So I wanna get a dog....

[Octoberbride03]

And i need suggestions on where to look research wise. I'm open to different breeds, and doesn't neccessarily be a pure bred. I was looking at the AKC Bible this afternoon, which isn't bad for a start.

So where do i go next?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What is your lifestyle like?

Are you active, need a jogging partner or are you a couch commander?

Are you going to be home alot to train a puppy into a dog or do you work alot of hours with overtime?

Your level of energy and age of pup is a consideration with your life.

I have a lab mix and a border mix and they need alot of walking to be sane. I walked 4 miles today with them. They are better with about 5 miles a day, everyday.

ETA...my border mix could easily do 12 miles a day or more. She is mostly border collie and they are a working breed.

 

[ComplicatedPink]

I guess the best thing to do would be to look at your lifestyle and see what type of dog would fit best. Do you have allergies? Do you have a backyard? How much time are you willing to devote to exercise? Can you handle a dog that needs lots of grooming? Do you have kids/how old? Do you have time to train a puppy or is an older dog better?

My dog was given to us by a friends co-worker and he's a headstrong little bugger but he sure is cute. That said, I don't think I'll ever get a dog with a double coat again, the brushing and trimming is crazy (but at least he doesn't shed that much).
If you're looking for a little fun guidance I would try something like this... http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

Good luck and hopefully you'll be enjoying your new dog soon!

 

[wvdisluv2]

Petfinder.com, DogsinDanger.com, any breed rescue that you may have an interest in/ability to care for... I have a Lab mix and a terrier mix (both rescues) they don't forget when you save them We will want pictures when you find your buddy

 

[Aimeedyan]

I like the breed selecter the PP posted - some dogs are adorable but not right for every person. I admire several breeds from afar because they don't fit our lifestyle.

Once you figure out what kinds of breeds are a better fit, hit www.Petfinder.com and see which pups are near you in those breeds. Two of my three are rescues - including one purebred. You can find purebred puppies on petfinder but if you run into trouble, you can look at the AKC for reputable breeders in your area.

 

[Octoberbride03]

What is your lifestyle like?

Are you active, need a jogging partner or are you a couch commander?

Are you going to be home alot to train a puppy into a dog or do you work alot of hours with overtime?

Your level of energy and age of pup is a consideration with your life.

I have a lab mix and a border mix and they need alot of walking to be sane. I walked 4 miles today with them. They are better with about 5 miles a day, everyday.

ETA...my border mix could easily do 12 miles a day or more. She is mostly border collie and they are a working breed.

I love the couch commander term. That's great.

To answer your questions. I don't work a lot of overtime, but Dh has longer days at work than I do. Since we're a 1 car couple he picks me up when he's done.

I wouldn't call myself a couch commander but i probably don't need a jogging partner since I don't jog. but a dog would certainly make get out somewhere for decent walks which wouldn't be a bad thing.

Certain things about our lives would change, like inpromptu decisions to go out to supper when he picks me up if DH is later than he expects(like tonight).

I used to have a friend who used to tell me all about the agilitity courses she did with her dogs. That might be fun to try, since i really liked the incredible dog competition they show on ESPN.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I guess the best thing to do would be to look at your lifestyle and see what type of dog would fit best. Do you have allergies? Do you have a backyard? How much time are you willing to devote to exercise? Can you handle a dog that needs lots of grooming? Do you have kids/how old? Do you have time to train a puppy or is an older dog better?

My dog was given to us by a friends co-worker and he's a headstrong little bugger but he sure is cute. That said, I don't think I'll ever get a dog with a double coat again, the brushing and trimming is crazy (but at least he doesn't shed that much).
If you're looking for a little fun guidance I would try something like this... http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

Good luck and hopefully you'll be enjoying your new dog soon!

I'll have to try this site when i have more time and see what it comes up with. I already know that we don't want something humongous like a St. Bernard. Plus they slobber too much. I used to love brushing my grandmother's dogs when i was younger, but i don't want anything terribly long haired or doublecoated i think. We already have a cockatiel and boy is he 1 dusty fella.

I'm not running on a deadline here. I want to get the right dog for us, whatever age they may be. Puppy would be good, but i don't think we'd be opposed to an older dog.

Lots to think about. I'd just hate to get sucked in by the cuteness factor and then find out he really doesn't mesh with us.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well then you are not looking for any kind of working/sporting breed then. They require a ton of your time and energy.

A dog that does agility requires someone who works out with them. Probably not the best choice for your lifestyle. It looks like "fun" but it is work.

I have a border collie mix and if she is not walking, she is hawking her ball to be thrown. She needs to "work" and she can get crazy if she doesn't burn off her energy.

I am not a small dog person but it sounds like you are looking for more of a companion dog. They are out there.

 

[JR6ooo4]

what are the living arangements for the Dog to be?
I mean, do you have a yard, is it fenced?

or are you in the doggy dreaded apartment.

DW says, "you need a cat" Heheheheheee.

if you own a home, and the yard is fenced, you can add a doggie door. Let me tell you how nice that is... No getting up 'cause you are getting the puppy dog eyes to let him out

Mikeeee

 

[Octoberbride03]

Well then you are not looking for any kind of working/sporting breed then. They require a ton of your time and energy.

A dog that does agility requires someone who works out with them. Probably not the best choice for your lifestyle. It looks like "fun" but it is work.

I have a border collie mix and if she is not walking, she is hawking her ball to be thrown. She needs to "work" and she can get crazy if she doesn't burn off her energy.

I am not a small dog person but it sounds like you are looking for more of a companion dog. They are out there.

