Getting a puppy - need help PLEASE

[liv3d_dog]

Another human being thinking a puppy /Dog will have to fit in with whatever because they Want Want Want

No i think he will learn and adapt. Just like you learn and adapt from when you are born.

 

[Finsky]

Hi there, I'm in the middle of bringing up a puppy, she is now 6 months old and she is second one I've been dealing with within a year. I have to agree with what others have said and suggested. Training your pup and getting it'how you want it' (fingers crossed..nothing is never guaranteed) is VERY VERY hard work and takes lots of effort.....it is nothing you can imagine until you really have done the 'trial' you have been suggested.
You WILL have sleepless nights and you WILL be tired....will that go well with your work? Yes, puppies do sleep but it won't happen in same regime than your working hours are. They need to be played with, throwing a toy and hoping it will amuse itself does not work. And even with best toilet training practice, during first few months accidents WILL happen..both sorts. They don't master their bowel and bladder function for some time and any manner of emotion can cause the little control they might have to cause accidents to happen. Not only their bladders have to physically grow and able to hold the contents, never mind learning and have a control over it. Who's going to keep cleaning the mess?

Not only are you considering a large breeds but also ones that do create lot of loose fluff....and by the sound of it, it ain't something you would like to happen. All I can see is your potential pup will be looking a another home in very short time, which is not fair for it.
We are not trying to put you off for spite but knowing with collective experience what would be waiting for you in future. It is better to hear the negatives things that come with those cute little fluff bundles. Personally I'm looking forward to my dogs adulthood and can't wait the puppy stage to end...but it is something one has to go through and do properly if one wants dog friend that will be pleasure to live with.
Don't forget....you are looking for potential 10+ years of friendship with the dog...how do you want to spend those years? Older dogs can be trained too...but still one has to put effort to that too, though at least the issue with toilet training should be easier...

 

[liv3d_dog]

Hi there, I'm in the middle of bringing up a puppy, she is now 6 months old and she is second one I've been dealing with within a year. I have to agree with what others have said and suggested. Training your pup and getting it'how you want it' (fingers crossed..nothing is never guaranteed) is VERY VERY hard work and takes lots of effort.....it is nothing you can imagine until you really have done the 'trial' you have been suggested.
You WILL have sleepless nights and you WILL be tired....will that go well with your work? Yes, puppies do sleep but it won't happen in same regime than your working hours are. They need to be played with, throwing a toy and hoping it will amuse itself does not work. And even with best toilet training practice, during first few months accidents WILL happen..both sorts. They don't master their bowel and bladder function for some time and any manner of emotion can cause the little control they might have to cause accidents to happen. Not only their bladders have to physically grow and able to hold the contents, never mind learning and have a control over it. Who's going to keep cleaning the mess?

Not only are you considering a large breeds but also ones that do create lot of loose fluff....and by the sound of it, it ain't something you would like to happen. All I can see is your potential pup will be looking a another home in very short time, which is not fair for it.
We are not trying to put you off for spite but knowing with collective experience what would be waiting for you in future. It is better to hear the negatives things that come with those cute little fluff bundles. Personally I'm looking forward to my dogs adulthood and can't wait the puppy stage to end...but it is something one has to go through and do properly if one wants dog friend that will be pleasure to live with.
Don't forget....you are looking for potential 10+ years of friendship with the dog...how do you want to spend those years? Older dogs can be trained too...but still one has to put effort to that too, though at least the issue with toilet training should be easier...

Thanks for your reply mate.
Yeah, i know it's hard and that's why am here asking you all those BEFORE getting it because i could still be here asking you those with a puppy staying next to me and me being confused on what to do.
I don't know all those ideas are messing my mind on deciding about what to be done.

 

[Finsky]

No i think he will learn and adapt. Just like you learn and adapt from when you are born.

Ok....just like you don't throw a steak on front of babies and expect them feed themselves and change their own nappies....every young living creature will have to be nurtured into their adulthood. There is certain basic needs that YOU will have to learn, adapt and provide until the pup is grown up and will be able to start to adapt to your human life style.

 

[JudyN]

Do you have a reliable lift in your apartment as well as stairs? Because there is a very high chance that when the dog gets old, he won't be able to manage all those stairs - too many stairs aren't that great for dogs of any age. And a large breed will be pretty darn heavy to carry.

As for puppy training, pups often do 'double wees' - you manage to get them outside for a wee, they come back in, and then they do another inside the house. The general advice is to take them out regularly as normal, and when they wee you praise and treat, take them back inside again, and then go straight back out again. So however many trips up and down those stairs you reckoned you had to do... double it. And then you'll have to go halfway back down again to clean up the one that he couldn't hold on to long enough and did halfway down.

 

[liv3d_dog]

Ok....just like you don't throw a steak on front of babies and expect them feed themselves and change their own nappies....every young living creature will have to be nurtured to their adulthood. There is certain basic needs that YOU will have to learn, adapt and provide until the pup is grown up and will be able to start to adapt to your human life style.

Yeah i know and that's why i am hear so i can get tips and advises on how to do that properly.

 

[liv3d_dog]

Do you have a reliable lift in your apartment as well as stairs? Because there is a very high chance that when the dog gets old, he won't be able to manage all those stairs - too many stairs aren't that great for dogs of any age. And a large breed will be pretty darn heavy to carry.

As for puppy training, pups often do 'double wees' - you manage to get them outside for a wee, they come back in, and then they do another inside the house. The general advice is to take them out regularly as normal, and when they wee you praise and treat, take them back inside again, and then go straight back out again. So however many trips up and down those stairs you reckoned you had to do... double it. And then you'll have to go halfway back down again to clean up the one that he couldn't hold on to long enough and did halfway down.

Yeah i have got it, until he reaches at least 6 months the pop traning will be a real concern and hard task.

