[Nabeqiv]

I've been thinking about getting a dog. I've never owned one, and I was never all that partial to dogs (more of a cat person, really). However, I have quite a few friends now with some incredibly well-behaved dogs, and they are starting to change my mind about dogs. Additionally, I was inspired by a remarkable encounter with an absolutely beautiful blue Australian cattle dog, and she was, without a doubt, the most intelligent non-human animal that I have ever met.

So, I was wondering what kind of input my fellow kendoka might have for a prospective dog owner who lives in a town-house with tiny yard but on the outskirts of a medium-sized college town in the midst of many parks. I love what I have read of blue heelers (and I've read a lot lately), and would ideally get a female heeler.

So, if there are any of you with advice for me, I'd love to hear about experiences such as having a companion while running or exercising outdoors. I have a lot to consider before making any decisions on adopting or purchasing a dog, and have no plans to rush into this. Heelers live for 12-15 years on average, and I want to be fully informed before making a decision about an animal that I hope will become a close companion of such a long period of time.

Thanks, guys.

(Whoops! i forgot to mention one of the biggest issues that I have: kids and cats. A five-year-old and a two-year-old, plus three cats who have never lived with a dog. I can anticipate what comments I'll get about this point, but I was hoping that someone would give me something new to consider.)

[Patabeamn]

dude..
I grew up a cat person and my wife has always been a dog person... when we met, she had a shih-tzu... we've added another since our marriage.

they are great little dogs.. don't bark incessantly (ours don't anyway).. pretty trainable... can hold their bladders and sphincters until time... pretty playful, but they also sleep a lot (ours do, anyway)... not the smartest dogs on the planet, though... don't need a lot of backyard... good lap dogs...
and ours love to go on walks and SLOW jogs (their little legs just can't keep up for a long period of a normal jog).

i've really grown attached to them.. to me... they're like cats reincarnated into dogs, except -- unlike cats -- they greet you at the door when you get home and they typically come when called.

but that's just my opinion.

[Mypepraipse]

Bear in mind that the dogs you are considering are incredibly active, and also bark a lot. Small house, small yard maybe not the ideal environment, unless you also are willing to commit to a lot of trips to the park for exercise.

My sister breeds shih-tzus - for a small dog, they're OK, but I'm more of a big dog kinda guy.

[wmtravelservice]

I've had dogs for a long time, but I've never owned cats, so I couldn't tell you about possible interactions (but I've heard positive stories about both animals getting along). Different breeds have different aptitudes for training. It just so happens that my first dog was a dalmatian, and they are very difficult to train. Later on, I got a papillon, and I find that they are much easier to train. He even takes the money out of my wallet when I'm not looking. If you're adopting, one potential problem is that you may end up adopting a dog that was bred for fighting. If you adopt from a pound, definetely ask the staff if they believe the mixed breed dog was bred for such purposes just to make sure early on.

If you've never owned a dog before, I wouldn't get a large breed as a first dog. They're simply too difficult to take care of, especially when they get older. I'm not familiar with the australian cattle dog; I'm not aware of how large they can grow up to be.

As far as you and your dog exercising and running together; you may have to change your routine unless you live in a place with a lot of wide open spaces where people don't mind that you take the dog with you (if you exercise at a park, check all signs). Before the roads in my neighborhood got busy with high speed traffic, I would walk my dogs on the streets, and I'd bring whatever I needed to clean up after them, which can be a pain unless you're just walking for a long period of time, which is basically all I did when I had the dogs with me outside (1-1.5 hours). Another source of annoyance is other dog owners with those retractable leashes that allow their dogs to move freely in a 1 block radius. Unless both dogs are highly disciplined, you may have to worry about a fight that may end in paying for a vet bill.

[Worseacar]

Yeah, I've considered the size of my home and yard as an issue. We have a large park in the center of our community (only a minute or two away) which no one ever seems to use. Finding a place where she could be off-leash is one of my primary concerns. There is a fenced basketball court a ten-minute walk away which is also rarely in use, and I've thought of taking a dog there to run around and play catch. I've heard of tennis courts being used similarly.

