Dogs

Mrs42509 · March 2011

We have been talking lately about getting a dog. I'm pretty sure this won't happen anytime soon but I'm curious on a few things.

What did you consider before getting a dog?

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl?

Where did you get your dog from?

Why did you want a dog?

KarmaKP · March 2011

My husband had been talking about it forever and I wasn't really sure. Then I went on Petfinder and saw Roxy and couldn't stop thinking about her sweet face. I filled out the paperwork online and talked to the animal shelter. We set up an appointment to meet her, knowing we would likely bring her home. We did. She was 8 weeks old. Almost 4 years later I can't imagine not having her. She has changed my life and everything I knew about having a pet. I wanted a girl for various reasons but I'm sure would love a boy dog just as much. At the time when we adopted her I was working from home so it was a great way to potty train and make sure she didn't destroy the house during the puppy phase. We found a great doggy daycare where she goes 2-3 times a week now. Make sure you think about your lifestyle and whether it will allow you to be fair to the dog being home alone or crated during work hours, social plans, etc. Also don't underestimate how much it costs to be a pet guardian. We probably spend $1000/year minimum on Roxy's food, vet care, tags, insurance, daycare, toys, grooming.

KarmaKP · March 2011

There were paragraphs when I drafted it. Sorry.

CHB0620 · March 2011

My H and I got our dog before we were married but we went in half on everything. We really wanted a dog but didnt know what kind. We lived in an apartment so I knew we needed to get a smalled dog, which was GREAT with me. We had wanted to rescue but all those dogs were big dogs that needed yards. We were killing time one day and went into the pet store and found ours! We fell in love with him right away. We already knew we wanted a boy because girls go through heat and we didnt want to deal with that at all, even though our dog is fixed.

We have had our dog 5 years now and I couldn't imagine our life without him!! He is like our child.

NikiLynn · March 2011

I considered the responsibility and the size. I did not want a full-breed b/c of the number of dogs in need of a home so I looked on petfinder.com until I found a couple puppies I thought were cute that I might be able to convince my husband of. My particular dog was being "marketed" by a no-kill shelter; however,they did not have him (my dog). He was at a breeders. The breeder bred cocker spaniels AND beagles...I have a cocker spaniel/beagle mix. Go figure. Anyway...I knew I wanted a male b/c I did not want to deal w/the possibility of a dog going into heat before I could get it fixed. I wanted a "smallish" dog. I wanted a dog b/c I LOVE dogs. Check shelters/petfinder first. There are WAYYY too many dogs out there who need homes and might be euthanized.

lovetara00 · March 2011

I wanted a dog for a long time - my family always thad hem growing up. When we were first married, we lived in a condo and coudn't have dogs there. As soon as we bought our house, I wanted to start looking for a dog.

We knew that for our lifestyle, a dog who was a little bit older and already housetrained would be better for us than a puppy. And that's what we found. Our dog was 2 when we adopted him, already housetrained and knew basic commands. This would not necessarily be best for everyone - but for us, it was perfect.

We didn't have a type in mind, we just searched petfinder. Our dog was the first one we met in person, and we just knew he was meant to be ours. He's a mutt - a mix of about 5 dogs. He is perfect.

I definitely echo urging to adopt. There are so many little doggies that have never known what it's like to be loved or have the security of an actual home.

anotapotamus · March 2011

Mrs42509:

We have been talking lately about getting a dog. I'm pretty sure this won't happen anytime soon but I'm curious on a few things.

What did you consider before getting a dog? For my first dog - I thought Golden Retrievers were beautiful creatures and knew for a long time that I wanted one. I really didn't put much more into it beyond "pretty doggy". For my next two - we considered was the timing good for our lifestyle? how much time would be home with them? could we afford routine AND unexpected expenses? who would handle what household maintenance in relation to the dogs (vacuuming, picking up the yard, dog-proofing, etc).

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? Started narrowing down activities - we wanted a dog that could hike and run with us (so taller and mid-to-short length hair), calmer breed since we're not into barkers. That kind of thing.

