Dog-Buying Decisions

In My Humble Opinion
1

My boyfriend and I have been living together for awhile, and to further symbolize our committment to each other we have decided to…get a dog.

He is a big dog person. A HUGE dog person. Absolutely loves 'em. I, on the other hand, am not. I like dogs in theory, have had dogs in the past, but certain dogs just tend to freak me right the hell out. Namely, giant dogs that look like they could effectively crush me with their several-ton body weight and the tiny little rat-dogs I feel a compulsion to kick.

Being caring individuals, we are getting our new pooch from the pound. Any advice on what we should look for in our brand-new pet? Any good breeds or breed mixes that are fairly gentle and intelligent?

2

Gentle and intelligent breeds:

Large:
Golden or Labrador Retrievers
They are easily trained, obedient, typically nonaggressive, and affectionate dogs.
Downside: Large dogs mean big appetites and big poops. Goldens, the longer-haired, shed considerably.
Good crosses: Mixed with German Shepherd or husky can work–just watch for aggression and/or hyperactivity. Border collies and standard poodles are excellent crosses, but these are very intelligent and very energetic breeds–can make for a handful trying to keep them entertained!

Medium:
Shetland and Australian Sheepdogs
Meek, gentle, and obedient dogs that are also easily trained (moreso the sheltie, typically, but both are good). I’m partial here; my folks have a sheltie who’s just a sweetheart and a half.
Downside: Shelties have long hair and thus need higher maintenance. Both breeds are barkers–they were bred to alert shepherds and move livestock, after all, but it may be aggravating.
Good crosses: Most breeds, particularly other sheepdogs.

Small:
Lhasa Apsos (I’m sure I’m misspelling that; it’s off the top of my head)
Typically sweet, affectionate, and eager to please. They also are excellent for people with allergies as they don’t shed. When I worked at a pet store, these were always my favorites of the smaller breeds.
Downside: Like Shelties, they have long hair that requires significant maintenance/grooming. They are small dogs, which is a downside for some. Not a rat-dog, though.

Good luck! (I want a puppy too! Damn this small townhouse…)

3

I see you live in NYC. Get yerself over to the North Shore Animal League. You can take the train right there. They have wonderful animals, and the people who work there are really good at matching dogs to adoptive owners.

Another option is a rescued Greyhound. They’re big, but gentle. They are also said to be excellent apartment dogs–couch potatoes to the max.

Good luck!

4

One thing about big dogs and their big dog poops - a good diet will SEVERELY curtail problems here. Purina and Alpo are, quite simply, crap. I recommend Nutro, Eukanuba, Science Diet and the like. Not to be too gruesome, but with good food you get nice firm, not-too-stinky poop. Corn should not be a major ingredient in the food you choose.

I would never advise a person who is not totally at ease with dogs to get a retriever of any kind. Although they are absolutely wonderful dogs, they are high energy and can be overwhelming to a novice. I do agree with Green Bean - talk to someone at the shelter who knows dogs well, and be explicit about what you can and cannot cope with in a dog. I would add this: once you’ve got a prospective adoptee in mind, roll around with it on the floor for awhile and play with it to get an idea of its temperment.

We’ve recently adopted an American Mastiff, and I cannot say enough good things about this dog. They’re a newer breed, not widely available and still a bit pricey, so they’re not what you’re going to see in a shelter. I mention it because A) I am totally enamored of this dog and will jump at just about any opportunity to brag on her, and B) I wanted to say that AS A RULE, larger breeds of dog are calmer, gentler and more laid back than smaller dogs.

5

Here’s a link to my favorite doggy related site - they have lots of breed FAQs and info on what to consider before getting a dog. Good luck.

