CHOOSE THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU!!!!!

[Grace Erick]

I just reposted this from the puppy topic. On that topic, Melissa mentioned it would be good to work with a rescue for a while to find the proper dog, so it made me think I should repost this info for getting rescue dogs too :D :

This topic may be too late for people that are here, because they have dogs already, but I have seen this so many times where a person picks the wrong dog for them.

I saw a person on a chihuahua site saying how upset she was because the dog wanted attention and to sit on her lap all the time, and she was beside herself and thought to give the dog to a better home. I was astounded by that post. What did this person think the dog would come into the home and sit in a corner, and chis are lap dogs, so it's quite normal for the dog to sit in a person's lap.

I can't stress enough to research the breed of dog you want to match your personality and energy level with the dog's. Some dogs are so active and always want to play, while others are more quiet like my dog, a chihuahua, who sits in my lap as I read a book or watch tv.

akc.org tells a little about each dog, but you can go to individual breed sites and find info on a particular breed. They are all so different from each other in their qualities, some will dig in your backyard or some can be left alone a little more, or some need more grooming etc.

[David Crandall]

I completely agree. I have a hard time feeling sorry for people who are upset that their border collie is always on the move. :-o

Another good thing you can do for finding out about breeds is to volunteer at a shelter or humane society. It won't give you everything in depth, but it's a very good way to get exposure to a lot of different dogs in a relatively short time (and you might even find a couple to take home).

Dave

[Summer Magic]

Most people don't do any research on dog breeds, they go with their eyes and heart. They think Oh, what a cute puppy but don't take into consideration that that cute puppy may end up being a 75 pound lap dog! I chose my breed (sheltie) after a lot of care and reading. She is just what I want. But everyone has different ideas in what they want for a dog

[Grace Erick]

I met a gal recently with a Papillion. She is sharing him with a friend. She is overwhelmed by the dog's energy level and finds it hard to deal with him.

[Missy Stewart]

Good idea! I think people who buy Jacks fall into this type of trap a lot. They love the dog Eddie on Frasier or want a cute pal like Wishbone for their kids... but have no clue the level of energy and training that it takes to raise a jack!!!!

[Karen Jones]

Right now I'm trying to tactfully deal with a friend of mine whose family is considering getting a dog. Personally, I think they should forget the whole idea--this is a family where the children are somewhat overindulged--if they ask for something, they almost always get it. Well, that's one thing when it's a video game, but quite another when it's a living creature! Right now my friend says they can't agree on what breed they want to get--but the ones she's mentioning as being under consideration are all high-energy breeds that need a LOT of time/exercise/attention, like Jack Russells, Brittanys, Wheaten terriers, etc. Since my friend will be the one taking care of the dog for most of the day, and since she doesn't have much time/energy as it is, I keep trying to tactfully suggest that they look at more placid dogs. Otherwise, I'm afraid the whole thing will end in disaster.
Karen
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/Karen24/Maggie.jpg

[Grace Erick]

Karen, you are a good friend and are giving advise that will spare them and their dog a lot of heartache with potentially giving up the dog at some time when they can't handle it or the dog becomes destructive due to not getting enough attention or excersize.

When I bought a house, my husband's friends told him to get a dog since we will have a yard. Now, my husband likes dogs, don't get me wrong, but I know he would not want to always play with the dog or care for the dog, so I chose the breed I wanted and I was correct in doing so.

My chihuahua needs very little play time and is a great companion for just sitting with me while I read and watch tv. Turns out, my husband is not playing with her a lot as he would have had to do with other breeds, so going with the dog I wanted worked out great. He loves her, and plays with her on occasion and is very happy with my choice of breed for a variety of reasons.

Also, I am not suggesting a chi for this family. They are needy in wanting to sit in laps, be noticed and be with you a lot. What about a Kings Charles Cavalier Spaniel? Did someone post a link to dog breeds once? I know I did for AKC.org where they give little descriptions of dog breeds.

[MutzzysMom]

Karen, you are a good friend and are giving advise that will spare them and their dog a lot of heartache with potentially giving up the dog at some time when they can't handle it or the dog becomes destructive due to not getting enough attention or excersize.

When I bought a house, my husband's friends told him to get a dog since we will have a yard. Now, my husband likes dogs, don't get me wrong, but I know he would not want to always play with the dog or care for the dog, so I chose the breed I wanted and I was correct in doing so.

