Favorite Dog Breed and Question

[Mocha]

Hi everyone! Just doing a little post. I was supposed to get my dog last month, but it got held back when I got my 4 chicks (now 3).

I highly believe in getting animals from the shelter, but I just want to make sure that that is going to be what’s best for us. 

Do you think we should get our dog from the shelter, or from a rescue? From the shelter, all of the dogs are ill or injured in some way, and they’re on a basic antibiotic that they sometimes get sick from. They’re adoption fee is very low, they don’t care where you live or how you’re going to provide for the dog. You can basically just go there, pay for the dog and leave.

The rescue is a little more complicated. It’s a german shepherd rescue. You have to fill out an adoption application, get approved, and then choose your dog on an adoption day, or by an appointment. Most of the dogs are healthy and are being treated by their vet. The adoption fee is $345-$500.

Do you think I should get the dog from the shelter or the rescue. Also, I know that each dog has it’s own temperament, but what do you prefer, boy or girl dogs? My mom has always had girl dogs, but I just never see any real connection with her and them.

I’d like a dog that is very friendly with me, gets excided to see me when I come home, follows me around everywhere, ya know, a man’s best friend.

Also, what’s your favorite dog breed? 

I like large/x-large dogs. My favorite breed is longhaired German Shepherds. They’re beautiful.

Oh yeah, and how many pets do you have? I don’t want our house and yard getting toooo crowded. We have 2 bunnies, 2 turtles, and 3 chickens.

[JackRabbit]

Personally, I think female dogs are more affectionate (in bunnies, males seem to be) but I’m sure personality plays a huge role. Dog-wise, I’ve had a german shepherd/husky, a cocker spaniel, and a black lab. The lab was definitely the smartest, most loveable dog I’ve ever met. Labs, by nature of the breed, take a very long time to “grow up”! Our lab didn’t start slowing down until she was in her senior years and then still thought she was a puppy at least half the time. She romped and played, had to be wherever we were, and followed my husband around like his shadow right up until she passed away on 7/25.

As to shelter or rescue, I don’t think it matters as to the personality of the dog. Rescues will be no-kill while some shelters don’t always have that policy. Whichever way you go, the important thing is that you’ll be giving a needy dog a new home.

[Bam]

Rescuing a dog can mean a huge amount of work. But the chances of getting a dog that follows you around are very good, re-homed dogs tend to develop separation-anxiety and prefer to stay very close to their new owners.

A dog that has ill health can be extremely expensive. I suppose rescue dogs can be insured since they’ve been checked out and treated by vets.

I personally love German Shepherds, which is why that’s been my race of choice. They are generally easy to teach stuff – they have an innate eagerness to please their owner. That makes it easier to introduce them to other pets. The long-hairs are beautiful but may get skin-problems when it’s hot and humid + they – obviously- shed a larger amount of hair (If they have an under-coat, not all long-haired GS have that). Some GS have big issues with other dogs of the same sex (or ALL other dogs). That can be very troublesome.

I’ve only had female dogs. They are of a more practical size and they don’t pee-mark all over the place. I would certainly love a male dog just as much but since I’ve had the opportunity to choose, I’ve chosen girls. To me they seem cleverer than male dogs, but that may just be in my head and have nothing to do with reality.

I have 2 buns and one German Shepherd. My dog (I’ve had her since she was a puppy) was 3 when I found my first bunny Bam. She very quickly understood that he must be treated gently, and that he was a family member, not prey.

[LolaBuns]

I personally would go with the rescue for the simple fact that you said the shelter dogs are injured or ill and that could be VERY expensive in the long run.

I LOVE big dogs. My favorite big dog breed is the Great Dane. However I am so in love with our little dog that it might be a tie when it comes to personality of the breeds. Boy/girl doesn’t seem to matter much as far as affection goes in the dogs that I have had over the years. (Beagle, Silky Terrier, Boxer, Lhasa Apso) The two that we have now are equally as affectionate but Hobie, our cavalier, is more of a snuggler. Tiny, the lab, likes to run around and spends most of her time outside. She comes in to check and see what we are up to frequently though and when she is tired or it is too hot she will come and lay by our feet or next to us on the couch if there is room.

We have 2 dogs, a boy cavalier king charles spaniel and a girl yellow lab. We also have 2 bunnies and a bearded dragon.

[JackRabbit]

One thing to consider when choosing a dog would be the prey drive of the dog. I don’t know if that only follows breed or if it’s a personality thing too. If you’re going to have your dog around your bunnies, I wouldn’t get a hunting breed.

We never let our lab around our bunnies because she had a habit of catching animals in our back yard and trying not so gently to get them to play with her. She was a very oral dog though and has to put everything in her mouth. Even though she’s only been gone a little over a week, all of the critters who had avoided the yard are out in full force now — my back yard is like a zoo!

[LolaBuns]

We don’t let our lab be around the buns either. She is really rough when playing even though I don’t think she would intentionally hurt them. The funny thing is though that she lays in the backyard surrounded by birds. They will land a few inches from her like she isn’t even there and all she does is pick her head up and watch them. Sometimes she just follows them with her eyes. Even when they hop around or fly really low around the yard she never chases them.

[manic_muncher]

I have a preference to male dogs, as my experience has been males tend to latch on to female owners and vice versa for females. However the best dog my husband and I ever have had was Sheba, our female american pit bull terrier and is our favorite breed. She was incredibly smart and athletic. She loved swimming, inner-tubing and weight-pulling. While they are high energy dogs, she was perfect in the house and super gentle with all of our animals and birds.

As for rescue vs shelter… that’s a whole other beast in itself. I would probably go to a shelter before a rescue, since rescue dogs have already been saved from the shelter and usually have a lot more time to find forever homes.

[Mocha]

Thanks everyone!
I’ve decided to fill out an application for the rescue. I have a feeling that I will be accepted, but if not, I will go to the shelter. I want to bring home a dog that is healthy, and the shelter dogs aren’t exactly healthy.
I think i’m going to look at male dogs, I agree with what manic_muncher said about them.
I do not plan on keeping the dog around the bunnies. I have my eye on this HUMONGOUS longhaired german shepherd at the rescue. Most of the dogs there are cat friendly, so they shouldn’t try to kill the bunnies. I might introduce them to see how they get along and enjoy playing, but I would never let them live together and play when i’m not home.

Thanks again for the help!

[Deleted User]

Bugga! I wasn’t quick enough to post – sad face…..

Good luck Mocha!

[Author]

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