PLEASE ANSWER. Poll. WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR DOG?

Question

I am very curious due to the questions asked here. Here are some specifics I would like to know.

Have you owned dogs before?

Why did you decide to get a dog?
How/why did you choose the breed?
When you decided to get a dog, how long before you got it?
How did you choose where to get your dog?
Purebred? Or mixed breed?
Age of dog when you got it
Shelter? Friend? Ad in paper? Breeder? From website?
Why did you choose the dog you did?
Did you see the dog before you got it? Or did you have it shipped to you?
If from shelter, what info were you given on dog?
If from a friend, private (non-breeder) person, what info were you given?
If from a breeder, what info were you given?
If from a breeder, how/why did you choose them?
Did you research the breed before you chose it?
Did you research how to take care of a dog, how to train a dog before you brought it home?

any other info you would like to share......

Have you had any real trouble training the pup? Is your dog obedient and well trained? Asked any advice here?

Answer 1

1) Have you owned dogs before?
Buddy, my beagle/corgi mix was my first dog. Several years later I got Bowser, a mastiff.

2) Why did you decide to get a dog?
Companionship

3) How/why did you choose the breed?
The beagle/corgi mix was moreso my parent's choice and that was mostly based on his size. I chose a mastiff as my second dog because I love big dogs and the mastiff personality (laid-back, guardian) seemed like it would fit in well with my lifestyle.

4) When you decided to get a dog, how long before you got it?
It took a couple years to convince my parents with Buddy. Although I had researched different breeds and really like mastiffs, I hadn't intended to get one until I heard about a woman who needed to rehome hers. I spent several weeks reading more about mastiffs and we took the transition slowly with him (I would go over and walk him and then return him to his owner and he spent a few nights sleeping over at my house before it was official).

5) How did you choose where to get your dog?
I don't see any reason to get dogs from breeders when there are always plenty of dogs looking for homes. Buddy was from the humane society and Bowser needed to be rehomed due to lifestyle changes of his owner.

6) Purebred? Or mixed breed?
One of each

7) Age of dog when you got it
Buddy was one year old and Bowser was almost 2 years old

8) Shelter? Friend? Ad in paper? Breeder? From website?
Shelter and rehoming

9) Why did you choose the dog you did?
Buddy was based on size (not my doing, although he's turned out to be a perfect dog for us) and my attraction to Bowser was intially based on breed (temperment as well as physical look) but his personality is sweet as well.

10) Did you see the dog before you got it? Or did you have it shipped to you?
We met both dogs before taking them home. We got to play with Buddy at the shelter and Bowser's transition into our home was slow (which was great for him as he was already stressed out as slow as we took it).

11) If from shelter, what info were you given on dog?
Most of the information that came with Buddy was from what his previous owners had said about him. Breed, age, where they'd gotten him from, what commands he knew, what vaccines he'd had...basic stuff.

12) If from a friend, private (non-breeder) person, what info were you given?
There was some paperwork from the breeder but otherwise it was just what I got from talking to the owner (mostly stuff about behavior).

13) If from a breeder, what info were you given?
The paperwork I got from Bowser's breeder had some pedigree information on it and what food he'd been given at their place (which was irrelevant 2 years later)

14) If from a breeder, how/why did you choose them?
n/a

15) Did you research the breed before you chose it?
Yes

16) Did you research how to take care of a dog, how to train a dog before you brought it home?
Oh yeah, definately, and a whole lot more of research has been done concerning fear and aggression because the mastiff was not socialized as a pup and has some issues with strangers

Answer 2

I decided upon getting dogs a long time ago, 27 years in fact. I chose my breed based on my work requirements, my needs and my personality. I was familiar with my breed before I actually got one through training. My dogs are purebred and they are between 18 and 36 months when I get them. They come from certain breeders in Europe whom I have known for over 20 years and trust. I did not see my dog or most of the dogs I get before they get here, sometimes there is video or pictures available. They are almost always shipped to me with my taking an occasional trip there and pick up a few dogs. I am given all the info the breeder has available, including background on several generations of dogs and all pertinent data on the particular dog that would be too much to list here. Suffice to say, I do not invite a carnivorous pack animal into my home without knowing as much as I can about it first. I chose the breeders I work with because of their rep and the type of animals they produce that fit my selection criteria. They have been breeding for over 30 years and have produced some of the top speciments in their fields. I had studied dogs before I got my first one and would hope that anyone has at least a rudimentary knowledge of dogs before they get one. I do all of my own training. I hope this helped.

