What Type of Dog to Get

[SteveEscort]

Should I be thinking cat instead?

 

Maybe because it's not just the companionship. Is she able to walk the dog on a daily basis or be able to hire a local dog walker.

 

Small dogs are always best, big dogs come with a big food bill and a big exercise regime. I have a pekingese dog and she just eats more or less what I eat. Her tummy isn't big enough for dog food so she eats chicken, diced lamb, bacon plus small dried doggie biscuits for her vitamins and nutrients.

[maxwellissmart]

Many many thanks to everyone who responded. Such great suggestions and ideas, so many that I had not even considered or even thought about but will now. I spent like 12 hours yesterday on line looking at all the dogs available in my area. They are all so very adorable and at the same time I felt a bit sad that I couldn't take them all. I honestly had no idea how many dogs are in foster care and pounds (and I just saw what is just within 50 miles of me so it is unfathomable to think the totality of those that are out there).

 

Seems like a great deal of the dogs are in foster care which is great because I think the foster parents can give some great insight into about the dog's personality. Makes it a bit more challenging to find the right dog but worth the extra effort.

 

I can pretty much see that most everyone thinks a rescue dog, small to medium and somewhat older (not a puppy) would be best. I agree totally.

 

Here are some of my other take aways that I will use in helping me in the process:

 

1. Go to the shelter to talk to qualified staff. I plan on doing that this week.

2. Involve mom in the process. I was going to "surprise" her with the dog but now I realize that would be a mistake.

3. Take adopted dog to a trainer and vet right away. I will line up both in advance so I can do that.

4. Consider the annual cost (especially grooming). That was very helpful and I learned there is doggy health insurance, who would have thought. Is that part of Obamacare? lol

5. Understand the history of the dog. I noticed a lot of dogs I viewed on line are strays so not much history but I will certainly ask.

6. Take into account the questions that the agency asks about us. I think that is a great insight and I will definitely be looking for that.

7. Long Term care consideration. Excellent point and I will take the dog if he/she outlives my mom.

8. I took that evaluation of what type of dog is best for her. Here is what it came up with: German Pinscher, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel

 

I'll let everyone know what I finally end up with. Btw, I also learned a few things about some breeds of dogs I had never heard of before. Again, thanks everyone for the help.

 

#2 — Doesn't have to be a mistake (I've done it, and had it done to me), but feel your mother out first.

#4 — Indeed, dogs are very expensive. Grooming can be the least of your worries.

#7 — This happened in my family, there are lots of rescues devoted to specific breeds.

#8 — Consider barking, energy needs, space needs, genetic problems specific to that dog (especially dysplasia). This is one of the reasons many people favor mixed breeds, which tend to be hardier.

 

Plus...

- Will the dog need companionship/social interaction with other dogs as well? My dog craves it, so that's a consideration.

- Be very sure to consider the intelligence and trainability of the breed. Cockers have a "reputation."

 

Disclaimer: Of course, this advice is coming from someone—myself—who may or may not be a dog owner and without posted pics and/or videos of me together with dogs—it's impossible to determine whether or not my claims are valid. Proceed cautiously, at your own risk.

[jjkrkwood]

#2 — Doesn't have to be a mistake (I've done it, and had it done to me), but feel your mother out first.

#4 — Indeed, dogs are very expensive. Grooming can be the least of your worries.

#7 — This happened in my family, there are lots of rescues devoted to specific breeds.

#8 — Consider barking, energy needs, space needs, genetic problems specific to that dog (especially dysplasia). This is one of the reasons many people favor mixed breeds, which tend to be hardier.

 

Plus...

- Will the dog need companionship/social interaction with other dogs as well? My dog craves it, so that's a consideration.

- Be very sure to consider the intelligence and trainability of the breed. Cockers have a "reputation."

 

Disclaimer: Of course, this advice is coming from someone—myself—who may or may not be a dog owner and without posted pics and/or videos of me together with dogs—it's impossible to determine whether or not my claims are valid. Proceed cautiously, at your own risk.

 

I wouldnt Trust YOU for anything..... but you still Rock Max !

[jgoo]

#2 — Doesn't have to be a mistake (I've done it, and had it done to me), but feel your mother out first.

#4 — Indeed, dogs are very expensive. Grooming can be the least of your worries.

#7 — This happened in my family, there are lots of rescues devoted to specific breeds.

#8 — Consider barking, energy needs, space needs, genetic problems specific to that dog (especially dysplasia). This is one of the reasons many people favor mixed breeds, which tend to be hardier.

 

Plus...

- Will the dog need companionship/social interaction with other dogs as well? My dog craves it, so that's a consideration.

- Be very sure to consider the intelligence and trainability of the breed. Cockers have a "reputation."

