Advice About Dogs

Dogs are great but as you know they require A LOT of work! I have 3 girls---5,3,1 and we had a great dog, but I just didn't have the time to put into the dog. I felt horrible, so I ended up giving the dog to my sister who already had 2 dogs and was looking for a 3rd. I will say when people get dogs and just throw them in the back yard and think the dog is getting exercise they are completely wrong. A dog needs walks 3-4 times a day and if you get a 'working breed' more exercise is needed. I would say get a smaller breed and one that doesn't require much exercise. The problem is finding the right dog. I do know someone who has an 8 week old miniature australian shephard who is great with kids, but they are a working breed and may be a little excited. If you want more info. please call me at ###-###-####. I do know about many breeds so please call if you want. Good luck T.

Well bred Cocker Spaniels are great dogs. They aren't too big or too small. They don't have tails wiping everything off tables and they are very smart. Don't go to "backyard" breeders for any dog though. Penny Creek Farms in Roy down by Fort Lewis is great for cockers. Her's are well bred, she socializes the dogs and if they don't work for you she will take it back and find it another home. She is pretty much an expert in cockers too so if you have questions she can give you the correct answer. Her name is Darlene Mattson husband is Red. Cockers are like any other dog though, you have to be a responsible pet owner!

If you would like to adopt a dog that isn't a puppy, I would suggest looking at www.petfinder.org there are a lot of different rescue organizations with tons and tons of great dogs looking for homes. Some of the rescue organizations don't allow families with children to adopt the dogs but there are a lot that do. You can search right in whatever your criteria ends up being. Plus if the dog doesn't end up being a perfect fit for your family, they usually will often re-home the pet.

Puppies are great if you are able to take the time and have the energy to train them. I highly recommend taking a puppy to a puppy manners class and then one or two obedience classes after the puppy class. It will really help you to make a great addition to your family.

As far as breeds are concerned, if you don't mind the extra hair and shedding, Golden Retrievers are the way to go... they are the absolute sweetest most forgiving dogs out there and they absolutely love to be a part of a family. They are very much a happy go lucky dog and love to play, fetch is their favorite which is great with the kids. We have a Golden and got her when my son was only 3, he was afraid of dogs at the time, well our Golden definately changed that, they were very quickly the bestest buds and he can do just about anything to her and she doesn't mind at all, she just loves all the attention. Also, any Lab type dog or Lab mix are great too. You can also search online for a breed you like that is good with children. Here is a website that I really liked that rates dogs with children (I copied the link to that area but the whole website has tons of great info)... http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/children.htm

I would steer clear of any smaller type dog as they tend to get nervous around kids and tend to be nippy. I have had dogs my whole life and have had quite a variety of differnt breeds as well, I have trained quite a few up to the competition obedience level. Hope that helps!

We found our dog at WAIF - Whidbey Island Animal Improvement Foundation. They are excellent! They do detailed questionnaires to determine the exact right match of dog to you and your family, based upon your lifestyle, etc. Also, research dogs that are good with people, and kids in general, like retrievers, etc.

Good luck! Dogs are great!

I applaud your caution--- I am a life-long dog owner - and dogs are NOT for everyone--- . Here are ( to my view) the pluses: A dog always loves you - and is delighted to listen, and care - a truly loving family member. Negative?? - a dog is like a child -- left to their own all day in the backyard, they can be a nuisance- barking, digging and generally making a pest of themselves. Now, if you are home all day- and intend to continue to be ---- then you may be perfect for a dog. Shelters are very careful to screen dogs - I'd really encourage you to call Veterinarians in your area and ask about really good shelters - and also ask questions about breeds. Each kind of dog is somewhat different. For example- a dauchsund ( I'm spelling that wrong- you know- a wiener dog) - BARKS ---- lots ---and has a very piercing bark -which can be really annoying. Big dogs TEND to be quiet and gentle - but there are exceptions.

If you do your homework and make a careful choice- you may soon ask yourself why in the world you waited--- on the other hand--- people sometimes ask themselves why they added to their list of responsibilities.
Forgive me if I sound negative- but dogs are very dependent on ''''their''' people - and adopting one is a wonderful, demanding proposition.

Blessings,
J.
( my Golden Retriever approved this ad)

lololol

I would highly recommend going through a rescue organization. There are many in the area that are breed-specific. A good start would be to do some research on various breeds and see which ones tend to have the qualities you are looking for (good with kids, etc.), then start checking with the rescue groups for those breeds. These groups put a lot of time and effort into evaluating dogs, learning about their background and behavior, and should similarly spend a good bit of time and effort getting to know you and your family as well, so that they can match you with the right dog. Adult dogs are much "easier" to bring into a family in many ways, but whether puppy or adult, be prepared to really invest the time and energy it takes to successfully make a dog part of your family.

Another great way to start your search is to go to one of the many off-leash dog parks in the area and spend some time meeting various breeds and types of dogs to get an idea of what you like and what might work best for your family. Talk to the dogs' owners and get as much info as you can about their dogs. While it's true that dogs are individuals and there's never a guarantee that a particular dog will have all the traits it's breed is known for (good or bad), the more you can learn about breeds and dogs in general, the better off you'll be in making a decision. Good luck!!

There are so many dogs in shelters who need homes. A lot of them are loving and are looking for a home where they will be well cared for. Perhaps you and your husband can first go to the shelter and talk with the workers to see which dogs would best suit your family. Spend some time with the dogs and see if you think they'll be a good fit for your family. After you've narrowed down your choices, then you can return to the shelter with your kids and let them meet your top two or three picks for the family. This will eliminate the chaos that can ensue when you have 3 kids all who want different dogs, none of whom may work with your family.

I grew up with rescue dogs and they were all very loving and never aggressive. My husband grew up with purebred dogs and as a result when we were first together we got two different purebred dogs: a yellow lab and english pointer. They are great dogs, but they have been much harder to train than any shelter dog I had growing up.

Good luck!