Looking for a new(used) dog. What kind to get?

It has been a little over a week and I'm/we're missing oury poochie like crazy.
Though there can never be a replacement for him, my wife and I discussed getting a new dog.
We bought our house 11 years ago and got the dog 1 week after we moved in, so it's like he was a part of the house.
We still find ourselves doing little things the very same way that we did when he was among us.

That being said, we are really missing the companionship and have lots more love to give still. So we feel that another doggie is just the pill for the ill. Either that, or we got to start liking each other again. :-D

The question is what kind of dog to get? Our preferences are for a medium-sized, low maintenance couch potato that is obedient and affectionate.

We are getting older and want a dog that will not drag us across the lawn, but is still fun to play with.

What do you have and what would you recommend? TIA.

 

Labrador or Golden Retriever. Smart, affectionate, and very adaptable.

Ultimately though, the best thing you two can do is go to a local shelter, get to know the dogs there, and pick the one you feel most comfortable with. If you're not comfortable with either of the offered pooches, go to a different shelter. This is going to be your dog. You need to love him/her, not us.

Note that I have only cats as of yet, and no dogs... but one thing I do know is that you have to let your pet choose you, or everything will fail.

 

I think Mimsy summed it up. Check the shelters, and maybe if you know anyone that is giving away or selling mutts for cheap.

You will know when you see the one, he/she will probably pick you. :-D As far as breeds, labs are great, but can be a little hyper, and they have the wicked coffee table killing tail... But with some training , they can be wonderful pets.

Good luck finding your new friend.

 

My last dog was a Sheperd/Rotwieller mix and he had quite the tail himself. The kids nicknamed him Dogzilla, because he could destroy just about anything with a swing of his tail.

Everything had to be kept way out of his reach or it would hit the floor.

He was a great dog and had plenty of energy, but since we are getting a little older ourselves, we are looking for a more subdued, couch potato, loverboy/girl.

I'm a little more of a dog lover than my wife, but she fell absolutely in love with our last boy and it was her suggestion that we get a new companion.

We'll look around. I'm sure it won't be long before we welcome a new friend with open arms.

 

Apparently Great Danes are very laid back, but they are not medium sized dogs. What about a Beagle?

 

What about a Poodle? Those ones do not shed and you can find in various sizes, maybe a standard size or a miniature (not a toy size, too small).:confused

 

I've adopted quite a number of dogs from shelters and am a firm believer in doing so.

Most are on the net now and you can browse through the kennels. Do so for a month or two and I am certain you will find the perfect pup, plus you will have likely saved a life.

One funny story, I went to visit a shelter once to check out a doggy they had listed. Looked like what I was looking for. Got there and walked him out into the yard on a leash, he immediately lifted his leg against me, I jumped away and returned him to his kennel, sorry, not a fit!

 

My wife and I do volunteer work at a 'No Kill' shelter, though I haven't done it for a while, and I think Mimsy gave you the best advice you can get. However, go to your local shelter, the one that periodically puts dogs down due to space restraints, and let your future friend pick you!! I agree with Fred about the Labs and the Goldens. I had a Black Lab and, trust me, when they get excited and their tail gets to wagging....RUN!!!:-D Good luck and I know you'll find a match!!

 

Labs are very well natured and loving dogs. I would definitely recommend them over any others but I may just be biased because that's the breed I have always had. I currently have a black lab and lost our yellow lab last year but they are amazing animals,, love em like family.

 

My last dog was an absolute gift from above. My wife had a co-worker who was looking to give his dog away and we were just getting ready to make settlement on our house in the country.
They brought the dog over to our old house for a visit and after he sniffed around for a few minutes, he laid at my feet.

I knew then and there that me and this dude were meant to be together.

About a week after we moved in and got settled, they brought him out to us and that was that.

We spent 11 years with the "bigfurrykid" and we were devastated when he recently passed.

Even though he is now gone, I still hope that when I get home from work, I will see him laying where he always did.

Almost 2 weeks have passed and though there will never be a replacement, We have a big house and lots more love to give.

I'm sure that we will find that special guy, or girl and they will fill our hearts with joy.

Thanks to all who responded and for all the support during this painful time in our lives.

We have decided that we will let our new friend pick us and love him or her with all that we have.

Okay, starting to get emotional, better go watch wrestling :strong.

Thanks all. Good night.

