Need some advice from the dog people here please

TippyThomas

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I'm thinking of finally getting a dog. I have a home with a fenced in back yard and I think I'm ready to enjoy having a dog to share my life with. I really don't know much about breeds and characteristics so I am asking those of you that do to give me some advice and input. Give me your opinion on a good breed of dog for a first time dog owner please. I will eventually start traveling via RV and camping pretty regularly again so one that can enjoy that type of lifestyle with me would be very important as well.
 
It really depends on what you want to do with your dog. As far as travelling with your dog in a RV, there are a lot of parks that restrict certain breeds like pit bulls, rotties, big dogs that have (in most cases unfounded) reps as being aggressive. Large dogs tend to have some physical problems that medium sized dogs don't, small dogs also can have physical issues. Some dogs are touted as "non-allergenic" which is sort of the case. Some breeds tend to be more stubborn, some smarter (which in and of itself can be an issue) and some friendlier. I would suggest you do some internet searches on breeds that fill in the blank for your wants. We always had sort of medium sized mixed breeds when I was growing up and mutts are my favorites. However, right now we have a yorkie. If you have allergies it is one of the easier breeds but there are other issues. Small dogs like yorkies can not be left outside alone, they are prey to a lot of other creatures. Yorkies are smart but stubborn, so potty training has it's pitfalls. They also shouldn't be left alone for longer periods of time, they are very people dependent. Mine is actually curled up on my lap right now, under the covers. We have a RV and she goes everywhere with us. We rarely leave her alone for longer than say however long it might take to go out to eat. Otherwise, she is with us. I have a number of carriers I can wear that I carry her in if we go for walks or hikes or are just out exploring and she gets tired. I've found lots of places that aren't advertised as dog friendly will let me at least walk in with the if she is in a carrier on my body. If you do decide to RV with one, you should find some sort of camera/temp. notification system in case the power goes out. You don't want to leave the pup alone in the RV for long in either the summer or winter without power.
 
I've had dogs for over 70 years so I can offer a few things to consider. First, I would recommend adopting a shelter dog. You can find wonderful dogs of all sizes and breeds. The shelters are good at helping a first-time owner choosing a dog. You will want to consider the size of dog you choose -- do you want to be able to pick it up? At my age, I definitely want a smaller dog. Also, do you want a dog that requires grooming? I spend $200 every six weeks to groom my four dogs. There are many breeds that are good for first-time owners. My daughter recently adopted a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. She is such a sweet dog. I would highly recommend if the size is good for you. I have had German Shepherd Dogs, Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Brussels Griffons. A lot of folks do not like Chihuahuas but I have found them to be lovable, easy to care for, and have few medical problems. I wish you the best of luck in your new adventure. You are about to obtain a wonderful forever friend.
 
Both of our boxers had a great sense of adventure, ready to jump in the back of the truck or into a boat for a ride, not afraid of water, always up for a hike or a walk, and had wonderful dispositions to boot. I'd classify them as a medium dog, although to others they may be on the larger end of medium.
Good luck to you - I personally feel like our dogs have added so much to our lives, and choosing one that works best for you & your lifestyle and the life you can provide it is a very personal decision.
 
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Thanks for the advice so far. I am considering a small to medium size dog. I hear so many different things about a dog's personality and how they are very breed specific so I guess I figured it would be worth asking those of you who have dealt with various breeds. I honestly have no idea where to start so I figured making this thread would be a good beginning.
 
First, I would recommend adopting a shelter dog. You can find wonderful dogs of all sizes and breeds. The shelters are good at helping a first-time owner choosing a dog.
I agree on adopting, but would add that a rescue that does fostering would be better than a shelter if you're planning to go with an adult dog. A large shelter is a stressful environment so it's difficult to get a sense of what the dog's personality would actually be in a home. Most rescues I know of have all their dogs in foster homes for a certain minimum amount of time before they can be adopted. This gives them a better understanding of the dog and they can better match to your personality/lifestyle.

A lot of folks do not like Chihuahuas but I have found them to be lovable, easy to care for, and have few medical problems.

When we were adopting our current dog, our only condition was "nothing small like a Chihuahua". She was still a puppy, but looked like a shepherd and even the vet said she would be "at least 50lb". She was full grown within like 2 months (about 25lb). We had a DNA test done and the largest percentage is chihuahua. lol

I am considering a small to medium size dog. I hear so many different things about a dog's personality and how they are very breed specific so I guess I figured it would be worth asking those of you who have dealt with various breeds.
I think there are certain traits that are breed-specific (like border collies tend to be high energy), but each dog has an individual personality. That's going to probably be the more important factor for you, especially if you are planning to travel. You can, of course, work with a trainer for behavior but there will definitely be some dogs that will have a personality more suited for traveling, meeting new people, etc.
 
I'm thinking of finally getting a dog. I have a home with a fenced in back yard and I think I'm ready to enjoy having a dog to share my life with. I really don't know much about breeds and characteristics so I am asking those of you that do to give me some advice and input. Give me your opinion on a good breed of dog for a first time dog owner please. I will eventually start traveling via RV and camping pretty regularly again so one that can enjoy that type of lifestyle with me would be very important as well.