Answer 3

My family has always had dogs. This is my first dog as an adult not living with my parents.
Why? I will be moving somewhere where I know noone. I have always wanted a dog- but wasn't practical as a student.
He was cute, affectionate and energetic in his little pen at the shelter
I have been thinking about getting my own dog since last october. I was doing research on cavaliers. I decided to adopt him, despite not being a cavalier in June.
I don't have a car- local shelter was convenient. I was researching a lot of great breeders to buy a cavie.
Mixed breed. Doxie mix I think.
1 year approx.
Shelter
He has the sweetest eyes. He was not afraid of me, a stranger, he was so energetic when outside, sweet and affectionate too.
Yes, at the shelter. Brought it outside and played with him too.
I was told he was neglected by a farmer about 15 miles from the shelter. I was told he was about 4 months old (WAY off- vet told me a year).That was it. I've heard from other people they tell you if the dog is aggressive etc.
Nope on breed research. I still don't know what he is exactly.
I knew how to care for a dog from having dogs throughout my childhood. Knew how to crate-train (didn't need it- found out he was housebroken- shelter didn't know that). Still working on obedience training.

It was the best decision I ever made. He is a sweetheart :)

Answer 4

WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR DOG? From a breeder.

Have you owned dogs before? Yes.

Why did you decide to get a dog? Our last dog was inherited from a deceased relative. That dog died about a year ago. At first, we wanted to wait a long time before getting another dog, but after a few months, the house just seemed so empty.

How/why did you choose the breed? One part logical - weighing the breed characteristics with our lifestyle and preferences. One part emotional - we found a pair of abandoned Shelties a few years ago and, while we couldn't keep them ourselves, we tracked them until they were placed in permanent homes.

When you decided to get a dog, how long before you got it? A couple months from the time we started investigating breeders.

How did you choose where to get your dog? Started with a list of breeders (100+). Narrowed it down by eliminating any with "red flags", those that wouldn't be breeding within the next year, those that were too busy to respond, etc. That left about 20+. Of those, one of the breeders had a litter due with puppies available.

Purebred? Or mixed breed? Purebred.

Age of dog when you got it? Just shy of 8 weeks.

Shelter? Friend? Ad in paper? Breeder? From website? Breeder in our current region but initial contact through a website.

Why did you choose the dog you did? We wanted two dogs, a brother and sister sibling pair. From the litter, there was only one male available to be sold as a companion. My husband had a choice of three female puppies and he picked the girl with similar colouring to the male (both colour-headed white tris). That may sound a little frivolous, but we actually found all the puppies to be acceptable (not too shy or aggressive) so would have been happy with any of them.

Did you see the dog before you got it? Or did you have it shipped to you? We made one kennel visit when the puppies were about 5 1/2 weeks old. We would never consider buying a dog without seeing the kennel first, plus we are uncomfortable with the idea of shipping a young dog.


If from shelter, what info were you given on dog? n/a

If from a friend, private (non-breeder) person, what info were you given? n/a

If from a breeder, what info were you given? Lots. In general - grooming, training and feeding information. Specifically - the pedigree of the puppies, the medical information (vaccination, worming), microchip #, parents' medical tests.

If from a breeder, how/why did you choose them? Partly a process of elimination (see above), but also based on her reputation.

Did you research the breed before you chose it? Yes.

Did you research how to take care of a dog, how to train a dog before you brought it home? Yes. Although we've had dogs before, it doesn't hurt to review and become more aware of options.

ETA:
Have you had any real trouble training the pup? Is your dog obedient and well trained? Asked any advice here?

It's a little early after less than four days. ;-) I did ask a question here, but I also got advice from our vet, the breeder and a breed specific message board.