6

The biggest mistake you will ever make is trying to judge a pet by it’s breed. Especially from the pound. Usually, breed has very little to do with actua behavior. Pound “puppies” are generally so happy to have a home, and become quickly enamored of “their” people. Definitely talk to the caretakers, and tell them the sort of temperment you’re looking for. And remembe, some of the ugliest dogs on the outside are the most loveable creatures you’ll ever meet!
Also, try going to a shelter that does not euthanize their animals! One example here in Oklahoma (not sure if it’s anywhere else) is Pets-N-People. By getting your pet from them, you help support the organization and allow them to save more pets from death!
Amy

7

I completely disagree. For example, a border collie doesn’t behave anything like a mastiff. Every dog is different, but if you’re looking for a laid back dog, there are many many more mastiffs that fit the bill than border collies.

8

And on that note, let me just add that Lassie from the TV show? Big honkin’ lie. I’ve never yet met a collie brighter than a houseplant.

9

I suppose the only thing I can say about that is that you probably have never run into a pure bred collie. I’ve had two and they have always seemed to be the most intelligent and sensitive dogs possible. Yes, I’m biased, but you have to understand that collies are only recently beginning to recover as a breed after being nearly being destroy by “back yard breeding.” This same phenomena leads to all sorts of debilitating physical/mental issues with dogs. This leads me to my second point-- getting a dog from the pound, while noble, is a crap-shoot. You might get the best mutt in the world, you might get a total psycho. The only thing you can do is find a “dog encyclopedia” of some kind and try to get a breed that matches your lifestyle. Size, excercise requirement, coat care, bonding habits, ect should be your criteria. Good luck.

(LifeOnWry, try teaching a houseplant to climb a ladder some time and get back to me.)

10

There’s such a thing as too much intelligence in a dog. Working dogs, especially herders, need mental stimulation. If they are cooped up they can become destructive.

If both of you work, and the dog is kept indoors by itself for 8 hours a day, you should consider getting a breed that tends to be more laidback.

This site seemed to have a lot of info on choosing dogs: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/topic1.html

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p@cific@812 I was kinda joking - all dogs are different, and I think it’s best not to believe everything you may read/hear about a certain breed. For example, dobermans, rottweilers and pit bull terriers can and do make outstanding pets. Border collies ARE generally smart and alert, but my cousin has one who is still surprised by his tail on a regular basis. Jack Russells are known for being active, and I know one that spends most of its life disguised as a doorstop.

But I have also owned a lovely purebred collie, and have known two others, all of whom were (and there’s no polite way to say this) DUMB as hell. As with any living creature, YMMV.

About the houseplant - I haven’t been working very long with my diffenbachia, but I taught a wisteria in the yard to climb a drainpipe - does that count? :slight_smile:

12

Oh… I knew that vine remark was coming! :smiley:

LifeOnWry, I kinda knew you were joking. I just had to come to the defense of my favorite breed-- ya big collie basher! As you so wisely stated, all dogs are different. (some are just superior to others in every way… ;))

13

I definitely recommend North Shore Animal League- they’re a great organization, and they’ll really help you out.

However, I do have some concerns- if you’re not really a dog person, maybe you should hold off on getting one, even if your b/f really wants one. It is comparable to having a child- you’d better both be sure about what you want. You need to think long and hard about adopting a dog- you want your home to be the dog’s last home- no more being passed around to shelters if things “don’t work out”.

14

I second the comments that a breed that is usually a working dog may not be suitable if you both work 8 hour days.

Leechboy and I have just gotten a new puppy which we are fostering for 12 months whilst he trains to become a sniffer dog for the Australian Customs Dept. He comes from a long line of Customs dogs. Now he is a lovable pup but already at 10 weeks old needs lots of mental stimulation or else he goes nuts. As he gets older we are going to have to spend quite a large amount of time with him walking, experiencing new environments just to keep him occupied and happy.

FYI the food the customs dept gave us to feed him us Eukebna and we have strict feeding amounts (currently 120g twice a day only). His poop seems not to bad either although trying to pooper scooper the backyard when he is in it is trying as he thinks its a game.

