Hi, my family is looking for dog, we will be first timers.  I have 3 kids, my youngest is 6.  I am a stay at home mom.  I found some puppies that are Australian cattle dog/Aust. shepherd mix.  Their mom is Australian shepherd mix.  Is this a high maintanence breed?  my next door neighbors have an Aust. shepherd and he paces back and forth and barks all day. So you can see I am hesitant. Thanks for your advice, We want to get the right dog for our family.  Other breeds you can recommend?

Kim

 

Hi Kim,

 

As a mother of two kids I can understand your life a little and may I ask, are you open to getting an adult dog?  I ask because puppies are a lot of work-it will be almost like having a new baby in the house.  Adult dogs past age two can be really great options for a busy family.  If this is the first time you will be adopting a dog then let me attach a couple articles I wrote you may find useful.  The first one is about what kind of dog to adopt, and i’ll include the second one because you are new to having a dog-it talks about the responsibilities of adopting a dog…

 

Hope you find these articles helpful.

Julie

 

“What kind of dog should I adopt?”

By Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala

www.webDogTrainer.com

 

This can be a very exciting time!  There are a lot of factors to consider as to what kind of dog is best for you to adopt.  If a dogs needs are met, you will have a great companion full of love for you.  If you don’t meet your dogs needs you will run into problem behavior that can be a nightmare.  This article will help you pick the right match for a successful life together!

 

Dogs live 10-15 years or more and adopting a dog is a long-term commitment that you should take very seriously.  There is a reason why there are so many homeless dogs and it is usually because the owner and dog were mismatched and not because there is something wrong with the dog. Owners often do not realize how much effort is required to having a pet dog and are not meeting their dog’s needs so behavior problems may arise. Millions of dogs are killed in Shelters every year.   Bringing a dog into your home is a very big decision that should be carefully weighed out.

 

What kind of breed should you get? Should you adopt a puppy or adult dog?  Where should you get the dog?

Just like people, dogs have individual personalities.  Some dogs are highly energetic, while others are more calm and passive, some dogs are very social, and others not.    So if you have your heart set on a particular breed for example, you still need to search within that breed and find the dog that best matches your lifestyle.   Also, think about the option of finding a mixed breed with at least one of the breeds you may like.

 

But before you even consider what breed of dog, you should first examine your life a little to discover what kind of dog would best “match” you. If you are someone who loves the outdoors and is very athletic, then you’d probably do best with a young, active dog.  If you are someone who likes to stay home and don’t really like to walk very much then you would NOT want a dog that is considered high energy and needs a lot of extra exercise. 

 

In this sense dogs are like people, they all differ in personality and needs.  Some dogs are more high energy and those dogs need to be matched with someone who plans to bring them out a lot; running, hiking, dog sports, long walks, etc.  Others may want a mellower dog as a companion, who is content with hanging out with you all day and doesn’t require as much exercise as a high-energy dog. 

 

Adopting an adult dog has a lot of benefits over adopting a puppy because you already know what type of personality the dog has and if it matches yours.  Plus, puppies require a lot more work with housetraining and chewing.  You’ll also lose sleep at night caring for their needs. Adult dogs have already gone through all those difficult puppy phases.  There are a lot of places to find adult dogs needing homes.  You can contact your local animal shelter, or search for dog rescue organizations in your area online.  There are rescue organizations for purebred dogs as well.  Although adopting a mixed breed also has a lot of health benefits because they tend to get the best of their mix of breed genetics without the health problems many purebred dogs suffer from.

 

 

How old are the household members in your family?

If you have children under 8 then you will not want to get a puppy under 6 months of age because puppies have sharp teeth and claws that can cause injury.  You also would not want to get a small, toy size dog because these dogs are so small they can be very fragile and sustain injury easily.  So with small children you are better off getting an adult dog that is medium to large in size.  Dogs over age two can be ideal because they have already gone through the difficult puppy and adolescence stages. 

 

If you have elderly or physically challenged people in the household you would not want to get a large, young, energetic dog that could knock them over and sustain injury.

