Hi, i am thinking of getting a dog when I'm older, Could anyone lend me a hand please?Ty!!?

Question

I would like to get a puppy from either a shelter or a breeder. I WILL walk the puppy/dog according to what breed it is, and what the dogs exercise standards are! I would like a puppy that is about Dalmatian size and that is friendly with kids, strangers, and also other pets and animals. I don't have any kids, but still i would like the dog to be friendly. I'm a first time dog owner, i had a cat and a hamster before. Anyways, i would like a dog that likes to be playful and respectable. I believe that most of the things i have mentioned are acquired through training? I've been looking at yahoo answers about dogs and they all talk about training? And they mention obedience training? Could anyone explain that to me? Yes i sound like a noob but I'm trying to learn Lmao. I watch the show "At the end of my Leash". Its informative, and i heard about the "Dog Whisperer" but haven't watched any of it. So if anyone can help me with my problems it will be GREATLY appreciated. I would like breeds and info about them, and if u can, link info please. After all I'm only 15, and i have years to read and research breeds, so don't worry about the time. Its possible that i might get a dog while living with my family, but I'm not sure ATM. But one thing is for sure, I will be getting a dog in the future. So please suggest something for a first time dog owner. I have read about Akita's and they seem really loyal dogs, but they are for experianced dog owners that know how to handle dogs like that. But some day i will want to own one. So if u can link the proper things to do for a puppy, it would be excellant. Ty for the time, and feel free to suggest anything to me and email me also if you like.Ty!

Answer 1

I can tell already you are lightyears more mature than many adult dog owners I know.  Kudos to you for doing your research and understanding that a dog can be a 15 year commitment, and not just something to look cute.  

There is a yahoo group, "dogbehaviorscience" that has some very talanted trainers in it.  Some have books and are highly regarded, so I think you would get alot of help watching that group.  The show "Dog Whisperer" has some good ideas with it, but I'm not sure that would be a good place for a beginner to start.  You may have better luck with a show on Animal Planet "Its Me or the Dog" who shows how to train with positive reinforcement and never using physical force or manipulation.  If a dog respects you and enjoys your company, he will want to work with you as a team,

What type of dog you get is determined by what you would like to do and what your activity level is.  All dogs need excersize and mental stimulation.  To a dog, sitting in your 4000 sq ft house filled with human things like appliances, tvs, sterios, computers, and even a few chew toys, is equivilant to a humand sitting in a 900sq ft apartment with no electricity, no books, no pen or pencils.  A dog is a pack animal and needs to feel like he/she has a job to do. Dogs live through their nose and a house is very boring with the same smells.

You are doing great.  Just keep reading, and learning about the breeds.  Personally, I think you would be doing a dog a favor by adopting from a shelter and working with it.  Many shelter dogs are only a year old because the "cute" puppy stage has worn off and now the owner is left with this bumbling pile of energy because they didn't train it.

Answer 2

Cocker spaniel, poodle, pug, shitzu, pomeranian.

Answer 3

labs are very loyal and a lot of times you can find lab mixes and even full bred labs in humane societies, mainly because labs stay "puppy" longer than most dogs and i feel like that is why so many end up in shelters because people don't have the time to train and work with the animal. its definitely smart to take any dog that you choose to a puppy class somewhere like at petsmart where they will teach you how to train your puppy and deal with any behavioral issues the right way from the beginning!!

Answer 4

Now, when I say this, you may think, "Wow, that dog is a viscious dog." But it's not. Pit bulls, rottweilers, and german shepards have bad reps because they're trained to be mean a lot. I would recommend a rottweiler. If you train it well, he/she will not be viscious at all. They make excellent pets and they are good dogs to feel safe around and they can still be nice. I had a rottweiler that wouldn't hurt a fly, but saved my life once. He was the best. We had to put him down after he got a disease though. Breeders are cool, but make sure you do your research! Good luck!

Answer 5

you will get fustrated at first of course. if your puppy does pees in your house at first, DO NOT BE UPSET. instead, bring the puppy outside about every 2 hours and wait for it to go bathroom. when it does, give him/her much praise and maybe give him/her a treat. make a schedule for your puppy. like 9:00 am-meal or 4:00 pm- walk. crate training is the best way to train your puppy. buy a dog kennel online or at petsmart and put your dog in it when it's time for sleep or when you're away. this will teach the dog to not go crazy around the house, running all over the place, messing with your personal items etc. also, a play pen would be perfect for the puppy. if you don't want you're puppy to be cooped up in the kennel, put it in the play pen, where it can play with its toys and walk around a little bit. i suggest watching Animal Planet if you aren't already. you can also look at akc.org for more info, and i wish you the best of luck. God bless.

