Thinking about getting a dog....

So I have wanted a dog for my entire life but my dad never allowed big pets in the house. Then when I went off to school I didnt have any money to take care of one so I continued to put it off and then when I moved in with my buddy he didn't want a dog at his house either. Now I am going to pursue another degree and am moving to Lubbock so I will be on my own so thats why I might get one. I have plenty of cash saved to feed myself, my snakes and a dog as well.

Here is my problem. I can't decide whether or not to adopt one or just buy one from a breeder. I like the idea of adopting just for the principal of it all, but my fear is that I don't know if it has been abused in the past and I fear that could make them fairly unpredictable. If I am going to get my first pup, I want to be able to rain it and play with it as if I have been raising it since day one. Also, I really don't want a big dog, more like a small/medium to medium sized dog. It seems like most of the dogs that I see at the SPCA are unknown mixed breed and there is really no telling how big they will actually get. My other dilema is that my gf has bad allergies and so getting a hypoallergenic dog would kind of be crucial as well. Unfortunately all of them are complete chick dogs.... crushing.

As of now I am thinking either a Coton (if I have to settle for a no allergy). I figure if I HAVE to have a chick dog, it might as well be a prestiege breed. Or my other choice that I am leaning towards is a boglen terrier (boston terrier/beagle mix).

What are yalls opinions on the adopt/buy idea as well as other recomendations for medium sized dog? Thanks!

I don't think of Boston Terriers as "chick dogs". I've wanted one for years...

As for the adopt/buy debate, there are always dogs in shelters looking for homes, but if you are set on a specific breed, there's nothing wrong with finding a reputable breeder to buy from.

I am huge on adopting. I volunteer for my local shelter and I see hundreds of dogs and cats a year that would make amazing pets, history or not. Even if you don't go to a shelter, there are tons of rescues for specific breeds you can find, just google them in your state. These dogs go through various "testing" and trials to be sure they are good pets before they are adopted out. Some even get professional training courtesy of the shelter/rescue. They are all also fixed which is a plus.

i don't know about "boglen terrier" i assume this is one of these new desiginer muts that people make a funny name for and then charge big bucks for. but bostons are no "chick dog" they might be small but they have the attitude of a wolf and any that i have ever meet are charming and tough as nails. adaopting a pet and saving a life is a very noble way to bring a new family member home and if you shop around you very well might find the perfect new pet at a shelter. but as said above if you want a speceifeic breed find a good breeder with references and remember just like anything else you get what you pay for when it come to pure breeds.

IF you're going to buy from a breeder, please please please do your homework. Make sure you're supporting a breeder who health tests their dogs and can offer you OFA numbers so you can verify health testing. They should also temperament test their dogs & can help you determine the best fit for your household. Make sure they are in good standing with their local breed clubs and associations. Make sure they are currently, actively showing and titling their dogs. Ask how they socialize their puppies, what they feed, what their vaccination protocol is, etc.
They will probably only have one, MAYBE two, planned breedings a year, and there's a good chance you'll be on a waiting list for a while before the right puppy comes along. Very rarely will you see both parents on site, because these breeders are taking an active part in seeking out the best dog to which to breed theirs, in order to strengthen bloodlines and balance faults in their own dogs. Beware of "breeders" with lots of dogs on the premises, or who raise theirs in kennels.
A good breeder should have at least as many questions for you as you have for them, if not more. Be prepared for what may seem like a rigorous puppy application, limited registrations with a spay/neuter contract, and potential home checks.

There are a LOT of dogs haphazardly bred every year by puppy mills, unscrupulous "backyard breeders" who just want to make a buck, as well as the truly clueless who just think their dogs are nice, so they should breed them because, wouldn't everyone else want a dog just as nice? Most of the time these dogs have no health testing, no temperament testing and frequently end up rehomed, in rescues, dumped at the pound or worse.

If for some reason you can't invest the time and resources into locating a breeder in good standing of the purebred in which you may be interested, please, please consider contacting a rescue or adoption group. You'll still have to go through the application process & will probably have to do a home check, but you'll also get a lot of support in finding the exact dog for your situation, going through the right rescue or adoption league. Good rescue groups are a wonderful resource, and do lots of temperament testing and really try to match the dog to the potential owner and the owner's situation.