 

You will find one, or they will find you. I got Fred from a friend, he was the only long haired puppy of the litter, and he was the runt. Little critter used to run and hide from me, then he started coming to me. And God willing, next Monday will mark his 16th year on this planet.

They are family, take your time, and I suspect you will know when you find the right one.

 

Wife brought home a puppy last year (almost exactly a year now). It's parents were both half Shi Tzu and Chihuahua mix . . . so what ever that makes the puppy . . . :-D I don't think she looks a lot like either breed.

I prefer a larger breed, but she has been a good indoor dog thus far. I have a pic but it's a fuzzy cell phone of her chilling on the couch.

In my case, I have found that whenever I have lost a beloved pet it is better not to get the same breed again. . . I'd find myself unintentionally comparing the behavior of the two and this really isn't fair to the new animal. This dog is nothing like any dog I have had before, so no issue there . . .

I'm sure your family will find it's next significant animal-other . . . or like Mimsy and Fred said, it will find you, which is usually best. This puppy of ours chose my wife.

 

Well being a dog lover, and with my recent canine problem, I couldn't resist.
Labs are wonderful pets, but they are energetic, and could potentially need LOTS of exercise in their younger age. I currently have a beagle, and a german shephard/pit mix. Beagles are wonderful, affectionate, loveable, curious. Not sure if you have a fenced in yard, but that is an absolute must for beagle owners, because unlike poodles/ cocker spaniels you can't just let them outside to use the bathroom, cause they don't come back. Here are some pics of tater-tot. and
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=216938
and here are some pics of cosmo
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/album.php?albumid=149
Cosmo was rescued after our neighbors left him when they moved, and he was so little, now he's bout' 60lb. and definetly the best dog we could ever want.
As to the type of dog you should get,,,, I've seen all sorts of wonderful/laidback dog of all breeds, Pits, rotts, golden retriver, labs, chow, hounds. Its all in how they are raised. good luck in your search, and keep us posted. :cool

 

Hi bigfurrykid, here is a pic of mine. Believe me, you will know, when you look into his or her eyes. You will know.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z185/sheltysoo/TC%20Cat%20Pictures/Princess.jpg

 

I have a 1 year old BlueTick you can get

 

Am I reading into this wrong, or are you offering up your dog?

 

I just found a pic of my guy on my main computer. He was probably about 5 or 6 in that pic. The fireplace was his favorite place to lay when it was cold out.
So there was plenty of cuddling going on if the rest of the family wanted some heat also.
I completely understand when someone says that when you look into his eyes you will know.
I don't even get that same feeling when I look into my wife's eyes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/b44t/6-5-201094403PM.jpg

 

Beautiful animal BFK! Just hope your wife does not have your login password... :-D Or her own MG account...

 

He is one Big Furry Kid alright! Handsome too. Yes, BFK, you will know when the time is right. I always went on my gut feelings. They have never been wrong yet. I should have posted in mine, she was 18 years old in that pic. Was the last one I took of her.

Also, Fred has a point, there,

 

1. Never, ever, let your wife see that post.

2. That's a beautiful dog! And a smart one, going for the fireplace when he gets cold.

The thing with a pet is, the bonding you do with them is mutual. The animal needs to want to be your friend as much as the other way around, that's why it's so important not to pick them prematurely, without being 100% sure that this is the right one. Even though it might be lonely without a dog, don't rush in to pick one that's not completely right for you just because you're lonely. When you find the right one, you will know, and it will be worth the wait.

 

My wife actually picked tater out, and she still says to this day, that he picked her. She found an ad in the paper, and went to look at them, and when she walked up, all the others went to the box, and he was the smallest, but he came out like he was the BIGGEST pup of the litter.
And she says she knew he was the one. :major
Heres cosmo
And tater-tot is the beagle

 

Nice looking dog, there, bigfurrykid. He's got that expressive look that indicates he was an intellegent dog.

(Oh, yeah - ditto what Mimsy said . . . do not let the spouse see the post! )

 

Don't get me wrong, when I look at my pet I see my child and when I look at my wife I see my friend.

When I got home from work, I would always take the time to kiss my dog and pet my wife!

 

haha love it

 

I've always wanted a Bulldog, so I'm trying to locate one near by.
They seem to be pretty low maintenance as well as very loving.
Friends of ours have an American Bulldog and he is my buddy.
He always sits with me on the couch and lays his head on my lap.
The last time we went over, was about a week after my dog had passed.
I was kind of emotional and I believe that he could tell.
He showered me with kisses and his owners could hardly believe it, as he rarely gives kisses.
During the entire visit, he would not leave my side and when we left, he actually walked to the door with me.

