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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are completely clueless about pets because neither DH nor I has lived with a pet since we were in elementary school (30  years ago).

Now our kids are school age (ages 7, 11, 13).  They have been begging for a pet for years.  Because both DH and I work full time, we had always figured it would not be practical or kind to leave a dog home during the day.

Now that the kids are older, we thought it was time to say "yes" to a pet.

I am reluctant because I feel like it's a challenge to keep the house neat and clean with 5 of us living there, and I know it will be even more effort once we have a dog.

Having said that, we see how much people love their pets, and we figure it would be good for the kids to have a pet to love.  They were so happy when we said "yes."  (My daughters love cats, but the majority voted for a dog.)

The question is what type of dog? We live near a nice trail for walking.  We are fine to do a lot of dog walking because I think it is always good to be out and about.

We have a fenced yard, but a small Cape Cod house.  Not a lot of space.

I hope this doesn't sound bad, but I hope to get a dog that is really cute or adorable.  My heart melts when I see a cute dog (like a Corgi or a Golden Retriever).  But I don't want to rule out less cute dogs, and I think all dogs are lovable.

I welcome any advice on what type of dog to get, and where!  Thank you![/quote]

What dogs have you, DH, kids met?  You all must know people with dogs.  Spend time with them - ask friends about their friends with dogs and visit them.  Part of your post was about corgiis and goldens.  Beyond cuteness they have different dispositions from each other and other breeds.  Corgies are not so friendly outside the family, busy working dogs herding.  Goldens are similar to labs but are bouncier and less forceful sometimes.  Neither are usual big killlers of mice, rats, other dogs, cats.

If a pup is frightened by something they can retain that fear-ie falls down steps, a person [then afraid of similar type] hits it etc.  That's why a good breeder and a fresh pup is a very nice thing.  One of my kids [young adult] has been around lots of friend's dogs who were rescues.  Deeply prefers the breeder route based on personal experience with now a very solid lab.  A lab pup can be less work than a hard to housetrain breed.  Housetraining a small poodle is a whole other experience than a bichon. Our labs and friends corgis and goldens would be very unhappy alone all day.

Lots of people take dogs to a local shopping center.  Which dogs are amenable to petting by strangers?  How do they respond to people on walks?  Our lab sits and lets tiny kids and elderly pet him.  A lady said her dog was a wheaten-cute but a terrier and don't approach.  As a kid I knew 4 families with schnauzers.  Spent alot of time with each and never once pet them.  [/quote]

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