O.K. I want a new puppy but......?

Question

Im not sure of what to get.I had a labrador but she always wanted to run away a beagle the same thing i think its because theyre hunting types of dogs and thier nose gets the best of them.so now i want something small to medium that dosnt have a tendency to run off and must be cool with cats any sugestions i was thinking a bull dog

thanks micheal i thought i had enough in my first sentence.

the shelter has runaway doggies

Answer 1

I would actually suggest a mutt. They tend to be healthier and less neurotic. GO to a local shelter. Meet with a variety of dogs. The right pet will choose you for its owner. As to why they run off, perhaps more exercise as well as proper training. Could cut down on the issue. Good luck. Oh, also, if you have children, take them with you to the shelter, you need to be sure a potential new pet gets on well with children.

Answer 2

True hunting types tend to catch a smell and go off to investigate. You need to plan for that and train a solution for it before they run away. But perhaps they simply ran away because you
1. did not train it to come when called, or
2. left it alone outside so it could get bored.

Those problems are not things that can't be fixed. Absolutely every dog will want to roam. There is NO SUCH THING as a perfect stay at home, non-barking, non-digging, housebreaking accident-free dog.

Instead find the kind of dog that fits your lifestyle and then TRAIN IT. If you don't know how to fix the behavior problems, then learn. Read a book or take a class. There are even Yahoo groups that are for beginning trainers.

Think about what kind of dog you want. What do you want it for? Lap dog? Someone to run with? Do you want to learn how to do agility competitions? How much grooming do you want to do? Are you going to be able to entertain a high energy intelligent dog? Do you want a Prima Donna to fluff and put ribbons in her hair? Those are the things you should look at. Not whether it will run away or not. Of course it will if you let it.

And your comment that the shelter has runaway doggies is only partly true. I work at a no-kill shelter and the vast majority of our dogs are owner surrender dogs.They are here because the people who adopted them didn't think about what they wanted in a dog and got something they weren't prepared for. Or maybe the soldier that owned it deployed and his wife doesn't want the dog anymore now that he is gone. Most of the young dogs are there because the dumb owner neglected to spay their female and she came up pregnant. We had one golden retriever that had been found tied to bricks in a river as it was flooding. Some %$#&'s idea of a funny prank. So try your shelter. Talk to the staff. They may have the PERFECT dog for you and it's WAAAY cheaper than a breeder. PLus it saves a life. (And did you know an average of 25% of shelter pets are purebred?)

Good luck.

Answer 3

Just go to the shelters and see what you bond with. When you see the dog or puppy that's meant to be yours, you'll know. I have always had the best luck with mixed breeds - not as many health issues, and they tend to live longer.

Both of my dogs are from shelters, and have never run away. They won't go anywhere I can't see them - even in the back yard.

Answer 4

It sounds like you don't have a fenced yard. Puppies will try to investagate everything and will wonder off if left on their own. That's why the shelters have lots of run away dogs.
Fence your yard or only take the dog out on lead. You wouldn't let a 2 yr old child out without supervision.

Answer 5

the reason your dogs keep running off is because you havent trained them not to! Any puppy/dog of any size is gonna run when off leash and unless they are trained...they wont come back!
Oh course hunting breeds have a tendency to wonder more than others because thats what there bred to do, but even a companion dog like a chihuahua will run if not on leash and hasnt been trained not to.

I woudlnt suggest any kind of bully breed with cats unless your trained on how to introduce them properly...
id stick with calmer companions breeds, but id avoid toy breeds, they tend to need extra training.

Answer 6

I looked through your answers. I to had hunting dogs so a Pekingese is probally a good dog They should get along with cats. Just read up on them before you get a dog.

Answer 7

If you ask me i would suggest you to buy Bichon Frise or a Coton De tulear. They have good temperment, loves kids and very affectionate with their owners. As a matter of fact i have both breeds owning the house right now =)

Answer 8

Have you thought about a pekingnese? They make great house dogs, very easy to potty train and great companions. All of the ones my family has had lived well into their late teens with no health problems.

Answer 9

Before you get a dog you better know what the breed is bread to do.A working dog wit nothing t do will find something to get into.
Read about the dog before you get one

Answer 10

try http://www.petfinder.com find a shelter close to you, go and vistit speak with the volenteers there and they will be able to place you with the dog that is right for you. You will be getting a dog and saving a life at the same time.