Are you a member on Reddit? The /r/dogs sub has a questionnaire setup to answer this very question.
What breed should I get?

I only mention it because you will get feedback from hundreds of experienced owners. Not saying people here aren't experienced but it's a good resource.
 
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You might want to look at a Lab rescue. They are about a medium sized dog and they don't require a groomer. I've had 3 black labs, all from a shelter, they were about 65 lbs. Great temper, good with people, mine always got along with other dogs and even my cats. Very friendly. A rescue can help match you to a dog that you are looking for, most are being fostered so the foster parent can let you know what the dog is like. Good luck on your search, you're going to be make a dog very happy!
 
Are you a member on Reddit? The /r/dogs sub has a questionnaire setup to answer this very question.
What breed should I get?

I only mention it because you will get feedback from hundreds of experienced owners. Not saying people here aren't experienced but it's a good resource.
Wow, you weren't kidding with the amount of info available there. Thanks for the link and I'm looking forward to figuring out what I want to do and making it happen. It'll be the first time in my life I've ever done something like this and I'm scared and happy all at the same time.
 
I am an absolute "dog mom" to my 6 year old yellow lab. He's friendly, active, LOVES water, great in the car, and is a cuddlebug. He goes to daycare twice a week and I've never had an issue with him and other dogs. The only downside of the breed I've found is the shedding. He's about 100 lbs, but you can obviously find a whole range of sizes and colors!

I highly recommend looking into a lab, golden retriever, or even goldendoodle/labradoodle as a first time dog owner. There's a reason the breeds are popular and consistently recommended to families.

Good luck to you with whatever breed you choose. I'm sure it'll bring you years of happiness!
 
I'm thinking of finally getting a dog. I have a home with a fenced in back yard and I think I'm ready to enjoy having a dog to share my life with. I really don't know much about breeds and characteristics so I am asking those of you that do to give me some advice and input. Give me your opinion on a good breed of dog for a first time dog owner please. I will eventually start traveling via RV and camping pretty regularly again so one that can enjoy that type of lifestyle with me would be very important as well.

I highly recommend taking online quiz like this one. Dog Breed Selector Quiz – Which Dog Should I Get? (selectadogbreed.com)

It'll put you in the right direction as to the right breed that's best for you. All breeds are bred for specific purposes. For instance, if you want a lap dog, a Great Dane probably isn't your best choice (though I've known 200-pound Great Danes who would probably sit in your lap). But, also, if they're a hunting breed, they'll have a tendency to do hunting dog things. A herding breed will literally herd (Corgis do this).

But, I did the quiz, and was matched with a Shih Tzu. I've had 2 who were both wonderful. My last one lived 13 years and was the greatest friend I ever had. She got me through my worst times. She was loving, kind, and doting. She was also a diva, picky about hotels, and finicky about her food. :earboy2:

She was such a character, and she was my perfect match. I haven't gotten another dog, because I want her. And, there won't be another her.
 
We have a yellow lab and we absolutely adore her. She is about 60 lbs., and loves every person she sees. She is very food motivated, she was easy to train and all she wants to do is be with us and make us happy. She does shed terribly, though and is not a cuddler at all.
 
A great way to find a dog with a personality you are looking for is to adopt a fostered dog. I follow several local Facebook groups and I have dogs of all ages and sizes in my feed all day long. I wouldn’t go by breed alone, I wanted a relatively calm well behaved smaller short haired dog, ended up with a min pin Jack Russell mix (can you say hyper breeds), and got me a lapdog.
 
A great way to find a dog with a personality you are looking for is to adopt a fostered dog. I follow several local Facebook groups and I have dogs of all ages and sizes in my feed all day long. I wouldn’t go by breed alone, I wanted a relatively calm well behaved smaller short haired dog, ended up with a min pin Jack Russell mix (can you say hyper breeds), and got me a lapdog.

I adopted an older adult rescue and fell in love with the breed (Newfoundland). When she passed we ended up getting a puppy soon after. Although that's not fostering, but she was already grown, house broken and we knew her temperament.
 
I adopted an older adult rescue and fell in love with the breed (Newfoundland). When she passed we ended up getting a puppy soon after. Although that's not fostering, but she was already grown, house broken and we knew her temperament.
Mine was only 3 months old, but at her full size, housebroken and crate trained. Perfect!
 
If you have the time and energy to invest, I recommend a German Shepherd! We have two, and they are amazing dogs. Smart, loyal, protective, and loving. They also love being outdoors!
 
My DH and I have had 2 rescues from a local shelter. The first we had adopted when she was 4 years old and was a golden retriever/greyhound mix that was 55-60 lbs. She lived to be 13. Our current is a shepherd/hound mix that we adopted when she had just turned 2 years old and is now 7 and she is about 44-49 lbs. I never had dogs or cats growing up just fish but my DH did. Now I can’t imagine life without one.
 

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