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Hello, as the title suggests, I am a prospective first-time puppy owner. I'll give some context about myself, and the basics about things such as our energy level in the home, what we've been looking at, etc. I guess I'm looking for some basic breed recommendations, and tips are appreciated. If there's anything I should know, that is appreciated as well. I don't want to come off as being idealistic or super naïve, although I am a novice at dog owning overall.
My dad and I have been discussing what kind of puppy to bring into our household. He's grown up with dogs all his life, up until he went to college. Me, my older brother, and my mom have not had that experience. However, I absolutely love dogs, and virtually all animals, my entire life. I am comfortable with having a dog in our home (so are my mom and brother, although they aren't as heavily involved we are still in the research phase, and they also are open to the idea of having one), and have wanted this for years. I have had experience with my aunt's dogs from when I was little (I spent a lot of time with her, and thus, her dogs too), and I have done almost 200 hours total of internship work in a shelter handling dogs and puppies of all kinds. Although this isn't the same as living with a dog, I am very comfortable with them and am used to them.
Breed-wise we haven't narrowed anything down quite yet. We know we definitely prefer a medium-large dog. My parents are not fans of small dogs. I enjoy any and all kinds of dogs, but I do find myself preferring something a bit bigger. My dad frequently goes on long walks, usually 2 if not 3 hours, almost every day and especially on weekends. I enjoy walks myself, and would also consider easing back into jogging/running again and a buddy would be great for that. Obviously we do not want to force puppy on such long walks while it's growing, so we would plan on doing short but frequent walks in our neighborhood. We also have an average yard, around a quarter acre, with a decent amount of space for a romp. Yard time would not replace walks.
We would definitely plan to get the puppy into obedience classes as soon as it is able to. I am eager to learn every and anything I can about ensuring this puppy will not only be loved, but will grow up in a home with structure. We want it to know basic commands and we are willing to take the time to give it that training it needs to grow up into a well-behaved dog. Socialization would also be something we'd work on, as we would like our puppy to gain the social skills it would need to have a positive experience not only around different humans, but different dogs as well. The puppy would not be left alone for long periods of time at all. There would almost always be someone at home, especially when it's very young. My parents are either retired or work maybe less than five minutes away. I am a student, but I would be home for the summer which is the timeframe where we would get our pup, so that I can also have time to be with it before going back to school in the fall.
We have looked at shelters and rescue groups in our area for mixed breed puppies, but also have considered reputable breeders as well. We have been finding both sources have their own pros and cons in terms of expense, breed, and our family's ability to adapt to a dog's needs based on what kind of breed it is. My dad is a BIG fan of German Shepherds and was looking at some high quality breeders, but I am aware they are very high-energy and can be destructive and anxious if not exercised enough. I'm unsure if the long walks (and possibly jogs) would even cut it for a GSD. There's also the surprise and happiness that comes with saving the life of a pup from a shelter, and they might be more manageable based on our energy level. Still, we are continuously looking at articles, contacting places and owners, and getting as much knowledge as we can before committing to any one dog.
I am aware that puppy raising is not always cute -- there's messes, nipping, chewing, etc. I am prepared for that, and so is my dad. Even with all that we research, we also realize that raising any puppy is a learning experience in and of itself, and not everything we learn will be from what we've read or discussed. I'm excited about this aspect and am even more excited about the prospect of having our very own dog, for the first time in my life.
My dad and I have been discussing what kind of puppy to bring into our household. He's grown up with dogs all his life, up until he went to college. Me, my older brother, and my mom have not had that experience. However, I absolutely love dogs, and virtually all animals, my entire life. I am comfortable with having a dog in our home (so are my mom and brother, although they aren't as heavily involved we are still in the research phase, and they also are open to the idea of having one), and have wanted this for years. I have had experience with my aunt's dogs from when I was little (I spent a lot of time with her, and thus, her dogs too), and I have done almost 200 hours total of internship work in a shelter handling dogs and puppies of all kinds. Although this isn't the same as living with a dog, I am very comfortable with them and am used to them.
Breed-wise we haven't narrowed anything down quite yet. We know we definitely prefer a medium-large dog. My parents are not fans of small dogs. I enjoy any and all kinds of dogs, but I do find myself preferring something a bit bigger. My dad frequently goes on long walks, usually 2 if not 3 hours, almost every day and especially on weekends. I enjoy walks myself, and would also consider easing back into jogging/running again and a buddy would be great for that. Obviously we do not want to force puppy on such long walks while it's growing, so we would plan on doing short but frequent walks in our neighborhood. We also have an average yard, around a quarter acre, with a decent amount of space for a romp. Yard time would not replace walks.
We would definitely plan to get the puppy into obedience classes as soon as it is able to. I am eager to learn every and anything I can about ensuring this puppy will not only be loved, but will grow up in a home with structure. We want it to know basic commands and we are willing to take the time to give it that training it needs to grow up into a well-behaved dog. Socialization would also be something we'd work on, as we would like our puppy to gain the social skills it would need to have a positive experience not only around different humans, but different dogs as well. The puppy would not be left alone for long periods of time at all. There would almost always be someone at home, especially when it's very young. My parents are either retired or work maybe less than five minutes away. I am a student, but I would be home for the summer which is the timeframe where we would get our pup, so that I can also have time to be with it before going back to school in the fall.
We have looked at shelters and rescue groups in our area for mixed breed puppies, but also have considered reputable breeders as well. We have been finding both sources have their own pros and cons in terms of expense, breed, and our family's ability to adapt to a dog's needs based on what kind of breed it is. My dad is a BIG fan of German Shepherds and was looking at some high quality breeders, but I am aware they are very high-energy and can be destructive and anxious if not exercised enough. I'm unsure if the long walks (and possibly jogs) would even cut it for a GSD. There's also the surprise and happiness that comes with saving the life of a pup from a shelter, and they might be more manageable based on our energy level. Still, we are continuously looking at articles, contacting places and owners, and getting as much knowledge as we can before committing to any one dog.
I am aware that puppy raising is not always cute -- there's messes, nipping, chewing, etc. I am prepared for that, and so is my dad. Even with all that we research, we also realize that raising any puppy is a learning experience in and of itself, and not everything we learn will be from what we've read or discussed. I'm excited about this aspect and am even more excited about the prospect of having our very own dog, for the first time in my life.
