Which breed?

[bentrinh]

Hey I'm like a noob with dogs, so which breed do you think is good for me?
Requirements (Loose requirements)

Medium Sized Dog
Smart
Gentle & Friendly (Family Friendly, loves strangers)
Obedient
Low price (for a dog)


I've done some research and it seems that a Border Terrier is good

[zoe08]

how much grooming are you willing to do?
Do you have the time train a puppy?
Is this your first dog? If it is, I suggest going to your local shelter and getting an adult dog. It will also be a lot cheaper than buy from a breeder, and you dont have to go to the trouble to find good breeders and not buying from bad ones.
Do you live in a house/apartment? Do you have a fenced in yard? How big is it?
How much exercise will you be able to give to it?
How much time will you be able to spend with it everyday?
How old are you?
How many people do you live with? How do they feel about dogs?
And do you have the money to make sure it has all its shots and vet visits paid for?

There are a TON more things to consider than the few requirements you listed.

[Doberman's]

Zoe is right , ther are tons of things to consider.

Here is a website with good info on different breeds.

http://www.dogsincanada.com/breeds/

[MaryGrace]

Yes, answer all Zoe's questions. Do you want a couch dog or an energetic dog? And sometimes you don't have to get a special breed. Go to the animal shelter and look for a mixed breed adult like Zoe said. And also, make sure you have the time, money, ect. to own a dog, because it takes alot. :)

[SweetyChick]

Hi, i reccomend a Border Collie or Sheepdog, both are great dogs and fit your requirments.

[MaryGrace]

Actually, ben has to answer the qusestions zoe posted before deciding on a breed. :)

[zoe08]

Hi, i reccomend a Border Collie or Sheepdog, both are great dogs and fit your requirments.

I hate to say this, but I really dont think a Border Collie should be recommended unless you know the person is going to have lots of time for exercising. Border Collies are very very active and are not the dog for just anyone.

I dont know much about Sheep dog, but I think that there is a lot more to know before recommending a breed.

[bentrinh]

how much grooming are you willing to do?
1)Do you have the time train a puppy?
2)Is this your first dog? If it is, I suggest going to your local shelter and getting an adult dog. It will also be a lot cheaper than buy from a breeder, and you dont have to go to the trouble to find good breeders and not buying from bad ones.
3)Do you live in a house/apartment? Do you have a fenced in yard? How big is it?
4)How much exercise will you be able to give to it?
5)How much time will you be able to spend with it everyday?
6)How old are you?
7)How many people do you live with? How do they feel about dogs?
8)And do you have the money to make sure it has all its shots and vet visits paid for?

There are a TON more things to consider than the few requirements you listed.
1)Yes, on the weekends
2)Yes, it's my first dog
3)Yes, I live in a house w/ a yard.
4)I'm going to want it to be calm most of the time, but I want to play with it one in a while
5)I have time on weekends, but my sister has lots of time
6)13, BUT, we're not getting one in a couple years (parents need to think it over a LOT)
7)I live with a family of four. My dad wants a good watchdog. My mom, sister, and I wants one to play with. I guess the dog should be friendly to strangers. (I have a BIG extended family)
8)Uhh how much does the visit cost? How offen?

[zoe08]

First of all. There should be short training sessions everyday (~20 minutes). Possible obedience classes, if you have not had experience training.

Is it going to be "your" dog? What happens when you graduate and move out? Where does the dog go? Will you be able to take it? Will your parents be willing to keep it?

Is anyone home all day? How long will it be left alone?

Vet visits vary depending on what you have done. Puppies cost a lot, as they need to see the vet very often their first few months for shots. I dont know how much a general check-up costs. You also have to factor in the cost to get spayed/neutered and the money in case any kind of emergency would come up. But they have their shots kept up to date and check-ups at least once a year.

You also have to think of all the other costs of having a dog. Food (GOOD food), toys, collar, tags, leash, flea & tick preventatives, heartworm meds, treats, grooming. It may not seem like a lot, but it adds up.

How old is your sister? Is she willing to work with the dog and training?

What kind of grooming requirements do you have? How often are you willing to groom, will you take it to the groomers, how much dog hair are you willing to put up with?

I think that your best bet would be to think about all these things and discuss with your family. When you decide you are ready for a dog, go to your animal shelter and find an adult dog that meets your requirement (for a mostly calm dog, something at least over 3 years of age).

I am sorry if I make it sound like you shouldnt have a dog. Through personal experience though I think it is best you know EVERYthing about having a dog the BAD and the GOOD about having a dog. I really wish someone had told me all of this before I got my first puppy when I was about 11 or 12.

