What dog breed is right for me?

K9girl1994

Hi everyone... I am 15 and really want my own dog. We have two small family dogs. I wouldn't be able to get one until about a year, because we might be moving and I need to get a job.

I have been looking into dog breeds. I love German Shepherds. My grandma used to have one, and my aunt has one right now that we visit often. But German Shepherds are too big and too much work for me. I plan on getting one later in life.

We used to have a papillon and I loved him. He learned tricks fast,loved to be outside, and had a lovely temperament. I am thinking that this would be the perfect dog breed.

I babysit 3 days a week, from 7 am to 5 pm. I will be getting a job once a week. I am enrolled in an virtual online charter school, so I am home often.

The house we might be moving to is a medium sized house with a medium yard. I want a dog that I dont have to brush for hours. I want a medium activity level,a dog that learns fast and is willing to please. I would have a more lower budget so a smaller dog would be ideal.(Under 25 pounds)

The dog would be with me often. My aunt would be willing to let the dog come with me to babysit, as long as it gets along with children and babies.

My mom said I can get one, if I pay for everything that the dog needs and it doesn't cause trouble.

I plan on crate training him, so he shouldn't cause any trouble.

What dog breed is right for me? I am leaning into a papillon.

kmes

Are your parents expecting you to pay for any medical emergencies for this new dog? Or do they mean that they expect you to pay for food, toys, treats, etc. Also do they expect you to fully care for this dog (daily walks, feeding, grooming, training, etc)?
This is really important to think about this! I wouldn't recommend that you get a dog if you are 100% responsable for this dog. At 16 years old, working once a week and babysitting, I really don't know that you would be financially able to care for emergency costs of a dog. For example, one of my sisters just paid a $1000 sugery bill because one of her pugs swollowed plastic from a toy! Had he not had that surgery he would have died. Also because you are so young, I would not suggest that you get a dog unless your parents are actually willing to help you with a dogs daily needs! You are going to want to go out with friends and probably on dates. You are also going to start driving soon! You'll likely spend a lot of your $$$ and time just hanging out with friends!

I think that you should enjoy the 2 dogs your family already has! I know that you may want one of your "own". I know I did when I was your age. But there is no way I would have been able to care for a dog on my own!

You could start some new activites with your current dogs! Take a training class and work towards a dog sport. Check out rally and agility. Both are a lot of fun, and you could even compete with your dogs!

My youngest sister (actually 15 just like you) volunteers to walk dogs at the SPCA and has just joined a 4-H group that is all about training dogs. They train their own personal dogs in agility and rally. They also have a drill team and give demonstartions. She's really excited about it. She of course wanted "her own dog" for this but she is instead going to work with 2 of the "family dogs" instead.

K9girl1994

Thanks for your reply,

I want a dog so badly that I ignore all of the facts that keep me from getting a dog. If you know what I mean. My mom said that she could pay for any emergency vet bills but I want to pay for everything.

I could work with Dude and Goofy (our dogs). They are just so difficult!

Dude is a pekignese/poodle mix and Goofy is a maltese/bichon frise mix.

They are really hard to train. Maybe I can take training lessons with them though.

If you were me, would you pick Dude or Goofy?

Dude is stubborn and acts like he is a king. He knows sit, down, stay, leave it. He is 6 or 7, and he has a hard time jumping.

Goofy is stubborn, sensitive, and is more submissive than Dude. He knows sit, 'pretty', stay, come. He enjoys barking and likes to jump up on furniture.

Maybe I could train Goofy agility?

Also Dude and Goofy aren't the most friendliest dogs,Goofy likes people but ignores dogs.

