anything advice for a first time dog owner?

Question

i just got my first dog(1 1/2 year old yellow lab male, named duke) about a week ago. i've always loved dogs, and after spending time with my friends and their dogs, i decided it was time to get my own. i have had various other pets in the past(cats, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, tarantulas, etc.) but nothing as big as a dog.
duke is currently up to date with all of his shots and has been neutered. he is an indoor dog, of course, and is very easygoing and lovable. i absolutely adore my new pet, as he is so loyal to me even after only knowing each other for a short time.
i make sure to spend time with him all day long and love to spoil him. ;-)
is there anything i need to know that i might not for owning a dog? one thing in particular is, what kinds of "table food" is totally unsafe for a dog to eat(i have a toddler who loves sneaking him scraps!)? i know chocolate is a big no no..what else?
also, any ideas on what i could buy for him(toys, hygiene..)? thanks!

oh, and what brand of food would be best? i'd like to get him something that has veggies in it--you know, a brand that has more than just meat and corn. suggestions?

Answer 1

Awwwww, yellow Labs are great! I used to be "Grampy" (long story) for a male Lab named "Jake," and he was my buddy!

Labs are water dogs and love to run, so your comment about Duke being an "indoor dog" was a surprise - I assume that means you don't keep him outside at night to sleep? Anyway, don't feed Duke from the table or else he won't want to eat his dog food. Your toddler is going to be disappointed, but you'll have to monitor that closely. Speaking of dog food, I don't have a particular brand to recommend - don't change it on him on a regular basis, especially after you find something he likes. My roommate buys some generic stuff from CostCo (I think), some dry stuff and some canned food with sauce, and mixes a big cup of the dry with 1/2-can of the "wet" stuff. The canned food is usually beef-and-rice or chicken-and-rice. I got to dogsit Jake a lot, so I'd buy some doggie ice cream (check your grocer's freezer section) for the hotter days. Get a biiiiig water bowl, too, and a big pooper scooper.

Toys - buy something durable! I live with two dogs who enjoy tearing apart squeaky toys so they can get to the squeaker. Their owner buys the "Booda" toys since they seem to hold together pretty well.

I've heard dogs don't really need to be bathed, especially Labs, who have the short hair and can "bathe" simply by running into a small pond. I don't know how accurate that is, though, and we'd give Jake an occasional bath anyway. Plus, there's not much that's funnier than looking at a sopping-wet dog. LMAO!

Make sure you take Duke out for regular walks, and have a comfortable collar that he can't slip. You might even want to get a harness to help prevent slips - he's not yet 2, so he's still got some puppy in him and will probably want to chase things, or at least try to "make friends." In his zeal for meeting children, he could knock them down (as Jake did here and there). Labs can get big, approaching 90-100 lbs., though that's probably on the high side of "average" weight.





And to the BI+CH ("pink thong" - 4th answerer) who said "Hi! Take it straight to the Vet and get it put down.." - YOU GO INSTEAD!!!!!

Answer 2

Hi! Congratulations on your new pet and Friend!

Dogs can be very loyal and loving when nurtered with the same affection. You didn't mention obedience classes and not knowing how well behaved he is, thought I'd make mention of it.

You say he's current on his vaccines so does that include checkup with the Vet?

He will need regular exercise so a walk around the park or neighborhood on a leash is a great start. Leash laws may vary where you live but here they are no more than 6ft in length due to the pit bull act. Does he have a fenced in yard and a place to go outdoors with ample water that he can't knock over and plenty of shade and shelter from inclement weather?

Pedigree makes a great Chew bone. It has a waxy feel to it but isn't wax so it's strong enough for his teeth, dogs seem to love them.

Chicken bones are very bad for dogs and cats but a good healthy beefy steak bone or pork chop bone is good and they love the taste!

You really shouldn't feed your pet table scraps as changes to their diet can upset their digestive tract and cause diareah. The same rule applys for dog food.