15

Luckily, I’m still in school, so classes only keep me away from the house about 4-5 hours a day. SO’s a working actor (Talking to some people, it’s actually hard to believe those exist in NYC!) so he’s gone mostly nights. I’m not worried about our new doggy getting too lonely. And though we live in Manhattan, we’re in a safe, dog-friendly area. And the more I mull the idea of having a dog, the more I like it.

Green Bean Thanks for the advise on the animal shelter. I had been asking around, but none of my friends had been able to recommend one.

P@cific I’ve also heard pound-puppy horror stories, but I had the greatest dog ever as a kid, and we rescued her from a shelter. She was completely neurotic at first…afraid to bark, unwilling to go up/down stairs, absolutely terrified by thunderstorms. But after she got used to her new family, and we showered her with love and attention, she turned out to be the sweetest smartest dog.

16

KalliopeCU, I have two golden retrievers, and while I adore them both madly I wouldn’t recommend them for someone who is unsure about dogs in general. My girl is the sweetest, most placid and affectionate dog around, but the boy is a bit of a boofhead, and very energetic (though he’s still cuddly and gorgeous). The other thing you have to consider about small vs large is that large dogs, if they’re inclined to be naughty, are harder to control, simply because they are bigger and stronger (this is what we find with our big boy).

Best of luck finding your pooch. If you’re anything like me, once you’ve had a dog for a few months, you won’t be able to imagine how you lived without one for so long!

17

If you want a smart dog, get a Jack Russell. Those little bastards are too smart for their own good…however I think they may be stubborn or something. If you want a pretty, medium to small sized dog, go with an eskimo (the dog breed, not the Alaskan tribe). If you want a smaller, fascist dog, you could get a miniature doberman pincher and give him an appropriately fascist name.

Personally, I like largish dogs, but I don’t have a big enough yard. If I did, I’d either get a black lab, a husky or a malamute.

…and if all else fails…get a turtle and name him Fido.

18

Once you decide on a breed (IF you decide) consider contacting a breed rescue organization. You can find these on the web. I say this because they have dogs in foster homes, living with families who know them intimately. They work hard to find a dog whose personality and needs would fit into your household. They also have a real interest in finding a good “fit;” the dogs aren’t stuck in a cage somewhere, so they have time to wait for the right person to come along.

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(hopefully not a double-post)

**liirogue[/b[ I’ll respectfully suggest NOT looking specifically for a “no-kill” (more properly called “limited-access”) shelter.

Limited-access shelters don’t perform many euthanasias themselves, it’s true. Generally, they accomplish this by having a limited number of cage spaces; once their kennels are full, they turn people away.

That’s fine, if there’s a full-access shelter nearby that folks can take their animals to. If there’s no full-access shelter, the animals might get dumped by the side of the road, or worse.

Full-access shelters, like the one I work for, do euthanize animals. We often euthanize the animals turned away from limited-access shelters. And we hate having to do it.

So ADOPT from us! The more animals you adopt from a full-access shelter, the fewer we have to euthanize!

Limited-access shelters do have a place in the world of animal rescue: as long as they don’t claim a spurious moral high ground, as long as they work with their local full-access shelter, and (most importantly) as long as they don’t warehouse animals in filthy cages for years on end, letting the animals live in filth, disease, and neuroses, they can be a useful supplement to the work done by full-access shelters.

But it’s the full-access shelters that do the main of the work.

On another point, it may be a crap shoot to get an animal from the “pound” (we in the biz prefer "shelter :wink: ). Anecdotally, however, the animals I’ve adopted from shelters have been far gentlre and calmer than the one dog I lived with who was bought from a breeder. It’s a pretty good gamble, as long as you invest some time into finding the right animal.

Finally, look into North Shore Animal League. They’re not universally beloved in the animal welfare movement. I don’t know enough about the controversy to take sides on it, but there definitely is a controversy.

Rant over.
Daniel

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Horribly coded and spelled rant over, that is.

Daniel