Dog Community

Help with choosing a breed

Posted : 5/30/2006 9:25:21 PM

I am about six to nine months away from getting a new dog and I want to know as much about the various breeds and what the best fit for me as possible. The last thing I want to do is get a dog that is not right for me, because all dogs deserve a good home and a good master.

Here are my limitations.

I will be living in a Condo with almost no yard, though I run daily myself and would like to take the dog with me (once its old enough) on my runs. The dog will have access to the limited yard I have essentially all day.

I want a bigger dog, about 16-20 inches and about 45-65 lbs. From my previous experience these dogs have more energy for jogs and runs.

I live close to a park, so I plan to walk/run/jog the dog twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening.

I will not be able to be home with the dog for rough 8-10 hours a day. I am going to make special arrangements to be home with the dog if I get a puppy for the first few weeks.

I have a few friends with dogs who I will expose my dog to and socialize it with. I will also be occasional taking my dog to my parents (they live close by) who will have a new puppy around this time to help my dog get to know my parents and their dog.

I have experience with dogs before, but it has been several years since my last dog. I was rather attached to it and was not ready for another dog until now.

Any help with breed suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The descriptions of dogs are so hard to quantify. What seems to be a "high energy" dog to some people does not seem to be to others.

I just want some real world understanding of what some of the breeds require for exercise and attention. I do not want to put any dog in an environment that is not right for them.

Thanks in advance.

determinedX2

Posted : 5/30/2006 10:33:30 PM

I think a good idea would be for you to check out a shelter or too. Ask to speak with an adoption counselor. Tell them what you'd like and your limitations and they should show you which dogs qualify. Shelters are full of 45-65 pound dogs who would love a running partner. And if you want a puppy, springtime is the time when shelters have the most. Plus you get to save a life. Good luck to you and your future dog!

Firestorm

Posted : 5/31/2006 6:15:57 AM

Definately check out a shelter and try and get a dog there.

Pam

Posted : 5/31/2006 10:00:42 AM

That will be one lucky dog to go on twice daily jogs!   The morning jog should wear him out sufficently to hopefully make him less stressed while being left alone all day.

Do not get a hunting or herding type dog, one that needs lots of exercise like Irish setter, Gordon setter, or Australian shepard, border collie,   How bout a greyhound, there are SO many to rescue? I would think a short haired dog because he will get hot jogging.

I would get a full grown dog so you don't have to deal with housebreaking. Plus is it not right to leave a puppy alone for the 8 hours a day, even if you have someone come for 2 weeks.

Many would disagree with me on this, but I think it is inhumane to leave any age dog  in a crate all day. I recommend baby-gate the kitchen or your room til you trust them. I recommend you get a crate so he can have his own safe haven. I have never crated my dogs while I was at work, altho, one is crate trained. My rescued shelter dog is too terrified of a crate to ever go in.

Good luck!

mrv

Posted : 5/31/2006 10:24:33 AM

In case of emergency you dog can be more easily saved by personnel if the dog is crated. You can always get an oversized crate if you are worried about space issues.

MRV

Firestorm

Posted : 5/31/2006 1:12:03 PM

Search the net on dog breeds to find out which ones would fit your lifestyle. Do your research.

addicted2rescue

Posted : 5/31/2006 3:50:41 PM

I'm gunna go ahead and agree with everyone else. The shelter. ALL of my dogs (and family dogs) are shelter (or otherwise rescued) dogs. ALL are amazing. Maybe a boxer? My mother has one, and he is amazing. Or a lab (those are extremely easy to find in a shelter, at least from what I have seen). My mother has one of those too. Again amazing dog.

I would agree that an older, possibly already trained dog would be best for you. I just got a puppy last week, and they are ALOT of work. Luckily my job allows me to be home more often.

****on a side note, I do crate mine. My first one (from a shelter) was also terrified of being crated. I waited a few months, until he got used to me, and now he is perfectly fine with it. Of course when i am home they get tons of excercise.****

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Posted : 5/31/2006 4:29:23 PM

Oh man there are some great mutts out there that fit your description but when I first read your post Jack Russel or Queensland Heeler came to mind. I'm glad to see that you have thought this out very well and arnt just getting a dog spur of the moment and are open to suggestions! Yup, I think the shelter is just the place for you because they will have a better idea of the dogs behavior and what might fit you best. Plus your not limiting yourself to one specific breed which is going to give you tons of great opportunities!

erica3010

Posted : 5/31/2006 6:20:37 PM

My picks for you would either be a golden retreiver or a boxer. I'm sure you'll find the perfect dog for you!

schleide

Posted : 5/31/2006 6:59:46 PM

I would go the shelter route or, if you decide on a breed - go through breed rescue. If I were you, I would get a dog maybe 2-3 years old - ready to jog and old enough to be home during the day (a puppy will need to go out more often, even after the first few weeks you spend at home); but, young enough that he/she will still have a young dog's energy.

If you can, I would suggest a walker or doggie daycare a couple times a week for the added socialization and exercise - although plenty of dogs do just fine for 8-10 hours during the day (they will usually sleep most of the time - especially if well exercised before you leave).

Good luck with your search - for what it's worth - reading your post I thought Golden too...

Nathaniel Goodwin

Posted : 5/31/2006 7:59:31 PM

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions. I have not decided if I want to get a dog from a shelter, a rescue dog, or from a breeder. I think there are pros and cons to all of them. Even if I go the shelter route and get a mix breed I'd like to know enough about which breeds are right for me.

Again thank you all for the ideas. If anyone has any others please share. I have plenty of time before I'm making my decision and this is just one more area for me to gain research.

Xebby

Posted : 6/10/2006 11:07:06 PM

My first thought reading this was a jack russle but then I thought they are maybe a little smaller than your looking for when joging. Then A german Shepard, Lab or even a golden but they may be bigger than your looking for living in a condo. A dog about the size of a border collie or a aussie would fit you well but a hearding dog like a border collie with so much buitlt up energy would not do so well left alone for 8 hours. I'm thinking a mixed breed like a aussie/lab cross would be great. Some sort of mid sized dog crossed with a larger more relaxed breed would seem to sute you well. What better place to find such a mix than a shelter! Something that has the energy to keep up with your jog but can be fine on it's own alone for the day. I really think in this case a mixed is the way to go.

jones

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:20:48 PM

I strongly urge you not to get a puppy unless you can put him in daycare all day. A few weeks at home won't be enough. A puppy won't be able to stay home alone all day until he's at least 8 months old or so... the only exception would be if you get a small breed dog and train it to potty indoors in a litterbox. It's also really really hard to housetrain and obedience train a puppy when you're away all day, and puppies have so much energy - especially as they reach adolescence - it's not fair to leave one home alone all day long. That's the kind of situation that all too often leads to an untrained, unhousebroken puppy being dropped off at a shelter or rehomed.

An adult dog would be much better suited to your situation, getting good exercise in the morning & evening but capable of chilling out and sleeping (and holding its bladder) all through the day. As for breeds, I think a Lab, Golden Retriever, retired Greyhound, or some other adult sporting dog would be a good match.