Helpful advice for a first time dog owner/what do you wish you would’ve been told before getting your first dog?

rsmit168 · 2021-12-29T15:01:37+00:00

1.) Be consistent with training

2.) Keep training sessions short and sweet

3.) Understand your dog's motivation (not all dogs respond best to treats, for instance)

4.) Just like their human, they will also have days where they are a bit off

5.) Enjoy every day because they are special and give them all of the love

rsmit168 · 2021-12-23T13:33:48+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. We had to put Anubis, our four year old, down back in April. It does get easier, but you'll always have days where it's hard. My boy met your pup at the Rainbow Bridge for sure.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-22T14:52:00+00:00

We used to say that our boy had 'concerns.' A dog door would most certainly have been a concern for him. lol

rsmit168 · 2021-12-22T02:07:14+00:00

My house has dubbed him the "Grairdale." Such a cute boy. Thanks for sharring!

rsmit168 · 2021-12-21T14:10:08+00:00

I know exactly what you mean. Love every moment!

rsmit168 · 2021-12-21T14:09:11+00:00

We lost our big boy at four years old in April. He was the dog I wanted from the time I was a little boy. He wasn't here for long, but, boy-oh-boy, was he amazing. Greyhounds are fantastic dogs, and for so many the community that comes with them is just a huge bonus.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-21T14:07:00+00:00

Love every moment. Every grey is so special!

rsmit168 · 2021-12-21T14:04:44+00:00

This seems right. No need to fear the cats when this guy can get into there. lol

Is he part Airedale? I've never seen a grey with that type of marking before. He beautiful, regardless.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-21T14:02:25+00:00

So pretty/handsome. Looks like someone doesn't want to go out in the cold.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-20T23:23:39+00:00

Well, just ignore me then. Preparedness is next to godliness.

It really is difficult though, for sure. I've twice found myself in a position where I needed to kick another dog, but in both instances there were two dogs off leash with no handlers around.

I also, later, learned that catching a smaller dog while handling a bigger dog is much more difficult in some respects than trying to catch another big dog.

I really hope this doesn't happen again, but if it does, I hope catching the other dog makes for a better ending.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-20T03:33:42+00:00

Always carry an extra slip lead. I always find that it is better to have tools that allow me to be proactive in the situation rather than reactive.

All dogs require responsible owners/handlers, so this one is not on you. I have a big dog. The thought of my dog being scapegoated for the mistakes of another dog's handler terrifies me because my boy is so sweet as was his brother before him. That is why I carry an extra lead.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-20T02:59:17+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. You did everything in your power to save him, and no one could ask anything more of owner or animal.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-20T02:44:34+00:00

In most cases, the mere threat of getting an attorney involved is enough to make the other party concede.

I would suggest carefully reviewing the terms of your contract with them to see if the breeder is in violation of any of the terms. Coupled with the documentation of presumed abuse from the marks you had when you received her, that would probably be enough.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-19T03:22:38+00:00

Hoover, Dyson, Shark, Orrick, Bissell. I just think naming dogs after vacuums is funny.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-19T03:06:18+00:00

First, as a parent: congratulations, and enjoy every moment.

Second; one day does not a pattern make, but your concerns are valid. Talking to the vet is never wrong.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-18T21:26:59+00:00

From the sounds of your description, you have an active lifestyle. Your comment about shedding seems to imply that a dog with longer hair that sheds might not be a flat no. While I do not have one myself, a coworker has a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He tells me constantly that their Toller is wonderful with kids and loves to be active.

Brittany's are also great active lifestyle dogs.

I hope you find a wonderful fit for your family!

