Want to help me pick a dog?

[CornField]

Most of you know that we had to put our beloved Wendy (Dalmatian) down last April due to old age and health problems. I've decided that I really cannot live much longer in a home without a dog. (This is the longest I've ever been without in my entire life!)

We own our home and have a small yard. The dog would have to be good with kids (ages 12, almost 5 and almost 3) and with other animals (we have cats). I'd like a medium-sized dog that doesn't shed too much and doesn't require professional grooming.

I've been leaning toward English bulldogs and/or basset hounds. I think I'd prefer someone who is much more mellow this time around.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Go to the local shelter

with your kids. See how the dogs interact with them, ask the people there about the dog's behavior, especially in regards to chasing other animals. Good luck!

[CornField]

4. I've been visiting quite often

And the employees have a "watch list" for me. :) Nothing yet... most of the dogs they receive are given up by the owner because of behavior problems with children. The shelter director suggested we might be better off going through a rescue program.

[RebelOne]

34. What state are you in?

I am a member of a lot of Yahoo animal rescue groups and there are 1000s of dogs just begging for rescue. Even if you find a dog out of state, transportation can be arranged to bring the dog to you. I participate in that, too. Also, check out http://www.petfinder.com. You can pretty much find any type of dog you want.

[ThorsHammer]

37. I'll second the shelter/rescue idea

There are a lot of great dogs there. We adopted ours after our neighbor found him abandoned in a parking lot with his paws frozen. Her dog didn't like him, so we lucked out and got him. It might just be anecdotal, but I do think rescued dogs have a special bond with their news families.

[hfojvt]

2. I would go with a beagle or a collie-lab

They love to play and are very even-tempered.
I think it was a bassett that we baby-sat one time who made alot of noise and was also very horny.
I would get a dog that the kids could play with. Teach it to fetch and such.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Oh, mellow? Forget about setters. Beautiful pupples, but

HYPER. They are puppies for most of their lives. :) ANd they shed and need grooming.

How about a lab retriever? They are short haired, sweet, and generally don't get TOO big. :)

----------------------------------------------------------
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[DemExpat]

5. My Basset was even-tempered and loving....

much less active and attention-needing than my next 2 dogs - Jack Russell Terriers.... Bassetts are so laid back and easy-going!

With my Basset, my kids could do anything they wanted around and with him, while my Jack Russells are not such willing "victims" and tend to try to dominate little kids.

Bassets are great family dogs imo. Don't need lots of exercise either, although they like it.

Have fun chosing your new dog! I also cannot live completely without an animal to share with. :D

DemEx

[imenja]

23. basset hounds

I don't meant to insult your dog. I'm sure it's wonderful, but my sister had two basset hounds that were the worst dogs, and they smelled horrendously. Based on observing her dogs, I wouldn't choose one.

[DemExpat]

24. Hounds do have a special smell...having one wasn't so bad, I guess,

it never bothered me at all....guess I like that animal odor...:D:D:D

My kids laugh at me when I put my nose into my dogs neck and just sniff up that delicious dog smell...:silly:

DemEx

[rhino47]

6. My smooth coat border collie is mellow

But alot of them can be hyper.Great with kids.I would get a female though.The small yard could be an issue though.I would go to the akc website.If you find a breed that appears interesting email the rescue group for that breed.www.akc.org They will answer any question you would have about the breeds suitability.They also can find you a free rescue dog.Here is my dog biddy.She was a rescue.Someone tied her to a tree in a rescue workers yard.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. German Shepherds are good dogs.

Highly intelligent, although they do tend to be independent and a bit stubborn, at times.

:)

[trof]

36. German Shepherds are EXCELLENT dogs.

;-)
I had got Hilda from the pound while I was in college. She chased a would-be burglar from my apartment one night.

We got Studs shortly after we married in '69. When our daughter came along he became her nanny. His only bad habit was eating her tiny socks. They'd reappear when he took a dump. Maybe he was just showing affection? Weird.

His intelligence was his downfall. He dug under our fence, raced across the street after a squirrel, and was hit by a car.

Studs was followed in succession by Max (succumbed to a kind of canine muscular dystrophy), Gypsy (inoperable cancer), and finally Nasha. She was the only one to just go from old age.

