looking for a dog?

I am female and have handled dogs between three and one hundred seventy five pounds. I have NO problems with them, big OR small.

I would recommend doing a LOT of research an whichever breed you decide you'd like.  You can find a lot of sweet mixes at the shelter or go to a breed specific rescue to get your first dog.  Do NOT go to buy a puppy at  a pet store! We will all tell you this is the WORST place to get a dog (or a cat, for that matter).

As for Pits, they have gotten a remarkably bad rap from the media.  Unfortunately, your parents have bought into the hype. Most Pitties are sweet, well-adjusted dogs who want nothing more than to please their owners and be big couch potatos. I have had bull breeds since 1982 and can tell you that I am sooo far from the "typical"  (as per the media) owner as one can imagine. I would be happy to talk with you parents via email if they have any questions.

I  am a bit concerned about you mentioning that your parents will keep the dog if you are unable to.  Many, many young people dump their dogs on their parents when the dogs are the least bit inconvenient.  As a young woman, I never did this, but many of my friends did.  It always made me very angry to see this. I would suggest you find a place that accepts pets and STAY there. I would not ever be able to give my animals
up!

Double posted--deleted the scond post!

rottweilers are not a wise choice for a first time dog owner, they are a large dog and if not properly trained you can have a large accident waiting to happen. and when i say properly trained i mean you as well as the dog. i would suggest at least get a mixed breed that has one of your 'choice breeds' in it, mixes tend to be easier going and easier to handle.

ORIGINAL: mangravy

Yes, this is a big decision and I'm concerned for you deciding on a Rottie.  Great dogs and I don't know if you're a man or woman.  I don't want to be sexist but IMHO I've seen to many ladies overwhelmed by dogs of all sizes.  You must be firm and a leader for some dogs and its a hit or miss what you're going to get.  If its a dominant dog your going to have your hands full whatever sex you are.  Many people treat them as their kids and just want to snuggle with them.  Heck I sleep with mine but some dogs need to respect you before they'll let you treat them as snugglers.  Again if they are dominant they will have problems.  Problems being dog agressive, people aggressive could be anything.  Please do alot of research and ask yourself if you're willing to change yourself to make the dog happy.  Otherwise one more dog in the pound.  How sad.  Remember this is a 10 year commitment, vacations, running home from work, weekends at home, etc.  A board Rottie can make quick work of a couch!  Counter point they can bring some of the happiest moments of your life and might even save your life for that matter.  Thing long and hard.  If you like to party alot wait till you're married with kids.  Best of luck in your decision. 

I don't agree. If size was an issue in control then NONE of us would be able to ride horses. One of the first trainers who ever made an impression on me was a tiny woman who might have been 100lbs soaking wet and she trained GSDs.  As with horses, dog training and control have very little to do with size if any to do with size at all.

Oh, and regarding finding an apartment in Frederick, Md . I was building a house at the time so I was in a position to be able to afford to pay through the nose for the year and a bit I needed a rental.  And the whole idea that you can give your dog to your parents if it doesn't work out with the apartment doesn't strike me as ethical or mature. If it is going to be your dog, make arrangements so that you have a good chance to KEEP your dog. Don't look to your parents as the fall back. This animal will bond with you and is owed more than that IMO.



Paula
(three rhodesian ridgebacks).

I'm going to disagree too that size matters....at least to a certain extent.  I'm not all that big and my six german shepherds obey me far better than any of the larger men in the house.
 
What DOES matter is dog experience.  I've had dogs for years, including a wonderful gsd mix, but these guys made me rethink in a hurry MY position in the household and how to train.  I suspect that Rotties also need some really firm guidelines....firm meaning consistent, not heavy handed.

The apartment issue is critical.  I rented houses, lost apartments (because of other people's behavior with their dogs), and spent many sleepless nights worrying what to do with my dogs. I had dobermans.  In the 70's long before the specific breed legislation was an issue, it could be a nightmare to find housing.
 
One of the things I have not seen anyone mention, involves the need for training and socialization from day one.  Rotts can also be barker when they feel a need to warn and defend.  It would not be unexpected to see the dog develop into an animal that barked (and scratched the heck out of the door if you do not use a crate) when the UPS guy/girl delivered 4 or 5 doors down.
 
