First you need to see what type of dog fits your lifestyle.Then you either need to find a good breeder or go to the shelter or a rescue group!NEVER buy a dog from the pet store for many reasons to long to list.
DO NOT buy a puppy from a puppy store. If you'd like more information why, myself and others on this site would be happy to tell you the evils of puppy stores and puppy mills.
What I would do is look on www.petfinder.com and look for a dog at a shelter near you that needs a home.
Why hate www.petfinder.com? It's a shelter run site and is only as good as the shelter that is running it's own page.
Shelters are staffed by volunteers and run on donations. Sometimes that don't have the time to take pictures, the quality cameras to take the pictures, or the equipment to upload pictures.
I think your "hate" is a little misplaced to say the least.
But...petfinder isn't responsible for putting pictures or not putting pictures up. That's like saying you hate dogster or yahoo because people don't put pictures on their profiles.
I don't see what's difficult or confusing about petfinder. It is simply a resource to see dogs available in the nearest area. You choose a breed put in your zipcode and it brings up animals nearby.
Whether the profiles of the animals are complete and detailed is the responsibility of the shelter that put the animal information up, not petfinder's. It's simply letting you know the dogs are their. You'd have to go to the shelter in the end anyway because it's not like they are simply going to let you fill out an application online and have it sent to you.
There are a lot of factors that you should consider. For example:
1. If you live in an apartment then you may want to consider getting a smaller dog rather then a great dane.
2. If you do end up adopting (which is something that I highly recommend, but I think that point has already been made above) then go to the shelter or try www.petfinder.com. The advantage to petfinder.com is that you can look up what shelters are in your area and even go directly to their website. You don't want to drive 20 minutes to get to a shelter to find out that they only have cats there. After you find one that you like, go online and research the characteristics of that type of dog.
3. Before looking you can also research online certain types of dogs. For example, certain dogs are generally less aggressive then others. There are always exceptions to this rule though so keep that in mind.
Every individual dog is different and from my experience, when you go to the shelter to see the dogs you will know which one is right for you. Just go in educated.
I personally have a beagle and a yellow lab. The beagle is stubborn as heck and sweet as can be. The lab is smart, loyal, and the most friendly dog I've ever owned. Good luck finding your new best friend.
Oh yes, pick a breed based on your lifestyle and what you're willing to do and put up with! I LOVE LOVE LOVE petfinder.com. Sure, not all the dogs are listed, but it's fun window shopping and I did eventually go into a shelter to find our pooch, but petfinder might be the best way to find the breed or mix (say you want a poodle mixed with something else) you are looking for. Pet stores and backyard breeders (ameature breeders just in it for the money or the casual hobby) are NOT good options in my opinion!
I would say go to any kill sheleter & see how many sad faces there are behind those cage doors that lock them in. It is a horrible sight! They will allow you to spend time with & get to know any dog you are interested in. I only adopt & do not buy pups or dogs ever! No to puppy pushers & back yard breeders. I have 4 dogs, all rescued from kill shelters. Please opt to adopt over anything else.
Sorry i'll adopt when the local humane society changes it's policies. until then I will continue to buy my dogs...from reputable breeders.
I WILL feed raw. I will try to avoid unnecessary vaccinations that could harm my dog. I will avoid uninformed and archaic groups that require vaccinations that could be harmful to my dog. I will crate my dog or put it outside when I am not home.
Until they change their policies that conflict with my belief in dog keeping I will not adopt from an ill-informed hypocritical establishment.
And, I do not adopt from them either. There are more than just them around. They only way to stop what someone does not like, is to speak out against their policies. Which, I do. I go on Bully Marches each year to speak out against all the BSL that I go through owning my Pits. I talk with & email all Senators, who have positive feed backs on the matter.
I highly recommend Petfinder. It’s an easy way to find out what’s in the shelters near (or not so near) you. We found Annie through Petfinder. She was being fostered through a shelter two counties north of us—NOT a shelter we would have just gone to. After email and phone contact we drove a “fur” distance to meet her, and she came home with us. She’s a perfect fit for us, and we would never have found her without Petfinder. We think she’s beautiful, too!
