[Wondergirl]

Please read up on the different breeds of dog and their characteristics. You want to have a good experience living with and training your dog.

Who will be the main person in your family in charge of the dog?

[snowball12]

I would probably be the most in charge. You DO think that I should get a puppy right? I mean.. will it be too sad to handle when it dies? I really want a dog but I don't know if I would be able to handle it when it dies... what do you think?

[Wondergirl]

I would probably be the most in charge. you DO think that i should get a puppy right? i mean.. will it be too sad to handle when it dies? i really want a dog but i dont know if i would be able to handle it when it dies... what do you think?

Even a puppy will grow up and will die by the time you are in your late teens or early 20s. That's the problem with our pets -- they live such short lives. My oldest cat is 19 years old. I've had him since he was 12 weeks, a kitten. Most of my cats have died by the time they are 15, so I'm blessed to have a cat this old.

If your puppy gets parvo, he will possibly die. It's a common puppy virus. Puppies need several different kinds of shots and can be expensive, especially if they get parvo and need treatment. An adult dog from a shelter will have all his shots and is past the parvo problem.

[Wondergirl]

I would probably be the most in charge.

You will have to establish yourself as alpha, as the person in charge. Do you know how to do that?

[Wondergirl]

I would probably be the most in charge.

You will have to establish yourself as alpha, as the person in charge. Do you know how to do that?

Do you know how to potty train a puppy? Do you know about dog food and what to feed him? Do you know how to walk a dog (there's a right way to do it)? Do you know how to train a puppy for a kennel, his den, his cage? Do you know how to handle things if he chews on shoes and slippers and if he nips people?

[snowball12]

No.. I don't :( but I have a neighbor who knows about dogs ( I think! ) but do you have some advise you could give me about all those things you named?

Thanks!

P.S. what does "alpha" mean?

[Wondergirl]

no.. I don't :( but I have a neighbor who knows about dogs ( I think! )

You can't go running to or calling your neighbor every time you have a question (and you will have LOTS of questions!). Do your homework NOW. Read library books on dogs and dog care and dog training (636.7). Get books from the children's department. Those books have lots of pictures and photos to help you understand. Then you will be ready and will feel confident when you finally get a dog.

P.S. what does "alpha" mean?

I said "alpha, the person in charge." If you don't become alpha (in charge), your dog will decide HE is the one in charge, and then you will get many headaches. Your parents might decide a dog is too much for you to handle and want to get rid of it.

Every dog pack has an alpha dog, an in-charge dog. The other dogs look to the alpha dog as the leader. Instead of your dog being alpha, YOU are going to be alpha.

[snowball12]

OK.. You are very smart! And what do you mean by "(636.7)" mean

[Wondergirl]

ok.. You are very smart! and what do you mean by "(636.7)" mean

Your public library is set up by number, from 000-999. In the 200s are religion books. Dictionaries are at 423. Parenting books are in the 649s. In the 915-919s are travel books. In the 635s are gardening books. And in 636.7 are the dog books. Cat books are in 636.8 :D.

Libraries are very organized. Your school library is set up the same way.

General categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification system --

* 000 – Computer science, information and general works
* 100 – Philosophy and psychology
* 200 – Religion
* 300 – Social sciences
* 400 – Language
* 500 – Science (including mathematics)
* 600 – Technology and applied Science
* 700 – Arts and recreation
* 800 – Literature
* 900 – History, geography, and biography

[snowball12]

How do you know all this stuff? Hahaha..

[Wondergirl]

How do you know all this stuff? hahaha..

I was a librarian for 30 years. I learned the numbering system many years ago when I first worked in a library shelving books. Before that I was a teacher. Plus, I'm real smart. :)

[snowball12]

Oh! That's awesome! I remembered that you said that you were a cat person... how mANy cats do you have?

[Wondergirl]

All five were rescued from our yard except for Rasputin --

Rasputin, black and white, age 19
Kuro, very thick and long black fur, age 12
Little Debbie, gray, age 9 or so
Dido, skinny and shiny black with a few little white spots on her back, age 6 maybe
Deborah, skinny and shiny black with a white spot on her tummy, age 2

[snowball12]

Wow! That's so cool! And also.. right now my parakeet is puffy and she has been resting on and off today... is she sick do you know?

[Wondergirl]

Rasputin when he was little.

[snowball12]

Awwwww.. SO CUTE!

[Wondergirl]

Wow! thats so cool! and also.. right now my parakeet is puffy and she has been resting on and off today... is she sick do you know?

I PMed our bird lady expert to help you out with this.

[Wondergirl]

Has your bird been drinking a lot of water? Has she been having diarrhea? Has she been having trouble breathing?

[Alty]

How old is your parakeet? Does she have plenty of water and food? Is she a she? Has she laid eggs? Does she have a pal?

Is she sitting on the floor of her cage, or just puffing up on a perch?

Is the room she's in warm or cold?

[snowball12]

She is about 3 or 4.. She does have a pal. She is puffing up on the perch and she was resting a lot.