Answer 6

my dog is a rough collie, he loves to please, is very intelligent and still acts like a puppy at 5 years old. :D

however, he can get snappy, and hates to be restricted.

if you wrap your arms around his neck, he bites.

or if you stand on his tail by accident.

but then he realises he's done wrong and acts all sorry, so probably not the best dog if kids will be around.

i would say a golden retriever or labrador.

x

Answer 7

i suggest you adopt. why pay someone way too much money to get a dog you can find in a shelter. try www.petfinder.com. its a nationwide site of shelters and organizations that posts animals up for adoption. dont only think about the traits of the animal you want, but how it would fit into your schedule. look at getting a dog like getting a child, because they're very similar in nature. when you adopt a dog thats like at least a year or two old, you can tell its temperament, you know? if you get a puppy from a breeder, you really have no idea...

good luck!

Answer 8

I suggest that you volunteer at a local animal shelter or rescue group for several months to learn about the different breeds to find out first hand about the their behaviors and needs.  Don't limit yourself to a specific breed as mixed dogs make excellent companions and to rescue a dog from a shelter and the possibility of death is a great feeling for both of you and the dog .  The shelters are in desperate need of volunteers to walk, socialize and just be there to help where needed.  

Good luck in your quest, but a hands on learning experience with real contacts with many dogs will help you decide what type of pet you are looking for as a long time companion and friend.  It should be a life time (pets life) commitment for both of you.  Remember that a pet requires vet visits which can be expensive, obedience classes are necessary teaching you how to "teach" the pet to become a canine good citizen, very rewarding for you and your pet, as well a the cost of licensing, food, beds, toys etc.  Typically it averages about $800-1000.00 per year to adopt a new best friend.

Answer 9

I'd say go with a mutt. Purebreds are too expensive and with mutts you get the best qualities from all the breeds that went into the dog.

Answer 10

I have always said my dog picked me,I went to the shelter and knew immediately that was the one I wanted.Go look and you will know the one you want.

Answer 11

first thing is to fine out what dog to get, go to this site and it will help you pick the right dog for you.

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselecto...

and you can look up info here

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselecto...

and the trick aren't that hard here a site so your can teach your dog the basic commands

http://www.loveyourdog.com/sit.html

and for the cooler tricks go to this site

http://www.loveyourdog.com/tricks.html#b...

i have had dog my whole life and there not that hard to live with. Good luck and hope i helped you can email me if you have anymore questions  

Answer 12

for more info on dogs go to akc.org  . for info on rottweilers

go to amrottclub.org  . also go to dog shows by you so you

can see the dogs and talk to the owners/handers .

  

Answer 13

I have owned several types of dogs from german sheapards, to cocker spaniels. I have to say the best dog I have owned was a boston terrier. They are small type dogs, but they are very intelligent. They are, or can be, kinda hyper, but if you show them attention, they are great dogs, they are good with kids, and my boston terrier that I had was very respectable. They can be taught a lot of different things and are not hard to train. I trained mine, myself. I even taught her how to sit, and i could place a ball on her nose and she would not touch it until i told her to "get it" then she would throw it in the air and catch it. They are very loving dogs too, she would sleep under my covers at my feet, even in the summer. They take to one person most of the time, but they are respectable to others also. I hope this helps. Also, Cocker spaniels are great dogs, but not so good with children, DO NOT GET A ROTTWEILER, i was attacked while walking down a public road, the dog ran off the porch and attacked me, I had to have 7 stiches, and I still haven't recovered from it, so I am trying to save you some unwanted heartache.  

Answer 14

You can't really pick a breed in advance, you'll have to wait and see what your situation is when you're finally ready to get one.

For example - You might not get one until you graduate from College and get your first job and your own place.  Your first place will most likely be an apartment, so a large dog probably isn't your best choice.

Wait and see what your situation is at the time you're ready, then research viable breeds that fit the scenario.

Answer 15

if you want a SMART breed of dog, dont get a dalmation i know there cute and all, but they definatly arent the brightest of the bunch. im not saying all of them all dumb, but thats just generally how they are. i suggest a german shepherd, but they might be bigger than u want. =/

Answer 16

a tame black lab(maybe get it from when its young so u can train him and grow a better bond) any tame labs are very nice! i would recommend to get dogs when theyre young so u can tame and train them and grow a better bond.i like the labs! go for the labs! lol hope i helped.

Answer 17

That's funny you should mention an Akita. I recently adopted one from a family that had a baby and found out their infant is allergic to the dog. He's great, but I wouldn't advise someone who's never had a dog to get one. He's a VERY big boy and can be a handful. I think the size you're considering (or even smaller) would be a good size to start with.