 

All very good points....Thanks Max

 

 

Disclaimer: Of course, this advice is coming from someone—myself—who may or may not be a dog owner and without posted pics and/or videos of me together with dogs—it's impossible to determine whether or not my claims are valid. Proceed cautiously, at your own risk.

 

Thanks for starting my day off with a hearty laugh...well done sir.

[BostonPhil]

Disclaimer: Of course, this advice is coming from someone—myself—who may or may not be a dog owner and without posted pics and/or videos of me together with dogs—it's impossible to determine whether or not my claims are valid. Proceed cautiously, at your own risk.

 

Oh dear, you troll!

[unsub2O17]

Many many thanks to everyone who responded. Such great suggestions and ideas, so many that I had not even considered or even thought about but will now. I spent like 12 hours yesterday on line looking at all the dogs available in my area. They are all so very adorable and at the same time I felt a bit sad that I couldn't take them all. I honestly had no idea how many dogs are in foster care and pounds (and I just saw what is just within 50 miles of me so it is unfathomable to think the totality of those that are out there).

 

Seems like a great deal of the dogs are in foster care which is great because I think the foster parents can give some great insight into about the dog's personality. Makes it a bit more challenging to find the right dog but worth the extra effort.

 

I can pretty much see that most everyone thinks a rescue dog, small to medium and somewhat older (not a puppy) would be best. I agree totally.

 

Here are some of my other take aways that I will use in helping me in the process:

 

1. Go to the shelter to talk to qualified staff. I plan on doing that this week.

2. Involve mom in the process. I was going to "surprise" her with the dog but now I realize that would be a mistake.

3. Take adopted dog to a trainer and vet right away. I will line up both in advance so I can do that.

4. Consider the annual cost (especially grooming). That was very helpful and I learned there is doggy health insurance, who would have thought. Is that part of Obamacare? lol

5. Understand the history of the dog. I noticed a lot of dogs I viewed on line are strays so not much history but I will certainly ask.

6. Take into account the questions that the agency asks about us. I think that is a great insight and I will definitely be looking for that.

7. Long Term care consideration. Excellent point and I will take the dog if he/she outlives my mom.

8. I took that evaluation of what type of dog is best for her. Here is what it came up with: German Pinscher, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel

 

I'll let everyone know what I finally end up with. Btw, I also learned a few things about some breeds of dogs I had never heard of before. Again, thanks everyone for the help.

 

jgoo, your list is good, but, beware of the Clumber Spaniel. They're quite large dogs actually, and they slobber A LOT.

[Boner]

beware of the Clumber Spaniel. They're quite large dogs actually, and they slobber A LOT.

 

But they are masters at retrieving!

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh630/BonerPlus/clumber_spaniel.jpg

[+ Charlie]

jgoo, just a couple of notes about the breeds you mentioned. Spaniels tend to be very social and people-oriented, but they were bred to be sporting dogs (hunters), and most are rather high energy animals that don't like to just lie about the house all the time. Of the ones you mentioned, the American Cocker is the smallest and the easiest to find; you won't find breeds like the Clumber or Welsh Springer in shelters, because they are relatively rare (and if purebred, relatively expensive); ditto a genuine German Pinscher. The Spaniels also need regular grooming (the Clumber probably every day), not just a few times per year to the beauty shop, even if you are not trying to have show-quality coats. A pet-quality American Cocker is probably your best bet for size and availability.

 

An important caveat about breeds and shelters: most shelters workers don't really know much about dog breeds, and they tend to label individual dogs rather randomly, e.g., if it's small, they call it a Chihuahua (a friend of mine recently adopted a shelter dog which she was told was a Chihuahua--the moment I saw it I could tell it was a beautiful Toy Fox Terrier). The shelter that my dog was taken to by the relation of the deceased owner categorized him as a "terrier," but he is actually a purebred Miniature Poodle. Many dogs that they give purebreed labels to are actually mixed breeds, and may not even have any of the breed that you expected in their make-up. The purebred dogs in shelters often originated in puppy-mills and were not great representatives of the breed to begin with. If you are seriously interested in a specific breed, contact the rescue group for that breed, which you can find through the AKC website. Or contact a reputable breeder of that breed; they sometimes have older dogs that they kept to show but that turned out not to be really show quality, so they are willing to sell them much more cheaply than a potentially show-quality puppy--I got two great pets that way.

 

Finally, never "surprise" anyone with an animal as a gift!

[josephga]

I want me a Maltese. I think this one is adorable

 

[video=youtube;URWB7_kIO6k]

[jjkrkwood]

But they are masters at retrieving!

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh630/BonerPlus/clumber_spaniel.jpg

 

Thats kinda how I look with Balls in MY mouth !

[wayout]

Thats kinda how I look with Balls in MY mouth !

 

But I bet you can get at least four in your mouth. Maybe more?