 

I hope this guide can help you make the right choice when deciding to adopt a dog.  When a dogs needs are met they can be a truly wonderful companion for many years to come because they are a never-ending source of love without judgment.

“Responsibilities of caring for a dog”

By Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala

www.webDogTrainer.com

 

 

Having a dog takes a lot of responsibility and understanding what your dog needs will prepare you for a long, happy life with your dog.  Owners not meeting their dog’s needs cause most behavior problems in dogs. To help prepare you for what the responsibilities of having a dog are, I’ve written a list to guide you.

 

v     You have to walk them twice a day for about 30-45 minutes each. High-energy pets will need more, and Senior and toy dogs may need less. If you work all day, you’ll need to wake up about an hour earlier to get the walk in before you go as well as repeat it after you return home.

v     The dog will need lots of time with you and the family every day.

v     Feed them twice a day and always have fresh water available.

v     Dog Training. Dogs that are well trained are happier and more bonded with their owners. They also get to spend more time with their owners because they are well behaved.

v     Clean up their poop, both in your yard and on walks.

v     Adult dogs will have to do a Veterinarian exam at least annually, as well as be up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Puppies will require several more trips to the Vet the first year for additional vaccinations as well as spaying/neutering. Contact your local Vet to learn about cost, etc.

v     Puppies require a tremendous more amount of time and money their first year. You’ll also have to house train them, which requires a lot of extra time on your part then an adult dog would.

v     You’ll need a well-maintained fence at least 6-feet tall if you plan to have them off-leash in the backyard at all.

v     Brush them/bathe them/grooming/nail cutting/ear cleaning.

v     Flea/tick care.

v     Extra expense. There is a lot of expense in having a dog. You need to consider: Veterinarian costs, food, supplies (leash, collar, id tags, bedding), toys, chew bones, flea care, bathing, grooming, oral care, travel expenses or dog sitting expenses while you are away, medical care should they become ill, etc.

v     You’ll also have more cleaning due to Dog Hair. Dog hair has a way of finding itself on everything and will require more cleaning on your part.

v     Arranging for care of your dog while you are away on trips. Dogs cannot be left alone overnight.

 

Here are some extra things to think about if you have children:

1.      Do not expect that the children will take over all the dog-care, no matter how much they say they will. They may be able to assist you, but as the parent, YOU will have the responsibility.

2.      Access your energy level. It can be a lot of work keeping up with children and adding a dog means you have one more responsibility.

3.      Supervise your young children around the dog at all times. (Children can be unpredictable and do things like pull tails or whiskers and cause the dog to feel threatened.) You should not leave your child with the dog unattended, and you will have to teach them how to be gentle and what areas are off limits to touch.

4.      If your children are very young, say under 8, it can be better to adopt a dog older than two, and medium to larger size dog rather than a puppy, because puppies have sharp milk teeth and claws that can scratch easily. Puppies and small/toy dogs can also be fragile and injured more easily.

5.      Also consider your child’s friends that may be coming over and you will also have to supervise them around the dog.

6.      Having a dog can be a wonderful experience if you prepare yourself and meet your dog’s needs.

 

If you meet your dogs needs you will have a wonderful, life-long companion. 

 

Julie, thank you so much for your response.  We have not decided on a dog yet, adult or puppy.  We have not met any prospects yet.  I was asking you more about the breed.  I will definitely read your articles, I am trying to gather as much info so we can make the right decision about this.  Thanks again for your time, you will probably be hearing from me again in the future.  I found your website to be awesome!  Kim

 

Hello Kim,

 

Thank you for the compliments on my website! I do hope to hear from you again in the future as to what you end up adopting!  If I didn’t answer specifically about the breed it was because it can be hard to make a generic statement about a breed, especially when it is mixed.  I love mixed breeds though because they often take the best of both breeds and are generally healthier than pure breeds.  But, both of these breeds you mentioned are high energy and need a job to do so they’d be good for a very active owner who plans to do agility or something more than just a pet.  These types of breeds can have behavior problems if they aren’t active enough.  Hope that fills you in a little more…I am happy to answer more questions and good luck with finding the right match!

Julie

 

Julie,

Many thanks!!!

Kim