I would like to begin knitting for a relaxing hobbieWhat is the best circular needle size to start with? Which brand of yarn would you suggest? Fiber content? What is a good beginning project/pattern?
Then don't leave chocolates sitting around! If you don't want your dogs jumping over gates when you're gone just put them in kennels/cratesI really hope you don't leave your dogs locked in the kitchen all the time, if so that's rather cruel and you should re-think owning dogs.
To be honest 4 Standards that live in a kitchen is a bit well, cruelThey are probably bored and under-stimulated and so of course they want out! These dogs need lots of exercise and mental stimulation-training, agility, tricks, etcIf you aren't keeping them stimulated they will do anything to get out and not be relaxed behind a gate in a kitchenThe short answer: get a crate and crate the jumperTraining a dog not to do something when you aren't' home is not really easy without the use of aversives, not something I recommend.
I bought a book on learning to knit and followed the directions in the book as to what size needles to buy and what kind of yarn to get the book starts you on small projects such as a scarf and you builds your skills as you advance also there are a lot of web sites for beginner knitting