Working and herding dogs get bored and when they get bored or worried bad things happen.  I have had dogs tear up the middle of the sheet linoleum, eat rugs, eat the checkbook and car payment book, personal momentos etc.  This was my first dog as an adult and a dobe (that my parents wouldnt let me have growing up).  I have gotten a lot smarter, but secruity deposits aren't always enough to cover the costs of living with a dog especially when making first time owner mistakes.
 
So, get the apartment and be very discriminating while selecting it.  Consider an adult dog from rescue, it is a whole lot easier especially when you are under the stress of starting a new job too.  Then move into the world of dog ownership.  Make sure you have the training classes arranged before the dog comes too.

My advice: Wait. Wait until you actually get into an apartment because believe me, in many parts of this country finding a rental of any kind that allows large dogs of any kind is extremely difficult. Also, living on your own is very different from living at college or living with your parents. Wait until you see what your lifestyle is like and what kind of time you have left over for a dog.

I've moved a couple times with my dogs, into very different situations and I can tell you that having a dog while living out in the country with a lot of land is one thing, having a dog in an apartment in town is something completely different. Are you really ready to get up at 6 AM no matter what the weather for that 45 minute morning walk or jog? And when you get home from work and you're hungry and tired and it's snowing and already dark out, are you really going to be up for another walk? Because if the answer to either of those questions is "no" or even "maybe not" then a large drivey dog is definately not for you at this point in your life.

Also, if and when you do get a dog, please consider adopting an adult dog from a reputible rescue. I've adopted and trained and cared for three large dogs thus far in my dog-owning career and I'm still not ready for a puppy. I know enough now about dogs that I see puppies and I pet them and love on them and then I'm quite happy to give them back to their owners. Puppies are like human babies. If you're not ready for a human baby, you are not ready for a puppy.

Size doesn't matter as far as size/gender of handler vs. size of dog if you know what you're doing. I've always had big dogs and I'm not that large of a woman. But size does matter for many apartments. When we were moving from our place in the country back into the city with a 95 lb. dog and 2 cats, it was a nightmare trying to find a place. The cats weren't the problem, and had Conrad been a chihuahua, he wouldn't have been a problem either. As it was, landlords heard "95 lb. hound mix" and pretty much hung up on me every single time.

Being the responsible owner of a dog means a tremendous amount of sacrifice. Dogs are not disposable, they aren't just there when it's convenient for you. They are there all the time and must be your priority at all times. Neglected dogs have a way of letting you know in no uncertain terms that they are not happy, and I guarentee that you will not be pleased with what a 100 lb. neglected unhappy dog is capable of.

In short: find a place to live, get established, develop your own routine, see how much free time you have left over, and think long and hard and deeply about what kind of dog would be the best fit for your life. Don't get too hung up on breed until you see what your life will be like. If you really want to make sure that you're prepared for what owning a dog entails, I highly suggest volunteering at your local animal shelter for a few months. You will see it all and then some there and you'll understand why all of us here are a little concerned at your idea that if the dog isn't convenient you'll just give it to your parents.

ORIGINAL: dang236d

Thanks for all the help so far!  My real first choice is actually a pitbull, i've loved everything i have read about them, and it's obvious they are misunderstood, like myself. But parents are totally and completely against it... I also liked the german pinscher and boxer though.

 
I think a boxer may be a better choice for your first dog.  They also adjust easyer to apartment life.  It really depends on where you live and the renting rules.  I rent a small house and my landlord has no problem with the size of my dog, the person who lived there before me had a husky.  There is no way I#%92d ever allow myself to live in a place I could not keep my dog.  It may just take longer to find a place but they are out there.
 
One thing about pure breed rotties is that many have health problems.  Aside from everything else, this is one thing that makes them a difficult dog for first time dog owners.  The breed is still recovering from an explosion of byb who breed this breed with no concern for health.  Even today responsible breeders still struggle with genetic problems in the breed.  You may be paying more than you want to realize in vet bills.  If the rottie is hypothyroid (many are) it will have to be on meds it's whole life and go back to the vets several times for blood screening.  When rotties get sick, they get really sick, imagine having to carry a 70+ lb dog around when it can't move on it's own. 
 