My chihuahua needs very little play time and is a great companion for just sitting with me while I read and watch tv. Turns out, my husband is not playing with her a lot as he would have had to do with other breeds, so going with the dog I wanted worked out great. He loves her, and plays with her on occasion and is very happy with my choice of breed for a variety of reasons.

Also, I am not suggesting a chi for this family. They are needy in wanting to sit in laps, be noticed and be with you a lot. What about a Kings Charles Cavalier Spaniel? Did someone post a link to dog breeds once? I know I did for AKC.org where they give little descriptions of dog breeds.

Here are a few sites with general surveys as to what dog is write for you....i never do get shih tzu lol but i think she is the right breed for me :puppy: I think its always the grooming question that gets me. but i dont groom her as often as i should:rolleyes: as far as activity goes though they do include those questions

http://sy.adiho.com/ASA/Controller?adi_hasSc ript=1&_AD_195R22=100&adi_scriptSID=C3640A 3262DD26913E0FE73460 EDB1B7&sysid=4&appid=9901

http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html

[Grace Erick]

Francesca, those are interesting links for finding a dog that is right for you. I think I will fill it out for fun. My Chihuahua is so perfect for me. The reason I chose her is, because I knew someone with one years ago, so I was familiar with the breed.

[Grace Erick]

The second link gave me the best results for me:

PUG
ITALIAN GREYHOUND
BOSTON TERRIER
CHIHUAHUA (SMOOTH COAT)

[Andre Mendizabal]

Well, the first one gave me italian greyhound and harrier, the second gave me foxhound terrier and JRT... :D I have a beagle and a mini schnauzer so i guess I'm as clueless as I was when I began the tests, although I did some searching before getting my dogs, you never know how they're gonna be until they are there... but Grace is right, I've heard this line too many times too often "when he was a puppy he was so cute, now he overgrew my house and I wasn't expecting that" or "is my kids dog, they said they were gonna take care of him, but now that he grew up he is not as playful as he was and my kids don't wan't him anymore"... mmmmm...

[Clair Taberner]

i'm impressed with those tests:)

the first one picked german shepherd as the 2nd "best fit", a doberman was 1st (something that hadn't crossed my mind to b fair)
and the second one gave german shepherd as the best choice overall. funny given that's the dog i went for because of having a gsd x i had years ago who i loved and wanted a dog with similar characteristics.

[Jill Ramsey]

The first one gave me rough coated collie & standard poodle. The second one gave me Labrador retriever :tup: and GSD. Not bad!! Except for the poodle (dont' want to offend anyone, but I got bit in the butt by one when I was young) :(

[Grace Erick]

Jill, you are too funny:) I guess you would have to be small to get bit in the butt by a poodle unless it was one of those tall standard ones:) I don't mean to laugh at your pain, but the image of a dog biting you in the butt is pretty funny:) You would think they would go for a leg or something:)

[Grace Erick]

I am reposting this from the puppy site:

I see every book that talks about different breeds claiming since a chi is small, they are good for apts. and can be excisized in a small place. They never mention the dog will bark every time someone comes up the steps of your apt. or enters or exists their apt. They aren't necessarily a great apt. dog unless your neighbors like barking.

[Jill Ramsey]

Grace,
It actually was a standard poodle. A large black one. It was chained to the front of a house, and I was walking by (on the sidewalk) on my way to school. The dog came running, after I had already walked by, and bit me. It didn't draw blood, but I had tooth marks! Luckily, I was older, Like 11 or 12, so it didn't have any lasting dog fear affects. My neighbors have an apricot colored standard poodle, and she is a sweetheart. I also had a chi-terrier mix when I was younger (12 or 13). I remember reading a lot of dog training books, and taught him to heel, sit, etc.

[Grace Erick]

Many kids that have been traumatized by a biting dog, never learn to like them. It's good that you still liked dogs later on.

I haven't tried to teach Capri anything. I call her my wild child, because she is allowed to do anything, but really, she does nothing wrong in the house or anywhere. She just wants to be with me or sit in my lap.

It probably would be fun to teach her something, and I think it becomes a bonding experience too.

