What do you look for when choosing a new dog?

[Jstpssng]

Just a different subject, as I begin the search for a new companion. (Labrador retriever, of course) This is like asking what is the best tractor; each individual has different wants and needs. Some people want a low maintenance type; i.e., a lawn shadow. Somebody else might find the biggest requirement is that the dog needs a decent home (I won't mention SigArms by name )
My hat is off to them. Others want an animal to protect their home and property....That's fine so long as you know what you're doing.

I belong to the school of "Never mind the dog, worry about the owner."

 

[Mousefield]

After our Lab cross we had for about 10 years died we took a break on having a dog. After 13 months I got a purebred yellow Lab from a breeder who had finished with breeding her, she was almost 7 years old. I just wanted a friendly dog around, not some mean thing. Like our last dog she walks with the goats, chickens and calves. She is very mellow and does a nice job of retrieving tennis balls :laughing: :thumbsup:
Today she came out with me while walking the two baby goats I am bottle feeding, both goats are living in the house for a few days. One is an orphan as her mom that we had for about 11 years died. Nice to have a friendly dog you can trust with small animals or kids.

 

[nybirdman]

We had Labrador retrievers for thirty years...hard to beat for an all around dog.Recently there have been some health problems cropping up...need to research your breeding.English labs,rather than American Field trial stock may be better suited the home environment.

 

[brokenknee]

After our Lab cross we had for about 10 years died we took a break on having a dog. After 13 months I got a purebred yellow Lab from a breeder who had finished with breeding her, she was almost 7 years old. I just wanted a friendly dog around, not some mean thing. Like our last dog she walks with the goats, chickens and calves. She is very mellow and does a nice job of retrieving tennis balls :laughing: :thumbsup:
Today she came out with me while walking the two baby goats I am bottle feeding, both goats are living in the house for a few days. One is an orphan as her mom that we had for about 11 years died. Nice to have a friendly dog you can trust with small animals or kids.

We got a black lab / german short hair mix last July as a pup. The problem is she likes to "play" with the chickens, which has a very unfavorable result for the poor chickens.

She is a very pretty dog and full of energy, we should have gotten a bread of dog that was not so high strung. We only had three chickens last year but she killed them all. We plan on getting about seven more this spring to she how she acts with them. If anyone has any ideas how to stop a dog from killing the chickens please let me know.

I would suggest first to define the characteristics you want or require in a dog. Then do a little research on the breads to see which one fits most of your requirements by temperament.

I know I will hear training is a large part how a dog acts. I acknowledge that, however one would not normally pick a toy poodle to be a guard dog.

 

[ajmbonaire]

I have in the past had dogs that were given away for free and have paid large sums of money for purebred. I have to tell you that the best dogs I ever had were the runt of the litter and last to be chosen. Don't know why but expensive pets just don't cut it with me. By far the best dog I ever had was a puppy at a bar in a box behind the counter, the barmaid asked if I wanted a dog for free. She was a full blooded German Shepherd. Could type pages of how good a companion she was. I miss her a lot.

 

[Jstpssng]

We got a black lab / german short hair mix last July as a pup. The problem is she likes to "play" with the chickens, which has a very unfavorable result for the poor chickens.

She is a very pretty dog and full of energy, we should have gotten a bread of dog that was not so high strung. We only had three chickens last year but she killed them all. We plan on getting about seven more this spring to she how she acts with them. If anyone has any ideas how to stop a dog from killing the chickens please let me know.

I would suggest first to define the characteristics you want or require in a dog. Then do a little research on the breads to see which one fits most of your requirements by temperament.

I know I will hear training is a large part how a dog acts. I acknowledge that, however one would not normally pick a toy poodle to be a guard dog.

That's what I'm looking for, a 3-6 month old which someone finds is more than they can handle. My last lab was a true hunter; but when I brought baby chicks home and said "you be good to the babies" she knew to leave them alone. When 1 got out of the box she stood there licking it until I came over to see what she had.

 

[2manyrocks]

I look for a willing spirit. Some dogs want to interact with you. Some don't. Try to pick the one that wants to be your dog.

 

[DwightD123]

I checked the temperment of the sire and dam for a hard-running field dog that was also a relaxed inside dog. It worked well. HRCH Buddy is a great family dog that does not know stop when in the field.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I like pure breds but I don't see the need to buy one from a breeder (no offense). Plenty of them in shelters.

We took in four dogs this year. Three that were on "death row" due to not being adopted and their time was up. One (a black lab of some sort) that was dragging itself along the road after being beaten, shot and hit by a car. He is doing okay, won't never be perfect, but is a big lover boy.

Shelter dogs come with baggage but with some work and love, they usually (not always) work out.

 

[DABSGT]

Best dog over had was a 135 lb German shepard. He was my K-9 partner for 8 years big baby at home my children learned to walk by holding them self up on him gentle and calm. Now when he was at work different story. Had lots of fun and good memory's of him. But to answer your question just pick one that catches your eye, love and time spent with the dog it will come. I have had many dogs since none will replace him no 2 are alike, it is all in the bonding.
Best of luck finding your new BEST FRIEND.

 

[gengine]

I go and pick up the free puppies in the 'thrifty nickel' papers. I do like the runts, and they have to be mutts. The two purebreds I had were obnoxious. Granted, I didn't have a 'job' to keep them occupied with. My red heeler mix never had to be trained to push cows, he just knew his job, and my border collie mix is great at gently herding everything else, as in the ducks, chickens, and putting the horses in a group. But, those breeds need a lot of activity daily. I like this time of year when they have to run through 3 feet of snow to chase the tractor while I'm feeding.

 

[rekees4300]

"What do you look for when choosing a new dog?"

