Puppies

[pontifex]

Seems like people here are always getting new puppies. I've been thinking about getting a puppy but based on what I've read from breeder websites, it seems pretty daunting. It seems like you have to go through so many hoops just to get one. I understand that they want to make sure the puppy goes to a good home, but it still seems excessive.

anyway, what has your experience been on getting a puppy lately?

 

[Nebor]

If you take a screen shot of this thread and show them your post count, I'm sure they'll let you have a puppy.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't do puppies. They are too much of a pita. 1 year old + pound dogs are better since most of them come house trained already and are past the destroy everything in your house stage.

 

[coldmeat]

Get ready to have your thread spammed with SPCA recommendations from people who think it's selfish and inhumane to want a puppy.

 

[WraithETC]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I don't do puppies. They are too much of a pita. 1 year old + pound dogs are better since most of them come house trained already and are past the destroy everything in your house stage.

This is true. My puppy pomeranian was the devil but the one I got from the pound which was like 1.5 yrs old is super well behaved.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

I got my last two dogs from a Humane Society in Virginia, so I only know what you have to do in that case. (In that state, anyway. I'm not sure if it's like that here in California or any other state.) I had to fill out a form with all my info and I think I even had to give a couple of references. In my mind, if I'm going to be selling a puppy, I would want it to go to the best home possible. So while the process is a PITA, I think it serves it's purpose. (Remember, I have no idea about what the "hoops" are anywhere else but where I've gone.)

 

[eits]

my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: eits
my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

Haha sounds like my cat. While she does not chew stuff anymore, she seems to be more interested in stuff that is not a toy. Rubber bands, golf Ts (don't even know WHERE she finds those LOL), bottle caps etc.

As a kitten she decided to start chewing the main cord for all my computer stuff. Good thing they make those thick, she could not get her teeth in it before I stopped her. She did chew through a really cheap extension cord though, all the way to the copper. Cat paws seem to be good isolators, and the carpet probably helped. No shock.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel

Originally posted by: eits
my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

Haha sounds like my cat. While she does not chew stuff anymore, she seems to be more interested in stuff that is not a toy. Rubber bands, golf Ts (don't even know WHERE she finds those LOL), bottle caps etc.

As a kitten she decided to start chewing the main cord for all my computer stuff. Good thing they make those thick, she could not get her teeth in it before I stopped her. She did chew through a really cheap extension cord though, all the way to the copper. Cat paws seem to be good isolators, and the carpet probably helped. No shock.

I had a cat that lived to be 17 years old. When she was younger, she loved to chew on electrical cords. Every once in a while we'd hear "rrraaaawwwwrrrr" because she'd gotten shocked. No matter what we did to try to hide cords like for the alarm clock or lamps and such, she'd always find them. *shakes head*

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel

Originally posted by: eits
my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

Haha sounds like my cat. While she does not chew stuff anymore, she seems to be more interested in stuff that is not a toy. Rubber bands, golf Ts (don't even know WHERE she finds those LOL), bottle caps etc.

As a kitten she decided to start chewing the main cord for all my computer stuff. Good thing they make those thick, she could not get her teeth in it before I stopped her. She did chew through a really cheap extension cord though, all the way to the copper. Cat paws seem to be good isolators, and the carpet probably helped. No shock.

I had a cat that lived to be 17 years old. When she was younger, she loved to chew on electrical cords. Every once in a while we'd hear "rrraaaawwwwrrrr" because she'd gotten shocked. No matter what we did to try to hide cords like for the alarm clock or lamps and such, she'd always find them. *shakes head*

LOL you'd think she'd learn the first time. Haha. I've always wondered if a cat could survive a shock, guess they can.

 

[EngenZerO]

my gf and i just recently got a boxer puppy (memorial day weekend, 8 weeks old). his parents where champs and where actively shown and we got the papers.

breeder did screen us but we passed. my gf and i have very flexible schedules so we were able to take mid day breaks to help the little guy cope as we live in an apartment and both work.

we had him fully potty trained in 11 weeks and he was fully kennel trained by 12 weeks. he listens perfect and knows how to sit, rollover, lay down, heal, etc... but still has the active puppy imagination and usual nack for trouble.

all in all it was a good experience and he has really bonded to both my gf and i.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Why do you need to jump through hoops to get a pup from a breeder? There are great mixed breed puppies available for next to nothing and they'll be every bit as cute and intelligent as purebreds and will likely be even healthier. Adopt a pup, you win and the pooch wins.

 

[Bignate603]

Realize that a brand new puppy can't be left alone for very long. They need to be taken outside regularly to keep them from peeing all over the house. One big advantage of an older dog is that it's already gotten to the point where it can hold its bladder 8+ hours while you're out.

