Suggestion for 1st time dog owner? Breed?

[scottmel]

Ok now I am getting nervous again. Thank you for the tips on the certain books to read, will certainly do that!

DD did a google search a few days ago for "quiz for family friendly dog". I didn't think the quizes that popped up were that great. Anyone know of any other on line tool that would let you answer about your daily life, etc. and recommend a dog for you? THis seems like a logical step for me.

So much postivie on Golden Retrievers but oh so big..Do they shed a ton? DD really wants a dog she can walk, who will sleep with her and she can train. DD is a peanut at 11 and 52 pounds..So I don't want some dog walking her! But so many fans out there, I think I might add him to the list! Honestly I really don't want to pay 1000 for a dog. I just paid that to a vet for my cat!!! (Not to buy, to try to help her and that isn't even working..).

I have made some notes of some breeds to investigate and really like the idea of visiting a dog show! But what am I doing wrong? I google AKC Dog Show 2010 and you can't seeWHERE they are just long list of dog specific breeds...What about a show that has ALLLL breeds that you can walk around?

Also looking at Havanese....a PP suggested these and they have possibility..

Thank you again guys!!! For sharing your stories - the shedding corgi story made me laugh..he sheds huh? Cute as a button but not for my family....(Did I mention I am a compulsive cleaner????)

 

[WDWorBUST]

There are a couple of things mentioned I would like to add my $0.02

Definitely do some breed quizzes....dogbreedinfo.com has one and I know I have seen them on other websites too. You can put it how much time you are able/willing to spend exercising the dog, the amount of grooming you are willing to do and your overall lifestyle and it gives you matches. It's definitely a good place to start. We used it and a couple others and kept coming up with Australian Terriers as a good fit for us. Of course they are also relatively few and far between (only about 500 AKC registered a year according to my research). But we have been very happy with our choice.

Also, I would skip having a professional train your puppy. Not only is it about training the owner as well, but it can really build the bonding experience. I would definitely do puppy class and obedience classses....and one where your daughter can be the one in the class with the dog, but it is definitely a bonding opportunity for your daughter and her dog that I wouldn't want to miss out on.

Other than that just keep doing your research.

 

[paintnolish]

OP- Look on youtube for episode's of Animal Planet's Dog 101. They are nice, concise overviews of many breeds.

As for Shelties, mine have always been happy running and fetching or napping. We've never had a problem with destructive behavior. We do have two children who love to play with them, though. DD taught the younger dog how to jump through a hula hoop- took about 10 minutes! However, there are long periods of time, like when I home working, that the house is quiet and they just relax. I would love to get a Border someday, but we are still fairly busy and they are notoriously destructive when not kept busy. I love my barking herders! The benefits outweigh the barking. OP, you just need to research the breeds and see which is the best fit for your family. Even among my two, the older is, and always has been, a my cuddler and a little more shy. MY younger, who is 2, is outgoing and a people-pup! GL!

 

[goofy4tink]

Love my golden..he's a sweetie and I couldn't ask for a better pet. He is sleeping right next to me at the moment. In fact, he is my 'shadow'....I tend to fall over him if I'm not careful. BUT.....he does shed, a lot. As did the golden before him. It is like having tumbleweed in the house!!! He is a terrific dog, but he does try to be the alpha, and that just doesn't cut it with me.

Just about any decent purebred dog is going to cost you a fair amount of money. BUT....here's the rub. Pay it now, or pay it later. We have friends that consistently buy from a 'breeder'.....only thing is that this 'breeder' has multiple breeds. Up to about 10 different breed dogs. I don't consider these people good breeders. They are a glorified pet store. In any case....these friends have had nothing but huge vet bills for all the dogs they have bought from this type outlet. Huge bills. I have stopped trying to convince them that the issue is the basic quality of the dog due to it's 'breeder'..they refuse to listen to me and tell me that they are just unlucky.

I buy only from showing breeders. I paid about $850 for my golden almost 10 years ago. That breeder calls me every so often to see how he is doing. He is show quality but I got him due to a possible 'defect' that would prevent him from showing as well as breeding. In fact, if that 'defect' didn't self-correct, the breeder would have stopped breeding his mother...due to the defects. Now...that's a responsible breeder.

Look at the poodles....the miniatures are adorable and they're smart. Your dd should be okay with one. They love being cuddled, they don't shed. But, be prepared to pay heavily for one.

