggle. No such thing. Just call it a pug beagle mix.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Google for articles/links. Amazon for 1000s of books.

Since this is your first dog, make sure you're willing to dedicate the next 10-15 years to care for him/her.

 

[KingGheedora]

Certain dog strains don't like, um well, particular racial groups if you know what I mean. I guess they just smell different.

I read this was actually the dogs sensing the bigotry of their owners/family. For example they can sense your reaction of fear or hatred when "people of a certain race" walk by, and they learn to be bigots that way. Being half black, I don't think this will be a problem for me, and I don't really find it funny.

 

[KingGheedora]

Don't call it a puggle. No such thing. Just call it a pug beagle mix.

That's exactly what a puggle is. Yeah i get it, puggle is not a breed, but the word is known to mean pug beagle mixes so it's valid.

 

[John P]

I always make first time dog owners read this:

http://www.nesr.info/breeders/hometoday.html

Remember, a dog is a pack animal and does not belong in the backyard alone. It needs companionship with it's pack (you). It's a big responsibility and you will need to take lots of time to train it and maintain it's health (walks, feeding, etc..).

Steps off soap box....

Have fun!

 

[Fern]

There's tons of websites.

I just got a new puppy a couple of weeks ago. Just google around, you'll find all the info you could ever need.

Fern

 

[amdhunter]

oh wait. I thought a puggle was one of those tiny ass dogs that are closer to rats. my bad

 

[KingGheedora]

I read in some guide that you should only get a puppy that was raised in a home. It said puppies raised in kennels are more like "livestock", and are not suited to live inside.

I found this breeder who will ship a puggle same day, but it is raised in a kennel. Any thoughts on the advice i mentioned above? Any reason not to get a puppy raised in a kennel (you can see pics on the linked site).

www.djminibeagles.com

 

[alkemyst]

That's exactly what a puggle is. Yeah i get it, puggle is not a breed, but the word is known to mean pug beagle mixes so it's valid.

That other dude is wrong...he is confusing AKC and other top breed organizations with designer or small niche breeds.

A Puggle is a breed. That said most Puggle breeders, like most breeders in general; shouldn't be in the game.

The most important thing with dog/pet ownership is being financially able to do it.

Figure the more active the dog the greater the chance of a $500 vet bill just popping up out of the blue...as the dog ages these costs also increase.

In general, start up costs are the largest. My dog is an Australian Cattle Dog mix, he was $50 or so from the local shelter. All vaccines, fixed, micro-chipped....that was the cheap part.

I purchased a crate, a pad (then ended up having to buy a DuraBed brand since he kept eating his), bowls, leash, collar, seatbelt/harness, toys, and his food.

I picked Wellness as it was easily found locally. There are a ton of good foods out there, but usually not found at a grocery store. Many have good luck with store foods, but there are many horror stories from them as well. People can survive on pizza...you wouldn't want your kids to do it though.

Outside of that his first year costs were two surgeries for $500-750 each due to injuries at dog park and another $500 to remove a lump and have it tested and a few $100-200 visits for other activity related events...eye scratch and an ear infection.

The scratch, ear infection and lump probably did not need treatment...I'd rather not take that chance.

On an activity level he gets a 45 min walk each morning and 1-2 hours at dog park at night. On the weekend I do 2 trips to dog park each day for a couple hours. He is a high activity dog. The walks don't really satisfy his 'brain'.

Obedience training is great to do and you don't have to spend a lot for it. PetsMart's and the like have low cost classes and local schools usually have dog obedience as part of their adult education classes. I did one session to socialize him better and respond to command with distractions. I paid about $40 for 8 weeks (one 2-3 hour session per week).

Trips have to be planned around your animals (I have just added a three-legged golden/corgi mix I inherited from my grandmother and have 4 cats), boarding costs per day can approach a night's stay at a decent hotel.

All in all it's worth it to me.

 

[John P]

That other dude is wrong...he is confusing AKC and other top breed organizations with designer or small niche breeds.

A Puggle is a breed. That said most Puggle breeders, like most breeders in general; shouldn't be in the game.

The most important thing with dog/pet ownership is being financially able to do it.

Figure the more active the dog the greater the chance of a $500 vet bill just popping up out of the blue...as the dog ages these costs also increase.

In general, start up costs are the largest. My dog is an Australian Cattle Dog mix, he was $50 or so from the local shelter. All vaccines, fixed, micro-chipped....that was the cheap part.

I purchased a crate, a pad (then ended up having to buy a DuraBed brand since he kept eating his), bowls, leash, collar, seatbelt/harness, toys, and his food.

I picked Wellness as it was easily found locally. There are a ton of good foods out there, but usually not found at a grocery store. Many have good luck with store foods, but there are many horror stories from them as well. People can survive on pizza...you wouldn't want your kids to do it though.

Outside of that his first year costs were two surgeries for $500-750 each due to injuries at dog park and another $500 to remove a lump and have it tested and a few $100-200 visits for other activity related events...eye scratch and an ear infection.

The scratch, ear infection and lump probably did not need treatment...I'd rather not take that chance.

On an activity level he gets a 45 min walk each morning and 1-2 hours at dog park at night. On the weekend I do 2 trips to dog park each day for a couple hours. He is a high activity dog. The walks don't really satisfy his 'brain'.

Obedience training is great to do and you don't have to spend a lot for it. PetsMart's and the like have low cost classes and local schools usually have dog obedience as part of their adult education classes. I did one session to socialize him better and respond to command with distractions. I paid about $40 for 8 weeks (one 2-3 hour session per week).

Trips have to be planned around your animals (I have just added a three-legged golden/corgi mix I inherited from my grandmother and have 4 cats), boarding costs per day can approach a night's stay at a decent hotel.

All in all it's worth it to me.

Good information. If you only are going to have one dog I would recommend getting pet medical insurance.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I read in some guide that you should only get a puppy that was raised in a home. It said puppies raised in kennels are more like "livestock", and are not suited to live inside.

I found this breeder who will ship a puggle same day, but it is raised in a kennel. Any thoughts on the advice i mentioned above? Any reason not to get a puppy raised in a kennel (you can see pics on the linked site).

www.djminibeagles.com

Find someone local. Do not buy a dog that needs to be shipped. More than likely, someone that is willing to ship same day is nothing more than a puppy miller. A legitimate breeder will care who they're giving one of their dogs too and should be asking you questions. You should also have a number of questions to ask a breeder.

 

[bignateyk]

Certain dog strains don't like, um well, particular racial groups if you know what I mean. I guess they just smell different.

Has nothing to do with the type of dog. Or even training. It is about exposure. If a dog has never seen a black person, or a person with a beard, etc..., it will react negatively toward them.

We have two German Shepherds. We raised one of them since he was a puppy and exposed him to thousands of people of all kinds growing up, so he is used to everything.

The female is a rescue who wasn't socialized well. She wanted to maul the first black person she came across after we got her.