Re: Thinking about getting a dog
Dogs are a huge commitment, especially puppies. If you get an 8 week old puppy, you'll need to be able to let it out every 2 to 4 hours. Also consider all the costs involved when buying a dog. Necessary shots, medical check-ups, dog food, toys, leashes, crate, training, etc. Dogs aren't cheap.
What I'd reccomend when looking for a dog is a high level of compliancy. Give me a dumb, compliant dog anyday. A female golden retriever typically is about as compliant as they come.
Good dog training is diffucult, don't bother trying to train a dog out of a book with no experience. Find a reputable dog trainer in your area (no petsmart or petco trainers). Make sure the trainer activly competes in obedience. Also make sure you have seen the trainer's dog perform. Check them out and check references. Send the dog for training or schedule private lessons with the trainer before doing group classes. Make sure you begin getting the dog trained as soon as you get it, especially with a puppy.
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