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I got Zak when he was about 3 or 4 (2007) from Dobermann Rescue as I didn't want to start with a puppy for my first dog (too many people start with pups and can't cope, and they are adults for much longer, so my reasoning was: no point starting with a puppy if you can't cope with an adult, plus I didn't have the experience so didn't want to 'ruin' a puppy). I spent a whole year researching dogs and watching every episode of 'It's me or the dog' before getting Zak. Back then I was against pure bred dogs (because I thought pure bred = problems), until I met a breeder who put the appropriate emphasis on health testing (unfortunately not in NZ anymore), and now I've swung the other way as I feel it's important to put emphasis on health, temperament/working ability and conformation (in that order - and not breeding for the sake of breeding). Zak has taught me so much about dog training, we've gone from Zak taking me for a walk and barking at every seagull to me taking Zak for a walk with him ignoring seagulls (most of the time, anyway).
After 2 years of reading and watching everything I could find on dogs and dog training (again, but this time more specific
) I decided to get Kaz, I've had her now for 3 weeks and she's from working parents (with fantastic hip and elbow scores!). She's so much fun but the change in dynamic from 1 dog to two is really showing up my lack of experience. I'm using positive reinforcement methods, but because she's so young I can't yet reliably say she knows a command (she's doing fantastically with toilet training 
), I'm also having some trouble knowing what to do when she doensn't obey the first command (because despite my lack of experience, I am hoping to train her for S&R and for us to do canine freestyle together - only because there are no local Schutzhund clubs, and I wouldn't dare train that by myself). She's getting plenty of play and sleep time, we mainly train around meal times (so I am 'letting her be a puppy'). I don't know how other people turn out with good dogs because I'm having trouble (mainly with not knowing what to do) after all the research I've done (and most people I know who get puppies, just wake up one morning and think 'let's get a puppy').I'm having fun with my dogs and I love them to bits, I'm thankful to this forum because there are so many gems here that have already helped! Thanks everyone for posting problems and solutions!