Honestly, lots of dogs are loyal to their family. I wouldn't worry so much about researching breeds unless you are looking to find a dog to do something specific (guard dog, herding, entering into competitions, etc.). If you're just looking for a companion that will love you unconditionally then find one that pulls your heart strings.

At this point your best bet would be to volunteer at your local animal shelter. You can get to see different types of dogs and see what breed/size/energy level fits you best. Plus you're helping out animals that need the love and attention.

When you do decide to get a dog I really would urge you to adopt from a shelter. There are so many amazing animals that people give up for a number of reasons, and they are just waiting for someone to give them a good home. There will always be people to buy from a breeder.

Good luck!

Answer 18

Dalmatian and a german Shepperd

Answer 19

OK, first off, let me warn you away from Akitas.  They aren't very good dogs unless you're a military police officer or something like that.  They're too big, too strong, too prone to aggression--they may like you a lot (but what dog doesn't love its owner?) but other than that, they're pretty lame.  My neighbors have two of them and they're nightmares.  They can't handle them at all, can't keep them exercised enough, can't discipline them.  They have to keep them on leashes and muzzled or inside all the time because they can't train them and the dogs can't be trusted.  They took them to obedience school, but no dice.

If you want a strong, clever, tough dog, get a German Shepherd and forget the Akita nonsense.  You'd be far better off getting a German Shepherd.  The police don't use Akitas--they use German Shepherds.  The police would switch if it were worth it.  German Shepherds are tough, not super-hard to train, and they require strong discipline but they can really reward a pack leader who shows the proper dominance.  Plus, they have a definite sense of humor (Akitas...don't.  Fun-loving they ain't.)  Those Akitas are a couple of the foulest, most worthless dogs I've ever met because their owners are tools and totally unable to give them the very strong discipline and dominance they require.

Bottom line...forget the Akita.  You won't be happy with one.  They're too much for pretty much EVERYBODY to handle.  

That said, I like a good mutt.  They don't have the inbreeding problems of poorly-bred purebreeds, they're often healthier (hybrid vigor), they're less likely to get stolen, and they're usually a pleasant surprise.  

Personally, I have a Dalmatian from the animal shelter, and I love her to pieces, but she has some big problems (her skin's a little messed up--prone to hot spots, Dally rash, and her digestion is a MESS.  Not a Dal problem, just our problem.)

She is what she is.  We got her as an adult and we can't change her bad habits.  Some of it is just being a Dal, and some of it was from her past (she loves to beg, for instance, and she won't mind you for anything.)

We love our little headcase, and she's good for us.  That's the thing--get the dog that's right for you.  Don't get a "brand name", don't get hung up on size or color or breed or age--get the dog that speaks to your soul.  Ask the shelter or rescue group people about the dog--they can size them up pretty well.  Be HONEST.  You need to let them know what you really want in a dog and whether that dog can match you.  You may even be able to foster-parent a dog for a bit and see if it'll work out.

The right dog is out there.  Puppy, young dog, older dog.  Follow your heart.

(But about the Akita--follow my advice.  Please.  I have two of them living right across the street from me and they are nervous, they jump on people, they're too strong for their own good, they bark all the time, and they act like they're going to bite every dog and cat they see.  Save yourself the trouble and expense and skip the Akita.  I can't think of a dog I'd recommend less than an Akita.  And when they bite--you better watch out.  It's like being attacked by a wolf.  They should require a permit and training to own by civilians.  They're truly scary.)

Answer 20

they need entertainment, so maybe get 2, but the problem is, no one ever plays with their dog a little while after they get it, oh you know when/before they get it, they say "I will walk it, and play with it everyday I SWEAR" but they never do.

Answer 21

I Suggest you check out the website below. Dog breed info, it has all breeds from mixes to pure breeds. It also has quizzes and tests to give you a better idea of what dog might be suitable for you. Depending on what you like, your housing space and many other effects.

I have a doberman that i just got its 10 weeks old. Red female easiest girl to train but probably wouldn't be the thing you are looking for.

The dog will take alot of time to train and make sure to have the time and paintance  

Answer 22

you think to much. a dogs a mans bestfriend.

dont get a a d**n chihuahua...!!!

its like haveing a gun for protection but no bullets.

Answer 23

I would highly suggest a German Shorthaired Pointer. We've had them all my life and never had a "bad" dog. They are great with kids, good watch dogs (protective, but not overly so), laid back, and they don't shed. They are not stubborn so they train quite easily as well.