Thinking of Adopting a Dog, Suggestions

If you are here in VA - look up MUTTSMATTER.org - they will "fit" you with the right dog for your family.

That's the best thing I can tell you. Talk to them about your limitations and what you are looking for in a dog and they will help you find the dog that works for your family!

GOOD LUCK!!

First of all, understand that this will be your dog. Your kids will walk it for the first week, and only if it's not raining, snowing, hailing, steaming hot, or early in the morning. Do not believe them. I know they are wonderful kids and they are totally sincere right now but really, there are no parents on the face of the earth who will tell you this will be the kids' attitude for very long. While they're whining about how they're tired or they'll do it when the TV show is over or that it's the other sibling's turn, the dog has now peed or pooped on the carpet. Oh, and the novelty of picking up dog poop wears off after the first time!

Consider going to a shelter, particularly one that does a good job of getting the background on the animal. Most dogs in shelters have not been abused. I wouldn't get one on line or from a rescue organization (even a good one) if the dog has to be transported a long distance or flown to you. There's less support for you, and you really don't know what you're going to get. A local shelter knows they'll see you again, and the dogs haven't been moved around so much and are less traumatized. They should be asking you a lot of questions (we did a 5-page application!) and working hard to make a good match. Do not buy a dog at a pet store. Ever.

Consider a dog other than a puppy - a 9 or 12 month old dog is probably housebroken already, and is old enough to go all night without having to go out. A puppy, like a human baby, can't go all night.

Consider a mixed breed - thoroughbreds are expensive. There's no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, but Tibetan terriers, Maltese, poodles, Portuguese water dogs, and some "-oodle" crosses (e.g. a schnoodle, cross between schnauzer and poodle) often get the no-shed label. We had a Cairn (purebred) which shed hair but didn't have dander, so people weren't allergic to her. We now have a rescue dog that is part Cairn, part Affenpinscher and part who-knows-what but it seems to be terrier breeds, who does not shed AT ALL. Nothing. I don't really know why, but work with the shelter to express your needs, and be prepared to wait for the right dog to come along. In general, smaller dogs live longer, by the way.

Barking all night - stay away from the hounds (beagles, foxhounds, etc.) because they love to bay at the moon or bark if they hear an animal outside at night, but remember that any puppy can bark for comfort, like babies cry. Also be sure to spay or neuter the dog - unneutered males always want to go out at night in pursuit of females. They also don't always have good dispositions.

You want a small dog, but don't get something really fragile because you have a toddler. Even a big dog like a greyhound is not good with toddlers - they are docile, but have fragile bones and a tumbling toddler can break a dog's leg. Terriers are great family dogs but have to be leashed - they are bred to take off after rodents, so you can assume they will chase every squirrel and chipmunk. But we've had terrific luck with them.

Do not get a Dalmation - they aren't good with kids. No matter what you do. They don't even like adults all that much LOL!

Plan on crate-training your dog for a lot of reasons. They need a place to be secure when you go out or travel, they need a place to get away from a 2 year old, and they tend to sleep better and housebreak better if you can confine them someplace where they will not pee. There are plenty of DVDs on dog training - borrow some from the library to get an idea. Our shelter told us absolutely NOT to follow the "Dog Whisperer" - they do not endorse his methods at all. So get some info from vets and dog experts.

Finally- BUDGET. For food, vet care (emergencies, illness plus routine and neuter/spay), toys, monthly heartworm meds, flea/tick stuff, grooming, annual license, 3-year rabies & other shots, fence/lead/run for outdoors, equipment (bowl, leash, crate), boarding during vacations,and training unless you absolutely know what you are doing. It adds up.

Hopefully you will find one your mother can deal with. If not, leave the dog at home. Do not adopt a dog and then give it back because your mother cannot be around it. It's not fair to the animal. Every dog should be purchased or adopted thinking it's going to it's "forever home." It's not like returning a dress that doesn't fit. If your mother is that important in the scenario, then take her with you. If she can't go into the shelter, then bring the dog on a walk away from the others and greet her.

Any little dog needs to be an indoor dog - there are coyotes all around. And outdoor dogs are often neglected and a nuisance to neighbors if they bark all the time. But you still are going to walk that dog and exercise it and play with it.

If you do it right, dog ownership is wonderful. Our Cairn died at almost 14, and gave us so many wonderful years and laughs. We waited 2 years, and my husband still didn't want another dog because he was still missing her so much, but then I saw a blurb in the local paper listing all the dogs the local humane society had for adoption. When I saw this young part-Cairn dog up for adoption, it spoke to me. What can I say. My husband dragged his feet, but after a week, he was completely smitten with this little adorable critter who had been abandoned by 2 previous families. Took us some patience and some good understanding of her temperament but she was great with us within 2 days, and good with outsiders within a month. Not bad for all she had been through, and now she's a real joy.

And did I mention, it's YOUR dog and you need to walk it because your kids won't??!! LOL.

i suggest you take this list to the shelter and see what they bring you. spend time with a few and make your choice from there. excellent job! congrats in advance!

(we did exactly what i suggested you do - took our list of "wants". and in the end we ended up with a great dog!)

We looked into getting a dog 8 yrs ago. I simply went to the computer and typed in "non-shedding" dogs. All dogs have dander, but, a good brushing and a bath help w/ that. I use my dry swiffer alot.