[Lauren Frisbie]

Actually, some friends of ours got a golden a couple months ago. She has four kids and her husband is a marine. They got the dog 1 week before his scheduled departure for Iraq. She told me a few weeks before that she was thinking about getting one for the kids(ages 9,7,5,2) I told her that goldens are a larger breed that shed a lot(she's a clean freak), not to mention the fact that dogs need your time and energy something she runs very low on because of the kids. She didn't listen! She went ahead and got the dog. This woman has never had a dog in her entire life and suddenly has a 6 week old puppy plus four kids and no husband. She bought her too big a crate so now she still poops and pottys in it. Also, all over the house. The dog uses the 2 yo as a chew toy and counter surfs.......I could go on and on about the negative behaviors this dog was taught! Then she calls me and says how the dog is ruining her life and how she wants to get rid of it!! I keep telling her everything she needs to do to help the dog, but she says she doesn't have the time. It hurts me so badly to know that she took on this little life(now a 45 lb life) and now says she doesn't have the time! GRRR! OK, I'm done with the rant. I think people should research and examine and THINK! before they get an animal. Well, she says she is waitingfor her husband to get home and then she'll decide what to do with her. I am definitely going to be taking the dog if she says she wants to get rid of her. I cannot let another dog go into the system. At least this one I know I can help. OK guys, just wanted to share, I didnt think this type of thing actually happened until I saw it with my own eyes. ~Lauren

[Liz Gilbert]

We haven't had a problem with our Chi doing excessive barking, and we live in an apartment. He'll bark if he hears someone in the hallway, but if you just tell him to be quiet, he does and just goes on with whatever he was doing.



I took the second link quiz and got a smooth coat Chi :) so thats cool! :)


~Liz

[Rowena Fry]

The first link is being silly at the moment but I did the second link and got this! Yaaay, poodle is on there! Actually, that's weird as before I started doing research to get my current dog, I never in my wildest dreams would have considered a poodle, but now I'm a huge fan! Actually, I was always a big dog person but since moving to Hong Kong, where there are a lot of toy dogs, I like small dogs more and more!

Grace, I actually used to really dislike chis, but since seeing your pics and hearing stories about Capri, I'm really warming to them! Liz, Cocoa too, he's so cute!

BOSTON TERRIER
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL
WHIPPET
POODLE (MINIATURE)

[Grace Erick]

Rowena, I'm telling you, there is no way to describe chi ownership. Liz knows what I mean. First off, it's like always owning a puppy since they remain small, not that I am shallow and would not be as happy with a pup that grew into their full size of a medium to large dog.

It's almost shameful how little care she needs and how much I get in return for so little care. Of course I play with her and she sits in my lap and cuddles with me at night when we sleep, but that is nothing in to give for what I get in return.

You need to meet a chi that has been socialized which some aren't and are cranky towards strangers. A friendly chi will make you get another dog. Just look at those great pics of cocoa. I Capri twists herself while upside down into various positions that you just want to eat them up. My husband is a hard nut to crack and she just melts his heart. Even if they are cranky to strangers they are sooooooo attached to their owners, I think more than any other dog. It may seem not right to say that another person's dog is not as much attached to them, but chis get so bonded to one person that they become part of you.

I already told my family and husband, when I die, she is to be dug up in her little box and placed in my coffin. My mom and husband say that I can't do that, but then hubby says a few bucks thrown in the right direction, then Capri will be resting with me forever.

I don't mean to put down any other breed, but these dogs are so special, due in part to their emotional part of them that makes them so attached to their owner. They are so cute, crazy and quirky, beyond any description I can come up with to due them justice.

Liz, my old boyfriend of over 25 years ago had a chi and I loved the dog so much that when it came time where I was settled down, I wanted only a chi. He could not have dogs in his apt. and I would just gently shush her and make a low growl when she barked and she began to do a low growl and not bark and really was a good apt. dog.

I hate to hear they are good apt. dogs and recommend them for everyone with a small apt. They love to be out in yards a running around and taken for walks and love to bark at strange noise in the hallways, so I would not recommend them in general for apt dogs as evey books suggests, even though my boyfriend's chi did okay and LIz's dog is doing good with not barking too much.

Chis are described as "alert" dogs. They are GREAT watch dogs, but not great guard dogs. They will alert you to anyone coming toward your home where you can get a gun. With a guard dog, the dog can be shot and you remain with no protection. I read a story over 2 years ago how this second story prowler got into houses and the dogs neve alerted the owners. That would NEVER happen with a chi. When I'm home alone, I never have a worry with her on guard.