What kind of Dog would be best for me??

Question

I need to reseach types of dogs. Me and my boyfriend are moving out for the first time, and we wnat to buy a puppy. We are not home for like 5-6 hrs a day, so I need a dog who is not too dependent- one that will be okay to leave alone for a few hrs a day!

Does anyone know any good sites that go into detail about all types of dogs??

Answer 1

your best bet is to go to your local SPCA they often have free pamphlets and even if they dont they can give a ton of unbiased help
Pet stores often will tell you anything to get a sale so are not reliable and they sell inferiour pups at high prices so avoid them always

you want to aviod intelligent breeds (border collies, Australian sheps, dalmations, etc..) these smart dogs require ALOT of mental stimulation and if you cannot keep them busy they will become destructive
terriers are chewers - bred to hunt and kill
ShihTzu are probably one of the lowest demanding dogs for atttention but require regular trips to the groomers - they are low intelligence meaning they dont need so much attention and sometimes tricky to house train

an older dog (1 year or up) would be the best choice.. since puppies are destructive, and require housetraining...(yuck)
so again I suggest going to your local SPCA or shelter and looking around - take your time - talk to the staff... dont be in a rush you may go back 3-4 times before you find the right dog.. depending on the size of your city they probably get new dogs in once a week...

Answer 2

Don't listen to everyone telling you that you can't have a puppy because you work. That's like stay at home mothers thinking mothers who work are bad parents. It can be done. 5-6 hours isn't that bad really. Just be well aware that at first, there will be messes. And sometimes big ones, because they can't hold it that long. She will grow and learn, so things do get easier with time. Just be prepared for a difficult few months if you get a really young puppy. It also helps to have someone that can maybe come by and take her for a walk in the middle of the day, or to come home on your lunch break. If this sounds like too much action for you, then take the advice of getting an older dog. Just be aware you take a risk there also, as they might have behavior problems and be worse to leave home alone than a puppy.

Answer 3

First of all you shouldn't want an animal to leave home all day but people gotta work, right? Go to your local animal shelter and talk to the animal control officer. Let him/her know that you are a first time pet owner. You should adopt an older dog that is already house broken or at the very least crate trained, and knows basic obedience. You will have much better success with a dog you don't have to train yourself. I know this sounds far-fetched (excuse the pun) but you will be much happier with a pound puppy that comes with these extras. I have owned both new puppies and pound puppies and I'm telling you there is nothing like a pound puppy. I adoped my dog Jack at 2 yrs old. He was a fully trained and already neutered Pittbull/Choc. Lab mix. He's great with everyone. Even the cat. I paid 5 bucks for the best dog I've ever owned.

Answer 4

Go to a shelter. Tell the employees there about your activity level, how much you will be home, how much time you can spend grooming the dog, etc. and they will help find the perfect dog for you. Even though one breed might be known for being good with kids, and another breed might be known for having lots of energy, there is still a lot of variations in temperament within each breed. Also, if you are going to be away so much, you should consider getting a dog that is 6months - 1 year old. They are a bit better about being alone for 5-6 hours a day. My dog was 6 months when I adopted her, and she was already housebroken, but she still had all of the puppy cuteness.

Answer 5

Are you moving to an apartment? Most have pet size restrictions. If you get too big a dog you could have problems in the future when you want to move. I think 5 - 6 hours a day is great - that is not a lot of time. Are you both gone at exactly the same time?

I really would recommend a "gently used" dog for your first one. Pups are very demanding. Check with a sheltie or cocker spaniel rescue group - these are both great inside dogs because they are small but not lap dogs.

Answer 6

akc.org


Defiantly do your homework. You may also want to get a dog... not a puppy. Sense you are not home 5-6 hours a day... a dog would probably would be better. Puppies need a lot of attention and training. You could go to your local shelter and adopt a dog. Give that dog a second chance at life. Plus the people who work at the SPCA will be able to tell you the type of lifestyle that dog will need.. that way you can closely match it to your own. Good luck.

Answer 7

To correct the person who replied with Toys R Us (which is a pretty childish answer, but I'm sure he knows that): dogs will be perfectly ok 5-6 hours alone, actually they're fine up to 8 hours if well trained. You don't need to give up on your job and life in order to have a pet. Pets are also great training for whoever wants to have kids in the future. You start with small responsabilities, little sacrificies here and there and you "learn to teach".

Nat you'll be fine with most breeds (avoid labs and shepherds, they need lots of activity, but again, I have an australian shepherd and she sleeps all day lol)as long as you spend enough time with your new pet at the beginning. The first few months are tough but then it's a wonderful experience. Having a dog is a great responsibility to have! :)
The puppy won't hold his bladder at first, they go often when they're a few months old. I tried crate training for a month with my baby (she was almost 5 months old when I got her at the shlter and she's a pit bull-aussie mix) and she learned really fast. Check out these sites for more info and good luck!
http://www.perfectpaws.com/crt.html
http://www.netpets.org/dogs/reference/training/pupobed.html
http://www.dvah.com/crate.htm

Answer 8

Look for an all-breed rescue near you through www.petfinder.com

The rescue can do more than match you to a breed---they will match you to a dog. They might have a mix that you might miss if you just looked for a single breed! Rescues foster their dogs which means the dogs live in homes with volunteers who learn about the dog. The volunteers do some training with the dog and evaluate it....is it high energy? a couch potato? independent?

A rescue group uses the information to match the dog and future home.

There are also purebred rescues that focus on a specific breed and you can also find them through petfinder.

Here's a place to look at breeds:
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbreeds/index.html
Take everything with a grain of salt, but there is some useful information about the pros and cons of different breeds.

Your local humane society may also have someone on staff who can talk to you.

Finally, do you know anyone with a dog you really like? Ask them about the dog.

PS Get a DOG---not a puppy!

Answer 9

I'd be what I am now, a good ol' American mixed breed. I'd be serious, have a good work ethic, and want to live in a good working home. If I were kept as just a pet in a fenced yard, I'd be digging large holes and barking due to the shear boredom of it all. I'd want to be taken places, to learn new things, and to see people. I'd be friendly but reserved and not aggressive. I'd be very loyal to my loving owner and to the my family. My look would be generic. No extremes, maybe a medium or double coat. Much like a cross between a spaniel and a shepherd. Color black maybe brown with a little white trim. I'd be pleasing to look at and nice to touch. I'd problaby weight 50-60#.

Answer 10

You need to realize that a puppy is a baby. You couldn't leave a baby for 5-6 hours, and you can't leave a puppy for that long either. They require care, love, and a lot of attention. If you're intent on getting a dog, I'd recommend an older dog. However, since it sounds like you have lots of things going on in your life, I think a cat would be your best bet.