[skygazer]

8. May I suggest a Boxer?

They are wonderful with kids and other pets, shorthaired, smart and wonderfully loyal. They are good watchdogs but don't tend to bite - my Boxers used to stand in front of me when someone came to the door, simply placing themselves between me and a stranger until I assured them it was okay. I'd never had a Boxer until I was introduced to my ex husband's dog and I am now hooked. I've had many dogs but they are the best, IMO.

[mopinko]

10. ha ha-posted the same thing at the same time. nt

[mopinko]

9. the made to order family dog

boxers! they were bred to be a family dog. tolerant of children and other pets, a good guard dog but not usually aggressive unless needed. smart, trainable. short hair. maybe a little bigger than you want, but really no bigger than a long legged bulldog.
they are the best.

[DELUSIONAL]

11. Bassets are great

I used to take care of one when his parents were out of town.

Contact the breed rescue -- you can get a pure bred dog that needs a new home.

Very often the breed rescue organizations are notified by shelters when the bassets (or poodles or fill in the breed) -- these dogs are placed in foster homes and evaluated. You will have a better idea if the dog will adapt to your children and your cats if you get a breed of your choice through a breed rescue group.

While it is a good idea to get a mixed breed mutt from the shelter -- the pure bred breeders should be supported. These people study genetics and behavior and do their best to improve their breed.

If people ONLY went to shelters we would lose the pure bred dogs -- and these breeds should be preserved. Also I like to know about the temperament of the parents -- and any potential health problems.

I do have friends who have adopted grown bassets who got along well with their children and cats.

These are fun dogs.

[B Calm]

12. They have this new breed out half Lab and half Poodle

called the Labadoodle. I'm serious, put Labadoodle into your search engine..

[amandae]

16. I laughed so hard the first time I heard this!

We were looking at getting another dog last summer and a woman on my mom's route (letter carrier) had a black lab that had pups. She didn't know who the dad was, either another black lab or a poodle. My mom started talking about Labadoodles and how they would be worth more than the black labs. I couldn't get over the name :D.

[CornField]

25. They have a multitude of "doodle" dogs now!

We were looking through the classifieds in the paper and saw "Goldendoodles." I thought I knew every breed of dog, so I went and looked it up: Golden Retriever & Poodle. Who knew?

Then I found cockerdoodles/cockapoos; labradoodles, dorgis, yorkipoos, schnoodle, bagels, and others. It's really amazing how people are purposefully mixing breeds.

Of course, the cutest dogs I've ever seen were from one of my own "uh-ho" litters... my male Shih-Tzu show dog got together with my female Dalmatian. Shitamatians are the cutest things you've ever seen! (Still can't believe the local paper wouldn't let me listed them as such!)

[DemExpat]

26. LOL, Cornfield!

Shitamatians are the cutest things you've ever seen!

That is hilarious!

DemEx

[B Calm]

30. Shitamations, wow.... ha ha

[amandae]

13. Golden Retrievers are great with kids and very mellow dogs!

I've wanted one for years and just got a puppy on Christmas :).





She's gorgeous and so mellow! They're super-smart dogs and are known to be great family dogs.


Good luck in your search!

[amandae]

15. Another pic of our doggy

Her name is Daisy Jane, btw.

[CornField]

27. Awww... your new addition is beautiful!

I'm very jealous.

[Red State Rebel]

38. I would recommend a rescued Golden Retriever (pic)

They can be a little hyper the first 2 years but are wonderful dogs for families. We have 2 and 1 mix.

This is Bailey - he helped care for an orphan kitten I adopted.


He was a rescue and is the most wonderful loving dog I've ever known.

[Wcross]

14. My pick for you CornField

Basset hound!

[Hubert Flottz]

17. I just adopted two pound pups yesterday!

They are a couple of wild and crazy pups! 8 months old and pure energy! They had never been out of a cage or kennel until yesterday in their lives! They spent most of yesterday and today running and playing! They have a half acre fenced in to play on now! Brittany spaniel and pointer mix is what the people who turned them in said they are, but I think there's a little Freeper mixed in as mean and crazy as they are!

