What kind of dog to get next school year?

[Travis]

I'll finally be done with apartments because I'm moving into a duplex with a friend of mine. I plan to get a dog, but not sure what to get. I've had a border collie back home the past few years, and she is a great dog. She is extremely smart. I'm looking for an inteligent dog that also looks good. I've pretty much been looking towards a blue heeler at this point. I love to play fetch with dogs, so that works. I refuse to get dogs like poodles, (palmerainians)???, etc. Anyone have any ideas. My budget is up to $300.

 

[liquidcherry]

Hi Travis,

First of all, go to your local shelter/humane society, no need for buying a puppy from the Pet places(they are mostly from puppy mills).With going to your shelter/HS, you are helping to stop the over population of dogs(they are already spayed or neutered from them)

It is around $85 to get a puppy there....and then i would recommend the basic training classes what most of the humane societies offer, it is around $65...

Once you have your puppy and bring it home, make sure to take him around your neighborhood and show him where you live(but this depends on if he/she already got the vaccinations, if they are not given yet than yo still can do that but you have to be more careful about sniffing around because their immune system is more vulnerable).

Walking him in the neighborhood helps because remember they've been locked up for days or weeks(of course not 24/7) and bringing them home and putting them directly in your home is nothing else then a bigger cage

Also, socializing your puppy(the window for that is from 6-24 weeks but that depends also a bit on the breed) means bringing him in contact with as many obstacles as you can do(cars, runners, bicycles, kids, friends, people, shopping carts, loud noises etc) and will help you to get a healthy, obedient, stable "best friend"

Now to your question about the breed....i am a bit biased because i have 2 german shepherds(mix) but GSD are highly intelligent...but also demanding a "job" because that's just the nature of the breeds and they need a lot of exercise (every dog does!)...so fetching the ball is good but don't limit it to that

Besides that, a golden retriever or yellow/black/chocolate lab should suit you as well

Good luck

Cheers,

Frank

 

[enlytend]

If there's a specific breed you want, look for breed rescues also. Lots of nice dogs (puppies, older puppies, adults) come into rescue simply because the first owners were irresponsible or made some impulse purchase in a pet shop and didn't think things through. Rescue dogs are evaluated in foster homes before placement. and since the rescue really WANTS things to work out, they try very hard to match you up with the type of dog that's right for your lifestyle, interests, etc.

A young dog or older puppy from a rescue is likely to be housebroken and have some basic training and socialization. They will also be spayed/neutered.

Stay away from pet stores - brick and mortar or online. Responsible breeders do NOT sell through pet stores and they also won't sell their dogs to someone just because they have a credit card. Responsible breeders spend a lot of time and money to do things right (hobby breeding is a "break even" activity at best), take pride in their dogs, care about them like family and are equally careful when it comes to placing them.

You're not likely to get a purebred anything for $300 or less from a petstore OR a responsible breeder. You could get one for around that price through a breed rescue.

Sounds like you would like a nice active, medium-sized dog. An Australian Shepherd ("Aussie") might be a good match for you, especially if you're used to a herding breed like a border collie. Herding breeds are generally intelligent and active - Australian Cattle Dog ("blue heeler" the name for one particular color of ACD - be warned, they can be rather "nippy" when excited), Shetland Sheepdog ("Sheltie" - a smaller dog). Or you could check out your nearest border collie rescue - LOTS of border collies get turned in because people get them without realizing that they NEED a lot of physical and mental activity.

And, of course as previously mentioned - sporting breeds like labs and goldens. "Looks good" is a subjective thing ...

Research before you act - the temperaments and grooming requirements are very different among breeds! If you do buy from a breeder, find out what genetic health problems run in the breed and make sure the parents have been tested clear.

Good luck!

 

[Jakey]

German Shepherd!

 

[dvduval]

So you are going to have a yard for the new dog to run around in?

 

[liquidcherry]

If there's a specific breed you want, look for breed rescues also. Lots of nice dogs (puppies, older puppies, adults) come into rescue simply because the first owners were irresponsible or made some impulse purchase in a pet shop and didn't think things through. Rescue dogs are evaluated in foster homes before placement. and since the rescue really WANTS things to work out, they try very hard to match you up with the type of dog that's right for your lifestyle, interests, etc.

A young dog or older puppy from a rescue is likely to be housebroken and have some basic training and socialization. They will also be spayed/neutered.

Stay away from pet stores - brick and mortar or online. Responsible breeders do NOT sell through pet stores and they also won't sell their dogs to someone just because they have a credit card. Responsible breeders spend a lot of time and money to do things right (hobby breeding is a "break even" activity at best), take pride in their dogs, care about them like family and are equally careful when it comes to placing them.

You're not likely to get a purebred anything for $300 or less from a petstore OR a responsible breeder. You could get one for around that price through a breed rescue.

Sounds like you would like a nice active, medium-sized dog. An Australian Shepherd ("Aussie") might be a good match for you, especially if you're used to a herding breed like a border collie. Herding breeds are generally intelligent and active - Australian Cattle Dog ("blue heeler" the name for one particular color of ACD - be warned, they can be rather "nippy" when excited), Shetland Sheepdog ("Sheltie" - a smaller dog). Or you could check out your nearest border collie rescue - LOTS of border collies get turned in because people get them without realizing that they NEED a lot of physical and mental activity.

And, of course as previously mentioned - sporting breeds like labs and goldens. "Looks good" is a subjective thing ...

Research before you act - the temperaments and grooming requirements are very different among breeds! If you do buy from a breeder, find out what genetic health problems run in the breed and make sure the parents have been tested clear.