On another note...my mother-in-law (a real golden retriever person) wanted a small dog about a year or so ago. So, my brother-in-law and his wife looked into Cavelier's, since that's what had been mentioned as a good dog for her. They found a 'good' breeder about 2 hrs from home. They paid about $1000 for a 2 y/o dog...one who had been used for breeding. Well...this was a nasty little dog. She pooped in the house, she hid from people, she snarled and snapped at other dogs (an issue since there are 4 dogs in the family that go to visit Grammie!!). When the dog snapped at my dd, 15, my mother-in-law said it was the last straw. The dog had to go. Well..it seems that the breeder had not socialized that dog at all. She had been kept in a kennel and they were downsizing their operation, so they sold her to Grammie!!! At least they took her back, but no money was refunded!!!
So, be careful. When you bring up the AKC site, just click on a breed you might like to check out, and it should bring up all the shows for that breed, then find one in your area.
Here's a link for you...click on the area you are in and it should bring up a bunch of shows and the locations/dates.

http://www.akc.org/events/search/

 

[EllenFrasier]

you guys are great! I would definately definately do a breeder simply b/c DD so wants a puppy. We have also rescued adult cats but DD really really wants a puppy. I plan to have her trained by a professional (I have a recommednation from a friend for this) but I am at a loss of what to look for. How do you know the breeder is good? are they registered somewhere that you can see their credentials? So if we don't opt for a "fancy bred" dog - but DO want a puppy - do you still go thru a breeder even for this?

Since you have your mind made up about getting a puppy, I would suggest you go to the website for the breed that you are looking into getting. For instance, if you are interested in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, then go to their website http://www.ckcsc.org/and there should be a section entitled "Is this breed for you?" and it will describe what it is like to own this breed. There should also be a section to help you locate a breeder in your area.

Have you looking into a Welsh Terrier? They are not too large but a little sturdier than a CKCS.

Good luck.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Ok now I am getting nervous again. Thank you for the tips on the certain books to read, will certainly do that!

DD did a google search a few days ago for "quiz for family friendly dog". I didn't think the quizes that popped up were that great. Anyone know of any other on line tool that would let you answer about your daily life, etc. and recommend a dog for you? THis seems like a logical step for me.

So much postivie on Golden Retrievers but oh so big..Do they shed a ton? DD really wants a dog she can walk, who will sleep with her and she can train. DD is a peanut at 11 and 52 pounds..So I don't want some dog walking her! But so many fans out there, I think I might add him to the list! Honestly I really don't want to pay 1000 for a dog. I just paid that to a vet for my cat!!! (Not to buy, to try to help her and that isn't even working..).

I have made some notes of some breeds to investigate and really like the idea of visiting a dog show! But what am I doing wrong? I google AKC Dog Show 2010 and you can't seeWHERE they are just long list of dog specific breeds...What about a show that has ALLLL breeds that you can walk around?

Also looking at Havanese....a PP suggested these and they have possibility..

Thank you again guys!!! For sharing your stories - the shedding corgi story made me laugh..he sheds huh? Cute as a button but not for my family....(Did I mention I am a compulsive cleaner????)

Hi. Just saw your latest post and wanted to comment that if you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, you will more than likely pay more than
$1,000 for the puppy you are looking for. Breeders who are not back yard breeders, go through many screenings and vet checks to make sure the parents of the puppies are healthy, so their costs will be reflected in the price of the puppy whether you intend to show the dog or not.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Ok now I am getting nervous again. Thank you for the tips on the certain books to read, will certainly do that!

DD did a google search a few days ago for "quiz for family friendly dog". I didn't think the quizes that popped up were that great. Anyone know of any other on line tool that would let you answer about your daily life, etc. and recommend a dog for you? THis seems like a logical step for me.

So much postivie on Golden Retrievers but oh so big..Do they shed a ton? DD really wants a dog she can walk, who will sleep with her and she can train. DD is a peanut at 11 and 52 pounds..So I don't want some dog walking her! But so many fans out there, I think I might add him to the list! Honestly I really don't want to pay 1000 for a dog. I just paid that to a vet for my cat!!! (Not to buy, to try to help her and that isn't even working..).

I have made some notes of some breeds to investigate and really like the idea of visiting a dog show! But what am I doing wrong? I google AKC Dog Show 2010 and you can't seeWHERE they are just long list of dog specific breeds...What about a show that has ALLLL breeds that you can walk around?

Also looking at Havanese....a PP suggested these and they have possibility..

Thank you again guys!!! For sharing your stories - the shedding corgi story made me laugh..he sheds huh? Cute as a button but not for my family....(Did I mention I am a compulsive cleaner????)

