New Puppy advice

[adventure_woman]

In a couple of months we will probably be getting a new puppy (maybe 2...we'll see). (we're thinking a pug type dog and maybe a ****zu type dog). So, a couple of questions: (and the more budget friendly the better!!)

- Crate training? How do I do this? What size? (only want to end up getting one). If we get 2 puppies, can they share crates (I'm hoping...)?

- Food - what is the best kind of food for them w/o all the by-products? Crazy question, but has anyone ever made their puppy/dog food? I made all my DDs food, so if it was economical (and possible) I might consider doing this and freezing it like I did hers!

- Do you prefer boy or girl dogs? My mom said she hated having a boy dog because they peed on all her bushes and ruined them. She also thought that if we got a boy and girl dog they might constantly be on top of one another!

- We do have 2 cats also if that makes any difference on any advice.

Any other advice? I have had one puppy about 10 years ago, so I know the work that goes into them, etc. I will be looking at the shelters/etc...but it is always so hard around here to find smaller dogs there.

 

[disneyofcourse]

Just think about the cost of grooming whatever dogs you get. A pug will be cheaper because you can do it yourself. It's not a bad idea to call places and get pricing and ideas on how often it needs it. (Or you buy the clippers and shave it yourself.) Look at health issues that are common for each breed. Save yourself expenses at the vet.

 

[Anne34]

I think one puppy would be a good place to start since you have little ones at home. They are like having another baby for awhile. Potty training, nipping, chewing, etc.... I think I'd have gone nuts with two doing this at once, but we do now have two dogs (puppy 6 mo & 10 1/2 year old) they are good playmates and the younger dog follows the lead of the older one most of the time. The second dog can come later. Cage training is pretty easy -- many videos on you tube, etc..

Good thinking going through a shelter, but most will not let you adopt a puppy if you have children that are young. (Around here it is 6 at the humane society and pretty close to that at another shelter). You can adopt an older dog, but sometimes you don't know the problems (good or bad). You are better off looking at breeders or through a friend. Decide which type of dog you definitely want and go from there.

 

[RMAMom]

Puppies are a lot of work!!!! Why would you want to double the work with two puppies???

Dogs can not be kept in the same crate, not even litermates, you are just setting them up for fighting.
the link below explains the how and why to crate training.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html

Male or Female probably doesn't matter a whole lot if you are getting the dog from a shelter because they will be spayed or neutered before they come home. A Male will be a little bigger than a female if that matters.

Any dog will urinate all over your bushes or grass unless you train him or her to go in the same spot. If your Moms dog killed all of her bushes that was her failure for not training her dog and teaching him what she expected

Food really depends on the breed of dog as each breed has different requirements as far as protein, calcium fat etc. Once you choose a breed then you can search out its dietary requirements. If you are looking for a few brands to check out I would recommend Royal Canin, 4 Health, Taste of the Wild, Blue Buffalo and Innova (my personal favorite) just to name a few.

Cats shouldn't make a difference unless you get a puppy with a large prey drive. Again, the shelters are usually very good at testing dogs to be sure they are OK to be adopted to a family with cats.

You mentioned budget, nothing can be a budget buster quicker than a puppy. If your puppy hasn't had its shots you will need those, you will need monthly heartworm and flea treatment. I would really encourage you to check into obedience classes because it will make life so much easier for the puppy and for the household if you have a well behaved puppy/dog. A long hair dog will probably need grooming and you may also want to research your breed to see if they are prone to certain illness.

That's my 2 cents.

On a personal note I had a pug and lost her last year to heart failure at the age of 12. She was a wonderful little dog and a great fit for our family we still miss her very much. I wish you well as you look for and prepare for your furbaby.

 

[Kae]

Puppies are a lot of work!!!! Why would you want to double the work with two puppies???

Dogs can not be kept in the same crate, not even litermates, you are just setting them up for fighting.

My dogs stayed in the same crate no problems.

Kae

 

[Eeyore98]

Good thinking going through a shelter, but most will not let you adopt a puppy if you have children that are young. (Around here it is 6 at the humane society and pretty close to that at another shelter). You can adopt an older dog, but sometimes you don't know the problems (good or bad). You are better off looking at breeders or through a friend. Decide which type of dog you definitely want and go from there.

