MAKING AN EFFORT

[Enigma25]

I am VERY suicidal and have a plan, but I like to think of myself as an open minded individual and I am trying my best to exhaust all my resources before I decide that Earth is not for me. Anyway, I DECIDED TO GET A PUPPY! I've decided on this a while ago. It'd be my first dog ever (that I've owned) and I still want to go, but I am excited to see if this lil guy will change my mind (again I am very open to this).

He is a little rottweiler, and he is the only one of his litter that will have a tail (I made sure he wouldn't have his docked). Life is beyond dull, and yet here I am beyond excited. I got him a custom collar with his name on it, and the leash has his name on it too. I hope I can get through the lows until I can pick him up in mid June. I am looking forward to next month.

 

[_pop_Mongo]

My sister had a rottie years ago. They're such a lovable and energetic breed. Pretty easy to maintain too.

 

[Pale_Rider]

rottweilers are the best!

 

[Enigma25]

My sister had a rottie years ago. They're such a lovable and energetic breed. Pretty easy to maintain too.

I am so excited. I have so much PTO my job might forget I exist cause im going on Pawternity leave for my furry son.

 

[_pop_Mongo]

Best advice I ever got on raising and training a puppy was to get a lightweight leash that's relatively short (maybe only 5ft or so) and leave it attached to the puppy while they're around the house. That way when you need to get their attention or get them to move away from something you can pick the leash up off the ground.

Puppies love playing chasing games, so it's really easy for them to think you approaching them to because they're getting into something they shouldn't is you initiating play with them. But being able to just walk like 5 feet to the left of them and pick up the leash makes it really clear that it isn't playtime right now it's listen time.

 

[Diceroller90]

I am VERY suicidal and have a plan, but I like to think of myself as an open minded individual and I am trying my best to exhaust all my resources before I decide that Earth is not for me. Anyway, I DECIDED TO GET A PUPPY! I've decided on this a while ago. It'd be my first dog ever (that I've owned) and I still want to go, but I am excited to see if this lil guy will change my mind (again I am very open to this).

He is a little rottweiler, and he is the only one of his litter that will have a tail (I made sure he wouldn't have his docked). Life is beyond dull, and yet here I am beyond excited. I got him a custom collar with his name on it, and the leash has his name on it too. I hope I can get through the lows until I can pick him up in mid June. I am looking forward to next month.

You are doing a great thing looking to better yourself, and you are bettering the life of an animal in the process.

 

[Enigma25]

Best advice I ever got on raising and training a puppy was to get a lightweight leash that's relatively short (maybe only 5ft or so) and leave it attached to the puppy while they're around the house. That way when you need to get their attention or get them to move away from something you can pick the leash up off the ground.

Puppies love playing chasing games, so it's really easy for them to think you approaching them to because they're getting into something they shouldn't is you initiating play with them. But being able to just walk like 5 feet to the left of them and pick up the leash makes it really clear that it isn't playtime right now it's listen time.

I like that. His leash is 6ft long right now, and he's def gonna be a house dog (i get outside enough so he's coming with me all the time and he's a puppy puppy so he's got plenty room for now)

What do you think about bowls? Should I get a slow feeder or a standard?

You are doing a great thing looking to better yourself, and you are bettering the life of an animal in the process.

That means a lot to me. I am trying to my best. I am also looking to therapy groups. My therapist says if I surround myself with people like me, I may not feel so alone. Dog + Community = Wanna wake up tomorrow hopeful. This place is pretty cool too.

 

[_pop_Mongo]

For my puppy I hand fed him when he started living with me to get him to associate me personally with good things like food. Each time he ate I always handed him pieces of kibble one at a time after about 5 pieces I'd put the rest of the scoop in his bowl. I don't really have much of an opinion of slow feeders. I don't use them but I do always try to use meal time to reinforce training. My dog doesn't know many tricks or commands but he knows "sit" "stay" and "come here" cuz I always make him sit and stay while I get his food but he doesn't get to eat it until I stand by the food bowl and say "come here"

It's a lot of extra work compared to just filling the bowl and letting him have at it, but it's so worth it to know when I say "come here" at the dog park he's gonna listen.

 

[divinemistress36]

Dogs are the best thing for depression. My dog is the only thing that gives me joy in life

 

[Enigma25]

For my puppy I hand fed him when he started living with me to get him to associate me personally with good things like food. Each time he ate I always handed him pieces of kibble one at a time after about 5 pieces I'd put the rest of the scoop in his bowl. I don't really have much of an opinion of slow feeders. I don't use them but I do always try to use meal time to reinforce training. My dog doesn't know many tricks or commands but he knows "sit" "stay" and "come here" cuz I always make him sit and stay while I get his food but he doesn't get to eat it until I stand by the food bowl and say "come here"

It's a lot of extra work compared to just filling the bowl and letting him have at it, but it's so worth it to know when I say "come here" at the dog park he's gonna listen.

