Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

Hi- I've never had a dog. DH has had dogs growing up, but not as an adult. We have started researching dogs and have gone to meet a few through Bobbi and the Strays.

We're leaning towards Shih Tzus but are open to other breeds.
I've found another rescue with some puppies available.

I have been researching how to train and communicate with dogs Cesar Millan-style. We are also willing to invest in professional training, if necessary.

I'm willing to put in extra time/work for a puppy.

Would like to get some feedback from BTDT dog owners:
For a first-time dog owner, would you recommend adopting a puppy or an adult dog?

Would I be biting off more than I can chew with a puppy for my first experience?

I have a feeling that a lot(?) of the rescue dogs will need re-training Cesar-style/to establish human as pack leader, but at least most would likely already be housebroken.
Also, no children currently, but plan to

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

(sorry, cont'd) plan to have children: how would that affect your decision whether to have a dog beginning from puppy stage or not?

Also, are rescued puppies more likely puppy-mill rescues that might have serious health problems?

TIA

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

I was a first time dog owner and when we went to look at dogs I thought I wanted an older dog (at least a year) but most of those said not good with small children.

We decided on a puppy because it was more like workign with a clean slate. Chances are they didnt have severe mistreatment (our was 8 wks old) and we could train him around little kids so when we had our own kids he would be ok.

I am so happy we picked the puppy. He was actaully eary to house break and as much as there were days I wanted to open the door and let him out I now can't imagine my life without him. I think the bonding experience with a puppy is different.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

We adopted an adult dog and while we don't have children, we hope to have our own and there are many in our lives, so being good with kids was a top priority. I just scanned Petfinder and other rescue websites until I found one that said good with kids.

Amber was about 2 when we got her, and had been rescued from a kill shelter in Brooklyn where her family - with kids - had turned her in when they lost their home.

From day 1 she has been amazing - was already housebroken, knew her commands, did not go on furniture, did not chew things - and she is amazing with kids. Beyond amazing - she loves them.

Our bond with her is unbelievable - some say that with rescues they are extra appreciative of all you do for them having been cast aside and moved around by others before. She's a member of our family - goes to relatives' and friends' houses for holidays and get togethers, comes to work with me, and loves nothing more than to cuddle with us on the ONE piece of furniture we allow her to go on - with us.

While I can't imagine not having her in my life, when the time comes we will adopt another adult dog for sure.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

Personally I do not agree with the training style of Cesar Millan- If you want a good background on dog training and dog behavior please take a look at the books by Patricia McConnell. Here is the link to her web site:
http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/

The pros of getting a puppy are you will have the ability to train your dog from a very early age.

The cons are house breaking a dog is a lot of work! Most puppies require walks every couple of hours. The younger the dog the more frequently they must go to the bathroom.

Adopting a rescue dog that is a bit older will leave you open to many different possibilites...there is no guarantee that an older dog will be house broken or trained at all. I highly recommend adopting from a shelter or rescue organiztion that does a behavioral assessment on the dogs they are caring for...you need to know as much information on the dog you are rescuing as possible. Some shelters have training programs to help begin traing the dogs before their dogs are adopted. The shelter I adopted my dog from (New Rochelle Humane Society) offers FREE training for all of the dogs they place in homes.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

I would get a dog older then 2 years and get professional training in addition to reading books. Whats most important is to get a dog whose energy level matches yours and your lifestyle. For example if you are an avid runner and plan to take the dog running with you, dont get a basset hound and vs versa, if you like to watch tv/read/go on the computer, dont get a weimeraner.....

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

We were in the same boat four years ago. You're saying exactly the things we did! Both DH and I had had dogs when we were kids, but weren't primarily responsible for them.

After reading here and taking a hard look at what it takes to raise a puppy, we decided to go older. We put a cap at 4 years old because Labs are puppy-like for quite a few years.

We too had heard a lot of people talk about the "dangers" of older dogs, rescue/shelter dogs, and how they are difficult to train because they're set in their ways and already established bad habits.

Don't listen to them. You must take every dog, young or old, big or small, purebred or mutt, at face value. Learn about what the breed is known for (if you know the breed) and expect half of what you find. Get to know the individual because just like you, every dog is special and unique. Then be open and prepared for surprises along the way, because dog ownership isn't perfect. Far from it. It's messy and can be annoying and expensive but it's really worth it.

We also bought Cesar Milan's book, watched the show, prepared ourselves to be pack leaders. Then we got Brinkley. He was 9 months old which was a *perfect* age for us. He was still a puppy but the worst parts - sleepless nights, teething, etc. - were over. We acclimated to having to make plans for him when we weren't going to be home, and having the added ownership/financial responsibility.

In addition, he was submissive and fearful to a fault. We did the opposite of what Cesar usually shows on his show - instead of exhibiting strong, we exhibited soft. We introduced Brinkley to "scary" things very gradually, always planning it first and making it a positive experience. That thing where he pins the dog to show who's boss? Terrible. We would never do it, especially not with Brinkley. He's a very gentle soul, and something like that would break his spirit. We found ourselves unprepared for most of the training, and scrambled to learn about other methods outside of Cesar Milan.

