...about puppies...
About selecting a puppy.
Always insist on seeing the puppy’s parents. If the breeder does not let you see the parent(s) with the pups - walk away and find another litter. An adult dog with a suspect temperament can pass the same traits to their pups.
About chosing a breed.
Do some research. Just because you like the look of a dog does not mean it will fit into your lifestyle.
About taking a puppy home.
Do not take a puppy home too early. Optimal age is 8 to 10 weeks.
About puppy training.
Take your new puppy to a puppy school as early as possible. Most schools accept puppies from eight weeks of age.
...about homing a rescue dog...
About whether to home a rescue dog or not.
Homing a rescue dog can be a challenge. It is quite possible the dog was put up for adoption by an uncaring owner or because of behaviour problems. It is important to give a rescue dog time to adjust to its new environment, at the same time working on building a relationship of trust with your new dog.
...about dog aggression...
About neutering a dog.
Neutering will definitely reduce your male dog’s aggressive behaviour if the procedure is done early in the dog’s life. The procedure will also help with older dogs, but sometimes the aggression has become a learnt behaviour and is difficult to stop. A male dog that has been neutered is no less of a dog than a male that is intact. You will have a more pleasant natured dog.
About the causes of dog aggression.
It is important not to see aggression as a single problem, because there may be a number of underlying causes of the aggression, ranging from environmental influences to genetic influences.
Do not use any harsh physical means in an attempt to remedy your dogs aggression.