And how did you decide between boy/girl? We have one of each. Boys are easier to maintain as far as spay/neutering. Girls have a lot harder recovery from that. Beyond that - when we met the right dog, we met the right dog - gender didn't really come into play.

Where did you get your dog from? Animal Care Center on Rt. 4 in Fairfield. It's a no-kill rescue for puppies that is run by vets. They keep all the puppies they take in until they're adopted no matter how old they get. Our dogs were wonderfully healthy when we got them.

Why did you want a dog? Safety and companionship. We live near UC and so the dogs provide an extra layer of security for our home/persons. Beyond that - my H & I both have a lot of 'me' time and hobbies - so it's nice to not be alone in the house while he's out playing golf or I'm out for a run. Once you take one into your heart - you just can't imagine not having them around.

I'll recommend "The New Work of Dogs" by Jon Katz. It really helped me clarify what I wanted out of a dog - why I was bringing a creature into my house - and what my expectations were from the dog (IMPORTANT!) before we got our German Shepherd mix. Now when she's driving us a little crazy, I can remind myself that some of the traits that drive us nuts are what make her a perfect choice for our home - so I can roll with her strengths rather than impose my own ideas on her as to who she should be.

PirateGirl04 · March 2011

What did you consider before getting a dog? Whether or not we could take care of it and provide it enough exercise.

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl? We had a Golden Retriever growing up and my parents had gotten another so I knew that is what kind I wanted. We went with a boy b/c we liked the name we picked out haha. Also, I never had a boy dog before so I was up for the challenge. Most ppl say that males are more hyper (well with our specific breed) but I find that our male dog is way less hyper then my parents female dog!

Where did you get your dog from? We got him from a breeder.

Why did you want a dog? We watched my parents dog for them a few times and figured hey we can do this! I loved taking care of her and hating when she had to go home. Thats when I knew we were ready. It has been one of the best decisions! Norton is such a great dog!

afloggie · March 2011

What did you consider before getting a dog? How much money it would cost, and if we were really ready. We like to go out a lot and travel and had to consider things like boarding.

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl? We knew we wanted a girl because we have a boy cat, no real reason other than that. We searched Petfinder.com and found a puppy we liked, then when we went to see her at an adoption thing we saw another puppy and fell in love. She was the runt and was perfect for us.

Where did you get your dog from? Recycled Doggies

Why did you want a dog? We are looking to start a family and knew that a dog would be a good step in this direction and we wanted to have a dog before we had a family.

daves_sweetpea · March 2011

Mrs42509:

We have been talking lately about getting a dog. I'm pretty sure this won't happen anytime soon but I'm curious on a few things.

What did you consider before getting a dog?

First dog I put no thought into the process. I had just closed on a house and my dad said "let's go to the SPCA and just 'look'" We came home with Fluffy. I wanted a puppy and he was the only puppy available so I took him. He has been difficult since the day I adopted him (think mom was feral or he was otherwise unsocialized). A month later I adopted Princess, again without much thought. Bad idea. She was also from the SPCA and had severe problems. After she went to doggy heaven I put more thought into getting my next dog. I did a few personality quizes on Animal Planet & other sites. Then I researched the breeds those quizes suggested. I really wanted a golden retriever and I was going to apply to a few golden rescues. I guess I couldn't wait so I went to the no-kill shelters here and came home with Lily. We lost her last month and I was determined to get a golden puppy. I felt a little guilty going through a breeder but decided that I would do my research this time and find the "best" breeder I could. I wanted a dog with a good temprament, health checks for mom & dad, etc. DH & I decided to put off our search b/c of the money (we knew the puppy could be up to $1K, then vet bills for shots, spay, etc). We spent a few days researching dogs at the Dayton Humane Society and picked our latest puppy on Sunday. He was in a foster home and a little older (3 months or so) and that plus a little research has made all the difference this time.

So, I suggest taking your time, doing one of the online quizes to find the best breeds for you, and contacting rescues. A dog that has lived in a foster home usually is calmer, more used to home life, and easier for a first time owner.

