Picking a dog-

[Nephythys]

Hi animal lovers!

I could use some advice. As you know I am closing on my house today and moving this weekend- woo. At some point in the not too distant future I want to get a dog. I like the idea of having a warm fuzzy lovie who barks to protect it's home and family.

I've never had a dog- of my own. Not really. I had a dog- but it loved Mom best. This time I would be Mom- and dog would love me. :) but I have some questions about dogs.

Breeds? I prefer mixed breeds- or does anyone have suggestions for breeds (mixed or otherwise) that are known for liking kids, cats and people and also being protective?

I will only get an animal at a shelter- preferably a young one so the cats and the dog can get used to each other- any tips on that?

Dog runs- we have one at the house already. I want to update it because it is all rock (poor little paws) - so, any tips on dog runs?

I don't want a dog that will jump fences, dig out, or generally destroy things- is that a breeding or a training issue?

A lot of care and thought will go into this decision- so I am gathering advice now.

Thanks :D

[Moonliner]

I'd suggest a Jack Russel Terrier. Small enough to make a good lap dog but tuff enough to protect your home from grizzlies.

Our little Jack is a cuddly lap dog to all of us but also faithfully protects our home from bad people. Of course he also "protects" it from the mailman, the neighbors, other dogs, squirrels, falling leaves and I suspect any air currents that just don't look right to him.

We feel very safe.

[Snowflake]

Well, my best friend had a Jack Russell, took him years to calm down and not destroy the front door and walls he chewed through.... :-)

No question, he's a sweet dog

[Nephythys]

awww- that is just too cute. (and funny- thanks for the laugh)

[DreadPirateRoberts]

We have a female golden retriever. Like most dog owners, we think she is the best in the world.

[Capt Jack]

I prefer mutts myself but goldens are top notch dogs. no question. however, they shed like they're trying to wallpaper the world with their fur. a definite consideration, especially if youre moving into new digs.

my two cents: go to the shelter, sit down in the middle of their viewing area and just observe the dogs there for awhile. you'll connect with one, I'll just bet. it will get your attention (in a good way) or vice versa. thats the one.

"get off your butt and save a mutt" :)


PS: two more cents.....get a female.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

...however, they shed like they're trying to wallpaper the world with their fur. a definite consideration, especially if youre moving into new digs.

I'm not quite sure, but ours doesn't shed much (if at all).


PS: two more cents.....get a female.

agreed

[Strangler Lewis]

Do you have any demolition you need to do? Sprinklers ripped out? Slipcovers to replace? Do you want to get extra exercise by getting up to change the channel manually instead of just using a remote? If so, I recommend a young lab.

[Capt Jack]

I'm not quite sure, but ours doesn't shed much (if at all).

oh you are sooo lucky then. a friend from a few years back had one and I dont know what was up with this dog, but to pet her was like opening a vacuum cleaner bag. hair flew around like it was propelled by a leaf blower!

professionally groomed?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Finding a young dog at a shelter will not be easy. They tend to go fast.

You may also want to consider looking up rescue organizations as well as shelters. They may be able to help you find what you're looking for.

But I do agree with what was said above. If you do go to a shelter, odds are your dog will find you.

[Strangler Lewis]

If you do go to a shelter, odds are your dog will find you.

Finding a dog who will find you is easy. However, a lot of dogs are one-person dogs. Since you have kids and cats, a potentially troubled shelter dog who will view you as his savior may not be a good mix.

Before we got our lab, we got a Belgian shepherd mix from a local rescue place. The dog was the product of a broken home and, apparently, part of a shared custody arrangement. The rescue people told us how he would jump the fence when he was away from the kids' house and run across town to be with them.

Well, he was a great dog. For me. He would lie beside me in my garage office, run with me, etc. However, as he got comfortable and found his voice, he started looking too interested in my toddler son's scampers across the room and, when he growled fiercely at my daughter coming down the stairs, he was gone. I think he didn't know who was who and who to protect from whom.

"Huh," said the rescue people. They recommended that we take a look at another dog. It was the Hound of the Baskervilles on steroids. Go slowly. Getting rid of a dog who doesn't fit will make you feel bad.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

oh you are sooo lucky then. a friend from a few years back had one and I dont know what was up with this dog, but to pet her was like opening a vacuum cleaner bag. hair flew around like it was propelled by a leaf blower!

professionally groomed?

No, amateur grooming. My wife shaves her about every 6 months. One year she shaved too close and our pup looked like a little pig! She had to wear a t-shirt so she didn't get sunburned. Maybe it's the mild california weather, so her coat doesn't get that thick.

