good sites about puppys?

[kevin007]

i plan on getting a puppy, i want to find sites for info and to choose what breed i want...any forums? sites? etc? thank you for your time

 

[plecoperson]

The best mag in the UK is Your Dog - I believe they have a website too...

The Kennel Club is great -

www.thekennelclub.org.uk I think but search in a UK engine and itll come up.

What breeds were you thinking of?

 

[MegTheFish]

Have you checked your local shelters yet?
Mixed breed dogs can be just as great as purebreeds, you can also find purebreed dogs in shelters if thats what you really have your heart set on. Just a suggestion.

 

[MAM]

Along the shelter line, adult dogs often come from these shelters already housebroken and sometimes even with a little training. And there are shelters that specialize in pure bred dogs, but you'd be amazed at the pure breeds you find in general shelters and county pounds.

Things to keep in mind when choosing a dog:
1) Adult size (know how big the dog will get when full grown if you go with a puppy, so many dogs are turned into shelters becasue the owners didnt' find this out or ignored it, and when the dog became an adult, they were "too big")
2) Cost of owning a dog: food, toys, medical costs, licensing, etc. Dogs, even little ones, are not cheap pets (and with all the shots puppies need,and getting them fixed, they can cost more than adopting an adult dog)
3) Activity level of dog vs yours (Do you have time, space, energy to devote to a high energy breed? Or would a calm, quiet lap dog be more your thing?)
4) Who will be the primary care giver to the dog (who will feed, walk, pay for expenses, take through training, etc) and are they up to the task of doing this?
5) Do you live in the right type of place for a dog? (Ex: If you rent, does your landlord allow dogs or have any restrictions, if you own do you have a yard with a fence, any yard hazards like a pool or no fence, etc)
6) Are you okay with a dog that will be higher maintenence (require more grooming, etc) or do you prefer one that will be more simple?
7) Are you ready to commit to this dog for 10-18 years? Because owning a dog is a lifetime committment.

 

[Haiku]

I don't really know of any forums specifically for this, but I know there are lots of books out there with breed profiles and books specifically to help you find the breed to best match your lifestyle. I also agree mutts and rescues/shelter dogs can be wonderful as well (my two are both rescues ) You don't even have to purchase the books, you can go to a book store and browse through them for information to help you out, though I'm the type that just has to take the book home to really study it .

Best wishes on your search!

 

[kevin007]

thanks for your input, i want a small ish dog that will stay small...i am thinking of a pom or a yorkie I live in a condominium so not too big of a dog, i will take care of the dog just like how i do with my fish I also prefere a dog with not much maintanence. I dont mind mixed breeds...as long as they stay small

 

[Bloo]

VERY good post MAM !
Kevin, if you want a dog with low maintanence, you should definitely rule a Pomeranian out. Their coats need lots and lots of grooming to stop it from matting and these little dogs are also notorious "yappers". Perhaps not the best in a condominium.
A Yorkie would be the better option, but they also require some grooming (though not nearly as much as a Pomeranian). They yap less and although they require excersise, it's not masses. I would definitely urge you to go and check out your local shelter / rescue centre. You will get a good idea of the type of dog you like and the staff are usually very good at matching up potential owners with specific requirements ! Good luck

 

[boozybears]

Here's a simple questionnaire which isn't too bad at helping you select a breed.
Good Luck!!


http/www.petnet.com.au/dogs/dogselectapet.html

 

[MegTheFish]

I took that quiz and I got all terriers! The wierd thing is that I dispise yappy dogs...which means terriers...LoL.

 

[LoachLover]

If I where you I'd go to a bookstore and look through the different breeds. They sell books with info on every breed registered in the AKC.

 

[plecoperson]

heh heh I did that test and came up with Standard Poodles and Rough Collies - Rough Collies are my all time favourite breed apart from mongrels.

 

[kevin007]

i did search for books in a book store -feel kinda bad..should'a just used a library- and left after i finished...maintainece is the last factor..and the thing about shelter is that i do not want to get a sick dog..what if it's there because it is sick and the owner doesnt want one? i know i know..so ..i'm getting mine at a breeder ...

so i just want a cute small puppy in general leaning towards the yorkie and pom..although bloozoo said no..yorkie is my first choice..thanks everyone gonna get one this weekend

 

[LoachLover]

Just remember that cute little puppy isn't going to stay a puppy. Just because it's a smaller doesn't mean it's going to be a good dog, personally small dogs just tick me off since they bark so much and they have a chip on their shoulder.

 

[Booboo puppy]

Our chihuahua is not a yippy dog, and he does great in the house alone while we are gone. He is short haired so pretty low maintenance. I would never have chosen a chihuahua myself, but he's been the best suited dog we've ever had. We are considering getting a second one. He's not friendly to strangers though, until they either feed him or throw his ball for him or preferrably do both. Even then, he doesn't want them to pick him up. But toward our family members, he's extremely affectionate and a lot of fun.

 

[Booboo puppy]

http/www.dogbreedinfo.com/abc.htm

This web site allows you to check out different breeds of dogs.