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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Adopting a dog
Tell me anything I need to know while I research the possibility of adopting a dog from north shore animal league.
I live in a 2 bedroom apt with my 2 DDs. I work full time gone for 9 hours mon-fri but can come home for lunch.
What age and breed should I look into? North shore has mutts too.
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Posted 11/5/13 10:09 PM  |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Adopting a dog
NS has mostly mutts. We got our dog from there and he's wonderful but 80lbs. The don't 100% know the mix of the dogs so they will be er be accurate on how big the will get. We got a puppy and def tough for a few months training. IMO if you have kids you have to be careful with an older dog cause you do no know if they will be ok with kids. We had our puppy always around kids so he's great.
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| Posted 11/6/13 5:47 AM |
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Re: Adopting a dog
Posted by alli3131
NS has mostly mutts. We got our dog from there and he's wonderful but 80lbs. The don't 100% know the mix of the dogs so they will be er be accurate on how big the will get. We got a puppy and def tough for a few months training. IMO if you have kids you have to be careful with an older dog cause you do no know if they will be ok with kids. We had our puppy always around kids so he's great.
I also agree with the concern about older dogs around kids----and just their temperament in general.
I know several people who foster and frequently run into these kinds of issues with older dogs. Also size/breed does not necessarily matter when it comes to behavior problems in dogs.
Having a puppy is a TON of work though and I don't know if DH & I could personally go through it again with all our responsibilities in life now.
Maybe if I was home all day, but definitely not being a working mom.
Plus you need to think about your lifestyle........are you out a lot? If you go away, can you bring the dog?
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| Posted 11/6/13 5:57 AM |
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
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Adopting a dog
We just resuced from Unchained NY, he is a boxer/shepard mix and just turned 1. I personally have heard of too many sick puppies from NS. We met with the dog and his fosters a few times prior to the hand off. Our dog was living in a house with a child and 2 other dogs, so we knew he was good with both. I think you should consider it will be all day you wont really be there and where will the pup stay? Crate, loose. Our dog (ater almost 7 weeks) is finally on our schedule and our "rules". Hes an awesome dog and Unchained was amazing to deal with. Good luck.
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| Posted 11/6/13 7:33 AM |
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lilqtny
-Crossfit & pitbull addict
Member since 7/06 2830 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Adopting a dog
Pit bull crew rescue has some beautiful babies that need homes
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| Posted 11/6/13 9:08 AM |
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Re: Adopting a dog
When we got our Murphy, we wanted to go the rescue route, but because we had a 1 bedroom apt. and worked and North Shore couldn't guarantee the maximum size the dog would grow to be, we had to go a breeder for a specific breed instead. I couldn't have a puppy turn into a 100 lb dog in a small apt.
But this would work out fine for you if you adopted an older puppy (10 months old or so)
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| Posted 11/6/13 9:48 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Adopting a dog
Consider fostering first. There are many, many rescues who are in dire need of fosters. And there is nothing wrong with being a foster failure and adopting the dog. Being a foster allows you to "test" the dog with your family first, see their real temperament, behavior, how easily they are to train, how they fit in with your lifestyle etc.
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| Posted 11/6/13 10:42 AM |
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JME78
LIF Adult
Member since 11/09 3672 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
Since you are gone so much I would adopt an older dog. We adopted our dog when she was 2-3 and she is wonderful, do not be scared that an older dog will not be good with kids - many of them are.
It is not fair to a puppy to be alone that much - they cannot hold their bladders for that long. I would recommend a dog walker regardless, but an adult dog is ok for longer stretches.
We live in an apartment and we have a beagle mix. She is really quiet for a beagle. Since you live in an apartment it would also be wise for you to get an adult dog since you would know how big they are.
Spend some time interacting with the dogs - you can get a good sense seeing your kids spend time with them.