Dude loves to play with other dogs but can be a bit snappy with dogs and people.

seebrown

After reading about your current dogs' temperaments and breeds, it sounds more like they have general doggy trainability than being difficult. Getting a different dog won't be any easier if that's what you're looking for in your own dog. Poodles, Malteses and Bichons have all been recommended to me as "beginner" dogs because they are forgiving in their training (i.e. you can train them poorly and they will still catch on, or you can train a bad behavior and later train them out of it easier than other breeds). Just something to think about if you are set on getting your own dog because you feel your dogs are "difficult". I'm not saying this is for sure how your current dogs are, but some of the behaviors you mention (not friendly, snappiness, barking, jumping) point to poor training/socialization and boredom rather than the breed.

Honestly, either dog sounds fine to train. Maybe Goofy would be better if only because he sounds younger/more agile than Dude. Read around the forum for training dogs; you'll find a wealth of information about how to train and condition all types of dogs.

Welcome to the forum!

K9girl1994

My mom is not a good dog owner, and spends no time with the dogs. She didn't socilize them at all when she got them. They used to be almost aggressive, but me and my sisters have socilized them for the past year. They have gotten better. my town used to have a 'mutt dog show' where you can compete for fun every year. I used to take Goofy, and he loved it. They never had one this year. We also attended a pet costume parade where my mom works. That was fun.

I bought Dude and Goofy toys, like kongs but they dont show much interest in them. they have bones too. Me and my sisters walk them everyday. They dont like the cold, so it is hard in the winter.

My sisters and I have worked with them. We are trying to teach them spin right now. They are getting the hang of it.

When I said Goofy likes to jump on the furniture, I meant like jump up on the bed. I play fetch with him inside, and he loves to jump off and on the bed.

Thank you.

kmes

That sounds like a peke!
I'm not sure if you know much about the history of the pekingese breed. You may find it not only interesting, but also that it explains some pekingese personality traits! I personally find the history of the Pekingese fascinating, but I won't go into much detail as I don't want to bore anyone or steal the thread! But I will say that they were kept by Chinese royalty and treated as such for about 2000 years. Many pekes still seem to think that they are royalty!

I have 2 pekes and just love the breed! I grew up with pekes and GSDs!
Despite being "stubborn" they certainly are trainable! They just won't be as easy to train as a breed that has been bred to have an intense desire to please! With a peke you need to figure out what they will work for! They need to want to do it, and have fun while doing it. For my Pearl, food really works best (carrots and chicken are her favs). But with LeRoy, praise and play is the most amazing thing in the world to him!

But poodles, matese and bichons are all dogs that are relatively easy to train! I would say that either of your dogs would be great for training! But you may want to train different things. Keep their strengths in mind!

I agree with Seebrown that Goofy would be a better candidate for agility! It sounds like he is more active. Not to mention that if he already likes to jump around he might really enjoy the bar jumps and tire jump in agilty.

Dude might be better suited for basic obedience, which I think is important for all dogs anyway!

K9girl1994

Yes, pekes defiantly have a character! A long time ago you would see Dude look at you and lift up his leg on your shoe. And then he would wag his tail and just look at you.

Luckily that doesn't happen anymore

What is rally. Is it like obedience mixed with agiltity?

There is a dog training school about 10 minutes from my house. I will look into it .

Thank you guys for all of your responses. I still really want my own dog, but I have decided that I will work with Dude and Goofy.

How much does it charge to train a dog agility or rally?

K9girl1994

Ok so I looked into the training school 10 minutes from our house.

This is what it said...


Basic Obedience-

This is a six week course that meets once a week. It teaches an owner to train their dog with the basic commands- which includes:

-sit
-heel
-automatic sit
-recall
-down

The class offers a problem solving activity each week and also offers "socialization play group," and a Graduation night with "Freedom's Dog School Puppy Olympics," the winning team always receives "gold medals."

They dont offer agility, just obedience. I am going to enroll Dude in it I think.

Criosphynx

its alot of heeling and basic commands...its like OB but you can talk to the dog and have a bit more freedom with praising/cues etc. Its less robotic than reg OB imo.

K9girl1994

that sounds like fun!