Speaking up- hi all!

[el perro]

Hi everybody. I've been a 'lurker' on the DailyPuppy for the passed 5 months, just browsing the threads and admiring some of the most adorable puppies and dogs I've seen. I thought it was time to speak up. I live in England with my 7 year old cat, Mister- Mr. Wagz, which nobody calls him -who is currently at the vets for Kidney stones , and some other pets which I'm sure some of you aren't fond of. For the passed three years or so, I've been picking up dog books on everything from training to raising to herding, to retrieving and guarding, obedience, agility, breeds, grooming and just plain Dog! It seems everything I do learn goes in one ear and out the other. I'm hoping that reading the responses, articles and information on the DailyPuppy will make the knowledge stick!

I don't plan to buy a puppy any time soon, simply because I don't know enough. I'm hoping the DailyPuppy and the people who make it can force the 'puppy' knowledge into my brain! I've never had a dog before in my life, so I'm determined to make sure I get it right. Even if the waiting part is killing me.

Thanks for having me here,

EP

[SookDog]

Good for you for getting all the info before getting your first puppy! Everyone around here will help you get VERY prepared I've got a cat as well, Lilly - but that's my dog, Sookie, in the avatar.

Welcome from Shari, Sookie & Lilly

[4CrazyCanines]

El perro --- I love that user name!!

This site and the people on it are really great. And like Shari said, it's great that you're learning everything you can BEFORE you get your first dog! Kudos to you!!

Welcome from Kas, Diesel Wayne, and Evee!

[el perro]

Hi Shari,

Thanks for being my first 'welcomer'. Sookie is beautiful- I love her stumpy tail. I've had some friends who have had "devil dogs" in the passed due to ill-breeding, bad training, etc. I want to make sure that I do everything I can in order to make my first dog one of many. Knowing how to do everything right is another thing, though...

Hi Kas,

thanks for the welcome!! Diesel Wayne is such a handsome puppy. I love the little Blue splodge in his eye. Trust me to pick out something small. Evee is beautiful, too. I really like the curly-coated dogs- Evee is no exception! Their tails always go into a 'Pom-pom' shape. She looks so happy doing her agility.

EP

[Deerie me]

Hi EP. So you eventually got around to posting. Good for you.

It is very commendable that you want to learn everything before getting a dog. If I'd done that I'd still be dogless. A huge amount of knowledge is built up as you go along and as problems arise and are solved. We are all here to help and will if we can both pre-dog and once you get your bundle of joy.

Welcome to the DP from Tracy and Deerhounds Loki and Idun in Leicestershire. Whereabouts are you?

[el perro]

Hi Tracy,

I saw Idun and Lokis profiles' a while ago. They're both beautiful. I love the breed, it's a real shame there aren't more of them in the UK. I live in Bedfordshire- just off of London. I sort of figured out that I'd never have a dog if I tried to learn everything about them in the 4th-6th week of my research... I've decided that I want to at least get the basic training and basic health information in my brain before getting a dog/puppy. Anything else is an added bonus...now, anyway

EP

[Deerie me]

You're going about it in completely the right way and that has to be admired. Have you any thoughts on what breed would suit you or are you thinking more towards having a look at what is available at the local rescues when the time comes?

[el perro]

I've been looking into Golden Retrievers. I'm...80, per cent certain one would be well suited for me. The hair isn't a problem, the 'velcro dog syndrome' isn't a problem, the exercise isn't a problem, the hours a puppy would need shouldn't be a problem...But there are some problems with the breed, and other breeds which would be good for me, such as Labradors and Pointers. In my area, any dog that looks like it could be slightly threatening to the public is off limits. Anything large with Rottweiler markings is screamed at and run away from, so I looked into the dogs that looked "soft" first, and narrowed it down to retrievers. I'm not making any decisions on the breed until after the move is over with, but I do have a feeling I'll be going with a Golden Retriever..

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Welcome to the Daily Puppy EP! As the others have said, you are doing everything right. Much like raising children, some of it just has to be learned as situations arise.

I have had Goldens most of my life and I think that is a wonderful choice for a first time dog owner. Right now, I've "downsized" to two Cavaliers, namely Oliver and Henry and we live in London, Ontario (Canada).

Everyone here is very helpful and no matter how experienced, or inexperienced anyone is, we all learn something from each other. Welcome again, from Deborah, Oliver & Henry

[el perro]

Hi Deborah,

Oliver and Henry are lovely!! Cavaliers are one of the few smaller breeds that I would actually think of getting in the future. They're wonderful dogs, with the looks to match. I've always had a thing for long and flowy coated dogs. Cavalier ears have me sold.

EP

[kian]

Hello EP (the dog in spanish?)

Seen you around, glad you have formally introduced yourself so we can all say Hi. I know you have been lurking and reading which is good. Someday all the reading and learning will help when you get your pup. Then there will more and more questions, I promise!

Hello and welcome from Me-Kian and the two sassy Aussies, Allie and Ice

[el perro]

Hi Kian,

Yes, 'El Perro' is 'The Dog' in Spanish. I couldn't resist. Allie and Ice are beautiful! Perhaps Ice would prefer 'handsome'? Thank you for the welcome...I decided to introduce myself today while I had a 'free day' as I had to be home this afternoon to await a call. It was the perfect time, so I got stuck it. I also felt kind of bad about eavesdropping in on some threads without people knowing who I was. "Some weird person with a foreign user-name is browsing my thread," LOL.

EP

[kriswak]

Welcome EP to the DP.

From me kwak(kris) and Rocco and Miley my All American Mutts from Southern California.

[Kristen&Bailey]

Official welcome to DP. I've noticed you lurking before. Feel free to join in on conversations now that you have introduced yourself Good on you for wanting to educate yourself before jumping into dog ownership. If more people did that, a lot of dogs would be better off.

[4CrazyCanines]

Hi Kas,

thanks for the welcome!! Diesel Wayne is such a handsome puppy. I love the little Blue splodge in his eye. Trust me to pick out something small. Evee is beautiful, too. I really like the curly-coated dogs- Evee is no exception! Their tails always go into a 'Pom-pom' shape. She looks so happy doing her agility.

EP

Thank you for the kind words!! Diesel and Evee appreciate it

Yes, Diesel's partial blue eye is definitely a small detail - that's neat that you picked it out, because most people cannot even when I point it out lol! Evee definitely loves her agility and even though she's not the fastest dog out there, she tries her little heart out!

Keep asking questions - like I said before, everyone on here is very helpful and wonderful to talk to!