Hi, I am 20 and sophomore at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY, but I live down on Long Island.

I am studying Wildlife Biology, with plans for grad school, although nothing is set in stone. The picture is my ACD mix, who I grew up with.

He lives at home, and once I left for school he turned into a fat lazy pig, a product of my dad's empty nest syndrome. He now eats... dare I say it... Kibbles n Bits...

Anyway, during the end of my senior year (2 years), or right after I graduate, I plan on getting my puppy. I have been researching for a few years now, and looking at breeders, so I am prepared.

I am set fast on an ACD pup, my favorite breed of dog hands down. Ingrid's Poe is a huge inspiration dog of mine, and I love everything about ACD's.

I am a research hound, which I know doesn't make up for experience, but there is nothing I can do in the mean time.

Ideally, my future dog will come into the field with me, tracking/finding scat or whatever animal I am researching. I am really interested in dog sports as well, and would love to attempt Schutzhund.

Here are some of the books in my collection: Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods, Herding Dogs: Progressive Training,
Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods,The Australian Cattle Dog by Kathy Christian, Cesar's Way, Be the Pack Leader, Training and Working Dogs for Quiet Confident Control of Stock, and The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skeet.

I have also read most of the articles and Q&A's on this website.

Hey John, welcome to the board. Weird looking dog, in the first photo if you don't mind me saying so.

 Quote: john vanek

I am a research hound, which I know doesn't make up for experience, but there is nothing I can do in the mean time.

That IS what you should do in the meantime! Good job! There are a lot of puppy-related issues that can be avoided by research rather than by "trial and error" experience ("how often should I let my pup out"..."is it bad to let puppies be free-range in the house?"..."what are the general breed characteristics of the puppy I'm getting" etc) and it's wonderful to come across someone who is doing their homework *before* bringing the pup home!

Oh, and while you're doing your research, print out some info on the hellishness of Kibbles and Bits and bring it over to your dad's!

Thanks lol


Also, about the Kibbles and Crap, I have, he just doesn't care. I worked throughout high school and freshman year of college at Petsmart, and became sort of a dog (and ferret and cat and reptile and tropical fish) nutrition nerd.

My best friend has two golden retrievers and a pug, all with skin problems. I asked what food he fed, and he showed me the Beneful (shudder). I told him that was most likely their problem, and to ask his parents why they fed Beneful, and if they would consider changing. Turns out, vet RECOMMENDS Beneful. I wanted to punch that vet in the face.

Have you seen this LB list of all-natural kibble?

http://www.leerburg.com/all-natural%20kibble.htm

Sadly, I've never seen any of them at Petsmart which is where tons of people shop for their pets.

Beneful's gotten a lot of people because they *think* it's a good food because of all the pretty pictures of healthy-looking food on the bag! Bah.

Petco now does sell good kibble.

Kibbles and bits is almost as low as they come.

Tell your Dad they poop less on good kibble and the piles to pick up will be smaller and less smelly. He may care about that.

I have tried everything, trust me lol.

The only food that Petsmart sells that is decent, is Blue Buffalo, which isn't perfect. Recently they started selling the wilderness version, so thats an improvement.

Did you tell him that they render euthanized pets from vet clinics in that kind of food???

some just don't care. Believe me, i went through this with my parents. Nothing.
They absolutly would not spent more than 10 dollars for a 40lb bag of dog/cat food, no matter what i told them.

I did the ingredients breakdown,less poop, better health, dead pets, carcenogens, etc.

They still feed the dog alpo, and the cats meow mix......

i had to buy EVO for my own personal cat that still lived there-and my parents got offended and very angry that i had some shipped there.

some people just don't care.

good luck trying to get your dog on some real food! I really hope you can work with your dad.

Wow your dog is really ugly.

He would make a pretty lizard, though.

LOL.

Welcome to the board. Don't mind my dumb humour, hehe.

Ha, that was a rescue Dumeril's monitor that was mean as hell. Monitor's will severe nerves like nothing, you need to make sure you have a good grip on them!