r/dogs•7 yr. ago

[breeds] Looking at getting a doggo in the near future

hardrockfoo · 2019-06-11T19:49:45.000Z

**Introduction** 1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? * It will be my own first dog, but I grew up with a dog and regularly take care of my Mom’s 2 dogs for weeks or a month at a time. 2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)? * No 3) Describe your ideal dog. * I want a dog that’s excited when I come home and sleep in the same room or bed with me. I want it to want to sit with me, but also be fine with being alone. I’d like to take it on walks along the road and let it loose in fenced in areas. I want it to be loving to visitors and be fine with or playing with my family and friends dogs. 4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? * Anything small to medium. My mother has shelties so I’m fine with long hair and shedding. She has one dog that’s incredibly smart and crafty but timid, and one who is straight up stereotype jock. I love them both to death so I’m fine with lots of different dog personalities. 5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? * Basics mostly. I’d like to be able to trian it not to bark at cars and be mostly calm during a walk. 6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? * No **Care Commitments** 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? * 1-2 hours on weekdays, 4-6 hours on the weekend. I also generally stop what I’m doing if my dog comes up and wants something and I’m not cooking. 8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? * I could do 1 or 2 walks a day during the week and more during the weekends. My city is installing a dog park that I would want to take them to. My parents have a fenced in back yard that their two dogs play in and my dog could join. 9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? * I could brush every other day or so. I’m fine with trimming hair, cleaning ears, trim nails, and baths at home. I would be willing to bring them to a groomer if anything else I can’t do needs to be done **Personal Preferences** 10) What size dog are you looking for? * small to medium. 11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? * I can handle shedding, I’d like to keep barking a little low, but my neighbor hasn’t complained about any noise I’ve made so far. I can handle a little slobber, but nothing constant. 12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? * I would like to be able to, but it’s not super necessary since most places require a leash. **Dog Personality and Behavior** 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? * Does not matter. 14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? * I want the dog to be ok with me doing something else or being away during work. 15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? * not too much barking, but I lived with Shelties before so I’m used to it. I don’t get many visitors anyways. I would like them to run up to visitors tails wagging. 16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? * Aggressive no, aggressively playful is fine. Everyone in my family has dogs 17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? * uncontrollable barking **Lifestyle** 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? * At least every week day. I leave for work at 6:40 and come home at 3:40. I am able to come home for lunch. I don’t go out too often on the weekends, and if I do it’s not for too long and local. 19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? * I live alone 20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? * I have a hedgehog named Stevie Pricks 21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? * Not regularly 22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? * I own. The HOA says a limit to 40 pounds but screw them. I doubt I’ll be getting a dog that large anyways though. 23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any l

Breeds

Introduction

Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

It will be my own first dog, but I grew up with a dog and regularly take care of my Mom’s 2 dogs for weeks or a month at a time.

Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

Describe your ideal dog.

I want a dog that’s excited when I come home and sleep in the same room or bed with me. I want it to want to sit with me, but also be fine with being alone. I’d like to take it on walks along the road and let it loose in fenced in areas. I want it to be loving to visitors and be fine with or playing with my family and friends dogs.

What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

Anything small to medium. My mother has shelties so I’m fine with long hair and shedding. She has one dog that’s incredibly smart and crafty but timid, and one who is straight up stereotype jock. I love them both to death so I’m fine with lots of different dog personalities.

What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

Basics mostly. I’d like to be able to trian it not to bark at cars and be mostly calm during a walk.

Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

Care Commitments

How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

1-2 hours on weekdays, 4-6 hours on the weekend. I also generally stop what I’m doing if my dog comes up and wants something and I’m not cooking.

How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

I could do 1 or 2 walks a day during the week and more during the weekends. My city is installing a dog park that I would want to take them to. My parents have a fenced in back yard that their two dogs play in and my dog could join.

How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

I could brush every other day or so. I’m fine with trimming hair, cleaning ears, trim nails, and baths at home. I would be willing to bring them to a groomer if anything else I can’t do needs to be done

Personal Preferences

What size dog are you looking for?

small to medium.

How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

I can handle shedding, I’d like to keep barking a little low, but my neighbor hasn’t complained about any noise I’ve made so far. I can handle a little slobber, but nothing constant.

How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

I would like to be able to, but it’s not super necessary since most places require a leash.

Dog Personality and Behavior

Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

Does not matter.

Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

I want the dog to be ok with me doing something else or being away during work.

How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

not too much barking, but I lived with Shelties before so I’m used to it. I don’t get many visitors anyways. I would like them to run up to visitors tails wagging.

Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

Aggressive no, aggressively playful is fine. Everyone in my family has dogs

Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

uncontrollable barking

Lifestyle

How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

At least every week day. I leave for work at 6:40 and come home at 3:40. I am able to come home for lunch. I don’t go out too often on the weekends, and if I do it’s not for too long and local.

What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

I live alone

Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

I have a hedgehog named Stevie Pricks

Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

Not regularly

Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

I own. The HOA says a limit to 40 pounds but screw them. I doubt I’ll be getting a dog that large anyways though.

What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

Indiana, I do not think there are limits to breeds the size I am looking for.

What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

80 degree summers and 20 degree winters

Additional Information and Questions

Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

I do have lots of people available to take care of my dog if needed. I am strict with not letting dogs get away with things, only feed them in their food bowl, and only giving treats when deserved or on a schedule. At the same time, I praise heavily and make sure the dog knows they did something good. I live in an 880 sq foot condo with a park down the street. I live on the second floor so they have to be light enough to pick up easily or able to use stairs themselves. Also, I’m 6’4” with reoccuring back issues which is why I say pick up easily.

Feel free to ask any questions below.

None

Posted Jun 11, 2019, 7:49 PM UTC