I'm moving into my first house (2 story) with a small yard. I've never owned a dog, but am going to take the plunge.

Can anyone advise what are good dogs for first time buyers. Also, I am allergic to cats. Hope not the same with dogs.

I was thinking about a pug or small bulldog.

nance

First, I would definitely make sure you are not allergic to dogs. You dont want to get one and them find out you cant keep it. How heartbreaking! I would be around as many dogs as you can to make sure. If you dont know someone with a dog you could visit with, go to your local shelter. Ask if you could walk or groom a dog, just anything to be around one. And do this several times before you decide you arent allergic to them.

Next is to decide what breed or mix of breed you want. I think all dogs are great, and only a few of the larger dogs would not be the best choice for first timers. But you seem like you are leaning toward the smaller dogs, and I think all small dogs are great. What kind of personality do you want your dog to have? How much attention is the dog going to get? How much exercise can you provide? You can go to www.akc.org and see the different breed profiles and pick one that is right for you.

And the BIG question: Where are you going to get you dog/puppy? Let me just say, and I think everyone will agree with me on this, DONT GET A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE! Almost all pet shop puppies come from horrible puppy mills, are not healthy, and would just cost you in the long run. If at all possible, please try a rescue dog. I know many people want a purebred dog (myself included, I have one), but rescue dogs are in such need of your kindness (I have 2 rescues also). There are plenty small dogs in shelters and private rescue groups to chose from, many purebreds. www.petfinder.com is one place you could check out for rescue dogs in your area. But if you do decide to get a purebred dog from a breeder, find a responsible breeder. Make sure they do health testings, breed as best they can to the breed standard, and are limited to the number of litters they produce. There are many more thing involved in finding a good breeder, and would be more than happy to help you if that is what you decide to do.

Good luck with your first puppy/dog! And I did say FIRST, you will never be able to live without a dog once you get one : )

I think Nakid Dog just about said it all in her post. Take some time to look at the different breeds & what fits your lifestyle before buying or adpoting. Some breeds require a lot of maintance, others more attention. Larger breeds need more space & exercise, smaller ones less. Also, do you have small children? Some breeds are better suited for families than others.

I own Bulldogs and I can tell you there are no small bulldogs.LOL Females 40 lb and up males 50 and up(mostly).Also mine will run the fence after cars/neighbors/bikes and when that 40 lb hits the back gate running at full blast you need a Good fence.(I put up a private fence to stop this.)Most people will tell you this breed is the most laid back of all.Yes mine are always asleep in the house but when outside they are very active.They also have alot of health problems,so be aware of that.If I had a small yard I would look at maybe a small breed of dog.A small yard has plentty of room for a small dog but would be a little cramped for a med-large dog.
My best advice is to check into different breeds(or look at the shelter) once you know what that breeds temperment,care needed,etc then you can better decide.Ask more than one breeder too.One breeder may not tell you all the bad with the good but if you check around you should be able to piece it together.

thanks everyone for all the advice. Deb, what health problems do bulldogs have? I know they need to be cleaned in their folds often but thats all I know about them.

Also, are they ok around children?

Thanks!

Nance

Now I am talking about English Bulldogs.As when anyone just says Bulldog that is the breed they are referring.
They can be known for a number of problems,now please take in mind when I write out this list that not all bullys will have these problems,but it is just a list of things I have seen in the breed.Most pure breds have one or more problems that could show up that is why it is good to look into the breed you are interested in to know what to watch for when shopping for a puppy.
1)breathing problems ie..enlongated soft palate(SP?),congenital closing of the nostrils,small treachea
2)heat stroke this breed is Very sensitive to heat
3)sezures(SP?) this is not in all lines
4) hyper thyroid and skin allerges.
5)enthropia(rolling in of eyelids)
My spelling is horrible for these medical words.I'm sorry for that.
I have been around Bullies for over 10 years.It is a Wonderful Breed.So please don't let me scare you off.I just know that I learned about these things the Hard Way.And I try to be as honest as possible.As I am just that way.Alot of breeders are not.And will say they have never seen any of these problems.Maybe/maybe not.That's awhole other debate I guess.LOL
They are really good with childern.I have never in over 10 years had a problem and I have kids and visiting kids.
They don't make good guard dogs all I have ever seen would help the robbers haul your stuff to the truck for a Belly rub.LOL Hope I have helped some.Like I said this is just a few things to look out for.The down side I guess you could say.
trust me though once you are owned by a bully you will always be owned by a Bully.LOL Good luck in your search.

