Dog Experts - Am I crazy for buying a CKC instead of an AKC puppy? UPDATE - New ?'s!!

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for bringing up the toileting issue again, Belle. I meant to comment on it, too.

Young puppies have bladders the size of a small grape (or smaller, depending on type of dog). Seriously. Anyone who thinks they can hold it for 3 hrs is in for a real surprise. It would be like asking an infant to do that. They essentially pee at will. You're job is to get them outside BEFORE they pee in the house, and in order to do that, you've got to stay on top of it. This could mean hourly or every two hour trips outside, round the clock, for a couple of weeks, then gradually increasing incrementally as the pup grows. Fortunately, that period is shorter for dogs than it is for infants, but it can still last for several weeks to months (and feel even longer), depending on how vigilante the owner is and how well the pup is learning his lessons. Some breeds are better at housetraining than others are. Not sure about the dogs the OP is interested in.

 

[hereyago]

Thanks for bringing up the toileting issue again, Belle. I meant to comment on it, too.

Young puppies have bladders the size of a small grape (or smaller, depending on type of dog). Seriously. Anyone who thinks they can hold it for 3 hrs is in for a real surprise. It would be like asking an infant to do that. They essentially pee at will. You're job is to get them outside BEFORE they pee in the house, and in order to do that, you've got to stay on top of it. This could mean hourly or every two hour trips outside, round the clock, for a couple of weeks, then gradually increasing incrementally as the pup grows.

Oh yes, say it 2 am in the freezing rain where I would question my sanity of getting a puppy. and trying to get the schedule of say ok, fed the puppy go outside 30+ minutes later and wait for them to well um, work their bathroom magic.

 

[SandrA9810]

Reading this topic makes me want another sammy dog. I can't believe it's been a year and a half without a dog. I've been to the pound a few times and played with a few of the dogs, but none of them really connect.

That's the other nice thing about older dogs, they show their personalities, and what kind of dog that they are. While I hope that all the dogs that I have seen at the kennel make it to a forever home, I know that they aren't the right dog for me. (**I know, I know, I can't have a dog anyways, and it's a bunch of wishful thinking. But going to the pound just makes me feel better and I signed up to be a volunteer there**).

As for the dog smell. Kiani got baths often enough, at least once a month. She looked like the most miserable dog in the world. These sad eyes, her mouth closed, and would sit when I needed her to stand or stand when I wanted her to sit. On average, she smelled pretty good. But I would call her my mutt when she needed a bath and stunk. Which was usually after going to the dog park. And trust me, you might get used to the dog smell of the home when you're living in it, but outsiders might notice the smell of an animal in the house long before you do. Every pet home I've been in, I've been able to tell, and it's not a bad smell, just a "pet smell" if that makes any sense.

That's another thing, do you even know where your closest dog park is? Have you been there before? Met other dog owners? Almost any dog park I went to, there were occasions when people would stop in just to play with some of the dogs or watch them play. It was a BIG deal to my dog to go there. She even tried to jump out the car window when I was in the parking lot pulling up. She knew when we were on our way to one.

Walks are all good and such, but they need some actual play time and social time. I've been to good parks and bad parks. We did live in an apartment all of her life, so there was never a backyard for her, but I'd think she'd just lay there and be bored. She was never amused by toys or dog treats or any of the usual dog stuff. Even at the dog park, she wouldn't chase a ball thrown or tug of war, she'd follow the other dogs that were running, just to run. She was a puller/working dog. Her joy came from that, so I stuck her leash on my scooter and off she went. At one point we only lived about 6 blocks from a dog park, so she'd pull me there and then usually trot in front of me on the way home. You'll have to work with your dog's personality to see what stimulates them, makes them happy, tired, and exhausted. I mean to me, it seemed like a lazy way out. I just stood on a scooter trying to not get myself killed. She enjoyed it much more than going for a walk, and constantly tugging on the leash trying to reach for the new smell on the ground, or being annoyed when I used a halti on her.