In either case, be up front with what your expectations are for a dog in your household, what your experience level is in raising & training a puppy, and don't be afraid to ask for help when necessary. Do your homework on proper nutrition, puppy socialization, and what it actually takes to successfully raise a well-trained, good-mannered dog that is an ambassador for the canine species as a whole, regardless of breed. Find a good obedience training club in your area, and be prepared to take your dog to classes. In addition to utilizing the skills of a good trainer (check references!!), the right classes will help with your dog's ongoing socialization (most critical as a puppy, but important throughout the dog's life).

Please, be very, very leery of backyard breeders who don't health or temperament test, and only think about lining their own pockets, instead of actively striving to improve the breed they claim to love.

Good luck finding the right dog!

K~

If you want a specific breed and want to adopt look for breed specific rescues. There is one for almost every breed out there you just have to see if there is any in your area. Try petfinder.com it is a list of many rescue dogs in your area.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I am huge on adopting. I volunteer for my local shelter and I see hundreds of dogs and cats a year that would make amazing pets, history or not. Even if you don't go to a shelter, there are tons of rescues for specific breeds you can find, just google them in your state. These dogs go through various "testing" and trials to be sure they are good pets before they are adopted out. Some even get professional training courtesy of the shelter/rescue. They are all also fixed which is a plus.

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+1

How long are you going to be on your own and in a situation that allows you to keep the dog. A 10-15 year commitment is what you'll be making and you want to be sure that you'll be able to stick with it before getting one.

In the time I've had my current dog I have gotten married, moved a few times, and had 2 kids. Every decision we've made we have had to take the dog into consideration. We have missed out on houses we wanted because of no dog policies, and ended up living in ones we would have not considered had it not been needed. I had a pediatrician tell me I shouldn't be keeping a large dog with small children and should look into getting rid of her.... We got rid of the pediatrician instead.... :P

Point is if your unsure of how your ability to commit long term maybe put it off until your sure of that, or look into adopting an older dog.

Thanks for your replies. Let me clarify what I meant. I do not consider Boston's chick dogs at all either. The Coton de Culear is the one that would be a chick dog. The bolgen, aka boggle, aka beagle x boston hybrid isn't hypo allergenic but I just like them alot. My buddy has one and its a VERY smart and playful pup. As far as rescues go, I will continue to look, but finding that particular "mutt" may be difficuly. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled though. I guess it might end up being just like ball pythons... just gotta wait it out for the right one.

As far as breeders, if I did end up getting the Coton it would be from family friends who treat there dogs like kings and queens and they are champion line pups. I am still trying to search for boggle breeders, but as we all know the internet isn't always accurate so I feel like I would have a hard time identifying that the breeder was actually legit. Especially because this mix isn't recognized by the dog breeder associations that have all those certifications, iots still considered a mutt to most.

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Originally Posted by PweEzy

Thanks for your replies. Let me clarify what I meant. I do not consider Boston's chick dogs at all either. The Coton de Culear is the one that would be a chick dog. The bolgen, aka boggle, aka beagle x boston hybrid isn't hypo allergenic but I just like them alot. My buddy has one and its a VERY smart and playful pup. As far as rescues go, I will continue to look, but finding that particular "mutt" may be difficuly. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled though. I guess it might end up being just like ball pythons... just gotta wait it out for the right one.

As far as breeders, if I did end up getting the Coton it would be from family friends who treat there dogs like kings and queens and they are champion line pups. I am still trying to search for boggle breeders, but as we all know the internet isn't always accurate so I feel like I would have a hard time identifying that the breeder was actually legit. Especially because this mix isn't recognized by the dog breeder associations that have all those certifications, iots still considered a mutt to most.

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Most (not all but most) breeders of hybrids are in it for the money. I can tell you from personal experience that you can most likely find a Boglen in a rescue. They can be very difficult to train for first time owners. They are stubborn, thick headed and a huge ball of energy. These things lead them to be dropped off at rescues because they are "untrainable".

Also, For rescues, I am not 100% familiar with how they operate. Can I go in and begin to apply and let them know that I am looking for that particular mix and they call me when they think they have a match?? Or do I have to continue to go in and check the new arrivals? I assume the new arrivals come in every day, so I would def hope they could contact me.

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Originally Posted by PweEzy

Also, For rescues, I am not 100% familiar with how they operate. Can I go in and begin to apply and let them know that I am looking for that particular mix and they call me when they think they have a match?? Or do I have to continue to go in and check the new arrivals? I assume the new arrivals come in every day, so I would def hope they could contact me.