 

[Ragsysmum]

Poor puppy whatever breed you end up with. You are only considering what YOU want and not what a puppy needs.

 

[DixD]

It’ll be fun when your retriever or labrador has a stomach upset, and you have to lug a dog well over 20 kilos up and down three flights of stairs every fifteen minutes. They’ll no doubt leave a trail all the way down the stairs. They’re pretty notorious breeds for, as it’s described, dietary indiscretion. They’ll have a shot at eating anything, not always a good idea!

 

[Mad Murphy]

Im sorry but this is a typical case of I want... Therefore I will ignore all sensible advice or the good of the animal and do it anyway...
There is far too much of this I want
attitude around.

Time to take a step back and learn to ask ....what can I offer to the dog ??.. which at this time isnt much in the way of quality.

 

[Ari_RR]

Month 1. Every hour in daytime, from 7.00am to 10.00 pm, without fail, somebody in the family carry a 2 kilo sack of potatoes downstairs and stand outside for 15 minutes, then back upstairs. Also, at around 3.00 am, YOU do it.

All that while giving yourselves no more than 30 seconds (if that) to get dressed!! When it's freezing rain outside!
Is there an elevator in the building? If so - will need to clean it up on a regular basis initially, I would think.

That said - where there is will, there is a way, and if family is fully committed - it can work, I think.
But it probably won't be "your" dog. I think whoever really takes care of him during the day, plays with him, takes him out, comforts him, feeds him, etc.. that's where the real bond will be.

Anyway - good luck! Many great things seemed crazy and impossible at the start.

I would seriously consider adopting an adult instead of getting a puppy. Would probably make life a heck of a lot easier for the parents!

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

First off mate, dogs aren't people they are dogs and have different needs to people. The point about carrying the pup up down stairs is,there's a very good chance you could wreck the dogs legs if you don't. It sounds daft but it's true,now think of the size of the dog. I've been around lurchers all my life, none of them were allowed to do stairs or do excessive running or short hard running until they were fully grown . For us that was around 15 month old, and I would apply that to any large breed.
Its all food for thought,but I'd have a long hard think about the three breeds you are considering getting.

 

[Mad Murphy]

This person didnt get the answer they wanted from us ie 'oh goody get a pup and keep it in your third floor app its a great idea' so they have gone off with the same question asking advice elsewhere.. Hoping I suppose that someone will think its a great idea... So far no luck, proberbly because most people have more sense..

 

[Mayblossom]

When I first read the post I wasn’t sure if it was someone trying to wind us up as it just seemed such a ridiculous question to ask! How could anyone even think it was ok to take on a puppy/dog of such large proportions in a third floor flat! But guess everyone doesn’t think things through and just thinks it’ll be ok I sincerely hope he gets the same advice given on here on other forums he’s frequented .....

 

[Josie]

Just to add...

Sounds like this person has no idea about dogs at all so maybe everyone needs to be a little less on the defence with their responses - most people here are dog owners who have had dogs for years but that isn’t the case for everyone and so there may be questions where you think ‘whaaaaat’.

This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to own a dog it just means that they need to be aware that it isn’t as easy as it seems and explained why.

This is meant to be a place for people to ask these questions and not be completely ganged up on.

 

[DixD]

I certainly didn’t post with the intention of ganging up on anyone, Josie. That’s pretty emotive language, and I’m sure your concerns, as moderator, could have been put across firmly but in less emotive terms. And there’s the option to delete posts you don’t feel follow forum rules. I tried, and I’m sure others did too, to put valid points across about breed specifics, puppy requirements, and the difficulties of keeping large dogs up three flights of stairs. I joined the forum as I wanted to chat with like-minded people, exchange views and experiences, not to be implicated in some sort of perceived ganging up scenario.

 

[Mad Murphy]

@Josie with all due respect ..I dont really think there was any bullying going on. Good advice was offered and knocked back, then as I pointed out the OP then went elsewhere and tried his question there and was met with much the same response.

As a dog lover and someone passionate about their welfare I think that if asked a question it is my duty to be honest. Even if the person asking does not like the answer, after all the poor dog has no voice..

Or maybe we need to impose a rule such as Ive seen on other forums, my son is an admin for a forum, people are allowed to pose a question and once it is answered they are not permitted to do the whole 'yes but...' and 'I dont like that advice' rebuttal rubbish.. the question is answered take it or leave it the thread is then closed for replies. It stops arguments on both sides.

One also has to ask what value do people like the OP bring to a forum such as this? Are they going to continue posting being a member and adding to the community or are they just here to get some kind of approval to make themselves feel good and then leave? Surely we should encourage active membership of responsible owners and dog lovers not people who are just going to get a dog regardless of any advice given.

 

[DixD]

@Mad Murphy. I added a wee bit about the uotion of deleting posts that didn’t follow forum rules. Just to let you know, incase you want to “unlike”...

 

[Mad Murphy]

@Mad Murphy. I added a wee bit about the uotion of deleting posts that didn’t follow forum rules. Just to let you know, incase you want to “unlike”...

No worries I agree its admins duty to check and if they feel something is breaking the rules then its its their job to deal with it including deleting offending posts.

I have re read the thread before my last post and tbh i dont see bullying or ganging up just a group of dog lovers trying to convince someone to put the dog first and being knocked back at every suggestion.

 

[Ari_RR]

I am with Josie on this one. Felt like beating up on a kid, although I am sure not intentionally.
The vast majority of users are readers, not posters, they benefit from just reading. Posters like OP may be asking the questions that other have but do not ask, for example, and there is value in that for the forum...
The vibe has the impact, especially on those who just lurk around. I have to admit, our vibe on this one was less than inviting and encouraging further interest. We can do better on the form, even if the substance remains the same.