As far as size goes, heelers seem to reach up to 50 lbs or 22 kg, and 50 cm or 20 inches at the withers. Medium-sized, as I understand it.

Another of my concerns is that I would love to join in when my friends make pilgrimages to dog parks in the state, but I've read that one needs to be wary with heelers bonding to older dogs and becoming difficult to manage. This is something which I have no clue about. Is this a usual issue for dogs? How much do you need to worry about being the "alpha dog" for your dog? Is this as great an issue for females as males?

[55TRATTERENRY]

Dogs are a rather huge responsibility:
I.e., almost the same as having a child...Only less mess. LOL
House training, early feedings, several walkings per day, Brushing, Dog Smell, behavior modification Poop cleanup, and fleas will be some of the things your will have to deal with on a daily basis, and that's not counting any problems that might crop up. Depending on the breed, plan on spending at least a few hours a day strictly on your new Dog's needs.

My advice;
learn everything you can about the breed you are thinking about and in general about Dog ownership at least a month before you get your new buddy, especially if you have never had a dog before.

[inilbowly]

Here is a run down of what I've had:

A german shepherd, a spanish mastiff and currently a mix between a labrador and a collie.

The german shepherds are loving and super intelligent but they require a fair amount of exercise and play time, ours used to love the cat, but the cat hated him . If you go for one is advisable to get a vet to check any potential hip problems (x-rays, etc...), unfortunately they have a tendency to suffer form hip dysplasia, mine did, and it broke my heart to see him suffer.

The mastiffs are huge things, lazy and detached they are not overly loving as they are essentially watch dogs, the spanish variety was sometimes employed to keep wolves away from sheep herds, that'll tell you how strong they are. They are always watching even if they look lazy, some can be very territorial, but they are very patient, I remeber all my cousins pulling out of him (he was like a big teddy bear), he would just sit there looking resigned. he also suffered from hip dysplasia and had to be put down.

The labrador-collie I have is nuts, labradors are too frisky for my taste and demand too much attention from everyone, collies are a bit hyper, so I have both things, I love him but I wouldn't go for one again.

My mother got this Yorkie about five years ago, is a lovely little thing, they are a bit cocky but great fun (hillarious, actually). he changed the impression I had of these breed, they are loving, playful and intelligent but they don't need to be given constant attention, in your case it might be good as is a small dog and there is no danger to the cat or anyone else in the house.

[Abnorbprootly]

As a kid, we had an English Springer Spaniel, great dog. I hear the breed is getting kinda wonky these days due to popularity causing some breeding issues, but the one we had was wonderful. Only downside - tons of hair to vacuum.

We used to have an Akita. Stubborn as hell, wanted to fight every other dog in existence, absolutely needs to know who's boss. Not a beginner's dog.

Now we have a lab/border collie cross we got from the SPCA. Very mild-mannered, actually kind of skittish - we think he was abused by the previous owners. But he's a great dog, and at about 50 lbs is a nice size for a city dog. The Akita was really too big.

All dogs need to know you're the boss. Obedience training from a young age is a necessity, in my opinion.

[lollypopz]

That's true, training is fundamental. But dogs have distinct personalities, there are ways of finding out when they are pups (I think there is some kind of behavioral test), I am sure you can find that on google.

[JulietOreira]

Good breeders can match you with the right dog from the litter.
My last was a 140 lb. White German Shepard. She was very big for the breed but that was how she was bred. Large and smart and really good disposition. Absolutely loyal and wonderful with children. Remember, I said that was how she was bred but you also need to continue in the same vein. It took about 4 years for her to mture. In the meanwhile she was capable of causing great damage if left alone. Penning her up is cruel in my opinion. Luckily I have a very large place and my work allowed me to spend a great deal of time at home but she still destroyed a lot of stuff.
A dog is a big responsibility.
I hate it when I see people living in apartments in NYC with labs or setters or such. If you don't have the time or place for these dogs to run you have no busisness having one.

Oh, don't forget shedding.