None of the shelters in my area have an age restriction for what homes puppies can be adopted into...I'd never even heard of such a thing until this thread. OP, I'd at least look check into the requirements at your local shelter before looking at breeders.

Also, for whatever it's worth, I've lived with 8 different dogs over the years adopted as adults from shelters (including our current 90-lb lap dog whom we adopted when she was two and a half), and all of them have been total sweethearts. Shelters really try and take care to avoid placing problem dogs up for adoption.

 

[scampagna6]

We have two 1 year old pugs (1 black male and 1 fawn female), they are brother and sister. we have crated them together since the day we brought them home at 7 1/2 weeks of age.

They get along great...no problems with fighting or humping all over each other (we had them spayed and neutered at 6 months of age)

They were VERY easy to train
We groom both of them ourselves with no problems... again very easy.

We had a 15 year old pug prior to these two and she was awesome too!

So as you can tell we HIGHLY recommend pugs!

 

[scampagna6]

We have two 1 year old pugs (1 black male and 1 fawn female), they are brother and sister. we have crated them together since the day we brought them home at 7 1/2 weeks of age.

They get along great...no problems with fighting or humping all over each other (we had them spayed and neutered at 6 months of age)

They were VERY easy to train
We groom both of them ourselves with no problems... again very easy.

We had a 15 year old pug prior to these two and she was awesome too!

So as you can tell we HIGHLY recommend pugs!

***Also forgot to mention we have 6 kids and all 3 of our pugs have been great with the kids!

 

[blessedby3]

We have a yorkie-poo (2 yrs old now) that has been our best dog ever. She is so sweet and easy. We trained her to a bell so that she can ring it when she needs to go out. We nailed it to the door facing by the front door and rang it everytime we took her out. After a week we started tapping the bell with her foot when we took her out. After about a month she started ringing it herself when she needed to go out. So easy She does have to go to the groomer every 8 weeks ($32). We started crating her early on, but the kids wanted to sleep with her so we gave up the crate and let her sleep in the bed. Just lock her in the utility room when we leave and we never have any problems.
I definately have a preference of a girl over a boy. The male dogs I had growing up had a tendancy to hike their legs and pee on things in the house like the corner of my bed I havent had these issues with female dogs. Just my preferance

 

[RMAMom]

My dogs stayed in the same crate no problems.

Kae

We have two 1 year old pugs (1 black male and 1 fawn female), they are brother and sister. we have crated them together since the day we brought them home at 7 1/2 weeks of age.

They get along great...no problems with fighting or humping all over each other (we had them spayed and neutered at 6 months of age)

They were VERY easy to train
We groom both of them ourselves with no problems... again very easy.

We had a 15 year old pug prior to these two and she was awesome too!

So as you can tell we HIGHLY recommend pugs!

I still wouldn't do it. I have seen it go wrong to many times and I just wouldn't want to take the risk. As with everything it's OK until it isn't and the crates for a small dog are cheap enough to put each in it's own crate.

Your right about the pugs, they are a great breed. We were always a large dog family and the pug sort of found us. I just loved her so much, she was my best friend for a long time and was great with all the kids.

 

[nilseks]

As a pet sitter and someone who has fostered over 30 rescue dogs, I have to tell you--two puppies is a LOT of work. Dogs are much more at risk of being rehomed in those kinds of situations, when unwitting owners become overwhelmed. If you really want 2, consider getting littermates. It can make things a little easier, although you're still gonna have a big, fun handful-o-trouble on your hands.

There are lots of great reference sites. What I generally tell people is--once you've read the books, ask around in your area (via FB is always good) and find a highly recommended trainer. They will get to know your dog very well at training, and will be best suited to helping you with any behavior problems as the pup(s) gets older.

Crate training--yes, yes, yes. I crate train every single dog that comes into my home. Chewing pups are a hazard to themselves (and your sofa, your woodwork, your carpeting, etc.).

