| prosperored |
| Posted 4/22/2008 9:45:57 PM |
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Active: 04-22-2008
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I am looking into adopting a puppy from a family friend. They are a shih tzu-collie-welsh corgi mix.
Does anyone have have any advice for me?
This will be my first dog. I've only had cats before and dog-sit my brother's lab.
I am a firefighter and work odd hours, gone for 24hrs at a time, but the pup wouldn't be alone that whole time, housemates would help take care of him/her.
I will accept any and all advice from Dog veterans. THANK YOU!!!! |
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| moggie |
| Posted 4/23/2008 6:43:21 AM |
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Active: 09-01-2005
Posts: 345
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 How did this happen  |
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| maligirl1 |
| Posted 4/23/2008 7:04:45 AM |
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Active: 12-14-2007
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i have a corgi and i can tell you she is full of energy.your pup will need lots of excercise.she is also quite the chewer so try and have something on hand for her/him in that respect,like a kong or something similar.crate training will help alot in case she needs that ,start small doses of it and build her up to a longer time.my Dog likes to play tuggy, and keep away so maybe a tuggy toy would help also.and if at all possible get him/her into a training class.your pup will get alot out of it and so will you.good luck |
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| maoseger1010 |
| Posted 4/23/2008 7:06:55 AM |
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Forum Moderator
 
Active: 02-20-2005
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Quote prosperored: I am looking into adopting a puppy from a family friend. They are a shih tzu-collie-welsh corgi mix.
Does anyone have have any advice for me?
This will be my first dog. I've only had cats before... |
Welcome to the board. My first thought is you'd better stay on top of grooming. I'm guessing the collie/corgi hair will win out over the Shih Tzu and you will have a shedder but you could end up with a Dog thats hair mats easily so you will need to plan on lots of brushing.
House training will take weeks not days. I don't give a flip what any book says. Any Dog that is "trained" in seven days isn't trained the owner is. Which is fine but misleading. Since you will not be the only person training your Dog you need to sit down with your roommates and talk about the "rules" which includes taking the puppy out to potty every 30 minutes while it is awake and after it sleeps or eats. Staying outside with it until it potties even if its raining,snowing,or the middle of the night. Same spot everytime. Incourage, with "Go potty,go potty" and Praise with "Good girl/boy" when they go. Don't be fooled into Oh look I pee'd lets go in now, if you know they should also have to poop. Or the other way around. If they poop or pee and head to the door take them back to the spot and say "go poop/pee" and wait them out. Keep your voice happy but strong.
When training I believe its very effective to give a command and then if the Dog does not comply give a reprimand vocalization such as disaproving tone more than a word. Kind a like your mom did when you were a kid and she told you not to touch something and you even looked like you were going to touch it again she would look at you shake her head and make a sound that let you know "you'd better not". Rather than standing there say No,No,No over and over. No loses its effectiveness after awhile. If you ever want to have children and you can learn this rule now with your dogs, you'll be a great parent someday. lol
NO Tug of War games with this pup. No "play" biting A Dog should never be allowed to put its teeth on you in anyway. Its not funny and they don't understand its a game. All three of these dogs are known to have bite issues with small children so train your Dog today, so you don't have to put it down later. Two of the three breeds are hearders so you need to socialze your Dog with children but be very careful to A. not take it around children that don't have good Dog manners while its a puppy B. Never assume the child and Dog will be fine together. You must protect your Dog from the child and the child from the dog. Bites happen to the best dog.
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| maoseger1010 |
| Posted 4/23/2008 7:07:14 AM |
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Forum Moderator
Active: 02-20-2005
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| Quote maoseger1010: Welcome to the board. My first thought is you'd better stay on top of grooming. I'm guessing the collie/corgi hair will win out over the Shih Tzu and you will have a shedder but you could end up with... |
Everyone who will be caring for this pup, must learn the golden rules... No bite, Drop it, Go potty, No Bark, Good girl/boy,No jump. Don't give your puppy something you don't want it to chew on, don't teach it something as a puppy you don't want it to do as an adult, dogs are dogs not human babys with fur. dogs need to see the world from their own four feet and not be over carried. Puppy classes are always a good idea.
Never every hit the Dog or rub it nose in its potty. If the Dog messes on the floor hit yourself, because its your fault not the dogs. These are words to live by.