I wanted to tell you not to rush into anything. When I wanted to get my first dog, I didn't do enough research, and got the wrong breed to fit my lifestyle. It was heartbreaking to give him up, but I had no choice. I swore I'd never make that mistake again. After awhile, I wanted another dog. I decided I needed a smaller breed (my first was a large dog), and one that could get most of his excersise inside. I did research on pretty much all akc small dog breeds and after many long hours researching and planning, I finally decided that a Yorkshire terrier would fit my lifestyle the best. I purchased my purebred puppy from a pet store, because yorkie breeders are extremely rare in my area, and I couldn't be more happy with him. Some people say you should never buy a puppy from a petstore, but I don't agree. I think you should also do plenty of research on the store, and find out where their puppies come from first. Good luck with your new puppy (when you find the perfect one).

"If you talk to the animals they will talk to you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what one does not know one fears. What one fears, one destroys." ~Chef Dan George~

gmspetproject - I completely agree with you on picking the right breed to pick your life style, but couldnt disagree more about buying a dog from a pet store. There is NO pet store that sells good quality dog. You may have been lucky with your dog, but please know you are VERY lucky. The dogs that are supplied to pet stores come from breeders who do not care where their puppies end up, and they dont care how healthy they are. Something like 90% of all pet shop puppies come from Missouri and surrounding states. In other words, puppy mills. Go into any pet store, act interested in a puppy, ask where the puppy if from. They will tell you from a small (usually local) breeder who breeds a few of their dogs. Act even more interested and ask for the papers on the dog, when you get it, look and see where the dog is really from. Missouri? Of course! You can also use these paper and go to www.nopuppymills.com and they will do a free search on the breeder of your dog. It will list the number of dogs your "small, local" breeder has, and I think you will change your mind about it being small and local. You can actually do this on your Yorkie if you want. It is free and might give you a little more perspective on where you pup actually came from.

The 2 experiences I have had with pet shops have been not so great. Eleven years ago, I got my "purebred" Pomeranian pup from a pet store. I did buy the dog, but a lady put an ad in the paper wanting to get rid of the pup she had bought at the pet store because she didnt realize the responsibility of owning a dog. Well, my "purebred" pom in 25lbs (just a little on the large side, lol). My second experience was with my cousin getting a pup from a pet store. He bought this cute little lab pup. This dog was actually from a local breeder, not Missouri. He took the dog to a vet, and it had a severe heart murmur, and some other minor health problems. He was forced to return the dog, and it has probably been put to sleep.

My long point is, even if you do see that cute dog in a pet store, and the store says it is from a small breeder, that is NOT always the case. It is absolutely HORRIBLE the conditions dogs face in puppy mills. Dogs are continually breed until their uterus is so damaged from over breeding. They are forced to live in small wire cages, living in feces. When the pups are 5-6 weeks old, a broker comes to pick up the pups and take them to the stores. The pups can spend days in the bad of a hot or cold truck. Why would you what to support this?

I know, gmspetproject, you did not know this when you bought your puppy, but please dont support this horrible business anymore.

