Please share any helpful information you know about getting a new dog
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The most important thing I recommend is Adopt, don’t shop. Research breeds that would be suitable for your lifestyle. For example if you live in a unit a working dog breed is probably not suitable, they need a lot of space to run around. Labradors are great dogs but very high maintenance especially without extensive training, they are pretty much like toddlers and get up to mischief even after the puppy stage. Great Danes are great family dogs but they are massive dogs so food and vet bills would be more expensive and they also think they are lap dogs. Some breeds are cruel to own like French bulldogs and pugs etc, the less they are bought the less of a demand and hopefully the breeds will eventually die out. They suffer significant problems and is not nice at all. Breeds like Boxers and Mastiffs drool a lot and will no doubt leave slobber over your clothes. Huskies and similar dogs shed an insane amount of fur, and need regular maintenance etc so that is just some examples. You also need to think about how the dog would fit into your life like whether you have kids or other
You also need to consider if you have the ability to care for their needs like exercise, able to provide food, flea and worm treatments etc, training, bedding etc and keep in mind dogs need plenty of attention, toys to play with as they get bored easy and that is usually when they cause destruction. You can try and crate train your dog which has many benefits in keeping the dog safe when you go out. Also when they are pups they chew A LOT. I am sure I am forgetting some important stuff but that’s all I have at the moment.
Oh and NEVER get your dogs ears clipped or tails docked and don’t use a shock collar for training. It is cruel and unnecessary (unless for medical reasons which is rare).
Let the animal adopt you, and NEVER EVER scold or punish the dog, no matter what. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.