Over the years we've had dogs from breeders, dogs from shelters, and dogs rescued from the streets. Some shelters can be obnoxious, but there are many shelters and organizations that help match dogs with humans. Do your research and look around. Somewhere your companion is waiting for you.
do not buy the dog go and adopt it from a shelter there are so many dogs who need homes there i have never bought a dog i only adopt them the minute you walk in you will find a dog that looks at you and looks like pick me pick me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't get a puppy! And don't get from a kill shelter either. When you get a dog from a kill shelter you are only opening up room for another dog to have the same possible fate. Petfinder is also another good option. If you're looking for a certain breed, there are many great rescue groups out there. badkittyamy...what do you call unnecessary vaccinations?
That's absolutely ridiculous. Most shelters are kill shelters. Not all organizations have the money to keep a dog forever. There would be more dogs on the streets if all shelters were no-kill. I think it's sillier even to say not to adopt from one. if someone finds their perfect pet in a kill shelter they should pass it up because the shelter believes in euthanasia?
Unnecessary vaccinations? Almost everything with the exception of rabies.
I think supporting no kill shelters is a very bad idea.
They go into it with the best intentions, but unfortunately not all dogs are re-homeable, not to mention sometimes dogs at no kill shelters spend years and years in a kennel with limited human interaction every day, making for a "crazy" dog.
If you have netflick I recommended watching the HBO special called "Shelter Dogs" to learn more on kill shelters vs. no kill shelters.
Not all dogs are re-homeable. And in that case you have to put them down. No-kill shelters don't want dogs to go crazy in kennels. If it's a specific breed they send it to a rescue group that deals with the breed. And if that's not possible, you send them to foster homes. Yes, some dogs will have to be put down. When I say 'no-kill shelters' I mean I disagree with a dog having a certain time limit in a kennel. It's not fair to the dog. It's crazy to end a dog's life just because of irresponsible people. I work at a boarding kennel. At the kennel all dogs coming in must have rabies, bordetella, and DHLPP vaccines. How are they unnecessary? The vaccines protect your animals against harmful diseases. It all protects other dogs who may get kennel cough from another dog. Better safe then sorry, right?
Originally posted by talltail: Not all dogs are re-homeable. And in that case you have to put them down. No-kill shelters don't want dogs to go crazy in kennels. If it's a specific breed they send it to a rescue group that deals with the breed. And if that's not possible, you send them to foster homes. Yes, some dogs will have to be put down. When I say 'no-kill shelters' I mean I disagree with a dog having a certain time limit in a kennel. It's not fair to the dog. It's crazy to end a dog's life just because of irresponsible people. I work at a boarding kennel. At the kennel all dogs coming in must have rabies, bordetella, and DHLPP vaccines. How are they unnecessary? The vaccines protect your animals against harmful diseases. It all protects other dogs who may get kennel cough from another dog. Better safe then sorry, right?
Those shots are considered unnecessary because they can cause more harm then good in dogs. Excess shots have been linked to many health issues in pets.
Kennels require them as a way to cover their rear in case a dog does get sick, they can't be blamed.
I just took in two foster dogs from a shelter that is being forced to shut down temporarily from bordetella and all dogs must be out by Friday or they will be euthanized. They are unable to treat all dogs there, for fear treatment of the virus will escalate into a un-treatable virus that could wipe out all dogs in the area. Two university veterinarian staffs have urged them to get rid of all dogs, and bleach the building from top to bottom.
Of course it's not fair to a dog to only have a certain amount of time in a kennel, but let's be realistic here, dogs are going to be put down until all back yard breeding, accidental litters and puppy mills are stopped. Until then, the US is going to churn out millions of dogs a year that get abandoned, thrown away, abused and neglected.
I wish it was all glitter and rainbows, but too many people out their don't understand how important it is to spay or neuter your pets, or just want to turn a buck on their dogs and sell some puppies.
Exactly what she said FAR more harm can be done with shots like that. I think it's stupid just like sticking your kid in with one that has chickenpox because it's worse as an adult. Guess what if I as a human could go through life without vaccinations every year so can my dog.
I really wish they had the three years rabies shot here. Over vaccination is as bad in dogs as it is in humans it limits the immune system and to me it's a stupid risk.
I do not board my dogs or participate in any programs that require anything other than the rabies vaccination. I feed raw for the same reason.
It has been proven that dogs that are from lines with minimum vaccination are hardier animals.
