A Beginner's Guide to Dog Raising (Part 2)

Common questions for first-time dog owners!

(I) Is it better to have a puppy or an adult dog?

I think there is no standard answer to this question, and your own thoughts are also important.

Do you want to develop a relationship with a puppy? Or do you want to raise an adult dog with a mature and stable personality and appearance?

Pet owners must know that it is not easy to predict how big a small and cute dog will grow up.

So in many cases, welcoming an adult dog with a stable personality and appearance may allow it to integrate into your life faster, which is a very wise choice.

(II) Is it better to have a male dog or a female dog?

Some pet owners on the Internet have shared that male dogs are more active and optimistic, and are easier to get along with others, while female dogs are more quiet and well-behaved, and are more wary of unfamiliar people.

I think these stereotypes have a certain reference value, but please remember that each furry child is a unique individual.

Give them a comfortable, stable, and relaxing environment, and spend time with them with your unique love every day. I believe that each dog will have its own story.

(III) What kind of dog is suitable for beginners?

I think beginners can raise a dog with a lower probability of medical problems, and the condition we can better control is "bred dog" vs "mixed breed dog".

In terms of probability, some "bred dogs" are indeed more difficult to care for or more prone to illness. For example, common small dogs (small poodles, Maltese dogs) are more likely to suffer from "mucinous mitral valve disease", which causes abnormal heart and lung function.

Short-snouted dogs (French bulldogs, pugs) have poor respiratory and heat dissipation functions and are more prone to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Most of these congenital diseases are difficult to predict the severity and cannot be cured, so I would recommend that pet owners must do their homework and understand the risks first, and do not make a decision simply because of their pleasing appearance.

Relatively speaking, the probability of mixed-breed dogs encountering these problems is greatly reduced. If the evaluation can accept their larger size and mobility, then it will be a very good choice.

(IV) The dog feels bored at home, should I help it find a companion?

You must be careful about this matter and remember to think from the dog's perspective.

If it is difficult for you to find more time to accompany your dog, the consequence of raising another dog may be that two bored dogs will wait for you to come home.

Most dogs love humans by nature and hope to see you and be with you at any time. This is something that a dog companion cannot replace.

If you think that the dog is bored at home and no one is there to accompany it, you should actually think about how to accompany it attentively within a limited time, consume its physical strength and energy, and meet its need for attention from humans. This will be of great help!

(V) What is the healthiest food for dogs?

There are many kinds of dog food on the market now, and you can see different factions on the Internet advocating "XXX is the healthiest" and "YYY will make you sick if you eat it".

My view on this information is always "there is no best food, only the most suitable food". As long as the food meets the following points, it is a food suitable for your dog.

• Dogs like to eat
• Sufficient calories are eaten every day
• Balanced nutrition
• Safe

You must learn to cultivate your own confidence and judgment so that you will not feel anxious because of too much information on the Internet.

(VI) Do dogs need to be walked?

I think it is really important!

Even for small dogs with low exercise, if they can walk on the grass and smell new smells every day, it will be very helpful for the dog's physical and mental health.

In fact, walking does not need to be long to be effective. Sniffing can consume a lot of energy of dogs. And you may not know that the effect of small and frequent walks (such as 2-3 times a day, 15 minutes each time) will be better than one hour!

(VII) Do dogs need to be bathed?

In fact, for most dogs, bathing is not a necessary item. Apart from the discussion of dogs with many skin problems, most dogs will not have skin problems even if they never bathe.

The only disadvantage (for humans) is that the oil accumulation on the skin and hair will be more, and the "dog smell" will be stronger.

Of course, if bathing your dog can enhance your intimacy, bathing is not a bad thing! Just don't bathe your dog too much (once a week at most), so that the dog's skin has a certain degree of protective oil, which will be healthier and safer.