Adopting a dog!

So my son is obsessed with dogs...plays with his friend's dogs all the time...chooses names for dogs...walks dogs at our local shelter etc etc...I am beginning to relent and am considering adopting a dog from a local shelter if one comes up that will work for us and is available.

So I have zero clue about dogs..I know I will love the dog and it will be well taken care of but are there any online resources or helpful hints you can pass along for a newbie dog owner?

Also is a female dog preferable over a male or does it matter?

TIA

Re: Adopting a dog!

Breeds have certain tendencies, but each dog is individual. Some breeds, like a lot of Terriers, have a lot of energy and need attention. Also, since they are "terriers", which means "dirt", they are diggers, so be aware of that. You can also get a terrier that just likes to sleep a lot and doesn't dig. I have a American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull), and she sleeps a lot, but boy does she love to dig!

I would look on-line at various breeds and what that breed typically needs. Some breeds normally sleep all day, some love to be around people, some are bouncing off the wall all the time, some bark a lot, etc.

Size is important, too. You need to decide what size you're looking for. My family likes dogs in the 50-80 lb range. Too much smaller, and you can't lean your head on them. Too much bigger and *they* walk *you*....

As long as the dog is spayed or neutered, there isn't much difference in gender, at least not what I've seen.

Re: Adopting a dog!

Congrats!!

Dogs are the most amazing companions, I cannot imagine life without one. I've only had females mostly because I like that they are usually a little smaller than their male counterparts. Depending on the breed, they can sometimes be a little more affectionate. Some males can be a little more independent and less mushy. But again, some breeds you might not see a difference.

I HIGHLY recommend American Cocker Spaniels, they are amazing, beautiful creatures. I grew up with them and in fact, I am adopting a 1 yr old cocker this weekend and we're getting a brand new cocker puppy this fall.

If bred properly, they have an AMAZING temperament. They are very, very loving, gentle, smart dogs who are great with kids and families. They crave attention and cuddles and are very patient and playful with little ones. They are very loyal and sometimes gravitate to one person in the family as their favorite BUT they love everyone and will cuddle with anyone next to them. They are just awesome dogs, I adore them and cannot say enough good things about the breed.

Should you consider a cocker, please be sure to find a reputable breeder whose ONLY purpose for breeding is to maintain the integrity of the breed. Avoid adopting them from puppy stores at all costs as you will often find cockers with health issues as well as temperament problems.

Regardless of what breed you choose, make sure you go online and learn everything you can about them. You don't want to end up with a dog that isn't kid/family friendly or that might have other traits that won't work with your family. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a great place to start, they have a bounty of information on their site. They can also direct you to breeders as well should you consider that path. If you go the way of a breeder, make sure they can furnish health certificates for their puppies as well as the parents so that you know they won't have issues. You should ensure they don't over breed too, that is a sign of a poor breeder.

FYI - Going through a breeder can be a little costly BUT it ensures a high quality lineage for the dog. I've only used breeders for my cockers and have had wonderful experiences with my dogs.

Lastly, make sure you feed them a high quality food so that they are healthy, have shiny coats and clean teeth. We've always loved the "Natural Balance" line but there are SO many wonderful brands of food that don't have fillers and junk in them. Make sure you have the dog checked out by your vet once you bring them home to make sure they are healthy, up to date on vaccines and are placed on heartworm and flea/tic prevention.

Good luck and enjoy!!!

ETA - Cockers are a great medium size dog. The females are usually no more than 20 lbs and males around 25'ish pounds. I love that you can play with them and squish them up as well as easily pick them up and carry them around.

Message edited 6/16/2020 3:24:08 PM.

Re: Adopting a dog!

Google is your friend.

1. Figure out what size you want to go to
2. Shedding / non shedding? Think of unknown allergies plus also with non shedding, it’s a haircut every 6-8 weeks
3. Low energy/high energy


I have a male and female. My male is more mushy, my female was more assertive. Females are pack leaders (people always think its male dogs) but when having just 1, it really doesn’t matter what you get. Spayed or neutered = won’t have the amount of hormones making them one way or the other. But if you had a female at home and we’re bringing in another dog, male would be as easier transition.

I never like to “label” a breed but it’s known little terriers bark a lot. So be ready for that w terrier mixes. Yes, there are ones who don’t but it’s just common knowledge with them.

