Tips on getting a dog
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Expect to spend near $500 a year on vet visits, medications, and vaccinations. Also, if you travel for holidays, boarding you dog(s) can get expensive. Also, a golden is a hugely active dog, so she or he will want to play a lot. Take her to dog parks where she can run and be herself while being with other dogs. I'd also suggest looking into a Flat Coated Retriever[^], they are very similar in terms of temperament just a bit smaller and perhaps a bit more more manageable for a first dog. Just a suggestion though, Goldens are great and like most others, you need spend lots of good time with them to establish the rules. -- {EDIT} I have to add that my preference for a dog tends to be Dobermans. Great family dogs, the only problem with them is that they are very needy.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners?
Don't get one. Dogs and Cats cost a lot of money to maintain. A visit to the vet can easily cost more than taking your kid to a human doctor (and there's no insurance for the vet.) Also be aware than just about every breed, especially pure breds, have a litany of quite specific health problems that will crop up sooner or later.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers
We have 3 Labradors and my two kids love them. They are great dogs. We once had a Golden Retriever. A wonderful dog, but the hair...I would consider getting another one in the future. Both breeds I have mentioned are great with kids. Time - they need attention ( very playful dogs ), money - well depends on how often you go to the vet for regular shots and checkups. One thing I look into is whether or not the dog is papered. A dog that is papered is one that is pure bred and more than likely comes from a reputable breeder. You don't want a dog that is mixed because another breed might be in there such as pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children). For breeders in your area, you might want to search on American Kennel Club[^]
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners?
Don't get one. Dogs and Cats cost a lot of money to maintain. A visit to the vet can easily cost more than taking your kid to a human doctor (and there's no insurance for the vet.) Also be aware than just about every breed, especially pure breds, have a litany of quite specific health problems that will crop up sooner or later.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
Joe Woodbury wrote:
there's no insurance for the vet
I've seen ads for pet health insurance at my local vet's office. With my three dogs, I am considering the idea.
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Just borrow the neighbor's dog.
-
Just borrow the neighbor's dog.
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
Just borrow the neighbor's dog.
Not if it is a really mean Rottie or Pitbull :laugh:
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Get a puppy from a pound. You'll save a lot of money over a purebred and a mutt can be healthier without breed specific problems. Expect to spend time training the dog and make sure the dog spends time with you preferably sleeping in the same room with you at least until the dog gets integrated with your human "pack". If you plan to keep the dog outside or don't think you will have the time to take care of the dog then don't get one. [edit] Like Ed said, I'm only recommending getting a puppy from the pound not an older dog for your first pet. [/edit]
Last modified: 28mins after originally posted --
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
-
Get a puppy from a pound. You'll save a lot of money over a purebred and a mutt can be healthier without breed specific problems. Expect to spend time training the dog and make sure the dog spends time with you preferably sleeping in the same room with you at least until the dog gets integrated with your human "pack". If you plan to keep the dog outside or don't think you will have the time to take care of the dog then don't get one. [edit] Like Ed said, I'm only recommending getting a puppy from the pound not an older dog for your first pet. [/edit]
Last modified: 28mins after originally posted --
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
Andy Brummer wrote:
If you plan to keep the dog outside or don't think you will have the time to take care of the dog then don't get one.
Good point. I have a neighbor who works graveyard, only comes home about 2-3 days per week and leaves the dogs outside the whole time. Never takes care of them, so why bother?