Here is another place to look for shows.
http://www.infodog.com/showinfo/state.htm

If you are still having problems finding a show, if you care to share your state, we could probably help you find a show and times for your breeds. Some of the companies that put on shows tend to stay in certain regions of the country. so, if we know where you are, we can help you dig a bit further.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Hi. Just saw your latest post and wanted to comment that if you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, you will more than likely pay more than
$1,000 for the puppy you are looking for. Breeders who are not back yard breeders, go through many screenings and vet checks to make sure the parents of the puppies are healthy, so their costs will be reflected in the price of the puppy whether you intend to show the dog or not.

It really depends on the breeder. I just helped some friends find a cocker. They payed $600.00 for an older puppy (5 months) whose bite was off so couldn't be shown. Both parents are finished, wonderful temperaments, breeder did all health screenings and had health screening info on her other litters and health stats on puppies she has bred.

The breeders were just looking for a good home for this girl, so priced her high enough so the buyers would be serious, but not too high to turn away good pet homes.

 

[louey]

I know other people won't agree with this, but if I was looking for a puppy from a breeder, I would ONLY buy from a breeder who shows their dogs. For example, if you did decide on a Cavalier (and that is a great choice!) I would start by searching both the AKC and the National Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club for breeders that are registered. Then, I would look only for a breeder close by (within driving distance for you) that performs genetic health screening on their dogs and shows all of their breeding dogs for breed conformation. This does not mean that you need to buy a show dog! What it does mean is that you are focusing your search on breeders who are looking to better their breed by producing healthy puppies who look and act like Cavaliers.

Every litter (even a litter between two champions) is going to produce some "pet quality puppies". These are puppies that are not the best of the litter and will not be shown and bred. Instead, they are sold as pets for a lower price than their show prospect dogs. There is nothing wrong with these dogs; they often just don't have the markings that the breeder was looking for, or are a little bit smaller or larger than the breeder is looking for.

I would not go through a backyard breeder, or a "friend of a friend". Backyard breeders do not do genetic screenings on their dogs and can often breed a health defect (like bad hips or elbows that require surgery, or heart problems) into their line without knowing better.

Like a PP said, you will often pay less in the long run by buying a puppy from a good breeder, than by paying for medical treatments for a badly bred puppy!

I am all about rescuing, and yes you can find puppies that need to be rescued. One thing there is a rescue for every breed. So maybe when you do decide what would be best for your family you could contact a local rescue that deals with that specific breed. But this is good advice if you are set on purchasing

 

[NMAmy]

I grew up with golden retrievers and my family bred them for many years. Personally, I don't think you can find a better family pet I've had several other breeds and loved them all, but none of the other (black lab, australian shepherd, mixed collie, amongst them) compared to the many (I'd say 8-10) goldens I've had part of my family for the last 45 years.

I've had many different breeds of dogs--when one of my dog dies, I just can't get another of the same breed for some reason--and I do have to say that our golden is just the sweetest, most gentle dog I've ever had. We got her as a puppy from the Humane Society. We'd planned on getting a mutt but couldn't resist her.

A golden is much bigger than what the OP is looking for but I did want to point out that it's possible to get puppies from the Humane Society.

 

[KPeveler]

All I can say is do NOT buy from pet shops, the majority of their dogs come from puppy mills, and sometimes they do not even know it, b/c they bought from a vendor/middle man.

I would suggest looking into local rescue groups that are breed specific, if you do not want to just go to your local shelter and pick out a mutt-puppy. For example, around where I used to live there was an Eskimo rescue group, one for huskies, etc... They often have dogs who really really need a home!

 

[louey]

I just looked at the rescue that I adopted my Cavalier King Charles from she was two at the time. On the first page of their website is a Cavalier 2 1/2 year old but cute. They have some cuties up for adoption and they do long distance adoptions as they are located in Nebraska and I live in Delaware.

http://www.hua.org/component/animals/?animal_type=

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Love my golden..he's a sweetie and I couldn't ask for a better pet. He is sleeping right next to me at the moment. In fact, he is my 'shadow'....I tend to fall over him if I'm not careful. BUT.....he does shed, a lot. As did the golden before him. It is like having tumbleweed in the house!!! He is a terrific dog, but he does try to be the alpha, and that just doesn't cut it with me.

Just about any decent purebred dog is going to cost you a fair amount of money. BUT....here's the rub. Pay it now, or pay it later. We have friends that consistently buy from a 'breeder'.....only thing is that this 'breeder' has multiple breeds. Up to about 10 different breed dogs. I don't consider these people good breeders. They are a glorified pet store. In any case....these friends have had nothing but huge vet bills for all the dogs they have bought from this type outlet. Huge bills. I have stopped trying to convince them that the issue is the basic quality of the dog due to it's 'breeder'..they refuse to listen to me and tell me that they are just unlucky.

