Looking to get a dog, suggestions?

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Best dog in the world. Amazing personality and great to be around. They drool, but that's their way of saying they love you. Perfect for a 2 bedroom apartment. Not sure where you'll live, but the dog will enjoy the two bedrooms to spread out in.

[jammies]

Are you sure you have to have a dog? Very few dogs like being inside, alone, 5 days a week/9 hours a day. I used to be president of the condo board at my old place, and 2/3 of the complaints I got were from people who WERE home about dogs whose owners WEREN'T home. (The other 1/3 were about those same dogs crapping all over the property). They bark. They whine. They bark some more. 'Cause the poor things get lonely, and hate being pent up in a small area - dogs just aren't built that way.

You'd be much better off getting something that isn't so high maintenance, like a cat, or a rabbit, or just about anything but a dog. If you must have the dog, I'd advise waiting until you either have a significant other who is home during the day, and/or else you have a house, yard, and preferably 2 dogs to keep each other company.

[Kipper is King]

I don't know if this has been mentioned already, but I figured I would add in this tidbit: mixed breed dogs often tend to healthier long term than pure bred dogs.

It is because the genetics are more varied in mixed breeds that this is often (but not always) the case.

Also, with a mixed-breed dog, you get the traits of two breeds in one dog!


Example: My Bichon/er Spaniel cross has only ever needed to go to the vet on a couple occasions. Also, he has the er Spaniel looks, but his Bichon Frise attributes mean that he does not shed.

So you may want to consider a mutt.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Example: My Bichon/er Spaniel

LOL @ the language filter filtering out c0cker.

[Sylvanfan]

Well my Samoyed just plucked an apple pie off our kitchen coutner.....I suggest a smaller dog...they have a tougher time getting to the food on the counter.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Aren't you the guy with 2 pure-bred golden retreivers?

Just kidding, for all I know, they are rescue dogs.

Of the six animals in the house, five are rescues, including a cat with only two feet.

Both Golden's are pure-bred, but one is a rescue.

You'd have no problem, I think, getting a pure-bred of anything. If I'm not mistaken, almost 50% of dogs are surrendered or given away within their first year . . . . . saw a stat something like that.

Interestingly, Abby and Keeper, the latter named by her former owners, are the cover shot and Miss January's on the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (Colorado) fundraising calendar for 2008. Here it is below!!! Keeper, the rescue, is the one on the left. Her in-town flaw was that she barks at sunsets and anything suspicious . . . . . which should be a good tip for yourself to be careful what you're getting for a condo.



http://www.goldenrescue.com/index.html

Cowperson

[HelloHockeyFans]

I agree with the rescue idea... always good to help out a dog who needs a home.

As for the breed, I'm probably biased, but see if you can get a Shiba Inu, but I doubt many shelters will have them. Pretty independent dogs, who certainly need to be taken out, but are very good alone while you're out at work.

[SpecialK12]

My husband and I have a 2 1/2 year old Boston Terrier. As far as breeds go, Boston's are pretty hyper and need lots of attention, Frankie definately fits this to a tee! At the same time, he is an incredible dog and fits our needs perfectly. We got him when he was just over a year though, so we missed out on the terrorizing puppy stage.

We are in the same situation as you in that we live in a condo (more of a townhouse condo, so we actually have a small backyard). We also work most days of the week but have varied schedules. Although many people disagree with it, we keep him in a kennel when we are not home. For him, this is comforting. He doesn't have the whole house to run around in and get into things - which he most definately would if left alone. He knows where he is going when we get ready to leave and he more or less goes in without hassle.

We experienced a bit of barking and whining when left in there when we first got him. But now, he is fine going in and as far as we know sleeps all day. We have never had a single complaint. In fact, neighbours have been surprised when we encounter them in the hall with him, to see that we actually have a dog. Some have even asked if he ever barks because they have never heard him.

All in all, I would recommend a boston to anybody.