[Capt Jack]

yeah you definitely do NOT want to be around a sunburned dog. they're just downright cranky. as far as the fur, it could be. the girl who had the one I was around was from Colorado, so alot of the time the dog was snowbound or at least in a very cold climate. either way, dynamite dogs.

[Not Afraid]

I don't even know where to start. Do you want large or small? Furry or not. Require grooming or not? A dog that can withstand temperature extremes or an inside dog? Do you want a dog that can be off leash at all?

All dogs can be trained but some are more difficult that others.

Two of "my" dogs are chow mixes. Both are loving and fuzzy, can stay outside, love cats, are good watch dogs and are generally great dogs. One is mixed with a Wheaton Terrier and his only problem is waunderlust. Terriers tend to like to escape and roam.

Lab mixes are great dogs all around and are very popular. The Lab is the #1 most popular dog in the US. They take some work and puppy stage can last a LONG time. But, they are generally great dogs.

Beagles are wonderful but stubborn and have an annoying bark. They are hearty little dogs.

Boxers are great but difficult. We've never had a Boxer that could handle doggie day camp.

I have a Pitt mix that is the most loving and sweet girl ever.

Goldens are always great dogs. I've never met a bad golden.

Another favorite dog of mine is a Husky. Sweet, loving, loves to exercise and play.

Any of the herding dogs are lots of fun, very smart and trainable and they LOVE to play. I love Corgies and Border Collies especially. They will herd your cats and children.

When you're looking for a dog that will be friendly with cats, look at what category their breed is in. Generally, (and this is NOT always true). If they are bread to catch things, they may not do well with cats. That can be the case with hounds and terriers especially - but, again, that isn't a rule.

Dog Groups:
Sporting
Hound
Working
Terrier
Toy
Non-Sporting
Herding

I could go on and on. I've taken care of so many dogs and different breeds over the past year, I feel I've gotten to know the general personalities of different breeds, but when you have a mix, you never know.

Start with www.Petfinders.com or find a breed you like and go to a breed rescue.

[Not Afraid]

I knew there'd be more. ;)

Puppies are adorable but are a LOT of work and training is a full time job for about a good year. BUT, your cats will do their part to train the dog. With an older dog, you probably still need to train but their personality will be further developed so you know what you're getting into.

But, ANY dog can be trained. Some are more difficult than others. Remember, dogs are pack animals. YOU need to be the Alpha dog in the pack for the dog to listen to you.

My boss always says "There are no bad dogs, only bad owners". I believe him.

[Ghoulish Delight]

When you're looking for a dog that will be friendly with cats, look at what category their breed is in. Generally, (and this is NOT always true). If they are bread to catch things, they may not do well with cats. That can be the case with hounds and terriers especially - but, again, that isn't a rule.And even then, it can be on a cat-by-cat basis. Our family's last dog was a rescue, found by a friend of a friend of a friend or something. That person who found her had to give her up because, while she got along with their other dog, she didn't get along with their cat. BUT, the people they gave her to had to give her up becuase the exact opposite was true, she had no problem with their cat, but didn't get along with thier dog.

Most rescue orgs will let you do a test run to be sure they're a good fit. It won't guarantee perfect compatability, but it should let you know if there are any major issues.

[Stan4dSteph]

Watch The Dog Whisperer. You might learn some things about training. I love watching that show.

[Strangler Lewis]

Goldens are always great dogs. I've never met a bad golden.



I have.

[Nephythys]

My brothers smooth collie- who sadly died too young- would be perfect, but I don't know if I could find one outside a breeder.

Short hair
good inside and out
sweet, loving, attentive but not too demanding.
Protective and playful-

My dog would stay inside in inclement weather except for potty runs. So both and outdoor and indoor dog-but not a fence jumper.

I am also pretty anti-drool-so big drooling breeds- no good.

[Alex]

Just remember, if it is under 20 pounds it is not a dog, it is a rat with a hairy tail.

Owning rats is perfectly fine, but don't go around telling people you got a dog. They'll just laugh at you when you're not looking.

[Not Afraid]

I think you might be happy with something from the herding group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herding_dog). Border Collie, Australian Shepheard, Australian Cattle Dog, Collie, Corgi (for a smaller version) or German Shepheard. You can ALWAYS find shepheard mixes waiting to be rescued. Aussie Shepheards are GREAT dogs. I took care of two miniature Aussies for a while. VERY trainable and smart as well as loving and friendly. Aussie Cattle dogs are short hair and easy to take care of as well as being great companions. I really like this entire breed group.

