whats a good dog to get when u first start out?

Question

im planning (and hoping) to get a dog after i move out (about 10-11 yrs from now...). what dog is good 4 starters?

I generally like big, long-haired dogs...they seem friendlier

when i mean starters, i mean like a dog that is generally a quick learner and is obedient.

i kinda like sheepdogs (german shepherds, collies, shelties, ect.)

Answer 1

German Shepherds, Corgis and Shelties are all very obedient and fast learners (IF you train them!), but they may be a bit on the nippy and noisy side. Not a good choice if you have little kids or live in an apartment. Shepherds and Corgis shed a LOT!

The Sporting Dogs tend to be sweeter and quieter. Vizslas, Setters, Labs and Goldens are usually great with kids but they're bigger and are very boisterous until they are about two. Labs also shed a LOT.

While you're getting ready, I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Find a breed rescue organization by going to www.akc.org - you can get an older dog for less money. Be VERY careful about getting a shelter dog with children that young. You are often adopting someone else's problem dog. And people often lie about the dog's temperament, hoping he'll get a new home that can deal with him.

Answer 2

For obedience, you don't get much better than German Shepherds or various types of retriever. These dogs pick up commands quickly and are very good around people if socialized while young.

The trouble with getting a dog that leanrs quickly is that sometimes they can pull one over on you. Terriers, and I've heard of some poodles too, will see you get worked up over spilling a glass or somethng like that, and then can start to tip over glasses to get your attention. Brilliant animals, but not exactly what a lot of people are prepared to handle.

Also consider the massiv shedding that long-haired dogs do. I once had a Golden Retriever who was a lovely animal but who made me remove black from my wardrobe; his hair ended up everywhere!

If I had to reccomend a dog out of my personal experience, I would suggest you check out a Bichon Frise. These are small to medium sized dogs, white and fluffy but not in a poodle way, very very smart and very very interested in your approval more than their fun, and with the sweetest and most patient disposition I've ever seen on an animal.

But you know what you need in an animal; try out the dog breed selector at Purina--the link below.

Answer 3

Depends on your lifestyle. If you're away from home a lot, get an older dog. Puppies need lots of attention and supervision. I got my first dog about a year ago and he was a puppy and was such a pain to housebreak. I definitely should have started out with an older dog. Usually the newspaper has ads where people are giving away older dogs. If you get an apartment, please don't get a big dog that needs room to run. I hate that.

Answer 4

Get a young, mixed breed from the pound. You'll save a life, the mixed breeds are generally healthier, and startup costs a much lower. I favor anything w/ German Shepherd or Border Collie (preferably both).

Make sure that you set time aside for training, too (for you, not the dog!). :^)

Green

Answer 5

I would start by doing research and start with a dog the is low maintenance and easy to train, you defiantly want to take the dog to obedience class, I would also ask you local vet for a good breed to start with.

Answer 6

I would go with a collie... but keep in mind big dogs need lots of exercize & time (two things that don't come easy whan you first move out!)

Answer 7

I would definatly purchase an austrailian sheppard, they are new good temperd dogs. Smart, easy to train, and very very loyal, they come in three types

Blue Mural
Tri-Color
Red Mural

I own a blue mural right now. naturally I named him Blue

Answer 8

A lab is a good dog but my preference is bulldogs they are great dogs,especially if you have younger siblingsor young relatives.

Answer 9

I didn't know there was such a thing as a starter dog!

Answer 10

Go to your local animal shelter. There are plenty of dogs, and they will tell you about their temperament.