Brand new dog to be owners? any advice? ?

Question

hi, we are going to view a dog on saturday, its our first dog, so we don't really know what to ask/expect .. the dog we are interested in is a bulldog x Dogue-DeBordeaux he is 5months old, he is chipped and vaccinated, ...can anyone give me some ideas on what to ask/look for and a list of things we will need to do to make him feel at home and settle in well if we get him?

thanks x

Answer 1

Make sure you go to an animal shelter

and not a pet store

Answer 2

um ok you can't just put a puppy in a crate and tell him thats his bed. you need to crate train him so he doesn't get anxiety. and definately do NOT beat your dog with a leather whip..  the person who told you that should be in jail. there are lots of dog training books and web sites that guide you with your new dog. the most important thing i suggest is to be stern with everyday things. such as getting on the couch, or jumping up, or barking in the house or toilet training, or chewing to name a few. you need to be consistant in not letting him do the things he is not allowed to do every time he does it so he gets the feel of how to live in your house hold! the first year or so is rough with training puppies but after that it is much easier. it also helps my puppies to play fetch with a ball a few times a day. it helps them to behave inside the house if they get their energy out.. just like a human child!! good luck and by the way i would not worry about if he i comfortable. he is so young he should be able to adapt to any environment as long as humans have been nice to him in the past. he might be stuck right close to you or he might explore. make sure you just show him around the house and yard..

Answer 3

buy a dog cage and tell him thats his bed and make him sleep in it at night..then he will be happy to go in there when u need to contain him

Answer 4

If you are a new dog owner you should not be getting a bulldog x dogue de bordeaux, they are both extremly powerful breeds and not for the novice owner. Do a quiz on the internet to see what breed is right for you.

Answer 5

Buy him a food bowel with water and some nice toys and a doggy bed maybe with a blanket.  That should make him feel welcome.  Get his dog license and a tag with your name and address and phone number on it and also his name.  Get him a collar and a leash and some dog treats.  I didn't put my dog in a cage or a crate.  She is very loveable and friendly.  She sleeps with me every night.  Karen

Answer 6

Wonderful that you are going to be pet parents.  I hope that this is a rescue and not from a "breeder"  if someone purposely bred this dog do not even go to see him.  He is a mixed breed and may be a lovely dog but not worth what a so called breeder would charge.  

Now off of my soap box and to answer your question.  This combo will be a large, Slobbery, Stubborn, Powerful Cuddly dog,   Are you ready for this?  Research these breeds to see if it will suit your lifestyle and family.  

When you meet him,  Is he friendly?  or does he shy away from you? If he shows any shyness or aggressiveness pass.  He will need a more experienced owner.  

Does He look healthy?  Eyes, nose, coat, Is he listless?  At 5 months old he should be bouncing all over the place when some new people come to see him.  

Was he raised in the house or in a kennel.  A plus if he was raised underfoot in the house.  

What is the return policy?  How many days do you have to get a health check from a vet?  What are his vaccination records?

Is he nuetered?

Is he house broken?  At 5 months old he could be well on his way.

You need to look at yourselves and your time constraints realistically in order to decide what type and age of dog would be best for you.  Does he have a safe, comforable, stimulating place to be when you are not at home?  Many dog owners work all day.  Yes it is not ideal, but many dogs are still happy with working owners.  I do not mean sticking them in a crate for 9 hours while you are at work either.  

What ever dog you decide to get ask for a couple days worth of the same food they are currently eating.  Pay for it if you have to.  Slowly change over to the food you have chosen. (that is another research project for you).

List of things to get.

Crate of appropriate size.  *if a large breed puppy you can get a crate to fit his adult size with a divider to make it smaller til he grows into it.

Food & water bowls-  I prefer stainless steel they last forever.

Leash and collar Or harness if a toy breed puppy

Bed

Size appropriate Toys and Chewies.  Try to avoid the Rawhide as the dog can rip chunks off and swallow them.

A good book on house breaking if not already trained.

The number of a good local obedience trainer and sign him up for classes.

The number of a good vet.  Ask around.

Answer 7

The first thing you need to understand is dog behaviour. Too many people expect them to be like humans and treat them like children.

All dogs have a vestige of wild instinct in them still and they only respect those they see as pack leaders or alpha male/female. They need to know their place in the family and it should always be last.

ie; he doesn't sleep on your bed, he does not feed from the table with the humans, he waits for your permission to do anything etc

This does not mean that you need to hit them or abuse them physically in any way. You just need to be assertive.

How about enrolling in puppy training classes?

There are plenty of books explaining dog behaviour and if you get the chance watch 'The Dog Whisperer'. You could pick up brill tips from that guy.

