My wife brought a puppy home.

[TripleThreat]

Ok so my wife brought home a new heeler Australian puppy while we currently have a six month old baby, and a 7 year old son.. I just don’t know how I feel about it. We’ve had him for almost a week and he seems like a good dog and trainable, the research I’ve done on this breed is they are loyal, family oriented but require training and a lot of activity…

My cons:

He’s biting a lot, not hard but it’s enough to where he made our baby cry and ripped up some of our couch and my wife’s night gown. (This is my biggest con as baby comes as #1)

Along with having what is practically a new born, I’ll now have to spend my time training this puppy for months/years.

Long trips are now difficult as we will need to secure either a dog sitter or spend hundreds on a dog hotel.

My wife despite bringing the dog home now has had a change of heart and wants the dog gone.



My Pro’s

My kids get a dog and that’s always awesome for kids and teaches responsibility.

If I could choose a dog years from now it would be this one as he’s already showing signs of being trainable and has already started going outside for restroom breaks. All around seems like a good dog but im not sure if that’s just the breed?

I’ve become attached as has my son.



We’ve found a friend that will take the dog, big yard nice people, I’m just a pet guy and have become attached and just want to know what some of you guys would do in this situation or you older guys what you did do.

[TripleThreat]

And if I can just say this for the dog lovers and dog experts out there. He’s next to me right now, being the little shit that he is, but he keeps snapping at me (angel last 2 hours) but now he wants to bite my dick and sofa let alone anything else his eyes notice, so my immediate reflex which I’m doing is closing his mouth, shutting his jaw but at the same time im telling the family “I’m doing this wrong” because everything tells me im not supposed to do this this/that. So again, any response is appreciated

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by Mephistopheles Janx

A heeler can be one of the best dogs you will ever have but they need training. I had one in the past and have a Heeler mix now.

First thing to do is decide whether or not you want to put the effort into making the dog work for you guys. If you don't then just find a good home for the dog and wash your hands of the whole thing.

If you decide to keep the dog (this info is based on how hessistant you seem to be around the dog):

* get it up to date on vaccinations and spay/neuter

* find a puppy socialization class which is basically puppy pre-school where they learn to interact with other dogs and people appropriately. from there start looking for an obedience class once they become old enough. after that there are even sports that you. the kids, and the dog can participate in such as flyball... at which heelers tend to be fantastic.

* come to terms that you have a dog specifically bred to nip at the heels (thus Heeler) of livestock (my Louie does a good job and he loves his goats) and it is gonna be a bit of a chore to break them of that when it comes to the kids.

* you are gonna need to have a conversation with the 7 year old and let him know he has to help train the dog. if the dog comes up and nips... whomever is nipped should let out a sharp and loud pain squeak/noise. puppies communicate to one another that play is too rough with those types of noises. Gotta speak their language. Follow up the pain noise with a firm, but gentle, *NO*. heavily praise the dog when it is playing appropriately.

* whomever the dog bonds with the most in the family is going to be the one most likely to have success in training it and should be the person to introduce the dog to the baby. make a big show, especially with a puppy, expressing care and love for the baby. the dog will pick up on the fact that it is important to the person and will likely become very protective of it.

If you aren't willing to do the above listed things... best thing for everyone is for the dog to get a new home.

Thank you. Not much to reply to because such good info, so / but thank you

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

You're not taking any long trips, at least not overseas.

You can take the dog with you in the car for vacations, it is very possible to do this and have a lot of fun.

If overseas vacations or the money to the board the dog are more valuable to you than the dog, make that choice.

The Rover app is great for oversea trips. We have 3 dogs and when we went to Italy recently we had someone watch our house and dogs.

[Mephistopheles Janx]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

And if I can just say this for the dog lovers and dog experts out there. He’s next to me right now, being the little shit that he is, but he keeps snapping at me (angel last 2 hours) but now he wants to bite my dick and sofa let alone anything else his eyes notice, so my immediate reflex which I’m doing is closing his mouth, shutting his jaw but at the same time im telling the family “I’m doing this wrong” because everything tells me im not supposed to do this this/that. So again, any response is appreciated

Louie ate the floor trim at the top of the stairs. I thought about fixing it up but now it makes me smile and think of when he was a pup.

I forgot to mention. Chew toys. Definitely get chew toys. I don’t suggest squeakers in toys unless you want impromptu, and unceasing, wind instrument concerts at all hours of the day. Kong makes great long lasting toys and chew toys.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

And if I can just say this for the dog lovers and dog experts out there. He’s next to me right now, being the little shit that he is, but he keeps snapping at me (angel last 2 hours) but now he wants to bite my dick and sofa let alone anything else his eyes notice, so my immediate reflex which I’m doing is closing his mouth, shutting his jaw but at the same time im telling the family “I’m doing this wrong” because everything tells me im not supposed to do this this/that. So again, any response is appreciated

Perhaps you should try bonding with said dog with your dick stowed away.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Mephistopheles Janx

Louie ate the floor trim at the top of the stairs. I thought about fixing it up but now it makes me smile and think of when he was a pup.

I forgot to mention. Chew toys. Definitely get chew toys. I don’t suggest squeakers in toys unless you want impromptu, and unceasing, wind instrument concerts at all hours of the day. Kong makes great long lasting toys and chew toys.

At the insistence of a girlfriend's daughters, I once got a chihuahua that I carried home in my shirt pocket. (Wonderful dog for 12 years, BTW.) She wasn't a bad chewer, but I decided she needed a toy. She loved Valentino the Bear, even though he was almost as big as she was. They were almost inseparable.

Then one day, after that relationship had ended and my chihuahua and I had moved on with life, a nice lady was visiting the house and asked why my 4 pound dog had a $1500 chew toy.