[margoaroyo]

Shedding is a bigger issue than you might think, especially if there are any allergies involved, like say an allergy to excessive housework. If I was to buy a purebred dog, a non-shedding or limited shedding coat would be a priority. I'd be cool with a standard Poodle - smart, trainable, generally good disposition, but again a fairly big dog that needs a lot of exercise.

[Arrecteve]

ive always had big dogs
except for the staffie, who was a big dog really

if you buy the dog as a puppy it is less likely to have behaviour problems and should be easier to train

saying that our current ones were both rescues and fully grown. (german shepherd cross with sheepdog)
they went to dog school for basics and a bit more when we first got them
one is a bit zany still and barks alot and trys to run under lorrys, but is still better than before, the other is ultra obediant
i guess it all depends on the dog

i came back from uni with a cat, they are more inteested in eating the cat food than the cat itself.
the cat hates dogs and tends to hiss and growl at them, perhaps it would be different if they were pups??

if you have your heart set on a specific bread, it may be worth googleing it for temprement/nature, dietry requiremnts etc etc

as longa s there are walking places a yard should be ok as long as its not a husky or anything

good luck

[Blelidupgerie]

Here it is, puppy behavioral testing

By the way, i think the pinch test is cruel and absolute b*ll*cks, I wouldn't do that

[Elitiachirl]

humane society will send people to your home to see if the dog fits your family. And they have good healthy dogs

Also becareful of where you get your dog: there are some irresponsible big chains & backyard breeders that will sell you a very unhealthy dog.

[trilochana.nejman]

Also becareful of where you get your dog: there are some irresponsible big chains & backyard breeders that will sell you a very unhealthy dog.

For emphasis

[bahrains27]

Don't buy from pet shops, they are often supplied by puppy farms.

If you want a purebred dog, find a breeder registered with your national kennel club, which would be American Kennel Club in the US. That's at least some assurance that they are OK. These days I'm sure a little googling will help, there's all sorts of breed-specific websites out there.

[GZFL2tDA]

Thank-you, Neil for clarifying my lazy post Although my wife owns a dog grooming shop, much of what she says about dogs goes in one ear and out the other...Kind of like when i talk medical to her.

I didn't start liking dogs till i met my wife. But now we have 2 rescue dogs: a basset hound & afghan hound. And a silver-dapple dashound from a registered breeder.

My wife wants a German Sheppard for her sheep herding & agility class.

[flopay]

Kenzan is right about dogs being a great responsibility. Another thing to consider is travel constriction. Have you ever just decided to take off on a trip by jet for a few days or a few weeks? Unless you have a very dependable family member or close friend to take care of your dog(s) while you're gone, hiring a pet sitter can be expensive and stressful, even if the sitter has good references. Boarding your pets at a vet is safe, but IMO too constricting to the dog.

Neil is right about pet shop problems. One thing puppy mills will do is breed a male of the breed they want to sell, with the female of a (borderline plausible) larger breed for larger number puppy output. For example; a papillon with a sheltie, or a dalmatian with a great dane. Somehow they may even manage to get a kennel club registration despite the hybrid factor. The cruelty issues that are typically attached to puppy mills can also be bad. Ignatz is right, going straight to the breeder is best.

[blogforloversxx]

I also think that Dogs are great...




..With a little coleslaw and a dill pickle.

[natahololll]

i have a shih-tzu/maltese mix and he's a loveable puppy before him i had another dog too, but this is my first puppy. It is such a great responsiblity to train whether it's going to be outdoor or wee wee pad trained and get ready to spend some great amount of time with them. Unlike cats who come and go as they please dogs love to be around you and love to played with. And going on vacation on a whim is no longer a plan, must see if they are pet-friendly if not, then got to find a boarding house for the dog so keep that in mind.

Always make sure you do A LOT of research on the dog you are getting or plan on getting it really does help a lot. I got lucky in choosing my dog he crate trained really easily and naturally wanted to go on the wee wee pad and he doesn't bark much unless he's trying to tell me something. And most dogs will get along with children as long as you break them into your kids the right way. And as for cats, it is not unheard of for ppl to have cats and dogs and if introduced to each other correctly they should get along just fine. If anything happens and you need help...

call the Dog Whisperer, he's the best