He sounds healthy so a good dry food complete with all the essential nutrients and oils would benefit him nicely.

There is a lot of brands out there like IAMS, SCIENCE DIET and the health food pet stores that consist of heatlhy things not to include scraps from other animals. I've heard that Purina and the above do that. I would suggest researching it and making your own decision on what you think is best. If you would like I could hook you up with someone who could help you there.

Aside from my favorite website of:

www.wolfcreekranch.com

Doug at: Email

pet_health_alternatives.com

Shoot him an email, he is very informative in that area and would love to help guide you in the best possible healthcare for your new pet.

Amille sent you

Best Wishes! Enjoy one another!

Answer 3

First off, congratulations on your new family member! Labs are fun, but can play a little rough if they aren't taught differently. As far as table scraps, don't let him have soy beans, chicken bones, and any sort of caffiene (soda pop, tea packets)...I'm sure you're thinking "Why would I give my dog these things?" but I've had a few run ins with pet owners who didn't know this could hurt their dog. On the upside, you can give your dog the bones from porkchops, this will help clean his teeth. Toys for labs...they love to fetch so frisbees, tennis balls, and hard chew toys would be the best, stay away from the soft squeaky ones since labs tend to be very determined and rough on their toys and will only shred these. I've just switched to Purina One for my dogs, I have a coyote/Border Collie mix who has some health problems and the rice in Purina One helps keep her stomach calm. It also uses some fatty acids which has really brought her coat into a full shine. Another good choice is Beneful. My dogs both loved it and they use vegetables and meat in their products. Good luck with Duke! On a side note, if you have open trash cans around your house, you may consider covering them. Dogs for some reason love to eat used pads, tampons, and anything that has that scent.

Answer 4

Patience, Love, and Time! Oh and some money for the vet checkups! Seriously lots of patience dogs are great companions but they need attention or they get depressed like people doand become destructive. They also need a firm but loving hand to guide them. Remember there is no such thing as a bad dog only bad owners. NO BONES!!!Chicken bones as well as rib bones and some others splinter and can cause internal bleeding. There are some safe bones but you need to ask your vet exactly what they are. I think but don't take my word for it that the big center bone of a ham and big beef knuckle bones are ok. Also Chocolate can be harmful as well as any type of sweet treat although your dog may love it it can cause diabetes and chocalate breaks down an enzyme that dogs need. Just keep in mind if its not that good for you its probably not that good for your dog either. I allow my dogs some table scraps once in a while but only meat or chicken (no bones). Remember to measure your dogs food they can and will overeat like some people do and become overweight which can cause a whole plethera of health problems. car4423 is completely wrong with the wash your dog two or three times a week!!! Ask a vet you really should only bathe your dog if necessary they need the oils in thier skin for a healty coat and skin! Flea bathes when necessary but your best bet is a monthly spot on treatment like Frontline or Advantage. Heartworms!!! OMG Please put your dog on a preventitive like Sentinel or Heartguard I have used both and live in the south and never had the problem except with the stray we adopted and it cost over $1,000.00 to get him healthy again! Or he would have died a slow and agonizing death. Oh and about the food thing you can buy stuff and cook it for your dog too like boiled chicken with brown rice and veggies no salt though they don't need it . Also dogs are omnivores I noticed someone said dogs were carnivores. Contrary to popular belief although most of thier diet is meat dogs like veggies too some of em amyway thye need em for vitamins and to aid in digestion of the meat. Ever notice a dog eating grass? Thats usually because they have a tummy ache or aren't getting enough veggie in thier food.