Interesting. How long did you do that? I saw petco did 6 weeks of training for $149 and I was just gonna do that. He's also gonna be my little ESA lol. But i am super anxious about going to the dog park, but hopefully he heals me being out.

 

[Forveleth]

Rotties are super lovable but also stubborn, strong, smart, and high energy. They'll need training and lots of socialization early and hours of play time every day. But the rewards are amazing. Rotties are some of the best doggos out there.

 

[_pop_Mongo]

I'd say any basic training class is going to be good, the real thing is staying consistent and practicing it at home between the sessions. Also don't buy into the pseudo-science of "dominance" and "pack leader" stuff. You're dog respects and listens to you because you make the dog feel secure and cared for, not because you have kind of dominating alpha posture or any of that.

As for how long I hand fed my puppy I did that for maybe 3 weeks or so. But we practice sit, stay and come here daily during meal time everyday. I may not do it everytime I feed him but I do it at least once a day with him just to make sure he stays sharp. It's probably not necessary to do it everyday but it's become part of our routine so I just do it.

 

[Enigma25]

I'd say any basic training class is going to be good, the real thing is staying consistent and practicing it at home between the sessions. Also don't buy into the pseudo-science of "dominance" and "pack leader" stuff. You're dog respects and listens to you because you make the dog feel secure and cared for, not because you have kind of dominating alpha posture or any of that.

As for how long I hand fed my puppy I did that for maybe 3 weeks or so. But we practice sit, stay and come here daily during meal time everyday. I may not do it everytime I feed him but I do it at least once a day with him just to make sure he stays sharp. It's probably not necessary to do it everyday but it's become part of our routine so I just do it.

This is awesome. Thank you! I hope I can give him a good life. I love the lil guy already and I don't even have him yet

 

[Graham.N]

I am VERY suicidal and have a plan, but I like to think of myself as an open minded individual and I am trying my best to exhaust all my resources before I decide that Earth is not for me. Anyway, I DECIDED TO GET A PUPPY! I've decided on this a while ago. It'd be my first dog ever (that I've owned) and I still want to go, but I am excited to see if this lil guy will change my mind (again I am very open to this).

He is a little rottweiler, and he is the only one of his litter that will have a tail (I made sure he wouldn't have his docked). Life is beyond dull, and yet here I am beyond excited. I got him a custom collar with his name on it, and the leash has his name on it too. I hope I can get through the lows until I can pick him up in mid June. I am looking forward to next month.

Dogs can help a lot. When I was at a low, I started volunteering at a shelter and got a job at another. Unfortunately, the job made the depression a lot worse than I could have ever imagined. Everything I saw there and experienced there contributed to my first genuine attempt in 2019. From there, it has been downhill ever since. When I got my dog, though, it helped quite a bit. Take your dog to the dog parks often, and on daily walks too. Spend time training them. Dogs will never betray you or let you down. They may occasionally do things we don't like, but they are not doing it because they don't like you or are trying to make you mad. Remember that. Dogs only want to love you

 

[Enigma25]

Dogs can help a lot. When I was at a low, I started volunteering at a shelter and got a job at another. Unfortunately, the job made the depression a lot worse than I could have ever imagined. Everything I saw there and experienced there contributed to my first genuine attempt in 2019. From there, it has been downhill ever since. When I got my dog, though, it helped quite a bit. Take your dog to the dog parks often, and on daily walks too. Spend time training them. Dogs will never betray you or let you down. They may occasionally do things we don't like, but they are not doing it because they don't like you or are trying to make you mad. Remember that. Dogs only want to love you

I got a bit down when I went to a shelter too. I really hope its up from here regarding this dog. But Im prepared to be the best dog dad I can be

 

[maneose]

i've always thought of getting a kitty to help my depression, i tell myself one i (and the rest of my family) clean up the house, then finally we can get one... but i've been saying that for years, hopefully we can tidy enough so it's liveable for the poor thing.
hoarding is okay only for humans! hoarding is unacceptable if you have a pet, i tell myself.

 

[Enigma25]

i've always thought of getting a kitty to help my depression, i tell myself one i (and the rest of my family) clean up the house, then finally we can get one... but i've been saying that for years, hopefully we can tidy enough so it's liveable for the poor thing.
hoarding is okay only for humans! hoarding is unacceptable if you have a pet, i tell myself.

I hope you find the motivation to tidy up for the kitty. Depression makes things uber difficult.

 

[Graham.N]

i've always thought of getting a kitty to help my depression, i tell myself one i (and the rest of my family) clean up the house, then finally we can get one... but i've been saying that for years, hopefully we can tidy enough so it's liveable for the poor thing.
hoarding is okay only for humans! hoarding is unacceptable if you have a pet, i tell myself.

During that time, I also got two cats. One was a stray, and the other was due to be put down. I felt the need to save all the animals, so I took on a guinea pig, too. It was overwhelming, and then I was working two jobs, too. Don't overextend yourself like I did. Shortly after, I ended up in the hospital. I was also kinda of a hoarder. Don't rush into it. As I spiraled the responsibility became a lot and added to my spiral too