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
Well I guess it depends which country your in. We've got a yellow lab (bitch) [also just had pups, pictures were linked to previously in the lounge] and I've got to say that apart from wormer her vets bills are next to nothing. I don't know what things are like in the States but Labs here fetch > £300 (so >~$550) I havn't had much experience of Golden Retrievers but I do know that Labs are very very intelligent and gentle with children. The most important thing to remember is that the dog will always reflect upon it's owner. That is probably best explained by an example: Our lab we bought for ~£250 (from Scotland, and we live in Wales so ~900 miles away). She is fantastically intelligent and will learn new tricks etc in about 5/10 minutes and a week of regular training will ensure she'll never forget it. (BTW she's regarded as one of the family and generally behaves better than my sister). She's also a full pedigree from a hunting / working background. My grandparents bought a full pedigree supposedly from a hunting background as well, except theirs is black and larger (Sandy, ours, is an old english lab, i.e. small and well suited for hunting). They payed almost double what we payed and theirs is not thick as such but gets away with everything and as a result is disobedient to say the least. Tips in Summary: 1) Treat the dog as a member of the family it'll be a nicer experience for both. 2) House train it early. 3) Don't be afraid to hit it or punish it harshly when it misbehaves, it'll be better for it and the dog will quickly learn and you won't have to punish it very often afterwards (hopefully). 4) Try not to use it's name when you punish it otherwise when you try and call it it'll thing it's being punished (or use a severe tone of voice when punishing so it can tell the difference). 5) They'll listen for tone of voice rather than actual pronunciation (although ours can tell the difference between mole and vole which is quite impressive). 6) Eye contact is important when starting off. 7) Talk to the dog, don't use a baby voice when talking but just talk normally and it may get to the stage were you can speak complete sentences to it and it'll understand. 8) Make a fuss of it when it does something correctly, always keep some treats handy when starting training. 9) As this is your first dog I'd recomment not getting a rescue one as you don't know what past it's got. 10) I don't know whether this stands for Retrievers as well as Labs but the bitches tend to be better
-
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers
We have 3 Labradors and my two kids love them. They are great dogs. We once had a Golden Retriever. A wonderful dog, but the hair...I would consider getting another one in the future. Both breeds I have mentioned are great with kids. Time - they need attention ( very playful dogs ), money - well depends on how often you go to the vet for regular shots and checkups. One thing I look into is whether or not the dog is papered. A dog that is papered is one that is pure bred and more than likely comes from a reputable breeder. You don't want a dog that is mixed because another breed might be in there such as pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children). For breeders in your area, you might want to search on American Kennel Club[^]
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
PaulC1972 wrote:
pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children).
Pit bulls have a bad name, a lot of it due to myths. It's true if they are trained to fight or raised badly, they can be vicious. Our half-pit Data[^], for instance, is a great dog and a perfect little guy who's primary concern in life is getting his hairless belly rubbed. :)
Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit. I'm currently blogging about: Guess who's having a birthday? (It's not Jesus) The apostle Paul, modernly speaking: Epistles of Paul Judah Himango
-
Get a puppy from a pound. You'll save a lot of money over a purebred and a mutt can be healthier without breed specific problems. Expect to spend time training the dog and make sure the dog spends time with you preferably sleeping in the same room with you at least until the dog gets integrated with your human "pack". If you plan to keep the dog outside or don't think you will have the time to take care of the dog then don't get one. [edit] Like Ed said, I'm only recommending getting a puppy from the pound not an older dog for your first pet. [/edit]
Last modified: 28mins after originally posted --
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
Andy Brummer wrote:
Get a puppy from a pound
As it's the first dog I wouldn't because you don't know how it's going to act, especially if there's a young kid in the house. While I agree with helping dogs from the pound in this instance I would advise against it, we didn't go that route because of the farm animals so wanted complete control over the training.
I have no idea what I just said. But my intentions were sincere.
-
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers
We have 3 Labradors and my two kids love them. They are great dogs. We once had a Golden Retriever. A wonderful dog, but the hair...I would consider getting another one in the future. Both breeds I have mentioned are great with kids. Time - they need attention ( very playful dogs ), money - well depends on how often you go to the vet for regular shots and checkups. One thing I look into is whether or not the dog is papered. A dog that is papered is one that is pure bred and more than likely comes from a reputable breeder. You don't want a dog that is mixed because another breed might be in there such as pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children). For breeders in your area, you might want to search on American Kennel Club[^]
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
PaulC1972 wrote:
pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children).