Like a PP said, the biggest thing to consider when bringing 2 pups into your home is the cost of vet care. That's 2 rounds of shots, 2 yearly bills for flea and tick meds/heartworm meds, 2 spay/neuters at once. I have 2 dogs but getting them years apart, it spread out some of those costs.

As far as potty--it has a lot to do with food and body chemistry, not gender. My male dogs do not kill grass or bushes with their urine. On the contrary, wherever they pee is actually GREENER! I sit for several female dogs whose urine kills the grass, but again, probably food related. If you want your dog(s) to potty in one specific place, try training them on a 'pee post' when they are very young.

Good luck!

 

[nilseks]

I also agree about individual crating, at least for the first year. My dogs LOVE each other 99.9% of the time. That other .1, they might get crabby and snip at each other for no reason. My young guy knows to back off from the old man when this happens, but if they were crated, he couldn't do that. With garage sale season coming up in a few months, it's very easy to find nice crates for $10. I see them all the time.

 

[AnninIowa]

I have 2 pugs, one is a boy and the other a girl. The boy is two years older than the girl, and we got both when they were puppies. The girl, Lucy, thinks SHE is the boss, and is constantly mounting poor Max, lol! Max DOES mark his territory a lot. They are both fixed, but Max is obsessed with peeing everywhere. They are both so different that they really don't play together much - when Lucy naps, Max is playing; when Lucy wants to play, Max wants to sleep. They aren't brother and sister, but they act like it, LOL!

Keep in mind that pugs have some special issues: Both of mine are on medicated food due to allergies. The wrinkles in their faces have to be cleaned regularly to prevent infection. Max's get infected a lot, so we have special cream for him. They DO shed - don't let anyone tell you they don't. They can have breathing issues due to their faces being smushed in. Also due to their faces, they can have eye issues. Max has had surgery to even out his face a bit more as his eyes were being irritated.

Pugs are loving, loyal and funny! They are people loving dogs, and they LOVE to be on someone's lap. They are happiest when getting lots of attention. Pugs are the most wonderful breed, IMHO....but as with all breeds, they have special issues that you need to be aware of.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I absolutely agree with those who recommend one puppy at a time! Much easier to train and take care of. You want the dog to bond first with you, not another dog.

 

[adventure_woman]

Thank you all for your advice. The reason I was thinking of getting 2 puppies at once is because then they would grow up together - vs. getting them at different ages and having one have to accept the other, etc.

 

[momto2inKC]

My advice is in purple in the message

In a couple of months we will probably be getting a new puppy (maybe 2...we'll see). (we're thinking a pug type dog and maybe a ****zu type dog). So, a couple of questions: (and the more budget friendly the better!!)

I would really put a lot of thought into getting 2 at once! That is going to be a LOT of work!!

- Crate training? How do I do this? What size? (only want to end up getting one). If we get 2 puppies, can they share crates (I'm hoping...)?

YES! Crate training is the best thing ever! Our dog took to it quite well. She whined a bit the first night and that was it. She absolutely loves her crate. She is usually only put in it at night and while we're gone. All we have to do is say 'kennel' and off she goes

- Food - what is the best kind of food for them w/o all the by-products? Crazy question, but has anyone ever made their puppy/dog food? I made all my DDs food, so if it was economical (and possible) I might consider doing this and freezing it like I did hers!

I would consult with your vet about diet

- Do you prefer boy or girl dogs? My mom said she hated having a boy dog because they peed on all her bushes and ruined them. She also thought that if we got a boy and girl dog they might constantly be on top of one another!

We prefer female. And if you get 2 and spay/neuter while they're young, you shouldn't have any humping issues.

- We do have 2 cats also if that makes any difference on any advice.

Just give the cats time to adjust and make sure they have somewhere 'safe' to go that the puppy is not allowed to go to. We've had our dog a year now and only 1 of 6 cats like her. The rest just keep their distance and give her a warning if she gets too close

Any other advice? I have had one puppy about 10 years ago, so I know the work that goes into them, etc. I will be looking at the shelters/etc...but it is always so hard around here to find smaller dogs there.

Good luck! Just take your time, and the right dog will find you. DO make sure that your kids are present when you go to meet the dog. You want to see how it will react to kids.

