Any advice for somone who wants to buy a dog for the first time?

Question

What breeds make the best companions
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Answer 1

Please consider adopting rather than buying. You can find wonderful dogs in shelters and rescues.

As for the best companions, it really depends on your lifestyle. Go to www.dogbreedinfo.com to read about the different breeds. There is also a quiz that will help choose the best breed for you.

Answer 2

One word: RESEARCH! Go to www.akc.org for a start, and read info on any breed that catches your interest. When you narrow it down to a few, conact members of the most local chapter of the breed's club (also at akc website) & talk to them about what your lifetstyle is like & what you want in a dog. These knowledgable people will help you decide if this is the breed for you - they want their dogs in the right situation so it will stay in the same home for life, so they will not give you bad information. Once you have picked the breed, you have a couple choices: if you want to start with a pup, buy from a breeder that is in that breeds club & that tests & certifies their breeding dogs free from genetic defects known to their breed (every breed has some, good breeders know & test). This is the best way to ensure you get a healthy, well-adjusted pet from the start. And these reputable breeders will be happy to help answer any question you have throughout your dog's life. If you want to give a dog a second chance in life, you can contact a breed rescue group (AKC website, also) -many times they have young dogs that need a new home due to an owner's being transferred suddenly, a divorce or some other unfortunate reason. Good luck!

Answer 3

First, make sure you can take care of the dog 100% of the time and you'll give it the best home you can.

Make sure you can buy good food for the dog (Eukanuba at the lowest end) and are willing to take it to the vet for a regular checkup 1 to 2 times a year.

Spay or neuter the dog if it isn't already.

When looking for a dog, look into different breeds and see what you like, you can find information on breeds at many places, like the AKC website www.akc.org or you can go to www.infodog.com but your best bet is to go to a local dog show and talk to the different owners and handlers (do NOT approach them before they go into the ring if they're ringside, wait until they're done in the ring).

Next, look into local shelters and/or rescue programs. This is a great way to get a great pet without spending hundreds to thousands of dollars with a registered breeder.

When you get the dog, spay or neuter it!!! ALso, take it to your vet to have a checkup to make sure the dog is well, along with any dietary suggestions.

Next, when the dog is comfortable in your home (a week or two) look into training the dog. Dog trainers are a crap shoot, you might end up with a bad one, but then again, you might end up with a great one. Some pet supply stores (Petco / PetSmart) offer training. Get that basic obediance down pat and pratice it at home for 5-10 minutes a day. Sit, stay, lay down, etc.. are all important. Also learn how you should handle your dog and act with it.

Next, love the dog and give it the best home possible. Find out what kind of toys the dog likes (though trial and error) and stick with them, maybe get it a nice bed.

Getting a dog is a HUGE investment but can be extremely rewarding in the long run.

Answer 4

don't go into it quickly... you have to think about breeds very carefully ...read up ...others can say this dog and that dog but it's not always the best dog for that individual person ...some dogs need more exercise than others so it depends if you like walking alot or not much ...some dig holes some are good guard dogs and some run and hide at visitors some take up alot of room some are small for people with flats etc ....do alot of reading before you decide which dog is for you and if you have a family there are other considerations to make ...

Answer 5

We purchased our dog about 4 years ago from a local pet store. She is a wonderful mixed breed, and we love her as part of the family. You need to be very careful when buying a dog however. Our dog (we found out later) was from a puppy mill, and was VERY sick within the first 3 days after we got her. We had a huge vet bill of approx $1000! Something we werent anticipating from a puppy with all its shots and medical check. She came with a "warranty" but in all honesty we couldnt return her. Our children came to love her already, and we wanted what was best for her.
If I had to get another puppy/dog. I would first checkout the local animal shelter and adopt. If you would really like a purebred, then go with a breeder if you can afford it...

Answer 6

Yes, you need to do your own research. A dog is such a very personal choice - the breed that is perfect for someone else may not be for you. You should either buy an all breed book or go to a dog show. That way you can see all the breeds out there, find one you like the looks of, then research that breed to find out about their temperaments, energy levels, grooming needs, health concerns, etc.

Most all breeds can be good companions but you need to find the one that suits your life style and energy. Good luck finding your companion.

Answer 7

dogs make lovely pets

but i would suggest you visit your local pound or rspca / battersea dog home / dog trust etc and have a look at the dogs there.

there are many unwanted dogs that are lovely to adopt... i myself never 'bought' a dog before, i had 3 adopted dogs and they were sooo sooo great !!

what breed of dog, depends on your lifestyle. you've got to ask yourself these questions :

1 do you work ?
if yes then a puppy is a no no ! they are very destructive when they are growing up and need constant love and attention. leaving them alone in the house can be very stressful

2 do you often work late or go out in the evenings a lot?
do not commit to a dog if you are going to spend all day at work, you cannot expect the dog to be on its own stuck in a room / house for 12 - 14 hours - that is unfair.

3 how big is your place ?
if you live in a flat, getting a big dog like a retriever is a bad idea. big dogs need big spaces. if your house / flat is small consider a small / medium sized dog. dogs whatever their size and age, need to run around, jump around and play so keep that in mind

4 is there a place nearby for walking your dog ?

5 will you have the time and energy - i would say 1 or 2 hours a day to play with your dog ? exercise him ? give him love and attention that he needs?

6 train your dog - a well behaved dog makes a good pet. there are many obedience classes etc which are good fun too

7 what do your family / friends think of you having a dog?

pls take advise from people who have had dogs
dogs are best when they are in a family, so that they have lots of people to love and play with.

do your research, think, think and think everything through before taking on this huge responsibility..... its almost like having a baby trust me !!

good luck and i hope you will go for adoption ! :)

Answer 8

A word of advice here, never buy the most hyper-active puppy. Usually, it is always the one the breeder wants to get rid of first as it is a nuisance, because it is so lively and gets into all sorts of trouble. It is also the most difficult to train. Always ask to see the mother before purchasing. This is usually a good indication of how the puppies will eventually turn out. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels make lovely pets. They are good natured and always want to be with you. They enjoy being a real companion and love people. Hope this helps

Answer 9

Golden Retrievers, without a doubt make the best pets. They are fun and cuddly as puppies, easy to house train, easy to generally train later to do a lot of things. Good companions, and very protective. A neighbor was trying to spank her child in the yard next to mine, when my Golden Retriever jumped the fence and got between the mother and the child to stop what the dog considered to be abuse. The dog did not growl or get aggressive, but would not let the mother punish the child. I had to call the dog home . They make good watch dogs, they will bark when anyone or anything different is happening, but rarely would bite anyone.l I have never had an aggressive Golden Retrieve and I have had several.

Answer 10

Research the breeds you like and see which ones will fit into your lifestyle. If you are acouch potato do not get dogs like Dobermans, Husky, terriers, hounds, they are active and like to be busy and run and they require a lot of exercise.
Look at things that are more laid back.
If you do not like to groom do not look at long haired dogs.
If you are not experienced do not get anything assertive or aggressive as they are hard to train and may not be the best breed for a first time owner.
When you get a puppy take it to classes and train it and spay/neuter it and you will have a great friend.