What can i do to Prepare for a New puppy?

-Hey.



So The deal is that I'm getting a Doberman Puppy In about a year to 8 months. My step mom's sister is going to breed her Doberman Karma when she is old enough and said i could have a pup. (this is a one time only deal here. She is getting spayed after.) This is my first puppy. (don't even say the Doberman isn't a good first time dog. B/C I am a young dog trainer. I help my friends at school with their dogs all the time so i would consider myself an experienced dog owner.) But I'm 13 yrs old. I will be moving into a two bed room APT. soon and that's where I'll be when i have my puppy. I know he will be fine in an apt. because he will be walked at LEAST 3 times a day. I have a cat and she is also trained to sit, shake (she'll also give me the other paw if i say "other"), come and stay.



But my main question here is, What can i do to prepare for 8 months to a year? I've already been researching dog behavior and training for 5 years now. Ive been waiting that long to get my first puppy. All my friend that I help always say that my future dog will be a really lucky one.



But yeah What can i do? More research? practice with a fake dog? (which i have one of. Its also a Doberman)

Thanks for any future answers!



-Kiba.Hey. I am the same age as you and I have a dog. She is a Siberian Husky mix. What I would do if I were you is just keep reading a bunch of articles about the Doberman and also about how to take care of a Doberman puppy. Then I would take care of that Doberman you were talking about and maybe have a small dog sitting business until you get your dog so that you are more prepared. I hope you have lots of fun with your new puppy! You are making me jealous! :)you need to make sure that u have the supplies , space , and food . Good Luck with your new dog ! And if you dont mind could you vote at this link for my dog :

http://www.cutestpetcontest.com/vote.php鈥?/a>

Thanks
Make sure you have the puppy by 8 weeks and get it out and socialize it to the human world.



You may want to look at my list at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?鈥?/a>



You sound much better prepared to have a dog than most people.



Check on the apartment's pet policy. It is tough finding an apartment that will let you have a big, ''dangerous'' Doberman.



I will leave the breeding bashing to others that I am sure I can count on.
to me you have the basic's of having a dog! Bringing a new dog or puppy into your home is an exciting time for your household, but for the dog it is likely to be confusing and frightening. A little preparation ahead of time will enable you to offer your new family member a peaceful transition into your home, and will help other family members to adjust more readily.



Decide on a name for the new addition. Dogs respond best to short names of one or two syllables. Begin teaching the dog its new name from the first time you meet it, by saying it several times over and accompanying each time with a treat or a cuddle.



2

Research the breed you have taken in, or breeds if it is a crossbreed. Many breeds have specific temperaments and characteristics, and a knowledge of these will help you understand the dog's reason for some behaviors.



3

Set rules for the household regarding responsibilities for the dog's welfare, feeding, walks and training. Share the workload as much as possible, as this will not only lighten the burden you carry but will also provide opportunities for other family members to interact with and get to know the new dog.



4

Make a schedule for walks, feeding and training that matches the dog's age and needs. Dogs are creatures of habit and a routine will help the dog feel secure and settle in. If the dog knows what time to expect a potty trip it will help to prevent indoor accidents, unless it is still a very young puppy.



5

Check the fencing around your yard, whether you have a privacy fence or an invisible fence. The dog needs to be safe while it is outdoors, both from wandering off your property and from other dogs passing by. If you are using an electronic fence, ensure that the strength of the collar signal is appropriate for the age and size of the dog.



6

Decide where the dog will sleep and purchase a suitable bed for it. If you are planning to crate-train it, get a crate that will be the right size for it once fully grown. Bring in some soft bedding and a few toys to make its "den" a safe and comfortable space for it.



7

Buy other supplies such as a suitable collar and leash, toys, food and treats. This will enable you to start introducing your new pet to its lifestyle right away and will help to make it feel at home.



8

Puppy-proof your home if you are expecting a young dog. Puppies love to chew everything in sight, so protect any electrical cables and other dangerous items that are in the area the dog will inhabit.



9

Make an appointment with youveterinarian to take the dog to see him within a few days of its arrival. Find out the cost of having the dog vaccinated and micro-chipped, and the necessary parasite control program for your region and the time of year.



have fun with you puppy!!!



the best of hope's to you!!
Make sure you have nothing on the floor that the dog can eat or chew up. Also, prepare for all the training your going to have to do. Research anxiety in dogs just in case the pup does not like to be left alone. Research puppy food and shots the dog will need in the few months of its life. I do not think you have to practice with a fake dog. Otherwise, good luck.
All right kiddo you sound a lot like me. Except my first dog was a mutt and I was 6. But from what I hear (read) you are an only child where as me I have 2 older brothers. Any way Back to the question. What I suggest is to:

1: be prepared for the worst. In other words have chew toys and such ready to go. And if the puppy starts chewing on things like shoes and furniture tell him/her NO and pop their nose. No matter what others tell you it is okay to punish your dog with a god pop on the nose. It is the most affective way to teach a dog what is and what is not allowed. But after like 10-15 minutes go to the dog and say good dog and pet him/her.

2: remember it is never too early to begin training. Even on walks you should demand full attention and behavior. Like Caesar Milan always says "You don't let the dog walk you and you don't walk the dog. You walk together." It means that you walk next to each other.

3: start to make your dog wear a collar the day AFTER you get him/her. if you wait like my brother did with his dog he/she won't like the collar.

4: If you want a mean guard dog it is easily done by not taking them out and letting them be around others. But if you want a nice kind dog do the opposite. Here on my Island (Guam) we have a meeting every month with other dog owners and their dogs. So go to a dog park or get together with other dogs and their owners. (When I say owner I mean best friend. because that's what you get with a dog. like here we have a saying amongst dog owners "You adopt a dog you gain a friend.")

5: there really is nothing you can do to prepare except have puppy chow, toys, and have everything clean and in its place. It is really a feeling. See if you're a dog LOVER like me when I see a dog My face lights up and I feel like everything is alright. Even on my darkest days all 5 of my dogs brighten up my life. If it is like that for you, you are a very lucky kid. But there is one more thing you need, and I am pretty sure you have it. It is unconditional LOVE. That's all your pet will expect from you besides food. Good luck and love that dog as if that was all you cared about, as if he/she is your life.

P.S.: I love the naruto reference.
go to this link! I promise it is a very helpful website, and make sure you read the whole page. It covers just about everything you need to know.



http://devinefarm.net/rp/rppup.htm





please anyone who reads this answer my question at: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?鈥?/a>

sorry that the explanation is long but I tried to keep it as short as I could while still conveying the entire problem.
to prepare your appartment..

- move any valubles into a box and put them out of reach for a while~

-clear anything on a coffee table or places like that that the puppy can get things off of to chew or knock off.

-get ready for A LOT of puppy pee on the floor!

-go and check out some puppy classes near you for socialisation ( he/she will make some new friends and get some new skills in making friends) or agility or obedience for when he or she gets a little older.

- everything you will need too take care of him/her.

make sure EVERYWHERE is clean your room, living room, outside in the garden and even the bath room . puppies eat and chew EVERYTHING especially when it is teething.



you dont need and practice otherwise you will prepare too much and all the fun will be taken out of it. just relax and when the puppy comes just have fun training it and looking after it. dogs aren't all about research they are about kind of living in the moment when something happens you'll find a way through it.

you future puppy sounds like its going to a real loving home where it will never be bored.

good luck and i hope you little puppy is one you will bond with and love for a long time :)

-Maddiii :) xxxxx