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It depends on the rescue. You can definitely apply to as many as you like, email/call and tell them what you are looking for. You can usually look at the available dogs on their pages, but sometimes they get a new foster in and they are not posted yet. My mom works closely with a boxer rescue, and they generally work the same way so if you have any rescue questions feel free to ask. It's a common misconception that "rescue/shelter dogs" are not as good as breeder dogs because they have a history. More often then not, they are sweeter and more well mannered because of their history. Some grew up with neglect or abuse (or just surrendered for financial reasons too...not all have bad stories to them) and when they are given a new loving home, they take advantage of it and mold to it, not the opposite. I've had nothing but good experiences with shelter and rescue dogs.

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Originally Posted by kb1290

Most (not all but most) breeders of hybrids are in it for the money. I can tell you from personal experience that you can most likely find a Boglen in a rescue. They can be very difficult to train for first time owners. They are stubborn, thick headed and a huge ball of energy. These things lead them to be dropped off at rescues because they are "untrainable".

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This is another reason why I would want to get one really young. My buddy got his as a puppy and the repetition stuck with the dog and is now well trained. In yalls experience isn't is alot harder to train an older dog that may already have bad habits? I would assume that if you start them young and they don't have the chance to develop those habits, they will be alot easier to train.

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Originally Posted by PweEzy

This is another reason why I would want to get one really young. My buddy got his as a puppy and the repetition stuck with the dog and is now well trained. In yalls experience isn't is alot harder to train an older dog that may already have bad habits? I would assume that if you start them young and they don't have the chance to develop those habits, they will be alot easier to train.

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That's another misconception. A squirt bottle filled with water does wonders to train old dogs with bad habits. There's many ways to divert bad behavior to good behavior, including using treats. IMO and experience puppies are harder to train than older dogs. My mom took in a foster boxer, 7 years old from a crappy neglected house, he has turned out to be the sweetest thing, he's great with my 4 y/o son and 7 y/o sister. We were told he'd kill a cat if he saw it....about 3 days of getting squirted in the face (my mom has a cat too...) and he was able to sleep on the same couch as the cat....

Adopt a puppy :)

If you want a dog from a breeder, there is a lot you need to know.

There are puppy mills, back yard breeders, and reputable breeders.

Puppy mill puppies are puppies you get from pet stores, or shops, or random people who have hundreds of dogs that they breed to death for money and then sell to stores.

Back yard breeders are people who breed their dogs for money, because it's fun, or for whatever reason. These people usually don't care who their dogs go too, they don't health test them, they don't breed for temperament or health. Usually they just want to make some cash.

A reputable breeder is someone who breeds a certain breed to better the breed. They test their dogs for different things like testing their hips, eyes, hearts, etc...They care about the dogs and although they can be expensive, they don't even make a profit or break even. They breed for temperament and health, not just conformation to the breed standard. They don't breed mixed breeds and sell them for thousands of dollars calling them pure breeds like goldendoodles or whatever you want to call them. Those are mixes, not a pure breed.

Buying from a reputable breeder is the right way to go unless you want a cheaper dog that can end up with massive amounts of health problems.

Dogs like Bostons need to come from a reputable breeder because of their breathing and facial problems.

So I have been looking and looking and looking for an adoptable pup but haven't found one I like yet. I decided that finding the right one to adopt will be the turning point on when I actually get my first dog. I wont buy from any breeders, I will just wait it out and when I find one I like, thats when I know I'll be ready to go ahead and get it. One thing I've noticed is there are tons of pitbull and pitbull mixes for adoption, but since almost every apartment complex has a no pit rule, this obviously wont work for me. I think my biggest dilema is that I like how the bigger dogs look, but prefer a med to small dog, so it will just be a matter of finding that right one. I did find a beagle/spaniel mix for rescue that is pretty cool, so I will post a pic if I ended up getting her...

I was in the same boat as you. I decided to become a foster parent for a dog rescue, back in Feb. I am fostering 2 mini schnauzers now. The organization provides all the food, vet care & flea products. I have fallen in love with my Haley and will be adopting her, and if no one adopts Jane, I guess she'll stay also lol.

Always, always, always adopt. Shelters do their best to match the dog to the owner. If there's a trait the dog has that wouldn't fit your situation, the shelter will find you another dog. "Unpredictable" dogs don't get put up for adoption. As for size, any dog over 2 years is probably full-grown or close to it. Also, aside from medical reasons, don't have your heart set on a single breed. My mom always said she would never have a pit bull, not because she was afraid but just because she liked other dogs better. And yet here we are, with an adorable little pit/boxer mix, and she's the perfect dog for us.