NakidDog, thanks for the website, and I am doing the check on the breeder of my puppy. I know he came from a small breeder in South Dakota. I am aware that 99.9 percent of pet stores do not care much about the conditions of the animals they sell. That is why I believe that you should do a thourough check on the pet store before purchasing an animal, especially a puppy. In my case, I didn't have much of a choice but to go to the pet store because Yorkies in my area are very rare. I was mentioning the pet store idea to nancy since she could get into the same situation I was, and have a hard time finding a dog that fits her in her area. I certainly understand where you are coming from since you've had bad encounters with pet store puppies more than once. Andre (my Yorkie) is only my second dog, and I wasn't completely aware of the concerns of pet store puppies. Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it.

gmspetproject

"If you talk to the animals they will talk to you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what one does not know one fears. What one fears, one destroys." ~Chef Dan George~

Thanks gmspetproject for understanding where I am coming from. I also understand where you are coming from (my petshop dog is the best and I couldnt imagine not having him!) I just want to make sure people out there dont think it is okay to buy a pup from a pet store. I HATE to think of the horrible conditions some dogs are in, and people are SUPPORTING it. I think the problem is people dont know this is where those pups come from. And with a pet shop, you can never really be sure the conditions your pup came from. You just have to go by the word of the pet shop seller (and remember, he just wants to sell you that dog). There are so many things you need to check out with the breeder of your dog, but you just cant do that in a pet shop.

An option for someone who doesnt have a breeder near them is to ship the puppy. You may have to wait an extra week or so to get the puppy, and it may cost and extra $200, but I think it is worth it to not support puppy mills. And the cost of pet shop dogs is incrediablly over priced anyway. You will end up saving money in the long run 99.9% of the time. Those medical bills from poor breeding really add up. This way you can talk to the breeder, talk to people who have bought a puppy from that breeder, and just find out so much information about the dog.

But, of course, my first choice of a dog would be a rescue! You save a life, and I swear the dog knows it and will ALWAYS be thankful.

I'd like to know the results on your Yorkie's breeder search. I hope she really did come from a small breeder, but I have heard many stories where the buyer thought they got a dog from a small breeder, and the breeder ended up having 100+ dog (not including puppies). I wish I had the papers on my pet shop pup, but I have NO IDEA where they are or if I even still have them.

There are two kinds of dog breeders, those who breed for the money (puppy mills) and those how want to perfect the breed as close to the AKC standards as possible. If you are a serious breeder you will want to strive for closest to the standard you can achieve. There are serious breeders who have home kennels. Take time and search and do your research.
If you will look at the web pages of the people who show their dogs, you will get a good representative of what a breed "should" look like. You would want to look for that standard in any puppy you purchase or come as close as you can. Most serious breeders will have the parents on site or pictures. Find out what lines are behind the puppy before you purchase it. Most serious breeders have their pedigree on their web pages. I feel it is better to pay a little more and know what you are getting.

Talk to the owner of a litter before you purchase. Find out why they have puppies for sale. Are they interested in the standard? Can they talk about the standard and what it means? Can they refer you to someone else? Not everyone can afford a pup out of a "show dog" litter but some research will help you find a pup which is a good representative of the breed. Buying a dog from a pet shop is usually not a good representative of the breed. I searched 2 years before I got my yorkie girl and about the same before I got my last yorkie girl.

Good luck and do your homework before you purchase.

quote:

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Originally posted by nancy:
I'm moving into my first house (2 story) with a small yard. I've never owned a dog, but am going to take the plunge.

Can anyone advise what are good dogs for first time buyers. Also, I am allergic to cats. Hope not the same with dogs.

I was thinking about a pug or small bulldog.

nance

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You might want to consider a boston terrier, they kind of have the look of a bulldog, but not the size.They are good family dogs, and do fine with a small yard.They are generally fine for first time dog owners. Just whatever breed you choose make sure you find a good breeder.
But you might want to get a allergy test before you actually purchase a puppy to avoid heartbreak for you and the puppy later.

Im lookin for a Yorkshire Terrier in the North Carolina area. I cant seem to find one on the internet and ive been lookin in newspapers under the classfied section.
Can anyone help me?
please anwser back!

Here ya go Samantha.
http://www.hilcrest-kennel.com/
http://www.geocities.com/bobbitt5/
http://www.kamegko.com/index1.html
You might have to wait a little for a puppy. These breeders only breed a very limited number of puppies a year. But great puppies they will be.
Also, I am in east TN and am a volunteer with Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee. Check out our site. Many Yorkies in need of rescue : ) http://www.sbret.com/

gmspetproject - did you ever get your yorkie's search results?