That really got to me in a way that is hard to put into words. :cry

We are going to give it a few more weeks to get better adjusted to our "Bigfurrykid" not being around before we start our search for our new friend.

But I've been online and looking at the local shelters and I'm sure that we will find the right furry friend for us.

Thanks to all and I'll update when we bring him or her home.

 

I hope you realize that we'll expect photos?

 

The dogs I had recently has been huskies(akita) and cocker spaniel. They are very nice loving dog. I believe in the adopting a pet from a shelter, but the biggest thing is I suggest is walking, playing, visiting many times to see an animal before buying it. I go month atleast of visits and walks and etc before buying a new animal, but one time I bought a dog (didnt show no aggression it was very nice and loving and played and walked well with me it) I tried few things that most dont like tring to piss an animal off or to defend or bite to test if dog would do something when we got him home) yet nothing so it was a good thing I thought. Bought dog, sign papers and registered it and etc that day.. got it home to the house and after some time I had to go to work so I put it in a huge room with tons of stuff in it and locked it up. I came home from work and the whole carpet was torn from the floor boards and in several small pieces. I said oh my already cost me money on 1st day! But I figure it was scared, lonely and etc.. So put it in cage dog broke the whole cage and bent all the bars to get out and tore stuff apart. Many days = weeks of doing so I ended up buying many cages and special huge locks for garages and doors for a house and dog still broke through all of them! I was so surpise when a dog broke a 2 inches of chain to get out, took pics to show people because I never seen an animal do this much. Anyways eventually dog got stolen from me.

 

I mentioned in my thread about the new kitten that when we took him in to the vet for microchipping and getting shots and stuff, we learned that he had been adopted once and they took him back to the agency after a few days, because he was "so loud". Apparently they were unaware that young kittens are scared of being alone and cry for help and company, and when they get it they can become very vocal when expressing how happy they are to see you.

Good rescue shelters are strict about who they give animals to with good reason. It helps if the person taking the animal knows what to expect as well.

 

I was on the webpage of a local shelter and the adoption application was actually 7 pages long. I kid you not!

I'm more of a 2 to 3 page kind of guy, so I'll be looking at another shelter.

As soon as mine and wifey's schedule coincides, we are going to a shelter near her work. :hyper

 

Well, there is such a thing as "over-doing it"... 7 pages? Wow.

 

I'd go for a small dog who does small poo because big dog does big poo.

Big poo sucks...

 

I like no dog no poop:-D

I think I'm just bias though,most of my life I live next door to a family who had a pitbull,we only have small houses over here and the 'yard' is about 15X15 square of concrete which isn't so bad until that 15X15 square is left full of poo while the hot summer sun cooks it.

:cry

 

Yep. Big gas too, especially with mastiffs. They can stink an entire house out. I know from personal and others experience. You will have a lot of crap and gas with mastiffs regardless of cheap or expensive food so if you get one be prepared for a lot of land mines in the yard and be ready at a frequent rate to open all windows and doors in the house for ventilation while turning all the fans on high because candles won't help much no matter how many you use. I loved my mastiff but I will not get another one because of their bloating issues, plus they do slobber and their wagging tail will rack you better than any lab will trust me on that. It's like a bull whip.

I would like to get a pit bull from a rescue shelter next time. It would be big enough for me to not worry about it getting killed by other animals yet it would be much smaller than what I'm used to which would be a big relief since that would be easier to walk around in the house, easier on the wallet, and easier on the back and arms when lifting or moving the dog around when it gets sick or injured. Big dogs move furniture too from bumping or leaning in to things which is really aggravating.

 

big dog does big poo

My dog would secure the perimeter with some serious dogmines.
We switched his food up a few times at the suggestion of the vet and he was still dropping some major bombs.

We are looking for a smaller dog this time, because when my dude got sick, he was near impossible to move.

Maybe a dog around 40 to 60 lbs max.

Wifey is afraid of small dogs, due to an attack when she was a little girl and I no longer have the back to lift a huge dog if the situation should arise.

I'm looking on the net almost daily, but need to wait until we can both meet with a potential friend.

The wait is killing me, but I know it will be worth it.