If you have a specific breed in mind you'll want to check around to find a reputable breeder. Ask if you can come take a look at where they keep the dogs before you consider them. There are way too many puppy mills out there and you don't want to support an operation that is abusing the dogs to crank out as many puppies as possible.

Another option for finding a specific breed is seeing if there is a local rescue for that breed.

We got our puppy from a pound. He's a little terrier mutt and is a cute little guy. There wasn't much paperwork to get him, we just picked him (you had to be there right when it opened if you wanted a puppy, they usually got adopted out the same day they became available), paid for him, and then picked him up the next day after he was neutered. Many pounds require you to neuter your dog before they'll let you adopt them. I think the adoption fee was $125.

If you adopt you need to take him to a vet ASAP. You don't know what they had picked up, especially if they were picked up as a stray like our dog was. He had caught giardia, probably from drinking contaminated water. He was the cutest little guy, he weighed about 5 pounds when we got him (full grown he's 13 lbs now) but the giardia gave him the absolute worst gas you could imagine. He just wanted to sit on your lap but one fart was enough to clear the room.

I would also highly recommend crate training. It's honestly better for the dog. Take out a few dog training books from the library and they'll explain it.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Why do you need to jump through hoops to get a pup from a breeder? There are great mixed breed puppies available for next to nothing and they'll be every bit as cute and intelligent as purebreds and will likely be even healthier. Adopt a pup, you win and the pooch wins.

Yep my puppy is the greatest dog in the world and I got him from a shelter. Cheaper aand you save it from getting put-down.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: eits
my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

muzzles are short term, what's your training plan?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Why do you need to jump through hoops to get a pup from a breeder? There are great mixed breed puppies available for next to nothing and they'll be every bit as cute and intelligent as purebreds and will likely be even healthier. Adopt a pup, you win and the pooch wins.

if i didn't care what breed i got, then that wouldn't be a problem. I'm looking at 2 different breeds.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
Get ready to have your thread spammed with SPCA recommendations from people who think it's selfish and inhumane to want a puppy.

Um the pound has puppies... I think that's where the phrase "pound puppies" came about.

 

[ballmode]

I love pups

 

[0roo0roo]

real question is have u raised a dog before.
if not..read up
socialization period and development windows for puppies can be just months, and if you don't expose them to experiences/training within that period they grow up to be annoying pests. u don't get that window back, their life is short so its all compressed, so don't f*ck it up

 

[zebano]

My 4 y.o daughter approached me recently. "Daddy, we should get a puppy" she said... I was a bit confused since she doesn't really like dogs... "I really want a cat, but you're allergic to them" she finished. ... sigh. Long story short, she thought picking up the poop from the neighbors dog was gross, so we don't have a puppy.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
Get ready to have your thread spammed with SPCA recommendations from people who think it's selfish and inhumane to want a puppy.

This.

Puppies are awesome. :thumbsup:

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: zebano
My 4 y.o daughter approached me recently. "Daddy, we should get a puppy" she said... I was a bit confused since she doesn't really like dogs... "I really want a cat, but you're allergic to them" she finished. ... sigh. Long story short, she thought picking up the poop from the neighbors dog was gross, so we don't have a puppy.

ah yes, the poop and barf
but it teaches responsibility. its a good lesson, you should get her a puppy in a few years.

 

[rhino56]

Originally posted by: Nebor
If you take a screen shot of this thread and show them your post count, I'm sure they'll let you have a puppy.

HAHAHA

 

[potoba]

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel

Originally posted by: eits
my puppy wears a muzzle whenever i'm not home because he chews up way too many things and doesn't care about his dog toys.

he's a 1 year old italian mastiff (cane corso).

Haha sounds like my cat. While she does not chew stuff anymore, she seems to be more interested in stuff that is not a toy. Rubber bands, golf Ts (don't even know WHERE she finds those LOL), bottle caps etc.

As a kitten she decided to start chewing the main cord for all my computer stuff. Good thing they make those thick, she could not get her teeth in it before I stopped her. She did chew through a really cheap extension cord though, all the way to the copper. Cat paws seem to be good isolators, and the carpet probably helped. No shock.

I had a cat that lived to be 17 years old. When she was younger, she loved to chew on electrical cords. Every once in a while we'd hear "rrraaaawwwwrrrr" because she'd gotten shocked. No matter what we did to try to hide cords like for the alarm clock or lamps and such, she'd always find them. *shakes head*

I just got my 17 year old cat euthanized last month. He was the best warrior.

 

[Moonbeam]

Those are Canis domesticus.