Hi Nancy,

If you have a hard time figuring out the right breed for you, try this web site...it is a survey and generates some breeds of dogs to best suit your living situation, exercise nedds, health etc. http://www.puppyfinder.com/selector/

SJ

"Stupid People Shouldn't Breed!"

HI NANCE...
YOU PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO START WITH A BREED THAT IS EASY TO TRAIN, AND SMART (JUST TO HELP OUT..) AS FOR GOOD BREEDS GOOD SMALL BREED AND LARGE BREED ARE POODLES, THEY ARE INTELLIGENT AND FAST LEARNERS AND VERY SWEET AND BEST OF ALL HYPO ALLERGENIC. YOU COULD ALSO LOOK UP LABADOOLES(LABS AND POODLE MIX) A GOOD SMART LARGE DOG, VERY OBEDIENT AND LOYAL DON'T NEED ALLOT OF GROOMING IS DOBERMANS... ALSO BOXERS ARE GOOD... BOSTON TERRIERS ARE SMALL AND VERY SMART TOO!

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE SUGGESTING YORKIES ITS NOT A GOOD BREED FOR AN INEXPERIANCED DOG OWNER.. MOST DOGS THAT ARE TINY ARE NOT.. YORKIES ARE PRONE TO GETTING PSS AND YOU MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THIS WITH OUT KILLING YOUR PUP

quote:

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Originally posted by NICKI:
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE SUGGESTING YORKIES ITS NOT A GOOD BREED FOR AN INEXPERIANCED DOG OWNER.. MOST DOGS THAT ARE TINY ARE NOT.. YORKIES ARE PRONE TO GETTING PSS AND YOU MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THIS WITH OUT KILLING YOUR PUP

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Nicki could you explain what PSS is? Thanks

DEB,
PSS IS A PROBLEM THAT SMALL DOGS GET AND YORKIES ARE PRONE TO IT. ITS KINDA LIKE DIABETE'S. IF THEY ARE NOT FED PROPERLY, OR IF THERE IMMUNE SYSTEM GETS WEEK THEIR GULCOSE LEVELS DROP, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THEY GET WEAKER AND WEAKER, THEN EVENTULLY GO INTO SHOCK, NOW IF YOU BRING THE GULOSE LEVEL UP TO FAST THEY CAN GET LIVER DAMANGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I THINK IF YOU DO GET A YORKIE DON'T GET A "TEACUP" AS THEY CALL THEM GET ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 10 POUNDS
Portosystemic Shunts in theCat and Dog
Portosystemic shunts (PSS) are vascular communications between the portal and systemic venous systems that allow portal blood to reach the systemic circulation without first passing through the liver. PSS can be either congenital or acquired. Congenital PSS are usually single shunts that can be either intrahepatic or extrahepatic. In most cases, congenital PSS represent retained fetal vascular anastomoses, but can also occur when compensation for portal vein atresia results in formation or retention of collateral connections to adjacent veins. Examples of congenital PSS include persistent sinus venosus and direct portal vein connection(s) to the caudal vena cava or azygous vein. Acquired PSS are secondary to portal hypertension and are typically multiple extrahepatic shunts that connect the portal system to the caudal vena cava.

Congenital PSS are most frequently diagnosed in purebred dogs (Yorkshire terriers, miniature Schnauzers, Irish wolfhounds, Old English sheepdogs and Cairn terriers) and mixed breed cats. Some diagnostic features include central nervous system (CNS) signs (disorientation, ataxia, blindness, seizures), poor growth, nonspecific gastrointestinal signs, cryptorchidism in dogs and cats, polydipsia and polyuria in dogs, and heart murmurs, seizures, ptyalism, and copper iris color in cats. Large breed dogs usually have intrahepatic shunts whereas small breed dogs more often have extrahepatic shunts.