I grew up with a dog that was part pit bull and was the sweetest dog in the world. While the breed is stronger then most dogs, viciousness comes from the way the dog is raised, not from it's breed.
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
-
Well I guess it depends which country your in. We've got a yellow lab (bitch) [also just had pups, pictures were linked to previously in the lounge] and I've got to say that apart from wormer her vets bills are next to nothing. I don't know what things are like in the States but Labs here fetch > £300 (so >~$550) I havn't had much experience of Golden Retrievers but I do know that Labs are very very intelligent and gentle with children. The most important thing to remember is that the dog will always reflect upon it's owner. That is probably best explained by an example: Our lab we bought for ~£250 (from Scotland, and we live in Wales so ~900 miles away). She is fantastically intelligent and will learn new tricks etc in about 5/10 minutes and a week of regular training will ensure she'll never forget it. (BTW she's regarded as one of the family and generally behaves better than my sister). She's also a full pedigree from a hunting / working background. My grandparents bought a full pedigree supposedly from a hunting background as well, except theirs is black and larger (Sandy, ours, is an old english lab, i.e. small and well suited for hunting). They payed almost double what we payed and theirs is not thick as such but gets away with everything and as a result is disobedient to say the least. Tips in Summary: 1) Treat the dog as a member of the family it'll be a nicer experience for both. 2) House train it early. 3) Don't be afraid to hit it or punish it harshly when it misbehaves, it'll be better for it and the dog will quickly learn and you won't have to punish it very often afterwards (hopefully). 4) Try not to use it's name when you punish it otherwise when you try and call it it'll thing it's being punished (or use a severe tone of voice when punishing so it can tell the difference). 5) They'll listen for tone of voice rather than actual pronunciation (although ours can tell the difference between mole and vole which is quite impressive). 6) Eye contact is important when starting off. 7) Talk to the dog, don't use a baby voice when talking but just talk normally and it may get to the stage were you can speak complete sentences to it and it'll understand. 8) Make a fuss of it when it does something correctly, always keep some treats handy when starting training. 9) As this is your first dog I'd recomment not getting a rescue one as you don't know what past it's got. 10) I don't know whether this stands for Retrievers as well as Labs but the bitches tend to be better
Piccies here of our pups the day they were born, they're now three weeks older and about four times the size: http://ed.poore.googlepages.com/Sandys'pups
I have no idea what I just said. But my intentions were sincere.
-
PaulC1972 wrote:
pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children).
Pit bulls have a bad name, a lot of it due to myths. It's true if they are trained to fight or raised badly, they can be vicious. Our half-pit Data[^], for instance, is a great dog and a perfect little guy who's primary concern in life is getting his hairless belly rubbed. :)
Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit. I'm currently blogging about: Guess who's having a birthday? (It's not Jesus) The apostle Paul, modernly speaking: Epistles of Paul Judah Himango
Judah Himango wrote:
Pit bulls have a bad name, a lot of it due to myths.
I agree to an extent. A client of mine has one and it is a pretty decent dog. He rescued it from an abusive owner who had other Pits that nearly killed it when it was a pup. It is one of the better ones from the breed I've seen.
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
PaulC1972 wrote:
pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children).
Pit bulls have a bad name, a lot of it due to myths. It's true if they are trained to fight or raised badly, they can be vicious. Our half-pit Data[^], for instance, is a great dog and a perfect little guy who's primary concern in life is getting his hairless belly rubbed. :)
Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit. I'm currently blogging about: Guess who's having a birthday? (It's not Jesus) The apostle Paul, modernly speaking: Epistles of Paul Judah Himango
Looks like a cute dog. Do you know what the other breed is other then sneaky neighbor's dog? I grew up with a half-pit half boxer.
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
-
PaulC1972 wrote:
pit bull (which I wouldn't have around children).
I grew up with a dog that was part pit bull and was the sweetest dog in the world. While the breed is stronger then most dogs, viciousness comes from the way the dog is raised, not from it's breed.
Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder
Andy Brummer wrote:
viciousness comes from the way the dog is raised
I agree. See my response to Judah's post. A client of mine has one and it is a very good dog.
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
-
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners?
Don't get one. Dogs and Cats cost a lot of money to maintain. A visit to the vet can easily cost more than taking your kid to a human doctor (and there's no insurance for the vet.) Also be aware than just about every breed, especially pure breds, have a litany of quite specific health problems that will crop up sooner or later.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
Joe Woodbury wrote:
A visit to the vet can easily cost more than taking your kid to a human doctor (and there's no insurance for the vet.)
You can get health insurance for pets here. My vet sold it. Of course there were certain exclusions (e.g. teeth extraction because the dog was on a diet of cake and chocolate) and you had to pay for vaccines, worming tablets etc. (i.e. preventative medicines) and have it documented or it would be void. In other words it would pay out for accidents and so on, but nothing that was forseeable and preventable.
Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Glasgow: Tell us what you want to see in 2007 My: Website | Blog | Photos
-
My two year old daughter loves dogs. In particular, she is fond of Golden Retrievers (which is also my favorite breed of dogs). I want to get her a dog or a puppy but I have zero experience in this area as I never had a pet in my life. So I need some advice on how to find a good dog (I am only looking for Golden Retrievers) and what to expect afterwards in terms of time, money and commitment. Are there any other tips for newbie dog owners? I simply have no idea where to start?
Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -Brian Kernighan
The main tip ( from the man recently accused of animal cruelty ) If you're gonna get a big dog, make sure that you're ready to take care of it. The larger the dog, the more exercise it needs. IMO, getting a big dog if you don't have a big yard is cruel, unless you're also willing to spend an hour a day walking it. Either way, make sure that if your child loses interest in the animal that you're willing to take up the slack and pay it the attention it will desire, for it's entire life. That means more than feeding it and perhaps giving it a pat twice a day as you walk past. Buying an animal means committing yourself to both it's welfare and it's happiness for about 20 years. Think carefully about that committment, it may well extend beyond when your daughter leaves home ( depending on her age ) and when she's a teenager, the odds are good she will be out with friends, not looking after the dog. Assuming it lasts that long. We have a dog, two cats and a rabbit, and my daughter is still asking for other pets, but spends no time with the ones we have ( the rabbit is the only one bought just for her, the dog was dumped by the side of the road ( not planned ), and the cats were bought by my wife, for my wife ).
Christian Graus - C++ MVP 'Why don't we jump on a fad that hasn't already been widely discredited ?' - Dilbert
-
The main tip ( from the man recently accused of animal cruelty ) If you're gonna get a big dog, make sure that you're ready to take care of it. The larger the dog, the more exercise it needs. IMO, getting a big dog if you don't have a big yard is cruel, unless you're also willing to spend an hour a day walking it. Either way, make sure that if your child loses interest in the animal that you're willing to take up the slack and pay it the attention it will desire, for it's entire life. That means more than feeding it and perhaps giving it a pat twice a day as you walk past. Buying an animal means committing yourself to both it's welfare and it's happiness for about 20 years. Think carefully about that committment, it may well extend beyond when your daughter leaves home ( depending on her age ) and when she's a teenager, the odds are good she will be out with friends, not looking after the dog. Assuming it lasts that long. We have a dog, two cats and a rabbit, and my daughter is still asking for other pets, but spends no time with the ones we have ( the rabbit is the only one bought just for her, the dog was dumped by the side of the road ( not planned ), and the cats were bought by my wife, for my wife ).
Christian Graus - C++ MVP 'Why don't we jump on a fad that hasn't already been widely discredited ?' - Dilbert
Christian Graus wrote:
from the man recently accused of animal cruelty
Nope. I think the neighbor is whacked out of his mind :laugh:
Some people have a memory and an attention span, you should try them out one day. - Jeremy Falcon