Good luck!

Very nice additional info's enlytend

Cheers,

Frank

 

[Ross]

I recommend a pug, shnauzer, beagle, or a lab.

 

[dgridley]

Weimaraner alll the way! We used to breed and show them..

http://www.indiewire.com/movies/ShortColumn.jpg (photo by William Wegman)

 

[Travis]

I recommend a pug, shnauzer, beagle, or a lab.

Pugs are lacking intelligence, and I think they are hideous.

I like beagles, labs, golden retrievers, and german shephards, but they are either really expensive or big in size. I don't want a border collie because my yard isn't quite big enough. I'm not looking to rescue an older dog either. I'd really like a puppy. I have been looking at the pet store in the mall here. Don't worry, I've had friends get dogs there before. They have have border collies and heelers for $200. I'd prefer a pure bread so I can breed it, but I may get a mutt in the end.

Another plus about the neighborhood I'm going to be in next year is that there's a dog park in it. I know the basics of training dogs. I've been around them my entire life, except the last 2 years while away at colloge.

 

[dgridley]

Yum.. I like my dogs "breaded" as well! :lol: (Heeler would be another choice of mine if I had the room. I grew really attached to my ex-GF's Shih Tzu tho and I know they're dumb as a rock but he was a great little guy!)

I'd prefer a pure bread so I can bread it, but I may get a mutt in the end.

 

[happyhappy]

We have two goldens and love them to death... but on the other hand one was 1500 and the other was half that price... Go to a respected shelter and save one! You will bond like there is no tomorrow and you can test them out for a few days (not take them home but visit them) to make sure ya'll are a right fit.

 

[dgridley]

Dang! Wish I could have a dog

 

[enlytend]

I have been looking at the pet store in the mall here. Don't worry, I've had friends get dogs there before. They have have border collies and heelers for $200. I'd prefer a pure bread so I can bread it

If you're going to breed dogs, are you prepared to be responsible and do the genetic testing necessary to ensure that you're producing HEALTHY dogs?

Please, no pet stores - the dog you get may be perfectly fine (or not!), but you're lining the pockets of people who have as much regard living, sentient creatures as one might have for an ear of corn. Its an ethical thing. Don't perpetuate the ignorance and the greed.

BTW, pet store puppies are a b*** to housetrain, because in the cages they sleep above their own waste. As a result, they tend not to understand the difference (or that there IS a difference) between the "living quarters" and "the bathroom".

Puppies raised "underfoot" in a home environment start to make this distinction from the time they are very young (will instinctively try to eliminate away from their sleeping area) and are much easier to housebreak. I have a puppy right now from a good breeder - she wasn't formally housebroken when I brought her home but she had exactly ONE housebreaking accident before she learned (because one morning I didn't realize how much water she sucked down after she was playing - my bad!) She didn't know where TO go but she knew enough about where NOT to go that teaching her the rest was cake.

(when not being a geek or a domainer, I'm a trainer, dog sports competitor and have worked as a volunteer with various rescue groups)

 

[Travis]

Yum.. I like my dogs "breaded" as well! :lol: (Heeler would be another choice of mine if I had the room. I grew really attached to my ex-GF's Shih Tzu tho and I know they're dumb as a rock but he was a great little guy!)

Whoops. Fixed that.

If you're going to breed dogs, are you prepared to be responsible and do the genetic testing necessary to ensure that you're producing HEALTHY dogs?

Please, no pet stores - the dog you get may be perfectly fine (or not!), but you're lining the pockets of people who have as much regard living, sentient creatures as one might have for an ear of corn. Its an ethical thing. Don't perpetuate the ignorance and the greed.

BTW, pet store puppies are a b*** to housetrain, because in the cages they sleep above their own waste. As a result, they tend not to understanding the difference (or that there IS a difference) between the "living quarters" and "the bathroom". Puppies raised "underfoot" in a home environment start to make this distinction from the time they are very young (will instinctively try to eliminate away from their sleeping area) and are much easier to housebreak.

(when not being a geek or a domainer, I'm a trainer, dog sports competitor and have worked as a volunteer with various rescue groups)

Where am I supposed to find a place to get a pure breed dog?

 

[enlytend]

Google things like [breedname] rescue. Try petfinder - a lot of rescues (and shelters) post there.

Search for dog training clubs in your area - people there will know which breeders are good, who to avoid, if anyone is trying to place puppies ... Veterinarians might also be able to point you towards someone local.

If you're looking for an AKC "recognized" breed, AKC keeps a list of breeder referral contacts. These are volunteers from each breed's parent club (and I just noticed breed rescue contacts are on this page also - I'd be wary of the "breeder classifieds" though)

http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm

 

[Travis]

Google things like [breedname] rescue. Try petfinder - a lot of rescues (and shelters) post there.

Search for dog training clubs in your area - people there will know which breeders are good, who to avoid, if anyone is trying to place puppies ... Veterinarians might also be able to point you towards someone local.

If you're looking for an AKC "recognized" breed, AKC keeps a list of breeder referral contacts. These are volunteers from each breed's parent club (and I just noticed breed rescue contacts are on this page also - I'd be wary of the "breeder classifieds" though)

http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm

Thanks for the link. It helps a lot.

 

[enlytend]

Glad to help !

BTW, while there are breeders fit the "snobby" stereotype, there are also plenty of breeders out there who are "newbie friendly" - happy to speak with and educate people about their breed they love. Hopefully there will be some of that second type near you - you may be able to arrange for a few visits - meet them, meet their dogs, ask questions and get a better handle on the right dog for you.

Good luck and let us all know when you get that pup !