Clueless about dogs -- what type to get as our first pet?
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Anonymous
| Cavachon. Adorable, small, non-shedding, smart, friendly, not very barky. Best of cavalier King Charles spaniel and bichon frise. We got our cavachon, our first dog, several months ago and he's awesome. Our whole family is in love with him. |
Anonymous
WRONG. Adopt, don't shop. |
Anonymous
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If you don't have anything in mind yet, one tip is to visit your local Petsmart on the weekends. Most have adoption events on the weekend where rescue organizations bring their available dogs for a meet and greet. It is a low pressure, non-committal way to meet a lot of dogs, and to have your kids be introduced to dogs. You can get a better sense for what type of dogs might work. In this area, a lot of rescued dogs are hound mixes. But I have seen everything, because lots of people get different breeds then have to rehome. You could google for "adoption events" in your city and probably find a list of places.
Lost dog rescue foundation would be a good place to check. They will adopt to families with kids under 10. You can also foster dogs for shorter periods of time in between adoption events and bring them back to the next one, which helps out the organization and would give you a chance to see how a dog fits in your home. I think a corgi might work for you guys but I'm not sure how easy they are to find in this area and how far you're willing to go. If you do get a purebred, you should look for a breeder that actively shows in conformation and does health testing. Keep in mind that corgis have become quite popular lately and these breeders may have wait lists, you may have to go out of town (to PA for instance) and a puppy will likely be between $1000 to $1500. BEWARE of those who charge a lot more but offer more puppies faster, those who charge different prices for different colors or male/female, those who have "lots" of litters and dogs available, those who have both parents on premises or own both parents for every litter they have (typically in order to keep genetic diversity and make the right match, reputable breeders find dogs as far away as they need to, not within their own kennel). These are all red flags, as is no health testing of the parents. A cavalier is a great option, but due to a lack of genetic diversity, they can have some serious health issues. You definitely would need to search out a very reputable breeder and it is not easy. Prepare to wait up to a year. I love cavaliers, but it's not in the cards for us. I have and was raised with shelties, which were brought up earlier in the thread. Shelties are hugely variable in terms of size and personalities for whatever reasons. There is variation among every breed but shelties it can be to an extreme. I have seen purebred shelties as little as 12 lbs and as big as 50 with a "pedigree" - i.e. known that all the dog's ancestors were AKC shelties. Most shelties bark a lot but I have one who doesn't. Some are very friendly and some are partially feral. If you get a sheltie puppy you would have to be prepared for basically everything. They are very sensitive and loving to whoever they attach onto but tend to have a lot of anxiety and are very needy in all ways. This breed would be good for people like me who want a perpetual baby and something to do all the time. Not so much for those who want an on the go dog that fits a variety of situations. Also, it may not like your kids. We have a great sheltie rescue in the area, Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue, and they provide very detailed and honest descriptions about each dog's behavior in the foster homes and how easy they are to keep, how they are with kids and other dogs etc. Shelties CAN be great family dogs, but I hesitate to recommend getting a puppy unless you're okay with your life being ruled by a sheltie's whims for the next 15 years. Because you have a child under 10, that may rule out rescues and breeders or they may want to see how your children interact with the dogs and puppies first (which is a good idea regardless to start having your children meet dogs and teach them how to interact). If you don't know dog body language well yourself, then definitely research into it and then teach your children how to recognize signs that a dog is seeking interaction or shying away. |
Anonymous
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We had a sheltie and preferred dogs from 1 mom as opposed to another. Met the moms and the litters. Ours was not feral and barked outside-very diligent in herding up wildlife - chasing squirrels up trees and rabbits out.
