OT: Buying a Dog

[Chin Diesel]

I got called out on the car thread for probably owning a bunch of retrievers. Time to diversify.

What's a good dog to own?

I'm not interested from hearing comments from cat people. That's not happening.

Our current one is 11 years old and she is literally grey in the beard (and belly, paws and muzzle too).

So, what should I get?

 

[Kitaman]

I had a german shepard, loyal as hell but an acre is not enough for that type of dog. I'm interested too and am looking forward to the replies.

I think you should detail preferences: low or high maintenance and size. I know those are the two most important categories for me, as I'm looking for low maintenance and small to medium.

 

[babysheep]

I've always wanted a German Shepherd. They can shed pretty bad and can be territorial, but there is not a more loyal, smart breed.

 

[8893]

After our last dog "went to the farm," we did an extensive amount of research and family negotiating. My wife is big on rescuing dogs but I wasn't going through that again because the last one we had had some serious issues that didn't manifest themselves for a while. I wanted a big dog. The wife and girls wanted a small dog. I started at Irish Wolfhound and they started at Chihuahua. We ended up at English Springer Spaniel (field, not bench) and are very happy, now some 2+ years in. We have also adopted an older Cockapoo. He's fine, but he barks too much. I wouldn't get another one.

When we were in Italy last year we stayed at a place where there were a few Spinones, an Italian hunting dog. I liked them a lot, as did the whole family. We would probably look at them next time too, but we really love the Springer.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

i don't think i could bring myself to pay big money for a purebred dog, when there are so many well deserving dogs out there waiting to be rescued. every dog my family has ever owned has been a rescue (5 over the years), and it has been a very rewarding experience every time. i would very highly recommend going this route, but to each his own.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

um.....A HUSKY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[k9fanatic]

If you've had retrievers over the years, then I assume you like active dogs? And small children in the house are not a problem? Some good-sized dogs are boxers, spaniels (brittany, english springer), and pitties.

But as Kobebean says -- adoption is a wonderful alternative to purchasing. Once you choose the predominant breed/temperament, you can work with a rescue group for that breed that will provide useful information/advice. Humane society is always a great way to go too. Good luck.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Labs are the best. Yellow, Chocolate or Black. sweetest dogs in the world, great with kids, deep barks for when unwanted people knock on the door, and playful. i'm all for rescuing dogs but it's a crap shoot as to what you will end up with. sometimes they have issues from what previous owners did to them. having said that, i rarely have met a rescue dog that doesn't eventually "come around".

 

[Robertelamin]

You should buy a cat.

 

[Fishy]

My wife and I adopted a rescue dog - lazy duck*er didn't rescue anyone for like a year so we had him put to sleep.

I will not tolerate sloth.

 

[CL82]

Labs are the best. Yellow, Chocolate or Black. sweetest dogs in the world, great with kids, deep barks for when unwanted people knock on the door, and playful. i'm all for rescuing dogs but it's a crap shoot as to what you will end up with. sometimes they have issues from what previous owners did to them. having said that, i rarely have met a rescue dog that doesn't eventually "come around".

Beat me to it. I'm getting a yellow lab mix at the end of the month. I do prefer rescues. Mixes tend to be enen tempered, and, are fine for companionship.

 

[CTKIDD]

got 2 labs.. one yellow and one black.. for the first year they tore the out of eveything , swallowed sneakers, ripped my couches to hell, scratched the hardwood , literally ate me out of socks.. Now, they are 2 and I wouldnt trade em for nothing. Get a Lab <<

 

[alexd]

i don't think i could bring myself to pay big money for a purebred dog, when there are so many well deserving dogs out there waiting to be rescued. every dog my family has ever owned has been a rescue (5 over the years), and it has been a very rewarding experience every time. i would very highly recommend going this route, but to each his own.

Exactly what I was thinking as soon as I saw this thread...save a dog's life rather than spending a mint...

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Get a Golden Retriever.....screw the critics. My current one is the real Air Bud dog....she can catch balls, knock them back every time. She lays traps for me and only gets me some of the time (e.g. dropping her ball or whatever and acting like she no longer cares about it, then snatches is as soon as I make a move for it). She relates to everyone in the family in a different way that matches their age/personality. Of course, she can be annoying at times (wants to smell every thing, not so keen on just walking), but overall a truly awesome dog.

 

[Fishy]

We had a golden retriever for a while. My father-in-law was playing fetch with it and the beast killed and ate him for literally no reason.

I, for sure, would not buy one of those killing machines.

 

[sledog]

How much dogsh!t are you willing to carry around the neighborhood every night??? Some of those mutts can really produce,

 

[Dogbreath2U]

We had a golden retriever for a while. My father-in-law was playing fetch with it and the beast killed and ate him for literally no reason.

I, for sure, would not buy one of those killing machines.