I had a little rottie mix for a while and although she was a wonderful dog, she was hypothyroid and had a sever weight problem that was hard for me to control just by diet alone.  She will always be on meds for her whole life and the vet bills were incredibly high ($80, not including other vet fees, every 3 month just for blood screening alone when she was first diagnosed).
 

This website should be helpful.
 
[linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm[/link]

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

Assuming that is all possible....  the Rotties I know are pretty lazy and sleep a lot, but that's not necessarily a good thing (they are also overweight). I don't know what the exercise needs are for an actual in-shape athletic rottie.

 
Scout, what you described is not the way a rottie should be.  You are right, it's not necessarly a good thing. Those are signs that the rottie has some issues, they need to get a blood test to check their T4 and make sure they are not hypothyroid.  If they are, that may be one of the reasons they are lazy and overweight.  So many rotties have this and go untreated.
 
Just in my opinion I would classify rotties as herding dogs.  They were buit to be tough but could carry on a job working long periods of time.  Never should a rottie be seen as lazy.  The breed has really gone dowhill in the last 20 or so years.  I think the breed is wonderful but sadly it's hard to find a good rottie.  I also fear the same thing is happening to the GSD as well.  There are some people on this foum who do have wonderful looking rotties and I just love seeing pics of them.
 

I also don't believe size matters. I'm 5'0 and I have no problem walking my Rottweiler, 2 Boston Terriers and a friends Samoyed at the same time. Maybe it's because I've owned large breeds in the past or maybe it's because my dogs are trained correctly. Who knows?
 
As a Rottweiler owner, my main concern would be living in an apartment. That's not to say that a Rottweiler can't be properly maintained in an apartment, it's just that with BSL and the fact that you don't *own* the apartment means that if someone says the dog has to go, you're stuck having to find another place to live and finding a place that accepts dogs, let alone a large very stereotyped breed such as a Rottweiler, can be extremely hard or you'd have to place the dog in a new home and not too many people are keen on adopting a large very stereotyped breed such as a Rottweiler. Unless your parents have specifically told you that they'd be more than willing to take the dog in if you can't keep it anymore, I wouldn't assume that's what you can do if things go badly. After all, a lot of people in my family have dogs but there are very few that I'd be willing to take if they couldn't keep them anymore.
 
With that said, I'd be very leery about getting *any* breed of dog while living in an apartment. I've heard way too many horror stories about folks who get dogs while living in an apartment and something happens where they have to move and they can't find a place that accepts dogs. If it were *me*, I'd wait until I had my own home before I'd get a dog. That way you don't have to deal with a landlord/lady bitching about the dog makes too much noise when it runs, it barks too much, it can't poop/pee anywhere on the property and all that jazz.

ORIGINAL: mangravy

  I don't want to be sexist but IMHO I've seen to many ladies overwhelmed by dogs of all sizes. 

 
I find it funny you say that.  My first dog of my own as an adult was a Rottie.  I am a woman and I raised him to be a well mannered dog.  I didn't baby him.  I was the alpha and he knew it and I was firm and consistent in training.
 
I now have a smaller dog because he is easier to take out and about.  I loved my Rott and he was a gentleman.   I don't believe a rott is the best choice for a first time dog owner.  I had dogs when I was a kid.  Between the BSL and overall breedism it is tough having one of the "bad" dog breeds.  Rott's are great dogs when raised and trained properly.
 
Why do you want to get a Rottie anyways?

ORIGINAL: Firestorm



Why do you want to get a Rottie anyways?

I've been researching dogs and so far the rottie has stuck out to me, the look, the temperment, the loyalty.  Their mood and behavior are are similar to my own, at least i think

A lot of people get them because they are big and look intimidating.  They can be wonderful dogs if raised right or monsters if not but that goes for any breed of dog.  When you own a Rottie or other breed with a bad reputation....you dog has to be an ambassador a perfect canine citizen.  You cannot have a 100+ pund Rottie out of control.  All the more important that you really know what you are getting into and that you will need to go to obedience classes and socialize this dog with people and other dogs.  Unless you are looking for a guard dog?

  the loyalty.

 
That alone may cause a problem if you think you might need your parents to keep him/her.  If the dog is bonded to you it may become a behavior/temperment issue for your parents.
 
That said, chows make excellent apartment dogs.  They are quiet, clean, not destructive and do not require all that much exercise.