Doggie Suggestions....

I have a dog, he's going to be 4 this year and he is a mixture of a Saint Bernard and Cocker Spaniel. Yes, it's an extremely odd mix, don't ask me how i still can't figure it out. But if you can find a saint bernard they are the sweetest and most pretective/smartest dogs. I can't say mine is the smartest though, we think he got stuck with the spaniel brain. But he is pretective, not to mention extremely cuddly. He thinks he is 30 pounds and maybe like 10 inches tall, basically a lap dog, when in reality he's around the 100's and maybe a foot and a half tall. All in all though they are good dogs, and they love kids. My brother is 13 and he along with his 5 other friends that are always over love the dog. He's gentle and very playfull. It didnt take us very long to house train him either, i cant remember exactly how long but it wasnt very long at all. They can be one smart cookie if they have no cocker spaniel mix in them haha. Though they do get big, they are still worth it. Hope I could be of some help :)

I have had 2 favorites...one of each size. For the larger size I had a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix. My vet said I could not have a better dog had I planned it. He was soooo right!!! He was as protective as a Shepherd & as loving as the Retriever. He was a very even tempered dog most of the time. Yet he became extremely protective when needed. He was probably my all time favorite!!! The other wonderful dog I had was a Miniature Doberman. He was a protective, playful dog. I had had 2 Dobermans before him & he was by far the most protective. He didn't know he was small!!!

hey skinnychick. i have a yorkie! she is very yappy but she is great with my children and she is very friendly. she is really smart and fun to be around. she goes on the wee wee pads, and only goes out for a walk once in a while during this time of year.

Get a mutt. Seriously. They make the best pets. Not inbred, or too wired, or end up with special needs. They are just loving, friendly and loyal. But be sure to look over all your choices carefully and pick one that doesn't seem desperate for your attention. They make the calmest and least stressed pets. They usually train well too and are easy to have in the house. Let us know what you pick.

I've had mostly mix breeds throughout my life time. Presently I have 5 dogs. One outdoor dog and 4 indoor dogs. My outdoor dog, China Doll, is 1/2 Alaskan Huskie and Wolf the other 1/2 is Australian Sheperd and Haught. She is a very sweet dog and a wonderful watch-dog. She won't let anyone or thing around unless she knows them. My indoor dogs are Peanut, a Toy Fox-Terrier and Miniture Chihuahua; Chica, she's a Miniture Chihuahua and one of their pups, Domino. Then there's Taffy Belle, she's Mini Pin. All of them are smart, playful, cuddlers, very loyal, yappy and protective. If you have a shelter near you, volunteer to walk them or play with them. Many shelter dogs are there for a length of time til someone adopts them. So the result is that they need socialization. You could get to know the one you're interested in before adopting. Some shelters will even allow you to take the dog home for a visit before adoption. You could get to know the different chacterisics of the different dogs. Then you could make a more informed decision. Good luck on picking your new family member.

HI. I had a akc boxer dog, I named him Buddy. He passed away God Bless him. Buddy was s great dog, very well behaved. He got along good with children, and other people. I have right now Shepherd/Husky mix. I named him Thunder, he is a very gentle dog, well behaved. My other dog is a Lab/Sheperd mix. I named him Jake, he is just 4 months old, he is also a good dog, for being a puppie. I got both my dogs from my local spca. The spca where i got my dogs from, have strict adoption. Since i had cats, and grandchildren, they let me know which ones i could adopt. I felt that was good, they had the information on the dogs they had for adoption. When i adopted Thunder and Jake they were only 4 months and 2 months. Check the shelters out, they have alot. Give one a second chance at life. I like all dogs, big and small. I do prefer the larger breed. My picture shows Thunder and Jake.

Well when watching them try to choose a good dog on the today show because of Obama wanting to get his girls a dog they said a Shepard is loyal and protective and kid friendly, a lab is also friendly,A Retriever(lie the golden or the chocolate) Was loyal,kid friendly and protective. I myself would choose the Golden Retriever.