Given the scenario, I'm sure that the dog had a very good reason for doing so. The dog was probably psychic and just did what it knew you wanted to do, deep in the dark little place you call a heart. Either that, or he held the ball too long.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

How much dogsh!t are you willing to carry around the neighborhood every night??? Some of those mutts can really produce,

Over the years, you have an amazing record of the highest percentage of posts that reference in one way or another. No one is even remotely close.....a true champion. Of course, your previous moniker of "dogfot" was a bit of a giveaway.

 

[8893]

I don't mean to be dismissive of rescues. We are currently on our fourth and all have been positive experiences. The one problem was the one we had the longest, and she was clearly abused by a former owner, who was a man, and she was initially so jittery around men that she would pee instantly. Well, we got her comfortable enough to mellow out over the years, but as she aged she started to develop a mean, uncontrollable streak that would show in a flash, and then disappear for weeks. And then she suffered incontinence, apparently because the shelter from which we got her didn't do a great spay job when we adopted her. So...with a young baby and a neighborhood filled with kids, we had a dog that could snap with no notice, and which started peeing in the house daily, and incurably. We had mostly positive memories of the nine-plus years we had her, but these were now serious problems. And we knew nothing about the breed mix (Dalmation mixed with Short-haired Pointer, maybe?) or her history, so it was not a good situation for us.

Coming off of that, I wanted to have more control over the choice the next time. We tried being very selective with rescue options and after several months it just wasn't panning out. Here's a newsflash: people rarely abandon great, young dogs. There are a lot of great, old dogs available. You think you're spending a mint buying a pedigree? Try paying for animal health care. Think your kids got sad when they learned that mom and dad are Santa? Try consoling them when they learn of a dying/dead family pet. All I'm saying is that each dog comes with issues. With most rescues, especially young ones, it's the crap shoot of never really knowing what you have. With the old ones, it's the probability of health problems and death. With puppies, it's training and housebreaking. My conclusion was that the puppies of known origin were the best bet, because the bad part comes at the beginning, and because it pays dividends in the long run when your dog knows you better, and you know him/her better because you've been there from the start. So, for once, we went with a reputable breeder and picked our breed and dog.

That said, we've had two other rescues/adoptions since then, both older dogs whose owners could not care for them any longer because of incapacity/death, and both have been very good experiences. But no matter how much work you do trying to temper expectations, if you have kids they will likely be devastated when the dog dies.

 

[jleves]

For the record - mutts will almost always be a better long term value than a purebred. Mixes tend to mask problems that a particular breed might have. For example, German Shepherd's have problems with hip dysplasia that cause lot's of problems and can cost lots of money later in their life. Mix a Shepherd with a dog not prone to dysplasia and you get a dog that is far healthier later in life. Almost all purebreds have some kid of issue from the constant inbreeding. If you want huge health bills, get a purebred.

Like many others have said, if you are not set on a specific breed, rescue something. Keep going to shelters until one picks you. You'll know when it happens and you'll never get a better dog.

 

[Fishy]

We rescued a dog once and it ran on my daughter's school bus and dragged one of the neighborhood kids into the woods. Kids are not food, I said to him, but he just kept eating them.

For sure, I would never do that again!

 

[HeGotGame]

My wife and I adopted a rescue dog - lazy duck*er didn't rescue anyone for like a year so we had him put to sleep.

I will not tolerate sloth.

I cringe when people try so hard to be funny but fail so miserably.

 

[Huskies4ever]

After our last dog "went to the farm," we did an extensive amount of research and family negotiating. My wife is big on rescuing dogs but I wasn't going through that again because the last one we had had some serious issues that didn't manifest themselves for a while. I wanted a big dog. The wife and girls wanted a small dog. I started at Irish Wolfhound and they started at Chihuahua. We ended up at English Springer Spaniel (field, not bench) and are very happy, now some 2+ years in. We have also adopted an older Cockapoo. He's fine, but he barks too much. I wouldn't get another one.

When we were in Italy last year we stayed at a place where there were a few Spinones, an Italian hunting dog. I liked them a lot, as did the whole family. We would probably look at them next time too, but we really love the Springer.

I'm in my mid thirties and have been around springers my entire life. We've had many litters and my father was an avid hunter. I've held seconds old pups in my hand many times. They are wonderful dogs, very loyal, exuberant, playful, and loving. I'm like you, I prefer medium sized to large sized dogs. Them smaller ones, I call rats.

 

[TXHuskyFan]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...3-3LDA&usg=AFQjCNGCcEPvIl_K41xKmcFbXXX23ucGvw
New
This is what I own. If you're serious about your dog, there is really no other option. If you're too poor to buy it, you can always get a cat.

/frankivy

 

[Dove]

I am excited that this summer, when Mrs. Dove is home for the summer, we are getting a pup. Her criteria are that it has to be a mutt, My criteria is that it has to have collie in the mix. Would love a shepherd/collie conglomeration. I would love to stick to my pet name reggae theme (cat is Marley) and name it Tosh but she won't go for that. Maybe Maxi. Or Jah.