Many factors involved but friendliness (toward humans and other animals), personality, intelligence and health are the primary factors. Labs are a good bet but there's no guaranteed just based on breed. Also try to adopt from a shelter. That way you will have the satisfaction of knowing you saved a life.

 

[Tollster]

MOst pupslearn at a very early age in the litter there place in the pack. If you want the alpha or the runt,be sure to spend time with the litter and study their temperment. Then handle each one you like. If you rest them in your arms it will give you a good idea on how they may fit into your home.Many times the alpha will not lay on his back easy when cradled, he will be adament about getting up and most likely challenging to raise for a few years until he learns his place in your home. Runts tend to be more docile and readily relax on their backs, they tend to be more loving,but can be shy if they are not socialized with other people and pets early in their life.
Their are many p i s s poor pet owners out there who look upon pure breds as no more than another source of income.Be sure to meet both parents of the litter,look over the home well, and most importantly be sure both parents are OFA certified before looking at any litters,verify the paperwork is authentic,and call each dog by their name to be sure they are the dogs on the certification. Labs are prone to hip dyplasia,this can lead to long winters, expense,and heartbreak to everyone involved.
We had a lab once who suffered from this,acupunture worked wonders and I litterly saw him regress 4 years or more,eventually cancer consumed him and I was forced to make the hardest decission of my life.Since then I have become very informed and refuse to go there again.
For more information on OFA certsI found the website for you to read over. do your homework before you look around,you will be reward for a long time with a great pet that will truely be happy to have you as his master.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

DOGS RULE, my best friends have always been strays!

 

[JimRB]

We call them Southern Black Dogs. We have three black mutts. One who might be pure lab, the others are mystery breeds. Pound dogs. The young two are a bit unruly which is my fault. The old black lab has always been a sweet people pleaser slightly timid. Their job is to create fur balls all over the house and keep me warm when watching TV. By the way black dogs are the last to be adopted at the pound. We shouldn't have any need for more dog adoptions for 10 years but the pound dogs have worked out better than the pure bred small terriers we have had. Actually the Scotties were fine except for skin allergies. The Cairn was not the smartest dog. Labs are our current favorite breed.

The one Lab mutt I found on the side of the road as a pup would not show her belly for years. She mellowed out in time.

 

[RobertN]

As part of choosing a dog, it is worthwhile to research the breed. A lot of people get in over their head, especially with working type dogs. Working dogs usually have high energy. Even though kept as a pet, they still have work level energy.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I would contact lab rescue in your area and talk to them. Personally, I like finding a dog that needs a home as much as I need a dog. I like them to be over a year old because by then you know exactly what you're getting. Playing with a puppy and trying to determine what they will be like as an adult is about the same as playing with a 4 week old kid and guessing what they will turn out like after high school.

The nice thing about breed rescue organizations is that usually they keep the dogs in foster homes, so they know the temperment, any medical conditions, any odd psychological tics they might have. Also they know if they are house broken, good with other animals etc.

The only difficulty I see is that there are so many Black Labs killed each year because they are the most popular breed that often the Lab rescue organizations in an area will just give up trying.

Don't think that only bad, dammaged, or weird dogs end up in rescue. That's just not true. They also often have puppies too. Labs are good at hopping fances.

Finally, if you can't deal with a used dog, at least go to a good breeder. I beg you not to buy a dog at a dog store. It just keeps them in business and too many surplus dogs are killed each year as it is.

Cliff

Full disclosure requires me to say that we've fostered over 200 dogs, most were hunting breeds, especially English Setters and Pointers.

 

[sailorman]

I don 't look for a particular breed or to spend a boat load of money . I look for a dog that picks me .

 

[rtimgray]

All of the dogs that we have had in the last 15 years have been free or shelter rescues - I'm not a fan of breeders given that there are so many dogs put to death in shelters, but I respect the rights of folks that want a purebred dog.

I tend to lean to mutt dogs, which all of our current dogs are, although our oldest appears to be mostly Malamute, the youngest appears to be mostly German Shepherd, while the middle one appears to be mostly everything.

To the question about how to keep dogs from killing chickens (and this may be gruesome to some): The only luck that I've had breaking dogs from killing chickens is to take a chicken that they have killed and tie it securing to their neck (around their collar) and then put them in a pen/on a chain until the rotting carcass falls off. My success rate with this has been about 75%, because there have been a few that didn't get the hint.

As an aside, we once had a really large German Shepherd-mongrel mix that killed a juvenile goat (about 20 pounds) and I did the same thing to him. He wore the goat around his neck for about 10 days and after that decided that he would leave goats alone - oddly enough, he never bothered the chickens as all.

Good luck with whatever you do - hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[forgeblast]

Well I have had a few that I can share what I dont want anymore.
1. Shepard, been bit by 4 now. Just dont like the breed.
2. Chow--one owner dog, other then that stubborn and dumb as a box of rocks.
3. Pits--have two pit chow mixes, after seeing them go redline on each other and the vet bills because they tore into each other I wont have one again.
3. Basenji--barkless dog...well sounds like a turkey in fact she has called in gobblers to our yard. She is too smart for her own good, think of a cat in a dogs body. If she can do it and get away with it she will. I love her a lot, but she is not by far the best dog I have ever owned.
4. Best dog I owned was a little rat/fox terrier mix. She is the dog that I will compare all others to. Great dog lived to be 18 before we had to put her down.

Dogs I will be looking at next time include dogs that will listen, protect my little one, and will stay with us when we are in the yard.
I am leaning towards a golden/doodle(cant belive i said that but wife wants one with less sheding), German short/wire hair, doby, or a brittany

 

[nue2farm]

The only sure fire way to prevent a dog from killing more chickens is either get rid of the chickens or get rid of the dog.......