My thirteen year old Hound Dog died last week so I had room in the yard and the heart for these pups! I've really been sad about my Hound Dog 'Howdy', he was a super fine dog and my best friend! He's waiting for me at rainbow bridge now! I'm just grateful that old Howdy picked me to spend his days on Earth with! Howdy was the best hound I ever saw at treeing Jehovah's Witlessness and bill collector types!

[DemExpat]

18. Everyone wins out when a good home is found for dogs!

Last February when my 15 year old Jack Russell died, I lasted only ONE WEEK, just like you seem to have done, without a dog - I surfed on the Internet for a rescue Jack Russell and found Bonnie - she was 10 months old then and had never felt the freedom of running and playing outdoors!

We both are so very lucky to have found each other.

Here is to precious dogs!

:loveya:

DemEx

[Hubert Flottz]

28. I'd been surfing 'Pointer Rescue' and found two pointer mix...

pups here in town! They've been together since birth so we didn't want to split them up! I'll post some pics first chance I get! I'll have to use high speed film because they are some busy puppies!

A pointer is a great dog with all but very tiny kids! Howdy helped me tend my four grandchildren and even after he got old he was still as gentle as a lamb with them! These new pups will give the grandkids a run for their money!

[rhino47]

33. I wish I would have known that three weeks ago.

I had to place my nephews reg pointer for rescue .I have a female border that would have never tolerated him.
He was a great dog.Lucky we found a home for him.german short hair I assume .

[Hubert Flottz]

39. GSP are the finest dogs I've ever been around!

I wish I'd known too! Thanks for doing the fine thing you are doing for the Pointers. I really miss my dog. He was with me almost constantly for almost 13 years. One of the best friends I ever had! The grandkids are almost as sad as I am about Howdy's passing.

[Midlodemocrat]

19. We have a dachshund and she is quite adorable,

wonderful with kids, no professional grooming.

[Donailin]

20. Bijon Frise?

I took care of one recently and this dog was so much fun. He dances in circles, eats ice cream, chocolate, potato chips and even pork chops <g>, sleeps in one spot on the bed the entire night through, loves kids, loves the car and does not shed. They're totally cute with their little black noses and it goes without saying that little dogs leave little piles.

I know, not even comparable to a dalmation as far as looks go, but the dispositions are remarkably similar except for the exciteability part. My brother has a brown spotted dalmation which is coming to visit in a few weeks and he's just great. Plays frisbee, sleeps under the covers, sheds white hair and will drag the garbage pail contents from one end of the house to the other if you forget to lock the garbage pail away. <----Liberty did this to me three times on his last visit; cigarette butts and coffee grinds mashed into my carpet were but small reminders of why I don't actually have a dog, but if I did it would be a Bijon Frise, they can't reach the counter or the garbage.

Good luck in your dog hunt :-)

[LDS Jock]

21. this might help you choose

It is a quiz to help you narrow down breeds to those which most closely match your preferences. It might help narrow down a bit.

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/dogs/selector/selector1.jsp

[CornField]

29. LMAO -- my top choice was a Dalmatian.

Thank you for the link, it is very helpful.

[catbert836]

22. No.

Pick a cat instead. They're more intelligent, and they can take care of themselves.

[MissMarple]

31. petfinder.com can be a good source.

Rescuing dogs can be so rewarding. They have everything from puppies to ones who are quite well trained older dogs.

[Hubert Flottz]

32. Look at these pups:::::::::::::::::

Check out the little hound puppies for sale

http://www.coonhounds.com/Photos/Puppies.html

http://www.coonhounds.com/Photos/index.html

Dogs that need rescued

http://www.coonhoundrescue.com/rescuedogs.html

http://www.coonhoundconnection.com/

http://www.mdgsprescue.org/

http://www.gsprescuedogs.com/

http://www.pointerrescue.org/

[SemiCharmedQuark]

35. PetFinder.com!

Great great great site! I got my kitties from a rescue there and they are wonderful.

[rhino47]

40. Heres a web site for english bulldog rescue

Please think of a rescue pet.Its in ca though.
I am sure they can point you towards other rescues closer to you .
http://www.qualitydogs.com/rescue.asp?pg=7&filter=&value=