 

[bedogged]

When the time is right, I would recommend that you contact a local rescue group for the breed of dog you are interested in. The adoption fee might be a bit more, but it usually provides you with a healthy dog that has been spayed or neutered.. If you choose to adopt a dog, it will not be a puppy. Small puppies are usually not available from shelters or rescue groups. If your heart is set upon a puppy, you will probably have to purchase one. Toy puppies are very expensive.

For over 15 years I have operated a local rescue group for a popular breed of toy dog. I need to make you aware that most reputable rescue groups will not place a toy dog with a family until the youngest child is at least five and then they will want to see the child with the dog. This is because young children often pick up and drop toy dogs causing broken bones. The cost of repairing a broken front leg can run in excess of $2,000 Many families are unwilling to pay for the medical bills and the dog ends up back in the system.

Toy dogs can be very difficult to housebreak. It is the number one reason that they are relinquished. To accomplish this, you will need a lot of determination, patience and a secure, fenced yard. Most rescue groups do a home visit to make sure that your fence is secure

I know this is a lot to take in. Dog ownership is a big responsibility. It is important for you to give this a lot of thought and to try to pick a breed that suits your family and lifestyle. Every breed has something that is good about it and something that is bad. For instance, Pugs are very sweet and loving, but they shed like crazy.

If I can answer any questions, I would be glad to do so.

 

[tzolkin]

None of the shelters in my area have an age restriction for what homes puppies can be adopted into...I'd never even heard of such a thing until this thread. OP, I'd at least look check into the requirements at your local shelter before looking at breeders.

I need to make you aware that most reputable rescue groups will not place a toy dog with a family until the youngest child is at least five and then they will want to see the child with the dog.

We adopted our dog last year and every shelter/rescue we read about or went to had some age restrictions. Some were 8-10 years for small/toy dogs, but most asked if you had children under 5 or 6 to adopt any dog.

We actually weren't supposed to be "allowed" to adopt our dog (a lab mix) and this was from a huge animal shelter. My youngest had just turned 5 and they wanted all children in the house to be 6 or older. They felt that we were responsible pet owners and our kids were very well behaved, so they wound up letting us take the dog.

 

[Kitten0819]

Right now i have two puppies, a 6 month old standard poodle and a 10 month old collie. I will tell you, its TONS of work. I only took on two pups cause the collie kind of just fell into our laps.. A breeder with too many pups (champion blood lines) practically giving them away. I adopted him when he was 8 months old. The poodle i bought from a breeder when she was 10 weeks old.

Just to comment on the above about food, Do not contact your vet about food. They usually know nothing about nutrition sadly. They usually push science diet or eukanueba since they get kickbacks, but those foods both have corn in them. Research online. My fav brand is Taste of the Wild. Its an all life stages food. No corn, wheat, soy or biproducts. The coats on my pups are amazing. My groomer who sees tons of dogs was impressed with their muscle tone and coats. Oh on the same token as food, if you get a pug, they are very prone to obesity, do not free feed. Feed the pup 2-3 times a day. Look up the age/weight on the bag of food and take the amount they tell you to feed and divide it up. It may not seem like a whole lot of food but believe me, it is all they need.

Also do not crate the dogs together. Besides for territorial issues you may run into if one of the dogs is having accidents or being destructive youll want to know which one it is.

On choosing the sex of the dogs your best off getting a male and a female if you are getting two. If you get one it doesnt make much of a difference. Just get both dogs fixed by the time they are 6 months old (males you can usually do around 5 months) and you wont run into any issues. The dogs may still hump though, my 6 month female is always humping my 10 month old male. Its a sign of dominance. Once they figure out their pack order it should stop.

Where ever you get the dogs from just make sure you steer clear of puppy stores, almost all pet store pups come from puppy mills. Look for a breeder or a rescue/shelter. It will be hard though to get small breed puppies from a rescue/shelter though.

Good luck with your furbabies, if you have any questions you can send me a private message.

 

[bedogged]

Where ever you get the dogs from just make sure you steer clear of puppy stores, almost all pet store pups come from puppy mills. Look for a breeder or a rescue/shelter.

NO reputable breeder would ever sell to a pet store!