Reddit reviews Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog

• do not use petfinder to adopt. they do not vet adoption agencies and often the agencies listed there buy puppies in bulk from puppy mills and then pass them off as rescues charging around $300-$400 for the pup.
  
• buy from a reputable breeder where you can meet the mother, or adopt from a shelter. make certain you google and research the rescue/breeder
  
• get pet insurance (like$10-$20/month) - i recommend trupanion. its a $500 deductable for each condition and the rest is covered
  
• variable costs include food, toys, treats. fixed costs include clothing, leashes, bowls, travel bag, brushes, nail trimmer
  
• hidden costs: grooming, day care/boarding, destroyed rugs/pillows/shoes/bags during teething/seperation anxiety
  
• initially you will need a crate and pee pads, also would recommend if ur not home that for the first 4-6 months you get a walker to come, later this is less important - also helps if u have another dog to keep the pup company
  
• read this book, mother knows best
  
  
  I have a 10 month old cockapoo at home - getting another one soon.
  
  
  EDIT: Also, yes you are worrying too much. Get a dog and love it with all your heart - the rewards are immeasurable.
  
  EDIT2: also forgot, heartworm meds and advantix/frontline can be expensive.

It's best to think of training as an everyday thing. Teaching a dog happens at every possible learning opportunity, which is always. If your talking about training as in sit, down, stay and basic obedience you can start that at about 3 or 4 months. Bathroom rituals, bite inhibition, crate training and little every day things should start now. badrap has some great training videos. Check online for a large resource of positive reinforcement and lure techniques for basic obedience training. When first starting keep your sessions short and sweet, ending on a positive and successful note. It will keep you and your puppy from burning out or getting frustrated. I usually follow a five/five rule for busy working individuals, five times a day 5 mins each.

Catch Your Dog Doing Something Right and Mother Knows Best are some cool books to check out.

this is a great book to check out if you need help training him:
http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Knows-Best-Natural-Train/dp/0876056664

Looks like an awesome dog.

They think of every being as a rung on a ladder. No two rungs are in the same place. There is an top male, and a top Female in every pack. You will tend to have fewer problems training your dog if that dog is the opposite gender of you.


The best guide book that helped me understand how to train my dog was this https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Knows-Best-Natural-Train/dp/0876056664