E
egoldstein
Guest
While sex is important, it's only a small part of your day to day life. So I thought I'd make a thread to try and help point new caretakers at resources to help them make the most of the coming years and to improve the lives of both along the way. This is intended more for people who have never been the caretaker of a dog before, but I hope it's useful for others too.
My first suggestion is on training. Being zoos, we want our companions to have the best lives we can and good training helps them overcome impulses and learn more. In a rare example of a small book being one of the best, the book Don't Shoot the Dog is my #1 recommendation. I've read a lot of training books and this is always my goto. It is a very affordable book, but if money is tight buy an older version; the first copy I read was the first edition and it's as useful today as it was then.
My second suggestion is on veterinary care, Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. There are other books that are similar, but this one I've read and can say it's a decent book. It packs a lot of useful information in there and I advise you to read it before you need it. A few pages a day will get you through the book, you don't need to read every page, but it helps to read the main sections so that you understand the core concepts and more importantly, know where in the book to turn when you need more details. A book isn't a replacement for professional veterinary care, but it can go a long way to saving you worry and money by helping you understand what's going on and what to expect. Being informed helps your vet help you and your dog, which is good for everyone. Again, older versions and used copies often sell for less if money is tight and I know I already said it, but don't forget to actually read it!
What other advice do you have for others or what questions do you have for people who have more experience?
My first suggestion is on training. Being zoos, we want our companions to have the best lives we can and good training helps them overcome impulses and learn more. In a rare example of a small book being one of the best, the book Don't Shoot the Dog is my #1 recommendation. I've read a lot of training books and this is always my goto. It is a very affordable book, but if money is tight buy an older version; the first copy I read was the first edition and it's as useful today as it was then.
My second suggestion is on veterinary care, Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. There are other books that are similar, but this one I've read and can say it's a decent book. It packs a lot of useful information in there and I advise you to read it before you need it. A few pages a day will get you through the book, you don't need to read every page, but it helps to read the main sections so that you understand the core concepts and more importantly, know where in the book to turn when you need more details. A book isn't a replacement for professional veterinary care, but it can go a long way to saving you worry and money by helping you understand what's going on and what to expect. Being informed helps your vet help you and your dog, which is good for everyone. Again, older versions and used copies often sell for less if money is tight and I know I already said it, but don't forget to actually read it!
What other advice do you have for others or what questions do you have for people who have more experience?