When we'd go on vacation, usually Disney, she'd come with us. She never minded being in the kennels, and knew we'd be back in a short while to get her and play with her some more (this was when Disney owned them, and you had to walk and feed your own pet). We would also stay at the campgrounds so we could keep her with us at night. If we went any place else, it was always some place we could go and bring her with us.
This vacation coming up isn't going to be your last vacation for the next 15 years. Kennels and boarding places are expensive, even having a personal pet sitter is expensive. You say the breeder will keep the pup a bit longer to cover you this time, but next time, it's all you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That reminded me of the vacation issue. There is NO WAY in heck I'd get a puppy and give it to someone else for two weeks to keep for me. I want to be the one the dog learns from from the time he or she becomes mine. My expectations of the dog are clear and consistent and we establish a routine that the dog can settle into. Dogs thrive from this. I also have rules I don't want broken. For instance, I have a strict rule with puppies and that rule is that dog teeth on human skin is never ok. That means that I need to supervise all interactions to make sure that doesn't happen, whether it's with a child or an adult. We don't play with the dog in any way that encourages biting, but I'm always amazed at the number of people that do. Two weeks is a long time in the life of a puppy and habits will be formed then. No matter what do you get, OP, it's probably better to get one when you come home. IMO it would be very confusing to the dog to be shuffled around at the beginning of its life with you and you risk beginning bad habits - why would you want to do that?

 

[herdtoDisney]

OP, we have a puppy right now, a Beagle-let me tell you how it is

We love her, but it isn't about taking her out 3 times a day and cuddling on the sofa. It's more like taking her out every hour, starting at 4:30 AM (today ) and grabbing our shoes out of her mouth, and the rug, and anything else in reach...she's great and smart, but it's like having a toddler again

We chose to have a puppy (she's 10 weeks) but I don't think it is easy or even fun. We all have to work together to care for her, and we are taking the puppy class and all that. I could not have done this when I had toddlers (my youngest is 7). We also waited till now because we went to Disney recently and had to account for not being home. It's really a lot of work, and I'm not a dog person either. We are putting in all this time and effort so we can have many years with a good pet, but I am not interested in another puppy in my lifetime

 

[mom2aandj]

That reminded me of the vacation issue. There is NO WAY in heck I'd get a puppy and give it to someone else for two weeks to keep for me. I want to be the one the dog learns from from the time he or she becomes mine. My expectations of the dog are clear and consistent and we establish a routine that the dog can settle into. Dogs thrive from this. I also have rules I don't want broken. For instance, I have a strict rule with puppies and that rule is that dog teeth on human skin is never ok. That means that I need to supervise all interactions to make sure that doesn't happen, whether it's with a child or an adult. We don't play with the dog in any way that encourages biting, but I'm always amazed at the number of people that do. Two weeks is a long time in the life of a puppy and habits will be formed then. No matter what do you get, OP, it's probably better to get one when you come home. IMO it would be very confusing to the dog to be shuffled around at the beginning of its life with you and you risk beginning bad habits - why would you want to do that?

I agree. I think getting a puppy, and then going on vacation one month later for 2 weeks is just not a good plan. We got our puppy at the end of October, already had our plane tickets to fly to Grandma's house for T'giving, and I wound up not going, and that was only for 3 days. It will be confusing for the puppy and as this poster said, it is an opportunity for the puppy to learn bad habits you don't want it learning. I would wait until after your vacation to bring the puppy home.

And yes, if you're thinking a 12 week dog will ONLY need to go out every 4 hours, that was not my experience at all. One or two times when I HAD to leave him in his crate for 4 hours while I was gone out of the house, he was able to hold it during the day that long at that age. But, at 12 weeks he was going out far more frequently than that.
Thinking about it more, I think at 12 weeks he could hold it for 2 or 3 hours in the crate max, during the day.

 

[mjkacmom]

Totally agree with this. Honestly, you are in for a rude awakening with a puppy (anyone is, but especially if you have all these big dreams for this dog). I just think you are going to be highly disappointed when this dog doesn't fit the mold you are making for it.