Answer 5

As far as food for the dog goes, if you are buying the cheapest stuff available, the dog won't be getting all the nutrition he needs. Anything mid-priced and up you can be sure will provide the nutrients for the dog (if your child sneaks him scraps, you may want to opt for a "weight-control" food if you find Duke starts putting on weight). It is best for the dog to not get any table scraps, though - it can cause digestive problems and smelly messes in the house. Most bones are a no-go - especially chicken bones...they could splinter and hurt him.
For toys, get something like a rope (it will help floss his teeth) and a bone that helps clean teeth. Shampoo for the dog, if he has fleas, use a flea shampoo (don't use a flea collar/drops on the dog because of the toddler), otherwise, you can use whatever you find works best (dog fur is alot like our hair - it will react differently to different shampoos). If you was the dog more than once every couple of weeks, you may find he gets dandruff/itchy - so monitor his reaction and adjust accordingly.
For more information, try this link...
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogcarebasics/

Answer 6

Something very important to keep in mind is that if you spoil him too much you are going to end up with a dog that has behaviorial issues! Make sure you keep the role of the leader. Dogs are pack animals that need to have leadership.

As far as toys, stick to one or two at a time otherwise the dog will just get confused. Keep a few stashed and rotate them occasionaly so he won't get bored. I would get him something to chew on (a rawhide bone with knots) and something that you can play with. A ball or something you can throw.

Play with him but also make sure you take him for at least an hour a day, that will also help avoid behavioral issues.

I would strongly suggest you NOT give the dog any type of people food. That only makes for an overweight dog and avoids the risk of anything making him ill. If you really want to give him treats, get some dog treats that really is the best thing for him. Alot of people really want to humanize their pets (I am one of them!) but it is not in the best interest of the animal.

As far as food, I highly recommend Nutro brand, it is available at pet stores and for a grocery store brand Pedigree is best. Nutro will give him an unbelievable coat.

good luck!

Answer 7

Okay first - don't do the table food thing. You're asking for pancreatits.

2nd, dogs don't need veggies in their food. They are carnivores. Things to look for in the food is the amount of digestible material and the value of it. My food that I use and recommend to clients is Nutro - Natural Choice. Do some surfing on website to find out about what is good in a dog food and what is not.

3rd - Love your dog, spoil your dog, after he has earned it. If you give him things because he is cute he will rule you and your toddler. Make sure you take him for good walks. A dog like that needs plenty of physical and mental stimulation. I would do at least 2 45-60 min walks per day, at least.

Check out dog parks, and important part of dog life is socializing, so he needs to be able to adapt to new situations. Offer him chew toys before he gets into trouble; things like the Kong Toy are good for hard chewers, stay away from Rawhide unless you are there to watch. Just like your toddler, he shouldn't be swallowing things that are too big for him to pass through his intestinal tract, rawhide is not digestible.

Brush his teeth at least 1-2x/week, dogs get gum disease and gingivitus just like people. Get him Heartworm prevention after you get him tested at your vet. Just take a trip to a vet to do a wellness exam and they'll take it from there. Don't bathe Duke more than once/month unless you're directed to do so by the vet or are using a soap free shampoo.

Posionous foods and plants are everywhere. Check the website below for education and lists.

Tug is an okay game, you need to win more often than not. He can learn that his play behavior wins him a toy so he'll try tugging and play growling to get things from you and your toddler. Work more toward fetch - the classic lab game.

Answer 8

Oh that is so good you have a doggie. Dogs are great for kids too. They say that having a dog makes children better people because they learn to be kind to animals. You do need to teach your child to be kind to your dog. It is important that your dog does not get any chocolate or any chicken bones. They can really hurt a dog. Chocolate is poison and chicken bones can puncture there intestine. I would be really careful of all bones.

As for really good foods Nurto is a good one because is does not have corn or wheat which is bad for dogs. Oats and rice are good. Nurtro is full of vitamins so it is good. You can purchace other good ones a the natural market. Stay away from Iams and Science Diet. They look good, but they are not. Of course Purina and all that grocery store stuff is horrible as well. You can get Nutro at a pet store like one of those huge ones like petsmart or petco. Wysong is another good one. Nutro has all different kinds and will have one for large breed dogs like your lab. I have a pug and he gets some for small dogs from nutro. They have all kinds for all levels of life. It is great.

