Puppy for Christmas - questions to choose the right one.

Buggzter

My daughter turned 4 a few weeks ago, and now my husband wants to get her a puppy for Christmas... Dundundun!

Tony had dogs when he was growing up, but none for over a decade. I've NEVER owned a dog (he's 34, I'm 24) as my parents are not big pet people. But, we've had tons of other animal species in the past few years together and know what we'd be looking for, just not what species match and where to find more information on what we need and should look for. About 16 months ago my husband was very ill and we had to rehome nearly every animal we owned - we only kept my conure and a few of our favorite tarantulas. As our lives have gotten back together now, we're ready for the next step of owning a dog... Maybe.

I KNOW it will be tons of work, and it will be only Becca's dog in name (Tony and I will do most of the work, as we do for the guinea pigs she's SUPPOSED to help with), but it would be fully worth it I think.

If anyone has suggestions, I have a few thoughts about what we'd like to have in a dog:

1) Intelligence for easier training, as we are new to dog-ownership and don't want a big challenge here....
2) small to medium dog,
3) Appartment-friendly, not too excitable. Not needing a huge amount of excercize or space, as we have a decent dog run for our area but not GREAT... Medium-low level of activity I'd say, as we both work full time, schedules are varied weekly for me at least, and will be kenneled if needed while we're not home during the day.
4) KID FRIENDLY REQUIRED!!! Needing a dog to be good with my daughter, and be friendly with other people too - not needing a guard dog, but a people-loving dog... especially my family!
5) Not a destructive breed who always wants to get into things (although, that kinda negates the "intelligence" clause I put up... *sigh*), but could be kenneled when needed and allowed to be free in the house without worry of the home being ripped to shreds in a few hours!
6) A generally healthy breed or mix w/out "expected" problems prefered - not essential though. Just prefered.
7) Short hair/less shedding prefered as well, since we have allergies and I'm cleaning-challenged when it comes to vaccumming.
8) NOT A HUNTING DOG I think as we have a bird and two guinea pigs, and likely will have many other types of animals through the years in our home. Should be good with change and other animals.

I want to be somewhat picky so we can have the right pet for our family. but I don't have to have the "perfect" dog - just one that will fit our family and needs. If you have suggestions for where to research, and what breeds we should look into for our family, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I'm going to Bishop Animal Shelter when I can to find out some information from them on what they would suggest... If we find an adult that fits our needs I'll do that, but I'd prefer a puppy - and then once we find the right puppy I'm going to need to find out what that puppy needs at our home from us and also where to keep the puppy before Christmas!!! LOL!!! Lot's to do!

But, we may still not even GET a dog - I'm not 100% sure if we're ready for that as I've not done the research for it yet... But I want to research all I can to prepare for a dog for our family, eventually if we don't do it this December.

THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!!!!!! Sorry for the length...

PS - no pet-store dogs, although most of our animals come from a couple stores that have good breeders for their species... just not dogs. Prefer a shelter dog, above all else. And I need suggestions on what criteria to have for a vet, too!

pps - Becca would have chores we'd help her with in caring for her dog DAILY, but we don't expect her to do it for a LONG time without a ton of help. And the dog would be "primarily" hers, as the bird is "primarily" mine, but everyone has to chip in to care for the animals in our home.

Criosphynx

what a nice thought out post! I applaud you for doing research first and considering rescuing a dog.

If I were to pick a few breeds I'd first say either toy poodle, maltese or shitzu. But I think what it will boil down to is a mixed breed dog that just "fits".

one thing you are going to want to consider too, is with your young child many shelters/rescues wont even give you a dog, and the ones that will wont give you a small one (likely, perhaps call the shelter and ask).

also Iam partial to Pomeranians...

Mikey

Oh Exciting!!
Kudos on the researching-you'll be happy after you bring the dog home, that you did this *first*

I'm not sure about shelters where you are-as Crio has brought up, they can certainly be picky about some things. I know here-really as long as you own your home or have proof that your landlord allows the pet-they'll pretty much adopt to anyone-so depends where you live


I'd suggest pomeranian, papillion or pugs (p's?) I haven't owned any but from what I've seen they are less yappy for little pups. Definitely I'd say, think toy group and avoid any 'working/sporting/herding etc groups'

AKC Breeds by Group - Toy Group

Also I'd steer clear of: Labs, Jack russels, huskies, chows, terriers etc-they would need much more training and exercise then sounds like your into

Also-puppies mean potty training so consider an older pup

Criosphynx

Oh Yes Pugs are awesome!...I grew up around lots of pugs from a young age...they were always very tolerant and happy!

they are low energy, but have more energy than most people think...thats why you see so many fat pugs

Buggzter

Becca has been handling animals of all types since she was a year old - from mice to rats to lizards to snakes to tarantulas to birds. Handling, feeding, and cleaning has always been a part of our lives with our animals, and she's always been included - she's held tarantulas from 19 months old, believe it or not! With our history of animals and her respect for them (I DO allow her to handle the guinea pigs alone as she respects them properly and is mature enough for it, although she is not allowed to pick them up), I think shelters that don't have a specific rule forbidding it would likely allow us to adopt a dog for the family (although it would be a "gift" to her - all animals are FAMILY pets with a main "owner")...