And, ironically (because I REALLY think the OP shouldn't get a puppy), I lucked into the perfect dog for the OP (without being the breed she wants). My 4 month old puppy sleeps happily in her crate all night. She is 100% housebroken, rarely nips, likes her walks, but loves the couch (especially for snuggling), rarely barks, and the most destruction she's done is to tear apart a couple of tissues. I can go upstairs, and she knows not to follow me (she's only been allowed on the first floor - this will change when she's older).

I'm SO glad I waited for her! There was no rush - I just waited for the perfect dog to be available for our family. I wanted a dog that was calm, housebroken, sleeping through the night, submissive, not a big barker, and not a puppy. I decided I could live with the fact that she was still a puppy, because she met so many of my other criteria (also short-haired and under 20 pounds).

So many of my friends (who are dog owners) are envious, because it's so rare to find a puppy like her. It's like having the baby who sleeps all night right away. After my last (psycho) dog, I guess I earned her!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And, ironically (because I REALLY think the OP shouldn't get a puppy), I lucked into the perfect dog for the OP (without being the breed she wants). My 4 month old puppy sleeps happily in her crate all night. She is 100% housebroken, rarely nips, likes her walks, but loves the couch (especially for snuggling), rarely barks, and the most destruction she's done is to tear apart a couple of tissues. I can go upstairs, and she knows not to follow me (she's only been allowed on the first floor - this will change when she's older).

I'm SO glad I waited for her! There was no rush - I just waited for the perfect dog to be available for our family. I wanted a dog that was calm, housebroken, sleeping through the night, submissive, not a big barker, and not a puppy. I decided I could live with the fact that she was still a puppy, because she met so many of my other criteria (also short-haired and under 20 pounds).

So many of my friends (who are dog owners) are envious, because it's so rare to find a puppy like her. It's like having the baby who sleeps all night right away. After my last (psycho) dog, I guess I earned her!

I am so happy for you!!

BTW, hearing about all these new pets, I don't believe we've seen pictures of any of them!! I think I'm going to start a new thread for that purpose - since I have one myself now, too!

 

[mjkacmom]

I am so happy for you!!

BTW, hearing about all these new pets, I don't believe we've seen pictures of any of them!! I think I'm going to start a new thread for that purpose - since I have one myself now, too!

Thank you! I just can't believe this wonderful dog was in a kill shelter 3 weeks ago. Our vet guessed she was from the south (West Virginia), because he sees a lot of very sweet shelter dogs from the south. He thinks it's because they are SO grateful to be a fraction of the lucky ones who get to live. The rescue group drives down from the NE on a regular basis to gather them up.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thank you! I just can't believe this wonderful dog was in a kill shelter 3 weeks ago. Our vet guessed she was from the south (West Virginia), because he sees a lot of very sweet shelter dogs from the south. He thinks it's because they are SO grateful to be a fraction of the lucky ones who get to live. The rescue group drives down from the NE on a regular basis to gather them up.

Truly one lucky pooch!

 

[Jockaroo]

The realities of owning a PuPPy: and you do get the three "P's"--peeing, pooping and puking.

My puppy that I waited nearly a year for came home last September. He was born a little early and was ready to come home the week my husband and I had planned our vacation. So, we canceled the vacation and had a week at home together to enjoy our new sweet puppy. It was a wonderful week of bonding with the pup, but also a week of frustrations. I cleaned constantly. One or two loads of dirty puppy towels per day. Two gallons of enzyme cleaner used for cleaning carpets and laundry. It rained most of that week, so my beautiful wheaten Scottie was a ball of red clay mud. I used a container of baby wipes each day that week. Muddy paws, muddy face, poopy rear-end. You see, puppies do need to go out every hour, and then they still pee and poop in the house. And I also had to make sure our older dog didn't kill the puppy. She loved him but would play rough--to the point that the puppy would squeal if she came within 3 feet of him. Oh, and we could not wear shoes in the house. Puppy was always underfoot and got punted across the kitchen like a football a couple of times. That was the first week--the good week.