Answer 8

I would go with the basics like : the appropriate food for type of dog and dog's age: (big dog puppy food) a good bed that doesn't have a lot of things hanging of of it. A KENNEL to kennel train the dog so he can stay in the box while you go places or go to sleep. TOYS are big... get tough toys so you don't find the toy in pieces around the house...pee pads are good...we trained our dogs to sit by the door when they have to go ... so i would put training pads near the doors and take the puppy outside AOLot to pee (maybeveryery hour or so) but i would suggest talking to someone at petsmart...because i'm not really THAT good with dogs, but you should consultprofessionional on what this dog needs based on his behavior. summary: talk to a professional :) hope this helps

Answer 9

The first thing you need to do is take him to the vet to get checked. If the seller says he has had his shots, ask for the records. If he can't provide records, do not take his word for it, take him to the vet. Make sure you have a water bowl and a feed bowl for him. Get him a couple of chew toys, and when he gets to your home, let him explore and get to know his new surroundings. Give him lots of love and attention. Best of luck of your new dog!

Answer 10

wow your getting a big slobbery noisy boisterous breed for your first dog! personally i would do your research into both breeds as they can be stubborn to train, noisy breathers can you be doing with him huffing, snuffling and puffing 24/7?huge dog poos to pick up? strong on the lead, possibly pulling  you over if he sees something he wants to get to?(if he is strong on the lead DO NOT get a body harness this will only make him stronger and easier for him to pull you over) large vets bills if he gets ill as larger breeds gerally cost more as more medication would have to be admisitered than an smaller dog,i am worried he maybe too much for you (sorry for judging) you could try a tester with him, he maybe cute now...i would keep going to visit him, go out with the current owner on his walks, you walk him on the lead with them see what he like outside of the kennel/owners house etc. what will he be like in the car. hope it works out for you, makes sure you do you research and even moreso for his training, if you would like any training tips please as me i would be more than happy to help you if you do decide to get this dog.

Dont give him milk you will only give him the runs, not nice for him not nice for you to clean, and im sure you know what it feels like to have the sh*its so...dont do it to you dog

Answer 11

Before you get any dog ask yourself a few questions:

1- Do you have a fenced yard large enough to allow that size of dog to have room to run?

2-  Do you (or someone in your home) have the time to train this dog?

3-  If you do have children, is this breed of dog good with kids?

4-  Do you have children?  Are they old enough to know how to pet a dog and not poke fingers in the dog's eyes, or pull it's fur?

5-  Do you know how to housebreak a dog, if it is not already housebroken?

6- Will this dog be cooped up in the house all day while everyone is at work or school?  Or, will it have to be outside all day long, when everyone is at work or school?  (Neither scenario is desirable!)

Responsible dog ownership begins before you ever get a dog.  I hope you are going to Animal Regulation (The Pound) to look at this dog.  There are so many loving ownerless pets there, it would break your heart.

When you bring your dog home, show him his inside bed, food and water, and his outside shelter and water.  A back porch with a dog door works well.

Allow your pet time to settle in, and have some quiet time before handling him a lot.

Good luck, I hope you find the perfect dog for your family.  And I hope the dog will be raised with love.

Answer 12

i let my dog sleep with one of my blankets because they like the scent and it doesnt make them feel alone.

some dogs get motion sickness, so if he throws up when you take him in the car, be prepared

if dogs are too depressed to eat, give them milk.

be patient when your training them. the person that trains them, is the person who they'll give the most respect to.

for a couple of weeks, mix hard food with soft, then slowly start to take away the soft food so they can get used to the hard.

Answer 13

I suggest you let the dog know right of the bat, who is boss. do not and i repeat, do not let this dog run over you. I would keep a leather strap handy, and whip this dog if it shows signs of misbehavior. This is the only way you will be able to keep the pooch in line. Good luck and enjoy your new pet. I hope my advice helps!

Answer 14

show them who's boss. don't let them take charge remember you are the pack leader

Answer 15

Hey izo, I have no experience of this particular breed so will bow to the incredible knowledge of those who have...

I would hope you can meet the animal in his home where you can witness the temperament and general behavior etc and be provided with all the relevant information you need, as in history and medical records. You will have heard of the term bright eyed and bushy tailed? Well the dog should be just that; bright clear eyes and pleased to meet you. Don't be afraid to ask questions even if you don't think they are relevant, as any genuine owner will have nothing to hide.

If all of that is order and you are happy, maybe take something that the pet owns, as in toy or blanket so it will recognize something and give it comfort. At home make it a bed with a blanket or basket and put the item of comfort in there. Dogs are very affectionate and can get over excited so you must start as you mean to go on and allow it freedom only where it will be allowed at all times, as breaking the rules when it suits won't teach the animal discipline and will cause confusion. So start immediately, with the training and your new pet will soon learn. (After he has settled in of course) I hope you are ready for long and frequent walks and wet pongy doggy hair and paws lol! All animals will respond to love and kindness but they need routine and boundaries just like a child. For his first night and until you get used to the animals’ ways leave some newspaper down to allow for desperate needs just in case..

Pups can be very destructive so I wouldn't recommend leaving him alone for too long or anywhere near valuable things lol but it's all a learning process that can be very rewarding and joyful. Good luck and as a bonus you will be as fit as a fiddle!..:))