im 14 trying to convince my parents to let me get a dog. what would be better for maintenance like handling (walking and traveling on planes or cars) and we own about 7/10 acre
size has nothing to do with what kind of dog to get as a first time owner. i would NOT suggest a high-maintenence small dog [[such as yorkies, chi's, etc.]].
i think a medium dog such as a lab mix would be best for a younger person. most of the time they are gentle, easy to train, and they dont need alot of grooming. you want to get a dog that has short hair so you dont have to worry about grooming. long-haired dogs are very high-maintenence when it comes to brushing, hair-cuts, etc.
you def. dont want to go with a bully breed [[pits, rotts, etc.]]. these breeds need experienced owners that can handle their stubborness.
i think your best bet would be to go to a rescue/shelter and find a dog [[maybe 2-3 years old]] that has already lived with a family with kids before and is housebroken or has had obedience training.
i def. would NOT try to convince my parents to get a puppy, no matter what the breed, they take a lot of time and energy to train and care for. if you get a dog that is a little bit older, he/she wont be so hyper and will still live a long, happy life with you and your family!
good luck hon!
I would say a small, but not toy size to a medium. I would suggest looking at shelters for a dog that's a mixed breed and like someone else said, has lived in family before. Pick one based on personality, not looks!
If you rescue a dog from a shelter, it will be forever grateful to you! Adopted Cocker Spaniel: Lila: Petfinder::
She is afraid of big dogs at first, but does fine after the introduction. when her former owner didnt have time for her, she gave her to a young couple.
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7869792HOME |
Adopted Jack Russell Terrier: ZazooSuperdog!: Petfinder::
The 3rd time he jumped on himself without my giving a JRTs are not the breed for a inexperienced dog owner. This is a BIG dog in a little dogs body.
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8775963HOME |
All dogs take a lot of work. No matter the size, your dog may be a chewer, a digger, an escape artist, etc.
If you have in mind that you really want a small dog, then start looking for small dog breeds that fit your lifestyle. I think a great small dog for a first time owner is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They are awesome dogs, great for first time owners, love everyone, eager to please, easily trained, and are all around happy dogs. I also think that west highland terriers are also a good first time dog, but they do require more work when it comes to introducing them to cats and other small animals since they are terriers with a high prey drive.
If you want a large dog, you need to do a lot of research and make sure you can handle the breed you get and train it appropriately. I love big dogs and think they are awesome, but if you are planning on traveling, a large dog may not be as suitable. In cars, depending on the size of your family, you can often fit a large dog (no giant breeds like great danes) and in vans you can even fit their crates. They are often hard to travel with on planes though. Certain sized crates our required for each airline, and they need to be under a specific weight, which is usually hard to do. If you go with a large breed dog, I think the best first time 'large' breed dog would be a golden retriever. They are a wonderful breed and very well tempered (as long as they are from reputable breeders).
If you aren't sure you can handle a large breed dog, and don't really want a small dog (with 7/10 acres, you may want something that can take advantage of that space), then I would suggest you look into a spaniel. Cocker spaniels for a while were being overbred and had some aggression problems, but I have recently met some very well mannered and well tempered cocker spaniels. You could also look into a springer spaniel or brittany spaniel. Both of which are a little taller than the cocker spaniel. Springers tend to be a bit bulkier and Brittanys are more slim looking. The only problem with spaniels is they often get seperation anxiety and have a ton of energy. With that amount of land, as long as you have the time to give, your dog could easily get the exercise it needs. Spaniels are also hunting dogs, so will chase birds and squirrels, so you need to make sure you train your dog.
Each of these breeds is different and have specific needs. I recommend you look into each of these breeds as well as others you have been considering before you make your decision. Do lots of research (it will show your parents you are responsible and serious about a dog). You need to know the breed you want inside and out. (I like www.breederretriever.com to learn about dog breeds since they have many on there and are often very accurate and honest in describing the breeds.)
If you are worried about the 'puppy' stage when the dog needs lots of socializing and training, you may want to look into an adult dog at a shelter or rescue. If you decide to do this, I don't think size matters. When you go to a rescue, most of the time the dog you get chooses you.
Good luck!
Okay. if your young and dont feel like hassaling about cleaning up messes.then i suggest u to get a small dog .medium size but not large.their to big and to hard to handle at such age. beleive me i had a dog when i was 11 and it was hard enough to handle and clean after my havanese puppy. even though it was still medium size.but i feel like getting another one since im much growner now and have lots of responsabilitys and can handle the cleaning up after the dog. so hoped this helped. :]
 Red Hat's Rough Recovery From CFO Exit
 Windows Live Finds a New, Pre-installed Home
|