I buy only from showing breeders. I paid about $850 for my golden almost 10 years ago. That breeder calls me every so often to see how he is doing. He is show quality but I got him due to a possible 'defect' that would prevent him from showing as well as breeding. In fact, if that 'defect' didn't self-correct, the breeder would have stopped breeding his mother...due to the defects. Now...that's a responsible breeder.

Look at the poodles....the miniatures are adorable and they're smart. Your dd should be okay with one. They love being cuddled, they don't shed. But, be prepared to pay heavily for one.

On another note...my mother-in-law (a real golden retriever person) wanted a small dog about a year or so ago. So, my brother-in-law and his wife looked into Cavelier's, since that's what had been mentioned as a good dog for her. They found a 'good' breeder about 2 hrs from home. They paid about $1000 for a 2 y/o dog...one who had been used for breeding. Well...this was a nasty little dog. She pooped in the house, she hid from people, she snarled and snapped at other dogs (an issue since there are 4 dogs in the family that go to visit Grammie!!). When the dog snapped at my dd, 15, my mother-in-law said it was the last straw. The dog had to go. Well..it seems that the breeder had not socialized that dog at all. She had been kept in a kennel and they were downsizing their operation, so they sold her to Grammie!!! At least they took her back, but no money was refunded!!!
So, be careful. When you bring up the AKC site, just click on a breed you might like to check out, and it should bring up all the shows for that breed, then find one in your area.
Here's a link for you...click on the area you are in and it should bring up a bunch of shows and the locations/dates.

http://www.akc.org/events/search/

You are so right about pay it now or pay it later. Our neighbors bought a puppy from a "breeder" last year.

They insisted this breeder was excellent because they had their USDA certificate. I tried to explain that this is needed when they are a puppy mill, but they insisted that these people were on the up and up and that they wouldn't lie to them.

Dog is now a little over a year old and current vet bills and future estimates have surpassed the $10,000 mark as the dog needs several more surgeries. Not to mention the lifetime of meds that cost $$$ each month.

This puppy also came with a so called health guarantee that looked great on the surface. But it was virtually useless if you read the really, really fine print.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

When I was a DD11, and an only child myself, I managed to wear my "cat-person" parents down as well and they got me a puppy. She was a miniature schnauzer, and not the breed I would have chosen for myself. She did, however, fit my mother's requirements "not big, not high activity, doesn't shed". Still, I loved that dog, and I firmly believe it's a good "starter" breed for those with little dog experience. She lived to a ripe old age (12 or 13...something like that). She never had any major medical issues. She wasn't the best trained dog in the world, but I'm fairly certain that was my fault. It's probably not a breed I'd have again, but I do have a deep fondness for them.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

Oh yeah, think about the little bitty puppy thing very carefully. A 6-month-old puppy raised carefully by a good breeder or loved in a foster home will already be well on the way to potty-trained and socialized. You are a first-time dog owner and your DD is a child, so this could be very beneficial to you. And if you open up your search to a dog 1.5 years or younger, your price goes down and your ability to really know more about the dog's personality goes up! A dog under 2 is going to still be playful and young, but past the whole "eat the chairs while teething" stage and the "forgot everything you ever taught me" teenager stage and the "where did you say I am supposed to go pee" stage.

When my aussie was a volunteer pet therapy dog at a local pediatric hospital we met a welsh terrier who also volunteered. Awesome dog. He was very trainable, quiet and gentle, and they don't shed. With any terrier, consistency is really key because they can really get in the habit of trying to do things their way instead of your way. But I would definitely consider this breed as long as you are a consistent person and plan for a full course of obedience training and lots of 1:1 time every day with this dog. I also don't recommend a herding dog, they are a handful for a first-time dog and most of them shed in copious amounts.

My sil has a bichon frise who is so incredibly sweet and gentle. Her last dog was an equally wonderful maltese. Both are tiny dogs, but fairly sturdy for their size, fairly easy to train and non-shedders. Both require a grooming expense, as do all non-shedding dogs. And if you need a little puppy, a quality one will set you back more than $1000. But if you look into small-breed rescue, you may be able to get a wonderful young dog for a donation of $500 or so, and your donation will also be helping to save other dogs.

 

[robinb]

The only way to find a reputable breeder is either through word of mouth or at a dog show.

I would also suggest your state's breed club or a local showing/kennel club. I found my poodle through the Greater Milwaukee Poodle club.