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl?

Where did you get your dog from?

Why did you want a dog?

jiml · March 2011

What did you consider before getting a dog? I knew I wanted something that was good with children and friendly.

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl? I love Golden Retriever's so that was easy. We chose a girl because they are typically smaller than the male dogs.

Where did you get your dog from? A breeder in newspaper. If you do this, make sure you see both parents (of the dogs that is) to get an idea of color, size, and demeanor.

Why did you want a dog? I love dogs, especially Golden Retriever's. My dog is so loving, kind, gentle, fun... the list goes on and on. She's great with kids, is loyal and very smart.

Christine.Louie · March 2011

Mrs42509:

What did you consider before getting a dog? If we truly had enough time in our lives and whether it was "fair" or not for the dog to be in a crate for about 9-10 hours per day. Sure, he cramps our style a little bit...I have to wake up early (yes, dogs have no concept of weekends) because mine rises with the sun, I have to go home after work instead of going out for happy hour or to meet friends for dinner, I have to factor in his kennel costs when I go on vacation, etc...but, I assure you that after awhile, it becomes part of your routine and wouldn't trade it for anything!

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl? We love beagles. DH had a beagle growing up and I adored her. They're very friendly dogs and great family dogs. Size-wise they're perfect IMO...ours is about 25 lbs, roughly 1 ft tall x 2 ft long from his head to base of tail. I actually wanted a girl dog because males...at least mine...like to mark (ugh!). We kind of wanted a puppy because they're irresistibly cute and so that you can train them from the get-go but now having gotten a young adult dog (2-3 yrs old we think) it was better for us because he was already potty, crate, and basic command trained.

Where did you get your dog from? He was a lost dog. My sister's friend found him and after trying to find the owner for a couple weeks her mom said the dog had to go. My sister told me about him and I somehow convinced my husband that we should go "just to look". Stupid move...haha! I should have known better given that when I used to volunteer at an animal shelter I would *always* want to take dogs home (and miraculously didn't)!
Why did you want a dog? I wanted a companion and like caring for him. He's truly my little fur baby. I also like walking him (yes, even in the bitter cold winter) because it's relaxing for me to clear my mind and also get some fresh air and exercise.

jarmstrong23 · March 2011

Hey Jules

Definitely go to a shelter to adopt. My little girl is the BEST dog I've ever had, and she's the first shelter/mutt I've ever had (and I've had dogs my whole life).

There's a lot to consider in your decision, but doing some research about breeds will help you make the right one. I am a vat of useless (and useful) information about dogs, so email me/FB chat me if you want to talk about this.

Later,

Jen

101709lovey · March 2011

We don't have a dog yet, but we are planning on having one sometime this year...

What did you consider before getting a dog?

- We did a ton of research on what kind of dog we wanted, how much attention/care they would need, if we could handle the amount of training/attention they needed, size/weight, etc.

How did you decide on what type of dog to get? And how did you decide between boy/girl?

- Once we narrowed down what we wanted in our dog, we started thinking about and doing a ton of research on breeds. I want to say H did research for close to 6 months on different breeds before we decided that we def want a Golden Retriever when we do get a dog. H really wants a boy dog, and I'm completely fine w/ that. After having a female dog growing up, I am not sure I want that right now.

Where did you get your dog from?

- We will adopt from a rescue, shelter, breeder or something along those lines.

Why did you want a dog?

- We want a dog that will go hiking/camping w/ us; one that can be a protector when needed, but also gentle and loving. We both love animals and have a cat already, so we knew it was something we would do down the road.

080808bride · March 2011

jarmstrong23:
Hey Jules
Definitely go to a shelter to adopt. My little girl is the BEST dog I've ever had, and she's the first shelter/mutt I've ever had (and I've had dogs my whole life).
There's a lot to consider in your decision, but doing some research about breeds will help you make the right one. I am a vat of useless (and useful) information about dogs, so email me/FB chat me if you want to talk about this.
Later,
Jen

This! This! This! I think everyone has done a nice job covering the main things! Please see pets board for more info!

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