Answer 5

Have you owned dogs before? Yes, but as a kid who didnt know how to properly take care of her.

Why did you decide to get a dog? My last dog passed away, about 6 months later I just decided it was time. Went with a much larger one this time though--my first that wasnt tiny.

How/why did you choose the breed? Availability-he's an accidental mix who needed a home

When you decided to get a dog, how long before you got it? About a month-once he was old enough and independent enough to be removed from his mommy and siblings.

How did you choose where to get your dog? Found a guy online who's dog got out and got pregnant. He usually bred her with other Rotties, but this time a Lab met her, so the puppies were free as long as you were ok'd by him.

Purebred? Or mixed breed? Mixed. Lab/Rottie

Age of dog when you got it? About 12 weeks.

Shelter? Friend? Ad in paper? Breeder? From website? Craigslist.

Why did you choose the dog you did? Researched both breeds and would have been thrilled to have either. A mixed breed has a good chance of being somewhere in between which sounded good. We then met all the pups and were the first to choose. Did normal puppy temperment testing, he came out the best. He was also the fattest-mommy was fattening him up very well. The kids loved him at first site (theyre not as comfortable with him now that he's bigger than them though).

Did you see the dog before you got it? Or did you have it shipped to you? Saw him, visited him a few times while waiting for him to be old enough to go.

If from shelter, what info were you given on dog? N/A

If from a friend, private (non-breeder) person, what info were you given? N/A

If from a breeder, what info were you given? Was given info about mother-had no normal Rottie issues. Father is not registered and owner was not very friendly.

If from a breeder, how/why did you choose them? Liked the mom-the best tempered Rottie Ive ever seen, loved the puppy, liked the breeders-very responsible.

Did you research the breed before you chose it? Extensively.

Did you research how to take care of a dog, how to train a dog before you brought it home? Extensively, but it has proven to be nowhere near enough, hence my time spent here reading virtually everything that even might apply.

Answer 6

Yes
To be a family pet
I choose the breed because my Dad and other family members had the breed of dogs and said that they were perfect for what I wanted him to do.
I waited until my whole family was ready for the responsibility of a new puppy.
My moms friends dog just had a litter of pups and she was giving us a good price.
Purebred but my other dog is a mix
Puppy and my other dog was 3 when we got him
Friend
Because I thought he was the cutest and he was the most playful
I seen the dog before I took him home.
I was given that he was a purebred both mom and dad are purebreds but dad wasn't papered and my new puppy wasn't papered
We already new a lot about the breed from family and friends.
We already had a dog before this so we new how to take care of him.

Answer 7

Have you owned dogs before? Many

Why did you decide to get a dog? Replace old dog that passed away, and plainly an animal lover
How/why did you choose the breed? Familiar with breed.
When you decided to get a dog, how long before you got it? A few weeks.
How did you choose where to get your dog?Internet search for breeders.
Purebred? Or mixed breed? Pure
Age of dog when you got it. 8 weeks
Shelter? Friend? Ad in paper? Breeder? From website? Breeder
Why did you choose the dog you did? Male and size
Did you see the dog before you got it? Or did you have it shipped to you? Had it shipped. Seen Pics
If from shelter, what info were you given on dog? NA
If from a friend, private (non-breeder) person, what info were you given? NA
If from a breeder, what info were you given? All Medical and family history
If from a breeder, how/why did you choose them? Reputation
Did you research the breed before you chose it? Yes
Did you research how to take care of a dog, how to train a dog before you brought it home? No

any other info you would like to share...... I have had a really good experience with our dog. We found him online with a breeder and he flew to us. He is wonderful.

Answer 8

That's a long list of questions and I have quite a few dogs. I'll shorten this up for you.

Maggie May-almost 6 y/o. She was 6 months old when I retreived her from an abusive home, she was my friend's parents dog (located 3 hours away). She was my first dog that I was solely responsible before, I was 18 y/o and living on my own. Me, her and my ex-bf were all a big happy family. I occasionally grant my "ex" visitation rights with her. She is a basset/beagle and the best dog/companion you could imagine.