OH I know its work. That's not a bad thing. I've seen 2 of the competitions now, and i thought they shortchanged the championship horribly by shoving everything into 1 hr. Its really interesting to watch. And having me get off my duff and doing something like that is possible. Having me do the Ironman is hysterical, cause I'd fall down dead. But the agility course is within the realm of my capabilities. I just wouldn't be able to do that kind of course every night. But weekends and a night or so during the week wouldn't be too hard.

But maybe what we want is more of a companion dog. That's what so nice about getting a dog. There is 1 out there for us. We just have to figure it out.

 

[Octoberbride03]

what are the living arangements for the Dog to be?
I mean, do you have a yard, is it fenced?

or are you in the doggy dreaded apartment.

DW says, "you need a cat" Heheheheheee.

if you own a home, and the yard is fenced, you can add a doggie door. Let me tell you how nice that is... No getting up 'cause you are getting the puppy dog eyes to let him out

Mikeeee

We live in a small Ranch house, with a fence some of which needs fixing. And the next door neighbor's side(she owns it) blew down months ago. Still hasn't fixed it.
Dh always gets up early so if we don't have a doggy door, I don't think the dog would mind
As for the cats, no thanx LOL. We love our friends' cats but we're much more doggy ppl

 

[Octoberbride03]

The pic of your dog is terribly cute BTW.

 

[JR6ooo4]

The pic of your dog is terribly cute BTW.

That's our Freddy, he has the friendliest sole. And always so hopeful for an early dinner or a trip to the dog park or even just a bunny in the back yard to chase...

Mikeeee

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

We got a full-blooded, neutered, well-trained black lab at the local animal rescue. He is absolutely beautiful and has the best nature. The vet said he is somewhere between 2 and 3 years old.

He requires a big long walk or run every single day. He loves taking a run alongside me on my bicycle...as I don't seem to walk fast enough to keep him happy.

And I TOTALLY agree with what WV said. He never forgets who saved him.

I have to tell you, if you want a good-natured rescue dog, go to the shelter and walk down the row of cages. The one dog that sits and stares at you without barking is the one you want to take home! Our guy was one of three black labs but was the only one who wasn't acting like an ape in the cage.

 

[Darsa]

Oh, please do consider the Humane Society!! We have a rescued dog whose mom was a purebred husky and died when the pups were born. The breed of the father was a mystery, but the resulting pups, all 8 of them, were at the shelter. I would have taken more if I had room for 'em, but we rescued our Cupcake (my DD named her when she was 7, heh) and there hasn't been a single day we've regretted it! That's her down there in my sig...

 

[suprgrlx]

I've been doing a ton of puppy researching lately as well!

My favourite site has been this one:

http://dogtime.com/matchup/start

This is a link to the "dog finder" section, where you can do a match up quiz, but you can also just type a dog breed into the search field on the top of the page and it will give you a ton of information. It rates them on how much they drool, bark, or bite. Also on whether they need a lot of exercise or can handle the heat/cold. There's also a detailed description on several aspects of the breed considering personality, how it gets along with kids/pets, health issues and grooming.

Other sites I've been comparing on that weren't already mentioned are:

http://www.pgaa.com/CANINE/GENERAL/size.html
(mostly to see size)

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm
(just search for your preferred breed)

http://movingtoanapartment.com/pet-friendly-apartments/top-50-most-popular-apartment-dogs.htm
(since we're in an apartment, but if you're not looking for a jogging companion, these might be worth looking at anyway)

After all our research, we're narrowed down to either a Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier or maybe a Poodle-Cocker Spaniel mix. Hope you find your breed!

 

[Keira1387]

I would tell you to get one from a shelter. Also, I know puppies are adorable, but they usually come untrained, Getting a dog a few years old usually means they are atleast potty trained. Like a PP said, a rescue dog never forgets that you saved them.

 

[kacaju]

if you are interested in a purebred go to infodog.com. find the link for the show calendar and you can see State by State all of the AKC Dog Shows in your area. Go to a few dogs shows and talk to the dog people there, it will give you an idea of different breeds.

Is your yard fenced? If so consider a greyhound. I know a few people who have a retired greyhound and they are great pets.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I've been doing a ton of puppy researching lately as well!

My favourite site has been this one:

http://dogtime.com/matchup/start

This is a link to the "dog finder" section, where you can do a match up quiz, but you can also just type a dog breed into the search field on the top of the page and it will give you a ton of information. It rates them on how much they drool, bark, or bite. Also on whether they need a lot of exercise or can handle the heat/cold. There's also a detailed description on several aspects of the breed considering personality, how it gets along with kids/pets, health issues and grooming.

Other sites I've been comparing on that weren't already mentioned are:

http://www.pgaa.com/CANINE/GENERAL/size.html
(mostly to see size)

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm
(just search for your preferred breed)

http://movingtoanapartment.com/pet-friendly-apartments/top-50-most-popular-apartment-dogs.htm
(since we're in an apartment, but if you're not looking for a jogging companion, these might be worth looking at anyway)

After all our research, we're narrowed down to either a Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier or maybe a Poodle-Cocker Spaniel mix. Hope you find your breed!

the Dogtime.com site was a good starting place. I liked that better than the animal planet site. I really wasn't sure about some of the answers, sdince i couldn't pick more than 1 answers cause a couple of questions could go more than 1 way.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I would tell you to get one from a shelter. Also, I know puppies are adorable, but they usually come untrained, Getting a dog a few years old usually means they are atleast potty trained. Like a PP said, a rescue dog never forgets that you saved them.

honestly I'm really open about where to find our dog. It doesn't have to be a purebred or come from a breeder. i'm also open about the age. I'm willing to do the work required to train a puppy, but an older dog is fine too. Though if the dog were older I'd prefer it not to be a senior dog so to speak.

Spaniels seem to keep coming up for me which is a surprise. So that may be a breed we want to look into.