[Jiggy_12]

Thanks again for the suggestions. As far as cats go, I'm allergic to them. I am pretty set on getting a dog, and I'm not a huge fan of other pets.

Hellohockeyfans, I've heard good things about Shiba Inus from other peope too. I'll add those to my list.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

SPCA

Seriously, why waste hundreds of dollars on an inbred idiot puppy when you could get a full-grown dog who actively needs your assistance!?

Talk about man's best friend, just wait until after you set him free from that kennel.

wow. way to generalize. i've had no problems with purebred's. there are planty of responsible breeders out there. just know the breed. if you want a dog from the SPCA that's great, there's alot of great dogs there that need good homes and make great companions, but don't let statements like this deter you from getting a certain breed if that's what you want.

[Bobblehead]

Here are a couple in town websites.

http://www.arf.ab.ca/dogs/index.shtml

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server...._OpenerMode=2&

[Sylvanfan]

The other thing you can always do is volunteer for the SPCA or a live rescue shelter in the mean time. That way you get to reach out and help many animals as opposed to just one.

[Ford Prefect]

In my experience, you can easily get purebreds from the SPCA. We've adopted a purebred Egyptian Mau and a purebred Lilac Point Siamese cat from the SPCA, and both were/are great pets. Our current dog is an Eskimo/Collie cross that we adopted from the SPCA, and he's an incredible dog ... looks like a blonde fox. We saw numerous purebred dogs there when we were watching for a dog to adopt. In fact, we were watching for a Golden Retreiver when our Eskimo/Collie boy came in and stole our hearts. If you're willing to wait awhile and monitor the animals that come in, you're chances of finding a purebred of your choice at the SPCA are pretty good, from what I've seen.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

In my experience, you can easily get purebreds from the SPCA. We've adopted a purebred Egyptian Mau and a purebred Lilac Point Siamese cat from the SPCA, and both were/are great pets. Our current dog is an Eskimo/Collie cross that we adopted from the SPCA, and he's an incredible dog ... looks like a blonde fox. We saw numerous purebred dogs there when we were watching for a dog to adopt. In fact, we were watching for a Golden Retreiver when our Eskimo/Collie boy came in and stole our hearts. If you're willing to wait awhile and monitor the animals that come in, you're chances of finding a purebred of your choice at the SPCA are pretty good, from what I've seen.

But if you're taking an animal from a rescue shelter that has so many positives and is most certainly going to get adopted anyway, is it really rescuing an animal? You're just taking it before another person does.

When I think of getting a "rescue dog", I think of one that has probably no chance of being adopted - like a mongrel, old dog, ugly dog, or a nuiscance dog.

We got our kitten from the SPCA, but I wouldn't consider her a "rescued kitten".

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

But if you're taking an animal from a rescue shelter that has so many positives and is most certainly going to get adopted anyway, is it really rescuing an animal? You're just taking it before another person does.

When I think of getting a "rescue dog", I think of one that has probably no chance of being adopted - like a mongrel, old dog, ugly dog, or a nuiscance dog.

That's one way of looking at it, and if rescuing an animal is your primary motivation then yes, pick the animal that nobody else will want. However, I wasn't claiming that my motivations are so altruistic that I'm just there to rescue an animal. I'm there to adopt a family pet, which is something a little different than just rescuing an animal. When I adopt a family pet I'm looking for certain personality traits and appearances. That doesn't necessarily mean I always adopt purebreds. The dog we have is a mutt who was five when we adopted him, and aside from the two purebred cats we've adopted from the SPCA over the past 20 some years, we've also adopted two mutt cats, both of which were in mid-life. The SPCA has to kill thousands of cats and dogs every year. So whether you're adopting a so-called desireable animal or not, you're still adding to the net animals adopted and therefore ultimately reducing the number euthanized. Is it not still better to find a pet at a shelter than from a breeder?

All I was trying to say in my post is that if it's purebreds you want, the SPCA can still offer what you want. And that adopting from the SPCA supports a greater cause than buying from a breeder.