Today my partner Jack and I, went to the shelter and adopted an adorable new puppy. She’s 3 months old, her mom was a beagle, and no one knows what her dad was. She’s actually very small- a teeny tiny thing, looks like (hopefully) she’ll get no bigger then 25 lbs. We are naming her Star (she’s all black with a white star on her chest) and I am so excited! I have never had a dog before- (only cats and small animals) and I have always wanted one. Anyway I wanted to share that with you all- she’ll be coming home tommorrow and hopefully I can post a picture of her later this weekend- she’s so cute!
As a new puppy owner, get some good puppy books- Super Puppy is great-
and follow the advice. You will have a great friend and companion if you do. If you don’t train your puppy though, you will have squandered a golden opertunity …
Hmmm . . . black w/ a white star . . . maybe dad was a lab or lab cross!
I agree about the dog book – the Monks of New Skete books are good, too. As someone once told me – either you or the dog is going to be the boss – best if it’s you! It can also be handy to have a good canine veterinary reference book.
Btw, a really fun thing to do is to take the dog to training classes. Puppy training pretty much just gets them socialized to being with other dogs and people. Basic obedience teaches come, stay, leave it – the things you really want in order to live peacefully with a dog.
I’m jealous! I want a dog but can’t get one for a while yet.
Triple ditto on pictures!!! And hearty congratulations!
My wife and I will be “chipping” ( getting our second rescued Greyhound) in about a week and a half. Kay Cee (she’s coming from Kansas City) is four months old, and diabetic. NGAP ( National Greyhound Adoption Program in Philly) didn’t want to accept her because they didn’t want to saddle anyone with a diabetic dog, but my wife fell in love with her from her description and is a totally committed woman
I miss mine. I had a siberian husky. Her name was Shamana. We had a great life together until she died, and she and my cat were best buddies! (still have my cat)
Congratulations on your newest member of the family, and of course I agree on the book thing. Just give lots of love and attention and do what the books tell you, and you’ll have a great life together.
CONGRATULATIONS! I wholeheartedly believe in animals ~ wonderful of you to adopt from a shelter ~ among our many pets are 3 shelter cats, and they are great!
Mary
Shelters and animal rescue groups are definitely the best way to go, if not the only way. A good majority of pet stores get their animals, puppies especially, from “breeding” mills, which makes the animal more susceptable to all kinds of disease.
Congratulations! Dogs are the most amazing companions…here’s wishing you many happy years with your new best friend!
While we’re recommending dog training books, two of my favorites are “Mother Knows Best” by Carol Lea Benjamin and “Play Training Your Dog” by Patricia Gail Burnham.
Also, if you have any questions or concerns, or just like to hang out with dog people of all stripes (including a lot of wonderful people who do rescue), visit us at this link:
Despite the name, it’s not really a vegetarian board (the majority of the people who post there are not vegetarians)…it’s just hosted by VegSource. There are a lot of really great people there who can answer just about any question you may have about your new little friend.
