How do you choose a new dog
By needtoiron
@needtoiron (82)
Australia
October 9, 2007 6:40pm CST
Hi,
What I want to know is when going to choose a new dog from a litteror dog shelter how do you know which one to choose.
I know that in most cases when I have gone to pick a dog the dog usually picks me. In one case the dog actually was the only pup thhat ran away from me.
So please tell me the way you choose a dog.
2 people like this
5 responses
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
10 Oct 07
For me, I just know when it's the dog I want. I'll walk around the whole shelter looking at all the dogs. I'll fall in love with all of them, it's just so painful to see them all there...but I'll always see one and know it's my dog. I'll know it's the dog for me.
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
10 Oct 07
Hi,
I have never been to a shelter to pick a dog I have always chosen from a litter. But I'm sure it would be very hard to see all those dogs that people have discarded and not want to take them all home.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
10 Oct 07
You mean you get puppies from a breeder? I'm sorry. I don't want to tell you how to live your life. But i think you should really try going to a shleter and getting a dog there.They have puppies and adults there. Me, I'll always give the adults more looks because I know the puppies won't have trouble getting adopted, it's the older dogs that never get homes.
When I move out and get my own place, I'm going to go to a shelter and ask them if they have any dogs that are due to get euthanized. Those are the only dogs I will look at when I am going to adopt. If there aren't any, then I'll ask them if they have any dogs they are having trouble finding a home. Same thing with the cats. I have 1 cat now, but when I move out of my families house I want one more cat and one dog.
1 person likes this
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
10 Oct 07
I like to be able to train my own dogs from pups. As a obedience trainer I have seen a lot of dogs that have come from shelters or have been rescued and the problems those poor dogs go through. I take my hat off to these people because they don't know what these dogs have been through and what problems they have developed due to their experiences. I try to help overcome these problems with these people as a trainer so I really don't need to have these problems at home as well.
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@flowerpeople (235)
•
10 Oct 07
Mostly my children have chosen a dog and somehow grew up and left me with them.. I love them though to choose you just have to follow you heart. Also read up on breeds to see what qualities meet you desires.
1 person likes this
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
10 Oct 07
Yes I found that happened, I was left with the kids dogs when they grew up and left home too. But there will come a time when you will have to choose a dog for yourself.
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
11 Oct 07
Let the dog pick you. In a litter of puppies, choose the one that does not shy away from you and seems most eager for your attention.
When we got my dog Martha, she came with a litter! My daughter's boyfriend had a neighbor whose dog had a litter of puppies and he just wanted rid of them and was threatening to just dump them in the woods. So I told her to bring the whole litter over here (5 puppies) and we would find homes for them. Martha was the one who would do flips and try to get my attention whenever I went to care for them. I found homes for four of the puppies within a few days, but I could not bear to give Martha away! I did not intent to keep one of the puppies for myself, but I just tell everyone I had no choice, she chose me!
Here is another tip. Puppies who will let you roll them on their back and rub their tummy will be a submissive dog. Puppies who resist being rolled over will usually have a more dominant personality. So it depends on what type of personality you want your dog to have. My dog Esther, who my daughter brought home to us, never liked being handled as a puppy. She would growl every time I picked her up, and I could not rub her tummy! She still hates being picked up. She usually will let me love on her now, though. She has a very dominant personality, although she has mellowed out with age (she is about 6 years old now). She is also part chihuahua, she definitely has the chihuahua temperament!
@runner0369 (641)
• United States
5 Mar 09
My dad uses our dogs for hunting so we always pick the alpha male. There is usually only one in a litter.
@maybebaby (1230)
• Canada
10 Oct 07
I like to pick a more socail dog. I want a dog that will play with other dogs as well as with people. I want a dog I can take places and won't be overly nervous. I do get drawn to the shy dogs too though because they look so much like under dogs.
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