I'm trying to find out what kind of dog I should get...help!?

Question

I want a dog, but I just don't know what kind, I like the middle sized dogs, but I just don't know what kind I want, heck, I'll even take a mix, but what kind? Help me!

The kind that I want is one that can get along with kids from 5 and up,(cause I have a lil sis) and isn't smaller than a Terrior. I also want a pup, so it can get used to me while it's young, but not too young. I'm pretty flexible with dogs, but I think that the expensive are.....EXPINSIVE!Lol. Ya know?

One more thing...I like wolves, so if it is possible if u know any dogs that look similar, super...and I don't want a dog any bigger than a German Shephard......^_^ LOL

And (cause most think that I have a job) I am not at the proper age for a job, I go to school though, but we have a large yard.

Answer 1

OK, well I'm 17, go to school and own a miniature schnauzer, and I have done lots and lots of dog breed research before getting my dog, here are a few of my suggestions:

ok, so you're looking for a medium to large size dog that's gonna live outside with a big yard, looks similar to a wolf, not bigger than a German Sheppard, good with kids, and nothing too expensive..

ok, well my personal suggestion would be purebred or cross of the following dog breeds:

Golden retriever

Labrador retriever

Cheasapeake Bay retriever

German Sheppard

the collie family: border collie, bearded collie... etc. (the lassie dogs) but especially the border collie.

and for those who have mentioned a pug, my aunt has one and one of my friends has one, and not that I like to critisize dog breeds, but they are not the best of breeds. They shed ALOT, have runny noses (they snort boogers on you and sneeze on you, which is rather gross). and they are not the smartest of breeds.. sure, they're cute, but they have their problems.. (I wouldn't recommend the pug breed, but that's my point of view, it might not be yours)

But ultimately, I do recommend the border collie, they are similar to the lassie dogs, but have shorter fur, are a mixture of black and white and are said to be among the smartest of all dog breeds. They are the winners of many dog obedience competitions, and frisbee competitions you see on tv. They usually grow to become between 18 to 25 inches tall (between a medium sized dog and a large dog), do not require frequent brushing, are super easy to train, are usually not expensive (they sell around my town for about 50$ and are sometimes given away for free, are not too big, are excellent with kids of all ages, fit well on farms or in a large yard (they are herding dogs), are very active (lots of energy for running), and are sometimes even used in therapy (service dogs). This breed is an overall winner, with very few downsides compared to other dogs and would be a great first dog for you to raise.
Since I got my first dog at 14, I would have preferred to have a border collie, but I have a small yard, and it would have never worked, that's why I got a smaller breed.

But this is really up to you, but my suggestion is, go to your local librairy (or the internet if you want) and do your research (thats what I did), but sometimes mutts make better pets than pure-bred ones, but I suggest that you look in you local newspaper and look in the giveaways section, sometimes you'll come across a litter of puppies with two purebred parents and they're giving them away for free (since money may be a bit of a factor). Or you can go to your local pet shelter and save a dog's life.. but just a little piece of advice, some adult dogs in shelters have been abused or may have not been raised right, so they might have behavior problems that you might have to deal with, which takes alot of patience.

But ultimately, I recommend The Border Collie!
hope this helps you!!

And good luck to you and your family, dogs ARE a family's best friend, and don't forget this, having a dog is a big committment, that dog will probably live more than 10 years, so think of the future too!! I hope you find the perfect dog for you and you family!

Answer 2

You have to decide if you want an energetic or laid back dog, a puppy or an adult,one that likes kids, or not...Go to the library, get a dog book look at the pictures, read the descriptions nd you will get a good idea of what you want. Then go to the pound and see which dogs seem to fit you.
It is a huge commitment for the next 15 yrs or so...
wHAT ABOUT SHETLAND SHEEPDOG, OR A PUG ,a terrier
Airedale Terrier
American Eskimo
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Basenji
Basset Hound
Bearded Collie
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Border Collie
Boston Terrier
Brittany
Bulldog
Bull Terrier
Clumber Spaniel
Dalmatian
English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel
French Bulldog
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Harrier
Irish Terrier
Keeshond
Kerry Blue Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Norwegian Elkhound
Parson Russell Terrier
Pharaoh Hound
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Plott Hound
Poodle
Portugese Water Dog
Puli
Samoyed
Siberian Husky
Smooth Fox Terrier
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sussex Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
Whippet
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
,

Answer 3

Golden Retrievers are a great kind of dog to get for young kids. If you don't want one that's really big, go to a breeder and see what size the puppys parents are. If they are big, then the puppy will probably be big too. If you want a dog that is kind of like a wolf you should get a malamwa. But probably not a good choice since they are bigger than a german shepherd. They're really nice though.