The second week we had the puppy, he ate something. We suspect from analyzing the vomit in his cage it was a combination of Crepe Myrtle tree bark and hair from our other dog. Took a crying, lifeless puppy out of his vomit-soaked crate that morning. We were at the vet when they opened the doors. Puppy had to be kept the whole day for hydration and barium X-rays to make sure he wasn't blocked. And also tested for Parvo, a deadly puppy disease you MUST know about. We were fortunate that puppy was OK. Cost was $365 for the vet stay and $160 for a puppy playpens for downstairs and upstairs since we couldn't put him back in the crate since he was now afraid of it. All unplanned expenses. Plus, the emotional drain of worrying that this weak 7 pound pup would need surgery. Due to him eating stuff from our "safe" fenced backyard (can't get the strips of tree bark out of three-story tall trees to puppy-proof the yard), we then needed to get him using puppy piddle pads in the house. Remember that Parvo illness I mentioned? Puppies shouldn't be exposed to the great outdoors until completing their vaccinations and my front yard wasn't guaranteed safe. Puppy piddle pads are nasty BTW. Not something you want your toddler around. When my puppy would play, he would frequently pee three times in one hour.

Once all the shots were completed around 4 months, I could start training outdoors. Of course this was winter.... Puppy needed to go out twice a night until about 5 months old. Then he needed to go out once per night for an additional month. So I didn't get to sleep through the night for nearly 4 months. I admit that I did cheat and put him on his piddle pad at 2 a.m. most of the time.

Also, once the shots are completed, you can start puppy training classes. These are a must. And you need to know that your puppy has the attention span of a can of soup. He might know "sit" today and tomorrow not even know his name. Puppy training is very, very tiring and frustrating. It is rewarding too, but you will want to rip your hair out. And this is with multiple daily training sessions.

My puppy is now 10 months old. Around 6 months I began to see some of the fruits of all my labor. He was house trained (but still needed way more than 3-4 trips outside). We have done puppy obedience, intermediate obedience and are currently doing an outside, group obedience class. We had an opportunity to take the Canine Good Citizens test last week. I didn't feel we were ready, but after watching what is expected, feel we can pass this fall. My puppy will be starting agility training in the next couple of months. Puppies need constant guidance and lots of mental and physical exercise. I don't have kids, but I was completely exhausted the first few months of having a puppy; we got him between 9 and 10 weeks old.)

I don't wish to be cruel, but I am even wondering about the AKC breeder who may let you have a puppy. My breeder has her litters spoken for before they are even conceived. The breeding my puppy is from only happened because the breeder was retiring the mother and wanted a puppy for herself. When a litter is on the ground, no one is allowed on her property. She will not risk Parvo or another illness being brought into her home. Once the pups were about 2 weeks old, I got lots of photos emailed. Once the pups were 4 months old, the videos started. At 6 weeks old, I got a video, photos and an email telling me which puppy was mine. Puppies could only go to their new homes after having the second set of shots, plus a few days for them to take affect. You keep making a big deal about the puppies being raised in the home. My breeder has a specific nursery room for her litters. It is disinfected and sterilized to keep the pups safe. People running around in the house can carry illnesses into the pups, so being home-reared isn't necessarily the best for the pups. The breeder and family do interact with the pups, but visitors should not. Parvo is nearly impossible to eradicate. It is deadly and can live in the ground for up to 7 years. You can pick it up walking through infected grass and carry the virus with you onto other property. Since you will get this puppy regardless what anyone is advising, please research this disease and know how to prevent it. You do not want your children to watch their puppy die while having constant vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The older pup should have two sets of shots and better immunity. If your choices are ONLY breeder one (CKC dogs) or breeder two (health-tested parents), you can only pick breeder two. You have no relationship with breeder 1, it doesn't matter if she gets angry with you.

Sorry this is so long, but you need to know what it is like to have a puppy. It isn't glamorous at all. And you will only have a wonderful family companion if you put blood, sweat and tears into the upbringing. You need to know this, especially since you mentioned that you are a little "lazy" and "soft" when it comes to training.