Dogs ♥

[TotalyMeow]

If you're looking for a dog and you've never had one before, you should get a short haired dog. Longer hair is more difficult to take care of and they shed more.

Don't get a teacup anything, those dogs have too many health problems. There are quite a few breeds that have health problems so I suggest lots of research before you buy a mutt. In fact, I highly recommend shelter dogs of the full-grown variety. It's true you might get a dog with some problems, but shelters will not adopt out a dog with mental problems until it has been rehabilitated and/or they'll tell you what is wrong with it. The great advantage though, of a shelter dog, isn't just that you're saving a dog from living in a little cage, but they are almost always more affectionate than a dog from a breeder as they see you as their savior.

As for the chewing thing, that's another reason to get an older dog. Most dogs do most of their chewing before the age of two, and some breeds chew more than others. Labradors chew a lot when they are puppies. My mom's chewed a hole in the side of the house when he was a puppy. :/ But there's ways to teach them to chew their toys, helps to buy things like pig's ears that they can eat.

[saltmummy]

There are quite a few breeds that have health problems so I suggest lots of research before you buy a mutt.

Mutts are less likely to have those health problems, and as I said, generally live longer with fewer problems. A great deal of the issues dogs can have are due to the same process that got us the breeds in the first place; inbreeding. "Pure breed" is a very fancy way of saying two things; expensive and inbred.

As you say though, adoption is the best option. pure bred or not, them dogs need homes.

[TotalyMeow]

Sorry, I meant lots of research OR get a mutt.

[saltmummy]

Sorry, I meant lots of research OR get a mutt.

It's still not a bad idea to do a little research though. They may be less likely, but health issues can still crop up. I guess I did make it sound a bit like "Get a mutt, you don't have to know anything about your dog!" Always do some research before getting any dog, it is a living creature after all, and you gotta know how to care for it properly. Personally, I never sold a dog to someone who couldn't show that they knew how to care for it properly. Especially when I was still breeding beagles. People want those beagles from the movies, but they don't understand that those dogs are trained and an untrained beagle is a rocket ship zooming around your house/yard until it manages to reach escape velocity and you have to go after it before it gets lost in the woods, hit by a car, or picked up by a stranger. dem beagle noses are amazing, but they don't exactly pay attention to where they are going when they catch a scent and even the most well trained beagle is going to have a hard time controlling itself when it spots a rabbit darting through the underbrush.

Do you have a dog meow?

[TotalyMeow]

I currently have two cats, one of whom acts like a dog and I have taught to sit. I'll probably get a dog some time in the next year or so. My parents always had dogs when I was growing up so I know how much more work they can be since they have to go outside and they're smarter than cats so you have to keep them busy and they need more training.

[Argentis]

Dog owner here:

Don't get a full breed. First of all you'll pay a horribly expensive price and you'll get a dog with a lot of health issues later on because of inbreeding. So basically look for mixed race.
The advice on getting a pet that suits your lifestyle is good but be mindful that all dogs need exercise (some more than others) and are not meant to be kept inside at all times in a small appartment.
Considering tricks and how hard it is to train; it is both dependent on the trainer (a.k.a you) and the dog (a.k.a if he is intelligent or not). Again full-bred are very likely to be retarded.
To give an example:
I have a full-bred Australian sheperd that is probably the sweetest but most retarded dog there is. He gets his food regularly stolen by chickens because he is afraid of them. He is afraid of yoghurts (the sound it makes when you detach them from the pack). He never listens except when he is on unknown territory where he keeps close to us because he is probably afraid of his own shadow. He is magnificent though.

Here he is in my sister's car:

Close up:


I had a mutt )half Pyrenean sheperd) when I was a kid and he was the smartest dog ever. Very good guard dog too but never brutal with us kids. He knew all sort of tricks and he was awesome. He lived till the old age of 18 years old (pretty good for a dog his size).

Also small dogs are ugly, don't take those ;p (but more seriously Chihuhaha and **** are very likely to die at 6 years old or less because of health issues).

[saltmummy]

I have a full-bred Australian sheperd that is probably the sweetest but most retarded dog there is. He gets his food regularly stolen by chickens because he is afraid of them. He is afraid of yoghurts (the sound it makes when you detach them from the pack). He never listens except when he is on unknown territory where he keeps close to us because he is probably afraid of his own shadow. He is magnificent though.

I wish my dogs would get there food stolen by the chickens. instead they steel the chicken food and rip apart the chicken coops and fences while they are doing it. I love them, but I also want to twist their heads off when they rip those pens apart. Nice dog argentis.

but more seriously Chihuhaha and **** are very likely to die at 6 years old or less because of health issues.

Unless they are malevolent, in which case they will live forever. Driving your friends away and refusing to be house trained.

[shizuka]

Also small dogs are ugly, don't take those ;p (but more seriously Chihuhaha and **** are very likely to die at 6 years old or less because of health issues).

bigger dogs arent so great for where i live =/

[tack]

dont touch a dog with a barge pole my partners ones had me up all night barking at foxes and thats the third night in a row the only thing worse than machines are babies

get a cat at least they in your neighbours garden

Profanities removed. Please don't put stars in the middle of your swear words in order to dodge the filters. As mentioned in the rules, we have an automatic filter for that which won't work when you 'edit' them yourself. User banned for 7 days. Please read the rules before posting again. ~TotalyMeow

[Dallane]

Also small dogs are ugly, don't take those ;p (but more seriously Chihuhaha and **** are very likely to die at 6 years old or less because of health issues).

bigger dogs arent so great for where i live =/

Mileage will vary with dogs. My parents Maltese is well over 10 years old. I'd say pick a dog that you love the looks of, see how they generally behave, research proper dog care/training and go to town.