Dog Training: The One Thing You Don't Want To Miss Before Getting A Dog
When I think about how easier my life would have been without my Labrador Retriever, Coco in it, I can't avoid to also think about how blessed I have been by having her in my life. Granted, some things would have been a lot easier without Coco…,especially when I look back at how difficult was for us to live in a small apartment and how she managed to destroy all my furniture so fast and efficiently…
In spite of…, every night, when I looked at Coco's eyes it reminded me of what a wonderful gift I had in her. She was the most loyal friend I ever had, and that meant a lot for me.
In this issue, I want to share with you about what things to consider when you bring your new dog or puppy home, and how to avoid the same mistakes I made with Coco.
One of the big difficulties that we face when trying to train our dog is understanding the best way to do it, and how to do it fast without getting frustrated. With all the conflicting training methods out there it is hard to know which is the best one to use for our dogs.
I have written an article which will review some of the factors to keep in mind when getting a new puppy and that we are often not told about by the "dog trainer" experts.
————————————
Title: The one thing you don't want to miss before getting a dog…
Author: Dr. Mayra Alfonso
————————————
There are few things that bring greater joy to a family than bringing home a new puppy. However, there are also few things that cause a greater headache at times. Deciding what kind of dog to bring home can be extremely difficult.
You could decide on bringing home a big dog like a Labrador retriever, which is extremely popular and has been known to work very well as a family dog. Or you could decide to bring home a small, lap dog like a Shih tzu or a medium size dog like a Cocker Spaniel. When considering what kind of puppy to get, you need to take into consideration your lifestyle and your living arrangements. Do you live in an apartment where a small dog like the Shih tzu would fit very well, or do you need to have a nice fence backyard for your big Labrador retriever?
A dog such as a Labrador puppy would be a good choice for someone looking for a dog that can work well with the family, have few health problems, or provide a lifetime of companionship. Small dogs, like the Shih tzu, Lhasa Apso or Chihuahua are more apt for homes where they can be inside and where the caregiver will be able to provide a good amount of physical contact. These little guys are also very loving, giving and make a great companion, but they are not as good guard dogs as big dogs could be. It is important to decide ahead of time what kind of dog you want. Are you looking for a lap dog, a guard dog, a watch dog, a sporting dog, a huting dog, or a working dog?
Please keep in mind that your puppy will grow up and will provide for many years to come, love, company, loyalty and much more. Making your dog's choice decision should be a smart one if it fits your lifestyle. If the dog does not fit your way of living, your best friend could turn into a big headache, and that would not be his fault. So, prior to getting your new dog or moving to a new place, please make sure that if you rent your place, that it will be fine with your landlord.
If you want a big dog like a Labrador retriever, do you have the time to give the dog the right amount of exercise, or do you have a big backyard where the dog can play some games with you? Big dogs, in particular, need a lot of exercise or otherwise they will demonstrate behavioral problems. Labs, for example, are highly energetic, willing to play catch with a ball or Frisbee for long periods of time. If they don't get the needed exercise, they will get bored and could cause a lot of damage to your home, especially if the dog stays inside the house.
The exercise outside that a big dog gets is what keeps it in shape and the owner must be available to play with it. In order for a big dog to remain healthy, an owner must be willing to spend time outside with it by playing the aforementioned game of
catch or taking it for a walk. A Labrador puppy, for example, will have an added level of energy and the owner must be ready for that.
If you decide for a small or medium dog, are you certain that you will be able to have a dog that might want to be all the time sitting on your lap or at a minimum very closed to you? In general, small and medium dogs also need exercise, although not as much as bigger dogs.Will you be able to take your little guy or girl for a daily walk?
Are you willing to take the dog for grooming if you get a long haired dog? Will you have the time to brush your dog's coat on a regular basis? Will it be fine with you if the dog sheds a lot of hair? These above mentioned factors and many other need to be taken into consideration before getting your new companion. A potential owner must weight all these traits and determine which is the right dog because that will ultimately decide the happiness of both the owner and the dog in the long run.
Prior to getting your new puppy you will want to do a thorough research on how big will the dog get as adult, how much grooming will it need? Will your dog need professional grooming and how frequent? You want to know what diseases is the dog prone to, how does the dog behave with other dogs, with cats, with children? These are just some examples of things you must consider prior to getting your new puppy.
I hope you enjoyed this article. I know that many times I wished someone would have given me this information prior to me bringing my Labrador Retriever Coco to live in our small apartment.
Dr. Alfonso
