We've been searching like CRAZY and It's driving me MAD! We all want a dog that's medium, is good with children 4 and up, is good inside the house, and gives a warning bark. Can anyone please help?
2006-07-21 05:20:18 · 27 answers · asked by Sam 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
go to your local SPCA or humane society. 25% of shelter dogs are actually purebred! crazy huh!
anyways....these dogs are the BEST! here is why..
1. already spayed or neutered so you won't have to worry about puppies, or testicular cancer or ovarian cancer
2. have had all there shots!! so you don't have to worry about "puppy" boosters...until their next annual appointment which is much cheaper.
3. already de-wormed! so you don't have to worry about nasty parasites
4. usually micro chipped (some shelters don't), so if your pet gets lost...and they are found..they will be scanned and easily returned to you!
5. on a flea prevention! most SPCA or humane society's shelters already have their dogs on a flea prevention medication, so you don't worry about nasty fleas infesting your home. *as long as you keep up with the prevention medication*
6. On a heartworm prevention, mosquitos carry nasty heartworms that can invade your dogs heart and destroy the tissue...dogs that are untreated will die a slow and painful death. shelters get the dogs treated for heart worms if they have it, and/or PUT them on a prevention medication to keep them healthy..*you need to give them the prevention medication once a month, a 6 month supply for a LARGE dog is about $40 bucks,treatment for getting heartworms is over $2000.00!*
7. dogs are temperment tested! this means that the SPCA or Humane society staff know the dogs personality and can help you find the PERFECT dog for your family's lifestyle.
8. some dogs are already potty trained! most SPCA's and Humane Society's have foster care programs...they dog goes to live with a foster family and the family potty trains the dog..and gets them used to living in a family environment! this is what I do. i have 3 foster dogs right now. i am currently working on potty training a litter of pups that one of my female fosters had! soon she will be fixed *so will the pups* and then they will be ready for adpotion.
9. if it doesn't work out...you can ALWAYS bring the dog back to the SPCA or humane society..unlike a kill-shelter, they will make sure your family is happy with the dog, and the dog is happy with your family.
10. these dogs KNOW you saved them. all of my dogs *i have 4* know that they were rescued from a bad situation, and every DAY they let me know how much they appreciate it. they love my family, and would (and HAVE ) protected myself and my children!
there are SO many shelter dogs out there just perfect for homes, waiting and hoping that someone will pick THEM.
there are also TONS of purebred dogs in resuce groups that need new homes.
if you find a dog breed that your like...go to your search bar and type in the breed name and then the word RESCUE after it, you will be surprised just HOW MANY dogs need homes.
please don't buy from a pet store, those dogs are from puppy mills! research what thtat is if you don't know!
DON'T BUY WHILE SHELTER PUPS DIE!
2006-07-21 05:38:33 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may want to check out greyhounds, which are adopted from rescue groups after they leave the track. Your local adoption group will be able to tell you what dogs they have that are good with children, though young children should be taught to never approach a sleeping dog or to play roughly with them.
Greyhounds are VERY quiet in the house - people call them "40 mph couch potatoes". They will ususually find the softest spot in the house and curl up.
Some will give a warning bark; however, their size is enough to deter most people. You can ask your adoption group if they have one that may be more protective (I've found that males tend to be more likely to bark than females). And though they are on the large size of medium, they curl up very small, and are not hyper. Bonus: they're already taught how to walk on a leash, and since most greyhounds are over three when adopted, you miss the whole sharp puppy teeth and chewing stage.
I foster ex-racers, and I have never had more polite houseguests, bar none. Good luck!!
2006-07-21 12:27:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
mini schnauzer. This breed fits everything your looking for. Medium size ( 14-20 lbs), Loyal to family including children, and is great watch dog being that is will bark at any unfamiliar sound
-Very perky and bright-eyed. Loving and intelligent. Energetic, affectionate, and obedient. Playful, happy and alert, they like children. - quoted from dogbreedinfo.com
2006-07-21 12:27:54 · answer #3 · answered by _eLuv 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Collies are good so are goldens but they can have so much energy. Labs are also a good family dog. Probally the best thing to do would be go to a shelter tell them what you want and they will be able to find the dog that suits your family best
2006-07-21 12:26:04 · answer #4 · answered by Jemma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll tell you what not to get. Dachshunds. The look cute and cudley, but they don't like to be tugged, jerked or anything else kids will do to dogs. they will bite kids in a lot of cases.
I say go with Labs or golden Retreivers. Go to a shelter though!!!
2006-07-21 12:47:39 · answer #5 · answered by Queen of the Dachshunds 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Wirefox terriers. They are small bodied, eat less, decent, very trainable and out of inferiority complex from body size, would give reliable warning barks to be noticed.
2006-07-21 12:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by Gani in Warri 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey there! Try a Shih Tzu....they are quiet, loveable, and even though they have long hair, they don't really shed...at least mine doesn't. Or you could try the website below and find a rescue dog (I got my dog from this website 4 years ago and couldn't be happier...he is now 9 years old.) =)
2006-07-21 12:24:29 · answer #7 · answered by aloneinga 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in your situation i'd get an italian greyhound they are small i have one and there are not as big as the reeeeaal grreyhoundds they are playfull with kids and especiallly good with small children andthey bark at the door when some one is ringging the door bell
2006-07-21 13:20:36 · answer #8 · answered by taymo183 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think u should get a corgi brcause i have a corgi mix and she loves people! if she hears anything srange then shell bark and bark till there is no more noises! she kinda of gets crazyaround new dogs or like starges that r dogs! but ya soo i think u should get one!
2006-07-21 12:30:08 · answer #9 · answered by cuteinuyasha 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you a family that has the time to spend with a dog? would you leave it alone most of the day or night?
the smaller the dog the smaller the dooh......ha ha
we own a darling mini doxie, named HoneyBun, she is a lot of fun but very energetic, needs lots of loving!!!!
the smoothehaired are good and you can check their skins for 'freeriders' fleas peridocially.........GOOD LUCK.......Sharon T. from ohio
2006-07-21 12:26:34 · answer #10 · answered by smileyfish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