Never killed an animal but could have caught rabbits and squirrels. That dog had huge work instinct, was incredibly easy to housetrain. So much fun to train. lots of the hair gets stuck in the undercoat. Not really all over the floor for such a hairy dog. I'd get another-ours was about 26 pounds. |
Anonymous
I was kidding about partially feral although actually there are some traumatized shelties that unfortunately display such anxiety they cannot really be handled by people for a long time (I have seen some heartbreaking cases). I have had a lot of shelties over my life from the time I was born. Only one was a fairly normal dog, the one I have now who I didn't get until over 1 yr old is sort of close, but he's afraid of my DH standing up and has major separation anxiety, looses his mind if I try to take a shower and close the door, etc. I have been nipped by the shelties but they just do it playfully or mindlessly. I had one sheltie who snapped but just in your direction as a warning...didn't make contact. Never been bitten but it does happen, however generally shelties will give a lot of warning or you would have to really sneak up on one. Most shelties like to be left alone unless they come to you. Children excessively bothering or grabbing the sheltie is not recommended, but they are also sensitive and intuitive enough to be more tolerant of children. There are a lot more ways to deal with dog anxiety nowadays. Back in the day you were just ruled by your sheltie's whims. Now you might just be ruled by them partially. For an entire period of our lives we never went on a full family vacation to anywhere a dog could not travel in the car. I loved that sheltie though...I would out my life on hold forever to have a little more time with him. It is true shelties are relatively easy to house train, and keep themselves clean and generally "feel" clean. To varying degrees, but cleaner than an average dog. You don't feel dirty or greasy after holding or petting a sheltie. That I like. They don't drool much and they eat and drink neatly without spilling (probably as a function of their tiny snouts and skinny long tongues). They will chase wildlife but none of my shelties has ever attempted to hold onto or kill an animal. That would not be a good trait for a herding dog 
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Anonymous
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Hi, Op
I'm the poster with the dog from lucky dog. I forgot to add that we also were "clueless" about dogs. My family never owned them and my DH's family had dogs but his Mom took care of everything so not sure how much he really knew. I now know we lucked out because our dog is really the sweetest, most well behaved dog. We only met her when we picked her up from a parking lot in DC. If you are unfamiliar with Lucky dog they rescue dogs from South Carolina ( destined to be put down) and bring them up to get adopted. I saw her on their website and fell in love....But, they also have adoption events where you can meet the dogs. If you and the dog don't click after trying than I believe they will take the dog back. We also recommend WARL/Humane society in DC as we volunteer there. They really know the dogs and help potential adopters match up with the perfect dog. I would recommend getting a dog past the puppy stage as then you know the personality of the dog and you can decide whether or not it fits your lifestyle. For example, we wanted a medium sized dog who liked to exercise but, one that did not need excessive walking or running. Good luck! We are very happy with our dog. She even gets along with our five cats! |
Anonymous
+1 Lucky Dog and Lost Dog both foster pets, so the pets generally live with other pets and come socialized and trained. In addition, they are mixed breeds , which is a huge plus, for temperament reasons. You really can't go wrong - I have heard nothing but great things. They make appearances, with potential adoptees, at Petsmart on the weekends. At least take a look at their website. |
Anonymous
+1 On Corgi. I have a corgi and would not recommend this breed to a first time owner. They are very smart, can be stubborn, and willful, barky, hard to train and they SHED LIKE CRAZY. |
Anonymous
| I have had good luck with older dogs with known personalities. |
Anonymous
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I would go with a young but not puppy dog in the 30-40 lb range--big enough that if your kid trips over it it shouldn't be horribly injured, but small enough that a kid can walk it and its behaviors can be more easily managed (by putting stuff out of reach for example).
low-shedding dogs include poodles and terriers. there are medium-sized poodles that are smart and cute. but to me the most important thing is GET A DOG THAT HAS BEEN FOSTERED IN A HOME WITH KIDS. It's important to know how the pet does not in a shelter or at a breeder, but in a home environment. Lucky Dog, Homeward Trails, and Lost Dog and Cat are rescues my family has used and volunteered with, and they do care about making a good match. once you have the dog, make sure it gets plenty of exercise and you bring it to obedience classes. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog, and a lot of obedience is not just about training the dog but its handlers. Have fun! |
Anonymous
+ a million on getting a dog that has been fostered with kids. Look for an adult dog between 2 and 5. Work with one of the rescues that places their dogs in fosters to find a mild-tempered, housebroken dog that you think is cute. |
Anonymous
| OP, I am in your situation now (never had dog before), except that our kids are few years older. It took us more than a year of active research on the dog breed. I mean, not just actively reading a lot of information on the internet and books, but also meeting with dog's owners and actively talking to them. We settled on the French Bulldog and we are gettign a puppy. I am taking 3 weeks off to train him once he is at home, and then my husband will be able to take few days here and there in the morning, and kids will be responsible for the afternoons. I think it is better to train a young puppy (of you are willing to invest some time) rather than leave for next 10-15 years with the dog with the bad habbits. I also want to cook for the dog, so I want to make sure that he is not fed by processed commercial food. Just check what you family really wants and how much time and money you are willing to invest in it. Good luck! |
Anonymous
HAHAHAHAHA good luck training a French Bulldog puppy in three weeks. Snort. |
Anonymous
| You do understand a dog is worse then a kid right. You need eyes on them at all times. All your attention will now be on the dog and not your kids. Sign the dog up for doggie daycare so it's not stuck in a crate for 10 hrs per day |
Anonymous
| That brings up an important issue of crate training. Start the day you get your puppy home. Make it a safe space for the dog. |