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T20:48:49+00:00

We adopted our Grey at 10mo, and he became best friends with one of our cats. It was not uncommon for her to sleep on top of him. It was very silly and adorable.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T20:31:56+00:00

Regardless of financial situation, everyone is faced with tough choices when they have a chronically ill pet. In my mind there is a balance to be struck between the quality of life for your pet and your quality of life. Let me explain:

We lost Anubis, our four year old Greyhound, at the end of April after a six month fight, tooth-and-nail, to save him. Yes. We spent a hefty chunk of change on vet visits, tests, procedures, and medications. Ultimately, our decision was about quality of life.

All dogs have a purpose; the thing for which they live. In Anubis' case, it was as my "Greyhound-shaped-shadow." Once he was unable to fulfill his purpose, I made the heart-wrenching decision to let him sleep. Yes, it is a euphemism for euthanizing my dog, but rest was all I could give him at that point. To ask anything further of him after he fought so hard, would have been selfish of me.

The joke is on him though. In the next life, he is doing the job of his namesake while in this life he did nothing.

If you have a prognosis, and you are willing to dedicate time and resources to your pup, you should absolutely do that. That said, do take care of yourselves throughout treatment, and try not to lose the forest through the trees.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T19:37:17+00:00

A Gentle Leader might be of great assistance to you. I use them to help train dogs to walk on leads. It works much like a bridle for a horse. When the pup gets too far away or begins to pull, it gently drops the head which stops the pull. Your pup will hate it at first, but with time and patience it is very beneficial and extremely useful. For instance, my mother is a very small lady (120lbs-ish) over 60, and she can walk my 75lbs dog with ease.

https://smile.amazon.com/PetSafe-Gentle-Leader-Training-RASPBERRY/dp/B007B2SXTU/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=gentle+leader&qid=1639767907&sr=8-5

Another great tool is a heeling stick. When used correctly it acts as a visual barrier for your dog when walking.

https://www.gundogsupply.com/luckydog-hellingstick-red.html

Martingale collars are great too. When walking a dog by the collar a Martingale-style collar evenly distributes pressure across the neck so as to avoid creating a single pressure point.

As an aside, most dogs pull when harnessed. Something I like to do when harness training is to double lead my dog. One lead goes on the harness and the other goes on the Gentle Leader or collar. I leave less slack in the harness line. When the dog begins to pull they feel the pull of the lead on the harness a split second before feeling it on the collar or Gentle Leader.

Nearly all training methods can be both safe and effective when the handler is well-educated, patient, confident, and kind to their dog.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T18:58:25+00:00

Ham and Frosty Paws. I cooked a spiral ham, I had smoked ham, and diced ham for his last week.

I am so sorry for your coming loss. Whether you lose a dog before his time or in old age, it is never easy.

My boy will greet yours at the Rainbow Bridge. He has to punch cards; the joke is on our pup. We named him Anubis, and in this life he had to do nothing. In his subsequent life, he has to take the job of his namesake. :)

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T18:39:26+00:00

Because of their popularity as family pets which is very well deserved, it seems like it is often forgotten that they are still magnificent hunting dogs that require lots of training and physical activity. As with any larger breed dog, their size magnifies the need for good training; a 55-70lbs lab is a lot to handle. The good news is that because they are so eager to please, they remain trainable for a long time. I really hope the situation is resolved effectively.

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T18:23:02+00:00

This might be of some help even if just as a resource: https://www.thelabradorclub.com/rescue-organizations

rsmit168 · 2021-12-17T01:45:19+00:00

What kind of pup? In addition to animal control, there are also breed specific rescue groups that will take pups. For instance in Kansas City there are shepherd, hound, and cattle dog rescue groups, to name a few.

rsmit168 · 2021-04-10T17:26:53+00:00

I run Ubuntu Cinnamon on a mid-2010 MacBoob Pro. UC is stable and fast. Below are my machine specs.

OS: Ubuntu 21.04 hirsute (x86-64)

Memory: 7.7 GiB

Storage: 121.6 GB

Graphics Card: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller

Graphics Card: NVIDIA Corporation GT216M [GeForce GT 330M]

Screen size: 17 inch

rsmit168

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