Whoever you decide to get, just remember it’s a big adjustment for them too. It takes time for them to get comfortable with their new family. They will test the limits so be stern with your training. A trained dog is a good dog.

Best of luck! There’s nothing like sharing your home with a precious furry friend.

Re: Adopting a dog!

Dogs are amazing, I love cats too but haven’t had one since we had to rehome my Smokey years ago.

My dogs are spoiled, so I’m sure I don’t have any good habits to share with you. As I type this, my Chihuahua/ Min Pincher is sitting on my lap. Lol. The only thing is, I am very strict with not giving them human food. Some dogs can get sick and leads to obesity. White rice or chicken as treat when I cook it.

Crate train the him/her to potty train them. Trust me this will be the best thing you do. A lot of people think it’s inhumane to crate train but if you do it right, they will actually love their crates and it will be a safe space for them. My dogs go in there to sun bathe during the day. They are loyal and the sweetest things.

Definitely research breeds to find the one that fits your family and lifestyle. I have a Yorkie, they are known to be yappy & stubborn. I lucked out because my dog isn’t yappy but he’s so stubborn lol.

Another thing to think about is when you go away. Over the past few years we started traveling a lot, and it’s always hard to find someone to dog sit or you have to find the right kennel for them. I know right now traveling is limited but just something to think about. My dogs are small (4LB & 13lbs), so it’s easy to find someone as opposed to if you have a large dog.

Re: Adopting a dog!

Posted by Hofstra26

Congrats!!

Dogs are the most amazing companions, I cannot imagine life without one. I've only had females mostly because I like that they are usually a little smaller than their male counterparts. Depending on the breed, they can sometimes be a little more affectionate. Some males can be a little more independent and less mushy. But again, some breeds you might not see a difference.

Adopting a dog!

HUGE dog lover here - after the initial growing pains, you will be so in love.

My main advice would be to crate train, like another poster said. My dog is older now and still loves her crate. it's not cruel - it's their safe, personal space and you can tell that they love it after they are used to it :)

You have to post a pic when you get your pup!!!

Adopting a dog!

Huge dog lover over here too!!! I have a female rescue huge mutt (she’s a shepherd / lab and 4 other things mixed per her recent DNA test) but don’t have a preference of females or males. I’d pick a dog based on temperament. I agree with the crate training suggestion. I am the biggest softy ever and it was hard for me, but it was the beat thing we did! She goes in her crate herself now to take naps and to get a break from the kids. Highly recommend!

Message edited 6/16/2020 10:05:07 PM.

Re: Adopting a dog!

dogs are the best!!!

over the course of my life, i've had all kinds of breeds. pekingese mix, pit, pit, chihuahua, mutt, mutt, mutt etc.

all, except the chihuahua, were mushballs that just wanted to be loved. the biggest pit thought she was a lap dog.

like others have said, look into finding the right size/breed for you and your family. if you decide to get a brand new puppy just know the following:

* puppies, like babies, teeth. that's the chewing phase.
* to house train a puppy, you have to take them out to pee every one-to-two hours. again, like having a baby.

you won't regret getting a dog. they're amazing.

Adopting a dog!

Dog rescue is my passion! If you need any help finding a dog, I'd love to help. I have some great contacts.
We are on our second lab rescue. We were lucky enough to find a purebred chocolate lab at Brookhaven Animal Shelter years ago. She was a sweetheart and we had her for about 8 years until she died.
Two years ago we rescued a lab mix from SC. Out of all four dogs I've owned in my life, she is my absolute favorite. She's sweet, cuddly, playful, amazing with my kids. We lucked out as we didn't meet her before. We committed to her and we picked her up at a rest stop in NJ.

You really have to decide on what size dog you want, what type of energy level (some like Border Collies will get into mischief if not properly exercised). Training is also extremely important. My husband purchased the online tutorial Leerburg.com. He swears by it! It goes step by step from what happens to dogs in shelters, all the way to bringing in home.

Lastly, I've owned a male Maltese (mushy but peed all over the house), a male Yorkie (not mushy at all), a female lab (very sweet but not too cuddly) and now my female lab mix (extremely mushy yet playful). I wouldn't get a small dog because of the marking issue and yapping, but that's just me!