Why did you pick your dog?

Question

what factors did you use in determining what dog or breed was right for you and your family.
for example:
did you choose that littl yorkie poo because your friends had one.
That lab because he was good for your family.
that poodle because he was the last purebred at the shelter.
that mutt because he was super cute.
Did yuo put thought into what dog you wanted and where you got it from?
Just curious


my answer:
my husband I I wanted a small, calm dog.
We searched several shelters and rescues before we drove 3 hours to pick up skipper.

my dog actually picked me!!

Answer 1

Okay this makes me sound awful and irresponsible.

I really thought I wanted a little lap dog- I had a cavalier all lined up but it was way too much for me financially. I went to the local pound to look at a poodle mix. It was gone. I walked around, looked at all the dogs, and saw my little guy- he jumped up on the door and looked at me with those gentle, sad eyes of his and I just looked back and though he was cute- but not what I was looking for- he was a puppy so I thought, and I guessed he would get to be about 50lb... I wanted a fluff-ball too- not a black and tan, short haired hound. I wanted a small dog. I went out and met the lady who had called in to report his neglect and heard his story- they told me he wouldn't get much bigger and I decided to take him out for a walk...

Once I had him out of the barking and craziness-walking around on a leash, watching him sniff everywhere, jump up and give me kisses, I just knew he was for me. Now I am so glad I have him instead of a lap dog. If I want a running partner I have one, if I want a lap dog I have one- he's perfect for me.

Not at all what I thought I wanted- but I guess he knew better. . .
Also turns out he was fully grown and is 24lb- perfect size for me too...

Answer 2

I love all dogs, don't get me wrong, but I knew ahead of time I wanted a large breed.

We actually picked the shelter first. I don't feel it's a larger shelter's business to ask what our household income is: rich people can still be terrible dog owners; and poor people can be the most responsible! I do *not* have a problem with being asked "have you thought about the financial burden of being a responsible dog owner?", but no, they don't ask those more direct questions.... (Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting, lol!)

So we picked a small animal shelter which a friend had recommended. One day a little face peeped out at me, and I knew that was my dog, in the same way a woman knows when she's found her wedding dresss, lol. We picked our little guy up 4 days later.

He has a little fear aggression, but is otherwise a happy 10 month old naughty puppy! He costs us a fortune, but I wouldn't change it for the world. He's part of our family, and (this sounds really strange) has taught me so much about humankind...

Answer 3

I never even liked dogs--I was always a cat person. I did what a lot of people do and shouldn't: I gave into my kid, who wanted a dog. Of course, it had to be a little dog that would not wreck my apartment. So, I figured a Boston Terrier would be nice. They are small, cute and black and white (being very shallow about the whole thing, looks of an animal was the most important factor) So I did a little research and looked on the internet for a boston terrier--some kind of puppies.com or something. I found a number listed for people selling a litter of BT's in--you guessed it--Lancaster Co, PA. (I did not know there were such things as puppy mills) I called and they told me the females would be selling for $950, and the males $850, and the runt, $750. The person who answered the phone sounded "ig'nant" when I asked questions about the puppies. I asked for a picture of the "runt," and even by my uneducated eye, I could tell that he did not look well. I don't know what prompted me, but I decided to halt the deal right there. My kid and I took a trip to N. Virginia to see the Friends of Homeless Animals shelter. To be perfectly frank, I was still not crazy about getting a dog, and as I looked them all over, I was like "Eewww--dogs." We were about ready to get into the car and go home--w/o a dog--when I saw a man walking one back to the kennel. The dog was moving very slowly and sadly with his tail hanging down--he did not want to be put back. He was a big lanky coonhound with long floppy ears, just like in "Where the Red Fern Grows." That was my favorite book when I was a kid. I ran over to the man and asked him to stop. The dog stood up on his hind legs and kissed me on the face. That was all it took. Not knowing at all what I was doing, I signed the papers to take that dog home--and no, it was not easy, and definately not for me, a first time dog owner. He pooped on the floor, he snarled at my husband, he bolted from the front door a couple of times. Did I ever think of bringing him back, like so many other people would have rightfully done? Heck, the moment that thought ever crossed my mind, I killed it. I loved that dog (his name is Sidney) from the moment I saw him. He is not a sad dog anymore--he needed me, and I needed him. Now he has a big sister (Fruitcake) and a little brother (Coal) all coonhounds. I love them all so much, and people tell me that I am stupid, I need to get rid of the dogs and find a man (I am since divorced) but I guess I will just go ahead and be stupid because the dogs make me happy. Sorry this is so long, but I love to share my dog story.

PS-The dog was obviously right about my husband

Answer 4

Tho for some time, I wanted to bring a puppy into my home, my husband and I both agreed that our children needed to be of a certain age, beyond the toddler grabby years, as I did not want to put a puppy thru this.

