How to Pick a Dog

I asked this question this week and got a ton of great responses. I think you can just click on my profile name and go to "Questions Asked" if you want to read some of the responses I got.

You know dogs so I can't offer too much except one thing I hadn't really thought of is how difficult it is to walk a dog when you have little kids unless both parents are home. I grew up with our dog getting a long walk morning and later at night so I started the same for our dog (plus he goes out during the day). But now if my husband isn't home, the dog still wants to go out once the kids are in bed but I can't just leave them... I know you have a large yard but certain dogs still need to be walked a lot. So I'd consider how to handle that. I also think an older dog is easier with little kids so long as the dog is good with kids. Puppies nip so much. My sister has 3 dogs and when they were puppies, she had to keep them away from her kids. We adopted a 2-3 year old Lab and he's wonderful. I just wished I'd known how much exercise a Lab needs.

First, the pound/shelter will have already given all the dogs temperment tests and know which dogs can be placed in homes w/animals and small children....after that go with your gut. Take them out and interact with them and narrow down the choices then come back with the whole family.

~I lucked out and have THE BEST dog in the world! He is a Mutt. He is a Catahoula Leopard Dog/Rott Mix. He is the epitome of Calm-Submissive but with a wicked watch dog mentality! He was the easiest puppy ever to potty train and he is amazingly intelligent! I love him so much! He listens to me so well, it is seriously AMAZING! But I put in the effort from day 1 and knew exactly how I wanted him to behave. You have to put in the effort...but when you do, you will have your very own 'Best Dog EVER'!

IMO, I say go with a puppy...then you know everything there is to know about his personality from the get go. I like mellow dogs, so when I was choosing mine from the litter I watched and observed all of them and my Brooks was always just sitting and mellow...not running around like a crazy rowdy puppy....to this day that is how he is, VERY mellow!

Good Luck!

If you can, I would leave your daughter with someone the first time you visit the shelter. The first visit may take a while so you don't make any rash/rushed decisions. Also the visit may be stressful on a small child since shelters are chaotic, loud, smelly places in my experience. On this first visit I would walk around the shelter first by yourselves, making a note of any dogs which catch your eye. Then I would talk extensively with a member of the shelter staff. The dogs will have been assessed so the staff should be knowledgeable regarding the dogs. I would honestly and clearly state to the staff your needs and wants in your future dog. You can discuss the specific dogs you noted on your walk through alone and also any staff suggested dogs. Once you have a short list of potential dogs, I would visit with each dog. The shelter should have a quiet room for you and your husband to meet with the dogs. Pay attention to how each dog reacts to you and your husband. You want a dog interested in you and it will also give you the opportunity to see how the dog handles/listens/responds to you and your husband. After your first visit you will probably have one or two dogs you are seriously interested in. At this point I would leave the shelter, returning within the next day or so with your daughter. As a family I would meet with the dog(s) you most think you will fit your family.

The staff will have other pointers on what to do during your visit and how to select a dog. There are good books and websites to help in picking rescue dogs. Keep in mind shelters can alter a dog’s behavior due to stressors associated with the shelter experience, the dog’s history, the dog’s temperament, etc.

I have no preference for either a puppy or an adult. Each has its pros/cons. A puppy is a clean slate but a lot more work. A puppy is no longer really a puppy at about age 18 months so that can be a long haul. An adult dog on the other hand can have bad habits but they tend to be less work and are calmer. With a kind, firm, consistent hand most dogs can be re-trained, though, which brings me to a final point. Think about how much you know about dogs and dog training. If you are not terribly dog savvy, then don’t pick a “tough” dog out of pity or for another misguided reason. Keep a level head and pick a good family dog which will meet your family’s needs.

In general I think the following. Purer bred dogs tend to be more work and also have more health issues. Mutts tend to be better all around dogs. Smaller dogs tend to be more work and higher strung. Bigger dogs make bigger messes and require more energy burning. Generalities but worth mentioning.

We rescued a 10 year female puppy mill Pug. She was terrified of my husband at first and she licked incessantly. She's come around and been a great dog, though. Our only sorrow - due to her age she just won't be a part of our family that long. At least we get to love her during her golden years.

Good luck and happy dog hunting.

I have found that you do not pick the dog, the dog picks you. We were chosen by our pets and that is just how it works in my opinion. Go to the shelters and walk around, take your time. Many have an area where you can take them to play for a bit and see personalities click or not click.

