what dog should i get???

Question

I live in VA but i have no idea what breed is best to get??? can u please HELP

I live in a big house with a huge back yard. i am also very active. I love all size dogs. please help

Answer 1

How odd - you ask about which woud be the best breed - presumably for your personality and living situaton. All these people promptly name "their breed" wiithout qualifications or limitations. The "best" breed to get is the one whose personaltiy matched yours; whose need for exercise matches yours; whose size fits in your home; and whose shedding or need for groomng fts your desire to vaccum up hair or pay a groomer;

Go here and read about all the dfferent breeds:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm?nav_area=breeds


You can search by Group, Breed name or all of them at once. Now, when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column. At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Club for that breed that sets the breed standards.

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed.

The clubs websites also have:

(1) a breeders list - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read)

(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breedDo give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue.


The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperment, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), health, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newpapers, chewing.......They have dogs that are purebred and part-bred (1/2 or so of their breed.)


If you decide to get a puppy , please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder will tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)

A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

IF A SERIOUS BREEDER OR RESCUE TELLS YOU THAT THE BREED IS NOT SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION - BELIEVE THEM - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE WAY THE DOG LOOKS

Now once you know what the tendencies and traits of the breeds are, you are prepared to think about adopting a mixed breed. Now you know when they say "mastiff/collie" cross, what you are getting into.

PLEASE consider adopting from your shelter. Mixed breeds make just as wonderful pets as those with a pedigree. They are often more loyal and bond more closely when they know that they can trust you not to leave them having already been abandoned and deserted in their lives, and thankful for a loving home. You can go to your local shelter.


My only recommendations would be if this is your first dog and you have never trained one, stay away from the breeds that are considered 'dominant" or "independent" ( breeder's polite word for the dog that looks at you when you give a command and says 'Who is going to make me? You and what army?" or "guarding" (practically synonomous with independent) or other strong willed breeds (Huskies come to mind.)

Also, if you have or plan to have childen, pick a breed that is happy, merry, is highly trainable, and wants to stay with them. Usually for families I reccomend a dog from the Sporting or Herding Groups plus some of the Non-sporting (I grew up wth Bostos who are a hoot.)

Now, with the "popular" breeds,be careful. The current popular favorites of Goldens and Labs are sufferring from the effects of being loved too much by too many. Breeding to meet high demand means that dogs which wouldn't have been used for breeding stock are being used and the qualtiy of health and tempement deteriorates. Goldens now have the dubious distinction of being the No 1 breed in biting the vet because they are wimps about pain - and then there are the rampant health problems - hips, allergies, a cancer rate in the top 3.....(Love them to death but after 28 years of having them, I gave up because of the way the breed had deteriorated.) The poor Labs are having the same problems now - the hips, etc and I noticed the other day, that the temperment problems must be increasing when I saw the Lab National Breed Club had posted on its breed rescue page "Lab Rescue does not work with aggression. A dog that bites will not be brought into the program." Hmmm... now what brought that on, eh??? Be very careful if you decide on one of these breeds - Lab or Golden - and only deal with a serious reputable breeder from their club's list or their breed rescue who known about temperment - something that can be inherited.

There is a breed called Jack Russells - not yet AKC. They are a small terrier bred to kill rats. They specialize in bark -bark -bark and are perpetual motion machines. Tell an obedience trainer that it is a JR and you will see them close their eyes, swallow, mutter a prayer and say "Now you understand that the best you can hope for in manners from....."

Answer 2

Hey!
Congratulations on deciding to get a dog. It will certainly change your life in a positive way. The best determinant to you and your pets future happiness is RESEARCH! Go on the American Kennel Club's website and read about all the different breeds and which will work for you. Then, I recommend using Petfinder.com to look up shelters in your area, and their animals up for adoption. Its a fabulous site! Not is this often a more affordable option, but you can help an animal in need and not contribute to the problem of pet overpopulation. Visit local shelters and pounds and get a feel for the animals. Take your time, and be prepared. Good luck! I have adopted and bought from breeders. Email me with any further questions.

Answer 3

It really depends on your lifestyle. You have to take into consideration how many hours you are away from the house, where you live (apartment or house with yard), if you have any kids, etc. I know this might sound bad but you also have to consider your budget (i.e. can you afford to feed a large breed dog). A good thing to do would be to ask the guidance of a vet. Explain your lifestyle to them and they can let you know what kind of dog would be best for you. Good luck.

Answer 4

You are going to have to give mroe information than that for us to answer your question. Howveer, look on www.dogbreedinfo.com and it has some useful information. You should probably think about these factors when deciding what kind of dog to get (these are just some of them)

~ Big dog, Medium sized dog, or small?
~ Does it matter how much it sheds?
~ Do you have children?
~ Do you live in a house with a yard or an apartment?
~ What are their grooming requirements?
~ Temperment?

Answer 5

That depends on you if your into taking a dog out often or have a back yard then you would have a better selection of dogs because working breeds and muscle dogs need to be exerside a lot more then a yorkie or ****-zhu;Find out what you can about the breed you are deciding on it helps on deciding what the best for you is.

Answer 6

My favorite by far are Newfoundlands. I had one when I was living in Virginia on a beautiful farm in Rappahannock county. Boy do I miss her. They are big and messy. But oh, so lovable. We got her a little plastic surgery to make her (and our) life easier. Because of breeding, many purebreds have their own little quirks (problems). Newfies have trouble with droopy eyes getting infected. so when the vet put her under for an eye-lift, we had her jowls done too. You know those big dogs who always have massive amounts of drool hanging out the sides of their mouths? Well, that's from droopy jowls. They make 2 tiny snips and remove the droopiness, and voila! No more drool! (The drool was so intense that rocks and sticks would be stuck in it!) I know it sounds cruel, but it's not. The vet already had her out for a necessary repair to prevent infections from recurring in her eyes, and it enabled us to let her in the house, so she was no longer a barn dog! Anyway she was a rescue. Whatever breed you choose (mutts are *GREAT* dogs too, often with less problems) please rescue a dog who needs a loving home...and don't support breeders! Good luck, I'm sure you'll love each other :)

Answer 7

you attracted many answers. they are all on dogs. i would suggest you look otherwise-- you look at your own character and find a dog that fits your character and not vice versa. why? i will explain. you will not change and can not change the character of the dog -- he is trained that way from birth -- he/she comes as is. you do not want to change your character either. this having been said -- now you are closer to choose a dog...it is not space, shedding, food, companionship etc..it is all those factors combined that will determine...of course $ also you will spend. I have a dog, yes -- and we are like buddies. he adapted very little to my style of life -- i love nature, so does he...i love quite...so does he etc. etc....read and print all the answers ..and go and see dogs in a kennel first...test yourself..not the dog. you will be OK.
good luck

Answer 8

a puppy..shitzus are cute..and they're friendly..well from my experience and not too big..depends on what you prefer. you can look through all breeds online. Just search for something like "dog breeds" or what kind of dog you should get. you're likely to find a site that can help.

Answer 9

Hi- you need to do some research and evaluate what you can and cannot offer your companion, just because a dog is small, doesn't mean they need less attention, also, contact your animal shelters- they may have the perfect dog waiting for you!
PS vets are good resources, and many books abound.Consider which can tolerate your climate and activity levels. good luck!

Answer 10

It depends what hight your after i love the Chow-chows there a good sized dog not to big not to small just right they are so cute and very playful there one of a kind but its still your choice good luck with your new dog!