How Much Is That Doggy In The Window???

Try your local animal shelter. Alot of times they have labs come in and you pay only an adoption fee, which isn't that much. However, owning a dog takes alot of responsibility and money for proper care. You might want to take more time to think it over. Goodluck Labs are great!! I have 2 of my own.

I hope that you are searching from animal shelters and not encouraging the use of puppy mills by buying from a pet shop. You can find all kinds of breeds by searching on line and save a life at the same time. I myself have bought full blooded pedigrees at an US organization called "Save-A-Life" for $100.00

well i prefer to adopt than to buy. it just seems the best choice for me. my logic is that animals in the pet shop will be fed no matter what. but the animals in shelters might get put to sleep if no one adopts them after a while. a dog is a dog, no matter what breed they are. the more important thing is the bond between the human and the dog. we all know that dobermans are ferocious dogs. but we also know they are very loyal dogs. as long as the bond is there, the dog will never cause any harm to the human. cheers ;p

Hi Ellie I have 2 bearded collie crossd with retriever /border collie they are lovely and ottp with affection I have alwys thought they were the best for the home and children they have such good temperaments too..a small dog am not sure about would stay clear of jack russells as they are tempermentle..I did have a kings charles spaniel they are lovely too But do agree with you about these designer dogs things do seem to be getting out of hand with them..but the one thing that annoys me is the price of a rescue dog and how fussy they are about letting a dog go..to me if they know a dog is going to a loving caring home it doesn't matter how big or small the house is at least the dog will get the attention etc he/she needs..bless I really hope you can get one they are such good loyal friends and it is so lovely to open the door and get the welcome they give...love and Huggles littleowl x

dont really understand when a mongrel got turned into a "designer" dog. the term alone describes what they are.. a combination of a bunch of breeds that no one knows WHAT it is! ie.. a mutt. also dont understand where you having a garden has anything to do with you being able to have a dog. some dogs,. beause of documented behavioral problems that put them into a shelter in the first place, wouldnt be suitable around young children.. but you simply having a young child, shouldnt negate yer eligibility of having a dog. i think you need to check other rescues and shelters.. cause the one yer dealing with is wacked. my own personals on a good breed to have around kids? labs of any color.. golden retrievers.. and a few of the semi smaller type dogs like scotties and terriers. again.. no specific breed is either good nor bad.. it depends on the temperment of the individual animal specifically that determines that.

I get my dogs from the Humane society. They still cost money to adopt because the Humane Society does stuff when they get a new dog. As to strays or accidental pregnancy in dogs, that still happens. However, with better efforts to spay and neuter, that kind of stuff is less frequent. All and all, that's a good thing.

The one with the waggily tail? No idea! lol. There are so many things to consider when buying a dog. Yard size, the age of your children, the size they end up when they are fully grown, any allergies family members may have etc..... For homes with kids I have heard many comments that Labradors and Golden Retrievers are very compatible; but they do also end up quite large and with a small garden this may not be wise. Designer dogs can definitely be good but in parallel they can be expensive as well! I am not sure if things have gone too far with designer dogs because with some of the breeds they have come up with they may actually be strengthening the overall health of the dog by combining the best of both breeds; but seeing as they are yet to be recognised as true breeds there can also be issues in regulating the industry. Given what you have said about your home I would recommend something like a poodle or any similar small dog. When I was a kid wee had a poodle and he was great with us. Especially when kids are concerned if the dog is small they will always consider it a puppy! Many kids LOVE a puppy but then seem to lose interest when the dog gets bigger and then it 100% becomes YOUR dog!

Hi ellie, I'm also thinking about adopting a dog, I already have two cats. I am going to check with the SPCA again on Monday, they have a dog there that I may be interested in. I really don't worry about the breed, but would want one that has already been spaded and had her needles. Blessings.

I know exactly what you mean! I like Retrievers and German Shepherds and I've had full bred and crosses of both. I think the crosses are excellent dogs! I used to have a collie lab cross and he was a great family pet. Nowadays that would be too energetic for me! I always go to the 'breed' rescues first. I just think it's better to go to those who know the breeds well. However I think too many are turning away potential 'good owners' with their own ideas of what is 'right' for the dogs. We only got our latest Shepherd because we have a large open field just behind our house, and no longer have young children! The garden is very small! As long as you can find the time to exercise the dog then the medium to large crosses are often better around children than the small or toy breeds. My children grew up with large breeds as did I! I fully understand why the first 'Labradoodle' was created but I see no advantages to crossing other breeds. In some it's totally wrong! For example the Puggle! Whoever thought it was a good idea to cross a dog that hunts using it's nose (Beagle)with a lap dog that can't even breath (Pug) is a real puzzle! There are hundreds of dog breeds and for the average pet owner very little difference between one dog and another! I do hope you soon find your 'perfect' dog. Good Luck!

