Cute idea for a thread:
1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.
- I was about the same -- 3 days was it for my yorkies, but my Jack Russell Terrier was like it never happened. She came home maybe a little drowsy but the very next day wanted to run as usual. I tried at first and then thought -- she must know if it is hurting.
2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.
- I don't switch often, but I will mix the two foods for a day or two instead of the recommended week. Then I go ahead and switch. I don't think there is a big difference in the premium foods. As for letting them eat the lower quality -- I never thought about it like McDonald's, but you are right. I don't know when mine would be in a position to eat them, but I am sure I would not get uptight about a nibble or two.
3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..
- Mine have all slept with me. I have 3 now and one sleeps on each side, with little Annie right on top of me. Sometimes I even wake up with her around my neck.
4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks
- I actually want mine in front of me so I can see them better. I want to see what they are sniffing at and might potentially eat.
5. Never use a flexi!
Not sure what a flexi is -- is that one of the retractible leashes? If so, I have one too, although it is too long for most places. Like you, I would use it in places where we have lots of wide open spaces but still require a leash. It is not a safety leash though. Mine are VERY rarely on a leash at all. I normally carry them when in a public place. I don't want them on the floor at Petsmart because I have seen some grungy dogs in there and I know they pee and poop on the floors. I would imagine any science student could get some interesting slides from those floors!
6. Don't give your dog junk food
- I could repeat almost all of what you wrote here. Annie even has a sound cue -- when the spoon scrapes the bottom of the ice cream bowl she is right up on my lap as she knows those last couple of bites are hers. But I never over due. Two little bites of melted ice cream, maybe one or two broken off pieces of chips, the last couple of bites of almost anything I am eating goes to them, but never enough to amount to anything. I normally do not eat anything fatty or greasy myself (even the ice cream is 1/2 fat). So sharing what I eat is usually not that bad. Exception: Never again will I let them have ANY hot dog. They each got a couple tiny, thin slices of hot dog not long ago. I cleaned up a TON of diarrhea! Never hot dogs!
7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!
- That's a rule? No one told me. Can we have it repealed?
8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.
- I think I pretty much followed this one, except my mom of course. She loves them all as much as I do.
9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.
- Can't think of any example where I encourage bad behavior, but I don't always get as firm as I should. It is very difficult to sound stern to a cute 4 month old Yorkie pup. What can you do for discipline when they are so tiny? Not much! And I also confess to sometimes just laughing when she is being rowdy and I am trying to settle her down. She is trying to run the house already. I know any real dog trainer would think I am a complete failure.
10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs.
- I think this depends on the dogs and the kids. I leave my yorkies with a Jack Russell all the time. She is the gentle one of the group. If anyone is likely to get hurt it will be her. She mothers the yorkies and has never snapped no matter how much they might torture her. Although I don't leave the pup with the others yet. She has to go in her kennel if I am leaving them for groceries or something. As for kids, I would think a 7 year old is plenty old enough to trust alone with dogs (unless they have shown meanness in the past. But most toddlers should NEVER be left alone to start with and especially not with a pup. My grandson is 3, and I would not leave him alone for more than a quick bathroom break. Even then I remind him not to pick up the dogs. He is allowed to hold them when he sits down. He is great with them. But he is a toddler and I would not want to put him in the posiiton to hurt himself or a pup.
11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.
- I don't pick it up if it is in my yard. They are so little and firm, they disintegrate nicely and do not make a stink. I have 2 acres, one acre fenced. I do pick it up anywhere else if we are out for a walk, simply because I want others to do the same. I would love it if the owners of this big, lovable Golden Retriever would come pick up their dog's poop from my front yard. He comes every morning like clock work. If I miss one and mow over it -- whewwwwweeee the whole yard stinks for a couple of days! Why should I have to shovel his poop?