Answer 4

Go to your local pound you will know when you see it. There will be a bond between you take your time & look until you are sure.
You no this is a family member for life & that can be upwards of 15-18 years if your lucky. Yes to take GOOD care of a pet is expensive I just found out my 11 year old dog has diabetes my 15 year old cat has a thyroid problem. Remember for life ! Not until I cant afford you or I"m board with you. Good Luck To You & Your new family member. Remember that adopting a dog may be the only time a human ever has to choose a relative

Answer 5

I've had everything from purebred Great Danes and Greyhounds and Black Labs to mixes. I found I preferred the medium to a larger-size dog to those yappy, nippy little things that bounce around the floor like a tennis ball.

You definitely need to do research before you decide on a breed. Do you work and if so, will the dog need to be crated or kenneled while you're at work? Some dogs--of any breed--don't have the temperment for this and will yowl all day--and you can be sure what your neighbors' response will be. Are you going to be able to provide adequate exercise, other than letting the dog into the yard to do his business and come back in. That means you'll need to go out in all weather (not terrifically bad storms, of course when no person in their right mind would be out) and at different times of the day to do this. If you can't, can you hire a dog walker?

What age do you want? Think of the care and training a baby needs and you'll realize what you're up against with a puppy. Cute as they are, they can do real damage. An older dog, perhaps a rescue dog, is definitely rewarding, but after a few years you may find yourself having to carry the dog in & out so he can do his duty.

Think about the amount of food the dog will eat. Then there are yearly exams--heartworm, teethcleaning (if it's a large dog they'll need to be anesthesized--and some breeds like Greyhounds need a special kind because of the high count of red blood cells in their blood). Rabies shots are good for 2-3 years now, but you still need the proof and I don't know of any place that doesn't require you to register the dog with the city. Oh, and don't forget the toys to keep the dog amused. Then, there's a bed if you don't want it sleeping on your good sofa or sharing your bed with you and possibly a partner. Trust me, not easy to turn over with a large dog.

Large dogs have their own problems--commonly known as "twisted stomachs". It's the same thing large animals like deer, elk, etc. get when they try to leap or jump after eating a large meal. If you catch it in time--the stomach bloats so you know there's something wrong--you need to rush to the vet for emergency surgery or the dog dies.

In the city where I live the City Council passed a law saying that if you intend to breed your dog, you need to register as a breeder. This means you can't decide to breed your female to make a few bucks for Christmas.

There are spaying and neutering costs.

For some reason, a lot of purebreeds have genetic problems, probably from having been inbred too often. This is also true of the smaller breeds as well. They may not live as long as a mix from the shelter.

If you're looking for a purebred dog, it's not always uncommon to find one at the animal shelter. Check out rescue groups for the breed you're interested in. If they are a reputable group they will have checked the dog out for compatibility with children, other dogs, cats, aggressiveness, the whole gamut. Heck, we don't do that much with our mates, sometimes! For rescue groups go online and enter the breed's name and then rescue group.

It's also important to know the characteristics of a male vs female dog.

Don't rush to find the right dog in one weekend. Go to the animal shelter and get to know the people there and let them know what kind of dog you're looking for--temperment wise as well as mix. Good shelters nowadays have places where you can walk the dog and spend time getting to know them before you make a decision. Take a friend and have her watch how you and the dog interact. Usually when you look into the eyes of that one particular dog, you'll know you've found someone special to live with.

Answer 6

You have to decide if you want an energetic or laid back dog, a puppy or an adult,one that likes kids, or not...Go to the library, get a dog book look at the pictures, read the descriptions nd you will get a good idea of what you want. Then go to the pound and see which dogs seem to fit you.
It is a huge commitment for the next 15 yrs or so...

Answer 7

I have a bassett hound. She is miss personality! She cant jump upon furniture, on people and that is a plus. They are very smart, even as puppies. They can be stubborn but in a playful manor. My dog loves kids and cats... I have a 6 month old niece (same age as my dog) and my dog loves her so much. My sister has no worries about my dog doing anything to my niece because she is so easy going that there is no mean streak in her. My dog even gets along with kittens (and trust me it is so funny, cute and sappy all at the same time..LOL) If you want more details just click on my name and email me. I will send you pictures and such. They really are great dogs.

Answer 8

instead of thinking what one is the cutest u first have to think of how much space this dog will have and how much time u have for him/her cos if ur a busy person u needs a dog thats content with r bit of excersise and wont mind u being away from home. once u do that look up different breeds then find which one is best suited to ur life styles. but before u pay big money from a breeder check out the local animal shelters they might have that breed and these dogs will be desexed (money saver there)

Answer 9

The best child friendly breeds are Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shephard. There could be more, but I know those are great dogs. And I have had labs and they train incredibly easy. Practically train themselves. But they still do need help from you of course. And very lovings and friendly.

Answer 10

Looks like a wolf: some German Shepard, Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, I have a Carolina dog that resembles a wolf...
I also have a Newfoundland which isn't a medium sized dog but they are great with people and have a great temperament