Dog choice

[tranquility]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Sorry all, (Especially Mary. If this is inappropriate, delete and I will not be offended.) but I have a non-legal, but important to me question. I am treating the forum as a social web for a moment and accept it if it is inappropriate.

What kind of dog should I get?

For many reasons, I think I can be "pack leader" to most any dog. But, I have a kitty and have children and other (sometimes, small) dogs in the neighborhood in which I want my buddy to hang out. I promise to walk twice a day and to give a small, but substantial, yard to do what dogs do during the time I am away. (Squirrel!!!)The kitty is non-negotiable for many reasons.

I like terriers as a theory, but would love a smart dog. I have no children, but have children in the neighborhood and would love free play with them all.

I went to the pound and saw a pitbull mix who was gentile and kind to people, but was attacked by a cat (On test.) and countered aggressively.

What should I do? What would you do? I know the legal issues, but this is more of a personal one?

What is your breed? Why?

[TheGeekess]

I like my Lab mixes. They get along fine with my cat and The Teen.

[I_Got_Banned]

German Shepherds are great dogs. I had one and they are not only smart, but they are very gentle and playful around kids.

If you're looking for something smaller I would say a Jack Russell. Extremely intelligent although they require a lot of attention and are VERY active (not sure if you have enough room for it to run around).

[Proserpina]

We've also got a lab - she's the biggest lump of love you could imagine.

She's great with the kitties and the kids (little ones and big ones), though she can be a little over-excitable at times and jumps quite a bit.


Also, her breed is somewhat prone to seizures.

(She suffers from epilepsy - we call it puppylepsy - and has to take phenobarbital twice daily).

[Zigner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiba_Inu

[cbg]

When the lab puppies came home they thought the cat was a chew toy. The cat let the puppies know quite emphatically that he was not. The puppy went to the vet and got two stitches in his ear, and after that they all got along fine; even to the point of curling up together for a nice nap.

Recommend yellow labs over chocolates (despite the tendency Pro discusses - it's more prevalent in yellows) since chocolates tend to be a bit more high strung (I have no experience with black labs). I dearly love the chocolate lab but he's much more excitable.

[nextwife]

Get a rescue, who is already socialized to kids, other animals and other dogs. Your local pound can guide you. Many wonderful, easy going dogs need homes. And that way you can skip the puppy chewing damage! We have a super aussi/spaniel mix adopted at four years old - and he's great with kids and other dogs. He was picked up as a stray down south, and transferred to our Humane Society. There is no one "best dog", there are LOTS of great dogs.

[divona2000]

Please, absolutely get a rescue dog, google for the local rescue groups, sanctuaries and shelters nearest you, tell them what you are looking for and what you want to avoid (such as breeds with high herding instincts) and let them make recommendations.

Volunteers/workers see hundreds/thousands of dogs every year, they can answer your questions better than anyone about the best dog for your needs.

If you decide on a certain breed, between 25-30% of shelter dogs are purebreds (and there are breed specific rescues). You might want to tell the shelter that you can volunteer to foster a specific breed(s), and then see how well that breed works for your home situation. Helps you and the dogs.

Many of these dogs come with a full life history/vet records from previous owners, are trained/housebroken, and all should have records on each dog-showing that they have been tested at the shelter for temperament & health, be labeled safe/not safe for children/men/women/cats/other dogs, and be wormed, neutered, UTD on shots and micro-chipped.

[BobFlannagan]

German Shepherds are great dogs. I had one and they are not only smart, but they are very gentle and playful around kids.

If you're looking for something smaller I would say a Jack Russell. Extremely intelligent although they require a lot of attention and are VERY active (not sure if you have enough room for it to run around).

I had 4 shepherds .. cannot go wrong with them but they can be big dogs. You want fun? Get a poodle ... had one of those, it will keep you busy

[Antigone*]

I've got a malt-poo and a poodle and they are both fantastic, fun and smart dogs. They are small dogs and make small messes. They are very intelligent and learn fast.

Once of the best things about my two dogs is that they do not shed. Not a bit. I do take them to the groomer once a month and brush them a little as well.

Please let us know what you get Tranq!!!