If you think about all these things, and decide that you will be able to have a dog, do the proper training, have the proper funds, etc. And decide you would still like a purebred, let us know and we might be able to help you find a good breed and a rescue in your area for that breed.

[bentrinh]

First of all. There should be short training sessions everyday (~20 minutes). Possible obedience classes, if you have not had experience training.

1)Is it going to be "your" dog? What happens when you graduate and move out? Where does the dog go? Will you be able to take it? Will your parents be willing to keep it?

2)Is anyone home all day? How long will it be left alone?

Vet visits vary depending on what you have done. Puppies cost a lot, as they need to see the vet very often their first few months for shots. I dont know how much a general check-up costs. You also have to factor in the cost to get spayed/neutered and the money in case any kind of emergency would come up. But they have their shots kept up to date and check-ups at least once a year.

You also have to think of all the other costs of having a dog. Food (GOOD food), toys, collar, tags, leash, flea & tick preventatives, heartworm meds, treats, grooming. It may not seem like a lot, but it adds up.

3)How old is your sister? Is she willing to work with the dog and training?

What kind of grooming requirements do you have? How often are you willing to groom, will you take it to the groomers, how much dog hair are you willing to put up with?

I think that your best bet would be to think about all these things and discuss with your family. When you decide you are ready for a dog, go to your animal shelter and find an adult dog that meets your requirement (for a mostly calm dog, something at least over 3 years of age).

I am sorry if I make it sound like you shouldnt have a dog. Through personal experience though I think it is best you know EVERYthing about having a dog the BAD and the GOOD about having a dog. I really wish someone had told me all of this before I got my first puppy when I was about 11 or 12.

If you think about all these things, and decide that you will be able to have a dog, do the proper training, have the proper funds, etc. 4) And decide you would still like a purebred, let us know and we might be able to help you find a good breed and a rescue in your area for that breed.
1) It'll be the family dog. When I go to college my parents are willing to take care of it
2) The dog will be alone for 6 hours for 2 days a week, and 8 1/2 hours for 1 day a week
3) She's 10, and she's willing to put time into it

[MaryGrace]

I'm eleven, and I waited 8 years to get a dog. our dog is the family dog, but I take care of him. About the college, my dad works in a college near by, so I know I will go there, and I will be able to take Max. You need to be very responsible to get a dog. Your sister, as she gets older, may be too busy with friends, school, ect. to take care of the dog. Then, who would? Also, the times you posted seem a little long to leave a dog on it's own. I am homeschooled, so our dog has me home every day. Also, you don't seem to know how much the vet can cost. If the dog gets really sick, you'll have to pay maybe thousands of dollars. You also need to spay/neuter the dog, and that costs money too. And you have to buy a bed, food, dishes, toys, ect. for the dog. A good kind of dog food can be pretty expensive. Starting when I was about 7, I researched dogs, and have been doing so ever since. You really need to know everything about dogs, and who will care for the dog, and all the rest of it before actually getting a dog. I went through a lot to get my dog. We went to the animal shelter every day, called consistently, ect. We eventually got a great dog, but not before alot of waiting, and heartaches from all those abandoned dogs. I, too, am sorry if it sounds like you shouldn't get a dog. But it takes so much. :)

[chase_pike]

labs-friendly obiedient loving smart(usually idk about koko...)and overall cute and the medium part i think there rather big...

[Zoes_mama]

Those times do seem rather long to keep a dog by itself during the day. Plus, training takes knowledge and patience. So a puppy is definitely out for those 2 reasons. Try getting a well-trained, adult dog, and you will probably be fine. Dogs also need daily exercise, and a run in the backyard is not always sufficient. But then there is also the financial issue. Who will be paying for the dog and it's care, etc? The vet prices for shots, spay/neuter and any sicknesses, can be pretty hefty, alone. Then there's food, toys, license, collar, etc on top of all that. My parents refused to get a dog until I got a job to pay for it all, and I can't even tell you how much I've spent on her since I got her December '04. Now we have 2 dogs. I have Zoe and my sis takes care of Bear.

[dlambertz]

k. so i am going to go away from the grain here. puppies are what dogs are before they become great dogs. if you are getting a puppy make sure you research the breeds so you know what you are looking for. a mixed breed can make a wonderful choice just research what you think the pup might have for blood lines.
i would suggest having classes lined up so you are able to teach the pup good manners. it is a great bonding experience for both of you too. maybe a little older pup 10 wks or so... bladders are a little bigger.
i would not rule out going to the shelter to look at what they have in pups and in older dogs. some of the best dogs i have been around were "pound pups"
good luck to you...do your research (start with the akc site www.akc.org ) and read about the temperament of the breeds. it will help you know what you are looking for if you do the proper research