[Closed] Dog - how do they change your life??

Bagstard try these. My springer cuts her paws all the time and these are pretty good.

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@Redwoods -

I think company, social interaction and mental stimulation is equally as important and it sounds like he might get a good dose of that

Def +1 to the stimulation thing, that's another place where a good training regime can be a real benefit, if he wants attention, you can make him to a few things and then give a treat. One of those things can be to Stay, and not go until you release him (more tension if you throw his toy out of the room first). Just don't forget you put him on stay!

Ours definitely knew names, the poor thing was the subject of numerous intelligence tests - names of toys, people, 3 identical toys of different colours (guessing he used shades to distinguish) he seemed to love it as much as us. 13 years of psychological experiments on a Lakeland/Poodle cross, I swear he was brighter than most people I have met.

Absolutely agree on on the stimulation, it does sharpen their brains - give them a dull life and you get a dull dog, treat them nastily and you get a nasty dog - not rocket surgery.

He's been dead 27 years and it's still weird walking into Mum & Dad's house and him not bounding through the door.

Bushwhacked, forgive me if I'm repeating what's already been said, but I've only scan read the thread.

We have a wirehaired vizsla. A very slightly larger, scruffy version of that fine looking dog. He's two years and a few months old now and we've had him since he was a pup. It [b]will[/b] change your life as you can't leave the house in the morning and not come back until tomorrow with out some planning. We don't have kids so for us it was a big change, but one we had anticipated and it very rarely causes a problem.

He's going to need at least two 45 minute to one hour walks a day (or one really long walk). If you can find the time to exercise him he'll be a great addition to the family. Ours is now reasonably well trained (it takes time) and can be trusted off the lead (unless it's busy roads). Best of all he loves mountain biking and runs with us when we ride which is great as you'll always have a mate to ride with.

My emails in my profile if you want to ask any specific questions.

Bluebird - Thanks for the input. We're ready for the exercise piece but as mentioned in the post over [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/any-vizsla-owners-on-the-forum#post-5025080 ]here[/url] we're not sure what he'll be like outside of this other than what we've seen of dogs we've had contact with via breeders or other owners.

I'll drop you an email 🙂

Ah! Roll on retirement so we can have a dog. Mrs O won't let me stop work now to take care of one - but to be fair, I won't let her either!

Some simple rules:

Never get a working dog unless you're going to work it.

You'll never wear out a terrier.

Hounds are happy to lie about all day so long as they get a run at some point.

Big dogs are better than little dogs (except Staffies which are bonsai big dogs 🙂 )

You'll never wear out a terrier

+1

For a first dog you will be better off with a bitch as they are more receptive to training and less headstrong. Males usually want to be pack leader so need a firmer hand. Either way pockets full of dog treats works wonders when training. Most important is a solid recall. They need to come back every time. Vizlas make awesome trail dogs coz they love to run, but they need to be 18 months - 2 years old for the sake of their joints before you run them.

Big dogs are better than little dogs (except Staffies which are bonsai big dogs )

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My Jack Russell/Patterdale cross is only little but she will take on any dog no matter what size! She's an ace dog and I love her to bits. She's changed my life loads. I got her when I was single and met a woman who had dogs and because Maisey hates anything with more than 2 legs or has fur there's no chance of me and said woman "getting together" so er that relationship was a no-no. Wouldn't change how things are at all though.
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Tragically my best mate has severe hip dysplasia..
He's just an awesome dog but has some very strange habits and fears.
Dogs are the best door bell / visitor proximity alarms, exercise motivators, companions, dish licking toast thiefs. Mine is very much on borrowed time now (8 this year) and a matter of time before his back legs simply stop working. Until then we enjoy every day as we are all here on borrowed time.... just some of us drew the short shift...

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Suddenly you decide tree decorating isn’t just for Christmas?

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My Blue Tick Racoon Hound cross! Well at least that's what I'm told she is? Makes are household a happier place, she really is our daily ray of sunshine.

This sums up my dog, best thing I ever did was welcome a dog into my home, makes a lot of the nuttiness of most days worthwhile

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You'll never wear out a terrier.

And after:
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/62303384@N03/8158202531/ ]IMAG0069[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/62303384@N03/ ]kerystwin[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/62303384@N03/8158234980/ ]IMAG0070[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/62303384@N03/ ]kerystwin[/url], on Flickr