This is going to be unpopular, but if you had a dog for 5 years (!) and gave him up because it was too much work for you, I'm not sure you should get another one. They are a lot of work, and you may want another child... A dog is a family member, and the way I see it, I wouldn't give one of those up unless I had no other choice. Like 'Adansmama' I consider it a lifetime commitment.

we have had a great, very educational experience with our shelter dog. i live in a big metropolitan area so there are a ton of shelters. i told them what i was looking for in size, temperament, age. i didn't want a puppy because i am a MOM first and didn't want to deal with raising a puppy. just like another baby, imo and i didn't want that. obviously i wanted a dog that's good with kids, to figure that out i just took him with me. i didn't want long hair or a super hyper dog....etc.

i did NOT worry about breed, or looks. although i did kinda turn my nose up at a puggle (sorry puggle lovers) but mostly that was because he was really old and seemed to be on his last legs, raspy breathing, hard time walking, etc. anyway, i digress...

the folks at the shelter were great. found us the "perfect" dog.

HOWEVER.

after the first few weeks i realized that a bird dog (she is part english pointer - looks JUST like one only smaller) has a LOT of energy, and in all my research and homework, i neglected that minor tidbit. she had a lot of nervous energy at home because we are a pretty low-key family, and i was not good about walking her. i actually wanted a lower energy dog, but it has worked out. we switched to an all natural dog food (rachel ray's "nutrish" is really good), and that helped a lot, then we also got a treadmill (which was actually for me, i didn't seriously think she'd use it)- she took to it like a champ and now we are BOTH much happier and healthier. long story short sometimes you don't know what you need until you have it lol. - i was in this for the long haul from the beginning, i was making a lifetime commitment and i looked at it as such. i was not going to "give her back" or try to rehome her because "I" couldn't deal with her. so we learned from her the best way to be one big happy family. and gave her what SHE needed rather than expecting her to conform to our life.

she is the best dog. and we can take her out in the woods at my mom's, to the dog park, riding in the car. she already knew how to come, sit, down, and play fetch. she has great manners. she came fully vetted, spayed, and with a microchip. i am so glad that you are getting a shelter dog. i think that albuquerque, is a pretty big city, right? hopefully you will find the perfect dog. don't get discouraged if you don't right away - i waited several months and ended up going on a weekend they were having reduced fees, and got her for only $50. all that for only $50, i was so impressed! i love a good deal :)

Good luck in your search!!!

(Ps - alexis is right about a shelter changing a dog's personality. that's how we got such a high energy dog when we were looking for a more laid back dog. she is very submissive so in a small pen in the shelter she was very quiet, plus she had only been there a week so hadn't really relaxed yet. a few weeks after we got her was when we started seeing her true colors and her "pep" came back.)

Ask the shelter or rescue group to recommend dogs that they think will fit your family. Which ones are good with cats and kids if they know can save you time and heartache if you fall in love with one right away, but then find out it doesn't get along with cats. Either age group can be good depending on what you are looking for. Puppies are more time consuming, but also may have fewer bad habits. There are usually dogs of all ages though that would be a great fit and not all older dogs have problems, most won't. Also if possible find out why the dog is there and that may give you more insight into the dog. Have fun finding your new four legged family member.

We have come by our dogs in the most unusual ways for the most part. The first was given to us because friends where moving and couldn't take with. He was a Shepard mix and the best dog ever. He came to us at 10 months old with some very bad habits. Took forever to fix. The second followed my husband home while he was walking the first. He was a mix too about a year old. Wonderful dog that excavated my back yard regularly. When I lost them I was devastated. The next was abandoned in a park at about 8 weeks old and given to us by the friend who found us. She is the light of my husbands life and follows him everywhere! Finally we went to the shelter for the last one. I thought I didn't want a puppy but that is what I got. He is extremely shy around new people but very loving to the family. (We didn't know he was a great dane mix though!). In essence, our dogs always found us and we lived with them and all their quirks. They are so much work and any larger dog will have to be walked daily or they can be destructive. Some breeds tend to dig alot (border collie and labs) some chew everything that is not nailed down! When you get a mix, you get some of all the traits in the mix but they are generally the best dogs. I wouldn't trade my dogs for anything (even as I'm picking up the feathers in the pillow they just destroyed!) Good luck in your search as the end result is the best!

I would look into the life span of dogs. For instance, our pug has a life span of @16 years, so to get one 2-5 year old, we would still have a lot of time with him. However, my BIL german shepard is 9, and is going to pass away any day now, so to get a 5 year old dog, won't give you much time. I would want as much time as possible with the dog. That being said, I don't know if I could deal with a puppy again.

We adopted our puppy 2 years ago. I use the term puppy loosely. He was already almost full grown when we got him. We have since learned by watching his behavior that he was severly abused and has some issues around that. He still acts very much like a puppy. He still nips or tries to nip. He sleeps curled up like a puppy and has many puppy tendancies. We jus wish we could help him grow up a little faster and gain his confidence.

We love our dog and we are looking to get another dog in the future but one dog is fine enough. We also have a cat. The cat is really old. The dog loves the cat, the cat hates the dog. ;-) LOL.