To all dog owners... (questions!)

[sirdude]

Here's my mutt. And yes she is retarded.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...3/P1010018.jpg

[Rigor]

Whenever your dog goes to the bathroom in your place, don't rub its nose in it. That shit does not work. You need to at least teach your dog to come when called (though you will probably teach it more, come is the command that will keep you and your dog out of trouble.)

Introduce your dog to as many different people as much as possible so it gets used to other people being around.

Oh yeah, and make a habit of whistling the same way when calling your dog. Sometimes my dogs react quicker to me whistling than to me screaming their name.

Edit: Yeah, dude why isn't your life exactly like mine? I totally moved out once i popped out the womb and never looked back.

[ozz]

think regardless of whether or not it's embarrassing, the money should still be saved in the hope of moving out...some day


btw belle im in hume for the fall wur u@

[Shade]

If you're in an apartment, consider the needs of your type of dog very carefully against your current and future living situation.
How big is the dog you want, how active is it, what was it bred to do? Does it tend to bark a lot (bad for apartments), does it need a lot of exercise? Attention? Grooming? How hard is it to train? Note that training a puppy + getting him used to a lot of things is something you dont want to fuck up, so you better have time for it.

Dogs like collies or australian shepherds, for example, are herding dogs. They are bred to herd things, and are highly intelligent. They have a driving need to DO STUFF. Huskies are also really intelligent, but more aloof than most dogs. They need a TON of exercise and somebody who's willing to take charge. Retrievers and such are popular because they will bend themselves in circles for you, but Im not sure how happy one would be in an apartment. American Eskimos are good apartment-sized dogs, but they tend to bark at everything, and need a lot of grooming. Dogs that dont get what they need tend to go a little stir crazy.... and thats not good for the dog, you, or the stuff in your apartment.

Dogs are a big investment. Long term. Make sure you really can afford it, and will be able to continue to afford it.

+/-
Purebreds:
You get a good idea of your dog's specific needs and likely temperament up front.
A general idea of problems you might face with it.
More expensive.
You should do research + talk to local breeders before getting an animal. Make sure you get a puppy from someone reputable.
If you want to read up on different breeds, even something silly-looking like this site might be helpful.

Mutts:
Generally way healthier! Less risk of any weirdness due to inbreeding.
Likely temperment/needs not readily apparant, esp i you dont know what the mix is.
Free and wants to be loved!

If you dont have any allergies and aren't looking for a very specific kind of dog, I'd say go with adopting some sort of mix. But if the pricetag on a purebred makes you balk, consider how much you'll be spending even after that, on any dog. If you're close to moving out (presumably you will want to do this EVENTUALLY), it might be better to wait until you're settled on your own, in a pet-friendly place.

I'd also suggest doing more research than asking BG about it, though thats a good a place to start as any. Anyway, good luck.

[Fluid]

Also, you'll need to buy a kitchen trash can with a locking top...

[Dolmen]

Get a mutt over a purebred, as has been stated they're so much healthier. Also, consider a dog that's out of puppy phase, older dogs need to be adopted too. Keep in mind that I'm biased, but don't buy the food that's on most supermarket shelves, it's pure crap. Buy food that's natural, and if it says it's beef, make sure that's the main ingredient. So much of the food out there contains an insane amount of processed crap (chicken necks, bones, feet, etc...) that is horrible for your dog. You'll pay more, but it's so much better for the dog.

The most important thing I can say is go into this not looking to be the dog's "master," but be the dog's partner. Having a dog is a partnership with a two-way street in terms of respect. Allow the dog to be a dog, not property. My last roommate would only take her dog out of the apartment to do her business for 3 minutes twice a day, it was sickening. If you can't take the dog out for at least 1 hour/day, don't adopt one.

Also to add to the pictures, my girlfriend's and my dog (granted primarily my girlfriend's):

http://www.nemlod.com/images/rain.jpg