Since two of the three dogs in this mix have a tendancy to get overweight I would not free feed your pup. Your pup will need to eat three times a day for the first few weeks. Buy the best food you can afford, avoid anything you can buy where you get your own food. Good food now means less health issues later.
If you have cats now put the litter box somewhere the Dog can't get into. Clumping litter can cause blockages if a Dog eats to much of it.
Go out and get the book dogs for Dummies. Its a great book and has a ton of very helpful hints that can save your shoes and stereo.
Also as a fire fighter, you want to be very careful about what you bring home on your shoes. I don't know where you live but it may be a good idea not to wear your work shoes in your house until your puppy is full vaccinated. The same should be said to your roommates. My family drops all our shoes in the garage before we ever come in the house. Its actually healthier for everyone.
Good luck. Keep us posted.
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| maligirl1 |
| Posted 4/23/2008 8:14:59 AM |
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Active: 12-14-2007
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| Quote maoseger1010: Welcome to the board. My first thought is you'd better stay on top of grooming. I'm guessing the collie/corgi hair will win out over the Shih Tzu and you will have a shedder but you could end up with... |
i'm just curious,my pup plays fine with her tuggy(i know not all dogs will),why would you consider this bad? again, just curious not judging.but i do very much agree with the grooming part.brush/comb at least 3-5 times a week.good luck with your puppy |
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| suebgone |
| Posted 4/23/2008 5:19:45 PM |
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Active: 01-10-2006
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everything mao said X's 10.
you really should not even be considering getting a puppy under these circumstances. your schedule is not compatable with the amount of time & work a puppy needs
you are depending on friends to take a lot of responsibility for training & socializing this puppy.
I would suggest you learn a about the needs of a Dog - perhaps stop by your local shelter - they often have good litrature available. maybe even volunteer there & learn first hand
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| moggie |
| Posted 4/23/2008 9:02:08 PM |
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Active: 09-01-2005
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 if it were up to some of you, no one would be good enough to own a dog. give me a break here!! you are talking to a firefighter here you know the ones who save lives and have emt and paramedic training...and you dont think this is a good situation for a dog?? many firehouses, nursing homes, schools, businesses, have a dog..who lives amongst the residents, etc. it ALWAYS works out just fine. it certainly doesnt take a rocket scientist to own a dog. there are no classes nor any licenses needed to own a dog. owning a Dog is EASY!! it takes common sense and love!! the Dog who lives at the nursing home where my mother in law resides is surrounded by love every single second of every single day. he returns this love every single minute of every single day. give it a rest , geez!! you guys are the biggest pesimists i have ever came across. |
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| PerfectPom |
| Posted 4/23/2008 11:48:05 PM |
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Active: 04-04-2007
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Me I'm starting to wonder if some of these questions aren't planted by the powers that oversee just to get something on this board. Such open ended questions by a fireman no less just makes me go hmmm??? |
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| nysirk21 |
| Posted 4/24/2008 1:01:34 AM |
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Active: 01-30-2008
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Im curious as well why no tug games? I agree what everyone else is saying as well is also not a bad idea to talk to a trainer or get into a puppy class you can get alot of socialization and advice for your new puppy don't forget to get them to the vet and groomers early on and make it a good experience this will help out so much later on in life good luck with your new pup!! |
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| maoseger1010 |
| Posted 4/24/2008 4:28:35 PM |
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Forum Moderator
Active: 02-20-2005
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| Quote nysirk21: Im curious as well why no tug games? I agree what everyone else is saying as well is also not a bad idea to talk to a trainer or get into a puppy class you can get alot of socialization and advice for... |
It often leads to aggressive issues. |
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| maoseger1010 |
| Posted 4/24/2008 4:30:44 PM |
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Forum Moderator
Active: 02-20-2005
Posts: 6601
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Quote prosperored: I am looking into adopting a puppy from a family friend. They are a shih tzu-collie-welsh corgi mix.
Does anyone have have any advice for me?
This will be my first dog. I've only had cats before... |
Oh I forgot to mention its Shih Tzu its say Shid zoo |
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| maoseger1010 |
| Posted 4/24/2008 4:34:23 PM |
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Forum Moderator
Active: 02-20-2005
Posts: 6601
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Quote prosperored: I am looking into adopting a puppy from a family friend. They are a shih tzu-collie-welsh corgi mix.
Does anyone have have any advice for me?
This will be my first dog. I've only had cats before... |
Oh I forgot to mention its...
Shih tzu.... (sh dz) |
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