When my children were 3 and 5, we decided we could take on the commitment of a new puppy. We tried a rescue, which did not work out for our family. At that point, we decided we needed to go with a purebred, where we could know what to expect. We considered GSDs, Golden Retrievers and Border Collies. My breed of choice was a Border Collie as I had a BC mix many years ago and they always have had a special place in my heart. I am also quite addicted to that drive the BCs have in them! We researched all the breeds we were considering. We knew the challenges we would face with a BC, that they weren't "supposed" to be good dogs with young children due to that herding instinct. We knew this breed would NEED extensive training, well beyond a puppy kindergarten.

After discussing what we were considering, my husband and I decided we could comfortably make a commitment to having a breed such as a Border Collie. We contacted breeders in our area and intended to find a BC breeder with stockdog lines. IMO, a BC bred to be a good herding dog, will also do well in other venues, such as obedience and agility, so having a good herding instinct was important to me.

I don't care what anyone says about young children and dogs/puppies in the home. It can work out just fine if the owners are committed to ensuring their children learn how to properly treat a puppy and the puppy learn how to behave around young children. We made that commitment and it has worked out fine for us. We had to work at it, but worth all the efforts.

Now that I've seen my girl herding and that intense instinct, I'm pretty sure there will be another BC in our home in the future :)

Answer 5

Some horrible owners had left Orion (my doggie) behind when they moved. They packed up... put him on the portch and drove away leaving him with no home, and no family. Someone found him all beat up and walking down a major highway and brought him to the animal hospital I was working at at the time. I covered his medical expenses and called every shelter and police department in the tri-state area trying to find his owners. No one claimed him so I took him home. He is a lab mix and the best dog in the world. He is old now (Ive had him about 5 years) and I cherish every moment I have with him as he is truly a great friend. (The reason we were able to find out what happened to him is because while I was walking him one day someone recognized him as the dog that these people who moved owned... they informed me that they treated him very badly often, now if I even pick up a box or take something out of a box he thinks we are going to abandon him)

With that being said, I am a big fan of getting a dog from a shelter. 1000s of perfectly good dogs such as mine are put to sleep every day in the United States just because no one wants to adopt an adult mutt dog. Its a shame, but I will do my part and always adopt.

Answer 6

My Boxer I currently have my husband bought for me for my birthday from a breeder. The last one I had before him was a Keeshond with champion bloodlines. The rest of the litter was going for about $350 .... he was the runt of the litter, had some kind of problem with his eye where they thought he might go blind............. I knew no one else looking for a show quality dog would ever take him..... I wanted solely a pet so I took him.... 50 bucks.........lol, bottom of the barrel out of the litter but I loved him more than anything.

A year before getting the Keeshond, I got a Chow/Shepherd who was a rescue and took him because he was sick and, again, most likely nobody would have wanted him or wanted to invest all the money needed for vet care into a sick dog they were just getting..... best dog I've ever had in my life!!

The Keeshond was just cause I saw one in a pet store window when I was a lot younger and always thought they were beautiful breeds........... The Chow mix was just from a shelter and for the reasons above. Boxer kind of a breed hubby and I both agreed on mostly because of their playful, energetic nature for life.

Answer 7

I have the means in my home and the time to take care of about any dog (not so much the giant breeds, but if I could I would). I chose my dogs just based on something clicking. I got one of them from a neighbor. She was the only one that paid attention to us and was so sweet and loving. Still is.

My other dog we adopted from the humane society. We went in looking for an older, possibly male, small to medium breed. I went in the puppy room anyways because I had spotted another aussie cattle dog that was an older puppy and a male. But he had been adopted already. So I looked around and spotted this shepard husky mix that was a little girl. All the other puppies were up front wagging their tails and licking at the bars. Not this one. She would wag her tail a little, but she looked terrified. I went up to her and looked at her and just knew she was it.

I almost didn't get to get her. There was a little miscommunication with our land lord and the shelter. I went back to work just wanting to cry. But a few hours later, my boyfriend called and said that they had worked it out. We picked her up the next day.

They are both my girls. Domino wasn't as much of a struggle to get and train. We've had more problems with allergies and other things of the like with her. And Sitka is more strong willed, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. I love them both so very much. I am so greatful that I get to share my home and life with them.