The one bad thing about these dogs is that they can be TOO smart.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Poodle mixes. Poodle mixes don't shed and produce fewer allergens.

[Not Afraid]

If allergies are a problem, there are quite a few dogs that have hair instead of fur and product fewer problems for the allergy-prone. There's a decent list here. (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/allergy.htm) Of that list, I'm partial to the Westies, Wheatons, Basinjis (who don't bark), and Schnausers.

I'm not a poodle fan. They always seem to be the most annoying dogs I take care of. Spaniels come in a close second. But, again, it's not a universal thing. My cockapoo is about the cutest thing on the planet, but she's one bad dog at times. She's got the attention span of a toothpick.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm not a poodle fan. They always seem to be the most annoying dogs I take care of. Thus, poodle mix. Labradoodles (Lab/Poodle mix) have become very popular recently (and they're adoreable).

[Not Afraid]

Labradoodles are great, Cockapoos are not always so good. It just depends on the mix. Poodles have been bread with just about everything lately. There are a whole host of new "designer" mix breeds. (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/hybriddogs.htm)

Here's more great information about the recent "hybrid" craze. (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/designerdogs.htm)

[Alex]

I'm a big fan of not being able to answer the question "what kind of dog is it?" Purebreeds always seem to have some personality or health quirk that makes them a lot of trouble.

All the "who the hell knows" dogs we ever owned were always the best ones.

A coworker has a couple non-allergenic dogs that are imported from Cuba or something like that. I forget what they are called but he is very fond of them even if firmly in the hairy-tailed rat category.

[Capt Jack]

Just remember, if it is under 20 pounds it is not a dog, it is a rat with a hairy tail.


*whew* Chewy jusssst made it.
http://members.cox.net/boba2/Sigs/chewy.jpg

[Snowflake]

I'm not a poodle fan. They always seem to be the most annoying dogs I take care of.

Well, I grew up with a poodle. She was a great dog, smart and never missed a damn thing in the neighborhood. We grew up together (had her as a puppy) and she was always fun, playful and a great watchdog. We never had an incident of biting any other kid in the neighborhood. She was a toy poodle size and was really a whole lot of fun.

My dear friend Xian has a poodle (named Garbo) and Garbo is a lovely poodle. But she is of the high strung variety and, bless her heart, she's a dunderhead.

Your Mileage May Vary, of course, as does NA's. I love poodles.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I saw the thread title as "Pick a drug" and I was ready to offer helpful advice. :)

As far as dogs though, eh, I'm a cat person. Still, Matthew and I had the pleasure of living with a wonderful golden retriever named "Peanut" for a couple of years and she was wonderful. We both grew pretty attached to her. And she was friendy enough that we didn't mind the boatload of fur.

[sleepyjeff]

Over the years I've had:

Bassett/Beagle Mix---Pretty good dog but lots of health problems.

Terrier/Mut---Male dog who was a runner. Ran away after only a few months. Never found.

Corgi---Best dog ever. Great with kids, inteligent, easy to train(except as a puppy she did nip at everyones heels a lot(herding her human flock); but she grew out of that), rarely barked(except every day at 3pm, when the Nunnery down the street rang their big bell)and perfect lengthed hair(not so short that it embeddes itslef in everything but not long either). Lived a very long life(almost 18 years).

Chow Chow---Like NA said, best dog to have around cats....ours actually meowed. Very protective(she always positioned herself at night in between our bedroom and the front door--watching the front door). Lots of hair...everywhere(but at least it wasnt that short hair dashunds have that gets embedded). We had a black one and when we went camping with her once she was mistaken, from a distance, for a small bear:)

Dashund/Basset mix---Only my second male dog. He doesn't get along with strangers at all, but his shyness may be due to his former owners husband who we think abused him. He's not my favorite dog but he does obey most commands, and a couple of years ago even found a mouse in our house:)

Beagle---Just aquired this dog(puppy) a few months ago. She is very, very spirited. Barks a lot but responds pretty well to reward/praise training. Somewhat destructive due to both naughty chewing and plain clumsiness. She is great with kids(loves the attention in fact). I actually made a mistake in getting her. Someone I knew said he had a litter of beagles, and asked if I would like one. I thought he said bassets(my hearing isn't very good sometimes), and knowing my wife loves that breed told him to set aside a female for us. Once the mistake was discoverd it was too late....we already had told our Son a new puppy was coming:)