[CSO286]

I have a rescue Shih-Tzu--the family was going to "take her out back"--can you believe it??? (She didn't get along with their infant.)

She and Small are the worlds biggest besties!!

She is so sweet and she really is a girly little dog.

[tranquility]

Thank you for the suggestions so far. (Zigner's was an interesting thing I had not thought of before.) I can't really get a lab/setter type as my fence at some places is only 5 1/2 to 6 feet high. I've had labs before and love them (My most favorite dog I've had was a lab mix.), but they are jumpers and I would not trust them not to escape the yard when out back. My dad has the sweetest shih-tzu, she is love. But, again, not quite right.

I've been to the local rescue, and it looks like you get a pure/mix Pit, shepherd or chihuahua. I'm a little unsure of a pit, but did see one which was very gentile. He had been in a family with children. But, when I had them do the cat test, the cat tagged him (drawing blood) and that cheesed him off royally. Then again, I don't think the worker was a pack leader-type and the dog was clearly in control. A shepherd would be ideal to what I want, but the house is not that big and I don't really want that big of a dog. I've never really wanted a chihuahua and it is too small for me.

I'll go to a few more shelters and will be patient for the right one. A dog is a long time.

[You Are Guilty]

+1 on the poodle. Some of them are smarter than I am. (And if you get a standard, it should reduce the number of people who question your manhood to the bare minimum).

[quincy]

Our Humane Society dogs have always chosen us.

When my kids were really little, we went in search of a companion dog for the one we had adopted a year previously (a puppy that had literally leapt into my arms). We all spread out and my daughter headed to one cage to pet a terrier mix. The dog wrapped his paws around her arm and started licking her, and the dog refused to let go. So we had to decide whether to leave our daughter at the pound (her siblings' choice), or take the dog home with us . . . . . . now we visit the pound every weekend to check on them both . Terriers can really tear things up (floors, walls, cushions, yards) but they are smart enough to be cute when doing it and, from what I understand, they are trainable (not that ours was).

Our most recent adoption was of an older stray dog who was in pretty rough physical shape when she was rescued. She is a Siberian husky mix and large, but I have never had a gentler animal. Our Airedale mix (a rather unruly but lovable beast) seems to respect the husky's age, and our persnickety cat (who totally lacks respect for anyone or anything) sleeps on top of her at night.

I think you'll know when you find the right dog, tranq. It is not so much the breed as the personal connection you make (whether it be with a puppy or, my new recommendation, an older dog in need of a home).

(as a note on pitbulls: many communities have now placed a ban on them - unreasonably in many cases, I believe - so that may be something to consider)

(as a note on YAG's comment: not surprising )

[Antigone*]

Our Humane Society dogs have always chosen us.

When my kids were really little, we went in search of a companion dog for the one we had adopted a year previously (a puppy that had literally leapt into my arms). We all spread out and my daughter headed to one cage to pet a terrier mix. The dog wrapped his paws around her arm and started licking her, and the dog refused to let go. So we had to decide whether to leave our daughter at the pound (her siblings' choice), or take the dog home with us . . . . . . now we visit the pound every weekend to check on them both . Terriers can really tear things up (floors, walls, cushions, yards) but they are smart enough to be cute when doing it and, from what I understand, they are trainable (not that ours was).

Our most recent adoption was of an older stray dog who was in pretty rough physical shape when she was rescued. She is a Siberian husky mix and large, but I have never had a gentler animal. Our Airedale mix (a rather unruly but lovable beast) seems to respect the husky's age, and our persnickety cat (who totally lacks respect for anyone or anything) sleeps on top of her at night.

I think you'll know when you find the right dog, tranq. It is not so much the breed as the personal connection you make (whether it be with a puppy or, my new recommendation, an older dog in need of a home).

(as a note on pitbulls: many communities have now placed a ban on them - unreasonably in many cases, I believe - so that may be something to consider)

(as a note on YAG's comment: not surprising )

When we walk our dogs, my husband gets Liberty. It is the most wonderful sight to see a 6'5" linebacker walking a 5lb toy poodle with bows in her hair.

Liberty is his baby and he doesn't care what anybody says.