Socializing

Got puppy?  If you have a new puppy there is no time like the present to start socializing.  Yes you do need to take care where you socialize until they are fully vaccinated but you can get them out in your front yard and lots of other places on your lap.  It is always best to start introducing your new puppy to all the new and wonderful things in their life as soon as you can; the most impactful socializing period is a short one.

When to start training?

Training starts the day you bring your puppy home.   Puppies are a clean slate and learn very quickly; with consistant gentle guidance they can learn on day one. 

Paper training?

Don't do it, just start right from the beginning with your puppy going outside.  If you teach them to use paper inside then you are teaching them to use "inside."  Something that has to be untaught in the future. 

Looking for a puppy?

Check out your local shelter for lots of wonderful dogs who are looking for a home.  Contact local recues for a breed you may be interested in.  Or contact your regional breed club for breeder referrals.

All this raw/real food talk

With the recent dog food recalls many people have gone to making their own food for their dogs (like me) or feeding raw.  Whether cooked or raw it can very beneficial for your dog to eat "real food." 

Male or female?

My rule of thumb is; if you don't have a dog at home already then pick the puppy for the puppy not the sex.  If you already have a dog at home and you want to add another, then go with the opposite sex. 

How long until you add another?

I always recommend 2-3 years before adding another dog to your family.  This give you lots of time to be solidly bonded to your first dog and they should be nicely trained and mature.  The older, wiser dog also helps in training the new one this way. 

Choke collars

Thinking about a choke collar; afterall it's what you've always used.  It's what your dogs wore when you were growing up, why not?  DON'T DO IT!!!  There is a good reason choke collars are called choke collars.  They can do alot of damage to a dogs trachea, so just leave them in the history books where they belong.