Is looking for a specific breed wrong?

Question

In the future I want to get a med.-large active breed that I can take hiking with me and swimming. My sister says it's wrong that I want a large active breed because if I rescue a dog it shouldn't matter what breed/size it is. The way I look at it, I wouldn't get a Westie (no offence to Westie owners) to go hiking, but she doesn't see it like that. I'm looking more like Lab, German Shepherd, Pit or any mix thereof.

I just think it would be a better situation for me and the dog if we could do more things together.

Answer 1

First, I would like to say that I think it's great that you are considering adopting a dog from a shelter. There are so many great dogs that get put down every day because not enough people want them.
Second, to get a dog that doesn't suit your lifestyle or personality is inviting disaster. Neither you, nor the dog would be happy.
Get a dog that you feel would be right for the lifestyle you lead. If you are active, get a breed that is energetic and athletic, such as a labrador or border collie, or even a retriever. Any of those, especially the Labrador, would excel in doing hard physical activities and swimming.
Remember to tell your sister that the dog you chose to rescue also was needing a good home, just like the other dogs there.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

There are so many nice dogs who need homes that you can pick and choose which one suits you the best. Not only can you but you should because that will make both you and your dog happy. Your dog should not only be a good physical match but a temperament match with you as well.

You should always get what suits which is why giving a dog as a gift is such a problem. You are making a 24/7, 10-15 year commitment so you can pick and choose, wisely and carefully. You would not want to pair a big, burly, rough guy with a delicate, nervous little dog or a high energy large breed dog with an elderly couple. You want a good match for everyone involved.

I disagree with your sister although her heart is in the right place.

Answer 3

Your sister's the kind of ignorant person who would go out and rescue a dog with the best of intentions and then turn both the poor dog and herself into a total nut-case because she got a dog that wasn't suited for her lifestyle. Size and breed (or at least breed type) DO matter when you are choosing a dog whether you buy it from a breeder or rescue it from a rescue organization. And there are enough dogs of all kinds in need of rescue that it's not like you'd be forcing some dog to stay in rescue simply because you prefer a different type of dog. There is a breed-specific rescue for every breed out there...and for the three breeds you described you can easily find them just by going to any pound or shelter in any city in any county in any state.

You need to get a dog that fits your needs. It very much does matter what breed/size dog you rescue, no matter what your sister thinks.

Answer 4

Its not wrong at all. In fact its a good idea to study up on the different breeds and choose one that will fit best into your lifestyle. One of the reasons there are so many dogs in the shelters is people fail to do their research and end up bring home a dog that they can't handle.

I commend you for thinking before just going and getting a dog! I would recommend an Australian Shepard. They are a high energy dog that loves nothing more than exercising along with the person they love the most. Pretty much any of the dogs in the hearding group would be a good choice for you. (im going off what you said about wanting a dog to go hiking and swiming with)

Answer 5

Well you are right on to want a a breed to suite your personality and life style. But that does not mean you can not get a dog from teh shelter or a Rescue group. Thre are many breed specific rescue groups out hter just check the web. The first thing you need to do is go to a libary or checkon line for dog breeds do a lot of reading on the breed. Learn all about tehm form how much exercise and groom they need to they type of home environment they need are they good with otehr dog or people ect. This is very important most people get a dog from the way it looks or teh popularity of the breed at the time. The about 75% of these dogs end up in shelters and yes this time of the year is the worst so many kids get a puppy for christmas and by easter he is at teh pound. But with all this in mind you can still get a great must at teh pund. No matter what do or breed you get you have to give them proper care and training. That is the key to have a good and healthy life with you new dog. Take them to puppy classes or obidence classes if you get an older dog this will help not only to train teh dog but also will educate you on being a good and resonsible owner. a well behaved dog is so much better to have around the house than one who tears things up and can not be trusted to be left alone or be around other dogs or people. I will be in the market soon since my Akita is truning 11 years old he has been a great companion and friend all these years since I got him at 8 weeks.
Best of luck in your choice and rember a dog is a way of life and a big responsibility not just a cool thing to have. there are no bad dogs just bad owners!!

Answer 6

You are the one that is going to live with this dog. You seem to have some idea of what you want, and a reason why you made that decision. If you research the breeds and choose the one that has most of the characteristics that you think you want, then why not get what you want? If people would put a little more thought into getting a dog that was appropriate for their lifestyle and abilities, rather than "Oh I'm going to save him from the shelter because he's cute" perhaps there would be fewer dogs discarded. Like the people who pick that cute little lab puppy from the shelter, then return it 8 months later when it's 70 pounds, energetic, and way too "busy" for their lifestyle. Go for it, and pick the dog you want.

Answer 7

It's not bad at all...it's a good thing that you know that you want an active dog to exercise with. This will prevent you from making the mistake of getting a dog who does not want to do any of these things! Get whatever kind of dog you think suits you best!

Lab, GSD, and Pit Bulls are all great choices for active breeds. They all have high energy levels and are super loyal! You can still rescue a dog, and get a certain breed!

Go to www.petfinder.com, type in pit bull or lab and you will find the pits and labs near your area. (Actually, there are a LOT of pit bull x lab mixes out there, so you could get a little bit of both dog!) Just remember, proper training and socialization will keep whatever dog you choose happy and balenced!

Answer 8

Looking for a specific breed is a great idea. You have a better chance of getting along with the dog and you know how active it will be. You can still rescue a dog almost every breed has a breed rescue and 65% of dogs in shelters are pure bred.

Answer 9

What you're doing is exactly what people should do before they get a dog. You figure out what you want in a dog and then you research the breeds that are most likely to have those characteristics.

Get the dog that you want and tell your sister to take a hike by herself.

Answer 10

Of course it's not wrong to look for a specific breed. It's normal. That's why there are breeds to begin with - because different people have different lifestyles, and the different breeds were created to fit the varying requirements of each lifestyle. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any breeds, just one Dog.

Besides, better to look for a specific breed than to take one home and find out you can't care for it.