And I think for the moment I'm stuck on the Maltese. A pom would be fun, but a little too noisy for Tony I think (he goes nuts when my conure screams)... And I'd have to convince Tony on the pug but that might be a good fit for us too. But we'll see. I also want to look at slightly larger pups too... I also need to find a good one that would be OK with a baby coming into the family, which I think a Maltese would from what I've read so far (in the past half hour! LOL!)... But... Dunno. More research. And I'm not a poodle-fan as of right now, and I don't think the Papillion would match too well because of Becca's age and the fact we do want another child some year soonish... And the fact we have guinea pigs and the BIRD are a BIG issue in the choice of bringing a dog into the mix. Pheonix, the bird, rules the roost after us humans - she's bossy and that's just how her species is. So I need to make sure the dog coming into our home will work well with her.

Hmm... How would all these breeds do with having GPs in the house (caged around the dog, unless they really get along well with FULL ADULT supervision), and especially my darling flighted bird. If the dogs and the free-flying bird won't live well together, it just won't happen. List: Maltese/bishon (since I like the bishons too!), pugs, poms, papillions, poodles, shitzus, and any others you might suggest?

For puppies:

As Tony is Maintenance at the appartment complex, he'd be able to let the dog out frequently for potty breaks while it's a baby if we get a YOUNG puppy, and still for an older one too. That allows us to have a slightly younger range of pups to look at for what "fits" us best. And many days I don't work until late morning or early afternoon, so I could take the dog on walks in cooler times of the day (FL can get HOT!). And since it's a 3-bedroom and one room will be Becca's toys, if she's good with the puppy we might let her have the crate in her room - only if she is as good with the puppy as she is with the pigs, since the pup can be in the living room or in our room as needed.

And I have to think about water, food, puppy pads, bedding, toys... And with the toys - where they are made!!! Sheesh, lots to think about now. AND PUPPIES!!! LOL!!! I'm going to see if I can visit Bishop (the shelter nearly next-door) and talk with them Saturday about adoption issues.

My other concern about which breed, now that I think of it, is that I'm in the central western coast of Florida, and it can get quite hot and humid here in summer (heck, it's barely reaching 70* for the LOW right now!!!)

Sheltiemama

I'd look at a young dog, not a puppy. I understand that your little one is likely more responsible than most due to the way you've raised her. But I still think a young dog rather than a puppy would be better with a child that young.

I'm glad you're planning to get one from a shelter or rescue. If you decide on a particular breed, you might look for a rescue close to you. That way you can find out each particular dog's quirks and details rather than just picking a dog. I like knowing a little about the dog when I get it.

EllensCreatures

Pugs are great dogs but do have a number of health issues (eyes, breathing probs and knees), particularly in hot weather, you have to be very careful not to overheat them. But you might be able to find a pug mix that might be a bit healthier. You would probably have to keep any of the long haired dogs (poodle, bishon, maltese, etc.) clipped on a regular basis, for easier maintenance and their comfort in the heat.

Criosphynx

Ah...Florida...yup the pug is out

don't let the long hair breeds fool you, that coat is insulation and can keep heat OUT. I know of people who own huskies in FL

I agree on the older puppy thing too... a dog thats already learned bite inhibition would be better...a young pup would have to learn not to bite and you guys are going to get shredded in the process.

as far as your bird goes...its going to depend on the induvidual dog...not the breed...I have terriers and i trust them 100% around my parrot and my chickens. I'd say its a mixture of training and just getting lucky.

this girl was able to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7lBQ...eature=channel




as far as yappyness goes....same thing....I have a chihuahua that doesn't bark, my pom is also very quiet (I do have a loudmouth chi tho lol) I don't think you should rule out a breed due to steriotypes on yappyness, its also a mixture of training and picking the right dog..

that said what do you think of chihuahuas?

borzoimom

Well I am going to say- wait until after Christmas to get a puppy. By then the decorations are put up, the tree is out of the way, the house is more normal in routine etc.
As far as what breed, being in florida I agree- a short nose breed would be out. And just because a breed has long hair, does not mean they do not do the heat. And they do not sun burn either. I know alot of people with cresteds for example in florida and they have to deal with sun burn all the time.
With a 4 year old I would like to suggest a brittney. Medium size dog, usually easy to train, great with children and few health problems in the breed. However- when my daughter was 4 years old I had shepherds but her favorite was a rough collie named Captain. Collies are great with kids! They do have a twice year seasonal shed but regular grooming with a pin brush and collie comb should fix that. ( I could go into details how to groom a collie, but I will leave it be until someone asks..)

Mikey

What was that breed someone on here had...a Bug?

Bischon frise/pug? That thing did not look like it would have breathing trouble....Here is one anyways Pushon, Pushons, Bichon Pug Hybrid

Pugs have trouble because they can have stenotic nares-the nose is pretty much closed.


(OT but anyone interested, this is a vid of laser surgery which is pretty cool, and one they do a surgery on stenotic nares in a pug to fix the breathing prob YouTube - Introduction to Veterinary Laser Surgery It's around five minutes when they do the pug)