Never owned a dog, considering getting one because of ds1 who has sen

[Mercythompson]

What do I need to know about dog ownership puppy training etc?

Can anyone point me in the direction of good a site that takes me through the basics?

Not really asking about the sen issue, more about what I need to know/think about regarding getting a dog as a first time dog owner.

I am a Sahm so would be around most of the time but would have to be able leave the dog at home alone at times, for appointments etc.

I really don't know anything.

Basic questions.

Toilet training, how long, how do you do it, how bad is it before they are trained.

How long can you leave the dog for. I.e. Can you go on a day out without them?

Costs?

What else do I need to know?

Have a look at this Facebook group here, loads of info to get started with.

A fully mature dog as a rule cannot be left any more than 4 hours.

talk to friends with dogs about their dog.

Dogs vary enormously, and it is important to choose a breed (or mutt or rescue ) that fits in with your life.

choose a dog on temperament rather than looks. Also, smaller dogs are not necessarily easier than bigger ones. That is a mistake people often make!

I find the bigger dogs (labradors, retrievers and any of the pointy hounds/whippets/lurchers) much more manageable than cockapoos or terriers (though they are cute, but much too bouncy for me).

I have two with autism I can tell you that Eric who is six months old has known instinctively that they like to be treated differently. So with dd who is 11 he fusses round, sits on her knee, kisses her, chases her but with ds 19 he sits near his feet and waits for ds to stroke him. He seemed to know early on that attention from ds was on his own terms.
Toilet training with Eric was easy, he was reliable from about three weeks after we got him so at about 11 weeks. We followed the advice posted by Lilcamper here to the letter and whilst it was time consuming it was quick. I think we never had more than three accidents in one day and they were always because I wasn't watching.
I can leave Eric for three hours on his own but prefer it to be nearer to two. If we went out for the day then I'd leave him with my adult dc or at daycare as more than four hours would be too long.
Eric's a small dog so food isn't too expensive, insurance is £12 per month with £200 excess, grooming is £30 every six to eight weeks, then there is worming and flea treatments and any vets visits.Training, daycare, toys and extras on top
Eric's our first dog and he has been a wonderful addition to our family.

This is a good book for you to read to get an idea of the responsibility of dog ownership. Please consider very carefully whether your lifestyle is suited to the needs of a puppy and then adult dog as is it is potential 15 year commitment. To do it right takes a lot of effort on your part to meet the dog's needs.

www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Skills-Puppies-foundation-relationship/dp/1845844467/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403549308&sr=8-1&keywords=life+skills+for+puppies

You need a good friend who knows what they are doing, to advise you on choosing a puppy and the initial stages of training/care. They're your person on the ground, and the person you'll always be able to call to ask questions.

Setting aside your son's needs, do YOU want to have a dog as it will be you doing pretty much all the work and of you don't actually want the puppy then you could v quickly come to resent it

My ds2 has aspergers and dyspraxia - he takes a long time to get used to my change so found the early weeks with our pup v tricky - he loves him now but it took several months

IMO medium to largish (not giant) breeds work best with dc - dpup is about the size of a springer spaniel and v calm and hardly ever barks so he's less noisy and more predictable than some of the smaller breeds

That should be any change not my change ...

DD1 has Aspergers & we have a 10mo old Collie pup. He seems to know that DD is different & treats her accordingly. DD is benefitting hugely from the emotional attachment she is forming to the dog.

Having & training a puppy is incredibly hard work and relentless, everyone will tell you that.

However in my experience having & training a puppy is way easier than parenting a SN child!! :) I think it all depends on what you are used to

DS is 18 and has AS...he really really struggled with our dog as a puppy, to the point where he didn't actually want to be in the same room as the bitey bouncy thing.

Also despite growing up in our house with DS and my closest friend visiting 2 or 3 times a week with DC with SNs my dog is not calmer or better behaved with children with SNs, he's actually worse, he'll harass them and try to engage them in rough play that they're really not up for...to be fair it is his version of being friendly, but he seems to really struggle with their body language about backing off much more than other with other children.

Basically puppies can be a bit of a nightmare, mine mouthed constantly for about 3 months and we were all covered in cuts from him, which like I said DS really struggled with. On top of that you can't really predict how a puppy will turn out, despite your best efforts.

If your DS's SN is anything that might make biting and unpredictable behaviour stressful for him or affects body language like autism...I'd seriously think about getting an adult dog that already has a personality that will suit rather than getting a puppy and hoping they do.

But then I didn't find the puppy stage easier than parenting, lol. I'm firmly against having a puppy ever again, I've always owned dogs, older rescue ones and that's what I'd pick next time.

Oh as in I have to intervene with other DC...not that I'd expect them to deal with him, but, I have to intervene with him much more with DC with SNs.

I'd recommend a trip to your nearest dogs trust and your son can meet some dogs and see if there is one they think would be a good match that he clicks with.

I'd go for an adult rescue, can still be young one or two, but personality more known, of has experience of kids, calmer, house trained etc.

Lurchers are very calm indoors, then mad rabbit chasers while out for a walk, but then totally happy being a rug once back indoors again. Very calming and come in lots of sizes not just huge.

Hi, I currently have two dogs - used to be three - and my eldest has SEN. Will admit to being heavily biased, but have to agree Lurchers are a good candidate, as they are - generally very cakm in the house.

Are you wanting a pup? I guess so from your question about toilet training. ELGR have 17 Lurcher pups, born in rescue at the moment and Lurcher Link have just had a litter of 5 born, so roughly 8 weeks till they'd be ready for their new homes.

Right, toilet training, really depends on the dog, anything fron a week to a couplecof months, but if you search MN and use the method outlined by Lilcamper it should be just a couple of weeks.

If you do get a pup they will need to be taken out and about everywhere, being carried until they compleye their vaccinations, in oder to ensure they get proper socialisation to as many things, people, dogs, other animals etc as possible. The window of oppotunity for this is quite short and you need to get as much in as possible prior to 12 weeks of age.

You will need to get pup used to being alone for short periods right from the off. They can't be left much when they are tiny, but if done right you can build up the length of time they're happy to be left for fairly quickly. Prob no more than a couple if hours for an older pup, but adults can go for a max 3-4 hours. Any longer than that and you'd need a dogwalker or someone to cime in and take them out for you. If we are going somewhere for a long day out, eg themepark, I tend to book mine into kennels as I know they are happy and well looked after there, but there are also dig sitters dig daycare ti consider.

Cost, remember to budget for monthly food bill, training classes, annual vaccinations, including kennel cough if you plan on using daycare or kennels, microchip, regular worming, ad hoc minor vet bills for those things that fall under insurance excess and definitey lifetime civer pet insurance.

Initial cost would be purchase price if pedigree - anything from several hundred to over a thousand depending on breed, or a couple of hundred-ish donation for a rescue. Then dog bed, collar, lead and id tag and toys and possibly a crate uf you decide to use one.

I would recommend you read Life Skills For Puppies if you do want a pup.

Also do bear in mind nipping, super lively pups don't always go down well with some children who have SEN, so well worth seeing if you can vusit a few first and see how your dc copes.

Apologies for any typos, am on phone.

Back on laptop now and very about the shocking typos I made when posting on my phone earlier. Apologies.