Hi Skinnychick, Well at present I have a 6 month old Border Collie who is a pain but I love him to bits. I wouldn't suggest you get one though as they are a working breed and although great family dogs are very demanding and need at least 20 miles a day exercise. I am on the beach running around for at least an hour each day if not more! My favourites are labradors. My Duke & Jason were my babies and they are great with kids, great with everything and their tempermant is excellent and they are as hyperactive as a collie yet they are intelligent and very loving. At the end of the day though the descision is yours. I don't know if you remember the pic I posted of my friend rottie with a kitten sat on his head and my daughter grew up with a Dobie. It is how you are with the dog and how they are bought up. I hope you enjoy whichever dog you choose. Huggles. Ellie :D

Good for you for deciding to adopt from a shelter instead of buying! If you are going to buy a dog, it is best to buy from a very reputable breeder and NOT from a pet store or puppymill! However, it is best to adopt because then you are saving a life!!! The best way to figure out what kind of dog you want is to figure out what kind of lifestyle you have. Would you rather sit around on the couch all day with your dog on your lap/lying at your feet or would you rather get up and take your dog for a run or a long hike? Your activity level is very important when considering a dog, and you should get a dog that matches your lifestyle. Otherwise, nobody will be happy! Also, are you home all day? Or are you away at work? Some dogs (especially dogs bred to be companion dogs) need to have someone home with them most of the day or they have real bad anxiety. Another important thing to consider is what age dog you want. Puppies are very cute, but they are so much work! They aren't potty trained, and they have a lot of energy! Plus, they chew on everything! Dogs around 1-5 years old are much better about not chewing up everything you own (especially if you keep their minds active and give them lots to do to keep them busy!) and are usually already housebroken, or can easily be pottytrained. However, they are still very young and active. And they go through an adolescent phase where they can be pretty difficult. It's like the doggy teenage years! Dogs aged 5+ are a lot more calm. By that age, they've calmed down and just want to be loyal companions. So if you have the energy to really work with a young dog and take care of their needs, then get one! If you're not up for that, then you probably really want an older more mature dog. Grooming is also important. Do you want a dog with a short manageable coat that just needs a bath every now and then? Or do you want a dog with a long coat that needs regular care, maintenance and haircuts? Do you plan to take care of your dog's grooming needs yourself, or do you plan to take your dog to a groomer? Make sure you figure out grooming costs and see if it fits your budget. Once you've taken all this into consideration, go down to your local shelter and see what dogs are available! Hopefully there will be one there that fits perfectly into your life! Good luck! I'm sure you will be most happy with your new addition!

I think that the decision of what kind of breed you should adopt depends solely on you and your family/home needs. Apart from the breed which you may like more than others, I guess you should consider the space you have in your home to accomodate such dog. Your lifestyle, working hours and plans shoudl also be regards, since you'll need time to take care of it, feed and walk it out. Personally, I like german shepards, yorkshire terriers and huskies :)

Personally, my absolute favorite breed tis the Pit. They make wonderful family dogs, because they are driven to please "their people." They are great with children. So far, they are the most intelligent of the breeds that I have come in contact with. (As a vet tech and a groomer.) I must say, I have 16 of them. Yes, I said 16. Four adults and 12 puppies. Well, I should say that each of my children has an adult as do I. My youngest child is 12 months old, and from the moment we brought her home from the hospital, Meisha "claimed" her. All of them were extremely gentle with Hannah, but Meisha was the best. My parents even love my dogs. And they aren't what you would call "dog people". And if you want to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group, believe me, there are plenty of Pits to choose from. But no matter what breed you choose, just remember to ask the shelter personnel about the dog's personal temperment. If they don't know, then go to another shelter. Private rescue groups are, in my opinion, the best because the workers there spend more time with the animals. And most of them are sent out to foster homes to await their adoptions. I hope I have been helpful. Oh. Did I mention that all 16 of my dogs are house dogs? LOL

Hey, SkinnyChick! First of all, I'd like to thank you for considering adopting a shelter dog. You'll never be sorry you did. And I also have to say "Congratulations!" Because you are in for years of unending adoration and unconditional love. I'm glad you're also considering small dogs, because I think they have a bad rep. A lot of people think that Chihuahuas are yappy, annoying little ankle-biters, but nothing could be further from the truth. They are not necessarily yappy -- certainly not any "yappier" than your average big dog who loves to bark. And they are packed full of personality. A hundred pounds of personality in a tiny little body. And speaking of tiny -- keep in mind that everything they do is tiny and manageable. Piddles, poops, barfs, drools, etc. -- all miniscule next to a bid dog's productions. We have a 13-year old Chihuahua and I'm considered the "Small Dog Whisperer" at our local shelter -- so would be happy to answer any questions. Most of all, I'll be interested to see what you decide!