Does this annoy you?

I think it's great when people research breeds and it's not a bad idea to ask a group of people who collectively know about a lot of breeds... it only gets silly when people want that non-shedding, quiet, easily trained, affectionate, protective, calm dog who doesn't need much exercise and can stay home alone every day. I used to have one of those, in the 80s they were called Pound Puppies (well, okay, maybe he wasn't very protective).

When my boyfriend and I were researching breeds we had our list of desired traits but also our list of "we can live with it" traits, including shedding, grooming, strong need for social interaction... you have to make some room in your life for a dog. Very often that room is room for hairballs. []
 
(Edited for typos, it's cocktail hour folks.)

I think it would be so much easier if instead of telling us the dog you want, they should tell us their lifestyle instead and we'll go from there. Who doesn't want the "perfect" dog? How about one that fits your lifestyle?

I think this is unfair.

"Do your homework! Ask questions first!" is a constant refrain from the dog-owning public.

And then when people do ask questions... mock them!

Sure, some of these people obviously don't really want dogs, but how on earth is anyone to find that out unless they ask this set of questions? The forum is for helping people with dog questions, they are asking questions first...

...I hope nobody here sets up this kind of no-win situation when training their dogs.

The way I see it, if you want a dog bad enough, you're willing to accept all the things that go with it.

That's why they make them so cute. Because honestly, if someone had said to me, "Do you want this huge dog that will grow to be a hundred pounds, eat your couch, eat your shoes, try to eat anyone who enters your house, shed continually, clack her jaws in your face (one of those mal traits that took me months to train her out of), learn to open the fridge and then eat a container of gravy and have diarrhea all over your carpet, jump through your living room window and cost you a kazillion dollars in vet bills," I might have been a tad less enthusiastic.

To be fair, a lot of people make a list of traits they want because they've read how important it is to do research first, and they think they are being smart by looking for a breed with specific traits rather than just picking out a dog because it has sad eyes.

But on the positive side, there are many, many people who are unprepared for dog ownership, but when they get a dog, they fall in love with their pup and they learn to become great dog owners who take good care of their pets, even as they learn what's realistic to expect and what's not. Unfortunately, like having a kid, no amount of reading or preparation really prepares you for the real thing.

But even as the real thing is so much harder than you ever imagined, it's also so much more rewarding...

Jan

Deb, I don't think anyone on the forum has ever mocked someone for asking questions about particular breeds.  But, that's a long way from having a dog that sounds like he's about to die any minute and going on an internet board to ask the forum members "what do you think is the matter?" and "should I see a vet?".  By the time someone reads the question and responds, the dog could really be dead. There has to be some kind of common sense balance.

Joyce

ORIGINAL: sharismom

Wait til they're teens.  You'll be wishing you asked for one who didn't suffer from angst, not influenced by peers at all, and doesn't know how to roll their eyes at everything you say! 

 
Wow, that's the best description of my teen age years I've ever read.  [sm=rolleyes.gif]
 

In response to these types of "what kind of dog should I get" questions, there are tons of places to research breeds.  Unfortunately not many people know of them, and some people would prefer to open a dialogue with a collection of dog lovers rather than enter information onto a cold database.
 
At the same time it does get a bit repetitive, and I wish there was a FAQ that included a series of questions that could help narrow the choices down to say 3-6 breeds for people.  I think that the majority of persons seeking a dog would be immensely happy with mixed breeds found at any and every shelter across the country, especially if that person does not know what they are seeking. 
 
Perhaps there are some books that we could recommend to the OPs rather than breeds.  After all, we know that raising a puppy is not an easy job.  I think that the benefits of adopting an older dog outweigh the "cuteness" factor in having a puppy.  After 15 months of raising a pup to an older adolescent, I was not ready to face having a puppy again, so I am adopting an older girl. 
 
 

Before I got my adoptee dogs.  I researched their breeds and needed to see what those breeds traits were.  I was prepared for non-perfect dogs, but in the end they were perfect for my family.  The fit in perfectly, but that's because I spent the required time to train, care, groom, play and etc. with them.  Being a stay at home mom has its advantages...you have the time to spend training, caring and interacting with your dog/s so you can more easily deal with possible problems and correct them quickly.  My dog gets enough exercise and playtime and love.  People need to know that having a dog requires you spending time with it training, caring and etc.  If they cannot do that then it is better they get a cat or gerbil or something that requires less attention.  All dogs require time and training and love and lots of them.

That link is messed up or something.  I said I had no kids, have had a dog before, have a large yard... EVERYTHING else I had no preference.  That to me means I am open to dogs that shed, any size, any exercise demands, and grooming demands ect.  It said Sorry, based on your criteria no dogs were found...[&:].  Hmmm... should have been every freaking breed listed there IMO.  Ill go mess around with it and see what it will finally tell me.

Uhhh....if anyone can get that thing to give them a breed Id like to know lol.

Not to go against the grain here, but I see nothing wrong with these threads.  I would rather see people do their research than go into something because the dog was pretty, or their uncle's cousin's best friend's boss has a really good one, or they think the dog seems cool on TV.

Why ask here?  Well, because you can do all the research in the world, and it doesn't make up for the info you get while speaking with actual dog owners.  Sorry, it just doesn't.

I posted one of these threads when I was considering a second dog, and I got a suggestion that I never would have even thought of before--Rhodesian Ridgbacks.  Something rang a bell, I went and did more research, and it turns out that I love the breed.

Sometimes people don't have others to bounce these things off of.  It helps to have people more experienced to discuss these things with, to bring up things you may not of thought of.

Think of the reasons dogs end up in shelter--"I didn't realize that it would shed so much."  "I didn't realize it was so hyper."  And yes, there are some of us that have to work, so the question as to whether or not the dog is OK for X number of hours in a crate and how much exercise it needs IS a very legitimate one.

Be glad that people are interested in making the right choice for their family rather than pickingkout the first cute pup they see, and if you are so bothered by the threads, just don't read them.

Amen, Sally!!!

I too am all for educating...what better place to ask about what people think then a dog forum!
 
Of course many of us are biased to the breeds we own and love because they "fit" our lives but we can offer the best and worst of living with these dogs to people who are researching.
 
It's never ending and the forum "cycle" every now and then with the same info but heck, we all love talking dogs any way should it matter?

I agree with you. Sadly, though, people who shouldn't have dogs go ahead and get them because these people have reason to envy the brains of an ice cube.
 
Owning a dog is a lot of work and responsibility, not for the faint of heart and, for me, is a commitment for the life of the dog, not just until the "new" wears off. As I said in another thread, a major improvement in education is needed.
 

I think I have to go against the grain as well.  I think it is better for people to ask too many questions than too little.  There are certain breeds which are not good for novice owners, just as there are breeds that do not shed excessively.  Some breeds are also more strong willed than others.  I think is it great that people seek to find information before they leap into the world of doggie ownership []