Prices for dogs are quite high around here...even a rescue pet is 150 dollars. I have a hard time spending tons of money on a pet to buy them but..I also tend to be a person who will rescue a pet in need before they ever make it to the shelter.

Wow what happened to my message I just typed? I lost it. I do not know where you live but all over the world you can find animals (not the fine breeds) that people are always giving away free. Lately I have found two male dogs nearly in the door of my home that people have dropped. One I took to he Vet and he found a home for him, and the second was in front of my house for house when I leaving for a weekend trip very very early in the morning. I gave him cat food to have food to eat with hopes that someone passing would give him a home when it became daylight. Often in the newspaper people anounce of giving away pets. I know you can find one and probably for free.

There are expensive dogs where I live but there have also been kind neighbors that have been giving away free puppies like part pit bull and I forgot the other breed. I think labradors are family friendly and good luck Ellie

The best dog depends on the family. I have a Cocker mix as my first dog. I wanted a dog to warn me if someone was there as I sleep like a log and am slightly hard of hearing.. She's perfect. She's a couch potato, but I know who is at the door by her different barks. My second is a Canaan Dog Saluki mix. She was a foster dog that no one would adopt. Rescues are notoriously picky on who gets a dog. Good for the dogs, but sometimes hard on loving adopters. Try the RSPCA. They get every type of dog there is. Whatever the newest fad dog is, you can be sure they have tons that were dumped by people who don't realize dogs are a lot of work. I would never place a dog or cat on Craigs List for adoption, but you might look there to find one. Tons of people use it to throw their pets away when they get tired of them. And a rant Why can't we use the b word for female dog on most forums without censorship? It's the proper word and not a curse word.

Hi ellie, Honestly, I think any dog that you get will make a good family pet. I believe in going to the pound and looking at those sad faces and picking one that looks at me with those "puppy dog eyes" and says "please take me home"! I know that they say some breeds are better tempered dogs for children, but I really don't know about that. I think any dog that you give love to and treat well will be a good pet if you train it from a puppy. I don't think you need to pay all that money for a pedigree. Spend the money on the puppy after you get it. That would be a much better investment.

I am sorry that you could not get a dog. I do not have a dog right now but my daughter does she has 3 pugs and a small Maltese. My daughter has two boys age 4 years and a 17 month old.The dogs are great with kids. Daughter had the pugs before the first baby was born.

That's wonderful that you are hoping to find a dog. I have never owned a dog myself, as an adult. But we did have one when I was a child. I know practically nothing about dogs but I've had to research a few kinds to write internet articles about. It seems to me that you are on the right track with a Labrador, or at least a Labrador mix. They are supposed to be the best and most loyal dogs ever. I agree with you. I think $800 is an awfully lot to spend on a pet, but here again, I haven't had pets for years. You'd think you could find someone that has puppies to sell cheaply. What about from the Humane Society? That's sort of like a rescue centre, I guess. Here in the U.S. we have both--rescue centers and Humane Societies. Maybe they have different rules and you would be able to obtain a pet cheaply from your local Humane Society. Good luck with this, Ellie.

It's unbelievable the rescue shelter would rather put a dog down than allow him to go to a family with a small garden and child! How ridiculous! A small garden is fine for a little dog, and he can be taken for walks anyway. I agree the new trendy dog breeds are ludicrous - and sometimes weaknesses are bred into the mixes which cause problems down the line. I really hope you can find a dear little dog to suit your needs, Ellie - maybe you could put some Wanted notices in your local shop windows?

Do yall not have pounds in your area? We have them and you can get a dog for about 70 dollars. I can't believe yalls labs are so expensive. We just bought ours for 150, but they usually run about 300 around here.

Hi ellie, That is such a shame thar you couldn't get a dog from the rescue centre, I think a tibtain spaneil would make a family pet and also a labrador, if you get from a puppy, what about a sausage dog? I like all dogs they are so cute, but I can't have dogs my hose is toosmall and I have two cats Love & Huggles Tamara

My family always had black labs. Our first one was a Lab mixed with retriever, he was very smart. We got a female black lab right after, she wasnt so bright around my grandfather, more like his second shadow.. he'd have a tail if he stopped to suddenly!!