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| Posted 11/6/13 10:57 AM |
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AKD
LIF Adult
Member since 1/12 2637 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
We got our dog, a lab/shepherd mix at North Shore almost a year ago. When we got him, he was 6 months. We absolutely adore him. We're also about 9 hours out of home, so we have a dog walker who comes in middle of the day and walks him for an hour. It took us a couple of times of going to North Shore to find the dog that felt right to us. We just knew when we met him and how he reacted to us right away. We feel super lucky to have found him - he was rescued after Sandy, but besides being terrified of bath time, he is seriously the most lovable and kind dog there is. We're obsessed!!!
In case you were thinkoing of getting a puppy - they told us we couldn't get one because we're not home all the time. We didn't mind, glad we got a dog a bit older although he's still a puppy.
Goodluck on your search - let me know if you have any questions.
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| Posted 11/6/13 1:33 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
Posted by tara73
Consider fostering first. There are many, many rescues who are in dire need of fosters. And there is nothing wrong with being a foster failure and adopting the dog. Being a foster allows you to "test" the dog with your family first, see their real temperament, behavior, how easily they are to train, how they fit in with your lifestyle etc.
Where can I find an organization that does fosters?
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| Posted 11/6/13 3:11 PM |
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Mushesgirl
Too blessed to be stressed
Member since 4/09 6691 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
Posted by stinger
Posted by tara73
Consider fostering first. There are many, many rescues who are in dire need of fosters. And there is nothing wrong with being a foster failure and adopting the dog. Being a foster allows you to "test" the dog with your family first, see their real temperament, behavior, how easily they are to train, how they fit in with your lifestyle etc.
Where can I find an organization that does fosters?
I volunteer with Pibbles & More rescue (I make home visits in the city for them but they work with folks from all over). Check them out!
pmar
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| Posted 11/6/13 10:37 PM |
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whoababy1
Love my little girls <3
Member since 8/10 1418 total posts
Name:
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Adopting a dog
We rescued our dog from NY Pet rescue. They foster as well.
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| Posted 11/7/13 10:46 AM |
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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
Posted by tara73
Consider fostering first. There are many, many rescues who are in dire need of fosters. And there is nothing wrong with being a foster failure and adopting the dog. Being a foster allows you to "test" the dog with your family first, see their real temperament, behavior, how easily they are to train, how they fit in with your lifestyle etc.
That's a great idea, but it could be tough on the kids. Though a good learning experience as well! I mean, fostering is tough on ADULTS.
But, it's a great way to test and see if you're ready and if you click with a dog you're fostering, it should be a simple thing to just adopt them.
I definitely agree that you should get an older dog but not much older. My dog has gotten cranky in his old age and doesn't like meeting new dogs (new people are fine, but I guess he feels he has enough dog friends!  ) I'd look at a dog that's around 1 year or two. Two years is when they are generally considered adult dogs and that's when I've noticed a marked change in personality/behavior (being calmer on walks and in general, less destructive behaviors, etc.). Good luck!! 
ETA: Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again- the "adoption experts" at North Shore are volunteers! They are NOT thoroughly trained on dog breeds/behaviors and I would NOT rely on them to choose a dog that would match my family's needs.
Message edited 11/7/2013 11:21:18 AM.
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| Posted 11/7/13 11:19 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Adopting a dog
PMAR as listed, Second Chance, SNARR NE, Bully Breed Rescue... there's a bunch of rescues.
New hope fosters for NYCACC are the best place to try, they're the rescues that pull dogs off the death list at NYCACC and almost always need fosters. Start filling out applications, someone will bite :)
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| Posted 11/8/13 10:53 AM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Adopting a dog
My friend heads up Snarr. They are always looking for fosters.
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| Posted 11/24/13 11:18 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Adopting a dog
What kind of apartment are you in? The last coop we rented had breed and weight restrictions. Also something to think about if you might have to move to a new apartment somewhere down the line. Housing is very tough on pet owners 
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| Posted 11/25/13 7:31 AM |
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