https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z Answers to your burning questions about puppies and their training. Post your questions here! en-us 2018-03-13 20:27:19 UTC 2018-03-16 14:01:41 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/prod/80264060/cdf38ae2d21ee13c036196e76c1eb262/Backback.png nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619586 I personally love rescuing. All of my animals, cats, dogs, and horses; they are all rescues. I find it so rewarding to rescue an animal and give them a second shot at life. People always think that rescues only have older dogs (which they do!) but they also have a lot of young puppies who could use homes too. What I love about rescuing is that the shelter already knows SO much about the animals they have, and they will not lie about their habits because they want the animal to have a furever home, not a temporary home and be returned. So I always find it's important to look at the characteristics of each dog. I'll look online, or ask the employees while I'm at a rescue or shelter, and they can tell you how well the animal is with: dogs, cats, children. teenagers, adults, small animals (hamsters, gerbals, etc.), and more. They can tell you their health, needed exercise, if they are a barker, if they bite, or chew furniture, etc. 

However, if you want to adopt, that's okay too! Adopting is great too! Just make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder. Ask for their certificates of vaccincations, and a vet check approving their overall health. If they aren't being safe with breeding, your dog can have health problems which you need to be prepared for.]]> 2018-03-13 20:27:19 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619586 nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619587 For new owners, I would highly suggest doing as much research as you can about dogs, and about the breed you are looking into. A lot of people will get a dog, and not realize how big they were going to get, or how much they eat, or how hyper they are. All breeds are different. Create a list of what type of dog you want, relaxed, or can be hyper, or a mix of both, quiet or barking is allowed, small or big, small appetite or little appetite, ]]> 2018-03-13 20:27:19 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619587 nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619589 Do the research and look into if you can handle being in charge of a life. Are the you ready for the responsibility? You have to walk them a certain amount everyday depending on their size, and energy, you have to feed them morning, afternoon, and night, and you have to love them whenever you can. Think of it as sharing your home with a child, especially if you get a puppy. Puppies are very dependent in the early stages because if you do not work with them to get routines down, and train them, they can have behaviour issues. If it's an older dog (Which I suggest!), they will have routines down already, but you have to work with them so that they know your routines, such as when you wake up and go to bed, so they know when they get to go outside for a pee. It's a lot of work, and I know personally when I was asked to rescue a puppy who needed an immediate home, I said yes without considering the work. Look into it first.]]> 2018-03-13 20:27:19 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/241619589 nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242758229 It depends if your dog is older or young. If your dog is older, and has had crate training, you should continue it, they probably love it, it gives them a reassuring place to go, a "safe place". If your dog is older, and has never tried it, you have to consider if crate training is right for them, if they are a nervous dog, or if they destroy furniture when your gone, you could try introducing a crate. You'll have to be careful though because the dog won't know what it is, and might be nervous going in the first few times. I would leave the door open in the beginning, add a bed to the crate, and place some treats inside so that the dog has an incentive to go inside the crate and explore. Try to avoid putting him in there against his will, or putting him in there when he does something bad, he'll learn to be afraid of it, if it is only used in negative situations. If you then try using it during the day or at night, he'll believe he has done something wrong as he will have a negative association with the crate. This will also make it harder for the dog to go in the crate. My dog personally loved his crate in the beginning, and when I left the house, he would go inside willingly.

Most of the same information for older dogs also goes for young puppies. However with young puppies, they are more interested in trying new things so it would be easier to integrate a crate if they are young. Introducing a crate for them might be a good idea so that they aren't getting busy in the house when they aren't fully potty trained. Puppies won't pee or poop where they sleep, so they will avoid it inside the crate for as long as they can so that they don't have to sit in it. However, if they are outside the crate, they might be more willing to go to the bathroom inside the house because they wont have to sit in it.]]> 2018-03-16 11:45:18 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242758229 nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242818232 I have 2 dogs (my own, and my family dog), 4 cats (1 of my own, and 3 family cats), and 2 family horses. All of my animals are rescues!]]> 2018-03-16 13:53:55 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242818232 nicole_kristen_murray https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242820549 My dog is very picky when it comes to food. Even though I have a big dog, I like using cesar's wet dog food, they have great variety, and it's the only food my dog has consistently liked. I also use Beneful dry dog food throughout the day. 
For treats, I like to use beef liver treats, and raw hide that can be chewed throughout the day. I use bigger sized raw hide that is harder to break down because my dog will swallow smaller pieces that can break off easily.
For toys, anything that can withstand my dog's chewing!]]> 2018-03-16 13:57:43 UTC https://padlet.com/nicole_kristen_murray/jdjoxwzfav7z/wish/242820549