I agree with Cesar though about exercise and the power of the walk. A tired dog is a good dog. When we encounter any undesirable behavior, the first thing we look at is exercise and if they are just burning off excess energy or bored.

Patricia McConnell's book "The Other End of the Leash" is amazing, and to me it should be required reading for any new dog owner. It's not a step-by-step book but it is very insightful regarding training and dog psychology. If you understand her lessons and goals, how dissimilar human and dog communication is, you can seek out ways you can adapt them to your own unique dog & family. The biggest lesson I learned is to NOT apply human reasoning and methods to dogs. They're not humans. We should learn their language and speak it, or else training is futile and a waste of time.

WOW long. Sorry!! But as you can see, I'm definitely a fan of older dog adoptions. We adopted our 2nd dog and she's about 3 years old. She is strongly driven by food and that brings about challenges when there are meals around or unguarded garbage cans . That's the only residual challenge left from the ones we dealt with when we got her. It IS possible to work on any training problem and although sometimes the individual dog will have a habit that sticks, there's plenty of ways to work around them.

Lastly, someone mentioned energy - that's a GREAT base to start with. Brinkley is low to medium energy, even as a puppy. Ginger is medium energy, and she keeps things interesting and fun.

I'm so sorry this is so long, you just sound so much like us back then and I'm excited for you.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

For ME, I would NEVER take an adult dog.

It's more work but I will take a puppy anytime.

I can train them early. I get to know them from the time they are babies so by the time they are adults I know them. I have seen them grow. I feel like they are my babies and I raise them.

I feel I will never know an adult dog history. And while they can be trained I don't feel the same connection. Wondering what kind of baggage they have, etc..

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

I've always gotten my dogs as puppies.. I love that bonding experience and knowing their history...and their fat little bellies and puppy smell and soft puppy feet...and their funny antics. I love looking at my older dogs and remembering what they were like when they were 'kids'..

That said, I had an opportunity to rescue a 6 year old German Shepard and did it. It was one of the most rewarding experiences... Vessa was prescious, so good and while at first I worried that I didn't know her background - she was a love. Her devotion was amazing and I fell in love with her instantly.

If you have the time for a pup, its a great experience... but if you fall in love with an older dog... that too is a great experience.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

I just want to say that while we know a little bit of my dog's history (she had a family with kids that lost its home) there is a lot we don't know - she was overweight when she was rescued, she had clearly had puppies, was spayed by the shelter, and when we went to training classes with her (more for us than for her!) we learned that someone had hit her in the past. When the trainer raised his arm suddenly, she dropped to the floor.

It BROKE MY HEART because my dog does not have an aggressive bone in her body.

I don't know her birthday. I don't know where her puppies are or how many she had. I don't even know for sure what type of dog she is.

NONE of that has interfered with my bond with her - or my husband's, or our families and friends.

When I was 15 we got a purebred black lab puppy who was my little brother and I loved him to death - but he was neurotic beyond belief and had a variety of (expensive) health issues. I loved him so much and when he passed away at 15 I cried for days.

My bond with Amber is even stronger than my bond was with him - which I never thought possible.

So I respectfully disagree with those who say that your bond is different with a dog you have from puppyhood on. Amber was "about two" when we got her a little over two years ago and my bond with her is amazing.

I had a miscarriage this summer and I was beyond devastated. Each and every single time I cried Amber came running from wherever she was in the house, and even though she wasn't allowed on the bed she would jump up and lay on top of me - covering me, protecting me, and licking the tears off my face. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through my darkest days without her.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

If you are willing to go with an older dog, I would. Most older dogs have a harder time getting adopted because they are older. I don't subscribe to the notion that dogs become set in their ways as adults or you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Dogs are fast learners and are constantly adapting. It also is a LOT easier than adopting a puppy. And I know some people will claim that it's not the same as raising them from puppies, but the love and affection is just the same. Though it is amazing to watch them grow.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

Very well said, Megs.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

We adopted an adult Cocker Spaniel from a shelter (he was between 4-6 at the time). We didn't train him which was a big mistake (stuff like getting on the bed, knowing his role, etc...we spoiled him then try to correct him after the fact so IMO that was our fault) but overall he has brought us much happiness. DD came along about 6 years after we got him and he is great with her.

The good thing is he was potty trained when we brought him home so that was a HUGE hurdle we didn't have to jump through. Honestly puppies are cute but for ME I don't think I can get one with so many adult dogs in shelters looking for homes. Good Luck!

Message edited 10/14/2011 7:26:27 PM.

Re: Adopt puppy or adult dog? (will be first dog experience)

Thank you all SO much for your feedback and for sharing your stories! I am replying on the phone so I will write more later.
Thanks to your recommendations, I got Patricia McConnell's book "The Other End of the Leash" as well as a couple of Cesar's and other starter books, and have spent a lot of time on petfinder. Have met a few dogs so far and will be visiting a bunch more this weekend. This is such an interesting learning experience about dog psychology and human-canine communication!
We are really looking forward to finding the right match to open our heart and home to.
I will post an update when we do!