An important thing for all dogs is training. They will teach you how to work with your dog. They will also teach you things a beginning pet owner needs to know about her dog. It is also important to have a well trained dog around a child. Also since your dog is older and needs to be good because you do not know what his previous life was like. I am glad he is nice so far.

Dogs can be wonderful members of the family. Perhaps you can read about teaching your child about respect for animals. It is important. It will help your child be a better person. Also your dog should not eat shell fish like crab or shrimp or onions for some reason it makes them sick. They do love things like carrots and green beans. They cannot eat too many carrots because they have sugar, but green beans do not have as many calories. It will be nice with having a messy toldler to have a dog to clean up, but just no chocolate. Get the number of your local poison control center posted for both your dog and your child. Also get ready with some syrup of ipacec enough for the weight of the dog and the child. You will need several bottles in case you need it if it is advised by poison control or the vet, but only use it if they advise because there are many times when it should not be used especially in children. It is important to have on hand so you do not have to go to the store to get it. On dogs you can also use hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit, but not on kids. Have something to measure that. I found that chicken bones and chocolate are a big problem at parties and required people to have boneless chicken the next year because they were too messy and no chocolate. These were some students using my home for a student organization party.

Answer 9

Oh that is so good you have a doggie. Dogs are great for kids too. They say that having a dog makes children better people because they learn to be kind to animals. You do need to teach your child to be kind to your dog. It is important that your dog does not get any chocolate or any chicken bones. They can really hurt a dog. Chocolate is poison and chicken bones can puncture there intestine. I would be really careful of all bones.

As for really good foods Nurto is a good one because is does not have corn or wheat which is bad for dogs. Oats and rice are good. Nurtro is full of vitamins so it is good. You can purchace other good ones a the natural market. Stay away from Iams and Science Diet. They look good, but they are not. Of course Purina and all that grocery store stuff is horrible as well. You can get Nutro at a pet store like one of those huge ones like petsmart or petco. Wysong is another good one. Nutro has all different kinds and will have one for large breed dogs like your lab. I have a pug and he gets some for small dogs from nutro. They have all kinds for all levels of life. It is great.

An important thing for all dogs is training. They will teach you how to work with your dog. They will also teach you things a beginning pet owner needs to know about her dog. It is also important to have a well trained dog around a child. Also since your dog is older and needs to be good because you do not know what his previous life was like. I am glad he is nice so far.

Dogs can be wonderful members of the family. Perhaps you can read about teaching your child about respect for animals. It is important. It will help your child be a better person. Also your dog should not eat shell fish like crab or shrimp or onions for some reason it makes them sick. They do love things like carrots and green beans. They cannot eat too many carrots because they have sugar, but green beans do not have as many calories. It will be nice with having a messy toldler to have a dog to clean up, but just no chocolate. Get the number of your local poison control center posted for both your dog and your child. Also get ready with some syrup of ipacec enough for the weight of the dog and the child. You will need several bottles in case you need it if it is advised by poison control or the vet, but only use it if they advise because there are many times when it should not be used especially in children. It is important to have on hand so you do not have to go to the store to get it. On dogs you can also use hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit, but not on kids. Have something to measure that. I found that chicken bones and chocolate are a big problem at parties and required people to have boneless chicken the next year because they were too messy and no chocolate. These were some students using my home for a student organization party.

Answer 10

Table scraps in general should not be fed on a regular basis unless you want a fat dog. as a treat in moderation is fine. As far as dangerous foods: chocolate like you said and onions is another. What you should do even thought your dog is current on his shots take him to the vet in your area. There is a wealth of information for you there. you can also go back to your local shelter and ask questions. they will help you because they want your dog to keep his new home. As far as a good food at a good price Purina Brand dog foods meet veterinary standards for dog nutrition and are found even at your local grocery. Others are eukanuba, proplan, science diet all of which can be kinda pricey but can mostly be purchased at your vet or a petco/petsmart type store