01-08-2010, 07:40 PM
(01-08-2010, 07:24 PM)The Antagonist Wrote: Fuck you Frank.
Ramsey, if you are going to leave the dog home alone all day long then a puppy is not for you.
Puppies need constant attention if you're ever going to have them trained and housebroken properly. They need several meals a day for the first year of their life as well.
Labs and Goldens are bird dogs. Bird dogs have bird brains. They can be hyper and difficult to train if you're not going to be there on top of them. They are bundles of energy for the first five years of their lives.
Why don't you take the boys to the shelter and adopt a full grown dog? Many animals are in shelters now due to the economy and they do go through a rigorous screening process to make sure they will suit your home and family and are already housebroken. Find an ASPCA shelter - you're in NY so you should be able to find one. They are the best at what they do and can help match a good animal to your family.
And more importantly, be sure to enroll in an obedience class right out of the gate. It will go such a long way toward making a happy household for all of you, no matter what breed you choose.
I'm trying to think of a breed that might be best as a 'puppy', but honestly, as Ant said, being left alone all day... you can't really expect ANY puppy to handle that. A young adult dog would be perfect for you and your kids.