 

[SmallWorld71]

So much postivie on Golden Retrievers but oh so big..Do they shed a ton? DD really wants a dog she can walk, who will sleep with her and she can train. DD is a peanut at 11 and 52 pounds..So I don't want some dog walking her! But so many fans out there, I think I might add him to the list! Honestly I really don't want to pay 1000 for a dog. I just paid that to a vet for my cat!!! (Not to buy, to try to help her and that isn't even working..).

QUOTE]

If you decide to go with a bigger dog, retrievers/ labs are great with kids. We have a 2 year old black lab. We adopted him at 6 months through Adopt a Lab. I think it was $475 which included everything: shots, transportation etc... As far as the other things go, he loves his kids. He sleeps in DD's room, lets her climb all over him, play with him etc... So nice and friendly. But, he is big (95 lbs.), which is big even for labs. DS11 (also 95 lbs.) is able to walk him. DD7 (57 lbs.) does not have the strength to do so. Of course, part of that is her age, not her size. He does shed in the spring/ summer. He also went through a big teething stage, although that is long gone. He was definitely the perfect choice for us, but I know a lot of people don't want the large dogs.

 

[PatsGirl]

Goldens do shed, especially in the springtime when the weather gets warmer. I always took mine in for grooming and had them shaved pretty tight just when they'd start shedding to eliminate it and so they could survive the summer heat.

I know you are looking for something smaller but I've had goldens that were only 50# or so, although my last who passed away 13 years ago was 17 years old and #110 Maybe you could grab the runt of the litter.

As for only buying from breeders who show their dogs, I don't agree at all. There are great breeders out there who just love their animals, they don't do it to show them. Of course, most of them are doing it to make money too. If you MUST have AKC papers then they are another option, a much less expensive option usually. Around here, a golden from a breeder is around $600 with papers.

Although mine were all papered, I'd have no problem getting one from the shelter or a mix. Mutts can be great dogs, especially part goldens and part beagles (not half and half though, that might be a funny mix, lol)

As for being able to walk them, your DD should be able to walk any animal that is well trained, the upside being that goldens are very easy to train and thrive on pleasing you! Okay, they do take up alot of the bed though but that's a cross we have to bear

Someone mentioned black labs as a good dog. They are faithful and easily trained but far too much energy for me. These are not the kind of dogs that you can take for a leisurely walk in the am and the pm ~ they need to RUN, and often, or they will cause havoc in the house. At least that was my experience.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Someone mentioned black labs as a good dog. They are faithful and easily trained but far too much energy for me. These are not the kind of dogs that you can take for a leisurely walk in the am and the pm ~ they need to RUN, and often, or they will cause havoc in the house. At least that was my experience.

Our dog does love to run. We are fortunate to live near the beach and take him to there or a nearby dog park to run. It doesn't take much time, about 15 min. (less time than it would take to walk a dog). But, unless you have a yard, dog park or other large area, I could see where it could be a problem.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Goldens and labs are wonderful dogs when bred correctly.

But since they are the #1 and #2 most popular dogs, they are also the largest target of puppy mills and backyard breeders.

The more popular a breed is, the more important it is to find a breeder that is breeding for an actual Golden or a Lab and keeping to the standard, rather than wanting a litter because they want some extra money, Little Johnny needs to experience the miracle of birth and the neighbors had an intact male that they "studded" with their girl, or puppy mills where goldens and labs bring the most profits.

A true golden or lab has a beautiful temperament. But because of over breeding by people who don't know or care what they are doing, there are more and more dogs out there with a sharper temperament than the breed is supposed to have.

Same thing happened with cockers. A real cocker has a wonderful temperament. But you now have a whole slew of lines with nasty temperaments, shyness, etc.

A good question to ask a breeder is what part of the breed standard are they trying to improve on with this litter? Ask them why they bred DogA to DogB. What were they trying to accomplish? The breeder should say something like they both had great temperaments and I used Jake to improve Roxy's topline, etc. There has to be a reason the breeder chose those particular dogs to breed together other than "I wanted a litter of puppies to sell." (This really should be asked of breeders you suspect of being backyard breeders, such as ones that are breeding 5 or 6 different breeds.)

Read the breed standard yourself. They are all on the AKC site for each and every breed. For instance, if a breed standard indicates that dogs should be 10 - 15lbs, and you have a breeder that is breeding "teacups" of this breed, they are not holding to the standard, thus are not ethical breeders.

Colors are important too as some color combinations can cause health problems and sometimes be lethal. It is not just for aesthetic reasons that some color combinations are not allowed in a breed. It is usually for health reasons.

The "ghost" labs, the merle parti cockers, white boxers, etc.