When we got the puppy, she was 12 weeks old and it was like having a newborn. It took months to train her. She chewed everything she could get her teeth on. I had to gate off 2 of the rooms. She did not always sleep through the night. Every time we opened the front door, she would try to make a run for it. So, we ended up coming in the downstairs entrance.

I do all the work. Everybody helps in the begininng (like w/ all my friends) and then it becomes a Mommy job most of the time.

Look into how often the dog has to be groomed and if it will need its teeth cleaned. I have a yorkie. The vet cleans her teeth every so often and it is six hundred dollars. The grooming is about fifty dollars every 6 to 8 wks. The well visits are over a hundred dollars. So there are costs---but, so worth it !!

My friend just got a cockapoo puppy and she has to keep it on a leash outside- at all times- or it will take off! She is investing in a fence. Several families wanted to get this dog. The rescue center would not give the dog to a family unless the children in the house were 5 yrs or older for safety reasons in that a toddler might not treat a puppy correctly.

We have an australian shepherd. When they are puppies, they are very playful. They loooove kids. They are very easy to train. Very smart dogs! The fur is so soft and kind of long. But they do not shed a lot. They grow to be a medium dog. But there are also mini australian shepherds that don't grow quite as big.

Boston Terrier! There's nothing cuter than a smooshey faced dog :-) They are great with kids, have short hair that makes grooming easy, love to be social, like exercise but also enjoy rest, and have a ton of personality. They have short little hair that doesn't shed a huge amount, but they do shed some. (in other words, they aren't 'hypo-allergenic' in the way yorkies and poodles are.)

I raised one from a pup and adopted one from rescue and other family members have adopte from rescue. Regardless of breed that you select, also evaluate which route to canine-parenthood is best for your family...adoption or purchase from a responsible breeder. Our adopted bostons have not been the best housebroken dogs in the world...the one I raised from puppyhood was unbelievably well housebroken. That said, my 3yr old adopted dog has a lot of advantages over a puppy (for my situation)...sleeping through the night, past the chewing puppy-teeth stage, etc. Choose what works best for your family.

Pugs are good with kids and so are Boston Terriers. (I have a Boston see my profile picture). I too was looking for a nice small dog that would be good with children and a companion to our family and low grooming maintenance (not a lot of shedding). Like children they need lots of love and attention. And some breeds have genetic health problems, both breeds I mentioned usually have respiratory problems.

I did a lot of research to pick out this breed and I ended up going to a breeder because there were not any in the nearby rescues. I would wait a few more years to get a dog or puppy since you youngest is only 2.

My daughter had been asking since she was 3 but I wanted to wait until she could help take care of our dog (walking, feeding and playing).

Can you give the dog a walk every day? Not fun in the yard, but on a good, exerting leash walk? Dogs require this. Every breed, every size. If you can't do that, I would suggest waiting until your children are older and you can.

If you can...Instead of focusing on breeds, I suggest you focus on temperament. Many dogs don't shed. When you go to the shelters, have a list of dog breeds that you have in mind. Look at the ones who have that breed in them. You can choose the best tempered dog from that group. Have your kids come with you to a shelter, adoption center, whatever. (Dogs in these situations will have more energy then normal, because they aren't walked or really exercised. Keep that in mind.) You want a dog that does not jump all over the place when it meets you. It's tail should not be too high (dominant) or too low (timid.) Of course, the dog should be friendly and happy. Touch and play (you would need to do this, in case) with it's paws, face, ears, tail, legs. Make sure the dog has no tension with that. Ask if the dog is food aggressive, animal aggressive, or anxious. Good luck.

Go to questions and answers. Someone has a puppy that needs a home.

Look up dogs who have hair vs. fur - yorkies, poodles, maltese. Keep in mind, smaller dogs can have a tendency to not adore the little ones so really check out their personality. I know several people with Maltese - they are super cute, have hair not fur, can be really sweet and friendly BUT they tend to be expensive and grooming them can be quite difficult or costly (to pay someone else to do it).

We have a miniature schnauzer puppy (just got her 4 months ago), and she fits all of your criteria. She is very good with our 2 year old, and was excellent spending a weekend around a group of children (age 2-12) that she had never spent time with.
We crate-trained her since my husband and I are gone at work all day. She does completely well all day without accidents. We're still adjusting to walks (she barks at all new dogs and people), but she's a puppy and is getting better. Once she's able to sniff them, she's calm.
I was hesitant to get a dog (my husband really wanted one), but am glad that we have the breed that we do!

We've always had Poodles due to allergy and non shedding and little exercise, etc. We had a small miniature that was 12 lbs but they get larger. You might find a Poodle mix at an adoption place. Mostly anything mixed with Poodle sheds less although it may shed depending on the other dog it's mixed with. Our kids loved our dog and she lived 17 years. We now have a standard Poodle and he is great too only big. That's my opinion on dogs for people who don't like shedding and have allergies.

Being a large dog person I am sorry I am not able to help with breeds. For me the bigger the better. But growing up, a friend had a yorkie and I just wanted to let you know that it barked ALOT. I don't know if it is a breed thing, or a training thing, or both, but it barked its annoying little ear piercing bark ALL THE TIME.

Have fun with your new family member and kudos to you for doing your research first!!