About to get a dog...
 

Im about to get a dog, a small one less then 25pounds , anything i should know like shots? vets? and what i should have for it to maintain a good lifestyle? thanks in advance :)

Is this your first dog ?

If so get ready , because you sir will be taking on a life, it is like having a sibling you will have to take care of it and teach it things , at times it maybe frustrating but it is all worth it.

I just recently got my first dog, you gotta train them well and not give them so much freedom in the beginning or else they will walk all over you.

Make sure you read the dangers of some foods. Raisins grapes can be deadly for dogs. Don't give them oily food or table scraps. Bring your dog to a vet and they will tell you what to do and when. Buy dog food from a pet store and ask them for a more natural diet with no fillers. Having a more better diet will mean a better life and less vet bills.

Just make sure you never hit your dog as punishment. Be patient and love him/her 100% because they love you more than themselves.

Yes I love dogs more than humans most the time
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I've been looking to get a dog for quite a while now and will be doing so next month. Anyone wanna post some tips/help for a first timer?
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yeah its a lot of work, read some books first, make sure u are willing to commit to the dog the next ~10 years

then start looking

but anyway, stay away from petshops, look for a reputable breeder,
what kind of dogs you guys looking for?

my boxer is turning 1 years old tomorrow! it was a tough year i gotta admit...but i still love him nonetheless after all the sofas and walls he chewed through....

just a heads up :P

sometimes it's also worth it to check american breeders..i got Brembo (my boxer) at the exit just right past the border

Goodluck!

I'm looking at getting a boxer as well! How was the first year?

just note that boxers CHEW and require A LOT of attention. haha
they are VERY energetic dogs but great company :) haha

some cute things to note...they sleep on their backs...farts and then chases their own butts, and snores haha (the list goes on!)

although my dog is very time consuming, i don't regret getting him
the puppy years of a dog's life is the most expensive imo.

^werd
I have an only 3 month old french bulldog
vet bills so far ~$300
plus toys and food and other accessories

^ did you get insurance? you should really consider getting insurance...i got mine through BCAA covers illness and accidents for up to a couple thousand dollars

i think food is the most expensive if you really care for your dog's health...especially for a french bulldog or a boxer like mine, they are prone to have heart conditions (though i've heard bulldogs have more health issues)..i considered buying a french bulldog too btw :P cute and fun dogs (i'm more into these types of dogs with the flat nose haha, i.e. bulldogs, boxers, boston terriers, pugs

i decided to buy a boxer over the others is because i prefer big dogs that i can take him with me to outdoor activities like biking, camping, etc...plus they're more fun to hug! and i don't wanna be like those typical vancouver girls that buy loud yappy pomeranians...friend has one and he is ANNOYING and MEAN. Bigger dogs ,so it seems, are more friendly and not likely to bark as much (just my personal point of view)

btw 604nguyen, i saw a guy at the steveston parade that had a 3month old french bulldog too! haha he was the most adorable thing ever!

find a local dog training place (research as some are better then others). They can be great help through all the stages and give you tips and hints to work through things. Things to get before dog comes home: a chew toy, a soft toy, water and food dishes, leash, collar (get an adjustable buckle that way it will fit for a bit), Some sort of bed or crate. If you can send a blanket, kennel pad to the breeders to put in with the pup/dog that way when they come home with it it will have familiar smells.
Do not buy a bunch of toys as every dog is different in what they like to play with.

train train and train in the beginning... however, small dogs are easier to teach than big dogs... so if you're getting a small one they tend to listen quite easier. start walking without a leash from the beginning

small dogs are easier to train ? It's that alot of people don't expect much from small dogs. A small dog is not easier to train. I have trained from small to big the only thing to note is to adjust your training to the dog. Some dogs are softer, some are thicker headed. Trust me even the small dogs can be stubborn. This misconception of small dogs being easier is what gives small dogs such a bad rap when people don't train them properly and they have bad manners and social skills.

spca is your friend. but most puppies are from out of town so you won't meet them before hand.

got 2 dogs at home from spca. both are under 2 years old, and awesome. older is a jack russel/cockerspaniel boy, the younger girl is a terrier/chihuahua.

2 dogs is so much win. as i type this i have a dog laying on my feet.

i've had 3 dogs in my life, a labrador, a pitbull (both larger dogs) so easy to train, and now i have a french bulldog (relatively smaller dog).....stubborn little guy and real slow learner....

i dont think size really matters, just depends on the dog, but if anything, i find the smaller ones are harder