Jeanine St Hubbins-4 y/o. My fiance and I bought her from our local shelter in the spring of '04, at the time she was 6 months old. She is a border collie mix.

Donald Smith-4 y/o. We bought him from the local shelter a few months after Jeanine. We saw him on Petfinder and originally thought he could've been Jeanine's long lost brother. He seemed like a healthy pup when we got him, a few days after having him he had developed parvo. He lost a lot of weight and just slept. A 3 day stay in the vet's office cured his parvo.

Martin DeBergi-november of 05 I wanted another dog. For my dad's birthday I asked him what type of pup he'd like to have, poodle or mini dachshund. He chose the dachshund. I found a local breeder (on my dads bday) and took the runt of the litter. Until my dad died in febuary, Marty spent 1/2 of his time in my apt.. other 1/2 with my dad. The last time my dad was in my apt he almost cried talking about how much he loved Marty :(

Viv Savage-last december we found him roaming around our apartment. He's a beagle mix of some sort. He was very skinny, but socialable and loved people. I originally saved him from the streets in hopes I could find him a good home---my fiance has never allowed me to rehome him. He says that Viv is his dog now LOL. He's a rotten pup, we've fattened him up a bit. Now he lookes like a 3 liter of soda, or a huge tootsie roll.

Answer 9

I have owned dogs my whole life.
I currently have 3 dogs
I got the first one of the 3, 7 yrs ago because the boys wanted a dog.
I chose a lab/retriever mix because they are good with kids
I have to mix breeds and one purebred
My first dog was 3 mths, the second dogs was 6 weeks and the third dog was 4 mths
My first dog came from a pet store, the second dog was just kinda left on my doorstep and the third dog came from a rescue shelter.
My first dog-Heidi-chose us, Holly-2nd dog-was left for us to care for, Kira-3rd dog came from a rescue shelter.
I chose my breeds by how they are with children
Yes I saw them before they chose us.
Kira I am told that her parents were chocolate and yellow lab.
The other 2 I have no history on.
Like I said I have had dogs sence I was a kid and pretty much knew that a dog was a big responsiblity and required time and love.

Answer 10

yes

i wanted one for companion

labs are sweet, great first time dogs
jack russells are intelligent and sassy which makes them fun to play with

i don't know

we wanted to save an animal at a shelter...but then i wanted a puppy so i got one couple years later at a breeder who is more likely to the kind of puppies you want

both purebred to all my knowledge

one was 10monthes the other 2 monthes

shelter, add in paper by breeded

i wanted a lab, the other dog was the last dog there and she was exactally the dog that i wanted

saw the dog before i got it

umm for the shelter they gave us the wrong info on her the first time and then they just said she was a lab why she was brought in and when we could check her out

private- just a little bit about her her family and i dunno we just talked

lab- not really
jack russell read like two or three books and then went on the website a bunch

possibly a little

Answer 11

I've had dogs for years. Mostly huskies. I like the personality and temperament of the breed. They can be a challenge and I like that. I started looking for a dog that would be a challenge to train and when a shelter near me had a husky I met her, fell in love with her and adopted her. She was my first dog and was with me for 10 years. She was 2-3 years old when I adopted her.

I also adopted a 2 year old hound mix 13 years ago. She was going to be dumped by the person who had her. She's 15 and still with me.

When my first husky died I adopted my current husky from husky rescue. Met him and took him home the same day. My other husky was a dog I was fostering for rescue and ended up adopting.

I would never want to adopt a dog without meeting it first. I met many, MANY dogs in shelters all over the state before I adopted my first dog. I couldn't imagine having a dog shipped to me without meeting it first. A picture and a profile on a website isn't going to show me if there's any chemistry between us.

I always recommend rescue or a shelter for adopting a dog. There is no reason to go to a breeder unless you're interested in showing, competing or bettering the breed. Anybody who doesn't do one of those things is a backyard breeder and just out to make money with no regard for the dog or where it ends up.

Any reputable rescue is going to want you to meet the dog first. That also gives them a chance to meet you and make sure you're a good match for the dog. I couldn't imagine sending one of my foster dogs off to someone I've never met in another state!