Answer 8

There are a lot of factors here. My first Border Collie came from a rescue that believes the dog picks its owner. We looked at several dogs before we met her, and all of them were fun but not what we were looking for. When we met Maizee, she ran to each of us with a confident wagging tail, licked our faces, and began bringing us tennis balls to play with. Did she pick us? Sort of. The reality of the situation is that we had the final say, and we decided that she was the perfect dog for us. But it was based on the fact that she seemed so keen to all of us. Some of the dogs we had looked at were merely half interested in our presence. Were these dogs waiting for a different person to come along? My second Border Collie was adopted sight-unseen from a shelter in Georgia (I live in Connecticut). A rescue pulled and fostered him for a week, then sent him on transport to my area. He is the perfect dog for me and the best dog I've ever met. Who picked who? I can safely safe the third dog picked my family. I was fostering a Xoloitzcuintli that had lived in a home with a dog savvy woman who said he wasn't improving- unfriendly, very scared, and after several months had not come out of his shell. A few weeks in my house, and my family (who had said "No more dogs!") was smitten by his loving, outgoing personality.

Answer 9

I'm a Mini Schnauzer person. Have been since I was a kid. I love their looks, their size, their intelligence, their attitude, their wonderful mix of "scruffy dog" and "non-shedding".

My husband wasn't sure about them, but the first Mini Schnauzer we rescued was a 12 year old girl who had been dumped at the shelter by her "family" because she started having urinary accidents. They thought she had diabetes and didn't want to put up with it.

She had food allergies and had likely been on steroids to keep the allergies under control. Once we changed her food and took her off the steroids, she was absolutely perfect, no accidents. She had a wonderful personality, and even though we only had her 11 months (because of liver damage most likely due to the meds she'd been on before we got her), she converted my husband into a Mini Schnauzer person, as well.

Our current Mini Schnauzer was also a rescue, at the age of 11, from elderly owners who loved her but couldn't keep her for health reasons (they had to go into assisted living). She'll be 14 in January and is the light of our lives. She demands her half-mile walk every night, will do just about anything for treats, and makes us smile and laugh every day.

Answer 10

I've always wanted a dog all my life. However my parents couldn't afford the money or the responsibility of a pet while I was living at home. Now that I am married with my own house with a medium sized yard and have some financial stability, I knew it was time for me to get my feet wet.
My husband and I visited a shelter 2 years ago (just out of curiosity) and were heartbroken over so many sad dogs in their kennel. We knew our first dog was going to be from a shelter from that experience. Truth to be told, neither of us researched or read up on having a dog. We were obviously totally unprepared!
I just told my hubby one Saturday that we were going to a shelter and adopting a dog. It was not planned, and just a totally emotional decision. He thought I was nuts but we ended up going anyhow. Knowing nothing about bringing up a dog, all I knew was that I wanted a calm dog. We ended up narrowing our choice to three dogs (All three seemed very calm yet friendly in their kennel). In the end, Lexy our pitbull mix was chosen due to her age (3months old) and short coat (We figured she wouldn't shed as much..ha..showed me how much we knew..nothing..lol) Lexy was brought out of the kennel to a small room to play with us and boy was she rambunctious and nippy. We thought it was because she was a baby and been kept in the kennel too long..ha again showed us how much we knew). Anyhow paid the shelter adoption fee and was asked to come back couple of days to pick her up. (She had to be spayed and checked by the vets again).
Well Lexy is anything BUT calm but we both grew to love her. I think it's because she was not an easy dog to train (especially obedience). After we adopted Lexy, we started educating ourselves about dogs via internet, books and articles. I do not regret not being prepared for Lexy (lack of dog education) because chances are I probably would not have adopted her knowing what I know now. I would've never gotten to known this sweet gal (despite her hyperness!) who gives us so much love and make us laugh every single day. Sometimes ignorance is bliss (except the shedding part).
Our second dog was a Cavalier King Charles, purchased from a breeder. We got Tuvok to be a playmate for Lexy. She seem lonely at times. It is too bad that I did not consider the size difference, but they seem to be okay. I knew i wanted a calm dog(yet again) and cavaliers are known for their good temperaments and who can resist those cute faces? Well this time I did get the calm dog that I always wanted.

Answer 11

I've wanted my own dog ever since I can remember. I've wanted a medium-sized dog, since that's the size I grew up with and am most comfortable with, for about that long. I went to the shelters looking for a dog that would be "dog enough" for me without being so big and energetic that I couldn't exercise it enough. I wanted a dog with energy who could just hang out sometimes. I looked at two other dogs that day: a border collie (we decided he was too hyper, but I loved him) and a pit bull (she was 8 months old, so too young). They both didn't want to go back in their cages or come back inside. We were looking through the cages when my boyfriend pointed to a terrier mix. He loves terriers, but I like shepherds and sporting breeds more. His cage mate was a little brown dog who jumped up on the door. We decided to take her outside - why not?

She ran with me and climbed into my lap, licking my face when I sat down. My boyfriend and I knew that this was it. We went inside to fill out the paperwork, and she let us put her back in the cage without much protesting. She didn't want to go, but was willing to do it. While they were looking over my application, I kept looking at the skinny little brown dog. I was so happy when they said I could take her home.

It's been nearly six months now, and I still adore my little (40 lb.) brown dog. Awesome question!